Grading the Bucks: Week 8 — Penn State

After some time to digest, it’s time to examine the results of the epic clash from last Saturday.  I think most are now ready to join me on the JT bandwagon.  I’ll welcome you back with open arms as long as you apologize :).

Offense: A-
Welcome home Mr. Barrett.  You are finally getting some recognition that you have richly deserved.  Yes, the offense started slow, but boy did they show up when it counted.  I’m very disappointed with Parris Campbell as he still hasn’t figured out how to be more than an athlete (fantastic speed/athletic skills, but he's not a wide receiver yet), but the rest of the receiving corps was quite good.  The star of the show was under center and he delivered.  He did have a mishandled handoff that seemed to be the death knell (all you naysayers on twitter told me the game was over...), but the leadership and poise he showed even when the chips were down was incredible.  The O-line was a major bright spot as they held up very well against a very good PSU defense.  Running backs have also continued to plug away impressively.  It all centers around the signal caller, and that is why they shined.  Did anyone forget that PSU was the number one scoring defense? No longer!

Defense: A
Ok, wait a minute. A defense gives up 38 points and gets...an A? How does that work? I must be getting soft.  Let’s be honest: the opening kickoff return wasn’t their fault, and the first TD was the result of a fumble and an absolutely PERFECT pass and catch (watch the replay--no defense for that), not to mention another stupid kickoff return to the 21.  Ask Saquon Barkley what he thinks about this defense.  Other than a 36 yard TD run (which was nice) the Bucks held Mr. October Heisman to about 21 inches per carry and he went backwards in the 4th. The defensive line was SPECTACULAR as we’ve touted all year.  Again, with all that went wrong, this unit kept the Buckeyes alive and delivered.  The secondary got a little chewed up by Gisecki, but that was it.  McSorley—Nothing, Barkley—Nothing but 1 run good run.  I’d take that any day. Oh yeah, let’s not forget the Touchception in there and another interception called back on an extremely questionable DPI.  With everything going wrong, the defense kept the hope alive.

Special Teams: DRUNK
Now things get interesting.  I dodged the question up top but I’ll answer it here.  The kickoff unit gets a freaking ZERO.  That was worse than an F.  I said nothing makes me more angry than kicks out of bounds...and now I’m on team ‘kick it out of bounds so I don’t have to see this crap’.  It was a total embarrassment of kicking and coverage that it looked like a 1920s Vaudeville act.  BUT one thing no one wants to mention: the rest of the special teams units were actually excellent.  2 made FG (seems pedestrian, but Nuremberger delivered in when everything else was crumbling), kickoffs routinely returned to the 35+ by OSU, no punts returned (guess how many yards the Bucks have given up this YEAR on punt returns?  ZERO), and how soon we forget the blocked punt.  I was dumpster firing early, but the special teams weren’t that bad! (But yes, the kickoff unit was actually worse than you remember).

Coaching: A-
This was primarily a psychological award.  Keeping a team believing they could win after the first haymaker (kickoff return) and the second one (fumble and quick score) is no small task.  The offensive schemes were weird to say the least early on with the return of the pass to the flat but it did help spread out the defense to make that sweet underbelly of the middle of the field open.  JT is a master of carving up the middle of the field with the short to midrange passing game and it was set up nicely.  There was a bit of desperation going for the 4th down early on, but I think it was really a coin flip.  The coaches gambled and lost (on a superb PSU tackle on KJ Hill).  That's ok.  You need to believe in the call and I know the coaches wouldn't apologize.  It wasn't an easy call, but I don't think there was a wrong decision in that situation.

Overall: A
Epic comeback against a hated team in conference that (oh by the way) was the number 2 team in the nation.  It wasn't perfect, but the grit/resolve this team showed was undeniable.  The talent is there and if they put it all together, look out.  Best defensive line in America, reloaded secondary, amazing running backs, improving wide receivers, very good O-line, and a trigger man with all the intangibles, and yes, the physical and mental ability no matter what the haters say (JT--MY GUY)--this team could be special. Just keep climbing that ladder.