Eleven Warriors

As my username indicates, I am a Buckeye from the great state of Texas. I am currently a student here at OSU and I have to say I am proud to be a Buckeye.

Yes, I know. We are all frustrated after what happened these last couple of weeks. I understand this. But, even after all this, I still can hang my head and proudly tell people I am a Buckeye. Do you know why? Because for me, going to a school like this is a dream come true. Now, at the beginning of my senior year of high school, OSU was not one of my top choices. But as the year went on, and after a couple of visits, I really started to warm up to the idea that this could be my school for the next 4 years of my life. Finally, I narrowed it down to two choices: Ohio State and Texas. When I found out that I had earned a scholarship to The Ohio State University, I couldn't believe it. My hard work in high school had paid off and I had been given the opportunity of a lifetime. In my year plus that I've been a student at Ohio State, I've already gone to two different countries, got to be part of the student sports radio station, and I've made many friends that I know I'm going to have for the rest of my life. I would say that I've done pretty well so far, but I've been blessed because none of this would have happened without the support of my parents, my friends, and so many others that have made a positive impact in my life.

I always have been a die-hard sports fan. I knew that a big sports scene was part of what I wanted in a school and OSU certainly has that. When I stepped in Ohio Stadium for my first Buckeye football game last year, I was completely overwhelmed. As last year went on, I realized that I was part of something bigger than myself. Whether it was a football game, basketball game, baseball game, or any other sporting event, I fully embraced that I was a part of a community that would always support them no matter what.

Move forward to this year and yes, it's been frustrating, brutal, tough, painful and any other adjective you can think of to see the Buckeyes struggle like this. We can complain all we want about Bauserman, Fickell, Bollman, and any other player and coach that comes to mind. Complaining, venting, and ranting aren't going to solve anything with this football team. We may feel better about ourselves at that moment, but then the cycle repeats itself when losses like this keep happening. Player/coach makes a questionable decision that ends up playing a key role in a loss, we say what we want about it, and then move on to the next game. I've seen and heard people quit and give up on this team. But I'm not one of those people. I will always be loyal and supportive of Ohio State because it's my school and I'm proud to tell people that. Right now, this team needs our support, even after everything that's happened since December. Regardless of what others do, I will guarantee that I will be in the stadium rooting for the Scarlet and Gray. No matter what happens the rest of the season, I will be there to support my school. I am forever grateful to The Ohio State University for giving me the opportunity to receive a quality education from the most AMAZING school in the country. Columbus has become a second home for me and I thank God that I get to be at a place like this. Ohio State is not just about athletics, it's about learning who you are as a person and gaining knowledge and power to make the world a better place. I know will be given the support and guidance needed to do just that.

So with that in mind, good luck to the team and.... GO BUCKS!

Attention 11W faithful: I am in the process of compiling suggestions for a "visitors guide". This is something that will help anyone traveling to Columbus for a game by giving them a list of places to go, things to see, food, drink, etc. We all know that the main destination for 10/29 is Eat Too, Brutus. But for other home games, visitors might want to check out some of what Columbus and surrounding areas have to offer. 

If you would like to be a part of this admirable venture (and if you want to help out a guy who volunteered for this duty despite the fact that I don't get out much), please send me your suggestions in the following categories:

• Travel and Lodging
• Places to Eat
• Bars and Nightlife
• Tailgating  

I got the idea for this from our friends over at The Only Colors. If they were able to find lots of great places to visit in East Lansing, surely we can come up with much more in Columbus. As a bonus, you will get credit for your suggestion if I use it in the official "Visitor's Guide" post. I'm all ears and I'm waiting to hear from YOU!

Anyone know whats going on with Kenny Guiton?! I thought he looked good in spring ball last year but I havent really heard his name mentioned when people talk about our QB situation. I know there are MANY other problems with this team right now but he could be a spark for the offense. Benching BM is probably a bad idea right now because id like Braxton to have an ounce of confidence when this season is over. But lets say he gets injured which is more than likely for anyone who is our starting quarterback right now let alone someone with a history like Braxtons. I would like to see Kenny Guiton or Taylor Graham get a shot at the job, unless if they're really that bad that the pitcher is a better QB. So has anyone heard anything about our two other quarterbacks and why they arent being discussed at all? There must be a reason be it either they're injured and we dont know it or they have academic problems or if they just dont have the talent.

First posted at Inside The Shoe, by Brady

That's all folks. The curtain has dropped, the seas have un-parted and the fat lady has belted her last note. That last "game" against the Spartans effectively ended the 2011 campaign before it even had a chance to get going. The Miami game a couple weeks back was a tough pill to swallow but many, yours truly included thought that the Big Ten season would offer a new beginning of sorts and allow Ohio St. to play meaningful football this season. That ship sailed in my head after the first 3 offensive series last Saturday. This team is bad. Not average or mediocre... bad. It pains me more than anyone else to type those words but it's time to face reality.

