Quinn poses challenge to Buckeyes

Ohio State must pressure the quarterback to make the Irish one-dimensional.
By ROB TODOR
VINDICATOR SPORTS EDITOR
Brady Quinn's numbers have been staggering.
The Notre Dame quarterback threw for six touchdowns against BYU and five against Michigan State.
His passing percentage for the season is a nick under 65 percent, yet he averages nearly 14 yards per completion.
Quinn's touchdown to interception ratio is better than 4-to-1, and despite having attempted 405 passes in 2005, the junior from Dublin, Ohio, was sacked just 15 times.
What all those impressive numbers add up to is, the Ohio State defense will face one of its most difficult tests of the season on Jan. 2 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
"Their offense seems like they can run everything out of anything," said Buckeyes' junior defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock. "[Quinn] is very good and very accurate. He sits back and waits for plays to develop [but] I've only seen a few sacks on him this year."
Big numbers
Against BYU, Quinn was 32-of-41 (78 percent) for 467 yards and the aforementioned six touchdown strikes.
He found senior wide receiver Jeff Samardzija 10 times for 152 yards and two scores in that game, a 49-23 Irish victory that put Quinn at the forefront for the 2006 Heisman Trophy.
Even in defeat, Quinn has been pretty good. Against Michigan State (a 44-41 setback), he was 33-of-60 for 487 yards and the five TDs.
In the 34-31 defeat to Southern California, Quinn was 19-of-35 for 264 yards.
"He has all of the physical tools," said Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk, whose social life (he's been dating Quinn's sister) has drawn a lot of unwanted publicity. "He is tall, strong and very quick. He is also very smart.
"He has done a great job playing in their system. He seems to control the game very well."
But, the one common theme throughout the season has been pressure. Opposing defenses were much more successful when they could pressure Quinn.
Nine of the 15 sacks against him this season came in three games -- Michigan, Michigan State, USC -- and represented three of Quinn's four worst games, statistically, of the season.
"We're just going to [have to] keep the pressure on him," Pitcock said. "If you keep pressuring, he'll make a mistake sooner or later."
Buckeyes' challenge
The Buckeyes hope to make Notre Dame's offense one-dimensional. To do that, they must contain the Fighting Irish running game and their tailback, Darius Walker. The sophomore from Lawrenceville, Ga., rushed for 1,106 yards this season and prevented opposing defenses from concentrating solely on Quinn and the passing game.
"We want to start with a basic game plan," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "[The] defense wants to stop the run."
In their season-ending win over Michigan, the Buckeyes did just that, holding the Wolverines to 32 yards on the ground. That performance solidified Ohio State's standing in the NCAA rankings as the toughest defense against the run.
For the season, the Buckeyes allowed an average of just 74.5 yards per game rushing.
"When you look at their defense as a whole, they're sound physically, fundamentally, in the way they play," said Quinn of Ohio State. "When you look at them on film, there's really nothing that stands out that makes you think you can take advantage of that. They're just solid all around."
Ohio State has also been able to get after opposing quarterbacks. The Buckeyes set a school record with 12 sacks against Michigan State's Drew Stanton and had 39 on the season.
"You see they don't really bring much pressure, yet [they] still have a lot of penetration [against] the offensive line," Quinn said. "Whether it's with the running game or passing game they try to create a lot of chaos with their front four."
One of the game's best matchups will be Notre Dame's receivers -- Samardzija and Maurice Stovall have combined for 131 receptions, 2,213 yards and 26 touchdowns -- against Ohio State's secondary.
Cornerbacks Ashton Youboty and Tyler Everett, safeties Nate Salley and Donte Witner, and nickel back Brandon Mitchell are a veteran group, combining for 91 career starts.
"They have great receivers," Salley said. "They make plays, they go get the ball and make it difficult. It will be a great challenge."
Other receivers
Not to be overlooked in the Notre Dame offense is senior tight end Anthony Fasano, who has 45 receptions this season. Walker adds 36 catches out of the backfield and receiver Matt Shelton has 23 receptions.
"It will be a great challenge," Whitner said. "They have great players, coaches and one of the top quarterbacks in the country, two of the top receivers and a great tailback so it will be exciting to see how we match up."
One thing is for certain. If the Fighting Irish win this historic matchup it will be because Quinn led them. And that's just the way he wants it.
"Every quarterback wants everything to be on them, all the pressure to be on their shoulders," he said. "That may be selfish in some ways, but at the same time, that's why you're a quarterback, that's why you're at that position, that's why you have the ball in your hands every play.
"Especially with the scenario that it is with Ohio State, that just makes it that more intriguing for me."
todor@vindy.com