Just got back from the game. In spite of the result, I had fun. I know that's going to be an unpopular thing to say, but if you're somebody who was already seeing this season for what it is and did not buy into the idea that this was a championship contender, then you couldn't help but be entertained. From the first pass play that just bounced, bounced, bounced off hands before finding the ground to the craziness that was the 4th quarter, it was a wild game and I certainly got my money's worth.
It was my second road game ever. Both have gone to OT (2002 vs. Illinois). I sat behind the Purdue bench, in a sea of opposing fans. Everybody around me was great - perhaps it was a product of their team never trailing in the game but they were much better to be around than the whiny jerks I was surrounded by when I went to Champaign. We bantered about the plays, about the refs. We exchanged compliments about each others' teams that I don't think any of us really believed. They didn't bring up any of the off-the-field stuff, which was unexpectedly respectful. When they won the game, I tipped my cap and wished them well for the rest of the season.
And make no mistake, Purdue deserved that win. I took the time to read the last ten pages of this thread before writing this post, and I'm seeing the customary criticism of the offensive coordinator dominating the conversation. I don't disagree with an ounce of it, but I believe blame for this one needs to spread more broadly. The fact of the matter is, there isn't a single unit on that team that had a good day today. Poor playcalling, indecision by the quarterback, inaccurate passing by the quarterback when he did make a decision, tentative running, an offensive line that got their asses whooped, defensive line that got their asses whooped, tacklers who took poor angles, tacklers who just plain whiffed, DBs who dropped interceptions, chickenshit defensive playcalling and poor special teams all deserve a piece of our scorn.
Also, a question I haven't seen many people ask: what if these guys just aren't that good? I've seen all kinds of blame the coaching and take for granted that the talent is there, because they've seen these guys on film in high school or are just assuming they're good because they're at Ohio State. If the talent is there, how do you explain this defense? That unit has been excellent for years, that part of the coaching staff has generally been well-regarded and it is still intact. I don't think they suddenly forgot how to coach, yet we're seeing crippling physical and mental mistakes, poor angles and poor tackling. I'm as upset as anyone by the lack of blitzing, but how can't you expect they to send extra players into the backfield when they are so dreadful against screens? They're so bad against screens that they're the only team I can think of that gets screened to death even when they don't blitz aggressively. I think there's a talent gap, or at least a reliability gap when it comes to people who can diagnose plays and tackle on the edges. This defense really misses Chimdi Chekwa.
I also don't want to hear that this team is coming out flat. People have said that many times throughout this season. If the team is almost always "flat" and only plays well on occasion, then it's not flatness, it's just who they are. I certainly don't think anymore that this team comes out flat - I think it their identity this year that they lack experience, executions and focus and are only capable of putting everything together in fits and spurts.
The most upsetting thing for me about today's game is what it portends for the game against M*ch*g*n. This team clearly struggles against offenses that run screens, misdirections, zone read and other plays the get the ball to the edge in space. Guess whose offense revolves almost entirely around those principles? Toldeo, Indiana and Purdue have all done these things against Ohio State, and the Buckeyes got all the could handle and then some. None of those teams that they've faced so far Re capable of executing those things as well as M*ch*g*n is, either. I'm not about to call that game a loss, but this defense is going to have me worried for the next two weeks.
It was my second road game ever. Both have gone to OT (2002 vs. Illinois). I sat behind the Purdue bench, in a sea of opposing fans. Everybody around me was great - perhaps it was a product of their team never trailing in the game but they were much better to be around than the whiny jerks I was surrounded by when I went to Champaign. We bantered about the plays, about the refs. We exchanged compliments about each others' teams that I don't think any of us really believed. They didn't bring up any of the off-the-field stuff, which was unexpectedly respectful. When they won the game, I tipped my cap and wished them well for the rest of the season.
And make no mistake, Purdue deserved that win. I took the time to read the last ten pages of this thread before writing this post, and I'm seeing the customary criticism of the offensive coordinator dominating the conversation. I don't disagree with an ounce of it, but I believe blame for this one needs to spread more broadly. The fact of the matter is, there isn't a single unit on that team that had a good day today. Poor playcalling, indecision by the quarterback, inaccurate passing by the quarterback when he did make a decision, tentative running, an offensive line that got their asses whooped, defensive line that got their asses whooped, tacklers who took poor angles, tacklers who just plain whiffed, DBs who dropped interceptions, chickenshit defensive playcalling and poor special teams all deserve a piece of our scorn.
Also, a question I haven't seen many people ask: what if these guys just aren't that good? I've seen all kinds of blame the coaching and take for granted that the talent is there, because they've seen these guys on film in high school or are just assuming they're good because they're at Ohio State. If the talent is there, how do you explain this defense? That unit has been excellent for years, that part of the coaching staff has generally been well-regarded and it is still intact. I don't think they suddenly forgot how to coach, yet we're seeing crippling physical and mental mistakes, poor angles and poor tackling. I'm as upset as anyone by the lack of blitzing, but how can't you expect they to send extra players into the backfield when they are so dreadful against screens? They're so bad against screens that they're the only team I can think of that gets screened to death even when they don't blitz aggressively. I think there's a talent gap, or at least a reliability gap when it comes to people who can diagnose plays and tackle on the edges. This defense really misses Chimdi Chekwa.
I also don't want to hear that this team is coming out flat. People have said that many times throughout this season. If the team is almost always "flat" and only plays well on occasion, then it's not flatness, it's just who they are. I certainly don't think anymore that this team comes out flat - I think it their identity this year that they lack experience, executions and focus and are only capable of putting everything together in fits and spurts.
The most upsetting thing for me about today's game is what it portends for the game against M*ch*g*n. This team clearly struggles against offenses that run screens, misdirections, zone read and other plays the get the ball to the edge in space. Guess whose offense revolves almost entirely around those principles? Toldeo, Indiana and Purdue have all done these things against Ohio State, and the Buckeyes got all the could handle and then some. None of those teams that they've faced so far Re capable of executing those things as well as M*ch*g*n is, either. I'm not about to call that game a loss, but this defense is going to have me worried for the next two weeks.
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