Cranium session: Ohio State’s protection nonetheless wants work, Noah Ruggles fumbled earlier than his kick took off and C.J. Stroud shined in Atlanta

After Ohio State’s 42-41 loss to Georgia within the Peach Bowl on Saturday, each soul in Buckeye Nation felt the identical emotion.

Heartbreak.

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) January 1, 2023

Let’s speak about it.

Earlier than we do, I have to say this: Let’s have a pleasant Monday, lets?

Nonetheless have to work. On reflection, I do not know how Ohio State made the Faculty Soccer Playoff with the protection it possessed this season. Whereas that aspect of the ball has appeared stable many of the season, Maryland, Michigan and Georgia show the Mad Scientist nonetheless has loads of work to do in Columbus.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs added the ultimate blow to the three-piece combo to Knowles and Co. because the Buckeyes allowed 42 factors and 533 complete yards to Georgia, together with a career-high 398 yards to Stetson Bennett, within the Pitch Bowl.

Stetson Bennett has clutch denims #CFBPlayoffs

398 years handed
4 complete TDs pic.twitter.com/845sEr0KdU

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2023

It was an explosive play the killer Once more for Ohio State, as Bennett accomplished 11 passes for 15 yards and UGA amassed 10 performs of 20 yards or extra. None of these performs was extra expensive than Arian Smith’s 76-yard landing catch and run, which got here after Lathan Ransom tripped and fell to the turf in man-to-man protection.

Arian Smith!!

pic.twitter.com/p5LZjFPLr7

— PFF Faculty (@PFF_College) January 1, 2023

Ransom’s journey would not have been detrimental below regular circumstances, however Knowles’ aggression price Ohio State towards Michigan. A zero-coverage name led to no security serving to Ransom excessive, resulting in a wide-open rating for Smith that reduce Ohio State’s result in 38-35 with 8:41 left within the fourth quarter.

That sort of name from Knowles – zero protection adopted by one other landing with momentum in his group’s favor as much as 11 factors (?) – and in regards to the lack of execution from the Buckeyes.

Within the final two video games, the place performs like touchdowns by way of Smith’s shrouded protection had been all too frequent, Ohio State allowed Michigan and Georgia to set program data in common yards per recreation, an 8.83 mark for the Wolverines and a good worse 8.88 mark. For the Bulldog. After which there’s this:

Jim Knowles protection vs. Michigan and Georgia in two of the most important video games of the yr.

87 factors
1063 yards
1 turnover
38 factors scored within the 4th quarter.
Scoring performs ranged from 69, 75, 45, 75, 85, 25, 76 yards.

— jbook (@jbook37) January 1, 2023

oops.

Ohio State’s protection did not dwell as much as the excessive expectations of Ryan Day, Knowles and even Teradja “T-R” Mitchell within the preseason. It was a top-10 protection, then a top-five protection, then a top-ranked protection.

Ohio State DC Jim Knowles is not shy about sharing his expectations for this season. pic.twitter.com/KxWZgrArXT

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) August 9, 2022

None of those occurred. Maybe they’re going to have one other yr below Noles in 2023 and the anticipated improvement of Ohio State’s younger expertise. No less than one can hope.

It failed earlier than escaping With a visit to the nationwide championship on the road, Noah Ruggles’ game-winning area objective try from 50 yards missed, and missed badly certainly.

Georgia is headed to the Nationwide Championship once more pic.twitter.com/9zENcba88W

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2023

Ruggles, who was nothing wanting computerized throughout his two years as a Buckeye, was unable to be the hero and lead his group to the promised land. As most kickers miss game-winners, Ruggles will most likely shoulder many of the blame on those that noticed his kick go left.

However he would not need to be blamed for the loss to the Buckeyes – not all of it, that is for positive.

Sure, Ruggles needs to be anticipated to transform if given the chance. Nonetheless, Day did not essentially put him able to succeed together with his questionable playcalling down the stretch.

After C.J. Stroud’s 27-yard scramble to place the ball on the Georgia 31, Day picked off working again Dallan Hayden, who had a career-long 49 yards coming into the sport, on first-and-10 to facilitate a area objective try for Ruggles. . The choice backfired as Hayden’s carry was dropped and misplaced 1 yard, leaving the Buckeyes behind Ruggles’ objective line.

“Two timeouts left. They had been on zero, so should you break up one, you may get out of the again finish. Any couple of yards there would add as much as a area objective. That was the thought,” Day mentioned of his postgame name. Press convention. “It did not execute like we’d have appreciated, however I would not change that decision.”

