OSU Silver Linings Playbook Take 1: Sacks
Just found this tidbit buried in an ESPN article about the PSU-OSU tilt this weekend, and I think it could bode well for the upcoming Big House fracas eight days hence--Justin Fields has taken quite a few sacks, and may have become a little too accustomed to calmly maneuvering in the pocket:
"What's the most damaging type of tackle for loss from a yardage perspective? A sack. What has a decent correlation to overall forced fumbles? A sack. What is Fields' lone weakness to date as Ohio State's QB? Taking sacks.
Ohio State ranks 86th in sack rate allowed, 96th on passing downs and 117th on blitz downs (which I define as second-and-super-long or third-and-5 or more). Fields has been so natural in his new offense, and his receivers are so frequently open, that he rarely has to go to Plan B, and he takes a little too much time switching gears. It's been this way all season -- it was the only improvement I could find for them to make back in October -- and hasn't really changed."
We are going to get after Justin Fields.
Perhaps as other posters read and look around the internet the will come upon their own positive glimmerings/foreshadowings. Please post them here!
November 22nd, 2019 at 10:55 AM ^
I do remember Wisconsin beating him up pretty bad. We just have to hope our secondary is up to the task of keeping guys covered consistently enough to slow them down.
Also, we have to worry about JK Dobbins, who is as good or maybe even better than Jonathan Taylor, and we all remember what he did to us.
November 22nd, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^
The beating him up part is where this can be helpful. Never rooting for injuries, but every QB sack takes its toll. A couple of good, hard (clean) sacks, and Fields may start to wear down a bit over the course of the game.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
We haven't really had the best luck when a starting OSU QB has gone down in the Michigan game.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:23 AM ^
Yeah except there’s no nfl-caliber backup this time
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:28 AM ^
Cardale Jones or Dwayne Haskins aren't walking through that door. Their backup is a guy who couldn't even win the job at WVU.
November 22nd, 2019 at 2:19 PM ^
This is true. It's about the only spot on the field where "next man up" is merely wishful thinking and not its own version of BPONE.
November 22nd, 2019 at 3:50 PM ^
This pleases me.
November 22nd, 2019 at 4:13 PM ^
Let's hope the PSU pass rush is effective. No harm, just a little hammy that has him limp for a couple of weeks.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:40 AM ^
I agree completely. Michigan is only going to win that game by going at least plus +2 in the TO category and it goes without saying the easiest way to get turnovers is to get after the QB.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:45 AM ^
Wisconsin did get after him in the first half. I think they got him 4 times before the break. My concern is Fields tucking the ball and busting off chunks of yardage on the ground.
My shell shock has been caused by osu QBs running all over the place, causing havoc. I stopped before I got into the Troy Smith years because the information I found going back to 2009 was enough...
From 2009-2018, osu QB rushing performances:
'18- 34 yards (Haskins...he didn't need to run, but did enough to be annoying with it)
'17- 91 yards, 1 TD (Barrett/Haskins)
'16- 125 yards, 1 TD (Barrett)
'15- 139 yards, 3 TDs (Barrett)
'14- 89 yards, 2 TDs (Barrett)
'13- 153 yards, 3 TDs (Miller)
'12- 57 yards (Miller)
'11- 100 yards, 1 TD (Miller)
'10- 49 yards (Pryor)
'09- 74 yards (Pryor)
That is 911 yards and 11 TDs in 10 games. I hate it. Make it stop.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:11 PM ^
I will agree that those numbers look awful. However, keep in mind that Pryor, Miller, Braxton, and Barrett were runners first - and prominently figured in the base offense. Though he can scramble, Fields is not a runner - he much prefers the pocket. With the way the DL works, like an Anaconda, he won't have very good running lanes in which to scramble. If the DBs hold up, the DL will get to him - with nowhere for him to escape. We've seen that all year.
To be sure, he will escape from time to time. The D will need to stay alert to that threat (as always), and also watch for a few QB run plays as constraints. I'm not too concerned about Dobbins, but I need the DB's to hold their own and make Fields look for something different.
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:40 PM ^
no offense but have you actually watched Fields? I've been watching this kid since High School in QB1 beyond the lights and the biggest concern has always been his ability to STAY in the pocket and not tuck it and run. The dude is a runner and a better one than Barrett and Miller in my estimation. The kid is like 6'3" 235 and most of it is in his ass and thighs. I'm all for being optimistic but let's not talk ourselves into what it isn't. Fields not being a runner is akin to Stephen A Smith saying Haskins is a running QB and not a passer
November 22nd, 2019 at 2:51 PM ^
This is on the money. Ryan Day has been working with JF to become a passer and not a runner. Fields has been a good student.
