It’s me, the Grumpy Old Buckeye, writing with the voice of negativity (kind of), even when things are generally pretty great. In this space, I 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. This week we’re talking Ohio State vs. Indiana in a homecoming extravaganza.
Slow Start
Ohio State got off to a slow start the week after the entire world talked about how the Buckeyes got waxed by Iowa last year the weekend after an emotional comeback win. The defense continued to disappoint, giving up plays of 15 and 45 yards on the first series, allowing Indiana to march right down the field and take an early lead. It could have been seven instead of three points on the first drive if not for a couple of penalties on the Hoosiers. The Buckeyes still have no answer for the slant pass on a run-pass option and still can’t take a proper angle to the ball carrier. How is this still an issue in the sixth week? After talking about how last year couldn’t happen again, it seemed for a long time that it could, conceivably, happen again.
Worst Play Call of the Year?
It was third and nine from the Indiana 40 on Ohio State’s first drive and the Buckeyes called a straight run play up the middle. Not only did it have zero chance of picking up the first down, but Mike Weber also coughed up a fumble to give Indiana good field position. A good way to let bad teams hang around is to do stupid things on game day. Did Penn State’s coaching staff hack into the headsets and call that play? It’s not like the Hoosiers had been getting pressure on Dwayne Haskins to that point. A rare poor throw to a wide open K.J. Hill on first down for what would have been a touchdown made the situation that much worse.
Tackling is Hard but Not That Hard
Ohio State continued to help Indiana on the second Hoosier drive. Pete Werner missed a tackle on first down to set up short yardage with two plays to get the first down. On third down, Jonathan Cooper had Stevie Scott behind the chains and missed the tackle to keep Indiana’s drive alive. Missing tackles is another good way to allow an underdog to hang around.
Uncoverage
Malik Harrison and Damon Arnette were both burned deep in the first half, but luckily the ball was overthrown. Then Arnette did it again and gave up a touchdown. Jeffrey Okudah did them one better by getting beat for Indiana’s second touchdown, trying to commit pass interference to prevent the touchdown, and then…failing to prevent the touchdown even while interfering. The secondary is a dumpster fire right now by Ohio State standards. It got better in the second half but only in the not-allowing-30-plus-yarders-every-few-plays kind of way.
Dwayne is Not J.T.
I like J.T. Barrett. Urban Meyer loves J.T. Barrett. Dwayne Haskins is not J.T. Barrett, but there was a determined effort to make him more Barrett-esque in this game, especially during early drives. The quarterback runs on zone read didn’t work and they stalled some drives, wrecking the team’s momentum and, as a result, helping Indiana hang around. Let’s let Dwayne be Dwayne, okay? He seems pretty good at being Dwayne.
The WWE Broke Out
One play before Haskins threw his first interception, the Buckeyes ran one of those idiotic zone read plays. Haskins was stopped for no gain and the whistle blew for forward progress being stopped. Indiana’s defense then pushed Haskins backward a good three yards and body slammed him to the turf. The quarterback’s head snapped back and hit the turf hard on the play. I’m not saying it caused an errant throw on the next play (defensive pressure did that), but it should have been a penalty and a first down for Ohio State. Play is supposed to stop when the whistle blows, which is why forward progress is a thing, but to push a player back several yards and then throw him down after the whistle is unnecessary and easily preventable, and there are rules in the game to protect players from exactly that kind of extra damage.
Big Plays Continue
The Buckeyes just can’t stop giving up chunk plays. They allowed four plays of 30+ yards in the first half alone, along with 239 passing yards and 317 total yards. A team that held Penn State to 26 points on the road allowed Indiana to have 20 in half a game in Columbus. That’s not optimal. Ohio State wasn’t done. Indiana didn’t break a lot of huge plays in the second half, but there were plenty in the 10- to 15-yard range. At least Indiana wasn’t able to score more on the Bucks than the Nittany Lions did — just the same amount.