There will still be some good games against inferior opponents in the coming weeks but anyone with a pulse in the Big Ten has to be smacking their chops in anticipation of their game with OSU. I guess "bad" isn't a fair term to bestow on the whole team. I thought that the defense played their collective tails off (per usual) and kept the team in the game all afternoon. They let Cousins get off some decent throws and there were some missed tackles but when the D is on the field that long, the Baltimore Ravens would've given up some yardage. With an offense that pathetic there is no room for error. For OSU to have won that game, the defense would've had to been the unit to put it in the end zone. IS there any other conclusion to be drawn from that contest? Let's take a look at the 3 most glaring problems even though one could write a book on all that is wrong with OSU these days. The quarterback play is just awful right now. Joe Bauserman should never, and I mean never, pick up a football ever again.

As I have stated before, I am sure Joey Ballgame is a swell guy and a great citizen but I can't stomach one more snap with him under center. This is one of the most prestigious football programs in the country. Mr. Bauserman, and to an extent Braxton Miller, have reduced our offense to Saturday morning JV territory. Thankfully Fickell came to his senses and declared the Freshman our starter for the MSU game. Then he went and F'd it up by putting Bauserman in during the 4th quarter. Not only does that mess with an impressionable youth trying to find his way on the football field, but it also opens up another weeks worth of quarterback debate.

Listen, Fickell. The season is lost. Your job is lost. Assuming that you still love your alma mater, keep the future quarterback of this program in the game for some more live reps. There is nothing to be gained by watching old anchor foot wobble passes 5 yards short and 10 yards out of bounds. NONE! We can all live with the growing pains of Braxton during this lost year of 2011. I hope we can at least because there is no help coming in behind him.

Braxton's recruitment scared everyone else off so we have to play the hand we were dealt. That's another column for another day so let's just move on to some more positive feedback. Not to be outdone by the guys taking the snaps, their "protection" up front has been almost as bad. There is no question that a portion of that ridiculous sack count was due to the quarterback play. That defense smelled blood in the water all game. They were sending multiple blitzes and showing different fronts the entire afternoon.

That is a lot to put on a young offensive line. That's where Mike Brewster needs to step up. He is the All-American and seasoned vet on that line. I'm not claiming to be an offensive line savant or anything but it just didn't look like the right protections were being called. Guys seemed to be confused and out of place all game. Gholston was a one man wrecking crew for the Spartans. We have a talented young group of linemen that I have high hopes for in the future.

It will help when Adams gets back (if ever) but it seemed that no corrections or adjustments were made to the line or playcalling all day. What a great segway to talk about the 800 lb gorilla in the room, coaching. WTF is Bollman doing out there? I seriously think that I could've called a better game texting in plays from my couch. I get that we really can't throw (LOL) but the illusion has to be there right? There has got to be a handful of passing plays that a group of Division 1 college football players at Ohio F'n State can run right? Somebody answer me PLEASE! Watching 3 and out after 3 and out literally made me sick to my stomach. I have never felt so hopeless watching a football game and I am a die-hard Browns fan.

At no point did I have any hope that we could get a first down, let alone a touchdown. Praying for the defense to get back on the field in hopes of scoring points isn't the way football games were meant to be watched. Luke Fickell is in way over his head. I was as guilty of anyone this offseason of pumping sunshine up my own ass in hopes of convincing my brain he was the answer. He obviously is not. I was under the impression that he would be in guy's faces and jumping around in all his youthful glory on the sideline. Instead he looks like he is watching the game in an out-of-body experience.

Seriously, it looks like his mind isn't even there. That isn't what recruits want to see and it's definitely not what the fans want to see. I feel for him though. It was an almost impossible situation to be thrust into. Especially on a national stage at Ohio St. I hope he uses the rest of the season to improve his demeanor and game management so he might be able to land a job this offeseason. If it keeps going the way it has, he may be hard pressed to do that. Time will tell. It starts in Lincoln on Saturday night football. SWEET!

Completely ripped off from MGoBrian.

