Grading the Bucks--Week 5: MSU

That's better.  Still plenty of issues, but this was the best executed game since Miami (OH) and this one was against a team with a pulse.  The Bucks are certainly not ready for the big time, but they're on the way.

Offense: B
Pedestrian play calling but Braxton is this offense. This might become a real issue as Buckeye nation holds their collective breath whenever he goes down.  Carlos Hyde really ran well, but there's still an aversion to I-formation smack-em in the mouth at times.  The biggest knock for this game was clearly turnovers.  The interception was just awful and the fumbles need to go (I know Miller was in pain...but you can't drop the ball inbounds).  I believe all 3 turnovers happened on the MSU side of the field which was the only reason this game was close.  I will say this: the pass from Miller to Smith was absolutely perfect.  The O-line has improved by leaps and bounds which leads me to think things are moving in the right direction.  The only knock on the receivers is that Smith isn't blocking particularly well--he should take notes from Corey Brown who had a career day catching the ball and blocks exceptionally well.

Defense: B
Yes. We held a beast of a runner to almost nothing.  This shows where the athletes are on this defense. Luckily, there isn't a QB/offense remaining on the schedule that can hurt us downfield, which leads me to believe we'll be favored from here on out.  I love Nathan Williams at rush linebacker.  Hankins and Roby are NFL ready right now...unfortunately, that's it.  Simon needs to live up to the hype and the rest of the secondary needs to learn how to tackle.  If I were Urban, Christian Bryant would be riding the pine until he learns to tackle with his arms and not his shoulder (2 horrendous missed tackles).  Johnson had a nice game, but not without flaw.  The worry is that Maxwell who had done nothing thus far, played a solid game because our secondary can hang.  The run stuffers were fantastic so I wish we played no one but pro style offenses.


Special Teams: B+
Thankfully, the special teams wasn't in the forefront this week like last.  The blocked punt was a thing of beauty (hence the upgrade).  No missed kicks and some nice punts....that's enough.

Coaching: B
Good scheme on defense but the corners are still playing in left field on every play (15 yards off the line) which will be exploited over and over again.  The offensive playcalling is so predictable and that has to change.  Everything is from the gun, but sometimes, you have to smack them in the mouth (especially with an unpolished QB and a better-than-advertised O-line).

Overall: B+/B
Win on the road is always a plus vs. a ranked opponent.  It was close, but that's nice for the coaches as we don't fall into a sense of complacency.  This is a very good team with aspirations of greatness.  Probably not this year, but we're moving in the right direction. Get rid of the turnovers and this is an A- performance. Keep it rolling.