Welcome back to the Grumpy Old Buckeye, the column where no matter how good things are, I find some stuff to gripe about. Every week I point out the things from the game that make me want to walk out onto my lawn in my bathrobe and yell at people about it. This week we’re talking Ohio State vs. Minnesota and there was quite a bit to grumble about, but I’m keeping it to just the top of my list so that you’re not here all day.
Austin Mack: Ski Boat
Ohio State took the ball right down the field on its first possession before the drive bogged down. But maybe it wouldn’t have bogged down if rules had been applied properly. Minnesota defensive back Coney Durr committed an obvious hold in the end zone while defending Austin Mack, with the jersey fully stretched out between Mack’s back and Durr’s fist. It threw off the sure-handed Mack just enough to prevent a touchdown and the Buckeyes had to settle for a 21-yard field goal by Blake Haubeil. Good on Haubeil for making his field goal (actually a couple), but that should have been a first down on the doorstep of the goal line.
The Defense is Still Broken
It might not even be a fixable defense at this point and it seems to be a combination of execution and scheme. Minnesota got a first down on a run where Ohio State linebackers dropped into pass coverage at the snap. I’m not sure if that was a bad play call by Greg Schiano or a poor read, but it allowed an easy gain for the Gophers. Ohio State also gave up a 25-yard run in the first quarter on a run-of-the-mill running play. Minnesota doesn’t have a big-play offense but against Ohio State, it sure looked like it did.
Dropped Picks are Always Expensive
Isaiah Pryor dropped an interception right in his hands on the second Minnesota drive. Those plays always seem to come back to haunt a defense. Older Bengals fans will remember Lewis Billups dropping an interception on the San Francisco 49ers’ Super Bowl-winning drive (sorry if you’ve blocked that out of your memories but I’m making a point here). Don’t drop gifts. It always hurts and it did on Saturday as the Golden Gophers put their first points on the board with a first quarter touchdown.
Buckeyes Failed Manhood Challenge
Minnesota scored two touchdowns in the first half running right up the gut into the teeth of Ohio State’s defense and it worked. Teams that are good shouldn’t be able to do this so easily, let alone the Minnesotas of the world. I realize Dre’Mont Jones isn’t 100 percent, Nick Bosa is out and both Malik Harrison and Jonathan Cooper didn’t play, but that’s no excuse for a team that uses the “next man up” mentality — usually without a hitch. The Buckeyes simply got overpowered at the point of attack.
The same held true on a fourth-and-1 situation in the second quarter. Ohio State tried to go smashmouth football right up the gut and got owned at the line of scrimmage. If Minnesota can do that, what will Michigan State, Michigan, and anyone the Buckeyes might play in the postseason do? Low man wins, guys. Ohio State must be better at the point of attack on both sides of the football.
What is Inside Leverage?
If this was Twitter, this section might be a scheduled tweet. Ohio State’s defense continues to get gashed on run-pass options on slant patterns and it is mind boggling that the defensive backs are still allowing it. Zack Annexstad is a walk-on freshman quarterback and was simply pitching and catching with his receivers all day because the Buckeyes refused to keep inside leverage and force the Gophers to beat them with other routes. The degree of difficulty is so much tougher throwing outside the hash marks. The Buckeyes could run a zone blitz periodically to drop bodies into those passing lanes, or drop the linebackers and rush three on obvious passing downs. But the corners and safeties aren’t helping by allowing receivers free releases inside. It’s maddening.
Isaiah Prince Getting Owned
Ohio State started the second half with the ball and quickly moved to midfield. But the drive broke down when Prince got beaten badly on multiple consecutive plays, leading to a sack, a one-yard gain by Haskins out of a scramble and a third-and-long scramble that didn’t come close to picking up the first down. All three pressures came from Prince’s man. It was a bad series in a bad game for the offensive line, and Prince cannot get beaten that badly on the regular like that. Yet he gave up another sack after the exchange of punts, then another sack in the fourth quarter followed by a holding penalty, so I guess he can get beaten that badly on the regular. It was easily the worst performance out of Prince and that probably includes his first season in the lineup. Was he the only poor performer on the O-line? Not even close, but he stuck out among a group that underachieved.
