With the embers just about out from last weekend's tire fire in West Lafayette, the Buckeyes are (hopefully) taking full advantage of an open date to evaluate schemes, work on fundamentals and try to get healthy.
Though problems along the offensive line and back seven have fueled both a sluggish rushing attack and an inability to stop big plays, the fact remains Ohio State still boasts a 7-1 record and has a realistic shot of controlling its own college football playoff destiny.
To get you through the open week blues, we've got The Situation(al), Ramzy Nasrallah, our recruiting wunderkind Derrick Webb and one of the more recent additions to our stable of studs, David Regimbal.
It always feels like the sky is falling after a loss. Does this one feel any different? Why or why not? If you had to put money on it today, which team wins the Big Ten title? Justify your pick.
Ramzy: Hi Chris, hey buddy, good question. Buckeye losses don’t taste the same, do they. Losses come in different flavors, like how cyanide is available in both Sour Apple and Meatloaf. Purdue has a particularly storied tradition of punching up against the Buckeyes while they punch themselves, and unlike 2011 (the “Meatloaf Cyanide” season, as professional historians still call it and 2009 (when the eventual Rose Bowl champs graciously allowed Danny Hope to end a five-game losing streak at their expense) the 2018 edition of Purdue Harbor felt like a catastrophe we all saw coming. Ohio State cannot run the ball against anyone and gives up huge plays every Saturday? Weird, that might come back to haunt them!
It feels different in that we had glimpses of it happening. I have no faith in this staff’s ability to look at what we’ve all seen over the first eight games and say “ooohhhhhh oh oh got it, lol, okay we can fix that for the next four weeks.” I like to think Michigan might be peaking early, but the inside track to Indy from the East is theirs right now. They don’t look particularly impressive when they leave home. Ask me again in two weeks after Iowa survives State College and West Lafayette.
David: I know Michigan is the popular pick now, but I'm still sticking with Ohio State because I trust Meyer more than Jim Harbaugh. The margin is closing there, but Meyer-coached teams have bounced back after a loss more consistently than nearly any coach in the history of college football. Even last year after the mystifying loss to Iowa, the Buckeyes went on to beat three top-12 teams by an average of nearly 23 points to close out the year.
Derrick: I don't think so. There's certainly been plenty of talk about what the Buckeyes aren't so good at while there's been minimal conversation about what they are good at. However, I think that's fair considering the loss in West Lafayette. Frankly, it was embarrassing. It's that simple. The Buckeyes went from 14-point favorites to 29-point losers. That's not cool. If I'm putting money on it, I'm still taking Ohio State but right now, that's still a risky pick.
Ohio State has stunk it up in the red zone in back-to-back weeks and ranks just just 98th in the nation with touchdowns on 56.8% of its red zone trips on the season. Should Urban Meyer consider installing Tate Martell as the red zone quarterback? If not, or I guess even if so, what do you see as the primary reason for the red zone shortcomings?
Derrick: Absolutely yes. We've seen this time and time again. Yes, Dwayne Haskins can throw the hell out of the football. But in the red zone, on any type of option play, there's really no 'option.' Opposing defenses know what's coming and that's a handoff every time. Martell gives Ohio State the 'mix-up' characteristic they need down deep in opposing territory. With Haskins in the red zone, especially deep, the Buckeyes almost become one dimensional.
David: Inserting a running quarterback could help, but as Kyle pointed out in his film study this week, the bigger issue is up front. The offensive line has proven capable in pass-blocking situations, but the run blocking has been a disaster this year. When you have three linemen blocking one defender in a loaded box, there's not much a running quarterback can do for you anyway.
Ramzy: Yes. He should consider everything but staying the course with this offensive strategy. Forgive me for not really giving a crap about 450-yard passing games and covering half the spread and blowing it by 42 points over the past two weeks respectively. Give me 200 yards passing, 85 running, two touchdowns and endless whining about J.T. Barrett’s weenie arm in a comfortable win. Wait, he’s gone. Yeah, change-of-pace with Martell, whose arm is just fine. Do something. Do anything. It’s five weeks overdue.
Tate Martell in the red zone could at least be worth a try as the season wears on.
What is the root cause of the stalled running game? Can it be fixed mid-season and if so, how?
Ramzy: They’re running out of formations predicated on the QB keeping it being a possibility. And the OL isn’t great, but it shouldn’t have to be. This is 100% coaching. These players aren’t already entitled millionaires; they’re just trying to become them.
