ASU'S PLUMMER IS SLOWED DOWN THIS TIME : BIG TEN'S PREMIER DEFENSIVE TEAM GETS ITS DUE.Byline: Michael Rosenthal Daily News Staff Writer Ohio State coach John Cooper John Cooper can refer to:
``I've read a lot about how great they are offensively,'' he said. ``Not much has been said about how great our defense is, though. ``We didn't lead the Big Ten in scoring defense, in rushing defense without great people.'' OK, let it be said: This defense is awesome. Most conspicuously, the Buckeyes held a team that averaged 42-plus points coming into the game to only 17. It was the way they did it that was so impressive, though. From the first play, they came after Arizona State quarterback Jake Plummer Jason Plummer redirects here. For the Australian swimmer, see Jason Plummer (swimmer). Jason "Jake" Steven Plummer (born on December 19, 1974) is an American football quarterback who is currently listed on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster. (201 yards passing) and just kept coming, which prevented one of the nation's great quarterbacks from having a great game and was the key to the victory. At the same time, Ohio State shut down the Sun Devils
The Buckeyes allowed only two touchdowns and a field goal. And the first shouldn't have been a score at all. Replays showed clearly that Plummer's 25-yard scoring pass to Ricky Boyer in the second quarter hit the ground. With the exception of the second touchdown, an 11-yard run by Plummer to cap a brilliant 58-yard drive in the fourth-quarter, it was a dominating defensive performance. ``They were relentless,'' said Plummer, who was sacked six times for minus-33 yards. ``They just kept coming. We had some good breaks, made some big plays, but they kept coming. As a quarterback, you like that challenge but it sort of keeps you off your rhythm. ``They came through when they needed the big plays. They played great today.'' If there was a defensive star for Ohio State, it was middle linebacker Andy Katzenmoyer Andy Katzenmoyer (born December 2, 1977 in Westerville, Ohio) is a former professional American football player and the only Butkus Award-winning middle linebacker to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes. . The freshman terror had three of the sacks, an interception on a tipped ball and had eight tackles - five for minus yards. After the game, Cooper called him ``probably the best middle linebacker in the country as a true freshman True freshman is a term used in NCAA sports, indicating that an athlete is playing the sport in his first year of college, rather than redshirting for one or more years to protect future college eligibility. .'' Katzenmoyer said it was the team's objective to keep Plummer from finding a groove. ``I definitely feel we got into his head,'' Katzenmoyer said. ``We came at him from all angles. We blitzed blitzed adj. Slang Drunk or intoxicated. a lot this game, probably more than usual. ``We just tried to get in the way.'' Junior Shawn Springs Shawn Springs (born March 11, 1975 in Williamsburg, Virginia) is an American football player who currently plays cornerback for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. , who went the entire season without an interception but was the Big Ten defensive player of the year, was quietly effective once again. He held ASU's star receiver, Keith Poole Keith Robert Strohmaier Poole (born June 18, 1974 in San Jose, California) is a former professional American football wide receiver with the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos from 1997 to 2001. , to one catch for 10 yards. Poole had 46 receptions for 857 yards and 11 touchdowns before the game. The leading tacklers for the Buckeyes were sophomore strong safety Damon Moore, with 12, and senior outside linebacker Greg Bellisari, nine. Bellisari had one sack. Cooper, doling out credit after the game as if he worked for American Express American Express (NYSE: AXP), sometimes known as "AmEx" or "Amex", is a diversified global financial services company, headquartered in New York City. The company is best known for its credit card, charge card and traveler's cheque businesses. , couldn't say enough about his defenders. ``Anytime you hold a team that averages 42 points to two touchdowns, and one that was a bit controversial, I think you've got to be proud of your defense. ``. . . I think this is the best defense in the country.'' ASU ASU Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ) ASU Appalachian State University ASU Arkansas State University ASU Angelo State University ASU Alabama State University ASU Australian Services Union coach Bruce Snyder wouldn't argue. ``They play with a lot of pressure,'' he said. ``I knew if we couldn't handle the pressure, if we couldn't break a run or two through it, if we couldn't pass protect, it would be a long day. ``It was a long day.'' CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: Ohio State defenders sacked Arizona State quarterback Jake Plummer six times for minus-33 yards. This one was in the first half. David R. Crane / Daily News |
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