Some thoughts from the stands - or numbers by the by.
A Perfect Opportunity Missed? - Remember the film M*A*S*H? Hotlips side line cheer? Yep -
69 is Mighty Fine! 69 in Mighty Fine!
Could have happily heard that cheer from the stands yesterday at the end of the game. A Perfect opportunity, missed.
Huge props to the Defense. Yes, it is a MAC team, Yes it is not UW (upcoming) but keeping any but the very worst of D1A teams well below 100 throughout the whole game is a massive accomplishment, massive.
We shall see just how far above worst Akron truly is on Offense as the season progresses, but I think they will not be that low.
We already know they are one game better than a service academy. That should by all rights place them above ND :)
Of course, part of that win by Akron over Army was a defensive score - INT returned for TD.
Noteworthy - despite 5 turnovers, two through the air from Boeckmann's hands, Akron garnered no added points to complement the early 2 point gift from a curiously stumble prone Chris Wells. (Later he found his footing, but early on there seemed to be too much lean for contact, not enough balanced running).
Two more turnovers than Akron had first downs? Again a stunning contrast.
Special teams worry me a
little though, Akron's punter was booming that ball all day. The coffin corner kick early in the game was an absolute picture perfect punt - it of course set up the aforementioned safety. The punter in my view robbed Ohio State of expected field position all day.
So, why the ST concern, because it seemed to take a little time for the fair catcher to realize that Stec would Stick that punt damned near every time, and that the roll after first bounce would consistently go in favor of the visitors.
About the Turnovers
INT numero uno - Dane slips, TB passes anyway. Who is at fault on this? Anyone, fate? INT number two, seemed from my vantage point he threw with too much air under the abll and
insufficiently far. (Or to restate a secure throw rule - throw it where only your guy and no-one else can throw it). Not sure, but it seemed that TB throughout his day might have benefited from taking all the time available to go away from a primary to a check-down receiver. I'm not saying explicitly that TB was telegraphing, but I do think he was often glued to a primary quadrant of the field.
Whether my supposition is right or not, I think the INTs are something that can be overcome. (Even if it means throwing the ball away on a play).
The fumbles are in my view the most correctable of the errors committed yesterday. I will say no more on those.
What does still have me worried as the Buckeyes gear up to go to Seattle is the distinct lack of rushing production EARLY in the game. Yes, the Buckeyes ended the game with pretty solid numbers on the ground. 196 yards - 4.8 yards per carry. Lick yer chops stuff, right?
Wrong.
The bulk of those rushing yards came in the final two frames. Against a squad that brought far fewer players to the field. When their waterboys were already packing up the buses for the trip back via 71 and Rt 30 to Akron.
Getting a good start to the running game against UW will be absolutely a critical determinant of success in Seattle. Some of that is the O-Line, but a lot of it was a certain tentativeness as our RBs approached the line. Got to have good crisp running next week. Else we might end up sleepless next Saturday night.
Still, it's a win, the squad is 2-0 (and that is so much better than TSUN's position, it ain't even funny).
