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| Photo Credit:Cleveland Plain Dealer |
I was doubtful that Barrett had the arm and skills to bring Ohio State from behind to stun the second-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions after trailing by double digits almost all game.
I was wrong as Barrett suddenly morphed into Tom Brady in the 4th quarter as my friend Ian McArdle said after the score that brought the game within five points and then gunned the game-winning score to tight end Marcus Baugh with 1;48 to go with Ohio State getting the 39-38 victory in Columbus.
Barrett threw for four touchdowns,328 yards through the air and 95 more on the ground.
K.J.Hill caught 12 passes for 102 yards and Johnnie Dixon grabbed two touchdown passes in the victory.
The Buckeyes improve to 7-1 (5-0 in the Big Ten) with the win and will travel to Iowa next Saturday controlling their destiny in the conference and the national playoffs.
Olentangy Offerings
1) Here's my Mea Culpa' to J.T. Barrett.
I've been often critical of his passing accuracy beyond 15 yards, his lack of getting the ball downfield and wondered if the Buckeyes could defeat good teams with Barrett at quarterback.
As late as during the first half of yesterday's game, I was still groaning about J.T, Barrett's shortcomings in frustration over the Ohio State deficit during what was an uphill battle against the Nittany Lions.
The victory in this game belongs to J.T.Barrett as he grabbed the game by the throat with three fourth-quarter passing scores, completing his final 13 passes and the two final scores with under five minutes remaining.
I didn't think J.T. Barrett capable of doing what he did yesterday and he deserves an apology when he proved me wrong- I was wrong and I've rarely been happier to be wrong...
2) I'm still just in shock that Barrett was able to pull this off.
I just didn't think he would be able to use his arm to carry Ohio State to a comeback win against a decent team, let alone one of the quality of Penn State.
With this game on national television (Fox) J.T. Barrett may have put himself into contention for the Heisman Trophy with a performance like this...
3) As I watched the game and discussed it as the game went with Ian McArdle, as I usually do, I am available on social media on Twitter and Facebook and friends emailing me.
What did I hear the most complaints about? Special Teams? Coaching? J.T. Barrett?
Nope-Gus Johnson.
It was like a downpour of rain on a windshield and you know what?
It was all from others about the performance of what I believe is the most annoying play by play man in the game, but not from me.
Did Gus improve in my eyes?
No.
I watched the game on mute.
It does take away a little from the atmosphere of the game, but I can judge the game as I see it-not as someone hyping a two-yard gain beyond belief.
4) Yes, I know Saquon Barkley is a tremendous back that will likely star on Sunday's starting next season, but take away the opening kick return for a touchdown (and you should as returning kicks is different than your game in the backfield) and the one score of 34 yards and you have Barkley finishing with eight yards on twenty carries.
Ohio State did a fine job not letting Barkley beat them-from the backfield at least.
5) And the book is out on Trace "Chuck and Duck" McSorely as well.
I was so frustrated during last season's game (and live at the Big 10 title game vs Wisconsin) watching McSorley just throw the ball up and pray.
However, I figured that after teams would have an off-season rather than less than a week to prep for this stuff that his effectiveness would drop and it did so.
McSorley did throw for two touchdowns (arguably one should have not have occurred), but under 200 yards on the day and looked confused on the final drive when he had to find his reads and not throw sideline passes and demand his receivers go get the ball.
Puzzle Solved!
6) Ohio State still has massive issues on special teams, but let's look at the good side first.
In Penn State's win last year, Penn State swung the game after blocking a Buckeye field goal attempt.
This year, Ohio State began its comeback when Denzel Ward raced in and rejected a punt by Penn State's Blake Gillikin.
You could feel the momentum switch right then and after the play, I felt like something special had a chance of happening, although to say I knew it would happen would be a stretch...
7) However, the opening kickoff return for a score by Saquon Barkley showed huge deficiencies continuing in the coverage units and when the Buckeyes tried to avoid Barkley after that they gave up another huge return that set up a score and almost gave Penn State more points in the first half when a kickoff that was attempted to be squibbed gave the Nittany Lions the ball around midfield, which leads us to Mr.J. Franklin shortly.
