Nine.com -- It didn't live up to the hype.
Be honest, No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Texas, aside from big-time production by
ABC, some quality announcing from Brent Musberger and a nice, vocal showing by
the Longhorn faithful at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, was a letdown
on Saturday night, a major letdown.
Texas, quite simply, was overmatched. With Vince Young gone, and the talent
and mystique that departed with him, the Longhorns didn't stack up. They have
talent, no question. But other-worldly, can't-touch-this talent like Young,
no.
The 'Horns had to rely on coach Mack Brown...and that's a losing cause when he
has to square off against someone as skilled in Xs and Os as the Buckeyes' Jim
Tressel. What sets Tressel apart is his ability to adapt, meaning that he can tighten
the reins or loosen them, depending on whatever the situation requires. Having
Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. in the lineup means the clamps coming off --
regardless of the competition -- is the way to go.
Tressel has acknowledged and accepted their abilities and let go. He and his
staff also are smart enough to realize that they have other options, and use
them. That is why a national-television audience got a chance to be introduced to
Anthony Gonzalez, who shouldered the pass-catching chores until Ginn was able
to get some room to roam. Gonzalez finished with 142 yards and a score on
eight catches.
Texas, meanwhile, with Brown seeming to be so focused on proving he could win
without Young, based way too much of his game plan on new quarterback Colt
McCoy. Time and again, the Longhorns' offense stalled with either an
incompletion or a six-yard pass on third-and-eight.
The home team's best chance to challenge the top-ranked Buckeyes would have
been to run, run, run with Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles. Credit Brown for
sticking to his guns, if you like, but when the guy has little feel for what
is going on...well, that just doesn't work.
Young rushed for 94 yards on 11 carries, and Charles added 70 on 16. That,
clearly, was not enough.
Some other observations from Week 2:
-- In an ironic development, the player who kickstarted Rutgers' turnaround --
fullback Brian Leonard -- has suddenly disappeared from the Scarlet Knights'
attack. After two games, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior has only 11 carries
for 35 yards on the ground and nine catches for 62 through the air. Ray Rice's
emergence has played a factor, but the change is dramatic. Leonard is on pace
for 210 rushing yards, 372 receiving and no touchdowns. He averaged 784, 525
and 13 in each of his first three seasons. Wave good-bye to that Heisman
campaign.
-- Neither Smith, Ginn or Gonzalez were OSU's best player against Texas.
Sophomore linebacker Jim Laurinaitis earned that tag with 13 tackles, two
forced fumbles, an interception and 25-yard return and a pass breakup. Keep an
eye on the 6-3, 244-pounder making a run for the Butkus Award this fall. With
OSU certain to be No. 1 or close to it all season, Laurinaitis will get
recognized for all he does, and probably for some things that he doesn't do.
-- Speaking of the Butkus Award, last year's winner, Paul Posluszy of Penn
State, isn't even the best 'backer on his own team anymore. Dan Connor clearly
holds that title now, especially with Posluszy slower after knee surgery and
giving up on a few plays at Notre Dame. Connor was the top-rated LB in the
country his senior year in high school, so this change is not that unexpected.
-- Boise State has been trying to break through into the mainstream college
football fan's conscience for years, and now it appears that the Broncos just might have the player to get them over the hump in sophomore tailback Ian Johnson, who blistered Oregon State for 240 yards and five TDs on the ground last Thursday night. With speed and power, Johnson is a legit big-timer.
Be honest, No. 1 Ohio State vs. No. 2 Texas, aside from big-time production by
ABC, some quality announcing from Brent Musberger and a nice, vocal showing by
the Longhorn faithful at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin, was a letdown
on Saturday night, a major letdown.
Texas, quite simply, was overmatched. With Vince Young gone, and the talent
and mystique that departed with him, the Longhorns didn't stack up. They have
talent, no question. But other-worldly, can't-touch-this talent like Young,
no.
The 'Horns had to rely on coach Mack Brown...and that's a losing cause when he
has to square off against someone as skilled in Xs and Os as the Buckeyes' Jim
Tressel. What sets Tressel apart is his ability to adapt, meaning that he can tighten
the reins or loosen them, depending on whatever the situation requires. Having
Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr. in the lineup means the clamps coming off --
regardless of the competition -- is the way to go.
Tressel has acknowledged and accepted their abilities and let go. He and his
staff also are smart enough to realize that they have other options, and use
them. That is why a national-television audience got a chance to be introduced to
Anthony Gonzalez, who shouldered the pass-catching chores until Ginn was able
to get some room to roam. Gonzalez finished with 142 yards and a score on
eight catches.
Texas, meanwhile, with Brown seeming to be so focused on proving he could win
without Young, based way too much of his game plan on new quarterback Colt
McCoy. Time and again, the Longhorns' offense stalled with either an
incompletion or a six-yard pass on third-and-eight.
The home team's best chance to challenge the top-ranked Buckeyes would have
been to run, run, run with Selvin Young and Jamaal Charles. Credit Brown for
sticking to his guns, if you like, but when the guy has little feel for what
is going on...well, that just doesn't work.
Young rushed for 94 yards on 11 carries, and Charles added 70 on 16. That,
clearly, was not enough.
Some other observations from Week 2:
-- In an ironic development, the player who kickstarted Rutgers' turnaround --
fullback Brian Leonard -- has suddenly disappeared from the Scarlet Knights'
attack. After two games, the 6-foot-2, 235-pound senior has only 11 carries
for 35 yards on the ground and nine catches for 62 through the air. Ray Rice's
emergence has played a factor, but the change is dramatic. Leonard is on pace
for 210 rushing yards, 372 receiving and no touchdowns. He averaged 784, 525
and 13 in each of his first three seasons. Wave good-bye to that Heisman
campaign.
-- Neither Smith, Ginn or Gonzalez were OSU's best player against Texas.
Sophomore linebacker Jim Laurinaitis earned that tag with 13 tackles, two
forced fumbles, an interception and 25-yard return and a pass breakup. Keep an
eye on the 6-3, 244-pounder making a run for the Butkus Award this fall. With
OSU certain to be No. 1 or close to it all season, Laurinaitis will get
recognized for all he does, and probably for some things that he doesn't do.
-- Speaking of the Butkus Award, last year's winner, Paul Posluszy of Penn
State, isn't even the best 'backer on his own team anymore. Dan Connor clearly
holds that title now, especially with Posluszy slower after knee surgery and
giving up on a few plays at Notre Dame. Connor was the top-rated LB in the
country his senior year in high school, so this change is not that unexpected.
-- Boise State has been trying to break through into the mainstream college
football fan's conscience for years, and now it appears that the Broncos just might have the player to get them over the hump in sophomore tailback Ian Johnson, who blistered Oregon State for 240 yards and five TDs on the ground last Thursday night. With speed and power, Johnson is a legit big-timer.