That’s what got my dander up most in the Buckeyes’ 30-14 win over the Golden Gophers, although I could have gone on and on. Which of the above got your goat the most? What else did you see that bothered you?
Of course, there were lots of good things too, like another 400-yard performance by Dwayne Haskins, a huge day for K.J. Hill, some actual interceptions in the OSU secondary, and the emergence of a kicker who looks kind of reliable. But bring your salt to the comments section and we’ll do this again next week after the Purdue game.
Why can’t we take the inside away occasionally and make them throw the fade which is harder to complete. Especially on the goal line every high school coach teaches that’s the first route to take away!!
I can’t deal with another weekend of OSU being physically better on talent, but showing no innovation on scheme. Another point that others have made, but needs to be stressed more is that there’s no fire on the staff. Fickell is pure fire, Coombs was a volcano, Warinner (RIP) was like Col. Bill Kilgore in Apocalypse Now.
Our OL doesn’t like the smell of ground-up defenders anymore, our db’s have too many pass interference calls, our safeties haven’t grown up much and our linebackers (who should be the pride of any NC OSU team) are stunningly under-coached.
What pisses me off the most about the situation is that we’re wasting/ruining player’s careers by providing them with substandard coaching. The Eagles fans couldn’t believe OSU hired Bill Davis. The LSU fans couldn’t believe we gave Studrawa the job. But Urban likes reclamation projects as much as Al Davis – how did that work out for the Raiders. Schiano is no guru either. I would like to see him as a head coach somewhere else as soon as possible.
What I want is a coaching staff that’s as aligned as Urban says he wants it. This is obviously not the case now. Studrawa has been given plenty of time to develop consistency in technique for his players. What’s damning is that we get no push. Yeah, our line is big, but we get no push. What’s the point? Bill Davis’s only qualification for the position he’s holding now based on his performance to date is being Urban’s best man. Sorry, Urban, he wasn’t best man to the rest of us, so get him the hell out of the LB room before he wastes another generation of recruits. This is why you don’t hire your friends. Still, Davis sucks at his job.
We’re gonna lose this week. Purdue’s hot and our D is gimpy and lost. I think the coaches elevated us in the polls just to see us Clemson (old-school version) against Purdue.
One last thing: I’d rather win the way LSU is winning rather than the way we’re winning. Because of Burrow, I’ve been watching all the LSU games. Orgeron is a boob and their offensive scheme is drab, but they can run the ball and they have a hungry D. Plus, they have a ringer QB who no one can draw a bead on yet because there’s so little film. I will take D every day of the week. The way I see it, we should be enjoying Haskins like solar eclipse. Great QB’s are rare, great defense shoudn’t be.
End of tirade until next week.
What I’m
Note to OL, you are allowed to bend your knees And sit on a block. Coaches, your players are making you look like chumps, fix it damnit!!!!!
Asked what was wrong with the running game on Saturday, Kevin Wilson said the OL needed to stay on blocks. And also get physical.
Blocking is 100% pure attitude. Show me an offensive line that takes the field as “nice” guys, and I’ll show you an offensive line that can’t win the LOS or open holes for their running backs.
Too bad we couldn’t put another 150 pounds on Terry McLaurin. He’s take out defensive linemen play after play.
Seems to me that we’re back to pre-season comments about the Offensive Line and the Linebackers being the weak links on the team. What a sad state of affairs entering the back half of 2018.
I wonder what Saban would do with this coaching staff. I imagine somebody would be fired TODAY. Nobody is safe, player or staff. The play will not change if the staff doesn’t change. When they scrape by Purdue we’ll get to hear how they are 8-0 and not too many teams are 8-0. This team is heading towards a blowout loss in the Playoffs if UM or (and) MSU doesn’t get them first…
This team is going to have a loss before the Michigan game and lose to Michigan. They wont be in the playoffs and that might be a good thing.They would get destroyed.
Saban would have never fielded a team this incapable of playing defense and blocking and tackling..Issues would have been fixed BEFORE they stepped on field game one. Thats why he has a plethora of National Championships consistently, and others don’t. He is the undisputed Boss at Alabama and no one underachieves in their duties, or they are shown the door… he can make tough decisions for the betterment of the program without worrying about hurting feelings, and that folks is why Alabama is Alabama, and then there is everyone else…..
