Big Ten Classic: Ohio State Vs. Purdue in 2002
Published by Shaun Leistikow on April 30, 2009
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
It’s 2 AM CST. and my baby son is crying, keeping me awake. So I’m out here holding him and I decided to check out the Big Ten channel. What do I know, but the 2002 Ohio State vs. Purdue game is on. So I start watching Kyle Orton. To my amazement he is playing exactly how he played for Chicago.
I really like this one play they do. They have five wide receivers out wide and no running back beside the quarterback who is in a shotgun formation. One of receivers is really a TE who is split out about four yards wide.
Anyway, they know Ohio is going to blitz so Ohio State is basically man vs. man or it might be a cover one defense. The point is they send everyone out long and have one guy run a short in route that is reminiscent of what Ron Turner had to do so Kyle would throw the ball to one of our wide receivers.
Since this guy is all by himself, because they’re waiting for Kyle to bomb, it’s an easy throw. If this guy was covered he’d throw the ball away. Exactly what he did in Chicago.
I always wondered why we had Hester run a deep route while Lloyd or Davis would run a short in route. Because that’s the only way Kyle would throw to a wide receiver. Also, after watching this game, I now know why Forte led the team in receptions. Orton checked down in college play after play.
The funny thing is, I think the Purdue coach knew this would happen, which is why at half the time they didn’t even put a running back out there. They made sure he couldn’t check it down. Well, at least the Broncos can use that information now.
He just over threw a guy on a short hitch route. Wow, it’s just like him. Anyway, I’m only writing this, barely staying awake, because as I watch this film it is painfully obvious that he cannot throw.
He now just under threw a slant in route and the ball didn’t even get to the receivers’ feet.
Why did we even draft this guy? At least Ron Turner doesn’t have to figure out how to get Kyle to throw the ball to a receiver anymore.
As I said that Purdue just had a huge reception. I was thinking that it couldn’t have been Kyle. He doesn’t throw into coverage like that. They took out Orton and put in Kirsch. I guess they felt that Kyle wasn’t exactly the guy either. I can’t say I blame them.
