Game Thread Ohio State vs Northwestern, 10/29/16, 3:30pm ET ESPN/WatchESPN

[Poe McKnoe]

Keyword is isn't. He was on track to be under Herman. Then Beck fucked with his fundamentals and now he has robotic/unnatural mannerisms which have hindered his touch and feel for the game. He threw some beautiful passes in '14. The offensive players are getting a raw deal right now, IMO.

Hey now, Beck taught him that sweet shoulder fake that he's using instead of releasing the football. Apparently Beck forgot to tell him that it doesn't do much after 5 or 6 seconds in the pocket. You're supposed to use that on the first part of the route before the pressure gets there.

 

[ScriptOhio]

The O-Zone writer here made some valid observations:

Ten Things We Learned from Ohio State's 24-20 Win Over Northwestern

The afternoon started out pretty well for the Buckeyes. They jumped out to a 10-0 lead on Northwestern midway through the first quarter and looked like they were going to put this game away early and coast for the first time in about a month.

Obviously, with a final score of 24-20, nobody was put away early, though it could be argued that there was still plenty of coasting.

Ohio State now moves to 7-1 overall and 4-1 in the Big Ten. Everything they want is still in front of them, but they're not good enough to look ahead even a little.

That's okay, though. "One game at a time" never did anyone wrong, and it can only help the Buckeyes at this point.

So what did we learn from Saturday's game? Let's take a look.

1. This is what Ohio State is.

After eight games, there is no more mystery at play. This is who Ohio State is. We know their strengths and we know their flaws. There is no switch that is going to be flipped. This is the offense and this is the defense. One looks troubled and the other is bending so far backward that the back of their head is scraping the ground.

The good news is that the Buckeyes were able to put some long, sustained drives together, and defensively, the Silver Bullets stiffened up in the red zone, allowing just two touchdowns in four visits.

At this point, however, we shouldn't expect an offense that is throwing the ball down the field or over the middle with confidence. I'm not sure J.T. Barrett has the receivers to even make that happen. After the game, Urban Meyer said he was happy with the balance and said that at most places, 431 yards of total offense would be perfectly acceptable. He did admit that Ohio State isn't most places, however.

Basically, don't suddenly expect Ohio State's passing game to start spitting out 300-yard games, and don't expect the Silver Bullets to turn into a blitz-happy monster. They are who they are at this point. Can the growth suddenly take off in November?

2. Luke Fickell and Greg Schiano have to find more ways to help Damon Webb and Damon Arnette.
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http://theozone.net/Ohio-State/Foot...-from-Ohio-States-24-20-Win-Over-Northwestern

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[Telekinesis]

1. This is what Ohio State is.

After eight games, there is no more mystery at play. This is who Ohio State is.

Here's one thing I've learned from Urban Meyer over the last decade that is more important than anything in that article:

Never count his teams out. Even if you think they will get killed, they will come out and kick your ass up and down the field. Whether it's with a team that has less talent or with a 3rd string QB led squad that blows by two Heisman runner-ups and the Heisman winner.

You do not know who they are even if you think you do and there will always be more mystery there when all the cards are on the table.

No one can tell me that this team can't look any different in three weeks than it does now, because I've witnessed it happen multiple times whenever Urban is at the helm.

 

[ScriptOhio]

OHIO STATE'S FINAL DRIVE AGAINST NORTHWESTERN SHOWS PROPER EXECUTION, PLAY CALLING AT MOST CRUCIAL TIME IS POSSIBLE

Urban Meyer said the most important thing from his Ohio State team's 24-20 victory against Northwestern was his players "nutted up" when they absolutely had to in order to leave Ohio Stadium with a victory. No greater example of that came than during the game's final drive.

Armed with three timeouts and facing a 4th-and-goal from the 16-yard line after a holding penalty and incomplete pass, Pat Fitzgerald chose to kick a field goal to cut Ohio State's lead to four. He said after the game the penalty made him kick—if the Wildcats faced 4th-and-goal from the 5, he was going for it.

Jack Mitchell nailed the 33-yard field goal and booted the ensuing kickoff into the end zone. With 3:31 left on the clock, J.T. Barrett and Ohio State's offense trotted out on the field with a chance to secure the team's seventh win.

1ST-AND-10, BALL ON OHIO STATE 25
Result: J.T. Barrett throws incomplete to Noah Brown
An inauspicious way to start a potential game-sealing drive if you're Ohio State, especially with Northwestern having three timeouts at its disposal and the clock working against Fitzgerald.

After faking a handoff to Mike Weber on a play-action power concept, Barrett rolled right and fired too wide to Brown, who had created separation from the Northwestern defensive back. The ball hit Brown in the hands but he couldn't reel it in.

Visibly upset with himself, Barrett peered to the sideline for the next play. He knew Ohio State needed to come back with something deadly on its next two plays.

2ND-AND-10, BALL ON OHIO STATE 25
Result: J.T. Barrett rush for 2 yards
Barrett faked to Weber once again on a read-option "Bash" concept with the running back going outside and quarterback inside, electing to keep it as the defensive end crashed hard in the backfield. The quarterback picked his way to at least get two yards as the Wildcats got a small push on Ohio State's offensive line.

Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...play-calling-at-most-crucial-time-is-possible

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

Keyword is isn't. He was on track to be under Herman. Then Beck fucked with his fundamentals and now he has robotic/unnatural mannerisms which have hindered his touch and feel for the game. He threw some beautiful passes in '14. The offensive players are getting a raw deal right now, IMO.

