Media Credit: Kenny Greer/The Lantern
Donald Washington returns an interception for 34 yards during the second quarter of Saturday's game against Minnesota.Minnesota entered Saturday's game with the nation's fourth-best turnover ratio. Following two fumbles and an interception, that ranking will likely plummet faster than Southern California after an upsetting loss to Oregon State.
Ohio State's defensive front was relentless in applying pressure on quarterback Adam Weber and the Gophers' offensive line, resulting in three turnovers and a number of hurried plays. Minnesota entered the game with just one turnover, while forcing 13 of its own.
"We tried to get after it all day," senior linebacker Curtis Terry said. "If you can get into the backfield and apply pressure and make the quarterback throw it before he's ready, you're going to create opportunities. We always try to push every play because you never know what's going to open up."
Weber entered the contest as one of the Big Ten's most efficient passers, completing nearly 72 percent of his passes for an efficiency rating of 164.8. But the Buckeye's defense held the sophomore to just 187 yards on 23 completions for an average of 5.2 yards per catch.
Media Credit: Kenny Greer/The Lantern
Thadeus Gibson pushes past a Minnesota offensive lineman as he chases Gophers' quarterback Adam Weber. Junior safety Anderson Russell proved to be the Gophers' biggest nuisance on defense, as he forced a career-high two fumbles and recorded seven tackles. It was his fumble recovering in the second quarter, however, that changed the momentum of the game.
"When the guy caught the ball, Malcolm [Jenkins] was the first guy to hit him," Russell said. "I just went in trying to strip the ball and I expected them to blow the whistle since he stopped, but I guess one of his players hit him from behind and pushed the pile forward while he was standing. Then Kurt [Coleman] came in and smacked him hard - I just fell on the ball."
Under pressure
While Russell and sophomore Donald Washington received the most praise for their fumble recovery and interceptions, it was Ohio State's pressure up front that truly sparked the three turnovers.
Earlier this week Ohio State coach Jim Tressel elected to adjust the rotation of his defensive line, including the shifting of sophomore Thaddeus Gibson to defensive end and sophomore Cameron Heyward to tackle. The result: five tackles for losses and a pair of sacks.
"The best thing to do is just play aggressive and stay in your gap," Gibson said. "The defense is designed for everyone to make plays. It's just doing your job and hopefully you can make that big play."
One of the players who constantly broke through the backfield was true-freshman Nate Williams, who recorded his first career-sack midway through the third quarter. Williams, a Miami Trace High School graduate, played in approximately 20 snaps - which was more than he had in the previous four games.
"I've gotten more comfortable lately and I know the playbook, so I just feel comfortable," Williams said. "I'm not thinking anymore, I know I'm going on every play."
Williams was one of the many players asked by the Ohio State coaching staff to switch positions, as he moved from linebacker to defensive end - and even a little tackle.
"Coach is always moving me around and I'm still learning," Williams said. "I mean, sometimes he puts me at tackle - I don't play tackle. I just use my speed to get around blockers, so I guess that helps me out more than anything."
Senior co-captain James Laurinaitis believes it's Williams' relentless attack that has made him so successful.
"I think with Nate, he's a guy that's a high-motor kind of guy," Laurinaitis said. "He may not know every little detail of what he's doing sometimes, he just goes out there and goes, and he's a hundred percent. I think that in itself, you don't think and you just go play football and you make plays that way."
When asked about his feelings after his first career-sack, Williams couldn't stop beaming.
"I couldn't get the smile off my face," Williams joked. "When I went to the sideline I gave [Jim] Heacock a high-five, but I didn't want to smile too much because it's all serious on the sideline. He told us in practice if he caught us smiling he would give us something.
But as soon as I got that sacked I looked up to the stands and saw my dad high-fiving people, so that was a real special moment for me."
Ground attack
In his much-anticipated return to the gridiron, Chris "Beanie" Wells didn't disappoint. The junior tailback, who missed the last three games due to a jammed foot, carried the ball 14 times for 108 yards.
"At first I was nervous and anxious," Wells said. "Once I got my first big gain, I felt comfortable again. I just want to keep going. I can carry the ball as many times possible."
Wells matched his jersey number with two carries of 28 yards, with the second leaving no doubt that he has recovered from a nagging foot injury. Wells hurdled over a Minnesota defender with fewer than three minutes remaining in the second quarter to set up an Ohio State scoring drive.
But Wells wasn't the only successful Buckeye in the backfield, as freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor nearly broke the 100-yard mark as well.
Pryor utilized a new offensive game plan that focused on option passes and quarterback keepers, resulting in a dominating duo behind the offensive line.
"The offense is in a little of a transition, but I think it's for the good," junior wide receiver Brian Hartline said. "I think it's the best way to go, it gives the quarterback a lot more options on the run."
Freshman tailback Dan Herron also chipped in with 52 yards after toting the ball 10 times.
Ohio State finished the game with 291 rushing yards on 37 carries.
Matt Gottfried can be reached at gottfried.35@osu.edu.
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