ESPN's Adam Rittenberg writes how the Buckeyes remain number one in his Big Ten rankings. Surprisingly, Iowa (3-1) is number 3 with the undefeated Michigan (4-0) number four. Wisconsin (4-0) is number two behind the Buckeyes. 1. Ohio State (4-0): The Buckeyes boast their most dynamic offense since 2006, and Terrelle Pryor continues to evolve as the trigger-man. No one...
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel ESPN's Adam Rittenberg writes how the Buckeyes remain number one in his Big Ten rankings.
Surprisingly, Iowa (3-1) is number 3 with the undefeated Michigan (4-0) number four. Wisconsin (4-0) is number two behind the Buckeyes.
1. Ohio State (4-0): The Buckeyes boast their most dynamic offense since 2006, and Terrelle Pryor continues to evolve as the trigger-man. No one will be pleased with Ohio State's defensive performance against Eastern Michigan, but Pryor and the offense put up historic numbers. Ohio State remains the team to beat in the Big Ten.
Rittenberg has Michigan No. 4 because despite how well the offense has played, holes remain on the defensive side.
4. Michigan (4-0): The offense continued to surge Saturday against Bowling Green, even after Robinson went down with a knee injury. Tate Forcier got his groove back, completing all 12 of his pass attempts, and receiver Roy Roundtree continued to impress.
Berry good
Jaamal Berry scored his first collegiate touchdown last Saturday against Eastern Michigan on a 67-yard run.
Berry was one of the top high school running backs in the nation two years ago. Reporter John Kampf of The Morning Journal writes:
“I’ve been waiting for that,” Berry said with a broad smile. “I just know I was going to make sure nobody was going to catch me. I saw the end zone and was like ‘I’m not going to stop running until I get there.’”
Berry plays behind senior Brandon Saine, junior Dan Herron and sophomore Jordan Hall. While waiting for his turn, Berry has been a spark on special teams. Last Saturday, Berry returned three kickoffs for 86 yards.
“I guess you could call it (a breakout game),” Berry said. “I still should have gotten that kickoff return. I’m just executing what I can do. When I’m in there, I’m just going to make the best of it.”
Berry has returned eight kicks for 226 yards, a gaudy 28.2-yard average. He has also been added to the kickoff coverage unit for the first time in his career. He was whistled for being offside on one Ohio State kickoff on Saturday but was otherwise the first OSU player down the field on each of the kicks.
The defense got too much rest
The Ohio State Buckeyes exploded for 73 points in its victory over Eastern Michigan last Saturday, but the 20 points allowed is what concerned the Buckeyes, writes Jim Naveau of The Lima News.
The Eagles scored at the end of drives that covered 75 yards, 73 yards and 80 yards.
“Twenty points is way too much for our expectations and goals as a defense. We want to be the best in the nation. We can’t give up 20 no matter who it is,” linebacker Ross Homan said.
Defensive lineman Cameron Heyward wasn’t satisfied, either. “We gave up three touchdowns. We have to improve a lot. Everybody has to improve. We have to make more production on the defensive line,” he said.
Nothing to smile about
Mansfield Journal reporter Jon Spencer writes how Saturday's blowout victory wasn't a laughing matter for Ohio State.
"I don't think we can take anything positive from this," lineman Cam Heyward said glumly, obviously speaking only for the defense after the 73-20 bludgeoning of Eastern Michigan. "We've got to improve a lot if we want to win a Big Ten championship."