Do you think urban wouldve ever benched JT in the national championship game like saban did his starter because he was stinking up the field? Hell no urban wouldve rather cut off his own balls first. Urban wouldnt even bench JT in the big 10 championship when he pretty much stunk up the field and turned what shouldve been a blow out into a close game. And this is why saban is the besr college coach in america hands down. And he will probably win another title this year. Finebaum just did an interview recently where he hammers urban for underachieving so much at ohio state. Obviously finebaum hates urban from his days at Florida but I cant disagree with him.
In Tony’s article about the fans not showing up, or getting excited….or simply booing the team as they head into the halftime locker room.
The crowd is into it when the play on the field warrants it. The crappier the level of play, the quieter it gets. Every single Ohio State fans knows the level of talent represented through recruiting the best of the best in the Nation………and we’re getting treated to shit level performances. The crowd is telling Urban the cold hard truth and he continues to ignore brazenly obvious flaws.
Stop the damned lip service pressers and passing out “champion” grades to a roster filled with guys who couldn’t pass a basic fundamentals skill test. The Buckeyes offensive line with his highly touted recruits are getting their faces kicked in by virtual cast offs of the HS world. They have zero energy, and zero heart AND zero fight in them. Time to get Greg Studrawa the hell out of Columbus along with the spineless moron Bill Davis and Greg Schiano. We have to wait and see on Taver Johnson and Alex Grinch. I remember Kerry Coombs’ first year and his results were putrid. Davis, Studrawa and Schiano have worn out their welcome because they simply stink as position coaches.
Urbans handpicked superhero and willingness to throw past coaches under his accusation bus, referring to the Buckeye receiver room as a “Clown Show” has come full circle. Not only was HIS choice of Zach Smith a person of low moral character, but a garbage dump level teacher. Isn’t it amazing what “interim” (Meyer needs to resolve that stupidity TODAY) receivers coach lighting the College football world up with the same guys Smith was clueless how to use, his abilities to teach and have his guys prepared week in and week out is the best in College Football.
Hey Urban, those are YOUR choices for position coaches and DC……..fix the :”SHIT SHOW” they represent.
Just a side bar on your comment about the Recruiting some of the best in the Nation, James..Maybe that is the issue.. Quite possibly these 4/5 star”entitled Prima donnas” aren’t really the answer for us. They are the big man on campus and told how great they are even before playing a down here. Maybe they aren’t as coachable as a lower ranked kid that has something to earn or prove. We seemed to have better, tougher, hard nose players before all we cared about winning the recruiting rankings, which is crap shoot anyhow. Maybe we should spend more time looking at character, and football mental toughness, instead of how fast you run the freakin 40 yd dash. We need football players not track stars……..
We also used to win Nattys with Ohio Kids who understood what being a Buckeye meant…and knows how deep the fan base is, and what they mean to us. Some hotdog from Georgia or Texas, (no one in particular) don’t have that emotional tie, so they don’t bleed for The Ohio State University, its just their way , or stepping stone,for a shot at the Professional league.
I think that’s also “part” of the problem as a whole picture. Ohio kids have always known about the pride of the Big 10 and would sell their birthright just for a chance to run out onto the field. They know the tradition of Ohio State better than recruits outside the conference and the state. Being just a part of the traditions drives what they will become on the football field. Every Ohio player has a little “Achilles” inside them from Pop Warner on up. It’s the nature of one of the greatest recruiting hotbeds in the Country.
So yeah, you get no argument from me on your points.
Well, yes there are a couple of things I might mention (1) there are no sergeants in the U.S. Navy. (Wiki) sergeant – a noncommissioned officer in the armed forces, in particular (in the US Army or Marine Corps) an NCO ranking above corporal and below staff sergeant, or (in the US Air Force) an NCO ranking above airman and below staff sergeant. (2) Can someone please help Dwayne NOT to telegraph (cell phone) the hand offs/pitches to our RBs to the opposing defense. Get a play besides the 1 back for run plays. Give one of the younger RBs an opportunity to decoy or use JK and Mike. (3) When defenses are selling out to stop our run THROW THE BALL…can’t the TEs fake a block and catch a pass. (4) Who is teaching our LBs to leave their assignment and chase an imaginary play…DBs too for that matter. (5) If I divided the team into 4 parts (Dline, Dbacks, PassO, and RunO) we would have 25% of a team (the passing game). (6) If we survive next week at Purdue, we may have time to fix the issues but, I’m skeptical. I think it requires some coaching that hasn’t occurred yet this season. Tell me again how you win championships…oh yea, its with DEFENSE. I’m done.
