I didn't watch this game live. I elected to go to a party where the game wasn't being shown. I drank copious amounts of the finest craft beer the midwest has to offer, then came home and watched the game on the DVR. I'm reacting to what took place today on an alternate timeline from nearly everybody else. Now, still half-drunk off Dark Lord and B.O.R.I.S. (yes, I'm a name dropper) I'm going to attempt to make sense of what we all saw today.
The Buckeyes did what they failed to do in either of the last two weeks and won comfortably against an inferior opponent. The scoreline perhaps didn't reflect most homers' wet dreams from last night, but it was an easy win where the Buckeyes mostly did what they wanted.
It was a comprehensive performance. They ran the ball efficiently. They passed the ball decently. Cardale Jones looked more confident and made wiser decisions than last week. The offense made explosive plays. The defense did too. Special teams contributed with a blocked kick. The Buckeyes controlled field position the entire game.
There are still things to work on. There were big plays left unfulfilled due to underthrown passes and wide receivers who didn't adjust and make plays quite like last year's guys did. The defense, while performing at an elite level for much of the season so far, could have done a better job stopping the inside run and limiting the length of WMU's drives.
All in all though, it was a good win that should have us coming away feeling like the Buckeyes are getting back on track. This team is not a finished product, but we shouldn't expect them to be. It's still early in the season, and there's still plenty of room for growth.
Top Plays:
3.) Jalin Marshall, easy as you like:
2.) Shifty Curtis Samuel:
1.) LARGE MAN TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE:
PATs:
The Buckeyes did what they failed to do in either of the last two weeks and won comfortably against an inferior opponent. The scoreline perhaps didn't reflect most homers' wet dreams from last night, but it was an easy win where the Buckeyes mostly did what they wanted.
It was a comprehensive performance. They ran the ball efficiently. They passed the ball decently. Cardale Jones looked more confident and made wiser decisions than last week. The offense made explosive plays. The defense did too. Special teams contributed with a blocked kick. The Buckeyes controlled field position the entire game.
There are still things to work on. There were big plays left unfulfilled due to underthrown passes and wide receivers who didn't adjust and make plays quite like last year's guys did. The defense, while performing at an elite level for much of the season so far, could have done a better job stopping the inside run and limiting the length of WMU's drives.
All in all though, it was a good win that should have us coming away feeling like the Buckeyes are getting back on track. This team is not a finished product, but we shouldn't expect them to be. It's still early in the season, and there's still plenty of room for growth.
Top Plays:
3.) Jalin Marshall, easy as you like:
2.) Shifty Curtis Samuel:
1.) LARGE MAN TAKES IT TO THE HOUSE:
PATs:
- Any quarterback controversy that existed after last week seems to have mostly evaporated this week. Urban Meyer featured Cardale Jones all the way up until garbage time and his decision was vindicated. Jones put in his steadiest performance of the season so far - there were still mistakes (that backwards pass - woof) but he made solid decisions and took care of the ball for the most part. He was not as good as we would have hoped throwing deep, but he was nearly flawless on intermediate passes in the middle 1/3 of the field. Those throws - not the deep balls - are where his arm strength is really on display. Wide receivers don't need to get as much separation for him, so passes can be completed in tight windows before defenders can react. The Buckeyes moved the chains several times on those kinds of throws.
- JT Barrett got to play a little with second stringers late in the game and was poor. One of the dirty secrets about the end of last year's regular season is how much Barrett struggled beginning in mid-November. If a controversy still exists, it must only be in the minds of people with rose-colored glasses for the way Barrett played last October. Or there are people with too much time on their hands for arguing. Part of the attitude about the way Jones performed last year was, "Thanks for keeping the seat warmed for the injured guy." Some thought it was a level of performance he wouldn't be able to sustain in the long term. Nobody has really ever asked if that sentiment was more true about Barrett instead. If you start from November 1 of last year, he's not just playing at a level that keeps him a rung below Jones on the ladder, and he could be in danger of not even getting the starting gig after Jones is gone. Ohio State has established a high standard for the play of its starting and backup quarterbacks. Right now, Barrett is performing nowhere near that level.
- PJ Fleck comes off like a small-timer and an a-hole. First, there's all the sloganeering. Their nickname is the Broncos, but their uniforms are adorned with oars. I guess if there's one thing wild horses are known for, it's canoeing. Second, all the sprinting to the other end of the field at the change between quarters. That was some weird-ass high school stuff. Finally, there's the whole thing with having the players wear "WMU" on the nameplate on the back of the jersey instead of the players' names. Does that really motivate or unify the team? By the evidence on display today, I'd say not. Rather, all it seems to do is make it harder to recognize players who may never play for a larger audience in their lives. If I busted my butt for a scholarship and playing time on a team like that, I'd feel cheated. They can put freaking boat oars on the jersey, but not the names of the players putting their asses on the line? All in all, Fleck comes off like a new version of Tim Beckman. His schtick seems like it's good enough to win a moderate number of MAC games and troll some opponents along the way. I suspect one day somebody will see fit to let him try it out at a larger program, and I think he'll be found out.
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