GulfCoastOSU
Junior
Are commercials increased with ABC's primetime game? There were streaks where they cut to commercials at every possible chance. Glad the Tulane game is on BTN next week.
Upvote
0
-
Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
- Thread starter Dryden
- Start date
DB's and LB's look slower when they take terrible angles or false steps.
I think TCU is exceptionally fast from an overall team speed perspective but it' at the expense of size.
I would put OSU up against anybody in overall athleticism and the best combination of size and speed.
I think TCU is exceptionally fast from an overall team speed perspective but it' at the expense of size.
I would put OSU up against anybody in overall athleticism and the best combination of size and speed.
Upvote
0
ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
STATAGRAM: OHIO STATE 40, TCU 28
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/data-viz/2018/09/96522/statagram-ohio-state-40-tcu-28
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/data-viz/2018/09/96522/statagram-ohio-state-40-tcu-28
Upvote
0
LB play has been bad because the have been confused on assignments and fits. There is some hope that the game will slow down for them and that part of the defense could get better.
The safety opposite Fuller is a Black Hole. I am not hopeful they will get better unless there are changes in personel.
The safety opposite Fuller is a Black Hole. I am not hopeful they will get better unless there are changes in personel.
Upvote
0
ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
OHIO STATE'S 40-28 WIN OVER THE TCU HORNED FROGS IN 12 FANTASTIC GIFS
Dwayne Haskins got to work early, finding Austin Mack for 48 yards on the 3rd play of the game. The Buckeyes would have to settle for a field goal, and an early 3-0 lead, however.
Ohio State built a 10-0 lead thanks to Nick Bosa's strip sack of TCU quarterback Shawn Robinson. Davon Hamilton recovered the football in the end zone for the Buckeyes, but a replay showed the right call on the field may have been a safety.
TCU would get on the board with a 6-yard rushing touchdown from Sewo Olonilua in the first quarter. Six minutes into the second quarter, the Horned Frogs seized the lead on this 93-yard touchdown run by Darius Anderson. It is the longest scoring play ever surrendered by Ohio State.
By halftime, TCU had all of the momentum in this game. One minute into the third quarter, things went from bad to worse for Ohio State when Nick Bosa was injured. He would leave the game and not return with an injury later described as a lower abdomen sprain. The Horned Frogs took advantage of his exit, scoring shortly after to take a 21-13 lead over the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes got the play they needed midway through the third quarter when Parris Campbell took a Dwayne Haskins pass and raced 63 yards untouched for six. Ohio State failed on a two-point conversion following the touchdown, but they'd cut TCU's lead to two, 21-19.
Less than a minute later, Dre'Mont Jones struck, snatching this Robinson shovel pass and going Marshawn Lynch on the way to a pick six to put Ohio State up 26-21.
.
.
.
continued
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ver-the-tcu-horned-frogs-in-12-fantastic-gifs
Dwayne Haskins got to work early, finding Austin Mack for 48 yards on the 3rd play of the game. The Buckeyes would have to settle for a field goal, and an early 3-0 lead, however.
Ohio State built a 10-0 lead thanks to Nick Bosa's strip sack of TCU quarterback Shawn Robinson. Davon Hamilton recovered the football in the end zone for the Buckeyes, but a replay showed the right call on the field may have been a safety.
TCU would get on the board with a 6-yard rushing touchdown from Sewo Olonilua in the first quarter. Six minutes into the second quarter, the Horned Frogs seized the lead on this 93-yard touchdown run by Darius Anderson. It is the longest scoring play ever surrendered by Ohio State.
By halftime, TCU had all of the momentum in this game. One minute into the third quarter, things went from bad to worse for Ohio State when Nick Bosa was injured. He would leave the game and not return with an injury later described as a lower abdomen sprain. The Horned Frogs took advantage of his exit, scoring shortly after to take a 21-13 lead over the Buckeyes.
The Buckeyes got the play they needed midway through the third quarter when Parris Campbell took a Dwayne Haskins pass and raced 63 yards untouched for six. Ohio State failed on a two-point conversion following the touchdown, but they'd cut TCU's lead to two, 21-19.