Polls are released and OSU is #2 since Georgia lost. Here is my top five. 1. Alabama 2. Clemson 3. ND 4. OSU 5. LSU
@ Don I wasn’t aware that you were a poll in and of yourself. Does your poll have any effect upon the national rankings? Just wondering?
@Don I’d switch OSU and LSU. OSU doesn’t belong in the top 4.
Our run game better get fixed in a hurry along with our run defense or there will be joy in Mudville come next month. Granted, not having Bosa hurts our pass defense significantly, but still…
“No joy in Mudville” I meant.
The other thing that I didn’t like is our fans. Our players had to stand on the field and wave their arms to get the fans to stand up and make some noise. The attendance was a sad 100,045 on a beautiful fall day. Their were many empty seats in south stands. Again I was the first person to stand and yell on 3rd downs where I sat in section 17A (20 yard line). Then others followed. The rich folks who sat in the club seats one section over just sat and did not cheer the whole game. I guess paying $5000 a year for those seats allows you to just sit and watch.
Couldnt agree more on this point regarding our fans. Ohio Stadium is like a funeral service anymore. Fans show up late if at all and leave early. No energy anywhere including the team. Very little home field advantage due to no 12th man. Pathetic. We’ll see if urb can earn his 8 mill a year and get the ship righted otherwise we’re staring right into the jaws of loss #1 next week at night on the road. Purdue will play like the 92 cowboys and we better clean it up quickly. Not to beat a dead horse but Borland Werner and Browning look totally lost on just about every play which is a huge part of the run defense issues. Is Dante Booker even on the team anymore?
You should be given the first fan to stand award! They should also award you with a megaphone….its obvious the cheerleaders are not doing their job either!
This SHOULD have been a ‘get well’ game and we very nearly got debacled (TM Tony Gerdeman).
The penalties continue to be a problem, though to be fair, MN is among the best in the nation and penalties bit THEM about as much as the Buckeyes this game.
I’ll be honest, I’m not sure who is the problem, Schiano or Grinch. Everett Withers also came to the Buckeyes with glowing reports of how his DBs played and it turned out the Bucks were right in ‘promoting’ him to another team and keeping Kerry Coombs (who also was taking heat from Buckeye fans on this board). But the corners and safeties seem to be playing different game plans again and it’s showing the defense up badly.
On a related note, the LBs have been a clown show since Luke Fickell left for Cincinnati and that is squarely on Bill Davis.
THIS ^
Good article, sir.
This, just this: “The Buckeyes simply got overpowered at the point of attack.”
On both offense and defense the Bucks got overpowered embarrassingly. No way we make it to the B1G Championship with that kind of BS.
People say ‘a win is a win’. Right, Captain(s) Obvious. Please tell us also that OUS is 7-0. But all the signs are there for the unattractive W’s to morph into butt-ugly L’s.
Watching Schiano scream at his players makes me want to not play hard!
This is a grown man’s sport. You will get yelled at if you don’t do your job on the field. If you don’t like to be yelled at, don’t play sports of any kind.
After watching the late game yesterday? Things need to get fixed FAST!!!
TSUN will tear us apart if the game is next week. Did you guys see they have a QB that can run and throw now? Oh and they have a running game and a defense too.
Just the lack of emotion and toughness on both the O and D lines. Seemed to be going through the motions. Good thing they gave us gifts on the turn overs. I understand these types of games happen, but back to back weeks of losing the line of schrimmage is concerning.
This defense is pathetic! Schiano has to go. He’s had seven weeks to figure out their problems and they actually look worse each week. Let’s get a D-coach who can instill some disciple into this D. Guys are out of their gaps, missing tackles left and right and committing stupid, costly penalties. That’s all on Schiano.