Welcome to the first edition of the Grumpy Old Buckeye. In this column, my aim is to be the voice of negativity, even when things are generally pretty great. I’ll point out the things from each game that make me want to walk out onto my lawn in my bathrobe and yell at people about it. First up: Ohio State vs. Oregon State.
The Suspension
It all started before the game even kicked off. ABC’s broadcast started with a four-minute intro before the opening kickoff and none of it was related to the football game. Instead, the focus was on the Urban Meyer suspension, including a Bleacher Report-esque slide show of the timeline of events. Yes, it’s a big story and sure, there might be those four guys who just returned from the Amazon rainforest who may not have heard about it, but it feels like we’ve heard plenty about the story over the past several weeks and it’s a disservice to the players of both schools not to spend any time on key matchups or players to watch.
Kickoff Fair Catch Rule
If I wasn’t already salty about the broadcast intro, the opening kickoff reminded me of how dumb rule changes can be. A fair catch on a kickoff should not come out to the 25. That’s a tremendous reward for the receiving team and a penalty on a team with competent kickoff coverage. Special teams are part of the game. If you want to protect the players, that’s fine, but a fair catch should come out no further than five or 10 yards further up the field from where it was caught. If you want to fair catch it at the 5-yard line, you can have it at the 15. At worst, it should come out to the old touchback spot, the 20.
Big Plays Allowed
A common theme early in the game, which returned on Oregon State’s final drive of the first half, was allowing big plays. Most of these were short passes into the flats that turned into big gains. This was an issue a few years ago and it’s no surprise that having a suspect linebacker group and new players at safety that it came back. There was a busted coverage and terrible angles taken on the first Oregon State touchdown.
My biggest gripe was with the final drive of the first half when the Beavers achieved three of their five third-down conversions in the half. All of them were third-and-long situations. The first came on a play we’ve seen too often. Chase Young did well to pressure the quarterback and Kendall Sheffield was well positioned to intercept or knock away the pass. Instead, he did neither and allowed the completion on a deflection off his shoulder. Hopefully this won’t be a trend again for Sheffield. The last of the three conversions was the most maddening, as the Beavers picked up a third-and-19 on a simple draw play.
The Buckeyes weren’t done, with Antwuan Jackson completely botching a tackle to start the second half, and everyone else assumed he’d make the play, while Artavis Pierce bounced outside and ran 80 yards for a score. Pierce had another big run a drive later with Jahsen Wint taking a bad angle and the linebackers being too aggressive. Yuck.
Penalty Two-Fers
Chase Young and Jeffrey Okudah ramped up my blood pressure with a pair of identical mistakes just a couple plays apart. Young, who should be looking down the line at the ball, jumped offside twice. Those two penalties were bad, but Okudah doubled down on them by committing pass interference on both plays. Instead of 10 total yards allowed, the Buckeyes allowed 30.
Muffed Punt
Although it only resulted in a missed field goal, C.J. Saunders’ muffed punt was awful. But I don’t put it all on him. Not only did Damon Arnette not handle his business in blocking the Oregon State gunner, but he also crowded his own return man and ultimately created the turnover.
Did You Know Urban Meyer is Suspended?
The ABC/ESPN broadcast team doubled down on the extensive intro devoted to the Meyer suspension by reminding us of it at the start of the second quarter for no apparent reason. I guess there might have been one straggler who just came out of the Amazon in time for the second quarter.
Lightning Delay
This one is nobody’s fault and it’s not something anyone can control. Having attended hundreds of sporting events in my life, I find this is a worrying trend in recent years. In dozens of college football games throughout the time before, during, and after I attended Ohio State, there was one weather issue. Just one. That came when USC visited in 1990 and John Cooper conceded the game with 2:36 remaining, after a failed onside kick.
The Buckeyes were down nine points, but had some timeouts remaining and, although a comeback was unlikely, Cooper showed his team that giving up was fine. There was no delay, just an end to the game. Now there are seemingly multiple lightning delays every week. I’m not sure if I missed a fatal, in-game lightning strike or if there are simply way more thunderstorms today than there were in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Either way, this is becoming an issue in sports and it’s killing broadcast schedules.
Well, those are the things that bothered me on Saturday. Obviously there was a lot with which to be delighted, including the performances of Nick Bosa, Dwayne Haskins, Mike Weber, and more. Even the lone punt was pretty awesome. It’s nice to have the season underway. Bring on Rutgers.
Rain delays, not a problem, go in and chow down on the zillion dollar drinks and dogs. a real budget booster.
Are there any real statistics that show that there are more injuries on kickoffs than any other play? Is this just an urban legend? Has anyone calculated the number of injuries on pass plays compared to kickoff? If they (whoever “they” are want to limit kickoffs, why are their kickoffs after made field goals and safeties?
