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Bucks Lose to Purdue in OT
23-26 OT
Ohio State Purdue Highlights Source: Big Ten Network
Double team left opening to block extra point November 12, 2011 Source: Columbus Dispatch - The inner workings of the blocked extra-point attempt that kept Ohio State from taking a 21-20 lead with 55 seconds left was devised in the Purdue locker room at halftime. Boilermakers nose guard Kawaan Short noticed on Ohio State's second-quarter PAT attempt that the Buckeyes' blockers were crashing down on him, leaving a slight opening in the line. "So I told Bruce (Gaston) he had to squeeze in there," Short said, adding that the double-team blocking continued on Ohio State's PAT attempt in the third quarter. Gaston received the info, then gulped when Short approached him just before the potential winning kick. "He told me, ‘Bruce, it's all on you,'" Gaston said.
The 303-pound Gaston stretched his 6-foot-2 frame, raised his arm and …"I'm not sure I even jumped," he said. "It was like a movie. The crowd stopped. My heart felt like it stopped. It was all in slow motion. I saw (Drew Basil) kick the ball, saw it hit my hand and right after the ball hit the ground — back to reality." The block preserved the tie, and Purdue won 26-23 in overtime. Coach Danny Hope said the play helped justify how much time and extra work the Boilermakers spend on special teams.
"We probably spend more time on special teams than any other BCS football team, when you look at the commitment, the scholarships and the staffing we put toward it," he said. For the Buckeyes, it was like a kick in the gut.
"That's just something we can't let happen. That's poor on our part, it stinks," said center Michael Brewster, who wasn't on the field for the PAT. "But no one is going to point the finger at anybody. There were plenty of different opportunities throughout the game where we could have kept this from happening."
Five Things: Purdue November 13, 2011 Source: Eleven Warriors - Braxton played his guts out. Literally...; Death blow for the fickell era?...; Ryan Damn Shazier: The lone bright spot on defense yesterday was the effort put forth by Ryan Shazier...; Third Down... False starts and average blocking never sounded so good: I can't believe I'm about to type this: Holy smokes did this team miss J.B. Shugarts yesterday.
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10 Things We Learned Another Tough Loss at Purdue November 12, 2011 Source: The Ozone - 1. Purdue expected to win this game..., 2. This is a very average Ohio State defense..., 3. The offense wishes it could be called average..., 4. Braxton has the heart of a champion..., 5. Not sure about the rest of these guys..., 6. Don't give the coaches a pass. There is an obvious void of leadership for this group, but these coaches have not done a good job getting them ready to play. They don't put them in a position to be successful either, especially on offense..., 7. Never underestimate special teams..., 8. Shazier is as good as advertised..., 9. Underwood wasn't ready for all this..., 10. This team has some soul-searching to do...
Luke Fickell Postgame Press Conference Source: Bucknuts.com
Given a chance to gamble, the Buckeyes play it safe in OT: Looking at Luke November 12, 2011 Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer - The Buckeyes had the ball first and got off to a terrible start, with a run by Dan Herron for a loss of a yard, and a 5-yard sack of quarterback Braxton Miller. On third-and-16, facing a potential 48-yard field goal with no gain, Fickell said the Buckeyes were just looking to make the field goal closer, and Miller completed a 15-yard pass to T.Y. Williams. But now the Buckeyes had the option of going for it on fourth-and-1 from the 16. "It was a consideration, but we knew we had to be able to put points on the board," Fickell said. "In our mind we wanted to get points and put it on the defense."...
