Fighting the Illinois Fighting Illini: Previewing the Ohio State Buckeyes
By Editorial Staff
Following a bye week during which the Illinois football team hopefully recovered from a ridiculous amount of injuries, it’s time to start looking at Saturday’s game gainst the #2 Ohio State Buckeyes.
On Wednesday, Writing Illini will continue to preview the Buckeyes, specifically via a question-and-answer session with the Ohio State fan blog Buckeye Battlecry.
As for now, here’s what we think of the Buckeyes.
How Ohio State Fared in 2009
The Buckeyes had a tremendous 2009 season, winning the Big Ten and the Rose Bowl, and finishing ranked 5th in the nation.
Ohio State averaged 29 points a game, posted 3 shutouts and held its opponents to an average of less than 13 points.
Ohio State was led by quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who returns this season as a leading Heisman candidate after winning the 2010 Rose Bowl MVP award.
In 2009, Ohio State lost to only then #3 USC and Purdue. In Columbus, the Buckeyes fell to the Trojans by three points after giving up a touchdown with less than a minute left in the fourth quarter. In West Lafayette, Ohio State committed 5 turnovers during an upset loss to the Boilermakers.
Ohio State’s most impressive wins were against #11 Penn State and #10 Iowa in consecutive weeks, and #7 Oregon in the Rose Bowl, the first time a Big Ten team has won the Rose Bowl since Michigan did so in 1998.
The Buckeyes lost 19 players from last year’s team, but seem to have done a good job of replacing them, which always seems to be the case in Columbus.
Through 4 games (all victories) in 2010, Ohio State is averaging 49 points per game while holding its opponents to 15 points.
The Buckeyes cruised to a 45-7 victory against Marshall in Week One, beat #12 Miami 36-24 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score indicated in Week Two, crushed Ohio 43-7 in Week Three, and went for 73 points during a 53-point win against Eastern Michigan last Saturday.
Illinois-Ohio State Football Series History
While lopsided, the Illinois-Ohio State series is one of the Big Ten’s protected historical rivalries.
The two teams have met 96 times since 1902, and the game became an official rivalry in 1925 when the Illibuck trophy was introduced.
Ohio State leads the overall series 62-30-4.
Since the Illibuck was introduced, the Buckeyes are 58-23-2.
However, since 1988, Illinois has had its fair share of wins, with the Illini going 9-11-0 during the 20-year stretch.
Illinois’ longest winning streak in the series occurred from 1988-1992, when the Illini won 5 in a row against the Buckeyes. However, Ohio State has the longest winning streak in the series, earning 14 victories in a row from 1968-1982.
The past three Illinois-Ohio State games have shown how varied the series can be from year to year.
In 2007, an unranked Illinois squad knocked off the #1 ranked Buckeyes in Columbus. The Illini used a late pick and several key fourth down conversions to pull off the 28-21 shocker en route to the 2008 Rose Bowl.
In 2008, the two teams engaged in a hard-fought meeting in Champaign, with the Buckeyes eventually prevailing 30-20.
In 2009, the Buckeyes demolished a struggling Illini squad, posting a 30-0 shutout in front of its home crowd.
While Illinois’ defense is better than last year’s squad, Ohio State’s offense has improved as well.
If Illinois wants to stand a chance this Saturday, it must do what the 2007 Illini and 2009 Boilermakers did to pull off stunning upsets: force turnovers.
This season’s Illinois defense has yet to force an interception, something that does not bode well as it prepares for one of the best teams in the nation.
Key Matchups
Illinois Defense vs. Terrelle Pryor
While Illinois must defend well against the Buckeye’s talented receivers and running backs, the key will be Pryor. When the junior Heisman candidate gets going, there is little you can do to stop him.
Last week, Pryor racked up 6 total touchdowns (4 passing, 1 rushing, and 1 receiving) against Eastern Michigan.
