The Silver Bullet: Father & Son Bias on the Buckeyes
 
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Drew Thurman (3:03 pm)

Hopefully you already checked out our weekly post, Know the Opposition, that gives you an in-depth look at the Marshall team that will be entering Ohio Stadium tonight. The one problem is that we don't really break down the Buckeyes in those posts, so we decided go a step further and highlight what to look for from the Scarlet and Gray. So here ya go, five things to watch tonight...

1) Will Terrelle Pryor showcase improved mechanics and consistent passing?

It's the question everyone is asking - Was the Pryor we saw in the Rose Bowl a fluke or the future? He will be under the microscope tonight, and rightfully so. For the Buckeyes to have a realistic shot at a championship run, Pryor needs to be a quarterback and not just an athlete. He needs to make the easy throws actually look easy, completing a higher percentage of passes. He doesn't need to be Peyton Manning out there, but he does need to become a quarterback. If fall practice was any indication, this transformation seems to be happening, but we need to see it in action. Tonight Pryor needs to show fans that the Rose Bowl wasn't a one time event. 

2) How does the secondary look?

A big concern heading into the season is the secondary. Those fears became even more of a reality as guys like Chekwa, Torrence, and Johnson have all been banged up in fall practice. Chekwa and Torrence both have hamstring problems, which could linger for the entire season. Not exactly a positive at a position that is all about speed. Tonight watch to see how well Chekwa and Torrence start and stop. The other big thing to take note of in the secondary is the battle at strong safety between C.J. Barnett and Orhian Johnson. Many believed that Johnson would take over the spot as he became healthy, but Tressel insisted this week that Barnett has been impressive. So watch to see who holds their own at SS.
 
 
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So they have a movie with Matthew McConaughey...big deal!
Mascot: Thundering Herd
Stadium: Joan C. Edwards Stadium (38,019)
2009 Record: 7-6 (Defeated Ohio 21-17 in Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl) 
Head Coach: Doc Holliday (First Season)
Letterman Returning: 45 (15 lost)
Returning Starters: Offense - 7; Defense - 7; Specialists - 1
Base Defense: 4-3
Base Offense: Ace (3 Wideouts)
Returning Stars: WR Antavious Wilson, LB Mario Harvey

Notable Alumni:

Randy Moss - NFL star
Billy Crystal - Actor and comedian
Hal Greer - NBA Hall of Famer
Michael W. Smith - Grammy winning recording artist
Mark D'Antoni - NBA head coach and former player
Soupy Sales - TV star of the 50's and 60's
Verna LeMasters Gibson - First female CEO of Fortune 500 company (The Limited)

Cheerleading Scouting Report:
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Marshall Overview:

The one and only time the Buckeyes have ever faced the Thundering Herd was back in 2004, and the results were not pretty. After having four costly turnovers in the game, Nugent kicked a 55 yard field goal as time expired to lift the Buckeyes to a 24-21 victory.

The 2010 edition of the Buckeyes enter the season with much higher aspirations than the one who played Marshall in 2004. Not only that, but Marshall is in a much different place as it takes the field under first time head coach Doc Holliday. He brings lots of experience from being on staff at schools like West Virginia and Florida, but has his work cut out for him in year one. 
 
 
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Evan Turner has declared for the draft, and thus closes the chapter on one of the greatest Buckeyes ever. He has made Buckeye basketball quite memorable the last few seasons, and watching him at the next level will be very bittersweet. Best of luck, ET!
 
 
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Mascot: Ducks
Stadium: Autzen Stadium (54,000)
Coach: Chip Kelly (1st year at Oregon and overall, 10-2)
2008 Record: 10-3 (Defeated Oklahoma State in Holiday Bowl, 42-31)
2009 Record: 10-2
Base Offense: Spread
Base Defense: 4-3
Letterman: Returning - 49; Lost - 20
Returning Starters: Offense - 4, Defense - 5, Specialists - 1
Returning Stars: QB Jeremiah Masoli; DE Will Tukuafu

Notable Alumni:

- Ann Curry: Anchor, The Today Show
- Steve Prefontaine, long distance runner
- Norm Van Brocklin, Hall of Fame quaterback
- David Ogden Stiers, actor of MASH fame
- Norv Turner, Head Coach, San Diego Chargers
- Mary Decker, long distance runner
- Mark Few, head basketball coach, Gonzaga
- Peter Jacobson, pro golfer
- John Madden, former football coach and TV color commentator

Cheerleading Scouting Report:
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Oregon Overview:

After a slow start out of the gate, the Ducks have become one of the hottest teams in college football. Their quick paced brand of offense combined with the explosive talent of Masoli and James, have made the Ducks a media favorite this year. Everyone enjoys seeing a team that can put up points, and Oregon can definitely do that.   
 