He explains his terms here http://mgoblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/hennechart-legend.html

Miller

Wait what?  Yeah, Miller throwing the football was not as bad as I thought it was after watching the game live.  First inaccurate pass was dropping the ball on a pump fake during the first series.  The second was overthrowing Hyde in the flat 5 seconds before sparty went all helmet to helmet on him.  Miller had a ball batted down at the line of scrimmage, and did have that meltdown when he avoided a free rusher, ran into the defensive end and did his best to try to turn a sack into a pick six.  I thought while watching live that the interception would be a bad read, but it turns out the safety (coming off his coverage) was not going to get there in time and the defensive back had no chance to intercept the pass until Devin Smith brought the ball down to him so we are left scoring a play where a quarterback throws to a single covered wide receiver and hits him in both hands.

Bauserman

The other side of that coin was Bauserman who could have had an epic day.  My notes:
Bauserman airmails an open Devin Smith by 25 yards.
Fields with 2 steps, Bauserman airmails by 20 yards.
Bauserman throws 10 yards short of wide open Verlon Reed.
Offensive line picks up the blitz (6 man rush), Bauserman delivers a horrible ball that Reed comes up with on a diving effort.
This ball has to be on the left hash mark at the goal line, Bauserman puts it 8 yards deep in the end zone and between the right hash mark and sideline.
Fields tries to make the leaping catch, but Bauserman's throw is just too high.
Williams wide open Bauserman throws not even half way to the intended receiver.
Hall wide open in the flat, Bauserman puts one into low earth orbit.
Leaping grab by Reed for the first down on 4th and 3.
You may notice two completed passes in there.  I threw the first completion in the catchable and the second into inaccurate, but the truth is neither would have been a drop if they went uncaught.  So really you are looking at 5 catchable and 9 inaccurate with a lot of yards and some points left out there.  Three of his catchable passes were within 5 yards of the line of scrimmage so down field you are looking at numbers like 2 catchable, 8 inaccurate.  This doesn't even include the wide open Devin Smith that Bauserman fails to throw to on 3rd and 15 instead waiting to take the sack.
Runs (Here's where it gets ugly-er)
Miller

The fumble was a low snap Miller never got the handle on.  Two of the sacks are unblocked defensive tackles.  One is a free rusher off the edge at the end of the first half.  One is Miller holding on to the ball too long.

Bauserman

2 of the sacks are Bauserman holding on to the ball too long, one is the superman blitz (if ever Joe was going to break a tackle, this was his chance) and 2 are breakdowns on the offensive line.  One of the offensive line breakdowns is against a 6 man rush so perhaps a plan to get rid of the ball early would have been wise.

9 sacks on the day, on 4 the offensive line gave no other option, on 3 the quarterback had plenty of time and just didn't do anything, and 2 took everybody working together to make the sack happen.

Receivers

Tough day for Devin Smith, the return of Bauserman sees the return of Verlon Reed.

This next table is similar to what I think mgobrian is doing with his receiving chart but I am unable to find a link to his explanations so mine will have to do.  The first digit in the grade is from the receiver’s point of view, 4 easy to 1 impossible.  The second digit indicates the presence of the defender (1 there, 0 not there) at the time the ball hits the receiver’s hands.  When I say there, I mean close contact.

Therefore:
11  Bad pass, tight coverage.
10  Bad pass, no defender to stop it
21  Really tough ball to catch and in tight coverage.  A catch on this means the receiver is saving his qb.
20  Really tough ball to catch, no coverage.
31  Ball outside the strike zone, tight coverage
30  Ball outside the strike zone, no coverage
41  Ball on the money, tight coverage
40  Ball on the money, no coverage

Miller

Bauserman

Where the first table struggles with the catchable/inaccurate gray area this one better illustrates what I saw when watching the game a second time.  Without those two catches in the 20's there is no 33 yard touchdown pass and the numbers for Joe are:
4 comp on 11 attempts for 29 yards.

For the receivers this is catches/opportunities

What a day by Reed, just fantastic.  Excellent catch and run by Spencer as well.

Based off their film review of this past week's game, Nebraska's defensive staff may anticipate OSU's offensive brain trust to prepare for another dose of blitzkrieg at breakneck pace until the Bucks show the ability to handle it. They may assume that, to slow down the pass rush the Bucks might try to throw screens early and often. What I fear Nebraska might do, is put in a Zone/Zone blitz scheme where they show blitz but drop in order to blanket Stoney and Smith while having the ability to come up and gang tackle on screens. I hope that osu's offensive coaches have two options in place and are instructing the players and preparing accordingly. 'Boys if they are blitz happy, we are going to give them a steady diet of screens and quick hitters. If they want to show blitz and drop back, we will run down hill at them with Hall, Hyde, and Boren out of the gun keeping the hits off Braxton. Either way they want to play defense we are going to take our shots down field to Smith and Stoney and they are going to make plays on the ball for us.' I fear we are going to see nothing but designed qb keepers and dave's putting the young qb in third and long's and asking him to convert. Staff has to put the players in positions to make plays. I am not entirely confident of that happening for the third week in a row.

