Michigan State Scrapes Past Ohio State, 10-7

Ohio State will have a new head coach next season. If there were any doubt before today, any lingering hope that Luke Fickell would retain his coaching mantle, the Buckeye's horrid performance against Michigan State removed it. Fickell's repeated clock management blunders, schizophrenic handling of personnel, and general failure to prepare his team have confirmed what was feared upon his ascension: this job moves too fast, and Ohio State can't wait for him to catch up.

Two weekends ago, Notre Dame attacked the Spartan secondary on first down, finding consistent success and explosive gains. The blueprint was there, laid out before offensive coordinator Jim Bollman and the entire Ohio State staff. Attack Michigan State early, avoid the tough rush defense, and give young Braxton Miller a fighting chance. Instead, Ohio State stuck to the same tired script, running into stacked fronts on early downs and then sacrificing Miller to the Spartans on third.

The results are almost indescribable. Prior to a fluke final drive, the Buckeye offense had 112 total yards, 2.03 per play. To gain a first down, the Buckeyes would have needed five plays, and none could have been rushes, since the average run play went for .9 yards.

Following an Ohio State punt, which became a familiar sight by the end of the day, Michigan State scored their only touchdown on their second possession, after Kick Cousins scrambled outside the pocket and lofted a 33-yard pass to B.J. Cunningham, who caught nine passes for 154 yards and led the Spartans in receiving.

For two-and-a-half quarters, the two teams would then trade punts and missed opportunities. Tight end Brian Linthecum dropped a 4th down pass, ending a promising Michigan State drive. Receiver Devin Smith lost a 28-yard catch to cornerback Darqueze Dennard, ending a promising Ohio State drive. Spartan Dan Conroy missed a 52-yard kick, keeping the game at 7-0. Braxton Miller took a sack at midfield, with 50 seconds before halftime, preventing an Ohio State field goal try.

Miller, who cannot be progressing, only attempted ten passes, completing five. Fifty-nine percent of his yards came on one play, a 33-yard pass to Chris Fields, who came open after safety Isaiah Lewis bit on a 3rd and 13 play-action pass, badly misjudging the situation. Other than a handful of plays, the Ohio State passing game consisted of deep routes run from the I-formation, often with play-action mindlessly applied.

Too many times, Michigan State hit Miller at the mesh point, where the quarterback and tailback exchange takes place, and sacked him before the fake could even be tried. Halfway through the second quarter, the Spartans realized Ohio State had no quick passing game, no screens, no slants, and they began blitzing on every play, either stuffing Ohio State's run or pressuring Miller immediately.

The coaching staff has forced Miller into a pro-style offense, bludgeoning his athleticism and inexperience into a natural, experienced passer's hole. The routes being run-- square-ins, deep posts, fades-- are vestiges of Ohio State's 2010 playbook, and they reveal an offensive staff unable to adjust. Terrelle Pryor, now an Oakland Raider, rarely threw these routes his first two seasons, yet the Buckeye coaches somehow deem Miller capable.

A complete switch to a spread-option system isn't necessary for an offense that better fits Miller's unique talents. We don't need Rich Rodriguez or Urban Meyer for improved production this season-- we just need forward-thinking, or a history lesson.

Bollman and this offensive staff need only look back to the 2008 season, when they integrated Pryor's youthful athleticism into a traditional structure, for the immediate fix. More quick passing, less play-action; more slants, fewer posts; more curls, fewer fades. Ohio State will not light up any scoreboards this year, but a focused scheme change will prevent future abysmal performances.

Of course, Miller may not even start next weekend against Nebraska.

Fickell, sensing his future melt away, panicked at the beginning of the 4th quarter and replaced Miller with Joe Bauserman, mere days after naming Miller the "clear-cut starter." Bauserman proceeded to perform like himself, at least until the final drive, where he caught Michigan State reaching into the cookie-jar, blitzing with less than two minutes left. Evan Spencer gathered the Bauserman pass and galloped into the endzone for a 33-yard touchdown.

One bungled onside kick, and a gruesome Verlon Reed leg injury, later, and Ohio State found itself right back where it began the season, leaderless and confused. Are we back to a two-quarterback system, or did Fickell just rename Bauserman the starter? Will the defense, which held Michigan State to ten points and five yards per play, continue to play well despite its own offense working against it?

Whatever the answers, Fickell must work hard over the coming weeks to keep this team together. Nebraska, Illinois, and Wisconsin loom, all three ranked and ready for their shot at the fallen giant.