Lack of Pressure on Peyton
Peyton Ramsey had so much time to throw most of the day that he looked more like Peyton Manning. Ohio State did not pressure the Indiana quarterback the way it did Trace McSorley at Penn State. Sacks and quarterback hurries were few and far between and Chase Young disappeared at times, although it was notably better in the second half. Young was, in my view, wrongly flagged for a “blow to the head” on a pressure. I’m not a doctor or an expert on human anatomy, but I think I know where the head generally is and he didn’t hit that from the look on my TV, or the replay on my TV, or the additional replay on my TV when I hit rewind on the DVR. Ramsey threw for 322 yards for the game. That’s a better job by Ohio State in the second half but it’s still far too many for a team like Indiana to be getting in the Shoe.
Offensive Line Regression
As we get deeper into the schedule, Ohio State’s offensive line is seemingly getting worse instead of better. Part of that is due to better competition, on average, but by now we shouldn’t be seeing so many issues with holding or guys coming free on Haskins off the edge. Both of Haskins’ interceptions were created by pressure and getting hit while delivering the football. In addition, running the football is still problematic and I thought Malcolm Pridgeon in particular missed some key blocks in the game. The Buckeyes ran for only 155 yards and again didn’t produce a 100-yard rusher. Not being able to handle Indiana’s defensive line doesn’t bode well for games in November against the two schools from the mitten state.
The Shank
Look, Drue Chrisman, we had a deal. You were going to be our MVP and we were going to watch you be our MVP and enjoy it way more than any human should. The booming, unreturnable punts were kind of our thing. Then Indiana shows up and you allow a return on the first one and shank the second out of your own end zone. This is not what we signed up for, you magnificent, bottle-flipping wunderkind. The shank, in particular, could have been costly. The Buckeyes led by nine points and the 31-yard kick set the Hoosiers up in great field position. Eventually, they missed a long field goal and Ohio State took control of the game with a touchdown drive, but that could have gone differently. At least your miss only cut your average on the two punts to 41.5 yards since your other one traveled 52 yards, but it was returned out beyond the 20, so I’m still sad about it. It’ll be fine.
No Record
As the fourth quarter unfolded, Haskins got closer and closer to a new OSU single-game passing record. His sixth touchdown pass of the game — this one to Binjimen Victor — put him within reach and he needed to finish with 459 yards to erase the old record and etch his name in the school record book. The Buckeyes sportingly ran the ball a lot on their final possession, only throwing when in a third-and-long situation. Ohio State then tried to sneak the record with a tap pass to Parris Campbell but when he was tackled with a first down, Haskins was three yards short of tying Art Schlichter and four yards from knocking him off the top spot for yards in a game. Four stinkin’ yards. And then Ohio State took a knee.
These are some of the things that stuck in my craw on Saturday. (Always check your craw, kids!) I could have hit on even more of the same things I’ve discussed in this column throughout the season, but these were the particularly vexing things to me on Saturday.
Meanwhile, there were obviously lots of fun things as well, although as annoying as Indiana has been in recent years, it’s sometimes hard to think of them. The big day by Haskins was one, along with another forced fumble by Tuf Borland, another long Johnnie Dixon touchdown catch, a monster game from Campbell, and watching Terry McLaurin torture the team from his home state.
Which items on the list made you angry? Were there other things that got you riled up? Let me know in the comments and I’ll see you next week after the Minnesota game.
Haskins head getting slammed against the turf definitely caused the pick. He even stumbled getting up from the hit.
James, see if you can get a sit down with Schiano and explain to him how a defense should ALIGN and move and what their assignments are..you hit the nail on the head.. Let him show you how overthinking”:EXOTIC” is a better way to play rather than fundamental,assignment defense. I really believe that these coaches over complicate, overthink ,and basically try to reinvent the wheel, when what has worked for years actually is more efficient. I think they get bored and try to do something different just to be different…doesnt mean it will work. Align,read,attack, and swarm…..play over
Very good reading. Officials in this game and more were terrible . They must have arrived with the Indy team. I saw many missed holding calls on Indy. Replay official was so far off on calls he should be fired, along with the rest of the officials that were on the field. Indisputable evidence my ass was in bounds, no my elbow was, with white chalk on it. Time to get rid of replay if they can’t make a correct call. The targeting rule is out of control. Buckeyes back 7 are lost at this time. Linebackers are lost. Where is the run game.