Less than a minute later, Dre'Mont Jones struck, snatching this Robinson shovel pass and going Marshawn Lynch on the way to a pick six to put Ohio State up 26-21.
.
.
.
continued
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ver-the-tcu-horned-frogs-in-12-fantastic-gifs
Upvote
0
as far as patterson's post game comments he can go fuck himself with his "we gave them 21 points" bitchness.
"gave them" means an unforced error (drop a snap, fumble with no contact etc)
A strip sack for a TD isn't an unforced error you whiny little troll
The LB forcing your QB to pitch it quick and a DL being in exactly the right spot to take it, the score a fat guy TD isn't an unforced error you small time silly twat.
Dropping the snap on a punt is unforced but it did not directly result in 7 points. Your defense gave up they plays for the score.
It's bad enough when fans play the wouldda couldda shoudda bullshit (BWI) but a head coach? It just screams small time.
"gave them" means an unforced error (drop a snap, fumble with no contact etc)
A strip sack for a TD isn't an unforced error you whiny little troll
The LB forcing your QB to pitch it quick and a DL being in exactly the right spot to take it, the score a fat guy TD isn't an unforced error you small time silly twat.
Dropping the snap on a punt is unforced but it did not directly result in 7 points. Your defense gave up they plays for the score.
It's bad enough when fans play the wouldda couldda shoudda bullshit (BWI) but a head coach? It just screams small time.
Upvote
0
A few postgame notes and observations:
1. Dwayne Haskins is a great quarterback. Last night, Haskins was 24/38 (.632) for 344 yards, with 2 TDs and no INTs, and he added a 5-yard touchdown run on a perfectly called zone read keeper. Although Haskins put up stellar numbers against an acclaimed defense, his stats should have been even better as he was plagued by at least four drops (more on that later) and possibly as many as six (it all depends on what you consider to be a "drop"). In reality, Haskins should have been something like 29/38 (.763) for 390 yards and 3 TDs.
2. Dwayne Haskins still has room to improve. His most notable miscue occurred with Ohio State on their own 45-yard line down 14-13 with about 40 seconds left in the first half. Haskins severely under-threw a wide open Bin Victor (who made a nice stop-and-go move) that should have gone for six points. Haskins recovered and got the Buckeyes into field goal range, but Sean Nuernberger missed the kick as time expired (more on that later).
The second miscue is a bit picky, but nevertheless with some more experience it is a play that Haskins will eventually make. Facing 2nd-and-goal from the 3-yard line, Haskins faked an inside handoff and stepped back in the pocket. Terry McLaurin ran an inside route that drew two defenders. Rashod Berry released into the flat. A linebacker left Berry alone and rushed Haskins unblocked. Haskins threw a pass to a wide open Berry that the rushing LB deflected. If Haskins had either lofted the ball or pump-faked and then side-stepped the defender, it's an easy six points. Instead, Haskins seemed to panic a bit and threw the ball too quickly with a low trajectory and the defender easily batted it away. With more seasoning, Haskins likely finds some way to get that pass over, around, or through the defender for the touchdown.
Those two passes, if completed, give Ohio State 11 more points. They also give Ohio State added momentum at two of the most critical spots in the game - the opening drive and the final minute before halftime. If Haskins makes those two throws and Ohio State enters the locker room up 24-14, then maybe we would have had the blowout that many Buckeye fans were expecting. I may sound overly critical here, but missed passes like those could be what decides a big game down the road ... or what prevents a great quarterback from becoming a Heisman Trophy winner.
3. Quarterback play was the difference in the game. As stated above, Haskins had a great game that could have been monumental if his receivers had helped him out a bit more. On the other hand, TCU's quarterback Shawn Robinson was downright awful. Although his numbers look okay on paper - 24/40 (.600) for 308 yards, TD, 2 INTs - Robinson got most of his yardage on screen passes and arm punts that his WRs made great plays to haul in. Robinson had two turnovers that Ohio State returned for touchdowns (those 14 points literally being the difference in the game); took a 12-yard sack that moved TCU out of field goal range down 12 points in the 4th quarter; and threw a WTF interception late in the 4th quarter that killed any chance of a TCU comeback.
