Ask a Buckeye!

Well, I will speak for myself here;
1. Arkansas as a program:
-Well coached, always solid yet never spectacular. Produces top tier athletes (Mcfadden, etc.), and beats/challenges top-programs fairly regularly recently (LSU 2007, ‘Bama/Auburn 2010) but never really is a threat to win the whole thing (no offense). Good location as far as getting athletes from the south and Texas, but not in a solid recruiting state itself, and probably would be better served in the B12 as opposed to the SEC for consistent national relevance. Not to be overlooked however, and with Petrino has a good shot to regularly compete for the SEC title and be a top 10 team or the foreseeable future.
2. Arkansas as a university:
-Good school, one of the first land-granters (like us) and produced Bill Clinton. I honestly don’t know about the academics, but would assume they are good, the perception is that Arkansas is “smarter” (whatever the hell that means) than an Alabama or Mississippi for example.
3. Arkansas as a state:
-No idea really, has nice weather and not horrible winters like us Ohioans. Seems like a state that has its shit together, never really on the news for struggling economically (like a California or Michigan), but that could be because the Arkansas economic situation isn’t a hot topic issue for Columbus television stations lol

The strength of our defense is their speed (Gasp! a Big Ten team?). Our defensive line and linebackers aren’t very big, but they all can run. Middle linebacker Brian Rolle is 5’10’’ 220 but runs like a deer and makes plays all over the field. And Outside line backer Ross Homan is excellent at tackling and making big plays at big times. Cam Heyward is large on the D-line, but really athletic and Nathan Williams is a solid edge rusher. The speed and (relative) lightness of our defense makes them very apt at shutting down speed rushing attacks (Oregon, Michigan, Purdue) but susceptible to power attacks (see Wisconsin game). Our defensive tackle (Dexter Larimore) probably plays more because he is a senior than because he is significantly better than his backup (Jonathan Hankins, a 355lb monster), a true freshman. If the guard and center can get Larimore out of the hole then the smallness of Rolle becomes a problem if the running back has a head of steam. I don’t know if the Arkansas’ ground attack is more speed based or power-I based, but if it is the latter, they may have success.
Our defense is very good at forcing turnovers, so ball security is going to be an issue for Arkansas, if they make mistakes, our defense will capitalize.
The secondary is missing a “name brand” player for maybe the first time in Jim Tressel’s tenure (there is no Mike Doss, Donte Whitner, Malcom Jenkins or Kurt Coleman) but they make up for it with experience (both CBs and one S are seniors). Chekwa and Torrence are the corners, they are reasonably fast and usually always near the receiver. Occasionally Torrence misses open field tackles, so Arkansas will have the opportunity for YACs, Chekwa’s tackling is solid however. Both have great hands, but can sometimes be a victim of losing the ball in the air, leading to a completion despite solid coverage. FS Jermale Hines is really athletic and a big hitter, he makes plays and has probably been the best player in the secondary, FS Orhian Johnson is the weak link, he is starting because of injury and has a tendency to lose his deep zone, plays can be made because of his late coverage. Because Arkansas is a passing team they will see a lot of our “star” position, a hybrid saftey/linebacker. True freshman Christian Bryant was forced into the role due to injury, but played solid until he was injured himself. He should be ready to go for the bowl, but if not Travis Howard and Aaron Gant will see time in that role.

Pryor is a carbon copy of Newton, at least physically.
He probably isn’t as good at running in the open field (his shiftiness is poor) but his speed is elite. He will take off if it’s open, and Jim Tressel encourages it. Pryor is most effective running when the play breaks down, he isn’t great at designed QB draws, despite our insistence on calling them. Pryor has developed solidly as a passer this year, but still can be inaccurate on his short to intermediate throws. To put it simply, he tortures bad to mediocre defenses with his arm, but good defenses can limit him. This may be a function of Pryor or the offense he is running, but it’s a problem we Buckeye fans have been dealing with for 3 years lol.
If Pryor is afforded time he is good enough to make you pay with his arm, although not with the consistency or precision of a Mallet type, if the play breaks down he can run for bunches, which he will do.

2002 was unlike anything i have ever seen, that team was defense and luck, mixed with a true freshman running back and a QB that didn’t do anything stupid. I have no idea how we pulled that off.
Comparing this team to them, 2010’s offense in much more dynamic and exciting. 2002 was a lot of give the ball to Clarett and punt (our punter, Andy Groom, was the best in the nation). Krenzel was asked to hand off and then run himself, he only threw when he had to. The 2002 offensive line was much better than our current line, not to say that our current line is bad, but 2002 was great. I think Pryor actually is a bigger, stronger, faster Krenzel. He runs when he has to, he hands it off, and Tressel asks him to not do anything stupid. The difference is that Pryor is much more talented, but he basically is Krenzel, just with a bit more ability.