Urban is suspended?
They ought to get rid of the kickoff altogether. It is too dangerous, and the rewards are not worth it.
Loved this article! I was so mad at the commentators in this game. I live outside of Columbus so I had no pregame show. I had know idea that Jordan Fuller wasn’t playing. Until after the game when I read about it on a buckeye website. Also the way they filmed the game. Immediately after the play was over they would switch to the sideline or some stupid graphic. I was trying to see who was on the field. I was so mad I could’ve screamed. A friend of mine text me during the game “ did you know Urban is suspended .” After the 3rd time they brought it up.
Those big gains up the middle always make me wonder where the linebackers are. How many years now since that squad was a strength of the defense?
Cageyone, re-read the article.
I don’t know why you say saunders muffed a punt, one has to be given a chance to catch a punt before one can muff a punt catch. It went off his teammates shoulder, that is not on saunders.
Reading this article I was reminded that everyone is entitled to their own opinion however wrong that opinion might be. As an official I can assure you that safety has become one of the most important aspects of the game which is why they implimented the fair catch rule on kick-offs. It is not necessarily penalizing the kicking team but more about safety for both kicking and receiving team.
Second area of disagreement comes from the statement: “I’m not sure if I missed a fatal, in-game lightning strike or if there are simply way more thunderstorms today than there were in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s. Either way, this is becoming an issue in sports and it’s killing broadcast schedules.” Who gives a rip about broadcast schedules? Player safety is of the utmost importance! Officiating in Florida which is where I currently live….weather delays are very much a part and concern. One day while a Middle School team was practicing, a lightening bolt came out of nowhere and struck a player who ended up dying. It may not have happened in a game but game or practice lightening is a very real danger and while it may annoy or bother you because you can’t watch a game its more bothersome when players lives are placed in danger as they were in the 60’s, 70’s and 8’s. BTW I too am an alumni of Ohio State and love my Buckeye football….but I understand weather delays.
Appreciate the feedback but I think you misread the column. I never said HAVING a lightning delay was a bad idea (“This one is nobody’s fault and it’s not something anyone can control.”) and I never said I don’t understand them. I said I didn’t like it (as advertised, this column will be about things I didn’t like). Used to sit in the stands and go “ooh, that one seemed close!” And yes, safety is of utmost importance. And I too live in Florida. Weather delays at Orlando City and Orlando Pride matches have wrecked me for many a next morning over the last year.
As for fair catches on kickoffs, again, I never said there shouldn’t be a rule or that player safety isn’t important. On the contrary. I said, “If you want to protect the players, that’s fine, but a fair catch should come out no further than five or 10 yards further up the field from where it was caught. If you want to fair catch it at the 5-yard line, you can have it at the 15. At worst, it should come out to the old touchback spot, the 20.” It literally DOES penalize a good kick coverage team if you can catch the ball at the 2 and get it for free 23 yards up the field because you raised your hand. Teams are just going to start squibbing the ball, going for big bounces, and injuries will still occur. One GOOD idea I’ve heard proposed is to line up similar to a punt, where the blockers and would-be tacklers are running down the field together instead of being 10, 20, or 30 yards apart, which would limit full-speed collisions between the coverage and return teams and still protect the kickoff as part of the game of football.
@Michael…living/officating in Florida is as you are aware frustrating for fan and official alike. Often we sit in locker-rooms waiting for the all clear. I traveled for a game in Lake Placid….we had a weather delay and did not start the game until after 9….got home after 1 in the morning….good thing I love the game. Maybe I was a little over sensitive or it was the line about “killing broadcast schedules” that caused me to react in an adverse manner.
If you read the rule for kick-offs…you might also question why you reward the receiving team by placing the ball on the 25 for kicks through the endzone. Why not place those balls 10 yards out from the goal line??? If that was done the kicking team would rewarded for “doing their job.” One thing is for sure we need more player safety and we can agree on that feeling.
I’m with you…”As for fair catches on kickoffs, again, I never said there shouldn’t be a rule or that player safety isn’t important. On the contrary. I said, “If you want to protect the players, that’s fine, but a fair catch should come out no further than five or 10 yards further up the field from where it was caught. If you want to fair catch it at the 5-yard line, you can have it at the 15. At worst, it should come out to the old touchback spot, the 20.” It literally DOES penalize a good kick coverage team if you can catch the ball at the 2 and get it for free 23 yards up the field because you raised your hand. Teams are just going to start squibbing the ball, going for big bounces, and injuries will still occur. One GOOD idea I’ve heard proposed is to line up similar to a punt, where the blockers and would-be tacklers are running down the field together instead of being 10, 20, or 30 yards apart, which would limit full-speed collisions between the coverage and return teams and still protect the kickoff as part of the game of football.”