Mike West

I thought Whittington ran to the wrong hole on that first play, then delayed when PSU sealed the edge. Game of inches! Im impressed with Penn State, but I’m disappointed with some of the play from OBD. We reduce the mistakes, we sail to a simple victory. Now it’s up to having to make plays under pressure.

Why are we running a 2-5? Worse, Lupoi is leaving a B gap wide open ( for those grey beards out there that played offense-a natural 24 run is there for the taking). For those of you not familiar with running plays-the area between the right guard and the right tackle is complete uncovered on this drive. Explains the gashing explosive runs. I’m a put five guys in the LOS on defense. Always,

No, They are not fast enough. LB Jackson is the only one with the kind of speed to cover the field laterally. You can go throughout the season and see Boetcher can’t cover backs -and it happened this half. Jeffrey Bassa got beat on a simple RB seam route for a TD-this game ( looked at the QB to start his coverage on top of it). FS Savage can’t cover TE Warren. Tysheem Johnson gets out of position with this scheme-and he was as responsible for PSU’s first TD (didn’t have anyone to worry about in his side of the field, so Post Pattern Support is required in that situation-and it showed-Niko Reed expected safety support on that pattern). Devon Jackson is the only player in that group capable of executing in this scheme. Film does not lie. It showed up last year, it’s apparent now. Ohio State was the other offense that exploited this personnel. One brilliant coaching move-that resulted in changing a rule-gave OBD their undefeated regular season. I didn’t think PSU was capable of exploiting this weakness. I was wrong.

Man, Holden dropped what looked like a catch and run for a TD earlier in the drive. That's the kind of thing I talk about in games that play out like this…you can’t beat yourself. You can’t blink. Especially when it’s unforced. To me, this game comes down to putting the linebackers and safeties in situations they can win. I stated earlier in the week that zone coverage suits this personnel better. I’m hoping Lupoi and Lanning recognize the limitations that Penn State is exposing (and obviously OCs much more adept than I am surely recognize). The offense seems fine. Too cute with the swing passes. I’m not sure Penn State can pressure the duration of the game ( what’s left of it ).

I figured something out. The defense formation that makes me uncomfortable…The safeties and the linebackers aren’t fleet enough to run the style of defense Lupoi likes to run against elite offenses. I’m seeing the same types of issues we saw against Georgia and Washington. The linebackers aren’t sideline to sideline capable. This type of defense requires that very skill. The safeties aren’t fast enough to cover one on one. That puts massive pressure on them in open field coverage. Furthermore, the defense doesn’t naturally set an edge. It’s a natural weakness in my opinion. I don’t like it. It’s always been something that bothered me. If you don’t set the edge, your inside linebackers have to be sprinter speed caliber. Same with the safeties. That leads to issues when an OC recognizes how to isolate both positions. Lupoi doesn’t have the personnel to handle the offenses he’s about to face in the playoffs. A change of scheme is required.

What have I beefed about the past three years? Texas pulls off a 50 yard pass completion because the safety was eye balling QB Ewers instead of immediately covering his half of the field. I’ll take my million dollars now (lol-for every observation, I’m getting paid like a consultant. Ha ha ha). If OBD want to win today, cover your damn assignment. Don’t look at the QB.

Singleton also does a really good job catching passes for nice gains. That's so I was going to add to FishDuck's analysis. Keep Singleton from catching passes and you shut down half of their passing game.

Although I really appreciate the impact DG has had this year, it is hard to argue against a two way Star. Travis Hunter is killing it, on both sides of the ball. Like his coach did at FSU. Having a major impact on both offense and defense in modern football is deserving of Heisman of the Quarter Century.

28-17 OBD 2 TOs 2 Sacks 275 Passing yards

Now there's a diplomatic way to communicate all I've said here. The best I've seen is how Lanning actually laid the Seattle loss in the players by saying things like " I'm sure Bo would like to get some of those okays back". And he was correct. Bo Nix uncharacteristically missed two open receivers in two critical situations. A safety ran past a game ending INT, and the kicker missed a layup FG. That is not coaching snafus& the coaches put them in successful situations for the players to execute. The players did not. Rather than throw them under the bus, you say your peace diplomatically, love them up, and keep putting in situations they can win. That's what happened this year. In spades. That's what I saw that disappointing day in Seattle and later in the stadium in Las Vegas. It's why I never wavered when things felt horrible.

