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Thursday, October 1, 2009
Piqua’s Saine expected to start for OSU
Doug Lesmerises of The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported today that running back Brandon Saine, a junior from Piqua High School, is expected to start on Saturday, Oct. 3, against Indiana.
Saine has shared time at running back this season with Dan Herron. Herron, though, is recovering from an ankle injury he suffered scoring his second touchdown against Illinois last Saturday.
From Lesmerises:
Sidelined for most of the second half after his injury, Herron finished with 14 carries for 75 yards against Illinois, while Saine carried 13 times for 81 yards.
On the season, Herron has 64 carries for 233 yards, a 3.6 yard average, and five touchdowns. Saine has 32 carries for 181 yards, a 5.7 yard average, and no touchdowns.
“With Brandon, it was six of one and a half dozen of the other whether it was he or [Herron],” Tressel said. “They’re both good. There’s not one thing that one does that the other can’t do.”
Saine has yet to have that breakout game to showcase his significant speed at Ohio State. He has been hampered at times by injury, but perhaps his entrance into the starting lineup will give him an extra boost for that long touchdown that was a staple at Piqua but hasn’t made the highlight reel at Ohio State.
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OSU key: No red zone
Two straight shutouts have helped Ohio State in the national defensive rankings, but there’s one area in which the Buckeyes have struggled: Red zone defense.
The Buckeyes are one of 10 teams that have allowed scores on each of their opponents’ red zone possessions.
For Ohio State, that only includes five red zone possessions, although those drives that ended in four touchdowns and a field goal.
It could be worse, of course. Louisiana-Monroe has allowed scores on each of its opponents’ 16 red zone possessions. And the Buckeyes have clearly kept opponents from many strong drives if there have only been five in the red zone.
When the red zone comes, though, Ohio State needs to be stingier to stay impressive defensively.
