Have you ever watched a game that statically was a great game, one that was a big win on the scoreboard, but one that constantly felt like the winners were losing? Because that is what it felt like watching Ohio State beat Indiana, 49-26, in Columbus. At one point in the second quarter, someone had to point out that OSU was winning by two scores, because it certainly felt like they were behind.
Before the season began, I was quoted as saying “My last bold prediction? Indiana will be the best 5-7 team in the country, and will scare every opponent they play this year” in the Hayes & Cannon Big Ten East Predictions. I knew before the season IU would play Ohio State tough, as they have every year under Urban Meyer.
IU is a good program that is overshadowed by the big boys in the B1G East. Tom Allen is getting his team to play as solidly as they can, and they are building much like Michigan State did under Mark Dantonio. They take good players out of the Midwest (like the 14 Ohioans on the IU roster) who are overlooked by the Blue Bloods, and get them to play with a chip on their shoulder. And because it is Ohio State, IU gave the Buckeyes their very best shot.
Despite the record-setting day for the OSU offense, there is plenty to go through for this week’s Hayes Gaze and Cannon Fodder.
Hayes Gaze
Any time you come within three yards of tying a school record for passing yardage, tie a school record for touchdown passes, and win by 23 points, you will have a lot of things that can be that week’s Hayes Gaze. The offensive output, despite a few things not being up to Buckeye standards, was definitely noteworthy. The starting running backs ended up with more than 150 yards rushing. Nine Buckeyes combined to catch 33 passes for 455 yards and six touchdowns.
As much as I want to highlight the Silver Bullets of the second half, I can’t. Sure, we finally got to see Wade and Fuller man the safety positions, and Isiah Pryor return from his first-half suspension, to play well, and overall, they only gave up 83 yards passing, but you can’t look past the first-half performance.
As many of you expected, this week’s Hayes Gaze is upon Dwayne Haskins. Haskins leads all of the FBS with 25 touchdowns this year after getting six more on Saturday. He needed four yards passing to set a new school record in passing yards. Haskins completed 75% of his passes, going 33-of-44. And as much as most of the Buckeye faithful hated it, he even was credited with seven carries, for seven yards, with a long of eight. This was just an all-around fantastic game for the Buckeye Heisman-hopeful.
To many of us watching, this game was a letdown. As many things were below our expectations, Haskins clearly was not. And as Urban Meyer said after the game, if this was a letdown for the Buckeyes, he’ll take 9 more letdowns. So would I.
Cannon Fodder
I know I am not alone in being disappointed overall with the play of the defense. I also know more than most of Buckeye Nation is fed up with Indiana playing Ohio State so tough. At some point, IU is going to be in one of these games after two or three quarters, and that is a scary thought for Ohio State.
But this week’s Cannon Fodder has to be outside the white boundary lines at Ohio Stadium. There is no doubt that IU is many levels behind Ohio State in talent. There is no doubt that IU is many levels behind Ohio State in coaching. There is no doubt that IU is many levels behind Ohio State in football facilities. So why did Ohio State look flat from the opening kickoff? Why did it take so long for the defense to play up to their talent level? And why was IU in this game as late as they were?
It falls completely on the coaching staff and the scheme. I will not claim to be as good of a coach as Ryan Day, Kevin Wilson, Greg Schiano, Alex Grinch, or Urban Meyer. But as an observer, you have to question what is going on.
There were bad play calls on offense, where the Urban Meyer influence could be felt multiple times (see: Haskins seven carries listed above). This doesn’t include other play calls that have left OSU fans scratching their heads, like the Mike Weber run where he eventually fumbled…a play that should, on third-and-long, have been a pass play.
Personally, my biggest question is what is Ohio State doing on defense? By this time the last couple years, we have had a cornerback that stepped up to be the lockdown guy in press man coverage. We have not had that this year. At what point does the defensive staff start calling a defense that plays to the strengths of this squad, and helps cover the deficiencies? Is the answer more zone coverage? Is the answer starting Wade and Fuller at safety? Is the answer something else?
I don’t know. But I do know that the stubbornness of the staff to stick with something that is not working is frustrating. I do know that this current situation is one that does not match this team up very well with others chasing National Championship dreams.
I know Urban will take nine more of these letdowns if the Buckeyes keep winning, as we all would. However, with these coaching issues, I don’t know that it leads to nine more wins.
Looking Ahead
Just like last week, I will say I am extremely happy with the win Saturday. Ohio State will get the best game out of every opponent they play, because they are Ohio State. The offense, for the issues it has, was great overall. The defense was able to respond after halftime, and let’s not forget the Buckeyes won by four scores.
This week, Ohio State gets to stay home and let Minnesota row their boat into Columbus. P.J. Fleck’s Gophers are still smack in the middle of a rebuild. They arguably has less overall talent than his Directional Michigan team that made the Cotton Bowl a few years back. They come to Columbus fresh off a 48-31 loss to Iowa at home on Saturday, dropping them to 3-2 overall.
The Gophers start another true freshman at quarterback, and their offense is less than explosive. As much as I hate saying it week after week, this is another good Saturday to let the dinged-up Buckeyes rest as needed. As such, my extremely premature prediction is 55-24, 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)