[Highlight] Ohio State @ Indiana: Bold 4th down decision pays off with a TD to Bo Jackson in the flat. Ohio State has scored a TD in the last 35 seconds of the first half in all six games

[u/Moose4KU]

https://streamable.com/fb2n4w

[u/Ok-Soil-5133]

It made no sense that Jeremiah Smith wasn't on the field for the first 3 plays of this goal line set. Just the threat of him on the field is big.

[u/jdprager → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

Seriously, just watch this replay. Literally 4 defenders hover around Smith here, over half the secondary. Sayin could’ve thrown it to any receiver not wearing #4 and had like a 70% chance at the TD at worst

[u/Infinite-Group-4520 → u/jdprager]

Maybe less than 70 the way he's been throwing today lol

[u/whereyagonnago → u/Infinite-Group-4520]

Also that catch looked REALLY shaky. Easily could’ve been dropped.

[u/PretendThisIsMyName → u/whereyagonnago]

The first pass I called out it was going in. That’s insane to stuff and not see what was coming. Yall didnt slug at the line. Reversed or not. That was so obvious to me. The shaky pass was when I knew. That’s textbooky.

[u/California_Stop_King → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

Heavy single back set with him on the field in goal line works 9 times out of 10. You're basically forced to leave him on an island because the threat of the run is so prevalent. You don't, favorable run box. Was maddening to see 13 personnel on 1st-3rd

[u/hiimred2 → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

Ya I try not to armchair this shit but if IU's plan is so very obviously to high low double team him, on literally every single down, why are you NOT trotting him out to the far side split on inches to go to dare them to pull 2 guys out with him?

If they don't, you now have JJ split WIDE with a raw 1 on 1 and infinite space to work.

[u/Ickyhouse → u/hiimred2]

Those plays made me seriously question Smith's playcalling intelligence.

[u/BensenJensen → u/Ickyhouse]

Anyone there paid attention to the NFL for the last decade has no doubt that Smith has zero playcalling intelligence.

[u/bigmt99 → u/BensenJensen]

True but his favorite move was turning a dangerous weapon into a decoy. Maybe he’s just missing Jonnu Smith

[u/BuckFrog2 → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

Yes exactly. Seems like we tried to force it to him too many times while other receivers are wide open. We finally realized it on that last drive.

If Indiana is going to double or triple cover Smith, throw it to someone else. It feels like we want him to win the heisman but I just want to win

[u/Jay_Dubbbs → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

Arthur Smith is a football terrorist

[u/Confident_Delay5805 → u/Jay_Dubbbs]

Falcons fans can confirm

[u/etnodeel → u/Confident_Delay5805]

Steelers and confirm as well.

[u/mojo-jojo-was-framed → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

Oh just throw it up to him 3 times. They clearly can’t run it at the goal line

[u/RCM88x → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

I feel like he's on the field less than 50% of the time in goal to go situation, makes no sense.

[u/Games1097 → u/RCM88x]

As an Ohio state and unfortunately a falcons fan, that’s Arthur smith. Always took the best guys off the field when we needed them the most. No idea why

[u/zsjostrom35 → u/Games1097]

We did it last year too though

[u/SactownKorean → u/Ok-Soil-5133]

Crazy this is upvoted lmao. Tight end was wide ass open sayain just missed him

[u/Ok-Soil-5133 → u/SactownKorean]

That doesn't make it less true. That's only 1 play.

[u/pasqua3]

4 players covering #4, just like they mostly have been all game. Sayin just has to stop missing them by 15 feet

[u/bretticus733 → u/pasqua3]

Tbf, it looks like at least two of them were just defending whatever went central and not necessarily Smith. There was an outside LB who crashed on Smith instead of covering the flat.

[u/pasqua3 → u/bretticus733]

True but more generally 4 defenders were covering the area Smith was in, which I'm sure is part of the play design to some extent. Use him to clear up space

[u/bretticus733 → u/pasqua3]

Yeah the play design was to either set up a situation where you either hope to get Smith 1v1 with inside leverage or he clears out the flat by sucking in an extra defender. Two of the guys in the area just happened to be in the area covering the space, not necessarily Smith, but the play design worked because the defender that was supposed to cover the flat took the bait and crashed on Smith instead.

[u/Johann_Gauss]

That drive took years off my life expectancy

[u/Jupiter68128 → u/Johann_Gauss]

Yeah. I would’ve kicked. Guess that’s why I’m not a football coach.

[u/meatbulbz2 → u/Johann_Gauss]

6 plays inside the 5? Yeesh

[u/FarProfessional9808 → u/meatbulbz2]

 Indiana's defensive line is pretty solid. Maybe not as good as last years (kamara graduated, Daley is no where near where he was last year after injury) but still really solid. 

[u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan]

Always. Cover. The. Flat.

