[Lefty Noob]

Should the Buckeyes be on upset alert here against Northern Illinois? ESPN is really hyping up the NIU running back... could be a tougher game than it looks like for Ohio State. What do you guys think?

[Lefty Noob]

Well, the NIU RB, Garrett Wolfe, was as good as advertised, running for 172 yards and catching five passes for 115 yards and a TD. It wasn't enough, though, as the Buckeyes won the contest, 35-12. Troy Smith went 18-25 for 298 yards and three TDs, two of them to Ted Ginn Jr. and the third to Anthony Gonzalez. The OSU offense gained nearly 500 total yards, but then, the defense surrendered 324 yards to the Huskies offense as well. Any concerns about the D's performance in Week 1, guys?

[cjg11582]

It is worth taking into consideration going into Texas next Saturday, but Wolfe might be a bigger threat than any single offensive player UT can put on the field. The defense will only improve from last weeks performance, I only hope OSU can learn too stop those swing passes out of the backfield. They had difficulties stopping them in 2003 and 2004 (remember 2003 against NC State?), ideally they haven't regressed and containing the RB coming out of the backfield isn't problematic all season.

[AZAggie]

Originally Posted by cjg11582

It is worth taking into consideration going into Texas next Saturday, but Wolfe might be a bigger threat than any single offensive player UT can put on the field. The defense will only improve from last weeks performance, I only hope OSU can learn too stop those swing passes out of the backfield. They had difficulties stopping them in 2003 and 2004 (remember 2003 against NC State?), ideally they haven't regressed and containing the RB coming out of the backfield isn't problematic all season.

I don't know about Wolfe being better offensively than anyone Texas can throw out there. Their backs are great, especially Jamaal Charles, and they have very good wide receivers. Their backs don't get the pub that others do simply because they have so many and they steal time from each other.

[cjg11582]

I do agree with you about Jamaal Charles, he is exceptional (though there isn't a chance he produces close too 300 yards of offense on Saturday). However, I think Selvin Young is, for lack of a better term, awful. He reminds me of Lydell Ross.
Those receivers are serviceable, nothing to write home about. In the interest of full disclosure that Lima Sweed catch in the end zone from last year's game happened about 30 feet in front of me, so it is possible I am just bitter.
In my opinion,what should be the most celebrated unit for Texas is their O-line. That will be the biggest obstacle for OSU's defense, the secondary of Malcom Jenkins, Jamario O'Neal are fast enough to contain the receivers, ditto for the OSU linebackers and the UT running backs. The biggest question mark is whether or not the D-line can put pressure on McCoy (Who gets my nomination for greatest Texan Athlete name of all-time).