Michael Citro
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Grumpy Old Buckeye: Nitpicking Ohio State’s 41-21 win over Oregon
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Every Rose Bowl has its thorns.
Ohio State had one of the happiest New Years in recent memory, destroying the Oregon Ducks 41-21 in the Rose Bowl, and advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Buckeyes will meet Texas in [/checks notes] Texas (naturally) in another matchup against a physical team with an inventive offense. But we’re here to talk about the (second) OSU game against Oregon, and while it’s easy to stop and smell the roses from a three-score win over the previously undefeated No. 1 team in the country, it’s my job to get stuck on the thorns.
Here’s what had me feeling thorny during the Rose Bowl.
Ohio State’s second possession was the only one Buckeye fans can realistically complain about from the first half, and it didn’t need to end in a punt. While the Ducks were able to get some pressure on Will Howard on that set of downs, a little more accuracy would have continued the drive. Howard should have done better on a pass to Carnell Tate, who was open. Then, while scrambling on third down, Howard tried to hit TreVeyon Henderson coming across the middle but threw the ball too low. Had he been more accurate, Henderson had a chance to catch it in stride and take it to the house.
It’s bad enough that Ryan Day opted to punt from the Oregon 36-yard line on that second possession. Fourth-and-10 situations aren’t the easiest to convert, but if you’re not comfortable sending Jayden Fielding on to kick a 53-yard field goal, you’ve got to weigh how much field position there is to be gained. If you believe in your defense, those few extra yards of field position for Oregon wouldn’t matter that much. Joe McGuire’s kick was low, but the coverage was still there in time to down it inside the 5-yard line.
However, Lorenzo Styles, Jr. was not able to locate the ball in time to prevent it from getting past him and into the end zone for a touchback, netting a whopping 16 yards of field position in the change of possession. Later in the game, McGuire again knocked a punt inside the 5-yard line. This time it had the requisite back spin and would have allowed Ohio State to pin Oregon deep. But Bryson Rodgers knocked it into the end zone for another touchback.
No one knew at the time how dominant Ohio State would end up being throughout the first half. So it was a little frustrating seeing Howard try to force a pass to Jeremiah Smith, who was well covered (and perhaps a bit held) on third-and-5 from the Oregon 28. Smith had just flashed past teammates Gee Scott, Jr. and Tate, who were both wide open and working back in front of defenders. Had Howard opted for either, a first down was likely and perhaps the Buckeyes would have gone up 21-0 instead of 17-0 early in the third quarter.
Are these too nitpicky? It’s the Grumpy Old Buckeye column, not the Happy Old Buckeye. I’m just doing my job!
The Ducks got on the board on the last play of the first half, but that touchdown drive should never have happened. The defense had played spectacularly up until that last drive of the half, which appeared all but over when J.T. Tuimoloau sacked Dillon Gabriel at the Oregon 34. But the coverage was poor on a third-and-16 play, allowing Gabriel to find Traeshon Holden for a first down. Lathan Ransom, who played a fantastic game, made matters worse by missing a tackle, and the Ducks not only picked up a first down but moved the ball all the way to the OSU 22 on a 44-yard gain — the first explosive play Oregon had all day.
Ryan Day said in a sideline interview at halftime that the defense had to start fast in the second half, and for a minute it looked like it would. Noah Whittington ran for no gain on first down on the second half’s opening possession. Jack Sawyer sacked Gabriel on second down to set up third-and-22. And then the defense caved on third and long again. Gabriel threw high to Justius Lowe along the sideline, picking up 21 yards. Kenyatta Jackson missed a sack on the play and Lowe caught it in front of Sonny Styles.
I’m not sure he had possession before his dragged toe hit the sideline, but I doubt they’d have overturned it from the replays I saw. Given the score, Oregon went for it on fourth down and picked up a fresh set of downs, continuing a drive that ended in the Ducks’ second touchdown of the day. It cut the OSU lead to 34-15, got the crowd back into the game, and made Ohio State fans a bit more uncomfortable.
