Game Thread Buffalo Bulls at tOSU, Aug 31, 12 ET, ESPN2

[Taosman]

I watched Clemson-Georgia later that day. Both are better than us right now. But not having two All American defensive players on the field for most of the game(Roby,Shazier) obviously makes a difference.
If Buffalo doesn't have Mack it's a blow out. It seemed like every time he went out of the game we had a big play.
We played a lot of youngsters and back-ups Saturday. And just like last year, we looked crappy at times.

Another observation about football Saturday.
There was a LOT of mediocre football Saturday around the country. To be expected for an opening day.
Oregon played a team so physically out-matched they looked like a high school team. And Oregon isn't a physically large team! If you didn't see the game and just saw the score you would think this Oregon team is the greatest in college football history. Oregon scored 66.
Alabama played a very mediocre Va Tech team. Tech kept the scoring down with good man coverage on Bama's receivers but had no answers for the Bama defense. Boring slow death for Tech.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

2. Braxton has an annoying (and dangerous) habit of giving up ground when the pocket breaks down, which often leads to huge negative plays. He got away with one in the third quarter when he was sacked and fumbled at the two-yard line, but the play was negated by a personal foul on the Buffalo defense (Khalil Mack with hands to the face).

This play concerned me. At first I thought it was luck, Braxton fumbled, and then we got lucky with a penalty. Then I saw the replay for the second or third time, and noticed one important thing. The guys who forced the fumble and put on the huge pressure was the one that committed the penalty. He only got past the lineman that was blocking because he pushed on his facemask. Had the penalty not been committed, the likely fumble wouldn't have happened. Though there is a good chance there would have been a sack. I am looking for a replay, but can't seem to find one.

It was clearly a penalty on Mack, and the penalty helped him to make the sack and cause the fumble. The "luck" part comes from the fact that the officials actually saw the infraction and threw a flag, which doesn't always happen. My main point was that Braxton's response to the pressure - i.e., to turn his back to the action and retreat some twenty yards - put him in the position for a huge negative play.

Speaking of the officials missing a penalty, Braxton's blind heave from his own end zone in the first quarter should have been called intentional grounding, and given Buffalo a safety. That play was another example of Braxton retreating under pressure and turning a negative play into a potentially huge negative play (the play started from the Buckeyes' 16-yard line, and Braxton was a good two yards into the end zone when he threw the ball, meaning that he retreated 18 yards from scrimmage - you rarely get a good result when you give up that much ground).

3. Speaking of that play, the Buckeyes got lucky twice down near the goal line - first, when the Miller fumble was negated by a penalty, second when the Buffalo quarterback fumbled the snap on fourth and goal from the one. Without those two mistakes by Buffalo, the game might have been a lot closer than it was.

The "no call" on the intentional grounding was the third time that the Buckeyes got "lucky" in the shadow of their own goal post.

 

[buchtelgrad04]

The play where Braxton fumbled, if it would've been reviewed, he would've (should've) been ruled down. Even though he landed on Mack, his elbow was on the ground before the ball came loose. And the non call of intentional grounding was the correct call as well. He did get outside of where Mewhort originally lined up.

 

[Zurp]

The play where Braxton fumbled, if it would've been reviewed, he would've (should've) been ruled down. Even though he landed on Mack, his elbow was on the ground before the ball came loose. And the non call of intentional grounding was the correct call as well. He did get outside of where Mewhort originally lined up.

"Would've" and "should've" are not the same thing. When it comes to instant replay, it often seems to be a roll of the dice. I think that the on-field calls by the officials are right way more often than they're wrong, and the replays correct the wrong calls very often. But there are times where it's like, "what in the world are these refs watching?" I don't want to rely all hopes of a win on the calls of the replay official.

Also, you're using the NFL's definition of "in the pocket". NCAA rules don't use the location of the tackles - it's a set distance from the location of the ball before the snap. I want to say 5 yards to either side of the ball. The NCAA's "pocket" tends to be a little bigger than the NFL's. (I'm not saying he was or was not outside of the pocket - I haven't seen the replay, yet.)

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

If anyone but DeSoto is back to return kickoffs from now on, someone needs to be shot...

 

[Steve19]

I leave you guys a 16-0 game and what do you do? Confirming that I will watch the wbole game this week. :p

 

[JXC]

I wouldn't say the Silver Bullets allowed 20, as 7 was on the offense when Mewhort completely whiffed on a cut block of Mack and Braxon threw the ball right to him on a tunnel screen. Another 7 came on a short field off a turnover that probably is not a TD with Roby and CJ on the field.

Agreed.

The defense was on fire early. The turnovers were what brought Buffalo back in the game. Without the turnovers I'm curious how many points the defense gives up.

That said, Buffalo probably has a worse offense than any B1G team we face, except maybe Purdue. So it wasn't really a good test for the defense.

I loved the goal line stand. I think the front four looked great. Honestly this defense looks much better than the defense did last year when playing the first few games. Hopefully they just improve and by the time B1G play comes, we will have a lot of guys with experience, both starters and backups.

If we can win without our best players out there, then I'm happy, because its just adding depth.

 

[Bleed S & G]

And that is all I did. I expressed an opinion about what the most likely outcome is. To be clear, my opinion, at this point, is that they are unlikely to do better than a two loss season.