I still think Urban Meyer needs to hire a full-time special teams coach, but Meyer seems reluctant to try that.
8) James Franklin has been given kudos of late, but I didn't think he did a good job in this game.
Franklin had the ball near midfield after the kickoff I mentioned above and with a quarterback that does one thing well-throw it and hope. Franklin passed on the chance to move the ball late in the half.
Then the final drive and deep in their own territory if Penn State makes two first downs, they likely win the game.
Franklin called the same three run plays with Saquon Barkley that Ohio State stopped all day and the Buckeyes did so again setting up the Ohio State winning drive.
With three likely big money jobs in the SEC likely to be open soon (Florida, Tennessee and Texas A&M), James Franklin might be ready to take a look.
Penn State will lose Barkley and even though their recruiting classes have been strong in the last two years.Franklin might look at the Big 10 East and think this is as good as he'll have it.
At Florida or Tennessee, he might have it easier and Texas A&M isn't afraid to cut a check.
Don't send Franklin packing just yet, but don't rule it out either.
9) Breakout night for K.J. Hill with 12 catches and over 100 yards as a replacement for Parris Campbell, who was knocked out of the game as he fumbled early in the first quarter.
Campbell has had ball-handling issues all season, it may be tough for him to get back into the lineup with Hill playing so well.
10) And there were the officials, who seemed to miss Penn State's offensive line tackling Nick Bosa all night but blew two calls that could have cost Ohio State the game.
The first was the worse of the two as Damon Webb picked off a Trace McSorley pass in the end zone, but was called for a ridiculous pass interference call.
McSorley would shortly thereafter run for a score and seven points for Penn State that they shouldn't have had.
The other one was a pass that Penn State's DeAndre Thompkins appeared to have lost the ball in the end zone to Denzel Ward and on the field, the call was an interception for Ohio State.
The call was reversed, which was one of those that could have gone either way but appeared to me to one of those that normally goes the way it is originally called.
Even Penn State fans are admitting in social media that they received several close calls and they have no beef to be made.
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| Photo Caption:Cleveland Plain Dealer |
Ohio State doesn't use the tight end as much as some teams do and they should do it more soon with four-star tight end Jeremy Ruckert on his way in next season.
Baugh can help open up over the middle and I wish he was more involved in the offense, but I'll take that score all day!
12) My favorite non-touchdown play of the day goes to Sam Hubbard on a play where Trace McSorley and Saquon Barkley either botched a handoff or was trying to cause some misdirection with the ball towards the Ohio State defense.
Hubbard didn't choose which to tackle between McSorley and Barkley, he simply said to hell with it and tackled them both at the same time!
13) The uniforms received mixed reviews over the course of the day.
I liked the helmet, which I'll buy a mini of to add to the collection, and I didn't mind the uniforms, although I wished the names and numbers would have some sort of outline to make them easier to read from a distance and on television.
However, I'm still not a fan of the alternate uniforms whether they are good (the black chrome ones used in 2015),the bad (the 1957 tributes worn vs Michigan that really didn't look like the 1957 ones or the blank black matte used vs the Wolverines last year) and the indifferent (the gray's used in this one).
Part of the Ohio State tradition is the uniforms and I hate seeing those messed with.
I can live with a small tweak like a full chrome helmet or a throwback look, but I'm not a huge fan of the gimmick uniforms.
I don't buy the "helps in recruiting" either, Alabama and yes, Penn State do just fine in recruiting and they don't do these at all.
Ohio State is one of the top few brands in the game, they have no need to be thirsty for attention like the Oregon's and Maryland's of the world...
14) Ohio State likely controls its own destiny for the National title tournament and definitely controls its own chance for the Big Ten East championship.
Win out over the final four games (at Iowa and at Michigan and getting Michigan State and Illinois in Columbus) and they will play Wisconsin in Indianapolis for the league title and a berth in the final four.
Go 3-1 and they'll be out of the national title chase, but as long as that loss isn't to Michigan State, they will still be on their way to Indianapolis and the currently undefeated Badgers.
Back later with the Browns in London and Anthony Joshua's tougher than expected fight vs Carlos Takam
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