Game 11 | November 10 Ohio Stadium, Columbus, OH 3:30 PM ET on ABC Illinois (7-3, 4-2) vs. #1 Ohio State (10-0, 6-0) Keys to the Game: Jump on Illinois early. We cannot let them hang in the game and give them any chance in believing they can beat us. Illinois is no slouch of a team. They are young, talented, and certainly have game changing ability. We must be able to shut down Juice Williams and their running game. That's there strong point in there offense. They would rather run the ball not pass it. If we can stop the run we stand a very good chance at winning. Keep there offense off the field. Like usual, we must win the turn over margin. Turn overs kill any teams chance at winning. If our defense can force some fumbles and interceptions that will set our offense up in great field position with a good shot at scoring touchdowns. Play Ohio State Buckeye defense. It's not secret we have one (if not the best) defenses in the nation. Open field tackles will need to be sharp with there speed. Your thoughts and ideas? h_sign:
I agree 150%. We need to shut down Mendenhall and Williams. Not to mention that their back up Qb is just as good if not better than Juice. The only difference is the experience level.
No chance for Illinois....this is Senior Day in the 'Shoe. Though our seniors aren't as monumental as the last few years, our guys won't let senior day be ruined for guys like Barton
Yeah, J Leman is a nice LB and could give the running game problems. We'll need to get a man on him at all times, maybe use Johnson and Whaley at FB a lot more than usual. Illinois has talent on offense, but young and the emotions of senior day at the Shoe the week before The Game will be too much for Illinois. Ohio State - 34 Illinois - 13 This game kinda scares me next year, though. We've struggled in Champagne and Illinois will be better.
I hope we don't have a trap game here. Looking ahead to THE GAME! That is my only major concern. Illinois IS a good team, but I think we beat them 9.9 out of 10 right now. Unless we come out thinking that way i.e. the NC last year, and the jump on us early and we get spanked.
The Bucks had their scare last Saturday in the 3rd quarter against Wisconsin. We proved we can respond. Nothing left to prove there. I don't need to see that again against Illinois. Let's hope we have our 2nd string in by the middle of the 3rd quarter and we blow out the Illini early and avoid any injuries.
I think the key matchup in this game is Mendenhall vs. Laurinaitis/Freeman. The linebackers will be huge because they need to stop the big play from the Illini.
Seriously, when was the last time a 1-dimensional team beat Ohio State? I'm guessing sometime in the mid 1980s. You have to have offensive balance to beat Ohio State. Even if we have a rash of turnovers and trick plays, I just don't see how Illinois can win. Is it really that hard to find a decent QB to recruit to Illinois? Surely there must be someone at at High School in Peoria or Naperville that can throw the ball with some kind of consistency.
Don't overestimate Juice Williams, their dynamic QB. He can and will run and has the ability to pass the ball. If they are able to run against us, play action will be deadly for them.
Yep! And Juice is a HECK of a QB!!!! If anything I think he is underrated. And to bad he doesn't have a great coach to learn from. I think Zook will do a lot there, but not great enough to truly develop talent. And Juice didn't have anyone to learn from ala Troy and Todd.
I see Juice having a tough day. Gholston is gonna rush him and he will break free for some yards a few times, but he will get sacked at least 4 times. Also, I think he will make some bad throws under pressure and Jenkins or Washington will pick him off.
I agree he's prone to make mistakes especially when he's under pressure. So we need to be in his face all game long.
You guys notice how few posts there are here re. the Illinois game as opposed to some of theother games we have played? I wonder if this is a sign of larger things, that the Buckeyes are overlooking this game and are already thinking about Michigan?
fans might be overlooking this game, but from all the comments so far from the team this week, that does not seem to be the case.