This preseason game was really promising for a lot of reasons. The starters on offense seemed to move the ball with relative ease before coughing the football up twice on the first two drives. Samaje Perine and Mike Thomas were the two who fumbled, so I can’t be too upset considering the limited touches they’ll receive in meaningful games. The OL looked refreshed and rejuvenated under the leadership of Frank Pollack. Price got the start at C, and looked a lot more like the award winning OL we saw here at Ohio State than what we’ve seen the last few years behind some awful coaching. Reiff and Williams both looked really good at tackle, Williams had a play where he took off up field for a screen, got to his assignment and absolutely moved him out of the play. Spain and Jordan started at the guard positions, and neither looked bad at all. I believe I saw a stat that said the team gave up 2 QB hurries in the entire game, which is something they clearly focused on heavily this off-season. Brandon Allen made some really nice throws, getting Chase and Boyd involved early in the first drive, and getting Higgins a catch on the first play of the second drive. Mixon had a couple of nice plays to keep the chains moving in a screen heavy game plan, but wisely only played the first drive. I think a huge improvement in this offense will be their ability to run block, to allow guys like Mixon, Evans, and Jacques Patrick to punish teams and wear them down.
The backup offense saw a lot of movement on the OL, to see what we’ve got in some younger guys. D’ante Smith played at least two positions, getting early snaps at RG, and shifting out to LT later. He did blow an assignment which allowed Patrick to get popped and fumble, but stuck with the play and pounced on the ball. Considering the lack of intensity and anything resembling competence in Bobby Hart these last few years, it was nice to see a player stick with a play despite being the reason the play didn’t go the way they intended. Isaiah Prince also looked much improved, playing both tackle positions at certain points. XSF got some snaps and didn’t look too bad out there, although I think he’s fighting for his job. He’s got a lot to prove with the money he’s making. Jackson Carman got some much needed reps last night. Got called for a holding call, but outside of that mistake had some really nice blocks including two where he knocked his defender back off his feet on consecutive goal line runs.
Three things I liked about the offense:
-blocking taking a huge step in the right direction
-Chris Evans emerging as a more than worthy replacement for Gio Bernard
-WR’s getting lots of separation, including the backups.
Three things I didn’t like:
-OL committing potential drive killing penalties
-protecting the football: two drive killing fumbles lost
-continuing to improve on plays in the red zone
The defense looked surprisingly good against the Tampa Bay starters. Joseph Ossai and Trey Hendrickson were creating havoc early and often, including a drive ending sack from Ossai against last years first round pick Wirfs. Mike Daniels seemed more disruptive in the middle, and Tyler Shelvin looked decent plugging running lanes. Shelvin had one play where he was thrown backwards, but his leverage is something he can easily work on to prevent that from happening. The linebackers didn’t look bad, Pratt made a nice play early and Wilson looked solid in coverage only giving up one catch over 10 yards where he guessed the wrong direction the TE would go. The corners looked pretty decent, a couple of plays where they let the WR behind them on overthrown balls. Darius Phillips looks like the most improved player from last year. Was making several REALLY nice plays in coverage. Vonn Bell had a nice PBU on the first drive. The biggest surprise was probably undrafted rookie Darius Hodge who had 4 QB hurries, and also assisted on a sack. He keeps performing like that, and he’ll find a nice spot on the depth chart for the regular season. Joe Bachie and Markus Bailey looked nice in coverage in the second half at LB. Trayvon Henderson and Kavon Frazier both had some nice INTs in the second half at safety. Cam Sample got the walkoff sack to secure the game, but looked like he also had some things he needed to work on in terms of adding some pass rushing moves to his arsenal. Overall, pretty happy with how the defense looked.
Three things I liked from the defense:
-We might actually have a pass rush again? Hendrickson looked like he was worth the contract he earned in the off-season, and Joseph Ossai looks like the real deal!
-Defensive front did a nice job shutting down the run game. Gotta be able to get off the field on third down.
-Safety play should be really nice again this season. Bates is already established as one of the, if not the best free safety in the league and Vonn Bell looks like he improved a bit in coverage at strong safety.
Three things I didn’t like:
-Corners letting WRs behind them.
-Blitzing sparingly. Only saw a handful of blitzes all game. But I think we’ll dial it up as the game calls for it in the regular season.
-LBs allowed TEs to be the opposing offense’s biggest weapon. Gotta be able to shut that stuff down in the middle of the field.
Evan McPherson and Austin Seibert both went 2-2 on FGs. McPherson hit a 40 yarder that would’ve been good from 55-60. I think that’s McPherson’s job to lose at this point.
Overall, I would give this team a B/B+ for this game. Plenty to be hopeful for, but also plenty to improve on.
