Football
Ducks and Bucks Enjoy Some Play to Break up the Work of Game Preparation
Coleman says OSU Using Pryor to Emulate Masoli in scrimmages
By the-Ozone StaffOhio State and Oregon have arrived in Pasadena for final preparations for the Rose Bowl. They're also going to have a little fun.
The fun part started on Saturday as both teams enjoyed a day at Disneyland. Players from both squads rode rides and took in the sights at the world-renowned park.
"I met Mickey! I just want to ride some roller coasters. I'm a thrill seeker," declared OSU linebacker Austin Spitler on his plans for the day.
Mickey Mouse reacts to Chip Kelly's plug for Donald Duck as the chairman of the Rose Committee chuckles.
Photo by Jim DavidsonThe players had a fun day, but the fun wasn't limited to riding rides. Oregon Head Coach Chip Kelly had a little fun at the expense of one of Disney's star characters, the venerable Mickey Mouse. Mickey was on the podium with both head coaches when they were welcomed to the Magic Kingdom. Kelly took the opportunity to poke a little good natured fun at the famous rodent by putting in a plug for one of Mickey's Disney rivals.
"I'm a duck fan, sorry Mickey," quipped Kelly.
"If you can get your friend Donald up here we'd be a little more fired up," Kelly said, much to the dismay of Mickey.
The day was a fun one, but for the last three weeks it has been all work for the underdog Buckeyes in preparation for their meeting with the PAC-10 champions who averaged a whopping 37.7 points per game on offense this season. The key to that offense is quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Masoli passed for over 2000 yards while compiling a passing efficiency rating of 133.7. He was also Oregon's second-leading rusher. Much of OSU's preparation for the Oregon offense has centered on Masoli's skills which are very similar to those of OSU quarterback Terrelle Pryor. According to OSU defensive tackle Doug Worthington, the Buckeyes have tried to emulate Masoli's speed in practice by using wide receivers at quarterback. In scrimmage situations, however, they have taken an unusual step in an effort to get a feel for Masoli.
"Terrelle Pryor. I'd say he's a pretty good replica of him," said OSU safety Kurt Coleman when asked who the Buckeyes had emulating Masoli.
"When we had a chance to scrimmage against our offense it was pretty much a scrimmage against Oregon's. They (the Buckeye offense) simulated their (Oregon's) offense and they ran their plays so we could get a feel and the type of speed that it would be run at," said Coleman describing how the Buckeye coaching staff used Pryor to prepare the OSU defense.
The Oregon offense doesn't end with Masoli. Running back LaMichael James rushed for 1,476 net yards and a team-high 14 touchdowns. He is a big play threat who averaged 6.9 yards per carry.
Oregon's offense is balanced. It's also tricky, and that means the OSU defense will have to be disciplined.
"Staying assigned to your keys," said Spitler describing the key for OSU's defense.
"With the misdirection there's zone options, there's zone reads, they exploit defenses by people jumping in the wrong gaps. That's how they get their big plays.
"They've had a lot of big plays throughout the year, especially from LaMichael James. I think for us to stay disciplined and continue to pressure them with defensive line pressure, that's the key to success with this team."
Oregon will also go no-huddle, another challenge for the OSU defense.
"If a defense is not aware of it and not conscious of it you can get thrown off, especially with the no-huddle and fast pace, you won't be able to stay with that conditioned offense, but I think we've been pushing ourselves in practice to stay conditioned, to really be focused and prepared and be poised for what they're about to throw at us," said Spitler.
The Buckeyes were enjoying Disneyland on Saturday, but said they have worked very hard since the season ended trying to get ready for the Oregon no-huddle offense.
"In two or three weeks you prepare every situation," Spitler said.
"They put all these situations in practice for us each and every day just for that, so we're prepared just in case that happens.
"I think we'll be pretty basic in what we do. They do so many different things with their offense. They spread you out, they bring you in, and the misdirection stuff, so we're going to have to be simple in what we do and just attack them."
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