There is good and bad in every game.
Some games have more good than bad, and some games have more bad than good.
And some games find the Buckeyes actually trailing in the second half for some strange reason.
This feature is about acknowledging both the bad and good, or whichever stood out to us most.
Borrowing from Ohio State’s practice of handing out Buckeye leaves for good plays, we will do the same. But unlike OSU, we are also going to include some peeves.
If a peeve was a sticker, it would have a picture on it of a wolverine with a smirk. And there’s no way you want too many of those on your helmet.
So we — staff, contributors, and hangers-on — are handing out some leaves and peeves following Ohio State’s 34-21 win over Wisconsin.
Caroline Rice
I have to give a Buckeye leaf to quarterback Justin Fields. From being very limited in practice to putting up 299 yards passing against Wisconsin’s defense is impressive. He kept his composure and didn’t lose confidence in himself or his teammates when things were tough in the first half.
I also think wide receiver K.J. Hill deserves a Buckeye leaf. He had one heck of a game with seven receptions for 83 yards. He means so much to this team but sometimes his impact doesn’t show in the statistics. Against Wisconsin he was making every big play left and right and his impact was very clear.
Also a Buckeye leaf for punter Drue Chrisman for his ability to throw the ball… yes, I did mean to say throw the ball.
Michael Citro
I’m giving leaves to Justin Fields and J.K. Dobbins. Fields showed a lot of toughness on a night when he clearly wasn’t himself due to his knee injury and fought through it. He wasn’t perfect but he again didn’t throw an interception and he made some huge third-down conversions in the second half. Dobbins was his usual self and nearly ran out the clock all on his own (without the threat of Fields pulling it on a zone read). Another leaf to K.J. Hill for setting the all-time receptions record, surviving a WWE-style suplex, and finding the end zone twice.
My peeve goes to the entire first half, particularly for the Buckeyes allowing the long Jonathan Taylor run that helped Wisconsin score right before halftime. It felt like if Ohio State scored to end the first half and again to start the second half that the avalanche would start. It eventually did but it took longer thanks to not being able to defend a run play with half a minute left in the second quarter.
Adam Borland
There were several peeves from yesterday that I could bring up (like the overall effort, game plan, ball protection, etc. in the first half), but instead I’ll just pick one… Buckeye fans stepping onto the ledge.
Yes, Ohio State was losing by 14. Yes, they made a lot of mistakes. But holy moly, you’d have thought Ryan Day and OSU were down by 45 and throwing the game the way that Buckeye fans reacted. What was comforting was the fact that nearly every single former player’s Twitter reflected no worry whatsoever. From Cardale Jones to Jerome Baker to Johnnie Dixon… they all knew what was coming in the second half, and they were right.
For my leaves, I’ll give them to Justin Fields, J.K. Dobbins, and K.J. Hill on offense and the defensive coaching staff on the other side of the ball. There were significant gaps in play and scheme to start the game, but the defensive adjustments made at halftime were excellent.
Chip Minnich
Leaves to the coaching staff for making the necessary adjustments at halftime that allowed the Buckeyes to come storming back from a 21-7 deficit. The first half smelled of the 2013 B1G Championship Game, and unlike that game, Ohio State corrected itself while also negating their opponent. Yes, the Buckeyes cannot allow this in the playoffs against a better opponent, but it was impressive to see the team rally while facing adversity.
Peeves to Justin Fields for holding onto the ball too long and taking unnecessary hits and sacks. It has been a problem all season, and was worse Saturday night. You know how it is said a quarterback has to have an internal clock that tells them that they have to get rid of the ball? Perhaps Justin Fields needs some new batteries for his clock. It has to improve going forward.
Tony Gerdeman
I voted for Justin Fields for Big Ten Championship Game MVP with about 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but as the quarter wound down, I was disappointed that I didn’t vote for JK Dobbins. So, as a grand consolation prize, I am handing over my Buckeye leaf to Dobbins, who continues to be every bit as good as Ezekiel Elliott or Eddie George were in their respective heydays.
No team has actually stopped Dobbins yet this season, which is a comforting thought for Ryan Day as the Buckeyes head toward the playoffs.
Peeve to the pass protection, all aspects of it, including Justin Fields’ own responsibilities.
A final leaf goes to Jeremy Ruckert for his touchdown catch. An honorary leaf to Gus Johnson for the call.
Gus Johnson was all of us for this @Jeremy_Ruckert1 catch ?? pic.twitter.com/1eBVplmsRo
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 8, 2019