First, the foot in mouth section: I really thought OSU would try and run the ball. and that we would play our safteys back and force them to run. Boy was I wrong!!!
Okay, here are my observations from the game:
OFFENSE:
- OSU obviously watched what film was available from the Baylor game. They had their corners jam at the line of scrimmage. Knowing our WRs couldn't get off, they blitzed everyone and just killed Bartel. That strategy was evident on the very first play of the game - jam receiver, no spearation, interception on a forced throw under pressure.
- Even better, OSU knew we would try and run right, so they blitzed from the right side of the line. That way they could a) take advantage of Hargis's replacement and b) blitz where we would run, so they would have masses there to stop it anyway.
- I was really dissappointed that Bennett took Bartel out of the game. Yeah, Wallis did some things, blah blah blah, but Bartel needs to go through this and get the experience playing at that speed. Also, after OSU was way up, they stopped blitzing (which is why Wallis had ANY success at all), and Bartel could have used that period to get some useful plays in.
- Hard to evaluate players because we were overmatched so bad. Blized everyone, so hard to evaluate the Oline, RBs or QB. The one thing I could evaluate is our WRs not getting off the line. I DONT CARE IF THEY RUN A 5.6 40, but we have got to get some non-5'10 guys out there running routes so that we don't get shoved around. Line up Kennedy at WR, I don't care what we do. The other thing that helps you avoid a chuck at the line of scrimmage is by sending receivers in motion. I have seen almost none of that in the last two games.
DEFENSE:
- Impossible to evaluate for the most part. Most of the drives were short, just a frustrating night for the guys.
- Last week against Baylor, we blitz all over the place and get sacks. This week, we blitzed once and it was in the middle of the 3rd quarter. What gives?
- Their OLINE dominated. Some of our big guys in the middle had some success. But we were outsized there, and would just dive at their legs to take them out in case it was a run. That doesn't help you rush the passer
. But our ends got manhandled. I was expecting OSU to run up the middle, but they had a LOT of success running outside, especially at the start of the game, and that REALLY surprised me. The ends couldn't get a pass rush going and couldn't play the run - they were dominated this night.
- Another adjustment that never happened - saftey help on Woods. Jonas was one - on - one the entire night, no deep support from safteys. I don't know why we never made that adjustment. I don't know if we were trying to challenge Jonas or what the deal was. But everyone knew what they were doing, and we still let it happen, again and again. I really don't understand that.
- I guess I just kept expecting us to zone blitz at some point, and it just never happened. That was the big surprise of the night for me.
SPECIAL TEAMS:
- That is the worst punting job I have EVER, EVER seen. I can average 30 yards per punt. I can't punt very far, but I can promise 30 yards and about 5 seconds of hang time every single punt, cause I hit it straight up in the air.
Seriously, that is the worst I have ever seen. I don't know whats up with that. The block on the first punt was Mentzal's fault. Caught the ball, turns it over, thinks to himself about the opening prayer for a couple of seconds(was that not the weirdest prayer you have ever heard?), takes two slow steps forward and suddenly the punt is blocked, surprise surprise
.
There is absolutely nothing to take out of this game except that Jonas needs saftey help on tall receivers and we need to get different receivers out there ASAP. That is about it, unfortunately. I just hope we can make a decent showing at Nevada...