In my opinion, that's on the players. Will Howard has only one glaring weakness - he can't consistently hit fade routes. They still need to throw them because it really opens up their mid range pass attack. The players need to buck up and work on executing to the best of their abilities. They can work with the coaching staff- request specific types of plays. Simply tuning out is not acceptable. They choked. Against OBD and Michigan. They had plenty of opportunities to win both games. Coaching issues notwithstanding. If they had a player (and Ryan Day) meeting as reported, they damn better have been talking about solutions instead of simply rehashing mistakes made and opportunities lost They are too talented to waste time on why they lost instead of saying let's work.kn this, we have three weeks to get things right. That's why I'm pissed at their fan base. Abuse is not acceptable at this point. Grinding is. I see an abusive fan base. It better not trickle down to the players.

Ohio State absolutely has a fan base issue. Those players do not look happy. Or at least happy enough. They celebrate out of relief. It’s a pain in the butt to play for that fan base. The situation in Columbus is toxic. The fan base is going to piss the players off so much they won’t be focused properly enough on football. I watched the Indiana v. Ohio State game closely. All the issues that showed up in the Michigan game were on display in the Hoosier game. Worse, the Buckeyes looked scared, and relieved when the game ended. That fan base is poisoning the team’s chemistry. To me, that Daze everyone mocks Day for after the Michigan loss looked to me like not wanting to deal with the fans and the media rather than disbelief they lost. His kicker screwed up. Just like ours did last year. And lo and behold, Duck Nation didn’t even discuss the missed kick. In a game that was brilliantly played AND COACHED ( obviously exclusively my opinion), few people mentioned the kicker missed a FG he had no business botching. The toxic waste Ryan Day faces for losing to Michigan last year absolutely spilled into this year. Again, an offensive lineman blew an assignment in that Michigan loss. The fans and the coaches blamed the QB, then chased him out of town. Had that lineman executed, that QB completes that pass and Ohio State has a damn good shot at getting that monkey off their back. That’s not what the fan base wants to accept. I believe that is exactly why Ohio State will deal with their fan base more than correcting some simple flaws. They are extremely dangerous, and their fan base is heaping garbage on in them instead of expressing hope they’ll work on some pretty damn good strengths that more than make up for their flaws. When Ohio State gets to the quarterfinals, if they don’t sprint out of the gate, I’m blaming the fan base. It’s to the point they are a serious distraction.

And that is exactly why I would make half my practice an OC versus DC sloberknocker. I'd tell them they could use any offense or defense against each other. From any era, heck rugby as far as I'm concerned. I don't want my coordinators hell bent on forcing their game plan on an opponent. If they have to tell the QB to say "send Smith to the corner" so be it. I watched DC Aliotti allow Stanford to run a goal line formation up and down the field for an entire half (Stanford knew they couldn't block future All NFL Pro tackles Armstead and Buckner, so they just out manned the entire DL front line). The Cardinal scored 20 first half points, then Aliotti shut it down in the 2nd half. Final score 26-20 Stanford. That's how you lose games. Sticking to what you do instead of lining up and playing football. That's what Lombardi's "Gentlemen, this is a football" means to me. Take away their game plan because you totally break tendencies.

