It was a nightmare.
It was the first big game for Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and a chance for a maligned senior quarterback to answer critics.
What it turned into was a 13-6 loss to UCLA without an offensive point and a passing line that read five completions in 23 attempts, 45 yards and two interceptions.
“We’ve got to get what we need out of the (quarterback) position and I really don’t get caught up in who,” Tressel said. “I’m disappointed we haven’t got what we need. We need to start getting that, we’ve got to keep moving forward and find out who that is.”
“If we graded last week, we didn’t grade what we call a winning performance,” he said.
It’s rare that 135 feet of passing will make a quarterback and his coach feel confident. It’s safe to say OSU again has a quarterback controversy, something that has been a staple at OSU since Joe Germaine left for the NFL.
While Tressel said no decision has been made on Saturday’s starter against Indiana, it seems backup quarterback Scott McMullen will have a chance to win a job.
“We’re in a real evaluative state right now,” Tressel said. “I’ve been pleased with (McMullen’s) last two weeks. I’ve been pleased with some of things (Bellisari’s) shown over his career and the last eight months. Those are the guys that are going to get the bulk of the snaps this week. Then I think we have to evaluate.”
Although that evaluation process on Saturday may be a grooming process for a new starting quarterback.
“It wouldn’t have surprised me if (McMullen) would have seen (playing time) this past weekend. I’ve been pleased with the way Scott has practiced,” Tressel said.
“I think we have guys that have the ability to do what we need done at the quarterback position. Does that mean there won’t be a growth cycle in it? No, there will be just like there is with young lineman, young kickers and young coaches,” Tressel said.
As pathetic as the offensive effort was, the defense stepped up and dominated DeShaun Foster and the Bruin offense.
“I think we had nine or 10 players on defense who had winning performances,” Tressel said. “When that happens that’s means you did a great job. But I think you have to stop short and say ‘Randle-El,’ we haven’t faced the likes of (Antwan Randle-El, Indiana’s wide receiver/quarterback) and the likes of Northwestern and whoever lies down the road.”
OSU senior linebacker Joe Cooper hasn’t given up on the offense.
“We have confidence in our guys on offense, that they can get the job done,” Cooper said. “(Indiana is a) very big game, a first step, in trying to get the Big Ten ring.”
The process of finding answers will begin Saturday for Tressel and the Buckeyes.
“Someone said ‘Are you going to find out who you are in this game?’ and I thought well maybe that’s something we may find out. The same person said after watching the game ‘I don’t know if we found out who we are but we may have found out where we are in some areas.’ We need to get a lot better in some areas. We are pleased in many areas.”
Bellisari was not present at yesterday’s press conference.