I agree – always beware of craw-sticking stuff. Few things in life are more annoying. The craw should always be kept free of things that tend to stick in it!
totally agree with all you said unfortunately…..our back 7 is the worst I’ve seen ina while and the early defections to the nfl have hurt the dbs…but I also think the coaching has as well with Coombs gone and I’m sorry but Davis at lb coach–these poor angles, etc by the lbs —some HAS to be the coaching….on offense the OL is worrying me with the lack of run blocking–this is the worst rishing offense i’ve seen in years at OSU..much good going on but much to be concerned about as well…..and btw i’m not sold on alabama–they have played absolutely NOBODY but people assume they are unbeatable because they are alabama–they havent played a single team with a pulse on offense or defense –their “toughest” game so far in 7 weeks is next week–against a mediocre Missouri team—-looks like last year’s weak bama schedule when they somehow (committee bama bias) got them into the playoffs…..IF OSU’s run blocking improves and IF the back 7 can just become above average and stop giving up the dang big plays so often, this team can win it all…both are big IF–but could happen…
My problem is alignment. Even before the snap on way too many plays the linebackers are lost in space. Is that the linebackers fault, or is it position coaching and coordination at fault? These guys who were brought into the Ohio State program were sought after by nearly every program that matters at the top of the recruiting world. Certainly there can and ultimately will be misses along the way, but not at the rate we’ve seen over the last 2 years. There’s no swarming on the field with the defense because the back 7 isn’t coordinated. It’s like all 3 positions, Safety, Corner, and Linebacker are playing 3 very different base defensive schemes.
What the heck are our linebackers doing lined up over the top of wide receivers? That can happen on certain stunts, but by base scheme design, it’s just stupid. There’s a real reason why they’re called LINEbackers, who are most known for slam dunking running games, smacking TE’s, and on rare plays switching to a receiver. The key word……..RARE.
If we have 2 linebackers 20 yards or more down field in coverage, the advantage belongs to the opponent. They hold a speed and elusiveness advantage over linebackers that deep in the secondary, AND, there is no one left to fill gaps and eliminate RPO on the edge against the run or a late release by the tailback or TE underneath the secondary.
Greg Schiano made a gaff to the media a few weeks ago that was apparently missed. He stated that (paraphrasing) “we tried to be too exotic.” The opening game a literal garbage dump in Oregon State wrecked the Buckeye defense.Other than the defensive line, the defense has been wrecked every week since. The last time I checked, turning in a paper with a 50% correct isn’t a good result. In fact it’s a failing grade. YET the DC wants to be EXOTIC in the 3rd game of the year when it’s already been visually confirmed that even base fundamentals aren’t merely lacking, they’re missing.
The talent on the roster is there. I have NO doubt about that. Greg Schiano has NEVER in his coaching career EVER been surrounded by the amount and level of talent he has to work with. There are 2 new coaches this year on the back end and a guy (Davis) last year who proved that he flat out SUCKS as a coach of young talent. Yet Greg Schiano WANTS TO GET EXOTIC rather than bolstering base fundamentals, such as fundamental alignment, tackling, and developing the players to maintain their positions and trusting (chemistry) their position group to be doing their job as well.
Teams will make plays against them. That’s a given. The problem is that Greg Schiano isn’t recognizing that no matter how many stars a player came in with, they still are NOT elite upper echelon College football players with refined skills and technique. Mixed with suspect position coaching (DLine excluded), getting EXOTIC is limiting and in many cases, retarding the development of those players and putting them in position to fail.
As players at all 4 levels of football we always wanted to be cute (EXOTIC) because it was the “cool thing to do.” Our coaches were apparently smarter than Ohio States DC. Way back when, our coaches insisted on fundamental development. We simply weren’t professionals, we were kids proceeding on a learning curve.
Luke Fickell was adamant on base fundamentals. That’s what he was taught by his position coaches as a player, and what was expected of him under Jim Tressel and Jim Heacock as a coach. Jim Heacock wouldn’t put a player on the field who wasn’t base sound. Larry Johnson won’t put his young players in bad positions either, especially not those players who don’t understand and employ the purpose of fundamental proficiency.
WHERE is the urgency of the Head Coach to step in and fix a serious mess before a loss occurs and derails another shot at a title? We’re not seeing anything being fixed, or even hearing any urgency for Urban. That’s a problem.
SPOT ON!!!!!!!
Anybody that reads all of your nonsense needs to get a life!!!!!!!!
