Again, if you haven’t joined his sports Substack newsletter, know it’s probably the best one going on Dallas Fort Worth sports. Sturm is on 1310AM Ticket and has been there for almost 2 decades. He is always an insightful read so you should subscribe, only $8/mo. He writes on all DFW Sports. Sorry you cannot see the play clips in what I posted below. Sturm puts more blame on the OL than Ewers.
bobsturm.substack.com
Jan 13, 2025
∙ Paid
We had some choices to make this morning. Surely, I could have written about one or more of the NFL Playoff games, but instead I decided the plan should be to write one last piece on the Texas Longhorns finale as they gutting loss to Ohio State will stick with their fanbase for quite a while.
I assume, for those interested, that you have seen the game-write up from Saturday as I discussed the main talking points from the game itself. That can be reviewed below in the link:
·
Jan 11
Read full story
Today, however, I thought we should give this game a bit of a Dallas Cowboys game treatment and spend some time going through the film to see what we can learn about this matchup between two teams that were capable of winning it all in 2024, but only Ohio State still has that dream alive.
Getting the All-22 is not easy at the college level, but we managed to grab it, so let’s put it to use! This can serve as a historical record of the plays that decided this Cotton Bowl for those who call Sturmstack home. I hope you enjoy it. As a help, here are the Ourlads rosters and depth charts for both Texas and Ohio State. You can’t watch your film without knowing who is who in the zoo.
If you are a Texas fan, this might be too soon. It’s ok. Take your time, because when you are ready to look at the film, it will still be here waiting for you. Sometimes, it will take a walk or two to clear the head first. There is still at least one football game I have never seen again (and likely never will). We all heal at our own pace.
But, for those who are ready, let’s begin:
Here we go, from the first possession of the game:
This was a very interesting first third down of our evening because the play call of 21 personnel zone left with a play-action rollout right and levels available is pretty standard. But what I liked from Quinn Ewers was the confidence to throw to Golden down the field rather than taking the safer throw to his RB (23-Blue) or even just keeping it (which was not really going to be an option with 2-Caleb Downs and 0-Cody Simon closing in fast on those two options). Instead, Ewers confidently fired one to Golden, who had 1-Igbinosun right on him and 7-Hancock helping out deep. A beautiful one-handed grab, and you can quickly see how many athletes Ohio State has in their secondary, making life difficult. But to start the game, that showed me Quinn was ready to push the issue. Obviously, Golden getting hurt in the second quarter would probably change things a tad.
Here is a critical fourth down late in the second quarter with Ohio State up 7-0, out near midfield. They bring in 16-Arch Manning for this, and it becomes a QB lead play to the right, with the RB out front trying to create a little space—which isn’t too tough when you only need one yard and Arch gets out wide. As long as 5-Wingo gets his guy, this play will work. But, as you can see late, the ball does come loose after Arch appears to have his head hit by the defender and then the ground. This will lead many of us to wonder if he was concussed and unavailable late for the goal-line situation that might have decided this game. Honestly, I am still not sure that answer has been revealed and cannot tell you it will ever be completely explained. But, yeah, four shots from the 1-yard line with Arch doing something like this four times seems like what you might want to consider.
This is 2x2 motioned into 3x1, and it looked like candy from a baby as they simply run the slant/wheel concept with the left WR, 5-Wingo, and the RB, 23-Blue, who is being chased by 6-Styles—and you don’t catch Jaydon Blue from behind. First, you want the slant to perhaps interfere with the LB in a sort of pick/rub, but you are really just trying to re-route him a step because that’s all Blue needs. If the throw is there, this is a touchdown, and you really cannot stop it—which is why Texas loves this concept so much. Just get WRs to play RB and feed on this one. Texas ties the game at 7-7 and will probably get to the locker room tied up.
Unless…
This play will be talked about for a long, long time. The press box is down at the corner of the end zone where Treveyon Henderson is running, so I am back behind this play seeing it come right at me. I wish I was wearing a microphone live because I promise you that I knew this was very bad the second Will Howard got the throw away. Here is that moment:
Henderson is at his 20-yard line, but if you look, you can see three OL are right next to him and Texas has a math issue. Sark made sure we knew it wasn’t a blitz, but rather a simulated pressure where four rush (a deep DB is coming, but a DL is dropping – which of course is of no use in open space), but honestly, once Henderson catches the ball at the 18, it turns into a “kick return right” and there will be one moment of engagement at about the 35-yard line. If Henderson can get behind his wall, it will be over by the 45-yard line.