Wisconsin got him on a couple of blitzes in the 1st half. Most sacks, I would say that JF holds onto the ball too long at times trying to make a play down field. He is a playmaker.
The guess among OSU fans, as the schedule hits it difficult phase, is that JF will likely pull the ball down and go a little more often to keep defenses honest.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:17 PM ^
Some of those years are bit skewed by high volume. Barrett had 30 carries in 2016 for instance.
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:01 PM ^
Yes. Our defense actually did a really, really good job of choking the OSU offense until late in the game when the offense couldn't help them at all.
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:17 PM ^
I think Brian talked about QB contain in the MSU defensive UFR, but the zone Michigan is running, the speed they have on the field and the discipline on the d line is reducing QB scramble yards significantly this year.
So yes, while this has been a big issue in the past, this is a team that is extremely well built to limit the ad lib stuff. I do still worry about the option run game with JK and Fields because in the structure of the offense and with a good OL, those two are fast enough that they'll get a lot if schemed to an advantage.
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:34 PM ^
'04: Troy Smith 18 carries for 145 yards
In 2005 and 2006, Smith had only 37 yards and 12 yds respectively, but he did his damage through the air in those games.
November 22nd, 2019 at 2:00 PM ^
in 2005 i think he had a couple of backbreaking runs late in the game to help them get the late score(s) and pull that one out.
November 22nd, 2019 at 10:56 AM ^
I mean yes, getting sacks is good. That OSU is not great at preventing them is also a positive. Nonetheless, even with that weakness, their offense is a fully weaponized death machine, so I'm not sure that this is going to move the needle.
Said differently - OSU sucks a preventing sacks, and NONETHELESS has a fairly unstoppable offense.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:01 AM ^
O ye of little faith!
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:43 AM ^
Yeah OSU looks great, as per usual. But they haven't really been tested yet this season and we're finally, for once, better in November than we were in September.
Put Fields on his ass, early and often, and we are going to win this game.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:03 PM ^
right...Wisconsin isn't even close to as talented as OSU is. Penn State is talented but under-coached.
If he has problems after his first read, then I like the sound of that. The Neck sharpie this week was about how this iteration of the defense is designed to take away the first 2 reads. And the MSU UFR regarding the DL was a "how to" of gap integrity when rushing.
I actually feel encouraged about this game. I think OSU might roll in the playoff, but if Michigan beats them, I don't care what they do after that.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:06 PM ^
Every win after that would raise M's profile.
November 22nd, 2019 at 2:59 PM ^
Wait...what??? OSU sucks at preventing sacks?
Thru 10 games, Fields has been sacked 18 times or 1.8 times per game. 69% comp, 31/1 TD/int
Thru 10 games, Patterson sacked 18 times, 1.8 times pregame. 59% comp, 16/4 TD/int
Total yards for each almost exactly the same at 2,100+
November 22nd, 2019 at 3:28 PM ^
Not sure why you are limiting it to just Fields, but osu has allowed 9 sacks in their last 4 games. Northwestern, Rutgers, and Maryland being three of them.
Meanwhile Michigan has allowed 6 in the same amount of time. Maryland being the only shared opponent, with ND, PSU, and sparty accounting for the other 3 games.
November 22nd, 2019 at 5:14 PM ^
I think he's limiting it to just Fields because in virtually every game this year, OSU pulls Fields and their starters in the 3rd or early 4th quarter. And really all that matters, for the purpose of the game, is how OSU does when Fields and the starters are in. Fields being sacked has been somewhat of a problem, but not the extent that their overall game numbers would indicate. Having said that, because he's played so much less than Patterson, if they are both sacked around 1.8 times/game, that points to Fields being sacked just as much in much less time on the field, which essentially means Fields is sacked far more often.
November 22nd, 2019 at 3:39 PM ^
Ohio State is 90th in the country in sack percentage allowed at 7.3%. Which is far more accurate at showing how well Fields is at avoiding sacks. Considering OSU only throws the ball about 40% of the time. The OP brings up a very interesting fact and points out there is a silver lining. How well will Fields do when he has to face a defense that is excellent at attacking his weakness.
(My guess is he will do above average to excellent, because that's just how shit goes when Michigan plays Ohio State.)
