Jim Tressel loves special team play. He has said the punt is the most important play in football, because of the yardage that can be picked up on that play. He is one football coach who treats the special teams as 1/3 of the game, equating it with offense and defense. So, one can only imagine how distressed he feels today when that phase of the game let him down in OSU’s 38-24 loss to Louisiana State in the BCS Championship Game in New Orleans last night.
After LSU tied the game at 10 after falling behind early, the Buckeyes offense was on the move again. At that point in the game, OSU scored on Chris Wells’ 65-yard touchdown run, and followed that by driving down the field with ease until a penalty stopped them and they kicked a field goal. Following a personal foul penalty on this drive, the scarlet and gray lined up for a field goal to put them up 13-10, but Ricky Jean-Francois bulled his way past the linemen and blocked Ryan Pretorius’ attempt, shifting the momentum the Tigers’ way.
The second special teams’ gaffe came on the first series of the second half. With the Buckeyes trailing 24-10, they needed a stop badly. They appeared to get one by forcing an intentional grounding penalty on second down, and a short completion on third down. LSU had to punt. Unfortunately, Aaron Spitler roughed the kicker on the punt, giving the Tigers the ball back. How he missed the ball is one of the great mysteries of the game. Another personal foul penalty on the Buckeye defense put LSU into scoring position, and they converted a TD pass from Matt Flynn to Early Doucet to give Les Miles’ team an insurmountable 31-10 cushion.
To win a championship game, you have to play error-free football. Ohio State didn’t do that yesterday. That is to take nothing away from LSU, but you cannot have four turnovers and four personal foul penalties and defeat a quality opponent. Todd Boeckman’s first pick was the result of an LSU blitz, and his fumble in the fourth quarter when the Bucks were trying to get within a touchdown was the result of extreme pressure. When it mattered, the OSU offensive line couldn’t keep the Bayou Bengal defenders out of the backfield.
The penalties are inexcusable for a team who wants to win a title, especially personal fouls. The speed factor is overrated, but it did stop the OSU wide receivers from getting open. However, the Buckeyes did have some success with crossing routes, but more often than not, they were sent on fly patterns. It didn’t work in the first quarter, so they certainly weren’t going to work in the fourth quarter. Another questionable play calling move was not running more off tackle plays after Wells stiff armed a Tiger DB into the turf. They gained good yardage on that play, but never went back to it.
With only three seniors starting, the Buckeyes are set up well for 2008. I understand they will likely lose two or three juniors who will declare for the NFL draft, but they will still have Wells, Boeckman, and Brian Robiske, three standouts on offense. The biggest day coming up for Ohio State will be letter of intent signing day for high school players when they find out if uber prospect, QB Terrelle Pryor decides where he will play college football. Three title games in seven years is a good thing for a program, but it doesn’t make losing the games sting any less.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 