Grading the Bucks: Week 13-- M!ch!g@n

Just. win. baby.  Short post coming here (finals suck) but here goes!

Offense: B
I don't think people realized before this game how good Michigan's defense was.  They are (by far) the best defense OSU has faced this year and they balled out.  Even with that, and the adversity of playing from behind, and losing a 3 time All-Big-10 QB, the Buckeye offense put up 31 points.  That is no small feat on the road against that defense that believes.  Major props to Dwayne Haskins for stepping in in a tough spot and delivering.  I still see some hesitancy in his mental game, but I love the potential and the future he will bring to Buckeye football.  JT, thank you.  People still don't give you credit, but you played a good (not great) game while suffering from a weird pregame and ingame injury.  All was laid on the line and the team emerged victorious.  The running backs were ok (some great some eh...) and the O-line was a Jekyll and Hyde (Billy Price had some beautiful 'sit-down' blocks and a few HUGE mental mistakes).  No matter what, 31 points against that defense with a half from a backup QB? HUGE.  I got major dejavu of one of my favorite plays in The Game  seeing Austin Mack (No.11) make that catch in traffic in the Big House.

Defense: C-
John O'Korn....really.  You let John Freaking O'Korn look competent at times. Quite frankly, had John O'Korn been competent, the Buckeyes would have been in real trouble as his consistently missed wide open receivers.  Yes, he had a few nice balls, but there were far too many defensive breakdowns for my liking.  On top of that, the number of missed tackles was astounding.  One of the worst tackling games OSU has had in a while.  Nevertheless, when crunch time entered, the Bucks stiffened up and took care of business.  Sam Hubbard had a game and he deserves the props.  The tackling needs to be fixed before Wisconsin as does the linebackers coverage (gulp, Iowa).

Special Teams: C
Made the FG, punted OK, but the first real punts returned all year gave the punt coverage units fits.  DPJ is a really good return man, but he made a play or two that gave the Wolverines hope.  That is unacceptable.  A 10 yard return? Fine.  A 50 yard return to set up a mediocre-to-bad offense up for a 4 yard TD drive? Nope.  Didn't give up a kickoff return for a TD so there's that...

Coaching: B-
Again, the playcalling has been a complete mystery.  No, I am not on the OSUTwitter bandwagon of "give it to the running back on every play and run into a brickwall", but a little variety would be nice.  Also, the lack of slant and crossing routes on early downs is bothersome.  Once again, let JT thrive with the underneath passing routes and go over the top when the safeties creep up.  It still seems that the coaches want to force JT to throw deep downfield every play (which he's competent but not specialized at) and throw passes with pinpoint accuracy.  That is not his skill set.  His best talent is his ability to mentally breakdown the defense and find the opening.  I would love a dink and dunk offense because that's the skill set.  Finally, running JT Barrett is OK (in fact, I'd like more).  His mental ability to read the oncoming rushers makes him a savant at the read option (he almost never makes a mistake).  Haskins could have sealed the game late had he pulled the ball and taken off (granted that was likely not in the playcall, but...). Yes, JT should hand the ball off on designed runs, but with backs like Dobbins and Weber, the defense collapses on the RB on the zone reads leaving JT free to take off.  If it gets me the first down, I'll take it.  Defensively, I don't know what was up.  Allowing free receivers that even O'Korn should have been able to hit (but often didn't) was frustrating beyond belief.  I think the coaches expected to get pressure on every play and didn't focus on any sort of route concepts for the defense.

Overall: A
Weird playcalling, questionable offense, defense out of position...blah, blah, blah.  What matters in The Game?
31-20 (Called by me by the way). 
It was ugly, but...
31-20. 
It should have been worse, but...
31-20. 

6 in a row.
13 of the last 14. 
All we do is complain and whine.  Imagine being in that cesspool to the North.  All the ineptitude and failure.  We are blessed.  Only one thing left to do...win the whole thing.  Go Bucks!