The defensive player of the game was senior nose guard Luke Fickell. The top special teams player was freshman defensive back Mike Burden. Lineman of the game was junior tackle Orlando Pace. OSU defensive linemen are glad to be done with Rice and its triple option. One tactic used in running the triple option is the load block, or cut block.
Offensive linemen block at angles into the defensive linemen's lower legs.
It is intimidating, but it's also legal, OSU defensive coordinator Fred Pagac said. You've just got to play the game. Now, any type of chop is a bad block. I think that's part of football. He thought his defense handled Rice's triple option well.