The defense needs put Shazier in for Sweat or Klein and start sending sending Sabino and Shazier to put the offense in consistent third and longs. Then send Moeller on third down while dropping enough to cover your assets. Go after punts, go for it on fourth down. Someone tell Fickell he should be coaching as if his sac were on fire because he has his dream job and is watching it get pulled out from under him, all because he will not embrace his natural instincts as a defensive player and use his three pronged team to attack the opposition at all times.

I will never apologize for having standards. I expect the coaching staff of my beloved Buckeyes to be one step ahead of the other coaching staff in every matchup because there should be no offensive or defensive attack that we cannot adopt, or adapt to, because we have the best football coaches and some of the best football players in the country. Well we do not have the best football coaches, but we sure as hell should. Nic Siciliano in charge of the quarterbacks for the Ohio State University? That is some bulllshit! Second rate should never be acceptable.

The Miami game and Michigan State game fall squarely on the coaching staff's shoulders. Preparation before execution.

After reading junk like this and reading the onslaught of negativity on comment threads, I have to write something somewhere in response.

Luke Fickell is not a terrible coach. The job he has done is far from exceptional at this point, but to call him "terrible" even "inadequate" is not entirely fair. I'm not an apologist, but one should look at this season in its proper context, removing the scarlet and gray goggles for just a moment.

For one, he was thrust into a lose-lose situation. No one should have expected this team to win every game with the suspensions to key players. Yet, that's what we all did, expecting ten or more wins. Anything less was considered a failure. There was no plan-B for losing those key starters when the Buckeyes did. The plan was to have DeVier Posey, Boom Herron, Mike Adams, and even Terrelle Pryor for the entire 2011 season. Their backups would have another year under their belt to mature and grow into capable replacements for 2012. Instead, the replacements were thrust into the limelight, not ready for primetime. Even the illegitimate baby of Jim Tressel and Woody Hayes would have a hard time winning with those circumstances. If you think otherwise, you're kidding yourself.

That said, the offense is ridiculously bad and the blame falls squarely on the coach's shoulders. However, to be fair, this is not yet Luke Fickell's offense. Yes, I get the "he's the head coach and the buck stops there" or whatever your argument may be that Fickell is as much to blame as anyone for the offense's lack ineptitude. The problem with that thinking is that, like the replacement players, there was a long-term plan to ease Fick into the head coaching position. Like his players, Fickell has been thrown into a position he was not yet groomed to take over. I'm sure he can see as well as the rest of us blogging offensive coordinators and couch coaches that the offense sucks ass right now, but he has yet to receive the opportunity to put together his offense, his offensive staff (sans Bollman). I'd like to see Fick get the opportunity to clean house and start over, bring in some new talent from places like Boise, Houston, or any number of mid-major-to-major schools that score on anyone. Then, we can more adequately judge what kind of coach he will be.

This all brings me back to the inflated expectations of Buckeye Nation. I'm old enough to remember when folks were upset at losing a perpetual 9-win coach in Earl Bruce after one tough 6-5 season where they still received a bowl invite (that was promptly turned down). 9-3 was pretty good for a long time. However, since Tressel won the national championship in 2003, we're spoiled to think that it should happen every year. Yes, Ohio State brings in some fantastic recruiting classes, but I seem to remember that at least five other schools bring in better classes every year and they over-sign. So, there's a limit to the talent even at Ohio State. (Look at the lack of dept on the offensive line.) Also, believe it or not, it's not possible to win the national championship every year. That's why it's such a big deal. Some of you seem to forget the 30+ years between championships at Ohio State with what might be arguably the weakest national championship team ever. (Don't argue this. That team was lucky and were almost as offensively retarded as the current team.)

The largest missing component is Jim Tressel. It's absurd to think that a young defensive co-coordinator, coach of linebackers can simply step in and take the place of multi-national championship, veteran head coach in just one season. It's obvious now that Tressel had a lot more to do with the offense than previously suspected. Sure, the play-calling has usually been mind-numbingly boring, but there was always a plan beyond "two-straight runs and a sack." There was always something Tressel would set up throughout a game or even throughout a season. There was often that timely play-call that made the opposition look foolish. The screen to Boom at Michigan. The play-action over the top to Ginn in '06. Saine lining up at fullback and sneaking down the sideline against LSU. Pryor coming out slinging the ball all over the place in the Rose Bowl. The man used his years of experience to craft strategy that most of us are too dumb to recognize. He made first-round draft picks out of three-star recruits and Broyles Award candidates out of VCR operators...well, maybe not that last one.