Derrick: Honestly, to me, it's the offensive line play. It's not secret how much that starting five has regressed. They've looked decent at times but they're simply not getting the job done. I think it can but it all starts with coaching. Greg Studrawa has to find the right mix of guys to be world beaters. Does that consist of running off tackle more? Maybe. Does it consist of J.K. Dobbins or Mike Weber taking the lead role in the backfield? Maybe. That's for Studrawa to figure out.
David: When you have no running threat at quarterback but still run plays designed for a dual-threat, the result is... exactly what we've seen this season. The running plays Ohio State unleash on a week-to-week basis are too slow developing, and with defenses feasting on a confused front and honing in on the backs, it's been a comedy of errors. The bye week should help because it gives the staff a chance to look at their personnel and playcalling. I'd like to think the Buckeyes have the athletes and brain-power to fix this.
Totally off-the-wall question here but since we’re on an open week, work with me. If Urban quit at the end of the season and you could only replace him with an existing head coach in the Big Ten, which guy would you take and why? Would you take that coach over Ryan Day?
David: If you asked me before the season started I would've hopped all over the Scott Frost train. After Week 3 I would've gladly taken Day. Since then my mind is starting to embrace the madness of this season and entertain the darkest timeline option of Mark Dantonio. But I'll be reactionary here and say Jeff Brohm because I just watched his team of 3-stars kick the hell out of the second most talented team in the country.
Ramzy: After watching staff after staff scheme circles around Ohio State’s this season, let’s go with recency bias and say Jeff Brohm. Offensively I prefer more violence than finesse, which gives him the nod over Day - who is a great coach and a skilled QB whisperer.
Derrick: For starters, I really don't think Urban Meyer is going anywhere. I think those reports are blown out of proportion but I've been wrong before. If I had to take a coach in the Big Ten right now, it's Scott Frost. His energy, his youth and his passion are all draws for recruits going to Nebraska and it's a draw for guys like me, too. The Cornhuskers have obviously had their struggles but give it a couple of years. Frost or Day? Day. The Buckeyes are already comfortable with that move and as we all know, he's very well liked.
Jeff Brohm tooled on Ohio State's defensive staff in a 49-20 spanking last weekend.
The Big Ten west now has four teams with just one conference defeat on its resume in Northwestern, Wisconsin, Iowa and Purdue. Who do you eventually wins the division and why? Does that team have a realistic shot at winning the conference championship game?
Derrick: It's still Wisconsin for me. With its run game and Alex Hornibrook calling the shots offensively, I don't think they lose another conference game this season. Until the Big Ten championship that is. I think Ohio State still beats Wisconsin in Indianapolis. Simply too much talent on both sides of the ball. But, as we saw this past Saturday, they have to play like they're capable of as well. I feel like they'd be up for that challenge with what's on the line.
Ramzy: Iowa, Purdue, Wisconsin, Northwestern as of late October. I don’t know if Purdue and Northwestern have the endurance required to get through November; Wisconsin and Iowa both definitely do. Iowa needs to survive the next two road trips and if they do, I think they’re the most dangerous team in the conference regardless of division.
David: I'm thinking Iowa wins the West. The Hawkeyes only have one ranked opponent remaining on their schedule, and that comes this weekend against Penn State. If they get past the Nittany Lions, Kirk Ferentz will have another weirdly competitive teams that'll win 11 games before falling in the Big Ten title game.
Let’s go national with this last question. Through Week 8, who are the four best teams you’ve seen this season? Will those be the four teams that make the college football playoff? Give us your top four, in order and briefly justify each.
David: Right now it's Alabama, then [insert enormous gap] LSU, followed by Clemson and Notre Dame. The Tide should eviscerate LSU next weekend because that's what they're going to do to any team they come in contact with this year. That loss will knock LSU out of the playoff race. Neither Clemson or Notre Dame have a ranked opponent remaining on their schedule, so they should be able to sleepwalk their way to the playoff. The final playoff spot will go to the Big Ten title winner, so long as that winner is from the East Division (Michigan or Ohio State). If Iowa or Wisconsin win, the Big 12 champ will getthe last spot.
Derrick: Alabama, Clemson, Notre Dame and LSU. I don't think that stays the same, though. Alabama has played a cupcake schedule up unto this point but that's about to change. And Tua is obviously as advertised. Clemson keeps winning however it has to, Notre Dame has been as battle tested as anyone this season and LSU ... well I like Joey Burrow.
Ramzy: Alabama, Clemson, Woke Texas and LSU. Notre Dame and Michigan after that. I need to see Michigan leave its own state and look better than it did in South Bend and Evanston. Its next road game - and final one before coming to Columbus - is at Rutgers. Wait, I don’t need to see Michigan look good away from home. It switched. How do I delete this