As you can see, they are completely walled off, and Henderson has the juice to end the play right there. Pete Kwiatkowski called a defense that looked safe but wasn’t, and that might be what is referenced and connected with his name for a very long time. Ohio State probably was as shocked that this worked as you are, but when we talk about the critical moments of a football game that will live forever, this one was an unforced error by the Longhorns' defense. Rushing a DB from the exact side of the ball that got exposed downfield appears to be a risk not worth taking at that spot in the game. You stop this play for even 10 yards, and Ohio State probably goes to the locker room.
But, amazingly, that play alone did not sink the ship.
Honestly, the theme of this game turned into “Could Cam Williams keep Jack Sawyer off of Quinn Ewers?” and the answer was clear. He could not. Here is a very big third and long on what became the drive where Texas would get this game back to tied at 14-14, but before that, Ewers would need to pull a magic trick out of his hat. PFF tells us that Jack Sawyer had the highest pass rush grade in this game with 6 total pressures, and it also tells us that Williams had the lowest pass protection grade (although DJ Campbell and Cole Hutson could not get much done at RG, either). Anyway, on this play, Sawyer runs right around Williams and flushes Ewers up. To Quinn’s credit, he finds Wisner, who made himself available and then has the speed to get to the sticks on a play that was reviewed to see if Ewers’ knee had touched the ground. Big-time play.
Now, here is the best Texas play of the game, perhaps. When people get caught up in the question, “Can my RB pass protect?” I think that is a discussion that misses the way football has evolved. In modern times, Alvin Kamara pass protects by doing what Jaydon Blue does here. Motion back in like you are about to pick up a blitzer, but then release into space and let your QB hit you for a touchdown to burn the blitz. That is the best pass protection I have ever seen. Big credit to Ewers, which is one reason why I support Sark’s wanting to ride with a veteran QB. He recognizes these plays with regularity and knows what to do. This is what you would expect a veteran to do well and a rookie to not see. Regardless, huge moment in the game, and we are tied at 14-14.
Now, to the fourth quarter we go, where most of our plays occurred.
This is not the same play from the first quarter, but it feels like the same basic throw to the same receiver on basically the same basic route. This is Matthew Golden trying to return to the game for a snap or two to help the team, and they have this big third down with the game tied to start the fourth quarter. At this moment in time early in this sequence, the win probability said: “Texas 57.9%,” which is hardly convincing, but it is the highest it would be after halftime for the Horns. This was their moment to take the game over, but Ewers sailed his throw. If Golden had caught it, it would have been magical, but this was a QB miss at a moment where he will be angry about things.
Because once Ohio State got the ball back, they were going on a long march to grab the game by the throat.
This play was requested because this third and eight was the “missed holding penalty” on 11-Colin Simmons. The Ohio State right tackle is 70-Josh Fryar, and he is absolutely holding Simmons. The refs did not call a single pass-rush holding all night in either direction, I believe. Did the call impact the throw? I don’t think Simmons gets to Howard, but obviously, holding is holding. This is poor officiating, and a critical point in the game to act like it is no big deal. But I will let people know that Ohio State is convinced their pass rushers never get holding calls (as do all Micah Parsons, TJ Watt, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa fans). Nobody ever gets a holding call:
In no way am I saying that this makes it right, but Ohio State hasn’t benefited from a holding call since September with those beasts they have up front? That is pretty wild.
Blown call for sure, so, a few moments later…
This is another moment in the press box where the conversation was about how the Buckeyes never had used Will Howard’s feet all night, and this seems to be a spot where he should. Texas calls a timeout to prepare for it, and then it happened. QB power right into the right side of the line with Howard following his left guard into the hole and then having nothing but green grass. Somehow, he stumbles late, but the damage is done. On a fourth down play with the chips down, Chip Kelly dials one up that seemed all too obvious in retrospect. Howard’s run game is his calling card at Kansas State, and now he finally gets it right against the Horns.