It is much too early to judge Luke Fickell as a "terrible" coach at this point. It's not been good so far, but it's been far from what we should have expected. There is little plan on offense. Clock management is still an issue. (Ask Les Miles about clock management.) There has been indecision in regards to personnel. All of these issues should be expected when a new regime takes over. Typically, that regime comes in with his own guys and system already in-place. Fickell is playing with someone else's toys, in someone else's system. I suspect if he were to choose his staff, the DC would be more of the semi-competent yes-man, instead of the OC. (I say "semi-competent" as a yes-man, not a coordinator. There's no way Bollman is anything but incompetent as an OC.) The mistakes in this situation should be expected with a first-time coach taking over a staff that is not his own.

The strength of a Tressel team is that they pulled together when things became a bit rocky (and many of us were calling for his head) and improved down the stretch, emerging as victors over TSUN by the end of the season. I think Fick at least deserves that much time to figure things out. Even then, I think he deserves an offseason to put together his own coaching staff for one more go at it. Look at the splash he made with his lone hire. Imagine the equivalent of Mike Vrable running the offense. Next season could be much like we expected for this season with all the talent set to return, plus a head coach with at least one season under his belt. Then, maybe Coach Fickell will meet our lofty expectations. Until then, we will have adjust those expectations to something more reasonable.

So after skimming the plethora of comments regarding booing in the skull session, I see there are varying view points on what to do. 

MY SOLUTION: Stay to sing Carmen Ohio.

Whether you boo or not stay and let the team know that we still support and love our buckeyes, through good times and bad, by staying to sing Carmen Ohio. Regardless of the score or performance (good or bad), don't leave the game early. You want to boo during the game? Thats fine, but stay and sing Carmen Ohio. I have been to nearly 25 games and have never left before singing Carmen Ohio, even if it was a blowout. I still tear up everytime too. Not because of my love for football but because of my love for the University and all the memories I have associated with it. The singing of OUR Alma Mater is something truly special and even if the Boo's reign down, we can show our unwaivering support by remaining in the stands.

Knowing for sure that your fanbase has your back no matter what is something special. So, let them know by refusing to bail early and stay for the singing of Carmen Ohio. I think doing this could solve everyones concerns.  

This is a breakdown of each offensive play that was on TV.  I think you will see that execution was the problem today.  Not play calling.

So the first 2 series basically weren't on TV except for the 3rd and 9 play on the 2nd possesion.

3rd and 9, Miller runs directly up the middle into 2 blitzing LB's on an option play that was set up to go outside.  Blocked well for the outside run, not executed.

3rd SERIES down 7-0.  1st down, zone read, Miller should have kept the ball as the middle of the field was wide open instead he mistakenly gives to Hall who picks up 4 on pure effort.  Stoneburner TOTAL whiff or the misread play might actually go for big yards.  His man makes the tackle and he doesn't come within 3 yards of making a block.

2nd down, Option that Miller doesn't sell at all, blocked PERFECTLY.  Even with the terribly early pitch that doesn't force the unblocked DE to declare AT ALL Hyde picks up a 1st down.  Holding by Chris Fields.  Now 2nd and long......screwed.

2nd and 12.  Shugarts blocks the wrong player and leaves the backside DE open.  If Shugarts makes his block Hall gains at least 5 yards as it was set up nicely.

3rd and 13.  Option look drop back...Shugarts whiffs again......Miller trips over his own feet in the face of pressure and darn near throws a pick on a terrible decision.

4th SERIES, backed up to own 14 yard line

1st down, I formation lead run to Hyde.  Marcus Hall sucks at guard and Boren has to try block Jerel Worthy (fail).  No gain.

2nd and long, I formation Hyde makes the safety miss on a perfectly blocked play and gains 8 yards.  Now 3rd and manageable.

3rd and 3, shotgun with 4 wides, great read by Miller as Fields is uncovered off the line.  Easy pitch and catch for a first down.

1st down, I formation lead for Hyde.  Stoneburner again whiffs completely and the backside DE makes the play.  Gains 5.

2nd and 5, shotgun with Hyde and Boren flanking.........effing Shugarts false start.

2nd and 10 same formation, low snap, Miller craps his pants and falls on the ball.

3rd and 14, Miller under center, screen for Hyde....well set up except Hyde runs into a DLineman and falls down.  Miller has to scramble and gains nothing.

5th SERIES

False start Linsley.......now 1st and 15

I formation stretch , Brewster doesn't make his block, short gain by Hall.

2nd and 13, I formation, play action, tons of time, ball blocked by DLineman.

