OSU bungled a fake punt that might have changed The Game
A reddit user QueenIsTheWorstBand did an amazing breakdown of OSU's punt down 24-20, showing strong evidence that they had Michigan fooled for a huge gain or possibly TD.
- On 4th and 6, the illegal snap/false start was likely intentional to distract from the fake being set up.
- On 4th and 11, they set up in a rugby punt formation to get Michigan to overload on the right.
- On the snap, they run blocked to the left, including one member of the shield pulling and kicking out (i think) Cornelius Johnson. The middle member of the shield clearly was supposed to get the snap and run through a cavernous hole to the left. Easily gains the first and a ton more if it happens.
- Instead the snap goes back to the punter who has to redirect to catch the snap - seemingly not expecting to actually get the snap to him. Luckily (for him) gets off a punt that becomes a touchback.
Check out the breakdown here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/z6kmqj/ohio_state_lost_the_game_on_their_3rd_quarter/
November 28th, 2022 at 8:20 AM ^
Well, no, they didn't lose because of a botched fake punt. They lost because they were a not particularly well coached. The fake punt is just one of the signposts.
November 28th, 2022 at 2:13 AM ^
Makes a ton of sense. I was confused by how odd that play looked in real time too. Will just say I don't think the penalty was part of it - there's no reason to make the distance longer on 4th down if you're going for it. Probably the penalty confused the snapper and either led to miscommunication about whether they were still faking or the snapper just forgot
November 28th, 2022 at 2:15 AM ^
Honestly we outplayed them though. Given how the game went overall, I doubt even a TD here would have changed the outcome
November 28th, 2022 at 2:50 AM ^
Happens with around 6:10 left in the 3rd for anyone looking for it.
Definitely looks like at least #34 was expecting a fake. He looks around after the ball goes past him shrugging like wtf just happened??? I remember seeing this live and wondering what he could possibly be confused about and that would help explain it. Could be that the 4th & 6 was supposed to be the fake and then the upbacks didn’t get the memo that it was a normal punt after the penalty.
November 28th, 2022 at 3:55 AM ^
If so, it’s clearly dumb. You have a great offense. Go get some yards.
November 28th, 2022 at 5:48 AM ^
Don't care.
We won, they lost.
We lost in so many frustrating way the past 20 years....a play here, a play there
They were not on our level Saturday.
Is this the new flu or weather excuse? "We have more talent just screwed up 1 play"
Then go out and give up 75 and 85 yard rushing td's. LOL. Soft team
November 28th, 2022 at 6:41 AM ^
This is where I’m at. Michigan went for it on 4th with every one of Fox’s record viewership knowing where it was going…and converted. Then, ran the same offense the rest of the 2nd half that they’ve put on film all year (minus 1 interesting RB pass), and Ohio State failed to contain it. Yet, all of OSU’s hopes on offense relied on a trick play (which may have messed up regardless)?!?
Unlike the past, UofM has much better depth than any point of the JH era. He has out schemed them the majority of his tenure. We play disciplined and they didn’t down the stretch. This play, along with their lack of unforced penalties in the 2nd half, is because of who they are…SOFT! Fuck Ohio!
November 28th, 2022 at 5:48 AM ^
Don't care.
We won, they lost.
We lost in so many frustrating way the past 20 years....a play here, a play there
They were not on our level Saturday.
Is this the new flu or weather excuse? "We have more talent just screwed up 1 play"
Then go out and give up 75 and 85 yard rushing td's. LOL. Soft team
November 28th, 2022 at 5:51 AM ^
OSU got lucky, the refs blew the whistle otherwise we have a scoop and score 52-23.
November 28th, 2022 at 6:51 AM ^
That botched call isnt going to get as much attention as it deserves. That was AWFUL. Its a good thing it didnt end up mattering or that wouldve been an all time columbus screw job
November 28th, 2022 at 7:32 AM ^
Yes, that was ridiculous. And what was the excuse--forward progress?
November 28th, 2022 at 6:51 AM ^
So, more bad coaching?
November 28th, 2022 at 6:54 AM ^
They bungled several plays (two interceptions, end-zone PBU, sack on CJ) that they intended to work. If the fake punt thingy was an intention, it’s just one more bungle to add to the list.
I get that it might have been a surprise body blow at the time had it worked, but you gotta execute. We executed our trick play - the running back pass.
We executed… them not so much.
November 28th, 2022 at 6:57 AM ^
This is uber coaching. Jim called it out post-game. Ryan covered for his walk-on LS. Classy on both sides.
These two could meet again this season (Utah would have to walk USC, and shenanigans...)
Day had no dog to talk openly.
November 28th, 2022 at 7:04 AM ^
This has merit for I was expecting the fake there and the punter acted surprised.