Moments later, Texas would need another goal-line stand. But former Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins runs with power behind his pads and punches in the go-ahead touchdown. Texas has stopped so many of these this year, but Ohio State was going to get pretty stubborn for four shots at it, and the second crack was the one that broke through.
So now, Texas marches back. They now have first and goal at the 1, and I was asked to look at all four of these plays, so this is how we will end this.
14 personnel! Jerrick Gibson has no chance to run this in as the play takes too long, and too many Buckeyes kicked tails before he could even get close. 14 personnel is obviously a move where you are showing your cards, and Ohio State responds in kind. Watch 91-Tyleik Williams just destroy the RG, Cole Hutson, to give you an idea of how things are going here. Also, 44-JT Tuimoloau against a tight end? Bless his heart, but he gets tossed out of the way. That was big-time defensive football.
Now, again, things are moving fast, but Texas quickly decided to switch to 12 personnel and take it wide. Of course, this was a horrible plan, too. From Saturday’s write-up:
Here is the third down and goal. The issue here is pretty simple, because Ohio State is not even trying to rush. This is a three-man rush. The RG, 54-Hutson, has no chance against Jack Sawyer again. God bless Cole Hutson, but once the Buckeyes sniffed this out, it was over. See how they shade 91-Williams to the left shoulder of the center? That is so the center cannot help out with Sawyer, and that isolates this into a one-on-one. Wingo has a chance to get to the corner, but Sawyer is so quickly in Ewers' face that he gets a piece of the ball and this play is dead. At these moments, your QB has to get at least a moment. He did not on either third or fourth down.
4-man rush, but good job by Ohio State on disguising who was rushing and from where. Again from the piece on Saturday:
We will wonder if Arch Manning could have saved them on that goal-line scenario, and we will wonder what would have happened if it did get tied at 21-21 with four minutes to go, but the end of this run basically comes down to this: At the critical moments, Ohio State made the plays, and Texas did not.
Playbook: Ohio State Over Texas - Xs & Os
The Buckeyes a few more of the plays that made the difference late in the game.
bobsturm.substack.com
Playbook: Ohio State Over Texas - Xs & Os
The Buckeyes a few more of the plays that made the difference late in the game.
Bob SturmJan 13, 2025
∙ Paid
We had some choices to make this morning. Surely, I could have written about one or more of the NFL Playoff games, but instead I decided the plan should be to write one last piece on the Texas Longhorns finale as they gutting loss to Ohio State will stick with their fanbase for quite a while.
I assume, for those interested, that you have seen the game-write up from Saturday as I discussed the main talking points from the game itself. That can be reviewed below in the link:
Three Thoughts - OSU Leaves Texas Behind
Bob Sturm·
Jan 11
Read full story
Today, however, I thought we should give this game a bit of a Dallas Cowboys game treatment and spend some time going through the film to see what we can learn about this matchup between two teams that were capable of winning it all in 2024, but only Ohio State still has that dream alive.
Getting the All-22 is not easy at the college level, but we managed to grab it, so let’s put it to use! This can serve as a historical record of the plays that decided this Cotton Bowl for those who call Sturmstack home. I hope you enjoy it. As a help, here are the Ourlads rosters and depth charts for both Texas and Ohio State. You can’t watch your film without knowing who is who in the zoo.
If you are a Texas fan, this might be too soon. It’s ok. Take your time, because when you are ready to look at the film, it will still be here waiting for you. Sometimes, it will take a walk or two to clear the head first. There is still at least one football game I have never seen again (and likely never will). We all heal at our own pace.
But, for those who are ready, let’s begin:
14 Plays that defined this game - Xs and Os breakdown
I admit that 14 plays is not a nice round number, but that is how many I picked out and that you requested on the subscriber chat conversation that inspired this piece.Here we go, from the first possession of the game:
1Q - 13:41 - 3rd and 2 at TEX33 - Shotgun Ewers,Quinn pass complete deep right to Golden,Matthew caught at OSU47, for 24 yards to the OSU43 (Igbinosun,Davison), out of bounds, 1ST DOWN.
