Lessons From Last Year's Loss?

By lljjgg -03 October 2012
14 Comments
- Football

Do you think our team will have learned anything from last year's loss to Nebraska?

I was just watching last year's OSU-Nebraska game on the BTN, and a couple of things stood out to me:

1) Our spread offense (when Brax was running it) tore Nebraska apart. On 1st and 2nd down we'd typically run out of the I-formation, and we wouldn't get more than 2 or 3 yard gains each time. Once we moved to the spread (typically on 2nd or 3rd and long) we averaged something like 5+ yards per play. Nebraska couldn't keep up with Brax's run game.

2) Nebraska's 3 best defensive players from last year (DT Jared Crick, LB Lavonte David, CB Alfonzo Dennard) are gone, potentially leading to us seeing an even-weaker Nebraska defense this year than the one we saw last year.

3) We played more Man Coverage than I remembered, and played it relatively well. We were frequently (not surprisingly) burnt in the passing game on plays where our corners played zone coverage starting 5 to 10 yards off the Nebraska recievers (allowing Martinez to have a lot of make-able intermediate passes). Martinez struggled with the deep pass (leading to an easy interception by OSU before the end of the first half).

4) As others have noted, Braxton leaving the game completely changed our offense. Much of the game we converted on 3rd and long by designed (and some impromptu) QB runs, once Braxton left that option was gone.

5) There were a few really obvious pass interference calls we didn't get that would have made a tremendous difference late (one particular PI call Philly Brown didn't get in the endzone would have lead to at least 3, if not 7 points). At home you tend to get those calls.

6) Taylor Martinez's throwing motion IS better this year, his completion percentage shows it (up a decent 10% to 67%). He still has difficulty completing passes when pressured, so the Ohio State pass rush (Mr. Obvious) will be big.

7) Hyde was a MUCH more effective runner than Hall (Hyde - 13 rushes for 103 yards, 8yds/rush, 2 TDs; Hall - 17 rushes for 49 yards, 2.9 yds/rush). It'll be big to have a healthy Hyde against Nebraska this saturday.

All of these points lead me to believe that we have a good chance to win by at least a touchdown, if not two. What do you think? Anything from the last game (at least that you remember) that you feel will be important in the game on saturday? Or do you feel they are two completely different teams than they were last year?

Buckeyebrowny919 on 3 Oct 2012 - 3:23pm #

Lesson 8: Don't let Ol' Man Gingerbeard into the stadium! lol Heaven forbid anything happens to Millertime, we have a much more competent back-up with Kenny G coming off the bench.

"Winter is coming" - Urban Meyer

Rural Meyer on 3 Oct 2012 - 3:31pm #

I doubt the draw will chew them up like it did last year.

scottynoshotty on 3 Oct 2012 - 3:42pm #

I dont think Nebraskas D will have much of an answer for Braxon. We should put up 24-31ish points..even if hall cant play..but our D may have some real problems with Martinez..i see them spreading us out and having similar success to Cal moving the ball. Martinezs ability to run and throw will keep our D off balance, and that will open things up for burkhead and abdullah..The defense looked great last week but lets face it, Spartys offense is BAD..and their strenghts played directly into the defense. Forcing turnovers will be huge, get pressure on Martinez and force him into bad throws, and we HAVE to tighten up on their recievers and force them to push the ball down field. Martinez would love nothing more than to throw 5-7 yard quick hits that weve for some reason seemed to just let teams have all year.

Well i like college and i like football...and im gunna keep doin em both cause they make me feel good!!!

Angler on 3 Oct 2012 - 3:47pm #

Will Compton at MLB seems to make Neb's D go. Hopefully we get some blockers to the second level so we can get a hat on him and rattle off some big gains on the ground. I think they are going to have more trouble than some think stopping the run.

On a second note i think this is the game we need to kick it through the end zone on kick off. I don't want to test Abdullah to many times.

lljjgg on 3 Oct 2012 - 4:05pm #

@Scotty: I agree with you on the 5-7 yard throws; last year that's what hurt us as well (particularly in that game). They didn't have much of a downfield passing game, almost all of their big plays started within 10 yards, they just broke a tackle or two and took it downfield. Martinez and Brax's play style was very similar in that game (no huge runs, but a lot of 5-10 yard runs that converted 2nd and 3rd & longs). I hope we play a decent amount of press--when you take away their close passing game Nebraska is a much less efficient offense; unfortunately, if we don't, I could see the game playing out a lot like the Cal game, as you mentioned.

@Angler: That's a great point about Compton. He was in and out of last year's game with injuries, which might have made a difference in the efficiency of our run game. It'll be interesting to see whether he makes a difference in this year's game. Their lack of Lavonte David is big though, imo. He was versatile enough to both run down our RBs several times at the line of scrimmage, and play very solid pass coverage. I don't feel that Nebraska has that kind of experienced versatility this year at LB.

razrback16 on 3 Oct 2012 - 4:25pm #

A lot of the problem last year as well was the fact that when Miller went down, our Defense just turned in its chips. Vrabel even said that in so many words this week when asked on Monday what happened last year at the end. He said the defense saw Miller go down and figured at that point there was essentially no hope and quit playing.

I remember reading insider information at the time that was consistent with that mindset even on the offensive side of the ball as well -- when Bauserman would come into the game, the WRs wouldn't even bother working 100% to get open because they knew he wouldn't get them the ball anyway. Sad. Just glad we have what we have now on the coaching staff.

Angler on 3 Oct 2012 - 4:40pm #

The stage was waaaayy too big for Bauserman. Most ill-prepared back up SENIOR quarterback I ever remember seeing in any uniform.

lljjgg on 3 Oct 2012 - 4:50pm #

Very true on Bauserman.

The primary difference I saw between Nebraska's D against the two:
Brax - Hyde/Hall runs on first and second down for a few yards. 3rd & 5/6 they blitzed, got ripped apart on 5-10 yard QB runs for a first down. As the drive continued, the D began to play less aggressively, backed off, opened up the RB-based run game and short-passing game, OSU got points.

Bauserman - Hyde/Hall runs on first and second down for a few yards. 3 & 5/6, no run threat meant a sure blitz, man press long enough for Bauserman to get off a miss to covered receivers. Frequent 3 and outs.

Brax's running threat was the biggest difference in that game imo.

Bucks43201 on 3 Oct 2012 - 4:49pm #

another lesson: Kenny G. should have been the back-up over Joe B.

still can't figure that one out

"You win with people." - Woody Hayes

Rural Meyer on 3 Oct 2012 - 4:50pm #

They key to the game IMO is going to be Nathan Williams protecting the edge, if he bottles up Martinez and keeps the burkehead from getting to the sidelines I think we win easily.

jestertcf on 3 Oct 2012 - 5:03pm #

Don't take your foot off of the gas..

~Because we couldn't go for three~

scottynoshotty on 3 Oct 2012 - 6:20pm #

The biggest problem with the defense after braxton went down is the fact they were on the field every 3 plays. Stuffed Hyde run, Stuffed Hyde run, Bauserbomb, and the defense is back on the field..absolutly no rest and when you give an offense like nebraskas that many opprotunities theyre gunna convert

Well i like college and i like football...and im gunna keep doin em both cause they make me feel good!!!