3rd and 13, shotgun single set back, trips to top of formation, fake to Hall blocked perfectly, strike to Fields and 1st down.

1st and 10, I formation, play action, great pocket, Boren picks up blitzing LB, Miller craps his pants and basically falls down.  SACK COMPLETELY ON HIM, Boren called for bogus chop block and it's now 1st and 25.

1st and 25, play action, again Miller has a pocket that he doesn't use, tucks and looks like his shoes are tied together.  SACK COMPLETELY ON HIM.  Illegal hands to face bails him out.

1st and 10, I formation, motion with Fragel, play action, Miller throws deep to D. Smith and makes a decent throw, 50-50 ball that is picked off.

6th SERIES

Pinned inside own 20,

1st and 10, Wildcat with Hall, gains 5.

2nd and 5, I formation, safety makes good open field tackle on well blocked lead play, gains 4.

3rd and 1, I formation, David Durham in at fullback, Hall picks up 1st down.

1st and 10, I formation Mewhort completely whiffs on Worthy and obviously Miller is not adjusting his snap counts because MSU knows exactly when the ball is going to be snapped.  Loss of 5

2nd and 15, Miller bobbles a perfect shotgun snap, freaks out and doesn't let play develop, throws quickly to Reed for gain of 5.  No reason to throw so quickly.

3rd and 10, I formation, blitz, Mewhort blocks air, SACK.

7th SERIES

1st and 10, I formation, lead/stretch play for Hall, safety is crashing in hard on run support, Hall gets what he can and gains 5.

2nd and 5, I formation, great blocking even though Worthy clearly knows what the snap count is.  Hall gains 10 for a first down.

1st and 10. I formation, lead play, excellent blocking, Hall gains 7.

2nd and 3, I formation, Shugarts for some reason lets his man get inside him by taking a false step to the outside, DE comes across and blows up play.  Otherwise very well blocked. No gain

3rd and 3, shotgun 4 wides, draw play, terrible read by Miller, no one is even covering Stoney and the LB covering the slot blitzes.  Should have been changed to a quick pass and would have been an easy pitch and catch 1st down.

8th SERIES, down 10-0

1st and 10, I formation, Sprint out DAVE, set up nicely to get Miller outside.......FALSE START Mewhort.

1st and 15,  I formation, Hall completely misses the hole and runs directly into a tackle, play was set up nicely if he simply follows Boren through the hole.

2nd and 17, shotgun 4 wides, Miller freaks again with no pressure in his face, doesn't let play develop AT ALL and immediately looks to his outlet Hyde out of the backfield.........personal foul defenseless receiver moves the ball.

1st and 10, offset I formation, DAVE, well blocked, Hall is running with his eyes closed or something and runs directly into Shugarts and the man he has walled off.  Set up very well for at least 5-7 yards if he follows the blocks properly.

2nd and 9, I formation, motion with D Smith, play action, nice pocket, Miller doesn't step and tucks it, sacks himself.

3rd and 16, shotgun sprint out, Miller doesn't let play develop again, Brewster doesn't get a great block, there are open receviers, but Miller isn't looking at anyone, he bounces around and gains 3.

9th SERIES, Bauserman

1st and 10, bad pass to open Boren in the flat, pick penalty called

1st and 18 on the 8 yards line, I formation, run blitz Hall loses a yard.

2nd and 19, I formation, bootleg, Stoney stops his route and only gains 4 yards.

3rd and 15, Shotgun, 7 rushers, Bauserman almost escapes but is sacked.

10th SERIES

1st and 10, Shotgun sprint out, corner blitz, Bauserman doesn't see it, and gets sacked.

2nd and 15, I formation, play action, Bauserman thows it 10 yards too far for Smith.

3rd and 15, shotgun 3 wides, break down of line, SACK.

11th SERIES

1st and 10 backed up to own 7, play action, open Fields, Bauserman overthrows him.

2nd and 10, I formation, Stoney whiffs completely, Hall does well to gain 5 yards.

3rd and 5, shotgun 3 wides, D back leaps over Hall and Bauserman is deer in headlights........SACK.

12th SERIES

1st and 10, shotgun Bauserman finally looks warmed up, strike to Reed.

1st and 10, shotgun 3 wides ,wide open Reed, ball in dirt.

2nd and 10, shotgun, corner blitz, Bauserman checks down to Hyde, gains 3.

3rd and 7, shotgun Hyde whiffs on block, Bauserman hits Reed for 1st down.

1st and 10, shotgun, trips, Bauserman double and triple hitches and throws one near no one.

2nd and 10, shotgun, Bauserman misses wide open Fields in the seam, could have been caught, but really not a good throw.

