I finally took a look at the game again. Minus emotion it was more encouraging than my initial impression, particularly the defensive front seven. Plenty of players there. Spence really got aggressive in the second half. Too bad about Porter. He got a decent push even through the double team.
The secondary is another matter. I'm not sure you can coach up ball hawking instincts and intensity. Harris played tough other than the TD pass over Spence, where Harris strangely backed off at the final instant. DVD's sideline whiff on 3rd and 14 was the most pathetic effort of the game. Ray Ray made some hits but failing to get his fingers on the deep ball to Posey and flubbing the INT were his signature moments. Telemaque made one great tackle on a slant at the 5, a play Ohio State obviously targeted. I can't judge if these safeties will bloom into playmakers or be annual big name teases.
Thanks to JCane for the detail on the second INT. Baffled the heck out of me because everyone besides Jacory treated it like a running play. Even Berry looks like he's expecting a handoff.
Not only did Jacory seemingly play better on one leg, he had more velocity. Everyone talks about the pick to Heyward but the next possession may have been the most sickening of all. Miller dashed up the middle to the 3 but we were penalized for not being set. Chase drops a deep sideline pass at the 2. Byrd doesn't come down with a 50/50 ball deep left end zone. Then Aldarius tops off the wonderful series by blowing a perfectly thrown ball at the goal line, losing control before he was hit but seemingly expecting the hit to jar the ball loose. The blocked 39 yard FG was a given.
Every second half possession we moved inside Ohio State's 40.
