Focus is on OSU....no apologies for that
1. In games of 5+ carries, OSU running back Chris Wells is averaging 122 yards a game, which is 13th in the nation. He's four yards short of 1,000 yards after being benched in four of the first 9 games at halftime because of blowouts.
2. Todd Boeckman is #3 in the nation in passing efficiency, with a 164.3 rating. Boeckman throws the highest percentage of touchdown passes of any of the top 10 QB's in rating in the nation.
3. The standard Buckeye goals of rushing for 200 yards and passing for 250 yards a game was only met once last year with the #1 offense in the nation. This year, that figure has already been eclipsed twice.
4. Penn State was among the nation's leaders in forcing punts, forcing teams to kick it away 7.5 times a game. Against OSU, we didn't punt a single time the entire game. Only the 2nd time Penn State was unable to force a team to punt in 25 years at home.
5. OSU ranks 10th in the nation in the key 3rd down conversion percentage category, converting 49% of the time. Guess what that figure was last year with the #1 offense in the nation? 49%.
6. OSU is outscoring their opponents in the 1st quarter 90-9 this year. Because of Tressel's class when it comes to running up the score, OSU's scoring is a very similar 88 points in the 2nd quarter, before falling off with the 2nd and 3rd teamers in the 3rd and 4th quarters to the tune of 70 and 63 points. The OSU starters score 39 points per game based on their average scoring per quarter when they are in the game.
7. Here's a test. I'll tell you the stats of 5 QB's, based on 13 game projections so you can compare the group. Then we'll identify them.
A: 164.3 rating, 65.3% comp. %, 2542 yards, 30 TD's, 6 INT. (Solid rating and comp. %, lowest yardage totals, but solid TD/INT ratio.)
B: 176.5 rating, 65.8% comp. %, 2921 yards, 27 TD's, 5 INT. (Top rating w/ a solid comp. %, solid yardage and TD/INT ratio, despite lowest TD's.)
C: 131.4 rating, 61.0% comp. %, 3650 yards, 29 TD's, 12 INT. (Lowest rating, comp. %, and TD/INT ratio, despite most yards. Most INT's.)
D: 161.9 rating, 66.5% comp. %, 2599 yards, 30 TD's, 12 INT. (Solid rating w/ highest comp. %, low yardage, but solid TD's.)
E: 156.6 rating, 65.3% comp. %, 3322 yards, 33 TD's, 6 INT. (One of lower ratings, solid comp. %, best in TD/INT ratio w/ 2nd most yards.)
"A" is 2006 Heisman Trophy winner, Troy Smith.
"B" is Tim Tebow in 2007.
"C" is Heisman front runner Matt Ryan.
"D" is OSU QB Todd Boeckman.
"E" is 2004 Heisman winner Matt Leinart.
That's interesting, isn't it? Boeckman's stats are 6 INT's off Heisman winner, Troy Smith's pace. Is Tebow even the best player on his team (Percy Harvin)? Boeckman's beating Matt Ryan is every category but yardage, who is everyone's Heisman guy this year (until this Saturday against Oregon). It the award goes to the MVP of a surprise team, wouldn't Boeckman, who is lining himself up for a 1st team All-Big Ten selection over Chad Henne and Anthony Morelli, get consideration if OSU runs the table again and gets into the title game? After all, he has identical stats to Troy Smith. Just a thought. Doesn't really matter, because even if he doesn't, he's only a junior and you'll see him back, along with 95% of the rest of the starters, in 2008.
8. Is there an SEC bias in the country? Hmmm... Consider this. The SEC has more teams in the polls than any other conference, but out of that group, four teams have 3 or more losses already (Florida, Auburn, South Carolina, and Tennessee). Some of these teams are ranked above a two loss Wisconsin that was a preseason top 10 team, too. Do you realize that the SEC is going to march a three loss team into their conference championship with a shot at LSU if Georgia doesn't go (Tennessee controls their own destiny)? That means that either a three loss team will win the "Greatest Conference on the planet" or the 2nd best team in the Conference will have FOUR losses going into their bowl game!!!!! But Mark May says they are the best conference in the land because of team speed. Its not about wins and losses people. Its about what the teams look like on paper. I mean, come on. Who wouldn't pick a Florida Gator team that has a season full of hype, the 50th ranked defense in the nation, no running back of any note (unless you count Harvin who has been moved there 50% of the time), and who runs the old fashion "T" formation because they run with their QB more than any other team in the nation, to beat the #1 team in the nation (OSU) who also sports the #1 defense in the nation. They're from the SEC, folks. And its not about wins and losses anymore. Its all about what's on paper and the imagination of "Conference Speed"... Tell that to the 7 favorites in the last 9 National Championship games that were ranked #1, but got beat. That's why they play the games.
9. As a final note, in what is often called a "bad conference", OSU is #1 in the following categories: scoring offense, scoring defense, passing defense, rushing defense, total defense, net punting, passing efficiency, defensive passing efficiency, opponents first downs, red zone defense, and third down conversions. Not bad for a team that has benched their starters in the 3rd quarter or sooner in 1/2 of their games so far. Tell Mark May.
10. As a final reminder, OSU will return their top three QB's (and may add #1 overall high school prospect and Vince Young clone, Terrelle Pryor, to that mix), their top four RB's (with another super recruit), their top 5 WR's, both TE's, and at least 8 of their 10 best O-lineman (9 of 10 if Boone doesn't go pro early). On defense, they will return all eight of their top D-lineman unless Gholston goes pro early, 9 of their top 10 LB's (unless Laurinitis goes pro early), and their top 8 in the secondary unless Malcolm Jenkins goes pro early. Current belief is that Boone, Jenkins, and Gholston go early and Laurinitis stays another year.
Not a bad start. If they win out this year, even if they lose the Title game, guess who will be #1 in 2008 again? OSU, who will return 95% of a team that has won 30 regular season games in a row and been to back to back National Title games. Oh, and they are bringing in the best recruiting class I have ever seen OSU have. More on that another time.