Or are you saying it's too early in the season to express an opinion?

There was a poll asking our opinions before a single game was played. You didn't register your complaint there, in spite of the fact that LJB quite eloquently predicted a 12-2 mark in that thread, so that must not be what you mean...

Or are you suggesting it's too early to say 2 losses are likely but it's NOT too early to say that a better record is more likely?

After THAT game?

Yeah, it was only a first game. But that brings us back to the point that people were predicting two losses when zero games had been played.

It's a message board

People are going to express opinions

I am aware this is a message board, and that people are expressing their opinions - just as I am expressing mine. Don't play that card.. I have always appreciated your insight and hold your "opinion" in high regard.

I am not sure which poll you are referring to, I thought I had selected the 14-0 champions of the world!!1! option. Maybe a different poll? The reasoning behind my selection, which I did not post, is pretty simple: I think we outmatch all of our opponents, have a damn good coaching staff, and hopefully are playing solid football come January with all the new faces.

What I am, attempting, to say in previous posts is this: there are certain things that don't show up on paper. If this team "bonds", lookout. If they don't gel, I can see two losses. I am trusting Urban to bring this out. Last year, the example of this event, was the "championship water" toast that Urban gave before the MSU game. So, yes, perhaps it is too early to tell which way this season will go (14-0, 13-1, 12-2, 11-3) .. and where is the fun in talking about that? That would be like not releasing pre-season polls as it's "too early to call" which teams are truly the top 25.

So, in short.. I am surprised your opinion is we lose two games, when you can't find two teams that are better than us on the schedule.

Time will tell, I understand what you (and others) are saying (now). I don't necessarily disagree with you, when I first read your post - I thought you were trying to say according to the methods learned at tOSU, odd's are 12-2 is the likely outcome and Vegas agrees. Therefor I am smarter than you hillbilly Buckeye fans who think this team can go all the way.

 

[Drubuck]

I watched Clemson-Georgia later that day. Both are better than us right now. But not having two All American defensive players on the field for most of the game(Roby,Shazier) obviously makes a difference.
If Buffalo doesn't have Mack it's a blow out. It seemed like every time he went out of the game we had a big play.
We played a lot of youngsters and back-ups Saturday. And just like last year, we looked crappy at times.

Another observation about football Saturday.
There was a LOT of mediocre football Saturday around the country. To be expected for an opening day.
Oregon played a team so physically out-matched they looked like a high school team. And Oregon isn't a physically large team! If you didn't see the game and just saw the score you would think this Oregon team is the greatest in college football history. Oregon scored 66.
Alabama played a very mediocre Va Tech team. Tech kept the scoring down with good man coverage on Bama's receivers but had no answers for the Bama defense. Boring slow death for Tech.

Agree with everything. Clem/Geo looked better but really opened up their playbooks though both defenses weren't impressive at all. Once we get our guys in place on D, we hang with either team and believe end results would be a toss up.

Bama's O-line is suspect this year which is understandable as they lost to the NFL. VT Dline had a great game against Bama's front. 21 points on 2 special teams and interception. No one looks to be a dominant team this year as of what I have seen over the weekend. Granted I don't take much from week one games. A lot of great teams this year. Really excited for this season all around. Makes for more great match ups and upsets.

 

[MAINEiac Buckeye]

I wouldn't say the Silver Bullets allowed 20, as 7 was on the offense when Mewhort completely whiffed on a cut block of Mack and Braxon threw the ball right to him on a tunnel screen. Another 7 came on a short field off a turnover that probably is not a TD with Roby and CJ on the field.

Ah yeah, fergot bout Mack's int there. Still, all in all a decent showing and no reason to not feel good about the rest of the season, providing the improvements and adjustments kick in.

 

[maximumblitz]

Mack was a beast, but, I honestly feel this was the best possible way to start the season for one reason: nothing the coaching staff could have said to the players regarding taking every game seriously could have possibly driven the point home more than the way this game went after the 1st quarter...

Mack's play sets a standard, helping to avoid complacency. And it helps that Reeves got picked on, because that pain will help him get better.

 

[Coqui]

Mack's play sets a standard, helping to avoid complacency. And it helps that Reeves got picked on, because that pain will help him get better.

Yep. Got burned in his first game. Should make him hungrier, and listening to Roby will only help more on it.

 

[C-busBuck]

Lest we forget. One of Mack's sacks was blatant face mask that wasn't called. I couldn't believe that one. And Mcgowen just kept singing Khalil's praises instead of talking about the face mask and Joey didn't say anything. Wow.. what fabulous game coverage.

 

[MaxBuck]

Mack does like to yank on the mask, but to be fair the penalty is seldom called on the defensive player, and he's smart to take advantage of that fact. I think it's a penalty that needs to be called, though, and I'm glad it was on the critical play we've been discussing here.

 

[C-busBuck]

Mack does like to yank on the mask, but to be fair the penalty is seldom called on the defensive player, and he's smart to take advantage of that fact. I think it's a penalty that needs to be called, though, and I'm glad it was on the critical play we've been discussing here.

The sack I am talking about ended a drive. Mack literally sacked Miller by the face mask and there was no call. He would not have tackled Braxton without it and that penalty should always be called. I am not talking about the hands to the face penalty.