Urban Meyer doesn't want to keep talking about, even if you do.
Ohio State's head coach trying to move onto to the next game, a home one against Northwestern. Even though a loss to Penn State presented glaring issues with his team's passing attack, both in protection and a disconnect between quarterback J.T. Barrett and the wide receivers in the deeper part of the field.
“Bunch of players are hurting,” Ohio State's head coach said on Monday. “Bunch of coaches are hurting, and we're not—this is the most time I've spent on this today because this one is put to bed.
“You've got to move forward.”
The Buckeyes do need to move forward from their inconceivable 24-21 loss at Penn State two nights ago, a game they lead 21-7 heading into the fourth quarter. A blocked punt and blocked field goal that the Nittany Lions returned for a touchdown flipped the script and ended Meyer's record winning streak in true road games at 20 but the outcome again showed issues with Ohio State's passing attack that have been prevalent ever since a 21-point victory at Oklahoma.
Barrett is struggling to hit receivers down the field either due to a lack of separation or poor timing. Ohio State's offensive line—primarily the tackles—were decimated at Penn State, allowing six sacks.
Barrett threw check downs to Mike Weber all night (eight total for just 36 yards). The running back finished with just a 3.4 yards per carry average on 21 attempts with Penn State's linebackers selling out as playcalling became predictable later in the game with runs coming on first down. Not much of a threat through the air didn't help things either.
“Me personally, I think I’m seeing the field well, I think receivers are seeing coverage, but also the defense they play as well so we have to understand what they’re giving us and taking it. You can’t go broke taking a profit.”– J.T. Barrett
“It has regressed a little bit,” Meyer said. “Certainly where there are plays to be made and we hook up on a couple of those plays we win the game and we're fine.”
Barrett said on Monday he felt the passing game did what it needed to do in order for the Buckeyes to come out on the right side of the scoreboard against Penn State.
“There are times where I could have put touch on the ball over defenders or stuff like that but we try to do our best to throw through windows and not over people,” Barrett said. “The linebackers were getting so much depth understanding what we were trying to do so with that, I did take what they gave us. When you’re talking about first down passes, you can get five yards on first down you’re talking about a successful play.”
Meyer said he "feels OK" with the offensive playcalling structure after just his fifth loss in five seasons. He doesn't plan to change it like he did a year ago when he put Ed Warinner upstairs for the final two games and the Buckeyes roasted Michigan and Notre Dame. He just wants more from the guys involved in that part of the offense—especially those tasked with catching the ball.
“There's not a big differentiation in our group right now. And you kind of wish one would separate,” Meyer said. “And I don't see that happening. Noah [Brown] is a pretty reliable guy and had nice plays. The other ones need to elevate.”
Brown only caught three passes for 45 yards against Penn State, 34 of them coming in the fourth quarter on one play. He dropped a pass early and saw other receivers Parris Campbell, James Clark and Terry McLaurin struggle to get open or execute their jobs effectively to help move the chains.
Barrett, however, said throwing it to the outside wasn't part of the game plan.
“I think that was our game plan going in was the slot receivers and also wanting to get them in intermediate routes but that was part of our plan going in,” he said.
Giving credit to Penn State's linebackers gaining depth to take away intermediate routes is fair but can be tough to justify when you consider how many tackles the starters recorded. Brandon Bell had 18, Jason Cabinda 13 and Manny Bowen finished with 12. Only four of those were for a loss, however, as each guy typically ran down Weber, Curtis Samuel or Marcus Baugh on plays close to the box.
“They took away the shots that we normally take downfield and then also too the linebackers getting depth underneath the intermediate routes,” Barrett said. “I don’t think it was trouble getting open, but it was just taking what the defense gave us.”
Penn State played well on Saturday and got just enough points to beat the Buckeyes. But Ohio State had more than enough chances to step on its throat and put the game away, and Meyer recognized that entering the fourth quarter with a 14-point lead made it "very winnable."
But stats are stats. Campbell, Brown and McLaurin combined to make five catches for 70 yards. That is not going to cut it, no matter how much you look forward.
As the Buckeyes prepare for Northwestern on Saturday, the holes need to be filled and execution needs to be better. Ohio State remains very much in the Big Ten race but it's margin for error is small and its passing game is struggling. Meyer knows it and said he expects more from the coaches, the players and himself.
“I'm always challenging, pushing, trying to get them better and better,” Meyer said. “At this time, after a loss, I think we can do better.”
“It could be better, absolutely, but as far as Saturday night, we’re going to throw an incompletion every now and then. That’s a real thing,” Barrett said. “Did we have miscommunication a couple times? Yeah. Can we clean that up? Absolutely. When I watched it, it wasn’t like I was pulling my teeth.
“I’m at a good place with where we’re at,” he continued. “Could we have done things better? Yes. But me personally, I think I’m seeing the field well, I think receivers are seeing coverage, but also the defense they play as well so we have to understand what they’re giving us and taking it. You can’t go broke taking a profit.”
