Ohio State Football: Top Priority is Finding Killer Instinct

The Ohio State Football team has several areas to work on over the next four games before Penn State rolls into the Horseshoe on October 28.

Most in Buckeye Nation would say pass defense and a vertical passing threat are top priorities.  That’s understandable but I think it is something entirely different. As great as the Ohio State football program is and will be, right now it is failing to take advantage of seizing momentum in games.

Knowing the exact time to get aggressive and stick the dagger into an opponent used to be a trademark for coach Urban Meyer. I am wondering when that killer instinct will return.

Let’s look at three examples of how the Buckeyes took control of a game that was in doubt earlier in Meyer’s tenure.

The 2012 game against Nebraska.  Down 17-7, Braxton Miller runs for 72 yards on first down from the Ohio State 10-yard line and two plays later, touchdown.

Next series, defense gets an interception and then offense scores another quick touchdown.  In two minutes, a deficit of 10 became a lead in route to 63-38 win.

The 2013 Northwestern game, down 23-13 in the third quarter, Miller fumbles giving the Wildcats the momentum.  Not looking good for Ohio State on the road.

The defense steps up and forces a three-and-out.  The offense scores quickly and then the defense forces another punt and on Northwestern’s next possession, then an interception.

The offense scores another touchdown in less than a minute.  The 10-point deficit became a four-point lead in three drives.

Against Alabama in the playoff semifinal, down 21-6 in the second quarter, the offense engineers a long drive capped with a touchdown.  The defense then forces a three-and-out and the offense scores another touchdown on a pass from Evan Spencer to Michael Thomas. Gutsy call in a critical moment.

The team heads into halftime down one instead of 15.  The offense scores quickly on its first drive of the second half grabbing a lead it never relinquished.

Conversely, let’s look at the last three losses.

Oklahoma should have buried the Buckeyes in the first half, but they did not break giving them an opportunity to turn it around in the second half.

After the offense took the first drive of the second down the field for a touchdown, the defense gets shredded by Baker Mayfield allowing the Sooners to take back the momentum.

Wisely, Kevin Wilson turned to J.K. Dobbins again and he ripped off three-straight runs for 37 yards which opened up the long pass to Austin Mack.

In the red zone ready to take back momentum and what does Wilson do?  Ignores Dobbins and three failed pass attempts later, the offense is kicking a field goal.  That’s a win for Oklahoma.

The Old Meyer would have buried the Sooners.

The defense then rises up with a three-and-out and what does the offense do from its own 40-yard line?  Three-and-out.

At home, under the lights and the veteran team cannot find a way to take command.

Not that there was any chance that the Buckeyes were going to beat Clemson last December, but they did not do themselves any favors coming out the gate so poorly on offense.

After an interception on Clemson’s first drive, the offense mustered four yards and then missed a field goal.  Lost opportunity.

The Tigers then kick a field goal and on the ensuing kickoff, Parris Campbell runs it back to the Clemson 42-yard line.  A chance to swing the momentum back.

The offense manages to go 12 yards and misses another field goal.  Blown opportunity.

Clemson drove the field and the rout was on.

At Happy Valley last October, up 21-7 in the fourth quarter, Penn State takes it 90 yards in five plays.

The offense then goes three and out gaining only three yards ending the drive with a blocked punt.  Penn State gets a field goal to make it 21-17.

J.T. Barrett then leads the offense on a long drive only to have the field goal attempt blocked and returned for a touchdown.

A game that should have been won tuned into a mind-blowing loss due to a swing of momentum generated from blocked kicks.

Momentum is not everything in college football, but it is vital to success.  Meyer’s championship teams always found a way to capitalize when it mattered most.  This program is lacking that ability right now.

How they get that back is questionable, but I would start with the Slobs and Dobbins.  Do that and I think everything else will fall into place.