Through the first 4 games of 2010, Pryor has scored 14 times while committing only 2 turnovers.
If Illinois wants to stand a chance in this game, they must force him to throw bad passes, which is much easier said than done.
In addition to being one of the most mobile and elusive quarterbacks in the nation, Pryor has improved as a passer.
Against Northern Illinois, the Illini defense really struggled against containing the running game of Huskies’ quarterback Chandler Harnish, who the last time I checked wasn’t Terrelle Pryor.
Mikel Leshoure vs. the Ohio State Defensive Line
After 4 consecutive 110+ yard games, Leshoure is no longer an unknown running back, with defenses planning around the junior.
Ohio State will be the toughest defense Leshoure has faced this year, and unless the Illini get a decent passing game going (something that is unlikely seeing as how the team only attempted 16 passes against a mediocre NIU defense), the Buckeye linebackers will key in on the Illinois back early and often Saturday.
While Leshoure has shown that he is an above average back, backup Jason Ford and quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase should allow the Illini to post some decent rushing numbers.
Of course, Illinois is going to need to get in manageable third downs (e.g., 3rd and 3), when Leshoure can be relied upon heavily.
During the Illini’s final drive against Northern Illinois, Leshoure was implored by new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino to put the game on his back.
Leshoure certainly came through, scoring a touchdown that put the Illini up by 9 and essentially sealed the victory.
This weekend, Illinois will need to control the time of possession game with the rushing abilities of Leshoure, Scheelhaaese, Ford and even Troy Pollard in spurts.
Illinois Turnover Differential vs. Ohio State Turnover Differential
This battle will most likely decide the game. Illinois comes in at -5 while Ohio state is at +5.
Illinois must not only force the Buckeyes to give up the rock, but they must keep from doing so themselves.
While Scheelhaase will start, don’t be surprised to see Eddie McGee under center at some point during the game, although McGee did throw two bad picks against Southern Illinois and is nursing an ankle injury.
One thing that has been clear thus far in 2010 is that the Illini coaches are reluctant to let Scheelhaase air it out.
For the most part, Scheelhaase has been a runner as opposed to a passer, though he did make some key throws in the SIU and NIU victories after throwing three picks during the season-opening loss to Missouri.
Scheelhaase’s ability to maintain possession of the football, whether throwing or scrambling, will be huge as to whether Illinois can make it a game against the Buckeyes.
Three Illini Players To Watch
Running Back Mikel Leshoure
As mentioned above, Leshoure has a lot resting on his shoulders this game, though Scheelhaase’s scrambling abilities will ease the load a bit.
With the defense keying in on Leshoure, the junior back will likely have a much harder time breaking free for the big plays.
However, with the Illini likely to run a lot of dual back plays, making Scheelhaase and Ford rushing threats as well, don’t count Leshoure out.
If Leshoure has a big game against the Buckeyes, even if Illinois loses, he will see his Big Ten player of the Year stock and Doak Walker ranking increase.
Cornerback Travon Bellamy
The senior defensive back is second on the team in total tackles and pass deflections, and leads the team in tackles for a loss and sacks.
Bellamy will likely be covering Pryor’s favorite target, Dane Sanzenbacher, for most of the game. Sanzenbacher caught all 4 of Pryor’s touchdown passes against EMU.
If Bellamy can limit Sanzenbacher, he will go a long way towards helping the Illini’s chances.
Punter Anthony Santella
Santella, who is still second in the nation in average punt distance, has proved invaluable to the Illini so far this season.
Santella will likely see his most action to date this weekend, and the Illini will be counting on him to pin the Buckeyes deep in their own territory to help out the Illini defense.
While many other Big Ten teams, including Ohio State, have struggled on special teams, Illinois must continue to be strong on punt coverage to keep the Buckeyes in check.
Alright.
Until Wednesday’s additional preview of the Buckeyes.
Coming tomorrow, the NFL Week Three roundup of former Illini players.