4. Austin Mack had a Jekyll & Hyde performance. Four receptions for 84 yards including a diving 48-yarder in double coverage sounds like a good night, right? Well, how does a holding penalty and four drops including a touchdown pass sound? Mack started out great, completely imploded, and then somewhat redeemed himself late in the game. Mack is 100% to blame for his many miscues, but the coaching staff is to blame for keeping him in the game when he clearly had some issues. Sometimes a seat on the bench is a great place to clear your head.
5. K.J. Hill is Ohio State's best receiver. Yes, and it isn't even close. Hill doesn't have breakaway speed like Parris Campbell, he isn't a deep threat like Johnnie Dixon, and he isn't 6-foot-4 like Bin Victor. He's just a guy who runs the underneath routes that no one likes to run, catches everything thrown his way, makes nifty moves with the ball in his hands, and picks up first downs. Last night, Hill led the team in both receptions (6) and receiving yards (95) and he also scored on a 24-yard catch. Hill already has 17 receptions through 3 games, and he has a legitimate chance to break the school single-season record of 85 catches (David Boston, 1998).
6. Parris Campbell is fast. So says Captain Obvious. There are a lot of things that Parris Campbell can't do on the gridiron (catching tough passes in traffic being the foremost), but has there ever been a player who can so easily turn a routine screen pass into a 63-yard touchdown? And do it simply by outrunning everyone on the defense? Whereas Ted Ginn and Braxton Miller could make ridiculous video game moves in the open field, Campbell just turns on the jets and doesn't stop until he hits the end zone. For his Buckeye career, Campbell now has three TD receptions of 60+ yards (receptions of 63, 69, and 74 yards). Only three other Buckeyes have accomplished that feat: Devin Smith with five (receptions of 60, 63, 72, 80, and 90 yards); Terry Glenn with three (receptions of 61, 75, and 82 yards); and Joey Galloway with three (receptions of 64, 67, and 69 yards).
7. The running game was good not great. J.K. Dobbins finally had a 100-yard game (18 carries, 121 yards, 6.7 average) but he still doesn't look like the Heisman candidate that we all hoped for. Mike Weber ground out some tough yardage to move the chains in the 4th quarter, but overall he had a rather bland performance (18 carries, 64 yards, 3.6 average; 4 receptions for 28 yards). There were no breakaway plays in the ground attack, with 18 yards being the longest run of the night. Will these uninspiring performances be the new normal in Columbus? Unfortunately, the answer is "yes". As much as we liked to criticize the read-option attack that generally produced 10+ quarterback runs per game, having a quarterback who was a threat to run certainly opened things up for the tailbacks. With Haskins being virtually guaranteed to hand the ball off, the opposing defense can key on the Buckeye running backs and shut down the ground game. The coaching staff needs to develop some constraint plays to keep the defense honest.
8. The offensive line did its job for the most part. The Buckeye tailbacks combined for 185 yards on 36 carries (5.14 average); Dwayne Haskins was sacked once for a one-yard loss and generally had a clean pocket; the offensive line committed no penalties. I think it's safe to say that the Buckeyes won the battle of the trenches. I have only one complaint with the line play - the consistently low snaps from center Michael Jordan which disrupted the timing of several plays. Credit to Dwayne Haskins for playing so well despite not getting the ball where he wanted it.
9. Nick Bosa is a beast. Captain Obvious strikes again. In limited action, Bosa had five tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble that was recovered by defensive tackle Davon Hamilton for a Buckeye touchdown. I don't know if Nick is better than his older brother, but the beastliness runs pretty damned high in the Bosa family. Unfortunately, Nick left the game in the 3rd quarter with an apparent groin injury (called a "lower abdomen strain" by acting head coach Ryan Day). If the injury causes Nick to miss significant time, then the Buckeyes' national championship aspirations will diminish accordingly.
10. Dre'Mont Jones is also a beast. Whatever money Jones cost himself by returning to Ohio State for his redshirt junior year, he made it up last night. Jones was simply unblockable and he displayed athleticism not usually seen from a defensive tackle. Jones had 6 tackles, a 12-yard sack, another tackle-for-loss, and a batted pass that he almost intercepted. The highlight of the night, however, was the interception that he did make, the theft of a shovel pass that went for a 28-yard pick six. The only "mistake" that Jones made all game was not falling on a ball in the end zone after a Nick Bosa strip sack. Fortunately, fellow defensive tackle Davon Hamilton bailed Jones out and came away with the easy touchdown.