[u/Original_Profile8600 → u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan]

Tbh it’s more excusable to not cover the flat than it is to not cover Jeremiah

[u/AFC-Wimbledon-Stan → u/Original_Profile8600]

If you don’t cover the flat from the 2 yard line unless they blow their Achilles are they 100% scoring

[u/titusnick270]

First time we spread out on the goaline touchdown. How can the entire country see it but not Ryan Day and our OC?

[u/Hg1146]

Wow. Crazy what happened when God himself is on the field

[u/DJ-McLillard → u/Hg1146]

I didn’t know Jesse Legree was playing

[u/Bandlebury → u/Hg1146]

God himself who has 1 catch?

[u/nomo25 → u/Bandlebury]

yes, even thor nearly was killed by gorr the god butcher, every god can be made to look normal at times

[u/wit_T_user_name → u/nomo25]

The most tragically underused villain in the MCU. Bale was so goddamn good and he was on screen for 11 minutes total.

[u/nomo25 → u/wit_T_user_name]

my favorite villain ever dude

[u/nomo25 → u/wit_T_user_name]

also love how the underutilization of gorr in the mcu has me agreeing with an osu fan lmfao

[u/whereyagonnago → u/Bandlebury]

Blasphemy!! He has 2 catches!

[u/bmcwatt → u/Bandlebury]

Well yeah because he’s getting quadruple covered like in the clip above

[u/wit_T_user_name → u/Bandlebury]

You guys have done a great job covering him but don’t act like he’s not a freak of nature on the field. If you’re not afraid of him, leave him one on one next half.

[u/Hsu-Hao → u/Bandlebury]

Cig had it right. You stop JJ by getting to Sayin first. But your a little big in them britches. He’s open.

[u/RedTeamGo_ → u/Bandlebury]

2 - not to mention that insane DPI 40 yards down the field where he tackled with the ball not even close haha

[u/wit_T_user_name → u/RedTeamGo_]

To be fair - we’ve gotten away with a couple. They’re letting them play.

[u/RedTeamGo_ → u/wit_T_user_name]

Yeah but not like that one. It was a full blown form tackle that I think the DB did on purpose to not give up a 40 yard bomb

[u/Kozmog → u/Bandlebury]

Update

[u/Bandlebury → u/Kozmog]

4 catches? The TD catch that anyone could have made. Still pretty underwhelming from “God himself”

[u/NoctisRS]

Took 6 attempts to go 2 yards. Proud of our defense there

[u/DirectorSolid → u/NoctisRS]

Both defenses are looking better than I expected. I thought it would get into a shootout. Although, if Sayin could settle down and remember he's a good quarterback, this might devolve quickly. Lots of open people without #4 on their chest almost every play

[u/CloudConductor → u/DirectorSolid]

To be fair we can say the same about Hoover, our guys have been getting open he’s just been missing throws

[u/NoctisRS → u/DirectorSolid]

I don’t think Ohio states defense has been good. Hoover has missed badly on several plays including not seeing a wide open Brock schot in the end zone. From a talent composite perspective IU is the number 1 defensive line in all of football.

[u/DirectorSolid → u/NoctisRS]

Lmao, come on dude. Indiana's defense is good, but Ohio states isn't because Hoover is missing throws? Sayin is missing open guys every single play. You can't have it one way and not the other.

Ohio State held Indiana to 138 total yards. Is Ohio State's defense good or Indianas offense terrible?

[u/NoctisRS → u/DirectorSolid]

Do you think Ohio states defense would hold their own against Jeremiah smith? I think they would absolutely fold against the best Cfb wr of all time. Osu is taking advantage of IU double teaming smith. Not because their defense is better or even comparable

[u/DirectorSolid → u/NoctisRS]

So, answer the question then. Did Ohio State's defense do well in the first half or is Indiana's offense bad?

I get so tired off fans that can't be impartial.

[u/NoctisRS → u/DirectorSolid]

It’s not about being impartial - Josh Hoover no question played like dog shit and missed multiple open receivers with 0 pocket pressure coming from osu whatsoever. Sayin was constantly under pressure and was sacked and tfl multiple times. How is that bias

[u/DirectorSolid → u/NoctisRS]

Sayin had 3x the misthrows of Hoover in the first half.

Ohio State's defense is #4 in the country for yards allowed, #6 for points allowed. Indiana's is #11 and #5.

Even with the missed throws, Ohio State put up more yards and more points, even though Sayin handed Indiana that interception.

If you can't objectively look at that and say both are playing a solid defense, then you're lost

[u/NoctisRS → u/DirectorSolid]

Sayin has been under pressure on 44% of plays and Hoover has been pressured on 18%. Sayin has been sacked 9% of the time Hoover 4%. Don’t argue about stats when you’re looking at yearly stats including games against ball state when the reality is IU defense is better

[u/DirectorSolid → u/NoctisRS]

So you're saying Hoover is just bad? You've lost all objectivity. You can not give credit to one team and then not the other for the exact same thing.

