Clearly, we have some fans of this column inside the WHAC.
That’s the only explanation I have for the Buckeyes deciding this weekend that they would not let Mother Nature slow them down two weeks in a row. Short of starting a political debate on global warming, I am willing to bet the weather is a non-factor this weekend versus Texas Christian. And if the weather somehow causes an issue inside a dome, I promise to stop poking the weather bear!
As a shock to no one, Rutgers did not present the type of challenge the Buckeyes will face Saturday in Jerry’s World. TCU may not be as good as they have been recently, but Gary Patterson has put together another very talented squad in Fort Worth. And for what it’s worth, TCU has had the best Big 12 “defense” year-in and year-out since joining the conference.
One of the biggest challenges for the Ohio State coaching staff this week was to ensure the team wasn’t looking past Rutgers and toward TCU. So, before I go any further on the Horned Frogs, I will follow their lead and remember Rutgers too.
Hayes Gaze
The easiest part of writing this column each week this season has been looking at the positives from the Buckeyes. It has been slightly harder to pick the most positive, but that is why I get paid all the internet monies.
It would be really easy to shine this week’s Hayes Gaze on the play of Dwayne Haskins, or the even better play of his backup, Tathan Martell. But I knew and expected great play from the quarterback position, even if I didn’t expect that quality of play. We will give a tip of Woody’s hat to the QB room, but this week’s googly eyes of a Gaze shines on the defense. The entire Silver Bullets unit played better than I expected.
We knew coming into this game that the defensive line needed to maintain their greatness and they did just that. However, we also knew that the linebackers and DBs needed to step up from Week 1 this week in order to be ready for TCU. As was mentioned earlier this weekend here on The-Ozone, the LBs may not have lit up the stat sheet (6 tackles from the starters), but they also did not have the glaring mistakes of a week ago.
Sure, Baron Browning has not evolved into Raekwon McMillian yet, but he didn’t look lost on multiple snaps this week either. It was solid and steady. With this defensive line, that is all you need to be successful against the Oregon States and Rutgers of the world. This also provides the foundation to continue to build upon and stop TCU QB Shawn Robinson this weekend.
TCU likes to play a lot of wide receivers and utilize their mobile quarterback, which means the linebackers will need to grow again before Week 3. But you can’t grow if you go backward instead of forward. This group didn’t do that, which is a huge benefit for the Buckeyes.
Having Jordan Fuller back at safety was also monumental for the unit, and not just because he is OSU’s best DB right now. Fuller being back turned the DBs from a high school unit into one that looks like they could produce at least one more 1st round NFL Draft pick, if not more.
It is amazing what happens when guys are comfortable on the field. Fuller provides that, as Greg Schiano said after Saturday’s win. And while it may not have been mentioned directly, it helps the linebackers as well.
Hats off to the Silver Bullets. You have earned this week’s Hayes Gaze. It was a great team win in less than ideal conditions.
Cannon Fodder
Last week in this column, I said “When you play a team without being in the same time zone, talent wise, as you, it can be hard to pick out the ‘bad plays.'” That holds true yet again.
Chris Ash has Rutgers looking in the right direction and they may eventually end up being a decent enough team under his tutelage. But Ohio State’s toughest opponent Saturday was Ohio State. And because of that, this week’s Cannon Fodder has a familiar feel to it.
Ohio State’s punt return team needs help and they need it bad. Specifically, the punt returner position needs help. I have been a vocal advocate for getting the ball into Demario McCall’s hands however possible. I was pleased to see him get his shot on Rutgers’ first punt of the day. And McCall did not live up to the Buckeye faithful’s expectations.
As Michael Citro says in his “Grumpy Old Buckeye” piece, the punt returner’s primary job is to catch the punt. If you can not do this, the coaching staff needs to put someone else there who can. While I think McCall will continue to be given a chance and he will get better, right now you have to stick with C.J. Saunders.
On Saturday, Saunders showed a little bit of flash while returning punts, including a really nice return of about 20 yards that he nearly broke. But more importantly than that, Saunders fielded the punts cleanly and gave the ball back to the offense.
Don’t take this as I am giving up on McCall! Do not get that twisted. He has an insane amount of talent. He will be a factor for the Buckeyes at some point this season. I will be here for that time when it comes, too. But at this time, he is not the answer at punt returner.
Later in the game, McCall had a nice kickoff return where he was tackled by the kicker (which I know he is getting all kinds of crap for during film review). More time on special teams will help him, but Saunders is showing right now that he wants the job. Give it to him!
Looking Ahead
Saturday night, the Buckeyes go on the road and face their first tough opponent of the 2018 season. Personally, I am not impressed with TCU like a lot of people. Their less-then-stellar performances against Southern and SMU have not exactly changed that for me either. However, they have easily been the best and most talented team on the field each time they’ve played in 2018.
I don’t expect this one to be the blowout that Ohio State has had in their first two contests, nor do I expect this to be the toughest game for OSU this year. TCU will move the ball and put points on the board. TCU will stop OSU’s offense from time to time. But #4 Ohio State is ranked over #15 TCU for a reason, and it’s not because Ohio State has been luckier this year.
On paper, OSU is still one of the best two or three teams in the country this year, and I expect a three score or better win for the good guys. I would not be shocked to see another 300-yard/4-TD day for Haskins. And I would expect to see both sides of the ball face the most adversity they have so far in 2018. That being said, my way too early prediction is OSU 45, TCU 24.
I’ll see you all in Arlington! Go Bucks!
“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)
Tony Gerdeman… After the Oregon St game someone on the Ozone staff ( can’t remember who) wrote an article that detailed how many GAME REPS each player had…I found that to be very informative ! Wondering if that kind of article will be put together every week for the rest of the season ?
Good article.
My nomination for second-place Cannon Fodder would have been Discipline. As in, cut down on the penalties!! Is that a focus problem?
And no, I’m not talking about Young’s two, because they were just weird. Get a sack, cause a fumble, recover the fumble, and you’re not allowed to spike the ball? And he probably got his second one because he was the most recognizable, with his Predator dreads on top of his Drago physique.
But speaking as a fan, it’s just crushing to have nice plays negated by silly penalties.
Go Bucks. 49-17 over TCU!
That was a close second for me, Jeff. I gave the entire team the benefit of the doubt only because A) the weather sucked and B) Urban has only had 1 week to work with these guys. Adding them up, it was a little more excusable for me. But if that doesn’t improve by time Penn St comes calling, it will start being a problem that could hurt the team. Thanks for reading!