2006 was the year of Troy Smith. Pryor is not nearly as good as a passer/decision maker but he can make plays just as well with his feet. Our line that year was miserable in pass blocking (I still weep when I hear the name “Jarvis Moss”), but this years’ line is better, however JB Shugarts is still average at right tackle but LT Mike Adams is very good. Offensively, this years team compares closest to 2006. Dynamic, high scoring, two great wide receivers, 2 solid running backs and Tressel isn’t afraid to let Pryor make plays, ala Smith, he just isn’t as good at it. The 2006 defense was good, but not built to stop the spread passing attacks of today, this years defense is faster, lighter, more versatile and able to cover, which gives 2010 a slight defensive edge.

This years’ team isn’t better than 2002, but gives 2006 and 2007 (2007 was by far the weakest NC game participant, we were in a rebuilding year, and lucked into it) a run for their money. 2010’s defensive line is better than both 2006 and 2007, but not 2002. The linebackers and secondary of 2010 are equal with ‘06-’07, but worse than 2002.

I think this team is every bit as good as last years team (significantly better offense, marginally worse defense). But in our only real game, Wiscy jumped out to a 21-0 1st Q lead and we couldn’t catch back up, so we don’t really know how good this team is. They hammered all the cupcakes and lost to an excellent Wiscy team on the road, 11-1 is 11-1, but we didn’t really play anyone good (PSU, Mich, Iowa, Illinois were all average).

Petrino’s stated goal has been run to set up the pass. But we sometimes have to abandon that. At the beginning of the season we passed A LOT and didn’t run much at all. But as we’ve started picking up steam with the emergence of Davis, we’ve been running a lot more and setting up play action. This answer depends on the flow of the game. I have a feeling we will pass on y’all first so we can pick on your somewhat weakened secondary and so we can score quick.

Again, Mallett operates quite well out of the shotgun so he’s back there a lot. But he goes under center a lot too. We can run a good draw out of the shotgun. Also, Petrino employs the pistol formation a lot.

Our secondary has been decimated. But we have a first team all-SEC safety in Tramain Thomas. He’s a ball hawk. Also, Jerico Nelson is a huge hitter at the hybrid spot. Will someone else elaborate on the secondary?

OSU is built to compete against Big Ten teams, and against its conference foes they have been dominant. But for whatever reason it just doesn’t seem to fare well against SEC Teams

OSU’s defense is built to stop teams like Arkansas, Michigan, Indiana, Purdue and Oregon. Not “Big Ten teams” like Wisconsin.

just gets elected because of his name…

….Mallett was going to have his best chance to beat the Buckeyes playing for Arkansas.

His first play as a true freshman against Ohio State was a strip sack (recovered by Michigan, but alas), He then overthrew a pass that would’ve been a touchdown.

lol, here’s to him reverting back to those days, but I don’t think that’s gonna happen. Damn.

The main word is disappointment. We’re all just upset that the players would do something like this. Yea, the rule is dumb, yea, it’s their own personal property, yea, they should be able to sell it because who cares, and yea, they weren’t taking $500 handshakes from boosters or being paid for work they weren’t doing, but they still broke the rules and deserve their punishments.
The 2008 class came into OSU with a mountain of expectations, and while they are sitting at 30-4 with 3 Big Ten titles and 3 BCS bowl appearances (including a Rose Bowl win and potential Sugar Bowl trophy) they have always left us wanting more. This was their year and they couldn’t get it done. Terrelle was supposed to win the Heisman and be this transcendent superstar, and while he has been excellent, he always will be a notch below what he should have been, much like the class as a whole, even if they win the Sugar Bowl. I’ll speak for myself in saying that I am done defending Pryor, he is what he is. A talented, successful, yet frustrating and inconsistent prodigy. Never really unstoppable but never benign either. He has consistently embarrassed himself with his comments/actions off the field, and this is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. As the leader and figure head for the team, the fact that he allowed himself to get into this mess, his intentions (“helping his family”) noble or not, is inexcusable and selfish. I will always love him and appreciate what he has done for the university, but the Braxton Miller era can’t get here fast enough. I hope these players learn and grow from their mistakes, but I don’t want them back next year.

Because I think that Pryor, Posey, Adams and Boom are gone after this game, theBowl is their national championship. This is their Glendale. Win and they will be remembered for their play, their transgressions a mere footnote. Lose? And they will always be remembered as that group that never could put it all together, despite the hype and expectations. This game will define their Buckeye legacies forever.