Game Thread Ohio State @ Indiana, 08/31/17 @ 8:00 ET (ESPN)

[HorseshoeFetish]

Urban...he's calmer than you are.

 

[scarletmike]

I think whatever happened to JT in the past 2 years is unfixable at this point, and he still seems to be playing a bit too "mental." That WR group was a lot of his success, but he had to execute well too. It really shows how bad the current crop of receivers is, to this point at least. They need to start improving, and fast.

 

[Clarity]

I always thought it was banning material, but I've never been sold on the guy. Keep hoping I'm wrong & will be shown something. Still waiting.

Not at all banning material. Personal attacks or pointless rage without any substance or probative/conversational value at all is.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

in jtb's first 5 games of his college career, he had 3 games of 260+ yards passing.

in 2015, he had 0.

in 2016, he had 2.

game 1 of 2017?

 

[buckeyboy]

But that's the thing. Devin Smith didn't light people up until the last three game. Prior to the dude was good for maybe one big play a game.

I think most of us would be more than happy with a WR that can come up with one big play per game. We haven't seen that for the better part of a year.

 

[NFBuck]

I know Burrow is out and all, but at what point do you pull the plug on JT? I've seen zero improvement from him in that first half. I've defended him since the starting QB battle in 2015, but when do you say enough is enough?

I've been a big JT defender, too. But, if this achingly mediocre play carries over into the second half, and continues with Oklahoma...you gotta wonder if JT gets "Boeckman'd." I'm not sure I'd argue against it.

 

[Jake]

Gents, and @LostLassie, it's just the first half.

Crikies, if the kids I've coached threw in the towel the way some of you seem to have, there'd be a hell of a lot of games we would have lost that we ended up winning.

Long game to go.

Long season to go.

I'm not throwing in the towel. I'm relieved to only be down 1 after that half. But it IS a bit discouraging to see the same offensive struggles from last season, and we don't have the secondary we had last year. We NEED more from the offense. Just not sure we're going to get it.

 

[Systems_id]

Maybe JT is still shaking off the Tim Beck cowebs? Right guys? Right?!

 

[melecoaze]

in jtb's first 5 games of his college career, he had 3 games of 260+ yards passing.

in 2015, he had 0.

in 2016, he had 2.

game 1 of 2017?

Thats incredible in a not good way

 

[edwgrm]

i'm afraid to say it, but our season is capped with barrett behind center. he can't read defenses, he doesn't anticipate, and he doesn't have touch.

There's definitely a ceiling with him back there. The O Line and D better become dominant. He reminds me of tennis in my younger days... intended long lobs would be 20 feet out, drop shots would go into the net.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

But that's the thing. Devin Smith didn't light people up until the last three game. Prior to the dude was good for maybe one big play a game.

i think devin smith's greatest attribute wasn't exactly making the long, difficult catch. it was that defenses had to defend the long, difficult catch. everything underneath opened up as a result

 

[Poe McKnoe]

in jtb's first 5 games of his college career, he had 3 games of 260+ yards passing.

in 2015, he had 0.

in 2016, he had 2.

game 1 of 2017?

If he averaged 260 yards per game, we'd 37th in the nation in passing in 2016. Think about that.

 

[SloopyHangOn]

I'm disappointed, yes.

But this is the opening game, on the road, against a B1G opponent whose offense is talented and experienced where our defense is very very green.

Being down 1 at the half with a very bland offensive scheme so far is not at all a raw deal. The difference between these two teams should show itself over the next 30.

 

[Clarity]

Hey! I just saw two awesome vertical TD passes for OSU in the halftime highlights!

Oklahoma State.

 

[Jake]

Lagow has 278 passing yards. I'll go out on a limb and predict we'll lose if he gets 556.

 

[OhioState001]

I've been a big JT defender, too. But, if this achingly mediocre play carries over into the second half, and continues with Oklahoma...you gotta wonder if JT gets "Boeckman'd." I'm not sure I'd argue against it.

I'm really not seeing who he is supposed to throw to