MY THOUGHTS.....MICHIGAN STATE

            

It took a little more than three hours for Ohio State’s season to turn from the odds-on favorite to repeat as national champions to having the wheels fall off, not only on the field, but in the locker room as well.

            Ohio State played its worst game of the season in a 17-14 loss to Michigan State, snapping the team's 23-game winning streak.  The offensive struggles in games against inferior opponents finally came home to roost against a top team with a top defense.  The worst offensive performance in the Urban Meyer era at Ohio State witnessed the Buckeyes managing just five first downs and 132 total yards, with the Heisman contender at running back openly questioning the offensive play calling after getting only two carries in the second half. 

Elliott had a valid point, since the offensive play calling was easily the worst I’ve seen in the Urban Meyer era here at Ohio State.  To give the B1G’s leading rusher the ball only twelve times (just two in the second half) is a crime.  This directly resulted in the horrid offensive production, which saw only five first downs and a paltry 132 yards of total offense on only 45 plays from scrimmage.  The few deep shots down the field J.T. Barrett was allowed to make was hampered by at least two dropped passes and the wind was a factor on his throw to a wide-open Braxton Miller that sailed just beyond his reach and a sure touchdown was not to be.

The defense thought it had toughened up against the run and thought they had the MSU offense stopped with the absence of QB Connor Cook.  However, the Spartans had a much better offensive game plan as the probed the middle of the OSU defensive front again and again.  Then, a couple of timely throws to the tight end on key drives enabled the Spartans to answer the two Ohio State touchdowns and put together the winning drive.  It didn’t help matters when the usually stout Ohio State defensive front four, and especially Joey Bosa, seemed to lose their focus on third down situations.  The MSU offensive line found a way to make holes and Joey Bosa had his worst game as a Buckeye by jumping offsides three times.  The jump offsides on 4^th-and-8 made it 4^th-and-3, which the Spartans were easily able to convert on their way to a score.

Perhaps most disheartening is the apparent team dissension following the game, with Ezekiel Elliott openly criticizing play calling.  Elliott is correct in what he said; however, it is probably not best to say it in a public forum.  The Buckeyes will have very little time to stew about it; on the horizon is the annual rivalry game in Ann Arbor against a revitalized Michigan team under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh.  It is a guarantee that if the Buckeyes don’t shore up the offensive play calling and come together as a team, they will fail in Ann Arbor as sure as they did here.