College Football Playoff: 2nd Quarter Analysis & Grades

As the Ohio State Buckeyes take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff we will provide you analysis of everything important. We will watch how Cardale Jones handles the Tide defense, how the Buckeyes defense takes away the run game AND Amari Cooper and whose special teams has the edge.

The College Football Playoff will finish with the National Title Game against the Oregon Ducks who blew the doors off Florida State. The Ducks were impressive on offense and defense in their game. Can the Buckeyes put on the kind of show they did against the Wisconsin Badgers in the Big 10 Title Game?

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Analysis

Buckeyes defense stiffens up and forces a punt.
- Jalin Marshall called for a fair catch at the 5 yard line.
- You don’t catch punts inside the 10, ever.
Buckeyes come out strong with the run game to get out from their own endzone.
- Strong throw by Cardale Jones picks up long 3rd down to get Bucks to the 30.
Jones throws an INT on what looks like a miscommunication between QB and Devin Smith.
- Ball thrown into coverage but Smith didn’t turn his head until pick was made.
- On the sideline, Smith looked upset with himself.
- Tide ball into redzone already.
Buckeyes stuff Tide on 3rd and 1.
- Great penetration by Michael Bennett and the linebackers.
- Tide go for it on 4th down.
  - And get it. 1st and goal Alabama.
T.J. Yeldon with a walk in TD on the next play.
- Buckeyes blown off the line.
- Again defense doesn’t look prepared after turnover.
Jones again gets time in the pocket to complete on another long 3rd down throw.
- Marshall wide open over the middle for a catch and run.
Stop me if you have heard this one, Jones with a nice long completion on third and long.
- Buckeyes may want to open up the offense earlier in the series.
- Buckeyes into the redzone with 5 minutes left in the half.
Fake Marshall sweep opens up middle for short Elliott TD run.
- Buckeyes struggling in the redzone throwing the ball.
- Needed a TD there and a defensive stop after would be huge.
  - Bucks get ball after half. Stop huge.
Tide 3 and out forces punt with under 2 minutes left.
- Darron Lee makes a huge play to make a tackle from on the ground on 2nd down.
- Drop on 3rd down gave the Buckeyes the ball back with 1:32 left.
Buckeyes with a great quick drive to get inside the redzone.
- Jones passes are crisp.
- Long Jones run gets them to the 13 yard line.
- 19 seconds and one timeout left.
Amazing play call leads to a TD with 12 seconds left.
- Wide receiver pass from Evan Spencer to Michael Thomas who barely gets his foot in.
- Amazing play call
  - Hand off to Marshall, pitch back to Spencer and a perfect throw to Thomas.
- Alabama 21 Ohio State 20