Buckeyes' offense having bad day(s) By RUSTY MILLER Associated Press Writer COLUMBUS, Ohio State's offense is playing as if it's wading through three feet of mud on every play. The line is barely slowing down onrushing defenders, the running game has vanished, there's no time to get a pass to the receivers and quarterback Steve Bellisari has spent more time laying on the ground than standing on his feet. On top of that, many fans are criti cal of the coaches' play-calling. Why is the Ohio State offense so offensive? "Everyone is a little frustrated right now, knowing that we're a better team than the way we're playing," fullback Matt Keller said. - We truly believe that." Having lost two of their last three games heading into Satur day's showdown at No. 24 Minneso ta, the No. 22 Buckeyes have to find some answers and find them fast. Head coach John Cooper, offen sive coordinator Mike Jacobs and quarterbacks coach Tim Saleni all said the same phrase about what is holding the Buckeyes back: "It's a c'cimbination of things." The line gave up eight sacks at Penn State as the offense mustered jtist three points in last week's 23- 10 loss. The unit never drove inside the Penn State 29 the entire game. The only touchdown came on Gary Berry's fumble recovery in the end zone. "Sometimes we didn't block the right guy," Cooper said. "Some times we blocked the right guy and got whipped." Minnesota, by the way, leads the IVg Ten in sacks. • "I'm sure after looking at our films they'll blitz even more, - Cooper said. "They'll bring the kitchen sink against us." Jacobs said there isn't much wrong with the line. He said the linemen aren't missing many assignments and they aren't mak ing a lot of mistakes. He said the problems can be traced directly to Penn State's defense. 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Some sales in progress **Deterr available on your Kaufmann 's charge for purchases of $5O or more ($299 Fine Jewelry) with no friance charge during deferred period. See sales associate for details. Certain items excluded. Offer may end at any time. A PR will be the same rate as you are currently billed, 21.6%.im 50 cent min ed Billing CHARGE IT WITH KAUFMANN'S WE ALSO WELCOME VISA, MASTERCARD AND DISCOVER. and pretty much on line up until last weekend," he said. "That does n't mean we've had a problem through the first five bailgames or six bailgames. We had a problem last weekend." Is it the running backs? In the Buckeyes' two most recent losses, tailback Michael Wiley has totaled 54 yards on 19 carries, an average of 2.8 yards per try. Back ups Jonathan Wells and Jerry Westbrooks have combined for a net of two yards on eight attempts in those same two defeats. There haven't been many big holes, but the backs haven't shown a knack for making any big plays "Right now, we're just making a lot of mistakes," said Jamar Mar tin, who has taken over for Keller at fullback while an ankle injury mends. "Some of the things we go over in practice we miscue in the game. There are a few things that we don't see that we mess up on. Sometimes it might be the pressure some guys are feeling." Is Bellisari running scared instead of running the offense? The sophomore has excited a lot of Ohio State fans with his tough demeanor and fiery personality. But he is also making a lot of mis takes. "Quarterbacks don't have the luxury of being good one play and bad the next," Salem said. "They have to be good every play. That's one thing that's slowing us down some on offense. ... I want to see more consistency than one great, great play and then five bad ones." Ohio State has suffered 22 sacks so far, which would make any quar terback gunshy. But Bellisari has shown little patience in the pocket, not throw ing to secondary receivers to make wild jaunts up the field. Sometimes he's successful, sometimes he's not. He has become the first quarter back to ever lead Ohio State in rushing in three consecutive games. It remains to be seen whether that's a tribute to his running abili ty or if it just says something larg er about the Buckeyes' offense. Is it the play-calling? 131111111 G IN YOUR EXTRA 2 °, ; LEATHERS E WOOLS,_ RAINWEAR, TOPCOATS SALE 44.99-349.99, ong. $72-$5OO. From Brandin!, John Ashford, Couture, Weatherproof. Andrew Fezza. London Fog 30% OFF ALL MEN'S SWEATERS FROM BRANDIN', LIBERTY JOHN ASHFORD, EMBASSY ROW SALE 29.99-99.99, orig. $43-$l5O WRINKLE•FREE TWILLS FOR MEN: PLEATED OR PLAIN FRONT Orig. $4O. 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Ratliff out with injury in Sixers' preseason By KEN BERGER Associated Press Writer PHILADELPHIA Philadelphia 76ers power forward Theo Ratliff is out at least three weeks with a stress fracture in his left leg after taking a nasty tumble in a presea son game last week. The announce ment came Monday night. Ratliff, who got tangled up with Charlie Ward of the Knicks as both fell out of bounds last Tuesday, had the foot immobilized in a boot Mon day after an MRI revealed the stress fracture in his tibia. Ratliff said the injury "definitely" hap pened on that play. The Sixers, who entertained a half-filled First Union Center with a scrimmage Monday night, brought in newly-signed free-agent center Stanley Roberts for a work out, general manager Billy King said. "I know this is something you have to deal with at times," said Ratliff, who was hobbled by a thigh bruise in the playoffs last season and sat out the fourth and final game of the second-round series against Indiana. "I've been injured before," he Philly signs center Roberts By KEN BERGER AP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA Often injured center Stanley Roberts signed a $725,000, one-year con tract with the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday. Roberts worked out with the team Monday and passed two phys icals. The 29-year-old is expected to provide help inside, where the Sixers are hindered by injuries to Matt Geiger, Theo Ratliff and Tyrone Hill. Roberts, who played for Houston last season, canceled visits to Miami and Milwaukee, who also were looking for another big man. The Sixers did not use their $1 million exception on Roberts, a 7- footer who got the eight-year vet eran's minimum. It is not all guar anteed. General manager Billy King said Roberts would provide "added vet- The Daily Collegian Wednesday, Oct. 20, 1999 said, "but never to this extent." The Sixers already are hindered by a rash of injuries. Matt Geiger sat out Monday night with a sore left knee, and Tyrone Hill was out with a fractured left thumb. Allen Iverson played with a sore knee, scoring 15 points including 10 of his team's 16 in the first half of the 20-minute scrimmage. Iverson's team beat a squad fea turing only two regulars, Larry Hughes and Aaron McKie, 37-36. Iverson's team included starters Eric Snow and George Lynch, Rowan Barrett and rookies Jumaine Jones and Todd MacCul loch. MacCulloch, a 7-footer and sec ond-round draft choice, was impressive again with six points and three blocks. But coach Larry Brown wants to add a veteran cen ter, especially with Ratliff out. Brown watched the scrimmage with King and team president Pat Croce while assistants John Cali pari and Randy Ayers handled the coaching. The Sixers had a moment of silence before the practice in honor of Wilt Chamberlain, who died last week. eran leadership to our young core of big men." Roberts, who says he weighs 315 pounds, had the best year of his career with the Clippers in 1992-93 under the tutelage of current Six ers coach Larry Brown. He aver aged a career-high 11.3 points and started 76 games. But his lengthy list of ailments includes two ruptured Achilles' tendons, bone spurs in his ankles, back surgery and recent shoulder surgery. "Playing for Larry was the high point of my career," Roberts said. "I know what he expects from me. He knows what I can do." Brown said, "I like the kid. I want him in our league. If this is a good situation for him, good. But that's up to him." The Sixers made an attempt to sign Roberts last year, but he chose to play for the Houston Rockets instead. ~, :~ ~SY, ~^.. 25-30% OFF ALL KIDS' HOLIDAY DRESS-UP BY BONNIE JEAN, RARE EDITIONS, BABY TOGS, GOODLAD SALE 21.99-76.50, orig. $32-$lO2. Also: Speechless, Christie Brooks. 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