Obviously a sound enough team across the board to pull off the upset.This game has worried me since early in the season. It is the definition of a trap game for the Buckeyes tucked in between a big road win over a ranked opponent and a HUGE rivalry game with B1GCG and possible CFP implications. Color me worried.
| #10 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-1, 9-1) at Maryland Terrapins (3-4, 5-5) |
| NOON - College Park, MD - ABC |
| A couple weeks ago I said I was totally split on whether the off the field stories would galvanize or split Maryland. After a lopsided loss to Michigan State, followed by a tough loss to Indiana, which probably ended any bowl hopes for Maryland, it's seemingly clear that it's the later. To literally add injury to insult, starting quarterback Kasim Hill is now done for the year with a torn ACL. I'm not sure that's necessarily the worst thing for the team, I've wondered why, when your passing quarterback can't pass, you don't at least try to switch things up and go with your running quarterback. While Tyrrell Pigrome did not look great running the ball against Maryland, he actually threw the ball well enough to make me question why Matt Canada hadn't atl east tried the switch earlier. After Hill opened 4-12 for 43 yards and an interception, digging Maryland into a 21-6 hole, Pigrome went 10-13 for 146 yards and a touchdown, getting Maryland into Indiana territory with a chance to win the game in the final two minutes, before a game sealing fumble. Ohio State found catharsis in the inept running game of Michigan State to try and get their defense right. It's tough to say how much was an improved Buckeye defense, and how much was a dismal Spartans running attack, which ranks 13th in the Big Ten. We might get some answers this week with Ohio State trying to repeat that performance against the conference's third most efficient running attack, a running attack that should be bolstered by Pigrome. Granted you would think they would also commit more defenders to the run, with Pigrome being less of a passing threat. He showed last week, particularly with as much as Hill has struggled, that might not be the case. Of course none of that matters if Maryland can't slow down Ohio State. Michigan State was largely able to, which did raise some questions about just how potent Ohio State's offense really is. They managed 26 points against the conference's second best defense, but all but the defense scored 9, and handed them another 10 on short fields. For all the numbers Ohio State has put up offensively, Michigan State was the first defense they had faced that ranked in the top half of the conference. Maryland will be the second. Then the level boss awaits next weekend. After a cold and windy day in East Lansing, a sunny day, where temps could hit 50, on Saturday in College Park should permit more offense. Dwayne Haskins clearly struggled with some of his down the field throws, dealing with a strong north and south wind. Even if Ohio State can jump out to a lead, are the built to protect it? Thanks to 3 turnovers and a bunch of 3 and outs, Ohio State dominated time of possession last week, which allowed Mike Weber to start to wear down the Spartan front in the fourth quarter. He finished with a respectable 104 yards on 22 carries. He had 13 carries on the Buckeyes' final two drives alone. Ohio State needs to establish the running game much sooner this week, it was absent until after halftime last week. |
| OHIO STATE 35, MARYLAND 21 |
I am just glad we are playing Maryland the week before THE GAME, because we know that the refs and the Big Ten has it out to screw Maryland. Should be an easy win. >:(You nailed it.
Osu defense is awful, I thought the 4th and 3rd play in first half where the entire D line bailed like it was a long sss play summed up the game, neither the coaches nor players have any idea what the he’ll is going on.I really was shocked at how long it took (half time) for the defensive coaching staff to adjust to what Maryland was doing. They kept doing it and running the same play, or a similar play, by moving OSU players into exact desired positions with their shifts.
Easily the worst OSU defense since Meyers first season , which it might be close but this one is worse.
Offensively it’s prob hard to knit pick 40 plus points, but I feel like so many downs are wasted running a guy straight forward for a guaranteed loss, add in penalties and assenine turnovers and this truly was a miracle win.
Maybe I’m asking too much after a great decade of football, but I just see so much undisciplined football.
I guess either way it’s been a helluva run, but it comes to an end next sat.
I guess 10-2 with all these issues isn’t too shabby.
Apparently Maryland QB Kasim Hill has a torn ACL and is done. Not sure how that affects their offense, but I am worried about OSU's defense in this game. Seems destined to give up like 4 long touchdowns.Four?
Really proud of those guys. What a year, and to compete like this.I want to read the eleven warriors take on the last play.
https://twitter.com/TorreySmithWR/status/1063909482089115651?s=19
I want to read the eleven warriors take on the last play.If my eyes don't deceive me, I think the main read was the shovel, following by looking over to that rub route situation. Don't know that safety that got blocked was necessarily supposed to be on that guy, just happened to end up there when he broke in.
I think the wide open receiver was running a rub route to the inside to try and get the guy going to the outside open. Instead both OSU defenders went with the initial target. The safety was supposed to come down and defend the rub guy, but he got blocked in the end the end zone buy a lineman.
I hear people keep saying who should have run with the QB. I disagree doing that would mean he would have to do a 180, and run into the double coverage. I think he was where he was supposed to be.
The Maryland QB saw his primary target double covered, went to the rub man, but wasn't able to make a good through because an OSU defender was in the passing lane.
I think OSU made the same mistake they have been making all year, and that is being to aggressive to the primary design of the play. Example: A play is designed to go right (or disguised to look that way) OSU Crashed hard right, and the running back cuts back left to see 80 yards of open field. Last play, OSU over defended the primary target, leaving the secondary target wide open, and got lucky a defender ended up in the passing lane.
Initially posted this in the PR thread, but it actually belongs here:Those are "M"s. Isn't Michigan's the same?
Maryland has LITERALLY been up and down every week this year. Here's an image of their YPP each week:
(https://mgoblog.com/sites/default/files/clip_image010.png)
That might read like a joke. It's not. This is an accurate graph. Lacks an x-axis, but given the trend, the games are easy to count. Last week they went back up to 6.5YPP. So versus OSU, the pattern is to drop way low again before finishing up high versus PSU.
If my eyes don't deceive me, I think the main read was the shovel, following by looking over to that rub route situation. Don't know that safety that got blocked was necessarily supposed to be on that guy, just happened to end up there when he broke in.I also see the Running back expecting a shuttle pass, and throw his arms in in disbelief, but watching the QB's "eyes" (more like the direction his helmet is facing,) he seems to be looking wide from the start and comes back to the rub man.
It probably doesn't inspire a ton of faith you had a breakdown on switching that, but bullet dodged I suppose.