Quarter-by-Quarter Recap:
FINAL: Purdue took the lead in overtime and hung on for a 26-23 victory over Ohio State on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium. Robert Marve's one-yard touchdown run gave Purdue (5-5) its final lead. Ralph Bolden carried the offensive load for the Boilermakers, piling up 81 rushing yards and one touchdown on 18 attempts. Braxton Miller did his best to carry Ohio State's (6-4) offense, turning 16 carries into 43 rushing yards and one touchdown. Purdue racked up 362 total yards, including 233 yards passing while completing 25 of 37 attempts. The Boilermakers' running game proved effective, netting 129 yards on 42 rushes. The Buckeyes racked up 297 total yards. Along with Miller's stats in the passing game, Ohio State also added 165 yards rushing on 48 attempts. Miller threw for 132 yards while completing eight of 18 passes for the Buckeyes. Miller finished the game with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
FOURTH QUARTER: Ohio State's Braxton Miller threw for 38 yards and one touchdown and ran for 29 yards in the quarter, and the two teams are tied 20-20 at the end of the fourth. Purdue added to its advantage when Carson Wiggs kicked a 44-yard field goal, the finishing touch on a five-play, 18-yard drive to give the Boilermakers the lead, 20-14. Purdue's punt return put the Boilermakers at the Buckeyes' 45-yard line to open the drive. Ohio State tied the game at 20 after Miller and Jordan Hall combined for a 13-yard touchdown to end a 10-play, 66-yard drive. The Buckeyes drove across midfield after Dan Herron's 21-yard run from the 34-yard line. Ohio State went to the air just two times during that series. Going into overtime, Purdue has outgained the Buckeyes 337 yards to 288.
THIRD QUARTER: Braxton Miller had a productive quarter for Ohio State. He ran for 20 yards and one touchdown, but the Buckeyes have closed the gap to 17-14. A 58-yard drive that ended when Miller scrambled for a six-yard touchdown run helped Ohio State narrow the deficit to 17-14. The Buckeyes crossed midfield on Jordan Hall's 25-yard run from the 42-yard line. The rushing attack provided every yard for Ohio State during that march downfield. The Buckeyes have possession on their own eight-yard line to start the fourth quarter.
SECOND QUARTER: Purdue's front seven stepped up in the second quarter, allowing Ohio State to gain just seven rushing yards, and the margin is still 10, as the Boilermakers lead 17-7. A 68-yard drive that ended when Braxton Miller tossed a 38-yard touchdown to Jordan Hall helped the Buckeyes narrow the deficit to 10-7. Miller's 20-yard pass to Dan Herron from the 32-yard line pushed Ohio State into enemy territory. Purdue expanded its lead to 17-7 thanks to a 12-play, 88-yard drive that ended when Ralph Bolden pounded in a seven-yard touchdown run. The Boilermakers will get the ball to start the second half.
FIRST QUARTER: The offense led Purdue to 10 first-quarter points, and the Boilermakers lead 10-0 at the end of the first quarter. Purdue threw for 71 yards and ran for 65 yards in the quarter. The Boilermakers' defense held tough in the quarter, holding Ohio State to 11 total yards of offense. Purdue struck first when Carson Wiggs kicked a 19-yard field goal, the final play of a 10-play, 57-yard drive. Ralph Bolden's 22-yard run from the 41-yard line pushed the Boilermakers into enemy territory. Purdue had to settle for a field goal after failing to reach the endzone from the Buckeyes' two-yard line. The Boilermakers added to their advantage when Akeem Shavers pounded in a four-yard touchdown run, the clincher of an 11-play, 60-yard drive to give Purdue the lead, 10-0. The Boilermakers have possession at their own 49-yard line to start the second quarter.
Braxton Miller Postgame Press Conference Source: Bucknuts.com
First impressions: He who starts late is always going to be in catch-up mode. Ohio State spotting Purdue a 10-0 lead was all the Boilermakers needed to gain a grip after losing at Wisconsin the week before. He who can't throw is always going to find it difficult to rally. But Braxton Miller again found a way to make a miracle play, a 13-yard, fourth-down touchdown pass to Jordan Hall, only to see the extra-point attempt blocked. After the overtime loss, the Luke Fickell era found itself in serious jeopardy.
Exposed: The inadequate Ohio State passing game, but anyone paying attention this season saw that as no surprise. Blame the wind, and it was steady and strong out of the southwest all day, but the Boilermakers found a way to deal with it mainly with short, wide screens and intermediate throws. Maybe the return of DeVier Posey from suspension will bring some hope.