[u/jwaters0122]

this play saved Sayin from UDFA draft projection

[u/Bjack89022]

Sayin looks like 💩

[u/TomCruiseImOnFire]

I remember a game in 2015 were Zeke broke 55,65 & 75 yd td runs.

[u/Sea_Spend_8008]

I have a feeling this is going to be a long second half for Indiana.

[u/jphamlore]

The right side of Ohio State's offense was a disaster for coverage by Indiana as well. There's only 2 defenders covering 3 Ohio State receivers!

[u/Divinity32]

Absolutely wide open from the secondary. No idea why Cignetti didn't call a TO there

[u/NerdWithTooManyBooks → u/Divinity32]

There were defenders in the area until they decided to quadruple cover smith

[u/Bandlebury → u/Divinity32]

Very annoying. Harris looked confused as soon as they broke the huddle

[u/Phobia117]

It’s just no fun watching goal line stands anymore. They ALWAYS score on 4th down. If it’s 1st and goal on the 2, then 4th and goal on the 2, the offense always scores on 4th down. Sometimes I want to watch the defense actually hold.

[u/DirectorSolid → u/Phobia117]

Well, not when it's Ohio State. That's a big problem this year, way too many failed fourth down and goal attempts

[u/count_nuggula]

THE Bo Jackson?

[u/Scurezza → u/count_nuggula]

White Sox legend Bo Jackson

[u/vivaldindahood]

Well, Bo knows

[u/Kbrichmo]

Quadruple coverage on Smith and leave another guy wide open. That cannot possibly be the gameplan

[u/taylormade311]

Indiana has to call timeout before this play.

[u/TBell01 → u/taylormade311]

I went to the kitchen because I swore they would take a TO there. You can assume my reaction upon my return 😂

[u/Jonjon428]

They REALLY wanted Bo specifically to score

[u/Triv02 → u/Jonjon428]

Sayin had Bo anytime touchdown scorer and was determined not to throw a good pass until he cashed the bet

Now we can have good Sayin back for the second half (pls)

[u/DirectorSolid → u/Jonjon428]

You lost your other power runner, your QB is throwing like he's holding a football for the first time.. not sure what else they had to trust

[u/FoxUniNov → u/Jonjon428]

I think Lou Holtz called Day soft from beyond the grave last night

[u/ohmysocks → u/Jonjon428]

I mean the first time they let Sayin throw it he placed the ball about 5 yards short on a wide open 1 yard out route

[u/oceaniccart]

A wild drive

[u/Irishchop91]

Freeman calls it the Middle 8 - last 4 minutes of the first half and first 4 minutes of the second half. He believes if you can win that window you can win the game

[u/ColdLunch7395]

Day is terrific with clock management. A few tragically missed field goals have tarnished his reputation

[u/Chicago_Blackhawks]

this was so clutch. same with the 4th down and 1 that went deep to jeremiah smith. came down to a few plays!

[u/Deviljho12]

This game has been two babies fighting so far.

[u/DrToboggan76]

Four guys on Jeremiah Smith is crazy. Understandable. But still crazy.

[u/i_look_at_trees]

Where was this In the Texas game OSU ?

[u/poplglop → u/i_look_at_trees]

We played better than this in the first half of the Texas game tbh

[u/ToothPickLegs → u/poplglop]

Nah Texas just made weird ass mistakes.

[u/i_look_at_trees → u/poplglop]

Tbf I meant aggressive play calling. Ohio St got insanely conservative calling plays late in that game.

[u/Orbital2 → u/i_look_at_trees]

Tbf the play calling that necessitated this 4th down was offensively bad.

3 plays with Jeremiah not on the field when we’ve watched this be a terrible idea since the beginning of last season. I really just can’t comprehend how it was part of the game plan.

[u/Hot-Yoghurt-119 → u/i_look_at_trees]

That’s the Ryan Day way

[u/mr_positron → u/i_look_at_trees]

No do the rest of the first half. That and the first drive are sayins only non bad plays

[u/i_look_at_trees → u/mr_positron]

Yeah, I meant the fact that this was an aggressive play call oops.

[u/nawdawgrawdawg]

Refs only had to help a lillllllll bit with some questionable spots. IU D held well through it all

[u/Peridot_Ghost]

Being an OSU fan has got to be the easiest thing in the world. It’s nothing but one big piss.

[u/B1GFanOSU → u/Peridot_Ghost]

LOL! I’ll be lucky to not have a medical episode by the end of this game!

[u/Peridot_Ghost → u/B1GFanOSU]

You’ll win like you always do. Lol

[u/socketedsock → u/Peridot_Ghost]

Their 5-1 record says otherwise

[u/billionthtimesacharm]

how does iu not call timeout before that play?!

[u/fatiguedpickle]

This Ohio State team is likely going to lose to Michigan. They have the dudes to hang with their receivers and Day will try to have a dick measuring contest with the lines.