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OSU 'D' Executes Plan: Buckeyes Keep Irish Passing Game Bottled Up

Posted on: Tuesday, 3 January 2006, 15:00 CST

By Dan Zeiger, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz., The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Jan. 3--The announcement of the Fiesta Bowl's defensive player of the game had about as much suspense as a modern-day political convention.

Long before the recipient's name was actually announced on Monday, the Ohio State delegates at Sun Devil Stadium were making their choice clear, yelling "A.J.! A.J.! A.J.!" while flapping their arms like a hawk in flight.

With 12 tackles -- including 3 1 /2 for loss -- and two sacks against Notre Dame, workmanlike linebacker A.J. Hawk became the first player in the bowl's 35-year history to take home top defensive honors twice.

"I didn't notice it until the end," Hawk said of the flapping by teammates and fans. "It was something the guys on the team started a while back, and it's caught on." Hawk was the poster boy for the Buckeyes' defensive success, but keeping the Fighting Irish's potent offense in check was a complete effort by a unit that was missing one of its best performers.

Bobby Carpenter -- who with Hawk and Anthony Schlegel comprise the most acclaimed linebacking corps in the country -- did not play due to the broken leg he suffered in the Michigan game on Nov. 19.

Carpenter suited up and participated in pregame warmups, but said that the leg was not responding.

"I knew I probably wasn't going to be able to go," Carpenter said. "But the defense really got after it. They played their butts off. It was a great feeling watching them." The loss of Carpenter hurt less thanks to the style of the opposing offense. Notre Dame's wide-open passing attack enabled the Buckeyes to utilize an extra defensive back. As a result, they went most of the game with just two linebackers on the field.

With the Cover 3 look, Ohio State achieved its goal -- allow quarterback Brady Quinn his completions, but keep them short. After the Fighting Irish marched to a touchdown on their first possession, the Buckeyes' defense settled down.

"We knew it would be a four-quarter battle," said senior defensive end Mike Kudla, who had three sacks. "They are a great team, but I don't think a lot of people talked about our defense. . . .

"They got a good score, but we regrouped and played our normal way." During the regular season, Notre Dame averaged 38.2 points and 489.1 yards of offense. On Monday, the Fighting Irish were limited to 348 yards, and their 106 yards rushing were 48 below the 2005 average.

Quinn threw for 286 yards, but the big, damaging completions were few, as he averaged only 6.4 yards an attempt. In the second half, Quinn had perhaps the quietest 14 straight completions of his career.

"That was our game plan, to come out and pressure them," Hawk said. "If we could pressure him, we could make him get rid of the ball quickly."

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

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Source: The Tribune

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