November 28th, 2022 at 7:14 AM ^
Hey Ryan Day, I guess 365 days weren't enough, huh buddy?
November 28th, 2022 at 7:42 AM ^
No no.... Next year they're really really gonna want to win.
I was wrong about a lot this year, but one thing I was right on, was the notion that them "really" wanting it was going to somehow change things. Not saying OSU didn't want to win, but they already wanted it plenty. They just couldn't do anything about it. The mind was willing but the flesh was weak
They knew who we were... And they couldn't do a damn thing about it. That is the most amazing thing of all..
To go back to my youth.... Their ass is grass, and we're a lawnmower
November 28th, 2022 at 7:26 AM ^
This makes up for 2017 when the snapper suckered Khaleke Hudson offside to keep the drive going.
November 28th, 2022 at 7:28 AM ^
Poor execution is a reflection of poor coaching.
November 28th, 2022 at 7:38 AM ^
And then their drive would have stalled like every other drive in the second half.
What I love about our defense is that we don't care about giving up yards, yet we're not a bend don't break outfit.
You do something once, bravo. You'll never do it again. We just squeeze the life out of you... Play by play by play
November 28th, 2022 at 7:39 AM ^
Or the snapper messed it up by doing what he always does and mid snap realized oh-no on the first one and then the normal punt had to follow through on the second as a result and some players were just like WTF did we even punt initially for with this result.
I don't know about you folks but given history I was yelling fake on every special teams play given history and getting burned.
November 28th, 2022 at 7:55 AM ^
Could woulda shoulda.
Let's go with the theory it was a fake punt play. OSU botched it like it botched a lot in the 2nd half of the game allowing Michigan to do to it what it had done to Michigan over the last decade excluding last year. So it would be apropos that it botched a fake punt. But who cares? It didn't happen. A lot of things could have happened but didn't. What did happen is Michigan crushed Ohio State by playing Manball. Somewhere in heaven, Bo is smiling down on Jim and the team.
It was a glorious day of seeing Michigan kick the stuffing out of OSU and to see those bastards in Scarlett wilt in the face of adversity. What ever virus Michigan had for over a decade, and has finally gotten over, has now infected THE Ohio State University and it is a glorious thing to witness. Let this virus be a problem for OSU for the next 7-10 years as we see Michigan dominate OSU like we have never seen before.
And place a statue of Harbaugh right next to Bo. He has earned it, imo.
And I highly suggest watching Jim Knowles presser after the game. That's a guy who is only thinking about updating his resume. He truly knew he got a royal butt whooping by the Maize and Blue.
November 28th, 2022 at 8:29 AM ^
Not.
There is no way you intentionally add 5 yards to a 4th down fake punt.
November 28th, 2022 at 8:42 AM ^
This. The Redditor has a crackpot theory that makes no sense in reality. Even as poorly as OSU coached that game, "oh I have an idea, let's fake them out by making it 11 yards for a first down instead of 6" is not plausible.
November 28th, 2022 at 8:37 AM ^
wait, you're telling me that ohio state had a nice concept but didn't follow through on the details? you don't say.
coaching, baby. well-coached teams win games.
November 28th, 2022 at 8:58 AM ^
Great pickup!
It maybe:
1. Basically a screw up - they planned to run a fake, but that is sort of a play that if Michigan was in a certain defense they would abort and go with a punt. Basically the punt team weren't on the same page.
2. It was super complex double fake that blew up - "take the 5 yard penalty and then spring the trap" and they ended messing it up.
The Michigan return man did a great job blocking the OSU gunner so the ball could go into the end zone.
November 28th, 2022 at 9:12 AM ^
Aww, I feel so bad that a poorly coached team couldn't execute when they needed to :(
November 28th, 2022 at 9:24 AM ^
It does not make sense to purposely add five yards to a 4th down play you intend to fake.
That play did look peculiar though.
November 28th, 2022 at 9:39 AM ^
Looks also like it could have been designed as a punter run to the left, and he just took off the wrong way.
November 28th, 2022 at 11:14 AM ^
love, LOVE that they are the ones playing the What If game
November 28th, 2022 at 11:21 AM ^
I agree with this. After the punter reached left to get the snap, I thought it was a botched trick play. It looked disjointed and the punter looked like he saved it from disaster. I wish we could have seen a sideline shot of the coaches.
C'est la vie, couldn't happen to better bunch of jerks. Beat the boilers, Go Blue!
November 28th, 2022 at 1:53 PM ^
One thing that doesn't make sense to me is that if the long snapper intentionally false started to set up the fake, why did that same long snapper then snap it to the wrong guy (the punter) after the penalty?