Strategically speaking: The Boilermakers loaded the tackle box, stuffed the run more often than not and dared the Buckeyes to throw. It made for a fitful day for the Ohio State offense. There was no clear reason given for why the Buckeyes didn't try to work in more short or intermediate passes to take advantage of the voids. The defense regrouped after the first quarter and gained a handle on the Purdue spread. Mainly, the Buckeyes started tackling better. But of course, that's not strategy, that's fundamentals.
Stat that matters: Ohio State's 163 rushing yards, 41 below its average. The Buckeyes went in thinking they could run it on anybody, and Purdue was 92nd nationally at stopping the run, giving up an average of 191.1 yards. So much for stats. But that's what happens when a defense has little regard for the opponent's passing game.
Injury report: Linebacker Andrew Sweat left the game early after "getting his bell rung," according to an Ohio State spokesman, and he was not cleared to return. His status for this week isn't known, which is the same for defensive lineman Johnathan Hankins. He suffered an apparent lower left leg injury in the fourth quarter but walked from the field on his own. Two teammates said they think he will be OK. Receiver Corey Brown did not make the trip after aggravating his high ankle sprain in practice
Star of the game: Purdue quarterback Robert Marve. He was almost the goat after throwing an interception to Orhian Johnson with 32 seconds left and the Boilermakers needing just a field goal for the win. But Marve rose in overtime to convert on two third downs, then score the winning touchdown on a 1-yard sneak.
Turning point: Bruce Gaston's block of Ohio State's extra-point attempt with 55 seconds left, just when it appeared the Buckeyes were about to take the lead for the first time. It sent the game to overtime, where Purdue's more versatile offense held sway.
Repercussion: The Buckeyes practically are out of the Big Ten Leaders Division race. They can add to Penn State's misery this week and salvage something with the trip to Michigan, but will that be enough for Luke Fickell and company to prove their worthiness? Source: Columbus Dispatch
Braxton Miller: recorded a rush TD for the 3rd consecutive game Saturday. Since 2004, only Troy Smith in 2005 and Terrelle Pryor in 2009 have had more consecutive games with a Rush TD among Ohio State quarterbacks. Source: ESPN
Did you know: Ohio State had streak of 130 straight PATs before 4th QTR Purdue block. The last missed PAT was in 2009 vs Navy in season opener.
Ohio State is 5-2 all-time in overtime games.
Buckeyes are 15-2 in November games since the start of the 2005 season and 8-1 on the road that month.
Braxton Miller tied his career high with two TD passes in the game. He accounted for three scores on the day with a 6-yard TD run in the third quarter.
Ryan Shazier recorded a career-high seven tackles, including 1.0 TFL and a forced fumble in the third quarter.
John Simon has 11.0 TFL in the past five games.
Dan "Boom" Herron (2,671 coming in) moved into 10th place on Ohio State's all-time rushing list, passing Raymont Harris who rushed for 2,649 yards from 1990-93.
Jordan Hall hauled in a career-long 38-yard pass for a TD in the first quarter. He then caught a second TD pass with 13 seconds left in regulation. He finished with three catches for 58 yards and two TDs. Source: OSU Official Site
One-liner: If Ohio State's offense were on Facebook, millions would unfriend it because of pointless status updates.
Line shuffle helped: One reason for Ohio State's early struggles on offense was that freshman Antonio Underwood was having a tough go in his first start at right tackle in place of injured J.B. Shugarts. The Buckeyes eventually moved right guard Jack Mewhort to right tackle and sent backup Corey Linsley into Mewhort's spot. The breaches became fewer. "We started putting some good drives together," Mewhort said. "In the second half it started clicking a little bit more. I don't know if (the shuffle) was a contributing factor … but stuff did start to come together."
The view:
How the team sees it: We were this close. Now we're miles from where we want to be.
How the pollsters will see it: See you next year.
How Buckeye Nation will see it: Time for basketball season.
Gospel according to Luke:
What he said: "We didn't start the game off right."