You know, ‘When Ryan Day talked about revamping the defense, I believe they revamped the offense too. I think they decided to go Power ala Michigan. Bad career move. Here’s the thing: never allow squatters on your property. You can never get rid of them. In other words, Ohio State is a power passing team, not a power running team. Even with a banged up OL. Letting "homeless" Michigan and wanna be Nebraska stay close is a travesty. Bury them early. If you can make a power defense like Oregon look "ordinary " (and vice versa frankly), drop 50 gigaton bombs on average teams. Put them out of their misery in the first quarter. Since October 12th, Ohio State has let every decent team hang around. We haven’t ( I dare say Wisconsin got a scheduling gift from the Gods because we would obliterate them when rested). Our defense got exposed too. You beat OBD by isolating the safeties in one on one coverage. Especially after getting away with a surprise steal from our CBs. OBD have yet to prove to me they can take out strong passing teams. I think they do if they play match up zone. That’s too much detail to explain, but essentially the Safeties don’t chase guys they can’t cover, but instead take areas away that those guys run to. There’s more to that, but so many offenses take away natural advantages that it makes no sense for a safety to be chasing a road runner he can’t keep up with. But I’m a strange dude. I believe practice should be ‘street ball’ half the duration of the period so coordinators stop insisting their game plan is perfect. ‘’Hence, Ohio State SHOULD pass the ball 65% of the time. Nobody can stop them, their run game will open up like gang busters and they’d score at least one explosive running TD a game. My opinion of course. But I saw way too much explosion against OBD. And I think OBD have a pretty damn good defense.

You know, the guy that backed up Carson Palmer never played a full game in college. And got drafted The players don't recognize it yet, but if you transfer and crash and burn, just so you can play, you'll ruin your NFL prospects. Kansas State and Oklahoma made massive mistakes running their QBs out of town for potential. Neither of them even sniffed a shot at a conference title berth. And both will replace said potential stars. And low and behold, the QBs they chased out are both in the playoffs on the two best teams in the field ( though millions of people disagree with me now- I hope Ohio State is seeded sixth, despite feeling OBD are better than they are). Moral of the story: learn the position, because nine out of ten five star QB prospects are not five star performers in college. College Football has really caught up to the NFL. Talent means nothing coming from the level below. Just note how many portal transfers started over those four and five star prospects this year. Kids better get it right. Arch Manning knew exactly what he was doing. He learned how to mater his skills at a superior level before showing his skills at said superior level.

I don't think Cam Ward is a top level QB. He will face narrower windows than In college, and he will struggle. Miami made Florida look like a high school team and everyone drooled. They wouldn't stay within ten against the Gators now. Ward would have lost four games in the SEC. And scored much less at that. I like Ward. He isn't going to thrive in the NFL. He's the perfect college QB. Until he faces elite defenses.

You're correct. But the season isn't over yet. And I'll tell you this, I'd be damn fine with losing to Washington four times if we win the Natty that same year. But that's just me. Losing a regular season game doesn't mean a damn thing if you get it together and with the damn title. Ryan Day can shut a hell of a lot of people up if he just focuses on what it will take to get his offense to outscore teams. And quite frankly, Will Howard is more talented than Darin Thomas. He doesn't even need to hit a haymaker, they just need to have that threat. Ohio State has a better mid-range passing game than OBD does. That's saying a lot. They have a better mid-range game that Washington and Texas had last year. Worse, Howard can run. He's actually a spiiting image of DG, just not as "money". Yet. All it takes, and Ohio State has time right now, is to determine the ten to fifteen plays Howard can perfect, and perform consistently enough to be unstoppable. That's possible. They already have four or five such plays. Ohio State is more dangerous than Georgia on offense, and they're more consistent on defense. Say what you like, but every dog has his day. Especially when he's got time to find a million ways to get his receivers the ball. I fear Ohio State way more than everyone else. The rest of the field has limits. All of them. Including Alabama ( I think they're in). Ohio State's possibilities are infinite.

