The fatal flaw of this column is that it’s difficult to ridicule Ohio State for “sucking” after games in which the Buckeyes actually do suck.
It honestly doesn’t happen often, but that was the case at USC on Saturday night on national television, as every phase of the game was poor, some of the play calling and other coaching decisions were inexplicable at times, and the supposed Achilles’ heel — backup quarterback Luke Fahey starting his first game — actually not being the primary problem.
The Buckeyes
were never in the game.
Let’s get into it, I guess…
Just Do You
Ohio State can usually count on its defense, and although there were some good moments for the Silver Bullets, they were not their usual selves.
The second snap of the game set the tone, with Trent Mosley catching a short pass and going 69 yards through the heart of Buckeye Country. It was the first time all season Ohio State’s defense had allowed a touchdown on the opening drive.
Being uncharacteristically bad wasn’t in the plan, but that wasn’t the only example.
A long catch-and-run punctuated by failed tackle attempts and even more ludicrous failed attempts to take the ball away while not even trying to tackle allowed USC to pull away in the third quarter.
Watching that 70-yard catch and run by Mark Bowman, as he posterized virtually every member of the defense, was not something Buckeye fans are used to. It also allowed USC to push its lead to 27-9.
The Buckeyes also allowed a third-and-18 conversion on a play in which they appeared confused about where to line up. Instead of calling a timeout and getting organized, Ohio State gave up a first down that led to an eventual 54-yard field goal.
Tackling was an issue in the run game as well. It was a night when Ryan Day needed his defense to perform to its normal level, and it did not.
Offensive Line Issues
Gabe VanSickle wasn’t the only offensive lineman to have a tough night, but he did commit some penalties, including a hold on the second drive of the second half, and was blown up for a negative run play early in the game.
Other linemen took their turns committing costly penalties, although I’ll give Carson Hinzmann a pass for the soft holding call he got flagged for. Aside from that, there were some protection issues for Fahey, who obviously needed an extra second or two in his first collegiate start, including a comically bad hold on Phillip Daniels late in the game after the offensive tackle had been badly beaten.
The Buckeyes also gave up two sacks, but Fahey was under pressure on several other occasions and managed to get rid of the ball.
Speaking of Penalties
Ohio State picked up virtually every kind of dumb/preventable penalty there is, drawing 11 flags for 71 yards, and those were just the penalties that USC accepted.
The offense committed a false start trying to quickly run a play to avoid a potential Bo Jackson fumble review, which led to a 44-yard punt return from the 10-yard line — a place where fair catches are supposed to happen, but the members of Ohio State’s coverage team in position to make a play ran by him as if they expected the punt to land inside the 5.
Additionally:
- Beau Atkinson committed a late hit out of bounds on that punt return, giving USC an extremely short field, leading to a touchdown.
- A third-and-short became a third-and-long because of a flag for illegal substitution.
- Nate Roberts got flagged for a false start with the ball just inches from the goal line, with the drive once again ending in a field goal.
Red Zone Follies
Every week, it seems that I write about Ohio State bringing field goals to a touchdown fight. It has rarely caused a change in the outcome, but on Saturday, it was directly responsible for an OSU loss.
The Buckeyes settled for far too many kicks, and even though Connor Hawkins was solid all night, his frequent trips onto the field were frustrating to watch.
Come On, Art!
Fahey had a great quarterback sneak to pick up a first down on a play after it looked like Jackson had gotten a bad spot short of a first down near the goal line. It was such a good sneak that it not only went for a first down, but it was initially called a touchdown before being overturned.
On the next play, which was first-and-goal from inches away from the goal line, Arthur Smith lined his offense up in the shotgun. Did he somehow not see the success of the previous play? I realize that later in the game Fahey got stopped on a similar play and needed another play to convert, but that would have been, at worst, second-and-goal from inches away.
The Buckeyes did not convert, owing in part to the aforementioned false start.
Later in the game, after receiver Phillip Bell missed his block and got Jackson blown up in the backfield, and after Hinzmann’s holding call, Smith played conservatively, calling two straight runs up the middle and punting. The Trojans took over and were driving for another score before the half, until Kenyatta Jackson forced a fumble that led to another drive that bogged down and ended in a field goal.
I understand not wanting to put a young quarterback in a difficult spot, but there are draw plays, screens, swing passes, and any other number of things with a higher probability of popping for a first down.
To start the second half, Smith called three consecutive Isaiah West runs that led to a three-and-out.
Fahey ended up passing for more yards (260) than veteran Jayden Maiava (222). Trusting the freshman, before the USC lead got too big from which to recover, may have proven helpful in keeping the Trojan defense off balance and kept the game closer.
Finally, what in the world was up with Ohio State taking so long between plays in the fourth quarter while chasing a two-score deficit? Fahey ran the two-minute offense on the next drive, so it’s not like that wasn’t an option that could have been used earlier.
Potpourri
Fahey missed some throws, but that’s to be expected under the bright lights against Top 25 competition on the road in a freshman’s first start.
He overthrew some balls to the back of the end zone by being a bit too amped and underthrew a few while under pressure and losing his footwork. That’s going to happen.
Missing a wide-open Devin McCuin for a touchdown was his most costly error.
West and Jackson ran the ball pretty well much of the night (both averaged at least 5 yards per carry), but West obviously coughed up the ball after a reception for a first down to kill a drive in the second half. It was a killer of a turnover.
Jackson, in addition to a fumble that perhaps should have resulted in a turnover, also had his issues in the passing game, dropping a perfectly placed pass that would have yielded at least a big gain and possibly a touchdown just a couple of plays after Fahey missed McCuin.
That’s more than enough. Sorry to put you through some of this stuff again.
Overall, Fahey’s first start was promising. He made the kinds of mistakes you’d expect from a first-time starter in a big game, but he mostly kept his poise and probably learned a ton. It was a game from which he can grow.
The bigger issues continue to be special teams (except, ironically, the field goal unit), the red zone offense (including play calling in tight quarters), tackling, and giving up big plays on defense.
Next up, the Buckeyes return home to face an Oregon team that may be finding its feet again.
