Pryor problem

Last week, Northwestern quarterback Dan Persa simply ran the Hawkeyes into the ground. Sounds as though Ohio State picked up on that.

Persa passed for 318 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for another 50, including a 2-yard score, in the Wildcats' 21-17 upset of the Hawkeyes. Persa displayed superior quickness and decision making, making him a unique weapon the Iowa defense has yet to solve.

"Anytime you chase a quarterback around for 80 plays, you're going to get tired," defensive end Adrian Clayborn said. "They got the best of us. That quarterback was on his game that day. Call it what you like. He competed and wore us down."

Ohio State did notice the Hawkeyes' fatigue factor. So, maybe another dose of no huddle is on the way.

"Not to say they weren't in shape, but Northwestern had them running up and down the field and those guys were getting tired," Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor said to a group of Columbus, Ohio, reporters. "In the first and second quarter, those guys were all fired. When it got to the third and the fourth, those guys were kind of exhausted."

There is the size difference (Persa is 6-foot-1, 210 to Pryor's 6-6, 233) and there is a whole lot of difference between Northwestern and Ohio State.

The Buckeyes have fallen back on their massive O-line and the I formation, at least going off last week's showing against Penn State, when running back Dan Herron rushed for a career-high 190 yards.

But it still has one of the Big Ten's most unique athletes in Pryor. Coach Jim Tressel will ask him to make plays in space on called quarterback sweeps. They won't look like Persa's sweeps. Persa might have Pryor in the quickness department, but certainly not the speed and physicality.

"He has a longer stride," Clayborn said. "They're two different offenses, basically. They don't spread it out that much. We won't have to worry about what we worried about last week. . . . It's physical, basic football."

Before you run to the "Persa's a better passer than Pryor" argument, the total offense between the two is about the same. Persa has passed for 445 more yards (2,581 to 2,136), but Persa also has 64 more attempts. Pryor is fourth in the Big Ten in total offense with 264.8 yards a game. He has 22 TD passes and eight interceptions.

Northwestern has Persa, while Ohio State has Pryor and a whole arsenal.

"It's hard to say what exactly is their strongest asset," Iowa safety Brett Greenwood said. "They have a great offensive line. They can run the ball. They have two backs who run very well. With the quarterback, he can drop back and pass fairly effectively and if we cover and he can pull it down and run."

Another difference between Persa and Pryor is Pryor's long arms. Few quarterbacks in the Big Ten have a stiff arm like Pryor's. Last week against Penn State, defenders would catch Pryor on the quarterback sweep, but almost always, the first tackler was simply stiff armed away.

"You don't see too many guys use it [stiff arm] as effectively as he does," Greenwood said. "He's very long. He uses that arm to keep people away. As a defender, if you can't get into his body, it's hard to get him down."

Pryor is ready to engage the Hawkeyes in a marathon. If it turns into that literally, all the better from the sounds of it.

"I think basically what we have to do is get them tired," Pryor said. "Keep getting after them and keep the ball on the offensive side. Make some long drives and make them tired."

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Here is the Terrelle Pryor video from The Plain Dealer's Doug Lesmerises. His blog is tremendous.

Here's Adrian Clayborn from Wednesday.

Here's Brett Greenwood.