In the Thick of it with Gary Hahn
"The Voice of the Wolfpack" provides a scouting report on Ohio State.
Sept. 15, 2004
NC STATE (1-0) vs. No. 9/7 OHIO STATE (2-0)
DATE: Saturday, September 18, 2004
TIME: Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (EDT) Wayne Day Field at Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, NC (55,600)
RADIO: Wolfpack Radio Network: 2:30 p.m. (EDT)
TELEVISION: ABC (Regional)
OPPONENT---- Mike Nugent kicked an Ohio Stadium record 55-yard field goal as time expired to give turnover-plagued Ohio State a 24-21 victory over Marshall on Saturday. For the second week in a row, OSU (2-0) didn't force a turnover. Justin Zwick threw two interceptions and the Buckeyes also lost two fumbles. They now have seven turnovers in two games and have no takeaways.
With the game tied, Ohio State took over at its own 45 after a poor punt by Ian O'Connor with 25 seconds left. It was O'Connor's second critical mistake in the quarter. He missed a 35-yard field goal with the score tied at 21 and slightly more than three minutes left.
After the shanked punt, Justin Zwick threw to Santonio Holmes -- who had 10 catches for 218 yards and two touchdowns -- for gains of 9 and 8 yards. Zwick followed with a 5-yard pass to tight end Ryan Hamby, but the clock kept running because the Buckeyes exhausted their timeouts.
Zwick, who hit on 18 of 30 passes for 318 yards and three scores, was able to stop the clock by spiking the ball with 2 seconds left. However, a motion penalty called on the play made Nugent's game-winning kick even longer.
Marshall outrushed OSU 150 to 79, kept the ball for nearly 12 more minutes than the Buckeyes and held them to only 2 of 10 third-down conversions, but mistakes in the kicking game were costly. The Thundering Herd missed one field goal and passed up another in the final 16 minutes, with O'Connor failing to convert on a faked kick attempt.
The Buckeyes have won 13 of their last 14 games decided by a touchdown or less over the last two-plus seasons, including a 7-0 record while winning the national championship in 2002.
OSU has finished in the top five of both national polls in each of the last two years and could return there again in 2004 despite losing 26 seniors from last season's squad that finished 11-2.
Fourteen Ohio State players were taken in last year's NFL Draft --the most from one school since the draft went to seven-rounds. Defensive end, Will Smith, cornerback Chris Gamble and wide receiver, Michael Jenkins were first-round picks. Seven Buckeyes were drafted on the first day, which is another NFL record.
Like NC State, the Buckeyes have a new quarterback. Zwick (6-4, 225), an understudy to Craig Krenzel for the last two years, was one of the most highly recruited quarterbacks in OSU history. The redshirt sophomore has a strong arm and a very quick release, but has struggled with accuracy this season, throwing four interceptions.
Redshirt sophomore Troy Smith (6-1, 215), a good runner with a rifle arm, is Zwick's back up. Smith has played in both games and is 2 of 5 passing for 29 yards and one touchdown. He's run 6 times for 7 yards.
The Buckeyes "go-to" receiver is the speedy and elusive redshirt sophomore Holmes (5-11, 185). After catching 29 passes for 497 yards and 7 touchdowns over the final five and a half games of last season, Holmes was placed on the watch-list for the Biletnikoff Award. This season he has 14 receptions, 3 touchdowns and averages 22.5 yards per catch. OSU's other top receivers are redshirt sophomore, Roy Hall (4 catches, 1 TD) and redshirt senior Bam Childress (5 catches, 17.4 ypc.).
Seniors Lydell Ross (6-2, 225) and Maurice Hall (5-10, 205) shoulder most of the load at runningback. Although both were hurt for much of last year, Ross managed to finish '03 with 826 yards and 10 touchdowns. This season Ross has carried 41 times for 231 yards and 1 TD.
Clearing the way for that pair is an OSU offensive line that returns only two starters, but has plenty of size and talent with game experience. The anchor is junior center, Nick Mangold (6-4, 290) a candidate for the Rimington Award and Outland Trophy.
Defensively, only one starter among the front-four is back, but Simon Frazier (6-6, 280, Sr.) is a special player. The Hendricks Award candidate is very agile and tough to block. While the other three down linemen are new starters, they are all veterans with plenty of game experience. There is also plenty of depth.
The OSU linebackers are a star-studded cast led by junior A. J. Hawk (a unanimous All-Big Ten selection last year) who is a candidate for the Butkus and Lombardi Awards. Three years ago Hawk, Bobby Carpenter (6-3, 255, Jr.) and Mike D'Andrea (6-3, 248, Jr.) were ranked as the nation's top-rated group of linebackers coming out of high school. Among others providing depth is transfer Anthony Schlegel who started against Cincinnati and led Air Force in tackles in 2002. OSU went with four linebackers some of the time against the Bearcats in a 27-6 victory on September 4th.
The Buckeyes secondary took a hit when three-year starting cornerback Dustin Fox was injured early in the Marshall game and watched the second half from the sideline, his left arm in a sling. Fox, a Thorpe Award candidate, fractured the arm and will miss somewhere between four and six weeks. Sophomore Ashton Youbouty replaced Fox and finished with five tackles and one pass break-up. Junior E. J. Underwood (6-1, 175) is the other starter at cornerback. OSU coach, Jim Tressell says Underwood is the most talented corner he's ever coached.
Junior Nate Salley (6-3, 215), one of the Buckeyes brightest stars is back at free safety while first-year starter, Tyler Everette (5-11, 196, Jr.) has played in 28 career games.
B. J. Sander, the winner of last year's Ray Guy Award as the best punter in college football, is gone. His replacement, redshirt senior Kyle Turano, has been impressive (45.6 ypp.). Nugent, a Groza Award candidate and 2002 All-American, is one of the best place-kickers in the nation and has made 3 of 4 field goal attempts this season. Holmes is a dangerous punt and kick returner with game-breaking potential.
Ohio State will be making its first trip ever to the state of North Carolina and its initial venture into an ACC stadium. The Buckeyes have an all-time record of 8-6 against ACC teams. NC State has not beaten a top-10 team at home since No.2 Florida State in 1998 and has not hosted a top-10 non-conference team since No. 8 Alabama in 1996. The Pack's last win over a top-10 ranked non-conference team was over Penn State in 1974.
INJURIES--NC State: TB T.A. McLendon-Questionable, hamstring strain; SS Andre Maddox-Questionable, hamstring strain; OT Derek Morris-Questionable, ankle; C Kalani Heppe-Out, broken foot; DE James Martin-Out, knee surgery. Ohio State:
CB Dustin Fox-Out, broken arm; FB Brandon Joe-Questionable, ankle sprain; DE Mike Kudla-Doubtful, shoulder.