11. The linebackers ... not good. Talent, coaching, and player evaluation have combined to produce a unit that is, shall we say, subpar. Someone on Twitter called the linebackers the "weak link" of the defense. "Missing link" might be more appropriate, as the unit was missing in action most of the night. The group did get better as the game progressed, and Malik Harrison did intercept an errant pass to seal the victory, but this unit must improve if the Buckeyes want to be legitimate playoff contenders. In the Buckeyes' pressure defense (press coverage on the corners, strong pass rush from the defensive line), the linebackers are left with a lot of ground to cover and a lot of gaps to fill, and so far they are not getting the job done consistently enough.
12. Recruiting rankings do matter. Outside of kicking specialists (P, PK, LS) and walk-ons, guess who is the 2nd-lowest rated recruit on Ohio State's roster? If your answer was Jahsen Wint, give yourself a Buckeye leaf. According to the 247 Composite, Wint had a recruit rating of .8485, while Ohio State's "average" recruit had a rating of .9260. Last night, as well as in the previous two contests, Wint played like he was out of his league. His most egregious miscue was somehow misjudging a TCU arm punt and turning a sure interception into a 51-yard touchdown pass. Wint may someday vindicate the staff's decision to take a chance on a low three-star prospect, but that day looks to be in the distant future.
13. Recruiting rankings don't matter. Now I'm sure you're all wondering who the lowest-rated Buckeye recruit is, right? Well, that would be defensive tackle Davon Hamilton who had an .8457 rating according to the 247 Composite. Hamilton certainly didn't shine like fellow defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Dre'Mont Jones, but he played solidly in the rotation and made a heads up play to recover a TCU fumble in the end zone for Ohio State's first touchdown.
14. Recruiting rankings do matter, part two. Jeffrey Okudah and Shaun Wade were both five-star recruits and the top two cornerback prospects in the class of 2017. Okudah had a quiet night, which is always a good thing for a cornerback. Wade was generally good in coverage and made a few notable plays including a pass break up, a blocked punt, and a crushing hit in the open field. Both guys look like potential future first rounders.
15. The Buckeyes defense is ... confusing. The Buckeye defense gave up 28 points that should have been 31 but for a missed chip shot field goal ... but the Buckeye defense also scored 14 points of its own. Texas Christian gained almost half of their 511 total yards on five huge plays, including touchdowns of 51 and 93 yards ... but the defense came through with several huge plays of their own including three sacks and three turnovers. Some individual members of the defense were outstanding ... others were miserable. On one hand, if the defense plays better, then Ohio State might win in blowout fashion ... but on the other hand, if the defense doesn't produce some game-changing plays, then Ohio State might not win at all. This enigmatic defense is probably good enough to run the table ... and bad enough to blow a game or three all by itself.
16. Another long touchdown run. In week one, Oregon State's Artavius Pierce busted off touchdown runs of 78 and 80 yards. Did the Buckeye defense learn from those mistakes? Apparently not, as TCU's Darius Anderson gashed the defense for a 93-yard score. Anderson's run looked eerily familiar to Tevin Coleman's 90-yard dash in the 2014 Indiana game, complete with the same horrible angle from the safety (Isaiah Pryor last night, Tyvis Powell in 2014). For the record, Anderson's 93-yard run is the longest scoring play from scrimmage by an Ohio State opponent.
17. The Buckeye special teams are not all that special. Yes, Shaun Wade had a blocked punt (aided by a dropped snap), but the rest of the night was pretty rough for the special teamers. The kick coverage unit got burned on a trick play that would've gone for an easy touchdown but for an illegal forward pass penalty. Sean Nuernberger missed a 38-yard field goal attempt. Drue Chrisman landed five punts inside the 20-yard line, but a semi-shank set TCU up near midfield and the Horned Frogs were able to parlay that excellent field position into a quick touchdown. Back in the Tressel era, the special teams units would win games with punt returns and blocked kicks. Now we can only hope that the special teamers don't lose any games with mental and physical mistakes.