You must have a man crush on me. Sorry Sally, I don’t swing you way.
I agree with everything you said. The difference with Alabama is PERCEPTION. That’s how they got put into the playoffs last year, and why they get a pass considering strength of schedule. The Big 10 just isn’t very highly regarded, especially after eggs we have left, except in 2014, when in the playoffs. Of ALL the elements involved in selecting playoff teams…….perception bias is the strongest factor.
Third and any distance, let Dwayne pass the ball. Take designed QB runs or zone reads off the table for now. Dwayne is completing 70+% of his passes. Let’s ride that Dwayne Train.
Yep. Go with what you KNOW is working, not what you “think” will catch a defense by surprise.
did anyone else see the look on Day’s face after one of the Haskins’ runs? It was a look of “well that’s a dumb idea and it wasn’t mine”
Much to be grumpy about but your comments under WWE headline are spot on. In this new CFB of protecting players first, the body slam w no penalty on Haskins really stood out. More so considering the numerous questionable targeting and roughness calls OSU received in last 2 yrs (including Young’s “hit to the head” yesterday). This has become the most inconsistent call/non-call in CFB, inching ahead of sidelines tackles and holding. It truly gets my grump up!
The one that bothered me most that you didn’t bring up was the penalties overall – AGAIN!
The offense I’m willing to give a pass on because, well, they pass WELL! The defense as a whole needs to get a whole lot better before November and they have exactly 2 weeks to do it. I’m not optimistic at this point because I’m not a practitioner of Einsteinian insanity.
On the contrary. I mentioned the holding calls under the offensive line section. I mentioned the (bogus, IMO) blow to the head. I mentioned the PI on Okudah. There were other penalties, but the unsportsmanlike conduct after the interception was offsetting and there was a PI that I completely disagreed with, as it was Charmin soft (on Sheffield, if memory serves). I could have given it its own section but I did say, “I could have hit on even more of the same things I’ve discussed in this column throughout the season, but these were the particularly vexing things to me on Saturday.”
My bigger issue with the penalties is that I felt they weren’t being called the same both ways. Indiana got a favorable spot on a fourth down and the review should have overturned it, while Ohio State picked up an apparent first down on a second-down run and got a bad spot, then failed to pick it up on third and fourth. I don’t think there was enough evidence to overturn the “catch” on the sideline either. And I could go on for hours about Dre’Mont and Chase being held without a call. But I don’t want to be the one responsible for using up the entire internet.
Had it been the Buckeyes making a tackle on Mike Weber out of bounds, it would have been a personal foul……..and it would have been the right call. Indiana on the other hand can forcefully slam the Buckeye running backs out of bounds and it’s fine.
The Big 10 refs suck………….they’re not bad, they simply suck.
Yes, you mentioned specific calls, Mike. I meant the overall trend though. Specifics like you mentioned don’t cover that in every game this year, blowout or nailbiter, the Bucks are being flagged early and often and it WILL cost them in the long run. I’m concerned more with the overall trend. Several of the calls, such as the ones on Chase and Kendall were VERY ticky-tack BUT that doesn’t excuse the overall trend for the other bunch of penalties and yards that have continually given life to teams that have no business hanging around so long. Against good competition those stupid fouls along with ticky-tack calls will cost a game.
Losing Kerry Coombs to the Titans in the NFL is part of the reason our pass defense has gone downhill. We needed to control the clock by running the ball and we did not do that. Our passing game was good, but we scored too fast and gave Indiana the ball back where they had opportunities to throw the ball on our piss poor defense and score also. Keeping the ball out of Ramsey’s hands and keeping him on the bench was not accomplished in this game. I wonder if that was even part of our game plan.
Between the offense and the defense, all OSU has going for it right now is the offense. The ego of Meyer is apparently an endless abyss, there is ZERO doubt he has wormed his way back into play calling after his 3 week time out period. The zone reads DO NOT work and need to be scrapped. Is there no one on that staff who has the fortitude to tell this idiot to knock off his obsession before it ruins the best part of the team?
Agree completely we’re starting to see urbans “input” with the play calling as evident by zone read and a called qb run in the first half. Dwayne isnt a runner although he can move well enough in a scramble situation if needed. Scrap the zone read and designed qb runs unless you want to put him under center for a half yard to get the first down.