I told myself that this team could go lose any game this season and I'd be totally cool with it after the magical run of last season.. Funny how when the game kicks off though, you're programmed as a fan of a top team to already start looking for what's working and what's not working.. It's just one game but here are my takeaways from Week 1:
What I liked:
1) Braxton Miller is an Ohio State Immortal. I had no idea what he would do in a game like this against a Top level defense given his inexperience playing the H. However, he won us this game with two big time plays. It was a joy to watch him hit on those and now I'm a firm believer he's a huge part of this offense going forward. Plus, how about that diving catch he made? Cardale makes a better throw there and we're maybe talking about three huge TDs.
2) Cardale/JT. I thought both played well. People who were getting on Cardale at halftime were unfair. The guy made a lot of plays that half that would have been sacks if JT was in. Our Oline did him no favors in that 2nd quarter and his size was the only thing preventing multiple sacks in that quarter. And Coach Warriner did him no favors all night with that speed option which he clearly is not meant to run. Big time NFL throws to Thomas early, Campbell (dropped), and Braxton on his first TD. JT looked flawless in his one drive. Both are gonna play a ton the next two months leading up to MSU.
3) Michael Thomas. That route.
4) Zeke. Looks ridiculously explosive right now. He's bigger, faster, and sharper in his cuts now than 9 months ago. He's going to break off a run of games now where he hits 150-200 yards on like 10-15 carries and then sits a lot in the 2nd half. Good blocking all night and great effort taking out two guys on the Brax video game TD.
5) Curtis Samuel is really good. Hope they keep finding him touches.
6) Washington/Schutt: Thought both played pretty well. Washington woke up a little in the late 2nd and 3rd when he nearly killed Brewer twice, the second time effectively ending the game since their backup QB couldn't play. I thought Schutt was pretty active. Mike Hill gave us a couple solid reps as well.
7) Fast and the Furious. They couldn't replace Bosa, and we saw how badly we need Joey, but both guys flashed. I thought Jayln made one of the biggest plays of the game yanking that ball lose at 21-17. Gave us a short field, that we capitalized on to go up two scores and then it was pretty much over given their QB situation. Hubbard applied pressure at times as well, just thought he get held up on blocks a little too long, but hell it was his first game on a big stage.
8) Apple/Conley/Webb. Thought all three played well. Was impressed particularly with some of the tackles Gareon made in open space.
What I Didn't Like:
1) Interior Oline. Thought they lost the matchup again vs the bear front despite our gaudy yardage we put up. I give VaTech credit though, the guys they have up front just give our guys problems. Too many people coming free at Cardale all night, and as I mentioned above if not for his size and the fact we got the ball out quick for the most part we could have been looking at multiple sacks.
2) Parris Campbell. Please don't just be another Corey Smith (ST stud, good blocker, but can't catch in games). Kid looks the part out there and hopefully the issues holding onto the ball were just first game jitters. Blocked well and played well on special though.
3) Ball Security. We continue to turn the ball over too much. At some point it will catch up to us.
4) Brionte Dunn. I feel for this kid. Every time he gains momentum in the program he puts the ball on the ground. Just a shame at this point.
5) Speed Option with Cardale. It's simply not a good look Coach Warriner. I know we have set stuff we like to run vs Bear fronts, but this should have been scrapped earlier. There must be runs against this front between tackles. It was discouraging to see us not even try to run between tackles with the best Oline in the country and the best RB.
6) Vonn Bell. We all expected to see a guy who was going to be flying up the NFL draft boards with his play. Hard to fault individual players when you don't have the game tape or know the play call, but he just seems to be a step late around receptions all night long. Discouraging start, although he started last year slow as well.
7) Joshua Perry. Again it's difficult to place fault on players without knowing who has responsibility on certain plays, but you wonder if a couple of those throw back TDs were on him since he was the LB on that side of the field. Didn't really do much rushing the QB or stuffing the run. I don't know. Perry is everything you want in a student-athlete but I still want love his play at LB. Four years in and I'm like this guy is an okay LB but when is he going to take another step?
8) Defense as a whole. I expected more even without Joey. The back 7 I thought would dominate, but they didn't. Lee played pretty well. Raekwon was okay. The corners for the most part held up, but too many breakdowns, not enough pass rush, and too easily fooled on those misdirection plays. Just wasn't a crisp performance and if we don't knock Brewer out likely a tighter game. I expect we'll get a helluva lot better, but was a little surprised we weren't more dominant particularly in the back end.