 
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Drew Thurman (11:10 pm)

The matchup everyone is anticipating in the Rose Bowl is Oregon's offense versus the Buckeye defense. The Ohio State defense has shut opponents down all season long, and comes into the game the 5th ranked defense in the country. The Ducks on the other side are averaging 424.7 yards and 37.7 points per game. While the Buckeye defense shouldn't be disrespected by anyone for what they have done this season (and they have been on many Oregon websites), fans do have to be honest in saying this team has not faced an offense like that of the Ducks.

Rather than spend tons of time talking about what either team has previously accomplished this season though, I want to take a look at what the defense needs to do to slow down the Oregon offense. It starts by understanding exactly what they do.

Chip Kelly and the Ducks, like all users of the spread offense, like to use the whole field to their advantage. That way they stretch the defenders out, and put pressure on each individual. What makes Oregon tougher to defend is their execution of the read option. This is a run first option, like that of Florida, which will throw tons of different looks at the defense. 
 
 
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Dave and Drew Thurman (11:45 am)

Mascot: Wolverine (AKA "Skunk Bear")
Stadium: Michigan Stadium (106,201)
Coach: Rich Rodriguez (2nd year at Michigan, 8-15; overall D-1, 68-41)
2008 Record: 3-9
2009 Record: 5-6
Base Offense: Spread
Base Defense: 3-4
Letterman: Returning - 50; Lost - 20
Returning Starters: Offense - 10, Defense - 5, Specialists - 1
Returning Stars: RB Brandon Minor, DE Brandon Graham (pictured)

Notable Alumni:

- Mike Wallace: Host of 60 Minutes
- Barry Larkin: former Cincinnati Red shortstop, 1995 NL MVP
- Branch Rickey: former owner of Dodgers who signed Jackie Robinson
- Larry Paige: co-founder of Google
- Tom Brady: former QB and two-time Superbowl MVP
- Edward Wright: Astronaut; first American to walk in space
- Michael Phelps: Olympic swimmer with 14 career gold medals
- Gerald Ford: 38th President of the United States
- Theodore Kaczynski: The Unabomber

Cheerleading Scouting Report:

For the sake of all parties involved we will skip this section this week, because the sight is too gruesome! 

Michigan Overview:

After a 4-0 start, including an upset of Notre Dame, everyone in Ann Arbor was drinking the Rich Rodriguez Kool-Aid. Things haven't been pretty since the early surge though, as the Wolverines have only one win against Delaware State (and no Big Ten victories since a win against IU 36-33 in week four). Their troubles haven't been because of a lack of offensive output though. They average 31.3 points per game to go along with 391 yards a game. When was the last you heard of a 5-6 team with those sorts of numbers? 
 
 
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Dave and Drew Thurman (11:56 am)

Mascot: Hawkeyes
Coach: Kirk Ferentz (11th year at Iowa, 79-54 overall, 1-5 vs. OSU)
2008 Record: 9-4 (Defeated South Carolina in Outback Bowl , 31-10)
2009 Record: 9-1
Base Offense: "I" Formation
Base Defense: 4-3
Letterman: Returning - 49; Lost - 22
Returning Starters: Offense - 6, Defense - 8, Specialists - 2
Returning Stars: LB Pat Angerer, S Tyler Sash

Notable Alumni:

- Tom Arnold, actor from Roseanne
- Tom Brokaw, TV anchor and author
- Bret Bielema, football coach, Wisconsin
- Dallas Clark, tight end, Indianapolis Colts
- George Gallup, founder of the Gallup poll
- Don Nelson, NBA player and coach
- Ashton Kutcher, actor

Cheerleading Scouting Report:
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Iowa Overview:

As much as the Buckeyes have felt snakebitten by injuries this season, the Hawkeyes have even more reason to complain. Before the season even started, their starting running back Jewel Hampton was lost for the season. Iowa moved on without him though, and found a star in redshirt freshman Adam Robinson. They would also lose him for the season after being injured against Michigan State. Then Ricky Stanzi went down in the first half against Northwestern last week, and all those injuries finally caught up with the Hawkeyes as they lost 17-10 to Northwestern. Their dreams of going to a National Championship were crushed after a 9-0 start.
 
