Game Thread #2 tOSU at #3 Oregon, Sat. Oct. 12, 7:30 pm ET, NBC

[Bucklion]

Regarding the helmet communication to the QB, I’m not sure where that’s coming from, but I know in the final 2 minutes they needed to know ahead of time that they couldn’t rely on the QB hearing anything with the noise in that stadium. I mentioned before that I saw the decibel meter listed at 127 on the scoreboard during those final few plays.

I’m not sure communication was much of an issue until the final 10 seconds. Oregon defended the out route by Smith well (pretty sure Muhammad knocked it away), and then there were 6 seconds left and a timeout. I wanted a slant run that could have gained 8 to 10 yards in about 4 seconds, with the receiver going down immediately (near the middle of the field) and getting a timeout that might have allowed a 45-to-47 FG attempt. When Howard took off I knew the clock would run out, but it was probably impossible to tell Howard that stuff through the helmet after the incomplete pass, without using the timeout which needed to be kept in the hope of using it with 1 second left.

I agree with those who have stated that Day should have used a timeout rather than letting the clock run down to 2 minutes.

But the biggest factor in that drive not getting points was the OPI call. Despite getting sacked on the first play, the Buckeyes were at the 28 with more than 25 seconds and a timeout left. That should have allowed them to run 3 plays to try to put the ball between the 10-and-15 yard line, get it to the middle of the field, and either spike the ball after a first down or use the timeout.

I’ve also never understood why OPI is a 15-yard penalty, like a personal foul. If it was treated the same as the receiver running out of bounds and coming back in before a catch, which is essentially like an incomplete pass, the chances with 2nd and 10 from the 28 with 20 seconds and a timeout would have still been pretty good.

Did they ever call OPI in any of the games you watched before forward passes were legal?

 

[sparcboxbuck]

It’s my fault, I had Dairy Queen.

We all pay the price for ice-milk. I hope you at least got some peanut butter cups mixed into your Blizzard.

 

[Thump]

We all pay the price for ice-milk. I hope you at least got some peanut butter cups mixed into your Blizzard.

No.
Burger and fries.

 

[Thump]

 

[sparcboxbuck]

No.
Burger and fries.

OK… good news. I can keep my new shirt. This is entirely on your GI system.

 

[BB73]

I agree that they could have run the ball more. Unfortunately in the second half they were only averaging around 3.6 per rush without Simmons. I don't think they would have been able to get to the 15. They still might have been able to get to the edge of Fielding's range.

When I said ‘run 3 plays’, I just meant get 3 plays executed, not that they be running plays. If they were all running plays, the clock would have been a major issue unless 2 of the 3 went out of bounds or got a first down, so I wasn‘t looking for multiple running plays.

 

[RB07OSU]

Nah no one left on the schedule can really stress the defense like Oregon can. Indiana looks like they have a great offense this year, but not sure what they'll look like against better athletes.

To be really honest, I'm not super down on this loss. Hell I'm not even really down on the defense all that much. Oregon may just have a truly elite offense this year. If that's the case then giving up 32 at Autzen isn't some unforgivable offense. Even projecting forward to the playoffs, the only team other than Oregon for the 2nd or 3rd time I'd be worried about facing is Texas. Even then I need to see Texas do it against a good defense before I truly start shaking in my boots. Everyone else in the Top 10 has pretty glaring issues.

My disappointment just comes from my lofty expectations. I honestly believed this team would be talented enough and motivated enough to run roughshod over anything that got in their way, cementing themselves as arguably the best OSU team ever. Looking back that was probably a fool's errand. Even some of the all time greats have one stumble along the way.

I tried to manage expectations as best as possible but once game day hits and there is an electric atmosphere in Eugene, I couldn't help but get my confidence up some.

I'm with you though on most of your points. I don't think Oregon has an elite offense based on the games leading up to this one, but maybe they were holding back on some plays/early season rust/not taking lesser opponents serious, etc. However, I do agree there are a lot of things that make this loss more palatable. One point loss on the road against #3 Oregon and early in the season. Defense has to seriously get better but you are right that most of the other top 10 teams have glaring issues as well. I just have a 24-48 recovery period from a Buckeye loss (and I'm not breaking things, just frustrated), then a sense of clarity usually follows.

The clarity here is that the season is far from over and we can still hit all of our goals if the defense gets fixed.

 

[JCOSU86]

Home vs Nebraska
@Ped State
Home vs Indiana
Home vs dUMb

Not easy. @Ped may be a must-win

 

[BB73]

I haven‘t read the whole game thread yet, but I‘ve been through the last 3 minutes of the game.

Day should have called his 2 timeouts on defense before the 2-minute stoppage. They would have kicked their FG as the clock went under 2 minutes then, rather than at 1:47. Then tOSU would have had 10 to 12 more seconds and still the 1 timeout. This isn’t Tuesday-morning QB’ing, I was saying ‘call timeout’ it in the stands as the guy was being tackled with 2:12 left.