This was a very interesting first third down of our evening because the play call of 21 personnel zone left with a play-action rollout right and levels available is pretty standard. But what I liked from Quinn Ewers was the confidence to throw to Golden down the field rather than taking the safer throw to his RB (23-Blue) or even just keeping it (which was not really going to be an option with 2-Caleb Downs and 0-Cody Simon closing in fast on those two options). Instead, Ewers confidently fired one to Golden, who had 1-Igbinosun right on him and 7-Hancock helping out deep. A beautiful one-handed grab, and you can quickly see how many athletes Ohio State has in their secondary, making life difficult. But to start the game, that showed me Quinn was ready to push the issue. Obviously, Golden getting hurt in the second quarter would probably change things a tad.
2Q - 0:50 - 4th and 1 at OSU50 - Manning,Arch rush right for 8 yards gain to the OSU42 (Ransom,Lathan), 1ST DOWN.
Here is a critical fourth down late in the second quarter with Ohio State up 7-0, out near midfield. They bring in 16-Arch Manning for this, and it becomes a QB lead play to the right, with the RB out front trying to create a little space—which isn’t too tough when you only need one yard and Arch gets out wide. As long as 5-Wingo gets his guy, this play will work. But, as you can see late, the ball does come loose after Arch appears to have his head hit by the defender and then the ground. This will lead many of us to wonder if he was concussed and unavailable late for the goal-line situation that might have decided this game. Honestly, I am still not sure that answer has been revealed and cannot tell you it will ever be completely explained. But, yeah, four shots from the 1-yard line with Arch doing something like this four times seems like what you might want to consider.
2Q - 0:33 - 2nd and 10 at OSU18 - Ewers,Quinn pass complete short left to Blue,Jaydon caught at OSU00, for 18 yards to the OSU00 TOUCHDOWN
This is 2x2 motioned into 3x1, and it looked like candy from a baby as they simply run the slant/wheel concept with the left WR, 5-Wingo, and the RB, 23-Blue, who is being chased by 6-Styles—and you don’t catch Jaydon Blue from behind. First, you want the slant to perhaps interfere with the LB in a sort of pick/rub, but you are really just trying to re-route him a step because that’s all Blue needs. If the throw is there, this is a touchdown, and you really cannot stop it—which is why Texas loves this concept so much. Just get WRs to play RB and feed on this one. Texas ties the game at 7-7 and will probably get to the locker room tied up.
Unless…
2Q - 0:28 - 1st and 10 at OSU25 - Shotgun Howard,Will pass complete short right to Henderson,TreVeyon caught at OSU19, for 75 yards to the TEX00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 00:13, 1ST DOWN.
This play will be talked about for a long, long time. The press box is down at the corner of the end zone where Treveyon Henderson is running, so I am back behind this play seeing it come right at me. I wish I was wearing a microphone live because I promise you that I knew this was very bad the second Will Howard got the throw away. Here is that moment:
Henderson is at his 20-yard line, but if you look, you can see three OL are right next to him and Texas has a math issue. Sark made sure we knew it wasn’t a blitz, but rather a simulated pressure where four rush (a deep DB is coming, but a DL is dropping – which of course is of no use in open space), but honestly, once Henderson catches the ball at the 18, it turns into a “kick return right” and there will be one moment of engagement at about the 35-yard line. If Henderson can get behind his wall, it will be over by the 45-yard line.
As you can see, they are completely walled off, and Henderson has the juice to end the play right there. Pete Kwiatkowski called a defense that looked safe but wasn’t, and that might be what is referenced and connected with his name for a very long time. Ohio State probably was as shocked that this worked as you are, but when we talk about the critical moments of a football game that will live forever, this one was an unforced error by the Longhorns' defense. Rushing a DB from the exact side of the ball that got exposed downfield appears to be a risk not worth taking at that spot in the game. You stop this play for even 10 yards, and Ohio State probably goes to the locker room.
But, amazingly, that play alone did not sink the ship.
