Most football games are won in the trenches, and today's was too. The MSU defensive line won the battle against our offensive line. Disappointing but true.
I'll say it, I don't like our offense. We have the QB with the better arm, better skill position players, and (even though they are not very good) better corners. Yet MSU was the team throwing the ball down the field and hitting big plays. This offense is too dependent on timing, blocking, and making the defender miss. The MSU defense - which I suspect is actually not particularly good - was very adept at shedding blocks and tackling without many yards after the catch.
The offense I like? Joe Brady at LSU last year. When you have a QB with a big arm and some talented receivers, throw the ball down the field. Rocky averaged 20 yards per completion today; Joe averaged less than 10. That's the story.
I'm extremely frustrated with Don Brown. You can argue that when we have good corners, his scheme works. We do not have good corners. Gray is just too slow and susceptible to moves out there. Green does a better job of staying with his man (he still isn't great at it, but he's not terrible), but he can never get turned to find the football. Dax is our best cover guy by a country mile and needs to be moved to corner full time. If some dude named Ricky White can go for 196 yards against us, what are Olave and Wilson going to do? I really question whether this program can win a Big Ten championship with Don Brown's defensive scheme, unless we miraculously pull in at least two of Will Johnson, Domani Jackson, and Jaden Gould. At least we have early playing time to offer, there's no question about that.
The offensive line play was generally bad. The stretch running plays don't work; stop trying them. I can see why they might work in practice, as our defense is terrible at defending them, but they don't work against other teams.
Please, for the love of God, never run the wildcat from the five again, especially in a game where your offensive line is losing the battle up front. Milton was just getting into a groove, too, and they take him out there.
We had two chances, down 20-17, to do something. Each time we ran the ball on second and 10, got stuffed, and later had to punt. It's an obvious call and a dumb one. Happens in at least a few games every year.
Finally, what was the plan there, down 10 points with 4:00 left? A 3:30 drive? Throw the ball down the field. You are never going to have enough time to get the ball back if you do what we did.
What a frustrating game. I suspect there will be a few more before the Buckeyes destroy us.
I'll say it, I don't like our offense. We have the QB with the better arm, better skill position players, and (even though they are not very good) better corners. Yet MSU was the team throwing the ball down the field and hitting big plays. This offense is too dependent on timing, blocking, and making the defender miss. The MSU defense - which I suspect is actually not particularly good - was very adept at shedding blocks and tackling without many yards after the catch.
The offense I like? Joe Brady at LSU last year. When you have a QB with a big arm and some talented receivers, throw the ball down the field. Rocky averaged 20 yards per completion today; Joe averaged less than 10. That's the story.
I'm extremely frustrated with Don Brown. You can argue that when we have good corners, his scheme works. We do not have good corners. Gray is just too slow and susceptible to moves out there. Green does a better job of staying with his man (he still isn't great at it, but he's not terrible), but he can never get turned to find the football. Dax is our best cover guy by a country mile and needs to be moved to corner full time. If some dude named Ricky White can go for 196 yards against us, what are Olave and Wilson going to do? I really question whether this program can win a Big Ten championship with Don Brown's defensive scheme, unless we miraculously pull in at least two of Will Johnson, Domani Jackson, and Jaden Gould. At least we have early playing time to offer, there's no question about that.
The offensive line play was generally bad. The stretch running plays don't work; stop trying them. I can see why they might work in practice, as our defense is terrible at defending them, but they don't work against other teams.
Please, for the love of God, never run the wildcat from the five again, especially in a game where your offensive line is losing the battle up front. Milton was just getting into a groove, too, and they take him out there.
We had two chances, down 20-17, to do something. Each time we ran the ball on second and 10, got stuffed, and later had to punt. It's an obvious call and a dumb one. Happens in at least a few games every year.
Finally, what was the plan there, down 10 points with 4:00 left? A 3:30 drive? Throw the ball down the field. You are never going to have enough time to get the ball back if you do what we did.
What a frustrating game. I suspect there will be a few more before the Buckeyes destroy us.
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