“Good name. Nice name,” added Stroud, who sat subsequent to Day on the presser.

Day handed the ball to Stroud on second and third down. The quarterback’s first try was to Xavier Johnson however fell incomplete, whereas his second was thrown to keep away from strain from the Georgia protection. Going through fourth and lengthy, Ruggles trotted out onto the sphere.

Because the clock struck midnight and the calendar shifted from 2022 to 2023, he lined as much as take the kick. However, as I typically do on lengthy par 3s with my 4 iron, Ruggles appeared like he tried to hit the soccer as a substitute of hitting it, maybe to ensure he had sufficient footing. The consequence was a kick that went broad left.

It synced completely

Ohio State-Georgia 2023 nearly ended proper because the ball was dropped pic.twitter.com/aMb8TW6dBp

— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2023

Because the season ends, Ruggles will decommit from Ohio State, finishing his closing yr of eligibility. As an alternative of the lasting reminiscence of a game-winner in a CFP semifinal, he’ll must dwell with a missed kick that might be troublesome for many in his place — one which I would argue Ruggles by no means wanted to line up. First place (see: Farewell to Marvin Harrison Jr, A perfectly called timeout by Kirby Smart, Defensive errorand many others.)

DÉJÀ VU. The 2019 Fiesta Bowl was quite a bit for Ohio State followers at this yr’s Pitch Bowl, proper? While you have a look at the small moments that have an effect on the end result of the sport, it begins to appear like that is what occurred.

Penalty to Rossi early on 4th down pickup.
Marvin Harrison was knocked out of the sport.
Big 4th down pickup by Bowers.
Good’s timeout earlier than the faux punt snaps.
Ransom slip.
Missed kick.

There are numerous small moments that change this end result.
the curse

— Jason Priestess (@Priestess) January 1, 2023

I do not wish to develop PTSD from the Buckeyes’ loss to the Tigers a couple of years in the past. Nonetheless, there have been small moments the killer That one, too, so scroll down should you do not wish to relive these moments: Tuf Borland’s dropped interception, JK Dobbins’ dropped landing catch, Dobbins’ sprained ankle, Shaun Wade’s ejection and the overturned scoop-and-score, amongst others. , change the end result of all video games.

Ohio State’s loss within the Peach Bowl felt so much like the loss within the Fiesta Bowl that it felt like the total impact of Murphy’s Regulation. Every little thing that would go unsuitable finally went unsuitable for Ohio State in Atlanta.

And that sucks. That sucks onerous.

Possibly the whole lot will work out for one Ohio State this yr. No less than one can hope.

thanks, no 7. Barring any unexpected circumstances, C.J. Stroud performed what I consider was his greatest recreation as a Buckeye in what was most likely his final efficiency as Ohio State’s quarterback.

Stroud did the whole lot he may to win the Peach Bowl for Ohio State. Sadly, his Herculean effort – 23-of-34 passing for 348 yards and 4 touchdowns plus 12 carries for 36 yards, together with 4 sacks for -36 yards – didn’t end in a win.

C.J. Stroud put it on the sphere in his closing recreation of the season #CFBPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/Ylve2KzSY2

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 1, 2023

I perceive a few of the criticism of Stroud as Ohio State’s quarterback, primarily on the subject of his willingness to run the soccer. However, by objective, he drove the ball on Saturday and appeared powerful as nails when he did. His elusiveness within the pocket was additionally spectacular to arrange large performs like his two landing passes to Harrison.

In my cranium session earlier than the sport, I referred to as for Stroud to be 10 toes tall and bulletproof towards Georgia. She was. It is too dangerous we can’t see him one other time for Ohio State within the nationwide championship. His efficiency was worthy of him, however the group’s efficiency was not, and it is a crying ‘disgrace.

As Stroud (most likely) progresses to the NFL, I hope he has an important and affluent profession. His time at Ohio State as a participant with a golden arm (or platinum arm or palladium arm) means that this may absolutely occur.

Thanks for the whole lot, No. 7.

Thanks for the whole lot, No. 7. @OhioStateFB X @CJ7 STROUD pic.twitter.com/8R8Kxb2U0t

— Large Ten Community (@BigTenNetwork) January 1, 2023

Finest music of the day. Nirvana’s “One thing within the Means”.

Minimize the deer. Completely satisfied New 12 months! 2023 is celebrated all over the world… high 10 The strangest news 2022… Lady errors Tasmanian satan For the dog’s plush… toys… ‘Avatar’ sequel once more Dominating the box office… Roberto Clemente stays a Latino legend 50 years after his death.