GLENDALE, Ariz.: During the 2015 season, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer mishandled the quarterback position, sticking with Cardale Jones far too long after the magic of a three-game national championship run had faded.
In 2016, Meyer watched as his offense fell apart, saying in December that his struggling passing game would be repaired “next season,” implying that he was seemingly powerless to fix it.
Meyer suffered his first shutout loss in 194 games as a coach Saturday night and OSU absorbed its worst bowl defeat in a storied history that dates back to 1921.
And the 31-0 rout at the hands of No. 2 Clemson in the College Football Playoff semifinal falls at Meyer’s feet. His team did not come to play, was not prepared for the relentless pressure of Clemson’s defensive line and could not handle the Tigers’ deep receiving corps that showed it is the nation’s best.
The embarrassing outcome in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium was the program’s largest loss since a 35-3 setback at Southern California on Sept. 3, 2008.
“Ohio State is not used to this. I’m not used to this and we will not get used to this,” Meyer said afterward. “That’s not going to happen again. So we’ll get things worked out.”
That’s going to take some work.
It is time for changes at OSU.
Changes for the offense. Changes on the coaching staff. Changes in Meyer.
Meyer’s assistants need a shake-up. As a play caller, offensive coordinator Ed Warinner has faded faster that Jones in 2015. Warinner was a respected offensive line coach and should return to that role, even though it could spell the end for first-year offensive line coach Greg Studrawa.
Quarterbacks coach Tim Beck does not have the energetic personality to mentor J.T. Barrett, who presumably will return, saying Saturday, “It will be really hard for me to walk away when we just lost 31-0.”
Instead of gaining confidence to take more chances and throw over the middle, Barrett has regressed as a passer. He hasn’t been the same since new Texas coach Tom Herman left for Houston after the 2014 championship game. The offense needs a bright, young offensive mind (along with three new receivers, perhaps with freshmen Binjimin Victor and Austin Mack leading the way next season).
Meyer will have to make tough decisions as he encourages some to seek jobs elsewhere. He did it with former co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers, who left for James Madison in December 2013. Meyer nearly fired defensive coordinator Luke Fickell at that time, now Fickell is gone to coach the University of Cincinnati.
But Meyer must also come to grips with the reality that he’s no longer the guru of college football’s spread offense.
The crown he wore after capturing two national titles with quarterback Tim Tebow at Florida in 2006 and 2008 is beginning to slip. Meyer needs to find new ideas, new wrinkles, new plays. He cannot let his ego get in the way of hiring, thinking all will be fine because he’s in charge, or in his search for innovation.
Asked if Saturday’s debacle could be blamed on personnel, especially since OSU replaced 16 starters this season, Beck said, “It’s all of it. When you’re running an offense, sometimes there’s tendencies.” That suggests a fundamental flaw inside.
As for what needs to be changed, Beck said, “We’ve got to create an identity of what we want to be. We did, but maybe narrow the focus. I want to be careful, you get tendencies, I want to be careful what those tendencies are.”
It might not be all Xs and Os. There is a humanity lacking with Meyer that was starkly evident in contrast with Clemson’s Dabo Swinney.
The Tigers love playing for the down-home Swinney, and many of his assistants share his caring traits. The Buckeyes play for Meyer to win championships and get to the NFL, but might tire of his omnipotence by the time they’re redshirt juniors or seniors. He needs to come down off his pedestal and touch their hearts before he fattens their wallets with pro paychecks.
Saturday night was reminiscent of the national championship after the 2006 season when Meyer’s Florida Gators thrashed OSU 41-14, and not just because of the venue and the losing margin. It was a flashback to Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith confessing his love for In-N-Out Burger before the game.
But this time it wasn’t just the players who were fat and happy. Ohio State’s offense is broken, Meyer’s spread attack too predictable and even with a month to prepare, Meyer responded with complacency.
Next year has arrived for Meyer’s promise to fix the passing game. The affected areas run deep. It’s time for change, and for urgency.
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her blog at www.ohio.com/marla. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.