Football
Rolle, Advanced Scouting Help Bucks Stifle Navy Conversion Attempt
By Brandon CastelTheir once 15-point, fourth-quarter lead now down to just two, the Ohio State defense took the field Saturday in desperate need of a stop.
With just over two minutes left to play in the season-opener against Navy, the sixth-ranked Buckeyes had already allowed two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and a successful two-point conversion for the Midshipmen would shockingly mean a tie ballgame between the Bucks and their 21-point underdog visitors.
As Navy took the field with the game on the line, having converted eight of their 12 attempts on third down, everyone in the Horseshoe was expecting a run – after all, the Midshipmen have led the nation in rushing four straight years.
Everyone that is, except the Ohio State coaching staff, who predicted Navy would resort to a play they had used in similar situations in the past.
“It was very specific. That’s the only two point conversion play we saw on film, so when they motioned we knew it was coming,” safety Jermale Hines said after the game. “Before the snap and during the snap guys were shouting it.”
In his first game on the sideline, co-defensive coordinator/ linebackers coach Luke Fickell told his players to be ready for the two-point conversion play they saw on film, and sure enough, Navy Head Coach Ken Niumatalolo opted to have quarterback Ricky Dobbs throw the ball with the game on the line.
”They ran the play on film. They were very successful with that play, they ran it a couple times (on film),” linebacker Brian Rolle said.
“Coach told us that’s what they’re going to run against us. I was so shocked that they actually ran it and we defended it so well. I just thank God for film study and the coaches doing a great job of scouting.”
Instead of finding his intended target in the end zone to the tie the score at 29, Dobbs’ pass was intercepted by Rolle just inside the end zone and the junior middle linebacker used his Florida speed to jaunt down the left sideline for 100-yard return that gave the Buckeyes a four-point swing on the scoreboard, and ultimately a 31-27 victory.
“Coach Fickell told me if they roll out to blitz. Luckily they didn't, and I had seen that play in practice. I just kept working to the side and he threw it to me,” Rolle said.
“I was kind of shocked. I caught the ball and I was kind of like 'I can't believe this,' and I was lucky enough to score.”
Earlier this fall, Rolle, 5-foot-10, predicted he would get at least a few interceptions this year because quarterbacks underestimated his reach. He never expected quarterbacks would miss him entirely.
“Brian Rolle just came under the route and popped out in front of the receiver. I tried to squeeze it in there by throwing it low but he just made a great break on it,” Dobbs said.
“The guy said he didn’t see so I guess that’s the great thing with me not being so tall, then I’m out of nowhere with the ball,” Rolle said.
Making the first start of his career in place of three-time All-American James Laurinaitis, Rolle also had a career-high nine tackles to go with his game-saving, or more accurately, game-winning play.
Turnovers Tell the Tale
While Rolle’s pick-two was clearly the play of the game for the Buckeyes Saturday, it may never have come down to that if not for a pair of earlier turnovers forced by captain Kurt Coleman.
After a 52-yard field goal by kicker Aaron Pettrey gave the Buckeyes a 23-14 lead, Coleman stripped the ball from wideout Mario Washington at the Navy 30 yard line, where it was recovered by fellow captain Doug Worthington.
“Turnovers killed us,” coach Niumatalolo said.
“In camp, we focused on taking care of the ball, but when you turn the ball over four times you aren’t going to win any games. That sums up our game – turnovers.”
The Midshipman got the ball back at their own 24 yard line after a three-play scoring drive gave the Buckeyes a 29-14 lead, but quarterback Terrelle Pryor was hungry to get even more points on the board.
“I remember Terrelle coming up to me, and he said ‘We need the ball back.’ I was like ‘No problem, we’ll get it back.’ And sure enough the quarterback fumbled the ball and they got it back,” Rolle said. “(Terrelle) came (back) and was like ‘We need the ball again,’ and we got the ball back again.”
More specifically, Coleman got it back, again. After Dobbs was sacked for a seven-yard loss by Hines, Coleman made a diving play to intercept the ball at the OSU 48 yard line.
“(On) the interception they gave us a trips look. We scouted them and said I was going to play the slot receiver man (if they had a trips look). I played him outside coverage and he ran a post. I was playing the quarterback and as soon as I saw him break out I undercut the slot guy and dove for it,” Coleman said.
The Buckeyes failed to score on the ensuing drive, but they did take another three minutes off the clock, which ended up being big down the stretch as Ohio State held on for their 31 st straight home-opener win.
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