3Q - 7:50 - 3rd and 10 at TEX33 - Ewers,Quinn pass complete short middle to Wisner, Quintrevion caught at TEX30, for 14 yards to the TEX47
Honestly, the theme of this game turned into “Could Cam Williams keep Jack Sawyer off of Quinn Ewers?” and the answer was clear. He could not. Here is a very big third and long on what became the drive where Texas would get this game back to tied at 14-14, but before that, Ewers would need to pull a magic trick out of his hat. PFF tells us that Jack Sawyer had the highest pass rush grade in this game with 6 total pressures, and it also tells us that Williams had the lowest pass protection grade (although DJ Campbell and Cole Hutson could not get much done at RG, either). Anyway, on this play, Sawyer runs right around Williams and flushes Ewers up. To Quinn’s credit, he finds Wisner, who made himself available and then has the speed to get to the sticks on a play that was reviewed to see if Ewers’ knee had touched the ground. Big-time play.
3Q - 3:19 - 3rd and 7 at OSU26 - Ewers,Quinn pass complete short left to Blue,Jaydon caught at OSU13, for 26 yards to the OSU00 TOUCHDOWN
Now, here is the best Texas play of the game, perhaps. When people get caught up in the question, “Can my RB pass protect?” I think that is a discussion that misses the way football has evolved. In modern times, Alvin Kamara pass protects by doing what Jaydon Blue does here. Motion back in like you are about to pick up a blitzer, but then release into space and let your QB hit you for a touchdown to burn the blitz. That is the best pass protection I have ever seen. Big credit to Ewers, which is one reason why I support Sark’s wanting to ride with a veteran QB. He recognizes these plays with regularity and knows what to do. This is what you would expect a veteran to do well and a rookie to not see. Regardless, huge moment in the game, and we are tied at 14-14.
Now, to the fourth quarter we go, where most of our plays occurred.
4Q - 15:00 - 3rd and 5 at TEX44 - Ewers,Quinn pass incomplete short right to Golden,Matthew thrown to OSU44.
This is not the same play from the first quarter, but it feels like the same basic throw to the same receiver on basically the same basic route. This is Matthew Golden trying to return to the game for a snap or two to help the team, and they have this big third down with the game tied to start the fourth quarter. At this moment in time early in this sequence, the win probability said: “Texas 57.9%,” which is hardly convincing, but it is the highest it would be after halftime for the Horns. This was their moment to take the game over, but Ewers sailed his throw. If Golden had caught it, it would have been magical, but this was a QB miss at a moment where he will be angry about things.
Because once Ohio State got the ball back, they were going on a long march to grab the game by the throat.
4Q - 13:15 - 3rd and 8 at OSU29 - Howard,Will pass complete short left to Tate,Carnell caught at OSU43, for 18 yards to the OSU47 (Holmes,Gavin), 1ST DOWN.
This play was requested because this third and eight was the “missed holding penalty” on 11-Colin Simmons. The Ohio State right tackle is 70-Josh Fryar, and he is absolutely holding Simmons. The refs did not call a single pass-rush holding all night in either direction, I believe. Did the call impact the throw? I don’t think Simmons gets to Howard, but obviously, holding is holding. This is poor officiating, and a critical point in the game to act like it is no big deal. But I will let people know that Ohio State is convinced their pass rushers never get holding calls (as do all Micah Parsons, TJ Watt, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa fans). Nobody ever gets a holding call:
In no way am I saying that this makes it right, but Ohio State hasn’t benefited from a holding call since September with those beasts they have up front? That is pretty wild.
Blown call for sure, so, a few moments later…
4Q - 9:50 - 4th and 2 at TEX34 - Shotgun Howard,Will rush middle for 18 yards gain to the TEX16 (Taaffe,Michael), 1ST DOWN.
This is another moment in the press box where the conversation was about how the Buckeyes never had used Will Howard’s feet all night, and this seems to be a spot where he should. Texas calls a timeout to prepare for it, and then it happened. QB power right into the right side of the line with Howard following his left guard into the hole and then having nothing but green grass. Somehow, he stumbles late, but the damage is done. On a fourth down play with the chips down, Chip Kelly dials one up that seemed all too obvious in retrospect. Howard’s run game is his calling card at Kansas State, and now he finally gets it right against the Horns.
