Previewin’: New Mexico State
I don’t know who will start this game at QB for the Aggie offense. At least, I don’t know who the Buckeyes will see the most. The Buckeyes will likely see two: Jeff Fleming and Ohio’s own Trevor Walls. Walls, who was profiled by the Dispatch here, doesn’t even know who’s going to start. First year head coach and former UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker1 subs both in and out hoping that one of them catches a hot hand. So far, it’s been a rough going. The Aggies are dead last in total offense. Yep, last. A lot of that is on the passing offense, which is 117th worst in the country. Not to beat a dead horse, but the only teams in college football that pass for less than the Aggies are the 3 service academies and their traditional option-heavy ball control style of football. It’s tough for Aggie fans to see an offense that gets only 100 yards of offense through the air. It’s also tough knowing that the QB picture doesn’t seem to be getting any better. Fleming started the season, but was replaced by Walls in game 4, who was then replaced by Fleming. Production is lacking from both. Both have only 2 passing touchdowns to 5/62 interceptions. I’m never sure when it comes to this Buckeye team. Remember, this is the same defense that allowed Purdue to nickel and dime them into submission. Still, I really want to show some hubris and say that it won’t matter if it’s Fleming or Walls because both will be sacked so often that they are essentially seeds to be planted into the synthetic turf of the Horseshoe and will eventually grow and bear fruit in the cadaver garden we call Ohio Stadium.
Aww hell, I just said it.
Anyways, as a result of a grim passing attack, the receivers aren’t much to discuss. The Aggies use their TE — Kyle Nelson — as a WR/TE hybrid, lining up in the backfield and as a slot receiver. They use him about as much as Pryor is able to find Ballard downfield. They try to spread their offense out in more ways than one. While employing 4 WR sets to spread out the defenses in formation, the QBs also spread out the completions among their top receivers. Their 3 top WRs — Todd Lee, Marcus Anderson, and Marcus Allen3 –have 18, 15, and 15 receptions respectively. Lee and Anderson are worth watching, that is, if you have a magnifying glass. At 5’9 and 5’8, they are smurfs.
While their passing offense might be, de facto, the nation’s worst, the Aggie running game is actually middle of the pack nationally. They average 150.38 yards a game on the ground, which is good for 56th nationally. By comparison, Ohio State’s rushing attack of Pryor-Herron-Saine averages 171.13 yards a game. This puts the Buckeyes at 42nd nationally. The Aggies get the bulk of their production from Seth Smith, who may be the best story of the entire Aggie team this year. Despite the height (5’8), Smith is an effective runner between tackles, serviceable on the outside and in the passing game. He averages 4.3 yards per carry and, at this point, you’re wondering what the catch is. How can a team with a quality runner be the worst offensive team in college football. The catch is that Seth Smith doesn’t score TDs, literally… as in the plural. He only has one. I don’t have the Aggies that well scouted, so I really can’t adequately explain why this is the case. I can always guess, and I’m guessing that inexperienced QB play and ineffective receivers allows opposing defenses to stuff the run in short yardage or goal line situations when they present themselves, allowing for opposing teams to get the Aggie offense off the field, add points, and put New Mexico State behind an 8 ball where they have to continue throwing, compounding the problem.
Nevertheless, New Mexico State’s offensive line isn’t Alabama’s or Iowa’s, but they’re not terrible. At least, I don’t think they are. They may be the second best unit on the offense, which may not say too much. They’re also an experienced and durable unit, running Dwayne Barton (a Michigander), Joseph Palmer, Mike Grady, Sioeli Fakalata, and David Norman from left to right. I mean what I say when I say that they’re not a terrible unit. They may be overmatched and the team may get itself into situations where the offensive line is ultimately overwhelmed. I’m hoping that just the very sight of Cameron Heyward and Nathan Williams, the latter of the two being the closest thing to an anthropomorphized monster truck I could ever imagine, is enough to overwhelm them.
DeWayne Walker made his name as a ballsy, aggressive defensive coordinator for a UCLA team that loved showing, and bringing, pressure in the A gap and were known for having great play from the interior of their defensive line. It’s probably a transition for Walker not to have that level of talent anymore. New Mexico State allows 369 yards of offense a game, 75th nationally4. Unfortunately for every defensively-minded head coach, that number is reflected in the rush defense. They are a mere 103rd nationally in rush defense, allowing 186 yards a game on the ground.
Porous rush defense says a lot about the front 7. Their defensive line is the lightest I’ve seen of anyone on Ohio State’s schedule5. I was shocked to read that a defensive tackle in their 4-3 scheme, Donte Savage, is listed at 6’1 and 235lbs. That’s a defensive tackle, not a defensive end. The other tackle is EJ Cannon, listed at a more respectable 6’0 and 292lbs. Here’s the surprise: it’s Cannon, and not Savage, that is a non-factor on that line. Cannon has only 6 tackles this season. He’s unable to use his bulk to be disruptive at the point of attack. Savage, on the other hand, has 29 tackles and leads the team in TFLs. Pierre Fils, one of the defensive ends, is probably the best player in that unit. He’s a sophomore, built like a linebacker, and thus will rely on speed and quickness to get him off the edge. He has 31 tackles this season, 5 TFLs and 3 sacks. With our offensive tackles, I take nothing for granted. The other defensive end is Kawika Shook, of Hawaii. I know nothing about him other than what I can discern from references to his stats. I just like the name.