18. Sean Nuernberger is unreliable. The next clutch field goal that Nuernberger makes will be his first. With 7 seconds left in the first half and Ohio State trailing 14-13, Nuernberger missed a 38-yard field goal that would've given the Buckeyes the lead and the momentum heading into halftime. Although Meyerball doesn't rely on field goals, it would be nice to have a place kicker who could win the game if necessary. For his Buckeye career, Nuernberger is now 36/49 on field goals (.735, tied for 7th best at Ohio State), but he is just 6/14 (.429) on field goal attempts of 40+ yards. And now even field goals of less than 40 yards appear to be a challenge.
19. A few minutes can make a big difference. With 6:58 left in the third quarter, the Buckeyes were down 21-13 and playing listless football. Then Dwayne Haskins hit Parris Campbell on a simple slip screen that went for 63 yards and a touchdown. Three plays later, Dre'Mont Jones picked off a shovel pass and took it to the house. Five plays after that, Shaun Wade blocked a punt which led to a two-play Buckeye touchdown drive. In those 11 plays, covering 4:01 of game time, the Buckeyes scored three touchdowns and turned an 8-point deficit into a 12-point lead. And thus the game was won.
20. A stupid two-point conversion attempt. There is endless debate about when two-point conversion attempts are wise and when they are stupid. (As a general rule, the ones that succeed are wise). After closing the gap to two points following Parris Campbell's 63-yard touchdown, the Buckeyes went for two and the tie. The play, an ill-advised roll right, throw left to tight end Rashod Berry, was easily blown up by the defense and the score remained 21-91 in favor of TCU.
Why was this two-point attempt stupid? Ignore the play call for the moment, which had about a zero percent chance to succeed. At that point in the game, what's a possible future course of events? Here's a scenario to consider - the Buckeye defense forces a couple of stops and the offense scores a touchdown and a field goal. In that scenario, which was well within the realm of possibility, Ohio State would've had a 29-21 lead, still a one-score game. With the eschewed extra point, it's now 30-21 and a two-score game. In fact, that very scenario almost did happen, except that instead of scoring a touchdown and a field goal, the Buckeyes scored two touchdowns to take a 12-point lead and put TCU two scores down.
But I have to thank Ryan Day for that stupid two-point conversion attempt. If he kicks the extra point, Ohio State wins by 13 and covers the 12.5 point spread. I was the lone BP'er to take TCU and the points, and I won $1,000 in vCash.
1. Dwayne Haskins is a great quarterback. Last night, Haskins was 24/38 (.632) for 344 yards, with 2 TDs and no INTs, and he added a 5-yard touchdown run on a perfectly called zone read keeper. Although Haskins put up stellar numbers against an acclaimed defense, his stats should have been even better as he was plagued by at least four drops (more on that later) and possibly as many as six (it all depends on what you consider to be a "drop"). In reality, Haskins should have been something like 29/38 (.763) for 390 yards and 3 TDs.
2. Dwayne Haskins still has room to improve. His most notable miscue occurred with Ohio State on their own 45-yard line down 14-13 with about 40 seconds left in the first half. Haskins severely under-threw a wide open Bin Victor (who made a nice stop-and-go move) that should have gone for six points. Haskins recovered and got the Buckeyes into field goal range, but Sean Nuernberger missed the kick as time expired (more on that later).
The second miscue is a bit picky, but nevertheless with some more experience it is a play that Haskins will eventually make. Facing 2nd-and-goal from the 3-yard line, Haskins faked an inside handoff and stepped back in the pocket. Terry McLaurin ran an inside route that drew two defenders. Rashod Berry released into the flat. A linebacker left Berry alone and rushed Haskins unblocked. Haskins threw a pass to a wide open Berry that the rushing LB deflected. If Haskins had either lofted the ball or pump-faked and then side-stepped the defender, it's an easy six points. Instead, Haskins seemed to panic a bit and threw the ball too quickly with a low trajectory and the defender easily batted it away. With more seasoning, Haskins likely finds some way to get that pass over, around, or through the defender for the touchdown.
