With exception to USC (because who feels like recalling that game anyway?), Ohio State plays what could very well be considered its most meaningful away game of the season just a few hours from now. Even with Wisconsin suffering a heartbreaker to Michigan last weekend, this remains an intriguing contest which has the potential to shed some light on some of the mysteries surrounding the Buckeyes.
One such mystery is the highly-touted true freshman quarterback whose name has been uttered incessantly by analysts around the nation, Terrelle Pryor. We're well aware of his high level of production thus far and how he has completely changed the philosophy of the offense, but starting your first road game within the confines of Camp Randall Stadium could intimidate the most confident of quarterbacks. The praise surrounding Pryor has been immense, and an important notion to keep in mind is that Pryor still has only started a pair of games for the scarlet & gray. Though Troy and Minnesota are respectable opponents, Pryor faces a far different challenge in facing a Wiconsin team that is no doubt looking to avenge its loss last weekend. The windows for throwing will be smaller, the time to make decisions will be shortened, and you can expect some more blitzing from Wisconsin's outside linebackers in an attempt to keep him in check.
Which brings us to our next topic. If Wisconsin plans on making the linebackers a focal point of their defensive approach, it could actually wind up making Chris Wells the key to Ohio State's offense. Pryor poses such a threat that in order to keep him contained, Wisconsin may have to consider linebacker help. This could soften up the middle and make the draw play very effective for Wells. It will be interesting to see how Ohio State attacks Wisconsin's defense and what they attempt to exploit.
But I believe the key to this game as a whole is Ohio State's defense; a unit I am still not sold on. Last week they played considerably better and I attribute that to a dramatic raise in intensity and aggression. Through the first four weeks of the season, the Buckeyes looked flat on defense; a complete reverse in trend when we think of the trademarks of past Ohio State defenses. However, last week we saw something from the defense we had not seen all year; pressure from the front four. Putting Thad Gibson at defensive end helped by default. Whenever Gibson has been out there, he has always found a way to be disruptive. Ohio State missed that disruption through the first four games and as a result, the secondary had little chance to be successful. Last week was a step in the right direction in terms of getting back that urgency and pressure, but Wisconsin's offensive line is a mammoth group of individuals. That matchup may be the key to the game for Ohio State. The Buckeyes will have to find a way to keep PJ Hill in check and make Wisconsin try to win the game with their air attack. Keep in mind, though the Buckeyes won considerably last year, PJ Hill was not in the lineup for Wisconsin. He may be a bigger factor in this game than many may be thinking.
You can mark it down, the tougher team is going to win this game. Ohio State has to take the crowd out of the game early and build upon that intensity that they recaptured against Minnesota last Saturday.
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