What he meant: "And then we finished by taking a left."
Just wondering: Where does Ohio State's Big Ten championship game chances stand? The Buckeyes need to win out, then hope Penn State loses to Wisconsin in the final week. Also, Wisconsin needs to lose at Illinois next week. In other words, don't bet the farm.
As heard from Purdue fan: "Face it, this isn't that great of an Ohio State team."
Numbers for dummies:
19 of 35: Opponents' third-down conversion rate against the Buckeyes the past two weeks
2-1: Purdue coach Danny Hope's record against the Buckeyes. Really. Source: Columbus Dispatch
Freshman QB, lack of a playmaking WR hurt Ohio State's passing game November 12, 2011 Source: The News Herald - The state of the Buckeyes' passing attack is the latter, not the former. Three factors are responsible for that: 1. Miller is a true freshman, and true freshman quarterbacks struggle. That's a fact. On two occasions in the third quarter, Miller badly overthrew open receivers streaking down the sideline. 2. There is not an elite playmaker among the wide receivers. 3. The 10-game suspension of receiver Devier Posey for accepting improper benefits is the reason for No. 2. Posey returns next week against Penn State, which poses a few questions: Would Posey have made a difference on Saturday? Would the presence of Posey have created space for others? Would Posey have been Miller's best friend on third down? The answers to those are yes on all counts...
The Bottom Line November 12, 2011 Source: Columbus Dispatch - Ohio State Report Card Offense (2 leaves), Defense (2 leaves), Special teams (2 leaves), Coaching (1 leaf)...Generous, probably. In a season of ups and downs, color this the low point. Use crayons for the offense, because a bunch of toddlers probably could draw up a better game plan. Stonebueller? Stonebueller? The bigger issue: These guys weren't prepared to play an elimination game. Really?
, Opponent (3 leaves), Officiating (3 leaves)
Jon Spencer's Ohio State-Purdue report card November 14, 2011 Source: Mansfield News Journal - Offensive Line Grade: D..., Running Game Grade: C..., Passing Game Grade: C-..., Defensive Line Grade: C..., Linebackers Grade: C..., Defensive Backs Grade: C..., Special Teams Grade: D..., Coaching Grade: C-...
Wake Up: Remarkably, the Buckeyes' inability to shake the sleep from their eyes was offered up as one of the reasons Ohio State allowed Indiana to get off to a 10-0 lead last week. That game was a noon start, Ohio State's first in eight weeks, but now there's no excuse for the fourth noon start of the season.
In actuality, Ohio State's slow start a week ago looked more like the defense trying to adjust to the Indiana style of offense, something that isn't unusual for the Buckeyes. That unit at times requires a series or two to find its way.
Purdue might be good enough, at home, to make the Buckeyes pay if that happens again. OSU coach Luke Fickell emphasized this week that the Boilermakers are a different team at home, where they're 4-1, as opposed to 0-4 on the road. But those wins include a desperate comeback win over Middle Tennessee and blowouts of Southeast Missouri and Minnesota. The only home win of note is a 21-14 win over Illinois. But in those four home wins, Purdue outscored the opposition, 51-7, in the first quarter.
In their only home loss, to Notre Dame, the Boilermakers trailed, 14-0, after the first quarter. If the Buckeyes get an early lead today, it could be over. If they fall behind, it's not. But they could be in some trouble. Source: Cleveland Plain Dealer
Top 3 defensive players: Andrew Sweat, LB, 66 tackles, 1 INT; John Simon, DL, 39 tackles, 6 sacks; Etienne Sabino, LB, 40 tackles, 4 1/2 tackles for loss
Key to victory: Purdue has given up some big plays in recent weeks. Miller is capable of doing some damage with his legs. He's going to have to convert on his chances with his arm when he sees an opportunity to beat the Boilermakers with a deep pass. Source: Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
Underwood Earns Starting Nod at Right Tackle November 11, 2011 Source: The Ozone - Antonio Underwood will get is career-first start as a Buckeye at Purdue tomorrow. There is at least on person who really knows offensive line play that is not surprised that Underwood has earned that privilege...