Those two passes, if completed, give Ohio State 11 more points. They also give Ohio State added momentum at two of the most critical spots in the game - the opening drive and the final minute before halftime. If Haskins makes those two throws and Ohio State enters the locker room up 24-14, then maybe we would have had the blowout that many Buckeye fans were expecting. I may sound overly critical here, but missed passes like those could be what decides a big game down the road ... or what prevents a great quarterback from becoming a Heisman Trophy winner.
3. Quarterback play was the difference in the game. As stated above, Haskins had a great game that could have been monumental if his receivers had helped him out a bit more. On the other hand, TCU's quarterback Shawn Robinson was downright awful. Although his numbers look okay on paper - 24/40 (.600) for 308 yards, TD, 2 INTs - Robinson got most of his yardage on screen passes and arm punts that his WRs made great plays to haul in. Robinson had two turnovers that Ohio State returned for touchdowns (those 14 points literally being the difference in the game); took a 12-yard sack that moved TCU out of field goal range down 12 points in the 4th quarter; and threw a WTF interception late in the 4th quarter that killed any chance of a TCU comeback.
4. Austin Mack had a Jekyll & Hyde performance. Four receptions for 84 yards including a diving 48-yarder in double coverage sounds like a good night, right? Well, how does a holding penalty and four drops including a touchdown pass sound? Mack started out great, completely imploded, and then somewhat redeemed himself late in the game. Mack is 100% to blame for his many miscues, but the coaching staff is to blame for keeping him in the game when he clearly had some issues. Sometimes a seat on the bench is a great place to clear your head.
5. K.J. Hill is Ohio State's best receiver. Yes, and it isn't even close. Hill doesn't have breakaway speed like Parris Campbell, he isn't a deep threat like Johnnie Dixon, and he isn't 6-foot-4 like Bin Victor. He's just a guy who runs the underneath routes that no one likes to run, catches everything thrown his way, makes nifty moves with the ball in his hands, and picks up first downs. Last night, Hill led the team in both receptions (6) and receiving yards (95) and he also scored on a 24-yard catch. Hill already has 17 receptions through 3 games, and he has a legitimate chance to break the school single-season record of 85 catches (David Boston, 1998).
6. Parris Campbell is fast. So says Captain Obvious. There are a lot of things that Parris Campbell can't do on the gridiron (catching tough passes in traffic being the foremost), but has there ever been a player who can so easily turn a routine screen pass into a 63-yard touchdown? And do it simply by outrunning everyone on the defense? Whereas Ted Ginn and Braxton Miller could make ridiculous video game moves in the open field, Campbell just turns on the jets and doesn't stop until he hits the end zone. For his Buckeye career, Campbell now has three TD receptions of 60+ yards (receptions of 63, 69, and 74 yards). Only three other Buckeyes have accomplished that feat: Devin Smith with five (receptions of 60, 63, 72, 80, and 90 yards); Terry Glenn with three (receptions of 61, 75, and 82 yards); and Joey Galloway with three (receptions of 64, 67, and 69 yards).
7. The running game was good not great. J.K. Dobbins finally had a 100-yard game (18 carries, 121 yards, 6.7 average) but he still doesn't look like the Heisman candidate that we all hoped for. Mike Weber ground out some tough yardage to move the chains in the 4th quarter, but overall he had a rather bland performance (18 carries, 64 yards, 3.6 average; 4 receptions for 28 yards). There were no breakaway plays in the ground attack, with 18 yards being the longest run of the night. Will these uninspiring performances be the new normal in Columbus? Unfortunately, the answer is "yes". As much as we liked to criticize the read-option attack that generally produced 10+ quarterback runs per game, having a quarterback who was a threat to run certainly opened things up for the tailbacks. With Haskins being virtually guaranteed to hand the ball off, the opposing defense can key on the Buckeye running backs and shut down the ground game. The coaching staff needs to develop some constraint plays to keep the defense honest.
