As the Buckeyes prepare to wrap up their 2010 non-conference schedule this weekend by hosting Eastern Michigan, coach Jim Tressel met with the media Tuesday with many questions about his mindset facing the underdog Eagles.

Eastern Michigan hasn’t won a game since Nov. 28, 2008, so an Ohio State victory seems to be a forgone conclusion by most. But in typical Tressel fashion, the OSU head-man said his guys need to stay focused.

“(EMU) coach, (Ron) English, can see a lot of progress simply on the practice field and understanding of his guys, so he’s going to bring a team over here that’s better than we’ve ever seen, and to me, that’s real,” he said. “And now we’ve got to be a better team on Saturday than anyone has ever seen of us, and that’s how we’ll attack it as we go to work this afternoon, and I feel good about this group’s willingness to do that.”

Despite their 0-15 record over the last two years, senior defensive back Tyler Moeller said playing in the Horseshoe against the Buckeyes is going to motivate the Eastern Michigan players.

“We know the team that we see on tape is not the team that we are going to get,” Moeller said. “The games that they lost, they didn’t lose by a big margin, and we know that the teams that come to our stadium are going to give us their best.”

Depleted defense

After losing starting safety C.J. Barnett two weeks ago against Miami, OSU’s defense continues to be plagued with injuries.

Cornerback Travis Howard and linebacker Dorian Bell will both miss Saturday’s contest, while cornerback Donnie Evege will be out for “a significant number of weeks,” Tressel said.

Tressel said linebacker Andrew Sweat and running back Carlos Hyde should return from injury and will play Saturday.

Stifling defense

Even with injuries, the Buckeye defense continues to be impressive and serve as a cornerstone for this OSU team.

Tressel said he is pleased with the state of his defense, which forced eight three-and-outs and five turnovers against Ohio University.

And although the Buckeye defense currently ranks No. 7 nationally in total defense and No. 1 in turnover margin, Moeller said there is still work to be done.

“The one thing that we talk about every game is: we need to improve on tackling,” Moeller said. “Last week we were 90 percent and we always want to get that up and get better and be one of the best tackling teams out there.”

Eastern Michigan not afraid to bring the blitz

Tressel said he expects a fast Eastern Michigan defense to blitz plenty.

“They’re slowly trying to upgrade their personnel and it only has one speed, and it’s fast and it’s straight ahead,” Tressel said. “They are going to blitz you like crazy when you have the ball. If you’re punting, they’re going to send 10 or 12 guys, it looks like. They’re going to do everything a hundred miles an hour, and so you are going to have to be prepared for everything that they bring at you.”

Tight end, Jake Stoneburner, said facing a heavy blitz could be beneficial.

“We haven’t done too well, sometimes, at picking up the blitz,” Stoneburner said. “And with a team that blitzes a lot, you can really study it and see where your guys are at with picking that up, and that can be a teaching point for the rest of the year.”

Pryor on a hot streak

Setting a school record with 16 consecutive completions in the first half against Ohio University, quarterback Terrelle Pryor has continued his progression toward being a top-tier quarterback.

“I don’t think any of us knew we had a consecutive string going, but we felt good that we were moving down the field,” Tressel said. “As we’ve said to you all along, (with) every one of these game experiences, Terrelle’s getting a little bit better and a little more experienced.”

Continuing special teams woes

While the OSU special teams unit didn’t give up any points against the Bobcats, deficiencies still remained. Giving up a long-return touchdown on a kickoff, which was eventually nullified by a penalty and suffering a blocked punt, the Buckeye special teams are still a point of emphasis for the squad.

And even though a few special teams lapses remained, Tressel said he thinks they are making progress.

“Special teams-wise, I thought we made a couple steps,” he said. “We had the one long kickoff return, which we had one lane that wasn’t really filled just right, and then the other push in the back. Then all of a sudden, it was out the gate.”

“But as the kicks went on, I thought our fundamentals and techniques got a little bit better there.”

Establishing the ground game

Maintaining more of a balanced offense between the run and pass this year, Tressel said he is still pleased with his team’s running back play, despite not having a back rush for more than 100 yards since the season opener against Marshall.

“I think (Brandon) Saine and (Dan) ‘Boom’ (Herron) have been very solid,” Tressel said. “I think Jordan (Hall), if he’s in the game, he’s fine. Jamaal Berry is coming along, he’s getting some reps in practice and also has been fortunate enough to have some snaps in games.”

The OSU offense is averaging more than 206 yards per game on the ground. Saturday has the potential to be a big day for the Buckeye backfield, facing an Eagle defense that gives up more than 250 yards rushing per contest