One thing the offense can’t do after the defense gives up a long touchdown drive is to go three and out. The only three-and-outs the OSU offense had in the first half ended in touchdowns. But after surrendering the second consecutive Oregon touchdown drive, the offense went only seven yards on three plays. Henderson gained 3 yards on first down, followed by a 4-yard pass to Emeka Egbuka on second down. A third-down pass attempt fell incomplete and Oregon had the ball back with momentum. The defense restored order on the Ducks’ ensuing possession, but another score on that drive would have made Buckeyes everywhere sweat a bit.
If your defense is so easy to play against that the opposing team never has to hold anyone, is it really the nation’s No. 1 defense? College referees would clearly have you believe that Tuimoloau and Sawyer pose no risk to opposing quarterbacks and are, in fact, easy to block. This is illustrated by the fact that Ohio State opponents have been penalized for offensive holding just once all season — way back in the Marshall game in September.
Of Ohio State’s other 2024 opponents, only Western Michigan and Michigan State were even called for offensive holding, and those penalties were wiped out by fouls on Ohio State. Western Michigan’s holding penalty was offset by a Denzel Burke targeting call and the Spartans’ holding penalty was nullified by a defensive hold on the same play. That’s it.
Ohio State opponents have gone 10 consecutive games without being penalized for holding. Meanwhile, Ohio State has been penalized for offensive holding nine times and was called for it three times in the Western Michigan game alone. You read that correctly: the Buckeyes were penalized for holding the Broncos thrice but only one team has been hit with 10 yards for holding a Buckeye.
Don’t believe your eyes. Don’t believe the bear hugs you see or linemen skiing behind Sawyer. It isn’t real (apparently). One of Oregon’s biggest plays came on a play when Jackson was bursting up the middle with a lineman’s arm around his neck. Eddrick Houston was outright tackled on a play in the second half. But no one is holding. Trust the refs. They’re professionals.
I’m not asking refs to call a nitpicky game. There’s a way to “let them play” that doesn’t include allowing offensive tackles to break the rules in the most obvious way possible. It was apparent on multiple scrambles on Oregon’s scoring drives when Gabriel escaped the pocket that he was only able to do so because the defensive end on that side was being held. These are the most commonly called holding penalties because the defender sees the quarterback’s change of direction and the offensive lineman doesn’t, so they get caught grabbing when the defender tries to disengage. Just a brief tug is enough to allow the quarterback to get outside to make a play. This wasn’t called against Oregon (as it hasn’t been all season) and helped the Ducks in their attempt to get back in the game.
Leading by 20 points with under five minutes remaining, Ohio State’s starters took the field on offense. There was no reason for that. Henderson and Quinshon Judkins each carried the ball as the Buckeyes looked to run out the clock. At that point, an Oregon comeback was extremely unlikely. It was an opportunity for James Peoples to get some late carries, protecting the guys Ohio State will need if it is going to reach its ultimate goal. There’s no need to risk Howard, Henderson, Judkins, or the offensive line starters any more than necessary on that final drive.
Those are the moments that defined my grumpitude when Ohio State took on the Ducks on New Year’s Day. Yeah, that’s all I’ve got. How grumpy can you really be while you’re beating the brakes off the nation’s top-ranked team?
This game was 99% free of pain points. Smith once again showed off his freakish gifts as a wide receiver. Howard played mistake-free football and made some big throws. Henderson was explosive in the run game. The offensive line held up well against a good Oregon defensive line. The defense was outstanding other than a couple of third-and-long situations, especially Sawyer, Caleb Downs, and Cody Simon. Denzel Burke, who got torched repeatedly in the first game against the Ducks, hardly had his name called all day.
It was a (nearly, and using that adverb here, even in parentheses, is being super nitpicky) complete performance.
Next up for the Buckeyes is a Cotton Bowl meeting with the Texas Longhorns. It will be interesting to see how Ohio State’s defense treats former teammate Quinn Ewers on Jan. 10.
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Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Every Rose Bowl has its thorns.
