Like many of you, I was a bit perturbed by some of the offensive play-calling, but looking back now, I am not so much. Perhaps it is the fact that OSU won tinting my hindsight, but I can find plenty of reasons for the coaches to make the decisions they did. And really, we're talking about 3 possessions here: the last 2 of regulation and the one in OT, right? The rest of the game was more-or-less fine, at least that's the vibe I'm getting from the other posts...
Missed FG possession, OSU up 7:
The previous 3 runs before this drive started were 3 rushes netting 79 yards and 2 touchdowns. The running game was working. On this possession: 0 yards, 8 yards, 8 yards (First down), -1 yard, 3 yards....setting up 3rd and 8 from the Iowa 27 with 8 minutes left. A pass is more likely to pick up the first down, but is also more likely to result in a loss of yardage, possibly taking OSU out of Barclay's field goal range. A run probably won't pick up the first, but should gain at least a couple yards, setting up a ~40 yard field goal. That should be a make. Do you risk giving up the 3 points (and 2 possession lead) for the possible first down at that point? JT obviously had faith that Barclay would make the field goal, so the risk of losing the chance at the points and 2-poss. lead outweighs the reward of getting a first down. I didn't like the call at first, but in hindsight, have no real problem with it. Keep yourself in position to get the points.
Last reg. possession, tied game:
I was fine with the first several plays. Let's see if we can get a first down or two, but also keep the clock running so that Iowa has to burn their timeouts or lose most of the time left on the clock if we don't make it. The worst thing that could happen would be a turnover, the 2nd worst would be going 3 and out with incomplete passes. As long as the clock runs, the only team that has a real chance to win the game is OSU. If Iowa stops OSU, they get the ball back with less than a minute to go.
Now, I don't know about those last couple pass plays. I have no idea if they were designed to go to Small and Herron or if those were reads make by Pryor. If the design of that 2nd pass was for it to go to Herron, put me in the group that doesn't like it all. If you are going to risk the incompletion there, you may as well do it for enough yardage for a first. If Boom is the primary receiver, my vote is go ahead and a run the QB draw. It's got as much chance to work, but with less risk.
OT: See missed fg possession - whatever happens, we are NOT going to lose enough yardage to be out of field goal range
Bottom line for me.....Tressel played the right odds and lost, at least as much as anyone that actually wins the game can lose. I love the "what if" game as much as anyone, but the problem is that you just don't know what would happen if another decision was made. Would anyone be happier if OSU's last regulation possession resulted in a downfield interception leading to a game-winning Iowa FG? I know that's a bit hyperbolic, but......
I certainly don't intend to absolve the coaches of all their issues. Perhaps JT placed too much faith in both Barclay and the D. Perhaps he should have been more aggresive on both sides of the ball. Perhaps X. Perhaps Y. I honestly don't know.
What I do know is that JT has just coached OSU to it's 5th straight B10 title and is 7-1 against UM, and even with the recent failings, is 4-4 in bowl games including 3-3 in BCS games. It may not always work, and it's almost never pretty, but I'll be damned if it isn't effective more times than not.
FWIW, looking back at the game, I am far more frustrated by the defensive calls than I am by the offensive.