Not exactly. JT had moments like Sparty 14 where he was lights out, but more generally he's been a good, not great thrower and an exceptional runner who always gets the tough yard(s). His ability to lead or throw receivers open has never been a strong suit although he certainly had moments - and still does have moments. It is who he is. If he had receivers who got greater separation, he'd look like a god again, but that isn't happening.

 

[jwinslow]

Not exactly. JT had moments like Sparty 14 where he was lights out, but more generally he's been a good, not great thrower and an exceptional runner who always gets the tough yard(s). His ability to lead or throw receivers open has never been a strong suit although he certainly had moments - and still does have moments. It is who he is. If he had receivers who got greater separation, he'd look like a god again, but that isn't happening.

Yup. I'm rewatching the game and the first two throws encapsulate what good JT looks like. He has Samuel with good blocking, but he looks at it for a long time before throwing the swing pass. Same as the dumpoff to Brown. He has not cut out that extra 0.5-1 second of staring in his 3 years.

He's become more comfortable in the pocket and is actually progressing through his reads in the last few games, but he'll always be a run first QB who thinks a bit too long with the football.

 

[jwinslow]

Finally getting a chance to watch this game. I think the playcalling is pretty solid in the first 3 drives. Conversely, the coverage seemed a lot worse live but there were a ton of great throws by Northwestern and some ultra aggressive playcalling by Northwestern and some clutch conversions repeatedly on 3rd and long or 4th down.

edit: lots of personnel breakdowns on the 3rd drive. Crucial drop by Baugh, bailed out by great play by Samuel.

Now OSU stalls with a bad block by Jordan, putting them behind at 2nd & 16. Nice redemption by Baugh, Barrett standing in the pocket, finds Baugh outside for a key first down. 3 big 3rd down pickups in spite of down and distance.

Finally a vintage OSU play, breaking a tackle and racing in for an outside TD run.

 

[Systems_id]

Not exactly. JT had moments like Sparty 14 where he was lights out, but more generally he's been a good, not great thrower and an exceptional runner who always gets the tough yard(s). His ability to lead or throw receivers open has never been a strong suit although he certainly had moments - and still does have moments. It is who he is. If he had receivers who got greater separation, he'd look like a god again, but that isn't happening.

So you're saying JT hasn't progressed at all since his freshman year?

 

[Nigel Tufnel]

So you're saying JT hasn't progressed at all since his freshman year?

No, even Jwins just noted some improvement in progressions. He has improved but other aspects of the team are not currently performing like they were in prior years. Our WRs have a lot of work to do to be even a shadow of what they were in 2014. And our line has been spotty, sometimes good sometimes a struggle. Now, I'm not saying that he couldn't improve more or wouldn't have with Herman. I don't know that. No one does. What I have been saying all along is that the Hunt for Beck's job has been premature from the beginning. Frankly in much the same way folks were after "Mensa" up until the midway point in 2014. Beck may not be great, but the real problems that exist here are more widespread and using him as a scapegoat won't solve those.

 

[Tlangs]

Any idea why Arnette plays the nickel when supposedly Lattimore and Ward are "co-starters"? It would seem like Ward would get the first shot at nickel as the "co-starter". Arnette had the nice reaction on the tipped ball but gave up some big plays.

 

[3yardsandacloud]

Well the cake is baked and we are what we are ... young. Seems to me that the coaching staff realized that and has been trying to "manage" the team to wins as opposed to opening up and risking catastrophic plays. Think they realized that the OU win was fools gold in a sense. Yeah we were good, but that happens with a young team when things are going well and the positive emotions are running high. Talent takes over and all doubts are gone from the mind. A bit trickier when things aren't going so well and the kids are thinking too much. Heck, I would say that I thought JT was thinking too much as well. "Is my receiver going to come open ... run a good route ... drop the ball?" By the time that goes thru the mind the opportunity is gone or you've thrown late. The good news is that once it "clicks" into place, big improvements happen quickly. The play books opens up when the coaches see each player on their unit (O, D, ST) executing. Momentum is huge for young teams. Without it we are just too tentative and lack experience to draw from when we hit rough patches. Hopefully we can capture it early and start riding it again. Go Bucks! Buckle up, probably a bumpy flight again this week.

 

[OSUK]

I think this game showed us where our biggest problem with inexperience on offense is: WR. Thorson connected with a bunch of brainy white guys for good yardage at times. He knew exactly where those guys were going to be and he delivered the ball where they were. When he missed, it was because he didn't throw a good enough ball, not because the guys weren't there. Carr, et.al., were getting separation and finding open space, not because they are the best athletes, but because of route running, correct reads, and attention to detail.

I don't think JT trusts his guys to be where they are supposed to be. I don't think they have mastered route running, reading coverage, or those little details that will allow them to get separation. He is having to wait and make sure they may get there, and that hesitation is killing the intermediate and downfield passing game. He isn't confident when he lets it go, and that extra time sometimes result in him throwing under duress. He certainly can do better, even with the limitations this group has, but I've seen this same guy be part of an explosive passing offense, so it's hard for me to believe he is the core of this problem.

The receivers are doing a pretty good job of blocking. But in my mind, we will know this group has grown up when we see them catching balls on time 20-40 yards downfield. Until then, defenses are going to play them in a 12x52 yard box, and everything is going to look hard.

 

[ScriptOhio]