COLUMBUS – Maybe the Buckeyes were still hungover from that last-second win at Wisconsin one week earlier.
Whatever the case may be, their offense engaged in an all-day funk here Saturday, leaving OSU’s fate in the hands of its defense.
Jim Tressel expressed considerable concern after the 16-3 outcome – as well he shoud have. “I think everyone in (this room) realizes we have lots of work to do,” Tressel revealed.
Not exactly what Scarlet and Gray fans were hoping to hear in week seven of a 12-game season.
How much credit does Purdue get for its part in the proceedings? Some, perhaps. But Tressel has placed incredible trust in freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor who clearly was the wrong man on the field Saturday.
Pryor had his moments, to be sure. However should he follow with similar exploits next Saturday in East Lansing, the Buckeyes are ripe to take a mighty tumble.
That isn’t to suggest the talented freshman should begin to shoulder a majority of the burden for Ohio State’s most recent stagnant performance. “The fact of the matter is, we failed to control the line of scrimmage and that’s where everything starts,” Tressel offered.
Bucks’ tight end Jake Ballard, meanwhile, who landed one catch for eight yards, took it a step further. “We (offense) just didn’t come to play today,” he observed. “Maybe we thought Purdue was coming in here just to take a loss. It’s frustrating because we know we can execute so much better.”
Beanie Wells produced a 94-yard output while Pryor gained 50 yards but lost 23, a result of scrambles and sacks. He completed 10 of 14 tosses for 97 yards but rarely was asked to execute anything more than quick-outs or dump-offs.
Tressel was quizzed concerning senior Todd Boeckman’s status but told reporters there was never serious sideline discussion of inserting the former starter.
At any rate, Pryor failed to direct as many as one touchdown drive. The Bucks’ lone six-pointer came early-on, the result of a Malcolm Jenkins blocked punt and ensuing 20-yard return to the house by freshman linebacker Etienne Sabino.
Remainder of Ohio State’s points came from a combined three field goals, including a 49-yard bomb from junior Aaron Pettrey. Fifth-year senior Ryan Pretorius connected on a pair but also missed from 38 yards out.
Though the Bucks’ defense yielded 298 yards, Boilers’ quarterback Curtis Painter never came close to engineering a touchdown drive. “We gave up some completions but they couldn’t throw long on us,” said OSU’s junior tackle Doug Worthington. “We (defense) could tell the offense was struggling at times but that’s no problem. You win football games playing defense and we held that team to three points.”
Worthington credited defensive coordinator Jim Heacock for mobilizing the troops. “Coach gets occasionally fired-up on the sideline and he did today,” Worthington explained. “I think he (Heacock) felt we were going to have to win this one on the defensive side of the ball.”
It’s hard to imagine Tressel pulling the plug on Pryor considering the 6-6, 235-pound plebe’s penchant for his game-breaking ability. Still, should things start to go sour at Michigan State, putting the ball back in Boeckman’s hands is not a bad option.
BUCKEYE NOTEBOOK
OSU starting defensive end Lawrence Wilson recovered a Purdue fumble in the first quarter but later was forced to the sideline by an injury. Tressel said Wilson would undergo an MRI Sunday…
WELLS’ 94-yard output moved him into 10th place on Ohio State’s all-time rushing list with 2,664 yards. “I thought Beanie ran real hard,” Tressel offered. “There were times he broke two or three tackes but also a couple times he failed to get past the line of scrimmage. That’s the kind of day it was for us…”
PURDUE coach Joe Tiller distributed praise for the Boilers’ defense. “I thought we were well-prepared and played with a high intensity level. We (defense) played about as well as we could, defending as good a running back as there is in the country….”
BOILERMAKERS’ defensive tackle Ryan Baker said containing the elusive Pryor was a key. “You allow an athlete like (Pryor) to get in a comfort zone, you’re asking for trouble. I thought we made him earn everything and never really allowed him to break off a big gainer…”
OHIO State has now beaten Purdue seven consecutive times in Ohio Stadium and owns an overall 37-12-2 record vs. the Boilers..
NEXT Saturday’s game at Michigan State kicks off at 3:30. Penn State visits in two weeks (Oct. 25) with an 8 p.m. kick….