Ohio State had one of the happiest New Years in recent memory, destroying the Oregon Ducks 41-21 in the Rose Bowl, and advancing to the College Football Playoff semifinals. The Buckeyes will meet Texas in [/checks notes] Texas (naturally) in another matchup against a physical team with an inventive offense. But we’re here to talk about the (second) OSU game against Oregon, and while it’s easy to stop and smell the roses from a three-score win over the previously undefeated No. 1 team in the country, it’s my job to get stuck on the thorns.
Here’s what had me feeling thorny during the Rose Bowl.
Close to Perfect
Ohio State’s second possession was the only one Buckeye fans can realistically complain about from the first half, and it didn’t need to end in a punt. While the Ducks were able to get some pressure on Will Howard on that set of downs, a little more accuracy would have continued the drive. Howard should have done better on a pass to Carnell Tate, who was open. Then, while scrambling on third down, Howard tried to hit TreVeyon Henderson coming across the middle but threw the ball too low. Had he been more accurate, Henderson had a chance to catch it in stride and take it to the house.
Downing Punts is Hard
It’s bad enough that Ryan Day opted to punt from the Oregon 36-yard line on that second possession. Fourth-and-10 situations aren’t the easiest to convert, but if you’re not comfortable sending Jayden Fielding on to kick a 53-yard field goal, you’ve got to weigh how much field position there is to be gained. If you believe in your defense, those few extra yards of field position for Oregon wouldn’t matter that much. Joe McGuire’s kick was low, but the coverage was still there in time to down it inside the 5-yard line.
However, Lorenzo Styles, Jr. was not able to locate the ball in time to prevent it from getting past him and into the end zone for a touchback, netting a whopping 16 yards of field position in the change of possession. Later in the game, McGuire again knocked a punt inside the 5-yard line. This time it had the requisite back spin and would have allowed Ohio State to pin Oregon deep. But Bryson Rodgers knocked it into the end zone for another touchback.
Bringing Field Goals to a Touchdown Fight
No one knew at the time how dominant Ohio State would end up being throughout the first half. So it was a little frustrating seeing Howard try to force a pass to Jeremiah Smith, who was well covered (and perhaps a bit held) on third-and-5 from the Oregon 28. Smith had just flashed past teammates Gee Scott, Jr. and Tate, who were both wide open and working back in front of defenders. Had Howard opted for either, a first down was likely and perhaps the Buckeyes would have gone up 21-0 instead of 17-0 early in the third quarter.
Are these too nitpicky? It’s the Grumpy Old Buckeye column, not the Happy Old Buckeye. I’m just doing my job!
Shutout Spoiled
The Ducks got on the board on the last play of the first half, but that touchdown drive should never have happened. The defense had played spectacularly up until that last drive of the half, which appeared all but over when J.T. Tuimoloau sacked Dillon Gabriel at the Oregon 34. But the coverage was poor on a third-and-16 play, allowing Gabriel to find Traeshon Holden for a first down. Lathan Ransom, who played a fantastic game, made matters worse by missing a tackle, and the Ducks not only picked up a first down but moved the ball all the way to the OSU 22 on a 44-yard gain — the first explosive play Oregon had all day.
Opening the Door
Ryan Day said in a sideline interview at halftime that the defense had to start fast in the second half, and for a minute it looked like it would. Noah Whittington ran for no gain on first down on the second half’s opening possession. Jack Sawyer sacked Gabriel on second down to set up third-and-22. And then the defense caved on third and long again. Gabriel threw high to Justius Lowe along the sideline, picking up 21 yards. Kenyatta Jackson missed a sack on the play and Lowe caught it in front of Sonny Styles.
I’m not sure he had possession before his dragged toe hit the sideline, but I doubt they’d have overturned it from the replays I saw. Given the score, Oregon went for it on fourth down and picked up a fresh set of downs, continuing a drive that ended in the Ducks’ second touchdown of the day. It cut the OSU lead to 34-15, got the crowd back into the game, and made Ohio State fans a bit more uncomfortable.