Their defensive line is very light in mass, and their linebackers may be even smaller on the national average than that. Ross Conner, the 5’10 210lb mike linebacker, is the leader of the unit and leads the team with 70 tackles. The 6’0 220lb SAM backer, Jamar Cotton, is a former safety who has the power to disappear from the action on the field (27 tackles). The 5’10 200lb weakside linebacker, Jason Scott, is second on the team in tackles. There’s no exaggeration in those measurements. They are that tiny. They also have no depth, and it’s very likely that only person will sub for these 3 unless the game gets to be a blowout. If Ohio State is unable to run on these guys, I’m going to be very, very disappointed.
New Mexico State’s rush defense is troublesome, but their passing defense is actually a respectable 28th nationally. They’re one better than the 29th ranked Ohio State pass defense. But why throw on a team that can’t stop the run? Junior Fasavalu is the strong safety and Chris Buckner is one of the corners, but I want to single out the free safety (Stephon Hatchett) and the other corner (Davon House). Hatchett is a 5’8 free safety, and a former WR on the team. But guess who leads the unit in tackles (49, 3rd on the team behind the two linebackers) and has the most INT yards (albeit on just one pick). Yep, the 5’8 former WR and free safety. He intrigues me, and I hope the offensive coaching staff has taught Pryor be mindful of where he is on the field. Davon House is the secondary’s cover corner and is a sure tackler.
Enh… you know: We’re a 44.5 point favorite. It’s been a long time since we’ve taken a team out back and beat the hell out of them. I think we’re due.
Miscellany
- The 1974 Big Ten champion Buckeyes will be honored at this game. I’m desperately trying to find out if Brian Baschnagel, patron saint of this blog, will be at this game. If he is not, I’m declaring this game a farce and demanding indemnity.
- If he is there, someone take a picture and send it to me. I’m almost certain he is without his legendary Buckstache now, which is a travesty.
- New Mexico State and Ohio State have not played a game, but there is a connection between the university and Jim Tressel that I mention in this blog posting from late last year. Fred Zechman was a QB and receivers coach for Ohio State under Earle Bruce, coming in to the program when Earle arrived in 1979. He left after the 1982 season, becoming head coach for the Aggies. He compiled just 8 wins in 3 seasons, but Earle Bruce replaced him with an aspiring young assistant named Jim Tressel.
- I know it’s just New Mexico State, and there’s, embarrassingly, seats available. It’s just New Mexico State but it’s also just Ohio State football dammit. Let New Mexico State know how it’s done in Columbus. After the unimpressive displays against Wisconsin and Minnesota this season, I feel compelled to drag up this admonition that I gave last year after the Purdue game.
Before addressing any of the on-field stuff, I’d like to address the issue of the crowd noise at the Horseshoe. The only thing more embarrassing to watch on television than the offense the last home game (Purdue) was the attitudes of the people sitting in the stands. Yes, sitting. Listen, I’m a guy that’s as big a fan of macrame and crochet, and indeed all textile arts, as the next guy, but leave the needlework at home. To be fair, I have no idea if the people in attendance that day were doing mass-knitting in the stands, but judging from the enthusiasm for game activities and the relative silence of all involved, I have no way of disproving that you weren’t all sitting down and doing needlework. You don’t have the privilege of attending Ohio Stadium for the home game pageantry to sit down and be quiet, you have the privilege of attending Ohio Stadium to make some fucking noise. You will have plenty of time to sit down and be quiet when you’re dead. In the meantime, put down the crochet hooks and balls of twine, grab a flag or some other visible display of group association, and scream your bloody lungs out. If the old people are you giving nasty leers for your support, don’t be intimidated. Are you most-certainly-drunk young students/fans in attendance really scared by old people? You have a golden opportunity to represent the program on primetime national television with your support, now make good on it. What are you… Michigan Stadium patrons? Are you going to start jiggling your keys too?
Oh, and Happy Halloween. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
- Coincidentally, Walker also played his college ball at Minnesota, Ohio State’s last opponent. [↩]
- Walls has 5; Fleming has 6. [↩]
- No relation, as far as I know, but he does wear #32. [↩]
- If you want a good chuckle, look at who’s 97th nationally. [↩]
- In all fairness, I may have to look over Navy’s front 3 again. [↩]
You say the Aggie HC was the former UCLA DC, and then you say USC DC…which one is it? Is it both? Don’t you hate pants?
Good catch, Matt. I meant UCLA but, coincidentally, Walker was Carroll’s first hire when he took over the USC job in 2001. Walker was Pete Carroll’s secondary coach with the Patriots.