Ohio State Football: As struggles mount, Buckeyes search for answers

It’s not a good situation for the Ohio State football team with Urban Meyer still searching for answers heading into the most difficult part of the schedule.

The Ohio State football team came off an open week and struggled to bury a 2-6 Nebraska Cornhusker team. On the same day, I watched a Michigan team completely annihilate Penn State, the same team the Buckeyes squeaked by with a fourth quarter surge and a James Franklin bone-headed mistake.

I also watched the No. 1 team walk into Death Valley to play LSU at night and blow away the nation’s third best team. I asked myself, would any player on Ohio State’s defense even sniff the field for either Alabama or LSU?

I think few would even play and I know the linebackers would not make the team.

The gang tackling, pursuit of the ball carrier and ability to get players to the ground stand out the most for those defenses. All three defenses have an attitude and determination that I have not consistently seen from Ohio State since 2015.

I listen to Urban Meyer talk about injuries. Fair enough, but at mostly full strength the Buckeyes’ defense gave up 31 points to Oregon State and 28 to TCU.

This team let Indiana, Minnesota and Nebraska hang around too long and it gave up against Purdue. That’s the reality.

I wonder if Meyer has checked out of this season.  I would not blame him if he has.  Between his health and the Smith saga, his energy level looks deflated.

I also question if he likes the style of football being played. I am sure there are aspects of it he likes, but It is counter to what he’s always done.

In yesterday’s post-game press conference he was all over the place.  He said the defense has a long way to go and then stuttered when asked about whether the team was close, and then corrected his answer to yes or we better be.

This honest answer is this team is not close to being an elite team.  Not by a mile and he knows it.  We all know it and changing the course of this season is unlikely.

It is disappointing because we all want to be watching the same program that dismantled Alabama four years ago. Or at least one that takes the field every game with the same attitude and puts up the same fight.

I thought the loss to Clemson would re-invigorate Meyer.  Then Oklahoma and Iowa happened last year.  Then the Smith media circus.  Then Purdue.

The head scratchers keep piling up.

For me, I just think the program misses Ed Warinner, Luke Fickell and Kerry Coombs.  These coaches developed players and kept their units locked in on their assignments.

The grumblings about Meyer are rising.  It is understandable but absurd.

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He’s 54.  Ohio State could have him for at least another decade and be lucky. Meyer has a national title, two Big Ten titles and 81 wins in just under seven seasons.

Buckeyes Nation is spoiled but also has a better football program to root for than any not named Alabama or Clemson.

What’s not absurd is wanting to get the determined and disciplined Meyer back. It might take the off-season to get back the man who stood at the podium in 2011 and discussed his vision for the program.

Meyer owes us nothing and neither do the players.  They put their blood, sweat and soul into entertaining us and most of the time deliver.

I am hopeful the Buckeyes can claw their way to winning the next four games.  If they don’t, we’ll just have to live with it.