Sorry about the huge delay folks. Thanks to my hard drive crapping out I've been laptop-less for the past 2 weeks, and I've pretty much had to go to the library anytime I wanted to use a computer (Outside of bugging my brothers to use theirs - sidenote: shoutout to Corey Spindler for letting me use his laptop to write the Wisconsin post) so the blog kinda got put on the back burner until I got it back, which I thankfully did a couple days ago. So, I'm going to combine the Indiana and Purdue (ugh) games into one column this week, and then look for an article on the continued offensive struggles in the next couple of days.
In the meantime, let me introduce you to an awesome gif that sums up Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Bollman's play sheet.
Indiana
- The running game was dominant. 346 total yards and 3 different 100 yard rushers? Outstanding. Granted, Indiana's defense isn't exactly the best, but that's absolutely incredible. Boom looked like his old self out there, and Hyde ran the ball extremely hard and well. Neither really has breakaway speed, but when the offense is moving the ball as well as it was that really didn't matter.
- Braxton's running ability is deadly. My goodness, this kid is something else. He is electric with the ball in his hands. He showed some real wheels on the 81 yard run and on every other run of the day showed the quicks that make him special. He could legitimately be a major college running back with his skill set.
- John Simon. The man just continues to dominate everyone that lines up across from him. An All-American in the making folks.
- Saw a lot of concerns with the passing game. Braxton missed on a couple of make-able passes and we also had a couple of drops that were killer as well.
- The offensive line play was VERY concerning. 9 sacks, against Indiana, a team ranked 74th in the country in sacks prior to the game? They had 8 sacks on the year coming into the game, and we gave up 9. Now, some of that is due to Braxton scrambling into sacks, but that's ridiculous and should not happen.
- While our size on the defensive line is great against the power attacks of Michigan State and Wisconsin, we struggle against spread offenses because we don't athleticism on the edge. Nathan Williams is sorely missed at the LEO spot, as he allowed us to do so many things schematically and match-up wise. Without him we're basically pidgeon holed into playing with a nose, two strong side ends and a 3-technique on the line instead of a nose, 3-technique, strong side end, and a weak side end. Last year we dominated against spread attacks because we had athleticism and could vary our looks up front, this year we can't really do that because of all of the youth and inexperience, so while we play well against power running attacks we struggle against spread offenses.
- We came out flat for this game. Say what you will about this team and noon starts, but this was a game where we should've broken our foot off in Indiana's ass. Beginning to grow more concerned about the coaching game by game.
Purdue
Wow. We lost to Purdue. For the 2nd time in 3 years. We missed what would have been a game winning extra point. And we gave up two big time third down conversions in overtime. I honestly don't know what to say. It was an abysmal game to watch.
- Bollman needs to be fired now. Immediately. That was the worst offensive coaching I've ever seen. Whether it was his personnel choice to toss out a true freshman at right tackle against one of the best pass rushers in the conference, or his blatantly obvious vanilla play-calling and route design, it was flawed and retarded.
- Braxton has ice in his veins. He struggled throwing the ball. He struggled scrambling at times. But the kid flat out makes plays. He converted so many 3rd downs. He nearly converted 3rd and 15 in overtime, coming up just a yard short. And the game-tying 4th down touchdown pass to Jordan Hall? Cold-blooded. With better coaching in the future, he will have his own tree in the Buckeye Grove. Bank on it.
- Antonio Underwood was out of his league. Starting your first game, filling in for a 3 year starter on the road against one of the conference's best pass rushers? Retarded logic in the first place. But he got beat like he stole something. He was always there to help Braxton off the ground though, I guess there is that.
- Bradley Roby is a certifiable stud. He's going to be a big-time player on Sundays. He loves to get physical and blow up screens or plant running backs into the turf, and he showed off his coverage skills as well. Latest in a long line of unheralded defensive back recruits that turned out to be superstars.
- Safety play was atrocious. Neither of them could catch a cold, and while Christian Bryant's aggressiveness pays off sometimes, he doesn't seem to know what to do back there. Barnett struggled as well, and even said people didn't know what they were doing on the crucial 3rd down conversion by Purdue in overtime. I would like to see Bryant slide to the STAR spot, where he can roam more free, and let Tyler Moeller play as a pass rusher (his natural slot) in a 33 alignment, with Orhian Johnson manning Bryant's vacated safety slot.
- Ryan Shazier is the future of the defense. He had a better game than any LB has had all season. He was second on the team in tackles and always around the ball. Forced one fumble, had another overturned by review, and very nearly had an interception. How was he not starting before this game? He needs to be in the starting lineup.
- Offensive line play, was once again awful. Couldn't protect Braxton and he had to scramble for his life. Couldn't block at all for the backs. Just an awful game, right up there with the Michigan State one.
- Jordan Hall needs to see more time at receiver. He's a difference maker out there, although that's not saying he isn't one at running back considering he was our best back on the day.
- Let me see how to explain this. Ohio State runs a package oriented defense. When teams spread us out, we sub out a lineman or a linebacker and put in a defensive back. When they try and play power ball, we sub in bigger, more physical players. Purdue negated that with their nitro-spread offense. They didn't allow us to sub, and because we lack the flexibility up front with the loss of Nathan Williams, and no one to really take his place, John Simon and others had to deal with playing out of position, and Purdue spreaded the field well and got the ball to their playmakers in space. Made it really tough and got us winded, and exploited matchup problems.
- Tackling was atrocious. There was probably more missed tackles yesterday than in the Miami game, and that's ridiculous considering there was 28 in that one.
Unfortunately, with the Purdue loss, any chance of Luke Fickell getting the job on a permanent basis went out the window. Fortunately though, Urban Meyer is still very open to the possibility of coaching here and the tOSU administration are working through back-channel contacts to hammer things out.
We've got two games left, against a reeling Penn State squad in the 'Shoe, and Michigan up in Ann Arbor. I urge all of you to be respectful to the Penn State team, to show that we are truly the best damn fans in the land. I urge you to clap for them as they come out of the tunnel. And I urge you not to make insensitive comments. We preach about how we are the best and the brightest, the best fans, the best band, best team, well now's our chance to show it.
Keep your heads up Buckeye Nation. The National Championship game is in 13 days in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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