Post-Game Thoughts
1. Here are some numbers to consider:
• Maryland ran the ball 35 times for 106 yards (3.0 average)
• Maryland completed only 21 passes on 41 attempts (51.2% completion rate)
• Maryland's 41 pass attempts gained only 196 yards (4.8 per attempt)
• Overall, Maryland ran 76 plays for 302 yards (4.0 yards per play)
• On the other hand, Ohio State ran 62 plays for 382 yards (6.2 per play)
• In the passing game, Ohio State averaged 11.0 yards per attempt and 16.8 yards per completion
* Ohio State won the turnover battle, two to zero, with one of those turnovers being a pick six
Add it all together and it looks like the recipe for a comfortable 37-17 victory.
But it sure didn't feel comfortable at the time. Throw in ten penalties for 81 yards, three for twelve on third down, a botched punt, some post bye week sluggishness, a lingering Notre Dame hangover, an inexperienced OL, an underperforming DL, an erratic QB, and an anemic running attack and now you get the game that was actually played – an ugly first quarter, a mediocre second quarter, and a solid second half with flashes of brilliance.
2. I'm not going to confuse Maryland with an elite team, but the Terps should win at least nine games this year and they might be able to spoil the season for Penn State and/or Michigan. Yesterday, Ohio State beat a good team handily – at least handily on the scoreboard – which is all that you can ask for.
3. Marvin Harrison Jr. showed yet again that he might be the best player in college football – 8 receptions for 163 yards and a touchdown. For the season, Harrison has 25 receptions for 499 yards (20.0 yards per reception, 99.8 yards per game) and 4 touchdowns.
4. Those of you clamoring for more Chip Trayanum and Miyan Williams got your wish yesterday, as starting RB TreVeyon Henderson sat out the game with an injury. Trayanum and Williams had a combined 26 carries for 84 yards (3.6 average) with a long run of just 11 yards (and that came late in the fourth quarter with Ohio State up by 17 points). Henderson is the proverbial home run hitter, and when he's "on" he adds a dimension to the Buckeye offense that the others simply cannot provide.
5. Props once again to safety Josh Proctor, who finally seems to have seen the light during his sixth season with the program. After a promising start, Proctor's career was partially derailed first by injury, then by poor performance, and finally by a defensive scheme change, but his perseverance is starting to pay off. Against Maryland, Proctor had 7 tackles (6 solo), 1.5 TFLs, and a somewhat surprising pick six (Josh has dropped a few of those over the years, including one earlier this season against Western Kentucky).
6. Meaningless stat of the day: Maryland possessed the ball for 30:04, Ohio State for 29:56.
Would agree with all of the above. All I would add is on my positives/negatives post-game:
Positives:
- Defense made huge plays when we needed them and not just turnovers, batted balls at the line and just suffocating coverage after the first quarter. After ND and Maryland, I can say I have quite a bit of confidence in our secondary. If they can keep the score 17 points or under, we should win damn near every game.
- DL got some pressure as the game went along, though it wasn't a hot start at all.
- Our WR/TE groups are really good and fun to watch.
- We beat a very good team by 20 points...I see Maryland being a 9-10 win team by the end of bowl season and it was a quality win.
Negatives:
- If our OL can't run block better than we have, we are going to lose at least one game. It is absolutely pathetic and I know we have enough talent to be much, much better in that area...Frye needs to get his shit together there, he is the OL coach and "run game coordinator", so to me the buck stops there. Day is demonstrably frustrated with it, but it is not his specialty area and Frye was supposed to come in and get the job done there. He is not getting it done and he needs called out behind closed doors after yesterday for a very real come to Jesus discussion on improving the run game IMMEDIATELY. With D Jackson, Hinzman, M Jones, Vimahi, etc. there is no excuse at all for this.
- McCord had a very bad game. The stats at the end of the game were a product of great play calls and Harrison/Stover being wide open. Hopefully that is just a one-time thing though, he has been pretty damn good until this game.
- The need to spy #3 should have been so obvious, yet we didn't do it until late 3rd quarter and it burned us regularly. I am glad we adjusted, but that is something that shouldn't need adjustment...that QB started playing when Clinton took office and you have a clear scouting report that goes way back, freaking use it. I am of the opinion that the defense is super talented as players and exceeding despite Jim Knowles until further notice. But to counteract my negative comment there, I do think our LB/Secondary coaches are getting it done...really good discipline and technique at those positions.
- DL has to be more consistent early on, especially in collapsing the pocket on passing plays. They redeemed themselves later in the game, but until then it hurt our back 7 when #3 could take his time to let receivers come open. We have the talent to just dominate from the start with JT, Sawyer, Tyleik, Hall, Curry, etc...but we aren't getting it done and slow starts are going to catch up to us at some point.
Overall:
Great win against a good team. This will probably be a weird take, but I see this team peaking as an '02 Tressel squad. Plays down to competition and doesn't score a ton despite great skill position players, but great defense and finds a way to win. Not saying that is how it will play out, but for some reason I just get that vibe about this team.