Making Matters Worse
One thing the offense can’t do after the defense gives up a long touchdown drive is to go three and out. The only three-and-outs the OSU offense had in the first half ended in touchdowns. But after surrendering the second consecutive Oregon touchdown drive, the offense went only seven yards on three plays. Henderson gained 3 yards on first down, followed by a 4-yard pass to Emeka Egbuka on second down. A third-down pass attempt fell incomplete and Oregon had the ball back with momentum. The defense restored order on the Ducks’ ensuing possession, but another score on that drive would have made Buckeyes everywhere sweat a bit.
Is It Still Even a Rule? (A Mini Rant about Offensive Holding)
If your defense is so easy to play against that the opposing team never has to hold anyone, is it really the nation’s No. 1 defense? College referees would clearly have you believe that Tuimoloau and Sawyer pose no risk to opposing quarterbacks and are, in fact, easy to block. This is illustrated by the fact that Ohio State opponents have been penalized for offensive holding just once all season — way back in the Marshall game in September.
Of Ohio State’s other 2024 opponents, only Western Michigan and Michigan State were even called for offensive holding, and those penalties were wiped out by fouls on Ohio State. Western Michigan’s holding penalty was offset by a Denzel Burke targeting call and the Spartans’ holding penalty was nullified by a defensive hold on the same play. That’s it.
Ohio State opponents have gone 10 consecutive games without being penalized for holding. Meanwhile, Ohio State has been penalized for offensive holding nine times and was called for it three times in the Western Michigan game alone. You read that correctly: the Buckeyes were penalized for holding the Broncos thrice but only one team has been hit with 10 yards for holding a Buckeye.
Don’t believe your eyes. Don’t believe the bear hugs you see or linemen skiing behind Sawyer. It isn’t real (apparently). One of Oregon’s biggest plays came on a play when Jackson was bursting up the middle with a lineman’s arm around his neck. Eddrick Houston was outright tackled on a play in the second half. But no one is holding. Trust the refs. They’re professionals.
I’m not asking refs to call a nitpicky game. There’s a way to “let them play” that doesn’t include allowing offensive tackles to break the rules in the most obvious way possible. It was apparent on multiple scrambles on Oregon’s scoring drives when Gabriel escaped the pocket that he was only able to do so because the defensive end on that side was being held. These are the most commonly called holding penalties because the defender sees the quarterback’s change of direction and the offensive lineman doesn’t, so they get caught grabbing when the defender tries to disengage. Just a brief tug is enough to allow the quarterback to get outside to make a play. This wasn’t called against Oregon (as it hasn’t been all season) and helped the Ducks in their attempt to get back in the game.
Unnecessary Risk
Leading by 20 points with under five minutes remaining, Ohio State’s starters took the field on offense. There was no reason for that. Henderson and Quinshon Judkins each carried the ball as the Buckeyes looked to run out the clock. At that point, an Oregon comeback was extremely unlikely. It was an opportunity for James Peoples to get some late carries, protecting the guys Ohio State will need if it is going to reach its ultimate goal. There’s no need to risk Howard, Henderson, Judkins, or the offensive line starters any more than necessary on that final drive.
Those are the moments that defined my grumpitude when Ohio State took on the Ducks on New Year’s Day. Yeah, that’s all I’ve got. How grumpy can you really be while you’re beating the brakes off the nation’s top-ranked team?
This game was 99% free of pain points. Smith once again showed off his freakish gifts as a wide receiver. Howard played mistake-free football and made some big throws. Henderson was explosive in the run game. The offensive line held up well against a good Oregon defensive line. The defense was outstanding other than a couple of third-and-long situations, especially Sawyer, Caleb Downs, and Cody Simon. Denzel Burke, who got torched repeatedly in the first game against the Ducks, hardly had his name called all day.
It was a (nearly, and using that adverb here, even in parentheses, is being super nitpicky) complete performance.
Next up for the Buckeyes is a Cotton Bowl meeting with the Texas Longhorns. It will be interesting to see how Ohio State’s defense treats former teammate Quinn Ewers on Jan. 10.
Continue reading...