November 22nd, 2019 at 10:58 AM ^
If anything this bodes well for Penn State. They have some great pass-rushing DE's and a decent DT as well. If they cover 18.5, that's probably how.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
Just thinking this same thing. Hopefully he is a little tenderized from PSU too.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
P.S. It's frickin' absurd that after all this time the OP can't get back into a post to fix a typo.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:12 AM ^
For those of you that haven't seen this yet, but this is Urban saying Michigan is the biggest game (period).
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:15 AM ^
Limiting big plays will be key. Whether that be scrambles, big runs by Dobbins, etc.
I think Fields is an adequate passer, not great though. But he is a dynamic scrambler.
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:08 PM ^
Justin Fields, the adequate passer: 2,164 passing yards, 9.4 yards per attempt, 69.1% completions, 31 TDs, 1 INT, 191.8 passer rating, 93.8 QBR.
Justin Fields, the rusher: 84 attempts, 377 yards, 4.5 yards. (FWIW 18 of those attempts are sacks so the yards per carry should be higher.)
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:27 AM ^
We sure are doing a lot of talking about Ohio State when we have a tough road game against Indiana this weekend. As fans that’s fine I just hope our team isn’t doing the same thing. I would think they were not but sheas comment after the game kind of made it sound like they were looking at OSU.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:32 AM ^
Ah....here you are.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:34 AM ^
The team was on this blog earlier talking about ways to beat OSU. Where were you?
November 22nd, 2019 at 3:02 PM ^
I wonder why you were down voted for this. If UM is not focused entirely on Indiana, they could very well have a bad day.
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:31 AM ^
"One game at a time. Let's beat Indiana first before we talk about OSU."
- That Guy
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:39 AM ^
I don't care if it's called egg salad, as long as they use their tools to exploit advantages that become scores. I do recall reading that the Gattis/Morehouse O took about 6 games to take root at psu, and most would point to the latter half of our game with that team as a turning point, which is game 7 on our schedule. Seems things are heading in the intended trajectory. Not nearly as instantaneous as this fan base commands, but the right direction none-the-less.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:40 PM ^
You can’t buy hatchlings today and eat egg salad tomorrow.
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:49 PM ^
Right on Geek!
November 22nd, 2019 at 11:42 AM ^
After last year’s humiliation, I have no doubt Don Brown has been thinking about this year’s game every day since. I’m very interested to see what’s going to happen. I think they have a real chance.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:05 PM ^
Starting Defense!
Place at The Table!!!
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:19 PM ^
The take-home message for the OSU game is that we have to take chances in all phases of the game. On offense, we have to be full-gas, using everything from the MSU game, plus more deep shots. On defense, we have to get to Fields, it's a must. On special teams, we have to go for the block and the home run return.
I don't think there's any other way we have a good shot to win.
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:28 PM ^
That's really surprising how favorable their schedule has been thus far.
But can we cover their WRs long enough to make it matter?
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:33 PM ^
...like we got after Haskins last year...
November 22nd, 2019 at 6:27 PM ^
Best comment yet. That's all they had to do last year to win that game but couldn't do it
November 22nd, 2019 at 12:55 PM ^
When M is on defense, here are some potential reasons things could be different this year:
Scheme:
- Can now readily play Zone! huzzah
- Figured out how to neutralize crossing routes
- Ability to shift between Man and Zone quickly and disguise coverage
- Not as dependent on DL pressure - harder to stop
- DL + LB pressure means secondary can focus on excellent coverage and run support
Players
- Secondary
- better depth. Gray > Watson against fast slot receivers
- starting corners still excellent, lockdown guys
- 2019 Matellus > 2018 Matellus, especially when deployed to his strengths
- Dax Hill! difference maker. assuming he gets more snaps than @ PSU.
- DE's
- healthy Hutch + Paye + Danna > hurt Wino + Gary.
- excellent against the run
- producing good pressure
- DT's
- 2019 Kemp > 2018 Kemp - getting more push now; that killed M last year
- Hutch servicable in the middle especially on passing downs (?)
- Dwumfour - Finally healthy and conditioned up to make a real impact?
- LB's
- also generating excellent pressure. Uche!
- McGrone excellent; close to Bush-level production
- better as a unit vs. 2018 - fewer busts
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:36 PM ^
Matellus, Metellus, Teco, Taco.
Hottest of the hawt.
November 22nd, 2019 at 1:53 PM ^
i think we all know that is are only chance against osu; get after fields and create some turnovers. i think we need to be +2 in TOs to have any realistic shot; maybe even a defensive TD.