8. The offensive line did its job for the most part. The Buckeye tailbacks combined for 185 yards on 36 carries (5.14 average); Dwayne Haskins was sacked once for a one-yard loss and generally had a clean pocket; the offensive line committed no penalties. I think it's safe to say that the Buckeyes won the battle of the trenches. I have only one complaint with the line play - the consistently low snaps from center Michael Jordan which disrupted the timing of several plays. Credit to Dwayne Haskins for playing so well despite not getting the ball where he wanted it.
9. Nick Bosa is a beast. Captain Obvious strikes again. In limited action, Bosa had five tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble that was recovered by defensive tackle Davon Hamilton for a Buckeye touchdown. I don't know if Nick is better than his older brother, but the beastliness runs pretty damned high in the Bosa family. Unfortunately, Nick left the game in the 3rd quarter with an apparent groin injury (called a "lower abdomen strain" by acting head coach Ryan Day). If the injury causes Nick to miss significant time, then the Buckeyes' national championship aspirations will diminish accordingly.
10. Dre'Mont Jones is also a beast. Whatever money Jones cost himself by returning to Ohio State for his redshirt junior year, he made it up last night. Jones was simply unblockable and he displayed athleticism not usually seen from a defensive tackle. Jones had 6 tackles, a 12-yard sack, another tackle-for-loss, and a batted pass that he almost intercepted. The highlight of the night, however, was the interception that he did make, the theft of a shovel pass that went for a 28-yard pick six. The only "mistake" that Jones made all game was not falling on a ball in the end zone after a Nick Bosa strip sack. Fortunately, fellow defensive tackle Davon Hamilton bailed Jones out and came away with the easy touchdown.
11. The linebackers ... not good. Talent, coaching, and player evaluation have combined to produce a unit that is, shall we say, subpar. Someone on Twitter called the linebackers the "weak link" of the defense. "Missing link" might be more appropriate, as the unit was missing in action most of the night. The group did get better as the game progressed, and Malik Harrison did intercept an errant pass to seal the victory, but this unit must improve if the Buckeyes want to be legitimate playoff contenders. In the Buckeyes' pressure defense (press coverage on the corners, strong pass rush from the defensive line), the linebackers are left with a lot of ground to cover and a lot of gaps to fill, and so far they are not getting the job done consistently enough.
12. Recruiting rankings do matter. Outside of kicking specialists (P, PK, LS) and walk-ons, guess who is the 2nd-lowest rated recruit on Ohio State's roster? If your answer was Jahsen Wint, give yourself a Buckeye leaf. According to the 247 Composite, Wint had a recruit rating of .8485, while Ohio State's "average" recruit had a rating of .9260. Last night, as well as in the previous two contests, Wint played like he was out of his league. His most egregious miscue was somehow misjudging a TCU arm punt and turning a sure interception into a 51-yard touchdown pass. Wint may someday vindicate the staff's decision to take a chance on a low three-star prospect, but that day looks to be in the distant future.
13. Recruiting rankings don't matter. Now I'm sure you're all wondering who the lowest-rated Buckeye recruit is, right? Well, that would be defensive tackle Davon Hamilton who had an .8457 rating according to the 247 Composite. Hamilton certainly didn't shine like fellow defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Dre'Mont Jones, but he played solidly in the rotation and made a heads up play to recover a TCU fumble in the end zone for Ohio State's first touchdown.
14. Recruiting rankings do matter, part two. Jeffrey Okudah and Shaun Wade were both five-star recruits and the top two cornerback prospects in the class of 2017. Okudah had a quiet night, which is always a good thing for a cornerback. Wade was generally good in coverage and made a few notable plays including a pass break up, a blocked punt, and a crushing hit in the open field. Both guys look like potential future first rounders.
15. The Buckeyes defense is ... confusing. The Buckeye defense gave up 28 points that should have been 31 but for a missed chip shot field goal ... but the Buckeye defense also scored 14 points of its own. Texas Christian gained almost half of their 511 total yards on five huge plays, including touchdowns of 51 and 93 yards ... but the defense came through with several huge plays of their own including three sacks and three turnovers. Some individual members of the defense were outstanding ... others were miserable. On one hand, if the defense plays better, then Ohio State might win in blowout fashion ... but on the other hand, if the defense doesn't produce some game-changing plays, then Ohio State might not win at all. This enigmatic defense is probably good enough to run the table ... and bad enough to blow a game or three all by itself.
