The Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Washingto
Welcome back to the first Grumpy Old Buckeye of 2019. If you’re new to this column, welcome! The aim here is to be the voice of negativity, even when things are generally pretty great. I point out the things from each game that make me want to walk out onto my lawn in my bathrobe and yell at people about it. This week we’re talking Ohio State vs. Washington in the Rose Bowl.
Pre-Snap Penalties Start Before First Play
Oh, Wyatt Davis. Why you gotta hurt my heart? If you’ve read this column this season, you’ll know of my disdain for the pre-snap penalty and the game had barely started before it happened yet again. Davis’ penalty before the first play from scrimmage led to a three-and-out. Josh Alabi got one to start a drive later after a Washington field goal drive. What is it with the first play of the drive that is so difficult?
Prince also got one on a key third-and-short play early in the second quarter. Thankfully, Dwayne Haskins threw a touchdown pass to Johnnie Dixon on the next play. Prince did screw things up on the next drive by taking one on third and nine, with the Buckeyes unable to pick up all of the necessary 14 yards.
Malcolm Pridgeon got in on the action later as well and there were a couple on defense. There were a lot more of these than we usually see and we usually see too many.
Dwayne Haskins: Still Not a Zone Read QB
The Buckeyes got the ball back after scoring and had a chance to seize early control of the game. But Ohio State called a zone read play on third-and-two on the third possession. Haskins was baited into keeping the ball by the defensive end and the play blew up in the backfield. A hand-off may have netted the two yards but I hate the play call either way.
Chase Gets a Loaf
Broken plays on offense kept Washington in the game in the first half and one such play seemed preventable if not for some nonchalance on the part of Ohio State. Jake Browning scrambled out of the pocket and despite his speed and freak athletic ability, Chase Young just kind of…followed. He didn’t run; he didn’t sprint; and he certainly didn’t live up to his first name on the play. He just sort of followed along at a jog and watched the Huskies pick up a first down. Maybe he wouldn’t have made the play, but that was some poor effort and it’s not what we expect from Young.
Entire article:
https://theozone.net/2019/01/the-grumpy-old-buckeye-ohio-state-vs-washington/