Across The Web: Purdue Boilermakers November 9, 2011 Source: The Buckeye Battle Cry - Our weekly visit with "enemy" bloggers...After Boiling the Zooks for Homecoming, Purdue has dropped two straight. What do you sense is the attitude of the team as the season enters it's last month?...Which QB do you prefer: Caleb Terbush or Robert Marve? How do you feel Danny Hope has handled the revolving door at QB?...
Memory of '09 Trip Still Haunts Buckeyes November 9, 2011 Source: The Ozone - The 2009 loss at Purdue is seared into the memories of the Buckeyes who made that trip, and into the memories of a few that didn't make the trip as well...
Ohio State wary of road trip to Purdue November 8, 2011 Source: Associated Press - Ohio State interim coach Luke Fickell isn't sure about the standings in his own Big Ten division. He's also is not certain what other teams around the country are up to. Yet he knows that the Buckeyes are just 2-2 in their last four trips to West Lafayette, Ind. That fact is of prime importance since Ohio State (6-3, 3-2) rides a three-game winning streak into Ross-Ade Stadium to play the Boilermakers (4-5, 2-3) on Saturday...After the 2009 loss, then-Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor said the Buckeyes were flat. "Every week, you have to fear the underdog," he said. "And the underdog took care of us today." Fickell is trying to guard against another Buckeye uttering those words again on Saturday...
Ohio State vs. Purdue: 10 Keys to Watch During Big Ten Bout November 9, 2011 Source: The Bleacher Report - The Purdue Boilermakers have home field advantage in this match up, and it might not seem like much because they are not a stadium that can hold a tremendous amount of fans screaming for their team, but it could be worth looking into. The Buckeyes never look forward to making the trip to Ross-Ade Stadium because even though they face a weaker opponent, they have not had luck in West Lafayette. In their past five games played at the home of the Boilermakers, Ohio State has lost three...
Luke Fickell Press Conference November 8, 2011 Source: Bucknuts.com
The Buckeyes and Boilermakers have met 52 times previously on the football field, with Ohio State holding a 37-13-2 advantage in the series, a total that does not reflect the result of the 2010 game vacated by Ohio State. Ohio State leads 24-5-2 in all games played at Columbus and 12-7 in all games at Purdue. The Boilermakers have defeated the Buckeyes in three of the last five meetings at Purdue.
The Buckeyes are 15-1 in November games since the start of the 2005 season and 8-0 on the road that month (not including 2010).
Braxton Miller was named Big Ten freshman of the week Oct. 31
The Buckeyes are 21-1 in Herron's career when he rushes for at least 55 yards.
Zach Boren's 25-yard reception in the first quarter vs Indiana was the longest of his career.
Ohio State has scored 25 of 29 times (86.2 percent) this season inside the 20 with 18 touchdowns and seven fi eld goals. The only four
times the Buckeyes have failed to score came on a fumble and on three end-of-game possessions against Akron, Colorado and Indiana while running out the clock. So if you take out those three instances, Ohio State is really 25 of 26 (96.1 percent).
Junior DL John Simon has 10.0 TFL in the past four games and 5.0 sacks in his last three.
Punter Ben Buchanan ranks second nationally with 11 punts inside the 10.
Senior linebacker Andrew Sweat continues to lead the Buckeyes in tackles. He had nine more stops vs. the Hoosiers to increase his team leading total to 66 (33 solo and 33 assists). Sweat ranks 13th in the Big Ten with his 7.3 tackles per game average.
First-year defensive line starter Garrett Goebel set a career-best with seven tackles vs. Indiana
(four solo and three assists). His previous high was four at Nebraska. He also had a pass defensed against the Hoosiers.
The school has confirmed that Corey "Philly" Brown did not make the trip to West Lafayette as the Buckeyes take on Purdue tomorrow because of a re-injured ankle. Brown is fourth on the team in receiving yards with 119 and no touchdowns.