Great comment overall. The big question I have is what coach has performed as well as day (outside of his big game issues?). I don't see one single coach leaving his spot at an elite school for Ohio State. Their fans are unreasonable, spoiled, petulant, entitled, and seem to think 2014 was yesterday. Much like Tennessee fans used to be, and what Texas fans will be real soon if Sark doesn't bring a title the next three years. Yes, Ohio State was killing us throwing the ball, but they never threw that haymaker, and we left far more points off the board than they did. We should have dropped forty on them. But that's what happens when you don't play a perfect game, which is EXACTLY what you have to do against the elite team. Last time I checked, Saban and Kirby has NFLesque teams, so they didn't have to be perfect, they just had to breathe and they'd win. Day almost got Kirby for his Title, but his much maligned QB (in the NFL at least) was off target on a sure TD. That's performance related, not Coaching related. Much like Bonin Seattle (and nearly Dillian against Ohio State in the third quarter). Ryan Day may not have that marquee victory yet, but he'll get it if his fans STFU. I saw a YouTube short that Joel Klatt posted ten months ago that recycled. Do you know how many Ohio State fans said day would choke. Talk about FEBU!!!! I damn near would tell fans to stay home. "I'll win my marquee games without you". With fans like that, who needs a fan base. Ryan Day will get his title. He can get it this year ( if he tells his fans to shut up lol). Ohio State and OBD are the two best teams in the field. Bar none. If both pass the damn ball enough, nobody will stop them. Nobody. It's really that simple. And if they face off again, I'm betting the wealth of the entire world on the over, because that game will be a basketball score. That's how good both teams are Ohio State needs to ignore the noise and focus. They are damn near unstoppable. And they don't need anybody telling them anything. My opinion of course. Awesome post. You hit it firmly and precisely.

I completely blame Chip for this loss. They scored 10 points. With one of the best, if not the best set of WRs in college football. Ohio State had a natural and distinct advantage - their WRs versus Michigan's secondary. Furthermore, the best cor er in college football is out for the season. There was no excuse to run the ball as much as they did. It wasn't working, and worse, Michigan has no ability to defend abWR crew like that. It's the same mistake Chip made against Auburn. The Tigers had no answer for even Daren Thomas' barely above average passing game. But Chip wanted to prove OBD were physical enough to outclass Auburn's clear strength. Chip duplicated that mistake on Saturday. And despite will Howard missing a key TD pass, you just don't walk away from that kind of advantage. He didn't blink to pass on OBD, and that's why they scored 31. OBD dropped 38 on Michigan because we refused to leave 'food on the table". Day was dazed because he just couldn't believe his offense, and his damn kicker couldn't produce. The offense the game on Saturday, not the Buckeyes. Sure, Day is responsible for Chip, but heck, scoring ten on Michigan is like scoring 45 on Sheldon High School. It's beyond inexcusable.

I don't know if anyone else feels this, but Ohio State looks disjointed to me. They looked that way against Indiana to me as well. Something is off on offense for them. I can't figure it out, but it doesn't seem like they can put teams away. They don't have a knockout punch, and their "jabs" don't seem to wear defenses out. Chip Kelly likes to run the ball too much. And just like that, he is forced to pass and they score.

Guys, We're experiencing kayfabe. They want everyone talking about the rankings. Everybody knows Georgia would beat down Miami. The committee is rewarding wins, and punishing losses. But as bad as Bama and Georgia have looked this year ( relatively speaking) , Georgia proved last night a three score deficit against an ACC team isn't the same as even a one score deficit in the SEC. Same for Indiana. And Georgia Tech is a solid team. Just not B1G or SEC solid. I believe the committee thought things would shake as they usually do. Only one elite ACC and Big 12 team and a whole bunch of same caliber SEC and B1G teams. Ironically, NIL and the portal diluted the talent pool. So the committee will actually have to justify their selections.

38-14 OBD 2 TOs 3 Sacks 300 yards passing

LOL In thought you were going to of a subscription here for $3/mo

I'll tell you a funny story... Some Ohio State fan was insulted when I used tOSU

To echo Nevada Dog, I agree. We had two opportunities to pull away from the Buckeyes each half and failed. They blew their chance late. The teams are too even to think either can take two in a row, much less three. I've said it before, I'll say it again. It's damn difficult to go 16-0. A loss might hurt in the next two weeks, but it won't be fatal. By the way, the odds are some 290 to one going 16-0. 8 to one to defeat a team three times in the same season. So... If we defeat the in Indianapolis, it better be convincing, because otherwise we ALL with loathe that third matchup( we will anyway, no matter what). I personally think it's possible to truly dominate the Ohio State, but talk about playing a flawless game! Absolutely everything would have to go out way. I want that conference title. But I won't be disappointed with a loss next week. Because I don't think they can beat us twice.