3rd and 10, shotgun, blitz, well picked up, throw in the dirt to T.Y. Williams who was wide open.

4th and 10 shotgun, Stoney whiffs on a block forcing Bauserman to move, he still has a wide open Hall in the flat, throws it over his head.

13th SERIES............Buckeyes score.

Seriously folks I don't know what to tell you if you think the play calling is the problem with this team.  Poor execution is the problem.  A true freshman QB who is scared and doesn't have ANY patience is the problem. An old QB who can't hit the broad side of a barn is the problem.  A tight end who absolutely refuses to block anyone is the problem.  Please tape the games and watch them again if you really want to bag on the coaches.  This loss is ALL ON THE PLAYERS.  They didn't execute the plays that were called.

Sure I would like to see a bubble screen to Corey Brown, but he is hurt.  I think the Wildcat is a great addition to the offense.  More of that would be in order.  The play calling is fine.  The players are not.  You simply have to execute on 1st down, especially with a young QB, and this team failed to do that time and time again.  Not because of the play call, but because of false starts or holds or missed blocks or missed holes.

                                                                                                    Here Comes Sparty

Sadly, Ralphie did not make the trip to Columbus last week and an uninspired Colorado team got rolled by a Buckeye team looking to build. While we didn’t know it at the time, the Joe Bauserman era had ended quietly in South Beach with a 2-1 record. Stay ready, Mr. Bauserman you are, again, one snap from prime time. Braxton Miller took the reigns to the offense against Colorado and did OK. Not spectacular, but good. No fumbles or interceptions. He showed a good bit of elusiveness when he ran. Most of his passes went more less where they were supposed to. Not all of them were caught, but that is another story.

It is hard for me to realize the Buckeyes just beat a team, Colorado, from the PAC 12. I still think of the Buffs as part of the Big 8, which has long since become the Big 12, now with only 10 teams. Please don’t confuse that with the Big 10, which of course has 12 teams. Anyway, we beat ‘em and soundly. Don’t look now but Drew Basil has hit 5 field goals in a row and our special teams against Colorado were,…..well….kind of special. Special in the good sense, not in the short bus sense. Kick and punt coverage was good, Ben Buchanon continues to punt opposing teams deep in their own territory. Jordan Hall did a very nice job on returns. The Buckeye defense showed improvement too. More swarming to the ball, fewer (but still too many) missed tackles. My major concern is in our zone defense, which we, understandably, run most of the time, our DBs drop well into their designated zones. Then they seem to sort of stand there and do not react quickly enough to receivers or footballs entering their zones. Compare them to the roving band of assassins in the LSU and Bama secondary and you will see a very large difference. Maybe it is an experience thing, but there seems to be a lack of aggression back there. I am also a bit concerned with the speed or lack thereof, of our linebackers. Andrew Sweat has looked pretty good, but may now be gimpy and Storm Klein and Sabino seem to get lost for long periods of time. This, too may be mostly an experience thing. Freshman Ryan Shazier, whenever he is in there, seems to be moving at a faster speed than the rest of them. We need the silver bullets to grow up and crank it up this week and beyond.

My other complaint is about the receiving corps and the dropped passes. Nobody catches everything, but this is becoming a problem. We have a rookie QB and not all of his passes are going to be perfectly on target, but when he hits you with the football, it needs to be caught. Until, they start catching passes on a more consistent basis I am going to refer to our receivers as wide outs. I thought the coaches did a nice job of managing Braxton’s initial start. I know he only attempted 13 passes, but certainly more passes were called, but a bunch of them ended up with the freshman, after surveying and reading the defense, for maybe a nanosecond, deciding to run. It was enough to allow him to grow, and for our team to win. Mission accomplished. But now the mission grows. However much Braxton grows this week and beyond, this Buckeye team will be a running team. That is where the talent is. I have been listening to fans for over 50 years complain that, Woody, Earle, Coop, and Tress, needed to “open up the offense”. The thinking seemed to be that the coaches, after having spent 100 hours in preparation for this game, with their livelihoods on the line, just slammed running backs into piles of defenders, so as to piss off all the fans. If they just passed more, the Buckeyes would never lose. Well, this team is not geared that way. Patience, people, patience. Some times you just need to punt and try to flip field position. Some times you need your defense to make a big play. Well, we have been winning about 90% of our games over that 50 year period, with pretty much the same offensive philosophy. This is not the year it is going to change.

Last week:

LSU survived the trip to Morgantown . The Tigers dominating performance prevented the couch inferno that authorities had feared. LSU has moved to the top of the polls and begins a leisurely stroll through Conference Bubba this week. If it weren’t for the language barrier and the grits thing I would consider moving south to enjoy some great football in the next few weeks. Bama at Florida this week. Florida at LSU next week. November 5 LSU at Alabama. An all-you-eat buffet for FB junkies. Yum!