What I liked:
1) Braxton Miller is an Ohio State Immortal. I had no idea what he would do in a game like this against a Top level defense given his inexperience playing the H. However, he won us this game with two big time plays. It was a joy to watch him hit on those and now I'm a firm believer he's a huge part of this offense going forward. Plus, how about that diving catch he made? Cardale makes a better throw there and we're maybe talking about three huge TDs.
2) Cardale/JT. I thought both played well. People who were getting on Cardale at halftime were unfair. The guy made a lot of plays that half that would have been sacks if JT was in. Our Oline did him no favors in that 2nd quarter and his size was the only thing preventing multiple sacks in that quarter. And Coach Warriner did him no favors all night with that speed option which he clearly is not meant to run. Big time NFL throws to Thomas early, Campbell (dropped), and Braxton on his first TD. JT looked flawless in his one drive. Both are gonna play a ton the next two months leading up to MSU.
3) Michael Thomas. That route.
4) Zeke. Looks ridiculously explosive right now. He's bigger, faster, and sharper in his cuts now than 9 months ago. He's going to break off a run of games now where he hits 150-200 yards on like 10-15 carries and then sits a lot in the 2nd half. Good blocking all night and great effort taking out two guys on the Brax video game TD.
5) Curtis Samuel is really good. Hope they keep finding him touches.
6) Washington/Schutt: Thought both played pretty well. Washington woke up a little in the late 2nd and 3rd when he nearly killed Brewer twice, the second time effectively ending the game since their backup QB couldn't play. I thought Schutt was pretty active. Mike Hill gave us a couple solid reps as well.
7) Fast and the Furious. They couldn't replace Bosa, and we saw how badly we need Joey, but both guys flashed. I thought Jayln made one of the biggest plays of the game yanking that ball lose at 21-17. Gave us a short field, that we capitalized on to go up two scores and then it was pretty much over given their QB situation. Hubbard applied pressure at times as well, just thought he get held up on blocks a little too long, but hell it was his first game on a big stage.
8) Apple/Conley/Webb. Thought all three played well. Was impressed particularly with some of the tackles Gareon made in open space.
What I Didn't Like:
1) Interior Oline. Thought they lost the matchup again vs the bear front despite our gaudy yardage we put up. I give VaTech credit though, the guys they have up front just give our guys problems. Too many people coming free at Cardale all night, and as I mentioned above if not for his size and the fact we got the ball out quick for the most part we could have been looking at multiple sacks.
2) Parris Campbell. Please don't just be another Corey Smith (ST stud, good blocker, but can't catch in games). Kid looks the part out there and hopefully the issues holding onto the ball were just first game jitters. Blocked well and played well on special though.
3) Ball Security. We continue to turn the ball over too much. At some point it will catch up to us.
4) Brionte Dunn. I feel for this kid. Every time he gains momentum in the program he puts the ball on the ground. Just a shame at this point.
5) Speed Option with Cardale. It's simply not a good look Coach Warriner. I know we have set stuff we like to run vs Bear fronts, but this should have been scrapped earlier. There must be runs against this front between tackles. It was discouraging to see us not even try to run between tackles with the best Oline in the country and the best RB.
6) Vonn Bell. We all expected to see a guy who was going to be flying up the NFL draft boards with his play. Hard to fault individual players when you don't have the game tape or know the play call, but he just seems to be a step late around receptions all night long. Discouraging start, although he started last year slow as well.
7) Joshua Perry. Again it's difficult to place fault on players without knowing who has responsibility on certain plays, but you wonder if a couple of those throw back TDs were on him since he was the LB on that side of the field. Didn't really do much rushing the QB or stuffing the run. I don't know. Perry is everything you want in a student-athlete but I still want love his play at LB. Four years in and I'm like this guy is an okay LB but when is he going to take another step?
8) Defense as a whole. I expected more even without Joey. The back 7 I thought would dominate, but they didn't. Lee played pretty well. Raekwon was okay. The corners for the most part held up, but too many breakdowns, not enough pass rush, and too easily fooled on those misdirection plays. Just wasn't a crisp performance and if we don't knock Brewer out likely a tighter game. I expect we'll get a helluva lot better, but was a little surprised we weren't more dominant particularly in the back end.
