Let’s get the important stuff out of the way early: Saturday Night was the first Buckeye game of 2018 without any kind of weather issues! Sure, many of your flights on Friday into DFW were delayed for the non-lightning they were having, but being on planes packed with Buckeyes makes that a little more enjoyable. So, thanks for that, I know everyone was worried.
Okay, I know the real news is Urban Meyer is officially and fully back as the Ohio State Head Coach. And I know everyone connected to the program is happy he is. You could definitely tell Meyer influenced the game plan for Saturday night, and you could tell where his absence was felt, also.
But Ohio State leaves Arlington, Texas with a 40-28 win over the Horned Frogs. TCU was better than many gave them credit for, including me. They could not match up talent-wise with Ohio State on paper, but that did not stop them. They came out swinging and nearly delivered a knock out that most of us were not expecting.
On the flip side of that, OSU did a lot to knock themselves out also. I will get to some of that in below, but everyone watching the game saw it. Ohio State tried to shoot themselves in the foot. There were low snaps, dropped passes, multiple penalties, and coaching errors. Not exactly the grab-bag of goodies you want your team to collect in a big game.
With that in mind, lets get into this week’s Hayes Gaze and Cannon Fodder!
Hayes Gaze
Before anyone, including my editors, sees this and think this is a mistake, it is NOT. This week’s Hayes Gaze is looking fondly upon Dwayne Haskins and Austin Mack. I know, I know. Yes, that is correct. No, it is not a typo. These two Buckeyes came up HUGE on Saturday night. And they can share the mythical trophy. (NOTE: Yes, I am envisioning them printing this out and hanging it up in their room…a writer can dream, can’t he?)
I know Mack has the distinction of getting “credited” with 4 drops Saturday. But he did not give up on the team and ended up stepping up late and helping to save the night for the Buckeyes.
And we all know, Haskins had another very good game. We all know Haskins did not have the same touchdown numbers he had to start the season, but he is a “team guy,” and that showed Saturday.
Besides never giving up when things did not look great, Haskins played great overall. His stat line was not where he probably wanted it, but going 24-38 for 344 and 2 TDs is still pretty damn good. But the reason he is here? It was something he said during the game to Mack, and recalled after it.
After the game, Haskins said, “There are going to be plays you mess up. I’m going to keep coming to you though, throwing you the ball. It was hard for him having those drops like that in key moments for that game, but he kept pushing. I relied on him in the big moments and he came through for me.”
He knew his roommate and teammate needed a pick-me-up. Like he did about 30 other times, Haskins threw exactly the right pass. He kept going back to Mack. Mack eventually came through like his quarterback knew he would. That is the kind of thing that is often overlooked in a single game, but is vital to a team if they want to continue the National Championship chase they are on.
Cannon Fodder
There are a lot of things we could put front and center for Cannon Fodder this week. That was a far from perfect game out of the Scarlet and Gray. But for everything we could discuss, there is one thing that leads to almost everything else.
Ohio State was not ready for the speed that TCU would play with. It’s funny, all week Frog fans were saying that OSU has never seen TCU’s speed. That was a worse take than saying Fuel City Tacos are the best tacos in Texas. [Editor’s Note: We never said they were the best tacos in Dallas, just that we like them. If you have a better suggestion, then maybe next time get us some vouchers!] However, the Buckeyes were not ready for the tempo that the Frogs tried to and did run.
Unfortunately, this is all on the coaching staff. They, as a group, draw my ire this week (as much as I love them all).
So why is the coaching staff in our crosshairs?
As you were watching the game, how often did you notice the Buckeyes all turned to the sidelines just waiting for a play call? Every time TCU lined up on offense, the Silver Bullets were trying to get into position and get calls made. Multiple times, the ball was snapped and the D was not even set.
On Bosa’s strip-sack that turned into a Davon Hamilton touchdown, Bosa was still half-standing at the snap. He hadn’t had time to put his hand down.
On multiple other plays, players were running across the field to get into position, never actually getting set and having a chance to read the offensive formation. And I am not even referring to the substitution issues, as I don’t see that as anything anyone can do anything about.
But it wasn’t all on defense. This was on the offensive side too. For the first time that I can recall in 2018, we saw the offense turning to the sidelines after lining up for a play call. It happened on the first OSU drive of the game, on Mack’s dropped TD pass.
And as I mentioned on Twitter, even coming out of the locker room at halftime seemed to be behind. The Buckeyes came out with less than a minute left and besides the specialists, did not warm up. I don’t blame Bosa’s injury on this, but as a former player myself, I have to wonder if that had anything to do with it.
I know some things will come together with Meyer back next week. Day will not have to control everything and call plays on offense. Schiano will be able to concentrate on making calls instead of doing in-game mentorship of Day. But that was a glaring mistake noticeable to us in the stadium Saturday, and it was nearly a fatal flaw.
Looking Ahead
I truly feel sorry for the Tulane Green Wave this weekend. Everyone knows they are outmatched in the game. But they now get a presumably MAD Urban Meyer back, and it is one that has something to prove. I know Urban has been watching on Saturdays and is coaching in the week, but he will want to see what all these new toys can do. And he may just have a chip on his shoulder. I know it’s early in the week, but my way- too-early prediction is OSU 66, Tulane 10. 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)
One of the great levelers for a team as deep and talented as Ohio State is fast and relentless effort. Chris Spielman football…see ball get ball. Gary Patterson had his team flying around with purposeful aggression. Their biggest problem was their depth. At the end of the day they had the horses to compete very well, they just lacked the same level of talent as the starters. It also had to be a little disappointing for them as they sat on the sidelines noting that the majority of the crowd was wearing Scarlet and Gray when they were just 18 miles from their Campus.
TCU’s staff and their players did a fantastic job of pushing the Buckeyes to the limit.
You see it 66 – 10 because Coach Meyer just might have a chip on his shoulder. Sounds great! I personally think if there’s a place where something needs to be proven, it’s at linebacker, because right now they are among the worst power 5 linebacker groups and linebacker coaches in the Nation. That is utterly unacceptable fro Ohio State.
(noting that Luke Fickell has his kitty cats playing at a level defensively that should have Ohio State fans drooling)
Urban will experiment with the offense to fine tune it, and I suspect that Greg Schiano is feeling a little bit of heat to get his position coaches up to National Title , or at least respectable caliber. The Buckeyes are 63rd in the Nation in total defense, and that is pathetic. We know it’s not the defensive front who is to blame simply by looking at the stat lines. Look at the miserable stat lines for the linebackers. They aren’t bad, they are embarrassingly atrocious. Youth is an excuse at a place like Ohio State with the best resources available to develop them, and train them. Bill Davis is without excuse, and as far as I’m concerned he can go join Everitt Withers for small ball, or take his rear back to the NFL where he doesn’t have to develop a damned thing.
Ohio State is too athletic for the Green Wave and they are going to get slammed hard. I suspect that will have more to the do with the defense than an angry Urban Meyer though.
77 – 0 final in favor of the Buckeyes. Tulane should consider themselves very fortunate to ever cross mid field into Ohio State territory. The only way they do is if the Special Teams lets them have a big play.
Gary Patterson is the BEST offensive coach in college football!!!