 "Photo: David Heasley")
Everyone knows winning football games in the Jim Tressel era at Ohio State is not always going to be pretty - or easy.
But even if OSU does not blow out a lot of teams, as many fans expected or hoped the No. 9 Buckeyes would do to San Diego State Saturday, neither do the Buckeyes let anyone push them around.
The defense will not allow it.
More than compensating for an inconsistent offensive showing, the Buckeyes' defense shut down a high-octane Aztec attack that racked up more than 400 yards of total offense in each of its first two showings to lead OSU to a 27-6 win.
Plugging the run and consistently putting heat on the quarterback, OSU limited the Aztecs (0-3) to three first downs and 179 yards of total offense, a figure significantly skewed by an 80-yard touchdown pass on the game's opening play.
"Obviously after the first play of the game, our defense dominated the football game," Tressel said. "The defense just decided, no more of that, and they shut them down."
If there are still questions about the offense after the third game of the season - OSU managed only two scoring drives of more than 32 yards against a porous Aztecs defense - this defense is as good as advertised.
Its lone lapse occurred just 11 seconds into the game. A stunned crowd of 104,533 watched as a seemingly harmless screen pass to wideout Brett Swain saw the sophomore break through the secondary and race 80 yards down the right sideline for the score.
"It was just us being caught a little off guard," said senior linebacker Bobby Carpenter. "I think everyone was in shock. After the first play, it was like 'All right, they're ready to play'... But we looked at each and said, 'Hey, we're a better team than these guys. We're going to go out there and we're going to dominate.'"
And dominate they did.
On San Diego State's 13 ensuing drives, OSU's defense forced nine three-and-outs, not once allowing the Aztecs to penetrate into OSU territory.
"It was an electrifying start, but without any follow up," said San Diego State coach Tom Craft.
And it was the defense that picked up the offense after a critical turnover in the second quarter gave San Diego State new life.
Leading 7-6 after a 14-yard touchdown run by junior quarterback Troy Smith, OSU drove 75 yards to the Aztecs' 1-yard line where senior tailback Brandon Schnittker, in an ill-advised attempt to stretch the ball through a mound of bodies over the goal line, fumbled into the arms of Aztec junior cornerback Donny Baker.
But as a disheartened offense left the field, the defense encouraged its teammates, confident it would get the ball back. Three plays later, the defense forced a punt, giving OSU a short field at the Aztecs 32. An inspired offense cashed in with Smith's second touchdown rush of the day.
14-6 OSU. Game over.
Just to seal it, the defense created a little offense itself. In the waning moments of the third quarter, senior linebacker Anthony Schlegel recovered a botched option pitch at the Aztecs' 1-yard line, setting up a Schnittker touchdown run on the next play.
"Even though we lost to Texas, we still knew we were a good defense," said junior safety Donte Whitner. "We can pretty much stop anything. Once we take away the run, we make them one-dimensional."
The offense was another story.
Smith, who got the starting nod over fellow junior Justin Zwick, rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns, but his arm left much to be desired. Smith finished the day completing 14-of-26 passes for 149 yards, but his throws were often erratic and he consistently attempted to force balls through double and triple coverage, which led to one interception.
"I feel good about getting the W, but I don't feel good offensively with my performance," Smith said. "Things need to improve. I believe every time we go on the field we should score at least 42 points. We have the weapons to do that."
OSU displayed decent offensive balance, spreading the ball to eight receivers, six with three or more receptions, but once again the main threats were silenced. Sophomore flanker Ted Ginn Jr., who entered the season as a Heisman frontrunner, and junior wideout Santonio Holmes were held to a combined 79 yards on seven catches.
OSU will try to work out its offensive kinks this week as the Buckeyes gear up for Saturday's Big Ten opener against No. 21 Iowa, a team that trounced the Buckeyes 33-7 last year in Iowa City.
"They whacked us pretty good last year," Smith said. "This is a different team and a different year, but we'll keep that in the back of our minds. We'll remember that."
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