Our Honor Defend

By the end of the first half, I was braced for the worst.  Up only 7-0 against a Minnesota outfit that had gone out of its way to hurt itself this game, the Buckeyes took advantage of a disastrous 3rd quarter for the Gophers en route to a 38-7 victory.  The 38 points matches their output in their previous “rebound” game this season against Toledo.  There were some things to like and some things to not like about this game.  These will be addressed below.

Knowing the offensive struggles for this Buckeye team, it may seem nonsensical to start picking away at a performance where the Buckeyes put up 509 yards of offense and had good balance with the run and pass (270 yards and 239 yards respectively).  The first half left a lot to be desired.  The Buckeyes had a quick strike on a 2 play, 75 yard drive that featured the Minnesota secondary biting on Sanzy’s out route.  DeVier Posey was the benefactor of that blunder, scoring his first TD of the game.  Other than that, the Buckeyes struggled to make much use of their offensive opportunities.  We all know how burdened the defense has been in the past few games, but the Buckeye offense consumed its fair share of minutes on its 19 play, 78 yard and nearly 9 minute drive.  That drive even had the Buckeyes going for it on 4th down and 1.  What did we get for it? A missed chip shot for Aaron Pettrey.  I don’t have New Mexico State well-scouted, but I’m guessing we’re not going to see a team again this season that will put itself as far behind the 8 ball as Minnesota did this game.  Against the likes of Iowa, Penn State and Michigan, we need to be able to demonstrate an ability to beat a team that won’t beat itself.

Further, Pettrey will need to demonstrate that getting the ball into the red zone is not equivalent to taking ourselves out of field goal range.

Aside from that 19 play drive where we came up empty and the 2 play TD drive, we came up mostly empty in the first half.  The Pryor INT to end the half — fortunately his only of the game — really hurt.  It may seem unnecessary to focus on the negatives this game, but I do so because I want to see us improve every game going forward.  Chris Spielman — while not plotting to throw Bob Griese out the press box window — brought this up.  Fans want to see consistency.  We could’ve beaten Minnesota 72-0 and I’d be saying the same thing and focusing on the particulars that may result in problems as we enter the final stretch.

Second half kicked more ass, obviously.  I was puzzled to see Ohio State pooch kick the second half kickoff.  It’s a great middle finger to an offense that can’t move the ball, but I wasn’t particularly liking the defensive gameplan to that point.  Minnesota muffing the return, which was picked up by Zach Domicone¹ set up a quick score for the Buckeyes and an important 14-0 cushion.  Minnesota’s implosion in that quarter allowed for 21 3rd quarter points for the Buckeyes and allowed us to turn it into a laugher entering the 4th quarter.  Someone may correct me on the finer points, but Minnesota fumbled the ball twice, ran about… ummm… 10 plays or so from the line of scrimmage in that quarter.  Meanwhile, Terrelle Pryor scored the crucial second TD, Jordan Hall got a TD and DeVier Posey was hilariously wide open again.  The O got it going, better late than never obviously, in order to shut the door on a Minnesota team that was playing like a unit begging to lose bad.  It didn’t help that they didn’t have Eric Decker for most of that game either.

A few things stand out on the defensive side of the ball.  I genuinely groaned every time I saw the Buckeyes back off into a soft zone; I wish we’d stop doing it.  When we did, Minnesota burned us inside.  Others will follow suit.  When not fumbling, throwing interceptions, dropping passes, holding, false starting and the like, Minnesota may have honestly been outplaying us.  Bob Griese liked bringing up that point (ignoring the numerous errors Minnesota committed, naturally), but it is true that Minnesota’s offensive coordinator, Jedd Fisch, dialed up some good playcalls against our defense that, with proper execution, would’ve put Minnesota in a much better position to win.  I thought our defensive line was neutralized in the first half of this game, but came out with a vengeance when it was clear that Minnesota was having to throw the ball downfield every play in the second half.  I was surprised to see Cam Heyward was a non-factor in this game (1 solo tackle), and I thought Ross Homan, who otherwise led the team in tackles (1 solo, 8 total), struggled as well.  Some performances obviously stand out.  Thad Gibson was the defensive MVP of this game, almost single-handedly killing a Minnesota drive in the second half that got into the Buckeyes’ half of the field.  He finished with 6 tackles (5 solo) and 3 sacks for a loss of 17 yards.  The only real complaint from the second half was not providing me with a shutout.

Miscellany

• When I better knew Jordan Hall, I thought he’d be a better pickup than most were giving him credit for.  He’s a versatile APB (all-purpose back) who gives the Buckeyes a viable receiving option, both downfield and in the flats.  Whether or not Ohio State cares to use that remains to be seen, but it surprised me to see how disciplined he is with a lead blocker and running a drastically different offense than he ran at Jeannette.  It’s good to see him be rewarded with a TD accordingly.
• Likewise, when I better knew Jermil Martin way back in the day, I came across this great quote from Jermil and never forgot it.  Jermil knew he was coming here as a fullback and knew that fullbacks don’t get to touch the ball much.  Nevertheless, he mentioned this on Signing Day in 2008:

“I really would love the opportunity to run the ball at Ohio State.  If the opportunity arises, I’m going to take it and run with it and I think that the coaches will love it.”

• DeVier Posey had a great game, and you’d have to wonder when was the last time a WR had numbers like he put up this game (8 grabs, 162 yards, 2 TDs).  Posey is good, and young, but there were a few plays — 2 that immediately come to mind — that he should’ve made.  Yes, he’s young and yes they were difficult plays to make², but if you want to be a playmaker, you gotta, well, make those plays.  I look forward to his continued improvement.
• The play of the line was streaky.  When they were on, Pryor had all day to look downfield.  When they were off? Well, Jake Ballard and Jim Cordle demonstrated as much.
• I hope Brandon Saine, who was likely concussed this game, doesn’t miss any time.  However, putting Jordan Hall and Jermil Martin into the game worked wonders.
• I was disappointed that the Buckeyes couldn’t get the ball into Lamaar Thomas’ hands.  I would’ve dialed up an end-around in garbage time, just to see what the young man could do.
• I am not impressed with John Thoma’s performance so far.  If the punt is the most important play for Tresselball, we are certainly left wanting.
• This is the second straight game where Duron Carter was absent from the festivities.  I’d like to find a way to get him more involved too, since we may run the risk of Pryor now having tunnel-vision for his running mate (Posey).
• I’ve given up on Ohio Stadium.  I don’t know exactly how and why, but the Horseshoe will never be what I remember it being when I was a student there.  Half-interested fans, not making any noise, and now leaving in the middle of the game because they don’t want to get wet.  You people are no different for me than everything your average Buckeye fan has said about Michigan fans and Michigan Stadium.  That is us now.
• I credit Chris Spielman for having to restrain himself from hulking up and throwing Bob Griese out the press box window.  Oh, and Bob, I don’t claim to be too involved with my Hispanic identity.  I am my mother’s son, but it’s less salient for me.  I am also neither Mexican nor Colombian, so any show of outrage would be duplicitous of me.  But really Bob… really…
• Someone please upload Jermil Martin’s runs in this game.

1. I’m so glad I get to mention his name. [↩]
2. Him getting the ball poked out really wasn’t a difficult play. [↩]