Dabomania lives as Clemson whipped up on a FSU team suffering the after effects of their loss to OU. Can Clemson be this year’s Auburn? Did I just insult Clemson? I have no idea how much Clemson paid for their QB, Tajh Boyd, but he looks like he is worth every penny. How many of us could find both Clemson and Auburn on a map? Is their exact location some secret of the confederacy? Is there a reason they do not have a state in their name? I know some other schools don’t have state names but they are Duke and Stanford and all those Ivy League teams with academics.

Games this week:

Nebraska at Wisconsin: Beware my gentle children of the corn; Madison at night is a hot mess. Oh, on the field, I’m sure your Huskers will compete well with the Badgers. UW fans are not exactly known for the ability to hold their liquor. The Badger fans are obnoxious by noon, but by the 8:00 PM kick off in Camp Randall, I think projectile vomiting will be as much of a problems as the Badger O-line. 30,000 Husker fans are expected in Madison for Nebraska’s first game in the Big Ten. What ESPN keeps referring to as the great atmosphere in Camp Randall will, by about 7:30 degenerate into a “prison riot with coeds”. (Thank you Dan Jenkins). The Badgers are favored and I cannot come up with a good reason for them to lose, though I can think of plenty why I want them to lose. I am not sure but I think a Badger loss would help our cause in the Leopold Division of the Big Ten. I think Nebraska is in the Leonard Division, so we don’t have to worry about their record. This whole division thing is not settling well with me.

Alabama at Florida: The Gators are stronger than expected, but I still think the Tide defense will be too much to overcome, even in the Swamp.

Notre Dame at Purdue: The Irish take their turnover machine to Purdue. I don’t see any way Notre Dame can screw up enough to lose this one. Purdue is lousy and this game will show that.

Minnesota at Michigan: Who cares? Is this the battle for Paul Bunion’s ox or something like that? Again, no one cares. The Weasels will likely win this one easily as the Gophers are bad. Minnesota doesn’t even know if they will have their coach. First year mentor, Jerry Kill has been suffering seizures and may not be back for the trip to Ann Arbor. So the bad guys win and Brady Hoax continues his assault on Hometown Buffet. Yes, the Weasels are 4-0, on their way to 5-0.. They were undefeated at this point in the season in both 2009 and 2010. They are better, but still they are not good. Fear not, Buckeye Nation.

Auburn at South Carolina: Isn’t this the kind of game that Spurrier teams always seem to blow. Maybe the Old Ball Coach will give the ball enough to Marcus Lattimore to prevent QB Stephen Garcia from losing the game

Nevada at Boise: The Broncos try to avenge the defeat which prevented them from whining about the BCS in 2010. This year, on the Smurf Turf, the Broncos will roll.

Kentucky at LSU: The Tigers will vacation in sunny Baton Rouge while embarrassing the visiting Wildcats. Kentucky produces great bourbon and excellent pre-probation college basketball. Football just enhances the bourbon as they wait for hoops.

Michigan State at OSU: Although we have not played the Spartans for the last two seasons, Coach Dantonio is 0-2 against the Bucks. Coach “Dino”, of course, was an ultra-successful defensive coordinator for the Buckeyes early in the Tressel era. Coach Dantonio is very close with Luke Fickell, so you know both coaches want this one on a personal basis. The relationship which worries me is Dantonio and Jim Bollman. Since Dantonio was on the OSU staff for years, I am sure he knows the mind of Jim Bollman very well. I think the fact that Toledo Coach Tim Beckman has been on the OSU staff may have contributed more than we know to the closeness of that game. Sending our freshman QB against a Dantonio defense is not a desirable scenario. Our line and running backs need to help out the young QB in a big way. Need I mention that the receivers need to get open and C..A..T..C..H the ball. On defense the Silver Bullets need to swarm to the ball and stuff the run. We do not want to allow Kirk Cousins to play-action us to death. Our DB’s need to step up the aggressiveness and make some big plays. Also the fans, yeah us, need to make some noise. Cousins is a 5th year senior and we cannot let him sit back and analyze. Pressure to hurry him and noise to disrupt their communications. Look, Michigan State is a good team, but not a great team. They were humiliated by Alabama in the Capital One Bowl at the end of last season, and they got drilled by a mediocre Notre Dame team this year. Plus they are Michigan State and despite the Dantonio effect they still have psychosis in their collective DNA. They are never more than a few snaps away from a melt-down. The Buckeyes will steal Sparty’s medication and win 20-13.