What if I told you that the most prolific passer in school history would set a record for most completions and most passing yards in a game? What if I told you one of the two all-world running backs would average 5.0 YPC in a game when the team average had, leading up to this game, saw their average trend down each week, including last week when it was more than a full yard per carry lower than that? And what if I told you that wasn’t enough?
Ohio State moves to 7-1 on the season as it finally hits the bye week. In a game that should have shocked no one, Ohio State wasn’t good enough to knock off the Boilermakers, who are definitely trending in the right direction. Maybe Ohio State will petition the Big Ten to stop letting black & yellow teams in the West host them in night games? Its just not working out the way Urban and Co. would hope.
But, before we go dormant for a week, lets get to this week’s Hayes Gaze and Cannon Fodder from the trip to Purdue.
Hayes Gaze
Like many of you, I too played football at a much lower level than the Buckeyes do. When I was growing up, we too had spirit stickers that went on our helmets for achieving a milestone the week before. We also had a steadfast rule that individual awards were never given out following a loss in a team game. The win was more important than anything else.
So, while I would love to commend Dwayne Haskins for erasing Art Schlichter from the single game passing yard record, I simply won’t. I, along with most Buckeye fans, are glad to see Art knocked down. But there is no joy in Columbus this week, so there is no one being lovingly highlighted by the Hayes Gaze.
Cannon Fodder
I don’t know if we can list everything here in the Cannon Fodder that should be. The defense was eaten alive. The rushing attack only accounted for 76 yards on a night when the wind played into the ability to move the ball deep through the air. There were bad play calls. There were mental mistakes. There were physical mistakes. That means only one thing.
This loss lays at the feet of Urban Frank Meyer III.
I love Urban. He has been fantastic for the school and team that we all love so dearly. Buckeye Nation is able to add even more National Championships, Conference Championships, Division Championships, and Wins Over Michigan than they could before he arrived on campus. That alone will forever endear him to Buckeye fans. However, this loss is 100% at his feet.
Urban, since coming back from suspension, said he was taking a more “hands-off” approach to the offense. He may have, compared to previous years. But there is still a bad stigma of Urban’s offensive wish list showing up and hamstringing the play calling, formations, and philosophy.
Urban could have spent time working on the special teams, which was always billed as something he took extreme pride in. But when a defensive lineman gets a roughing the punter called on him, that shows that Urban’s pride & joy needs more attention.
Meyer has always been an offensive-minded coach. He tends to leave his defense to the defensive staff. But Meyer has simply been unable or unwilling to step in and force the defense to change to the strength of the players. It has been painfully obvious to most fans, and showed again Saturday night.
Everyone could see the stubbornness would eventually bite the Buckeyes. Most fans thought getting to the Bye Week would allow some changes to be made to save the season. Now, Urban has no choice if he wants to do just that.
Previously, a good old snot cleanser has led to Urban making dramatic changes. Players being moved to positions they should have been in the first place, coaches getting duties reassigned, etc. The Buckeyes have two weeks and a snot cleanser to fuel these changes. How Urban and his Buckeyes respond in two weeks will forever cement his legacy among the greatest coaches of all time.
Looking Ahead
Ohio State’s next opponent will truly be the greatest team they have faced in 2018. That team, the 2018 Ohio State Buckeyes, have let the chip on their shoulder fall off. Now it is on them to get it back. They were mad earlier this season about what happened to their coach and their program. Now they have to respond to the biggest punch in the mouth many of these kids have ever suffered.
Nebraska looms in a short couple weeks. This is the same Nebraska team that just won their first game of the season and is hungry to show they are not as bad as the record shows. I want to believe the ship will be corrected before that game and ready to take on Michigan State and Michigan. It would truly be a shame if a team that, on paper, should be competing for a National Championship, gets derailed and can’t even win the division.
Way too early in the week, I am going to make a prediction. That prediction is that Ohio State responds. That prediction is this team finishes the year with only one loss. I am taking the good guys, that Urban rights the ship. Go Bucks! O-H!
“Hayes Gaze and Cannon Fodder” is the weekly look at the good and bad for Ohio State football from Mike Meals. Each week, Mike will look at the good of the week with a loving Hayes Gaze, and at what was the Cannon Fodder at best. You can also catch Mike along with Hayes & Cannon Content Manager/Writer Brandon Zimmerman on the weekly episodes of “The Sons of Schmidt” podcast on the Ozone Radio Network. Follow Mike on twitter (@mmeals)