Regarding the play-calling on the final drive, I thought it was OK. They got to the 28-yard line with 34 seconds left and a timeout. On the next play, Howard threw deep, but the play call wasn’t the problem, it was the read. Gee Scott was open crossing on the 20-yard line and it probably would have gotten a first down, which would have been within range with time to get a little closer and put the ball in the middle before calling the timeout. That decision, followed by the OPI on the next play, were obviously both crucial.

It doesn’t make sense that after a play that was incomplete, stopping the clock, a play that ended up out of bounds (which would stop the clock again) but ends up being penalized and having that down run again, has the clock start before the next snap, but apparently those are the rules. Too bad the ref didn’t say ‘clock will start on my signal’ as he was marking off the penalty, as we often hear. But Day and Howard shouldn’t have allowed 6 seconds to run before the next snap.

And since the 12-men penalty came after the Oregon timeout, it was clearly intentional and the clock should have been put back to 10 seconds as they marked off that penalty, which is up to the judgment of the referee.

 

[Fungo Squiggly]

I haven‘t read the whole game thread yet, but I‘ve been through the last 3 minutes of the game.

Day should have called his 2 timeouts on defense before the 2-minute stoppage. They would have kicked their FG as the clock went under 2 minutes then, rather than at 1:47. Then tOSU would have had 10 to 12 more seconds and still the 1 timeout. This isn’t Tuesday-morning QB’ing, I was saying ‘call timeout’ it in the stands as the guy was being tackled with 2:12 left.

Regarding the play-calling on the final drive, I thought it was OK. They got to the 28-yard line with 34 seconds left and a timeout. On the next play, Howard threw deep, but the play call wasn’t the problem, it was the read. Gee Scott was open crossing on the 20-yard line and it probably would have gotten a first down, which would have been within range with time to get a little closer and put the ball in the middle before calling the timeout. That decision, followed by the OPI on the next play, were obviously both crucial.

It doesn’t make sense that after a play that was incomplete, stopping the clock, a play that ended up out of bounds (which would stop the clock again) but ends up being penalized and having that down run again, has the clock start before the next snap, but apparently those are the rules. Too bad the ref didn’t say ‘clock will start on my signal’ as he was marking off the penalty, as we often hear. But Day and Howard shouldn’t have allowed 6 seconds to run before the next snap.

And since the 12-men penalty came after the Oregon timeout, it was clearly intentional and the clock should have been put back to 10 seconds as they marked off that penalty, which is up to the judgment of the referee.

On the clock running after the OPI, I am almost certain Smith did get tackled in bounds on the play.

 

[BB73]

On the clock running after the OPI, I am almost certain Smith did get tackled in bounds on the play.

You’re right, I just re-watched it and he was, and the ref was clearly signaling that. My memory was from the opposite side of the stadium. So the starting before the snap makes more sense.

Which means they really should have known and really had to be faster on snapping that ball.

 

[RhodeIslandBuck]

Home vs Nebraska
@Ped State
Home vs Indiana
Home vs dUMb

Not easy. @Ped may be a must-win

In regards to the rest of the schedule, I believe in the old saying "when a team consistently shows you what they are, you believe them".

I'm nearly 100 percent certain OSU wins out the rest of the regular season and qualifies for the Big ten cg. Lose to PSU? Not gonna happen, James Franklin will make sure of that. Michigan? Please.

The issue is what happens next, just can't find the confidence to believe the Bucks will do much beyond that. My best guess is 11-3 or 12-3 with a first round or quarterfinal exit.

 

[RB07OSU]

Still not convinced those were actual shanks....they looked semi-intentional like they were trying to kick to the corner in person....

Not disagreeing with that point, but even if it was Fielding's issue it has no bearing on kicking a FG from 45 or in. He's no Nugent, but he is perfectly capable of that. He could miss it under pressure, sure. But that is a better percentage play unless we have zero faith in Fielding...if that is the case, color me concerned.

 

[Thump]

On the clock running after the OPI, I am almost certain Smith did get tackled in bounds on the play.

He did.

 

[Mike80]

Not disagreeing with that point, but even if it was Fielding's issue it has no bearing on kicking a FG from 45 or in. He's no Nugent, but he is perfectly capable of that. He could miss it under pressure, sure. But that is a better percentage play unless we have zero faith in Fielding...if that is the case, color me concerned.

Oh they were very clearly playing for a FG at the buzzer Saturday night. I don't think it's a confidence issue in Fielding per se.

I really do think the corner kicks were intentional, especially the first one. Kinda like golf - you try to hit a lay up and miss it. Well dammit, I'm trying again and miss it. Since it's a beautiful sunny day and no one is behind you, well, try it again sort of thing.

In the Marshall game, it was clear Marshall wasn't going to win, so working on something like that makes sense at a certain level. not sure I try it 3 times myself but it is what it is.....