Fickell said Tuesday: "Jordan Hall we're still kind of curious on. Hopefully he'll be able to go."
"J.B. Shugarts, we don't know just yet today. J.B. had a little bit of a knee. We'll have to evaluate as the week goes along. I don't think he'll be available today to do a lot of different things."
Game Data: Ohio State at Purdue November 10, 2011 Source: Bucknuts - Breaking It Down: When Ohio State Has The Ball...When Purdue Has The Ball...more...
Previewin', 2011: Purdue November 10, 2011 Source: Our Honor Defend - Far be it for the Buckeye fan to make this comment, but Purdue's offense just isn't very good. It's still several spots better than its counterpart in Columbus, but at 83rd nationally in total offense (367.1 ypg), the Boilermakers are 9th best offense in the B1G. Guess who is four yards a game shy of being the worst offense in the conference, though? Yep. Yeeeeep...
Ohio State vs. Purdue — Week 11 (Game 10) Outlook, History Lesson, and Prediction November 11, 2011 Source: Block O Nation - The Purdue offense ranks 83rd nationally at 367 yards per game. They are 74th in total defense (43rd vs. the pass, 92nd vs. the run), allowing an average of 400 yards per game, and rank 58th in points allowed per game (26.4). Quarterback Caleb TerBush has thrown for 1,386, with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions. His passer efficiency rating is 130. He also has 183 yards rushing and one touchdown. At running back, Ralph Bolden leads the team with 469 yards and three touchdowns, followed closely by Akeem Shavers, who has gained 338 yards on the ground and scored five times. The Boilermakers have a trio of wide receivers with over 25 receptions and 300-plus yards. Antavian Edision has 26 catches for 367 yards and two touchdowns -- Justin Siller has 34 catches for 342 yards and one touchdown -- and O.J. Ross has 29 catches for 326 yards and three touchdowns...
Ohio State at Purdue Preview
November 11, 2011 Source: The Ozone - The Buckeyes will likely play quite a bit of nickel defense this week to combat Purdue's three receiver looks, which means they will also rotate linebackers Storm Klein and Etienne Sabino. Purdue quarterbacks have been sacked 20 times this season, so don't be surprised if the Buckeyes give freshman linebacker Ryan Shazier a few snaps to see if he can get after the quarterback...
2011 Purdue Boilermakers Game Preview November 10, 2011 Source: Buckeye Planet - Last year, Purdue received an "A" for their defensive line. Dropping to a D+ due to the loss of 1 player may seem harsh, but that is the reality. Kerrigan was all they had. Conversely, Ohio State's defensive line is very good, which is frankly a disappointment to many Buckeye fans who had hoped for a dominant front wall reminiscent of years past. Regardless, very good is still a good deal better than the 2011 Boilermakers. Apart from an above-average nose guard, the Purdue trenches offer little resistance and no depth...
Preview: Ohio State at Purdue November 11, 2011 Source: Eleven Warriors - Part of me wants to be nervous for this game; it's at Purdue, where the Boilermakers have played much better this season. In recent years they've taken it to Ohio State in West Lafayette, so if you're into meaningless historical records there's that, too. Still, I remain unimpressed by Ralph Bolden and the rest of the Purdue RBs. They've been inconsistent at best, and unless Bolden is able to pop a long run for a touchdown, I don't envision them having an effect on the outcome of the game. The real test will be to see how well Braxton Miller performs on the road, especially since in his last road game he completed exactly one pass on four attempts. If he can maintain his composure and at least complete the illusion that OSU would like to throw the ball at times (even if they really, really don't), then the rushing game should open up and eventually take over...
Kickoff Returns: Raheem Mostert ranks 6 nationally 31.62 and Purdue tops Big Ten at 27.31
Streaking: Including one catch last weekend at No. 19 Wisconsin, junior wide receiver Antavian Edison has a team-high 17-game reception streak dating back to the Oct. 9 Northwestern game last season. During the streak, Edison has caught 55 passes for 668 yards and six touchdowns. He is averaging 12.1 yards per catch during the streak.