 
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Dave and Drew Thurman (12:40 pm)

Mascot: Nittany Lions
Stadium: Beaver Stadium (107,282)
Head Coach: Joe Paterno (44th year at PSU, 391-128-3; vs OSU 8-12)
2008 Record: 11-2 (Lost to USC in Rose Bowl 38-24)
2009 Record: 8-1
Base Offense: Ace (3 Wide Receivers)
Base Defense: 4-3
Letterman: Returning - 37; Lost - 20
Returning Starters: Offense - 5, Defense - 4, Specialists - 1
Returning Stars: QB Daryll Clark; RB Evan Royster; LB Sean Lee

Notable Alumni:

-Lisa Salters, ESPN reporter
-Adam McKay, Screenwriter and director of Anchorman and Talladega Nights
-Herman Fisher, Co-founder of Fisher-Price toy company
-John Cappalletti, Heisman Trophy winning RB
-Mike Scioscia, MLB catcher and manager
-Franco Harris, NFL Hall of Fame running back
-Joseph Heller, Author of Catch-22

Cheerleading Scouting Report:
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Penn State Overview:

Saturday's game between the Nittany Lions and the Buckeyes was hyped as the game that would decide the Big Ten Champion before the season started. While this game will not necessarily decide that because Iowa is in the mix, it still has massive Big Ten implications. One would expect that this game is going to feature two of the nation's top defenses, and should be low scoring in nature. With that said, both teams do have talent on the offensive side of the ball, especially Penn State, who is very underrated as an offensive unit. They have played a pretty easy schedule thus far, but are still averaging 429 yards a game and 30 points a game. So yes, Penn State can put up points!
 
 
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Seth Smith is averaging 87.9 yards a game // Photo via nmstatesports.com
Dave and Drew Thurman (11:12 am)

Mascot: Aggies
Stadium: Aggie Memorial Stadium (30, 343)
2008 Record: 3-9
2009 Record: 3-5
Head Coach: DeWayne Walker (first year at NMSU, 3-5)
Letterman Returning: 44 (21 Lost)
Returning Starters: Offense - 5, Defense - 5, Specialist - 1
Base Defense: 4-3
Base Offense: Multiple Formations
Returning Stars: WR Marcus Anderson, LB Jason Scott

Notable Alumni:

Well, there aren't really any recognizable names on this list, so instead we are printing the words to their fight song which is unique to say the least:

Aggies, Oh Aggies
the hills send back the cry
we're to do or die!
Aggies, Oh Aggies
we'll win this game or know the reason why!
And when we win this game
we'll buy a keg of booze
and we'll drink it to the Aggies 'til we wobble in our shoes
A-G-G-I-E-S!
Aggies, Aggies, Go Aggies!
Aggies, Oh Aggies
the hills send back the cry
we're here to do or die!
Aggies, Oh Aggies
we'll win this game or know the reason why!

New Mexico State Overview:

Coming into the season the Aggies were expected to be bottom feeders in the WAC, and they have not disappointed. They have not beaten a quality opponent yet, and are coming off two crushing defeats to Louisiana Tech (45-7) and Fresno State (34-3). As you can expect based on those games, offense has been a struggle. The Aggies are averaging 13.2 points a game compared to their opponents' 28, and are only averaging 254.2 yards per game. 
 
 
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Dave and Drew Thurman (12:03 pm)

Mascot: Golden Gophers
Stadium: TCF Bank Stadium (50,000)
2008 Record: 7-6 (Lost to Kansas 42-21 in Insight Bowl)
2009 Record: 4-3
Head Coach: Tim Brewster (3rd year at Minnesota, 12-20)
Letterman Returning: 54 (21 Lost)
Returning Starters: Offense - 9, Defense - 8, Specialists - 0
Base Defense: 4-3
Base Offense: Ace (3 Wideouts)
Returning Stars: QB Adam Weber, WR Eric Decker (pictured)

Notable Alumni:

Bob Dylan - Singer/Songwriter
Hubert H. Humphrey - Former U.S. Vice President
Jessica Lange - Actress
Tony Dungy - NFL Player and Coach
Tom Lehman - PGA Golfer
Dave Winfield - MLB Hall of Famer
Kevin McHale - NBA Player
Yanni - Grammy-nominated pianist and composer

Cheerleading Scouting Report:
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Minnesota Overview:

Tim Brewster and company head into Columbus this Saturday, coming off a crushing 20-0 defeat at Penn State. Much like the Buckeyes on the other side of the ball, the Gophers are trying to get themselves established on the offensive. Against Penn State they would only put up 138 total yards, and really struggled trying to get the running game going. This has been a trend all year for Brewster's squad, and the offense has not looked sharp in the team's biggest games. In fact, they are being outgained on the ground and through the air by their opponents. Not a very positive sign for a winning team.