OHIO STATE FOOTBALL Pittman impressive as rushing attack improves

Antonio Pittman, a freshman from Akron, stole the show in Saturday's win.
By JOE SCALZO
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- No one knows how long Ohio State senior running back Lydell Ross will be suspended. The way freshman Antonio Pittman played on Saturday, it might not matter.
"We think Antonio is going to be a very good player," said Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel. "I think the more he plays, the better he's going to be."
Pittman got the first significant action of his career in Saturday's 30-7 win over Indiana and he made the most of it, rushing 20 times for 144 yards -- both career highs -- while scoring his first collegiate touchdown.
"I have been dreaming about that moment for a long time," Pittman said of the TD. "It was a great feeling."
By the numbers
Pittman entered the game with 31 carries for 171 yards and a team-high 5.5 yard average. Ross, who was suspended for Saturday's game for trying to use fake money at a Columbus strip club, had 94 carries for 373 yards (3.6 per carry).
When asked how many games Ross would miss, Tressel was mum.
"I really don't know," he said. "We were busy with other agendas when it came up and we'll address that at the proper time when we have some time."
Maurice Hall got the start on Saturday, but Pittman stole the show. Still, Tressel wasn't ready to commit to the freshman as the starter against Penn State.
"It's hard to tell," he said after Saturday's game. "We know we're going to have to play multiple backs. I think that's real. Who starts sometimes depends on what we are doing, but, gosh, I haven't really given any thought to Penn State other than I know that's who we play next."
Pittman's output -- the most by an OSU running back this season -- was the most by a Buckeye freshman since Maurice Clarett gained 230 against Washington State in September, 2002.
Like Clarett, Pittman graduated a semester early from high school (Akron Buchtel) to get an early start on the football season.
"It taught me the system and some of the blocking schemes and just allowed me to get my feet wet," Pittman said. "You know how fast it is and how hard they're going to hit because you see it in practice."
Comparison
Ross, who has been heavily criticized by Ohio State fans this season for his lack of production, doesn't seem to have Pittman's vision or his burst. Pittman still needs to work on his blocking, but he's impressed the Buckeye coaches with his football instincts.
"I think Antonio has good vision and he's got excellent lateral movement," Tressel said. "There are some guys that just ... they see things, and I think you wouldn't necessarily be able to draw up the defensive look and that kind of thing, but he can feel the bodies. And he can feel who's coming from where."
Hall added seven carries for 43 yards against Indiana as the Buckeyes rolled up 282 yards on the ground -- their most since a 27-16 win at Northwestern in 2002.
If they want to survive their brutal schedule, they'll need similar production in the coming weeks.
"Our running game is solid," Pittman said. "You've just got to give it a chance."
scalzo@vindy.com