16. Another long touchdown run. In week one, Oregon State's Artavius Pierce busted off touchdown runs of 78 and 80 yards. Did the Buckeye defense learn from those mistakes? Apparently not, as TCU's Darius Anderson gashed the defense for a 93-yard score. Anderson's run looked eerily familiar to Tevin Coleman's 90-yard dash in the 2014 Indiana game, complete with the same horrible angle from the safety (Isaiah Pryor last night, Tyvis Powell in 2014). For the record, Anderson's 93-yard run is the longest scoring play from scrimmage by an Ohio State opponent.
17. The Buckeye special teams are not all that special. Yes, Shaun Wade had a blocked punt (aided by a dropped snap), but the rest of the night was pretty rough for the special teamers. The kick coverage unit got burned on a trick play that would've gone for an easy touchdown but for an illegal forward pass penalty. Sean Nuernberger missed a 38-yard field goal attempt. Drue Chrisman landed five punts inside the 20-yard line, but a semi-shank set TCU up near midfield and the Horned Frogs were able to parlay that excellent field position into a quick touchdown. Back in the Tressel era, the special teams units would win games with punt returns and blocked kicks. Now we can only hope that the special teamers don't lose any games with mental and physical mistakes.
18. Sean Nuernberger is unreliable. The next clutch field goal that Nuernberger makes will be his first. With 7 seconds left in the first half and Ohio State trailing 14-13, Nuernberger missed a 38-yard field goal that would've given the Buckeyes the lead and the momentum heading into halftime. Although Meyerball doesn't rely on field goals, it would be nice to have a place kicker who could win the game if necessary. For his Buckeye career, Nuernberger is now 36/49 on field goals (.735, tied for 7th best at Ohio State), but he is just 6/14 (.429) on field goal attempts of 40+ yards. And now even field goals of less than 40 yards appear to be a challenge.
19. A few minutes can make a big difference. With 6:58 left in the third quarter, the Buckeyes were down 21-13 and playing listless football. Then Dwayne Haskins hit Parris Campbell on a simple slip screen that went for 63 yards and a touchdown. Three plays later, Dre'Mont Jones picked off a shovel pass and took it to the house. Five plays after that, Shaun Wade blocked a punt which led to a two-play Buckeye touchdown drive. In those 11 plays, covering 4:01 of game time, the Buckeyes scored three touchdowns and turned an 8-point deficit into a 12-point lead. And thus the game was won.
20. A stupid two-point conversion attempt. There is endless debate about when two-point conversion attempts are wise and when they are stupid. (As a general rule, the ones that succeed are wise). After closing the gap to two points following Parris Campbell's 63-yard touchdown, the Buckeyes went for two and the tie. The play, an ill-advised roll right, throw left to tight end Rashod Berry, was easily blown up by the defense and the score remained 21-91 in favor of TCU.
Why was this two-point attempt stupid? Ignore the play call for the moment, which had about a zero percent chance to succeed. At that point in the game, what's a possible future course of events? Here's a scenario to consider - the Buckeye defense forces a couple of stops and the offense scores a touchdown and a field goal. In that scenario, which was well within the realm of possibility, Ohio State would've had a 29-21 lead, still a one-score game. With the eschewed extra point, it's now 30-21 and a two-score game. In fact, that very scenario almost did happen, except that instead of scoring a touchdown and a field goal, the Buckeyes scored two touchdowns to take a 12-point lead and put TCU two scores down.
But I have to thank Ryan Day for that stupid two-point conversion attempt. If he kicks the extra point, Ohio State wins by 13 and covers the 12.5 point spread. I was the lone BP'er to take TCU and the points, and I won $1,000 in vCash.
Last edited:
Upvote
0
On the defensive side I completely agree. Obvious down grade in speed when we look compare our current LBs to Lee and Baker. Conley, Lattimore and Ward are all faster than any of currently secondary save for Sheffield.
On the offensive side, I think Weber is close to Elliot. Paris Campbell and McLaurin are both fast WRs. We no longer have Curtis Samuel.
Upvote
0