4Q - 7:03 - 2nd and 1 at TEX1 - Judkins,Quinshon rush left for 1 yard gain to the TEX00 TOUCHDOWN
Moments later, Texas would need another goal-line stand. But former Ole Miss RB Quinshon Judkins runs with power behind his pads and punches in the go-ahead touchdown. Texas has stopped so many of these this year, but Ohio State was going to get pretty stubborn for four shots at it, and the second crack was the one that broke through.
So now, Texas marches back. They now have first and goal at the 1, and I was asked to look at all four of these plays, so this is how we will end this.
Four Cracks for Texas to Keep Their Season Alive
4Q - 3:56 - 1st and 1 at OSU1 - Gibson,Jerrick rush middle for 0 yards to the OSU01 (Tuimoloau,JT; Reese,Arvell).
14 personnel! Jerrick Gibson has no chance to run this in as the play takes too long, and too many Buckeyes kicked tails before he could even get close. 14 personnel is obviously a move where you are showing your cards, and Ohio State responds in kind. Watch 91-Tyleik Williams just destroy the RG, Cole Hutson, to give you an idea of how things are going here. Also, 44-JT Tuimoloau against a tight end? Bless his heart, but he gets tossed out of the way. That was big-time defensive football.
4Q - 3:16 - 2nd and 1 at OSU1 - Wisner,Quintrevion rush left for 7 yards loss to the OSU08 (Ransom,Lathan)
Now, again, things are moving fast, but Texas quickly decided to switch to 12 personnel and take it wide. Of course, this was a horrible plan, too. From Saturday’s write-up:
If I am Steve Sarkisian, I am running the ball up the gut four times. I am probably using Quinn Ewers on a sneak, but I am going to rely on my offensive line to right the wrong from that Oklahoma goal-line failure in 2023. I am going to be stubborn and insist that my guys – who have won the line of scrimmage all year – win it one more time. I am not going to give in to Ohio State physically and concede after 1st down that I cannot move them. It is 36 inches and I have studs, too. I am going to jam it in there or die trying.
Now, I type this knowing full well what happened, so thus, the cheap 2nd guess. But, I was there last night an I was saying it before it happened like it did. And what happened on 2nd down was the worst possible scenario (well, I suppose Jack Sawyer showed us the worst possible scenario two snaps later).
That is the play that probably lost the game, but there were two more shots from the 8-yard line.
4Q - 2:34 - 3rd and 8 at OSU8 - Ewers,Quinn pass incomplete short left to Wingo,Ryan thrown to OSU00 QB hurried by Sawyer,Jack.
Here is the third down and goal. The issue here is pretty simple, because Ohio State is not even trying to rush. This is a three-man rush. The RG, 54-Hutson, has no chance against Jack Sawyer again. God bless Cole Hutson, but once the Buckeyes sniffed this out, it was over. See how they shade 91-Williams to the left shoulder of the center? That is so the center cannot help out with Sawyer, and that isolates this into a one-on-one. Wingo has a chance to get to the corner, but Sawyer is so quickly in Ewers' face that he gets a piece of the ball and this play is dead. At these moments, your QB has to get at least a moment. He did not on either third or fourth down.
4Q - 2:24 - 4th and 8 at OSU8 - Ewers,Quinn sacked for loss of 9 yards to the OSU17 (Sawyer,Jack), fumble by Ewers,Quinn recovered by OSU Sawyer,Jack at OSU17 Sawyer,Jack return 83 yards to the TEX00 TOUCHDOWN
4-man rush, but good job by Ohio State on disguising who was rushing and from where. Again from the piece on Saturday:
For Sawyer to win so easily on third and fourth down with the game in the balance against two different positions is the story here. The film tells us that this offensive line betrayed them late, and with so many of them hurt and trying to survive one or two more games, it finally caught up with them.
We will wonder if Arch Manning could have saved them on that goal-line scenario, and we will wonder what would have happened if it did get tied at 21-21 with four minutes to go, but the end of this run basically comes down to this: At the critical moments, Ohio State made the plays, and Texas did not.
- The screen before halftime.
- The 4th and 2 run by Howard.
- And then the four plays at the end.
