Quinshon Judkins runs for Ohio State (Photo by Ohio State Athletics)
Though not without speed bumps, the second ranked Buckeyes stampede the Thundering Herd. Ohio State racked up 569 yards and 49 points after a sluggish and sloppy start to beat Marshall 49-14.
Marshall had a little bit of early success against Ohio State taking a 7-0 lead and in the first quarter also picked off Will Howard. While the Buckeyes had some head-shaking moments they settled in and outscored Marshall 49-7 after being behind early. On a hot day, after a way-too-early bye week, Ohio State wrapped up non-conference play with a solid win.
Seven Yards and a Cloud of Dust
My Brooklyn Dagger Favorite Part of the Game was the Buckeyes running the ball. Ohio State’s three primary rushers are Quinshon Judkins, TreVeyon Henderson, and Will Howard. Those three combined for 23 carries for 274 yards and five touchdowns toting the rock today for the stat of the game. This is a trademark of Chip Kelly offenses. Spread a defense out and run it with everyone who can, while keeping enough passing to stay balanced.
They did that extremely well, led by Judkins’ 14 carries for 173 yards and two touchdowns. Judkins is the Dwayne Haskins Player of the Game but he got it done with help from an improving offensive line. They weren’t parting the Red Sea with their blocking but they didn’t need to. They created just enough space to let Judkins and Henderson take over with their speed, vision, and tackle-breaking.
The offensive line did enough for Will Howard to score on the ground and the team blocking helped spring Emeka Egbuka’s big touchdown too. Anyone who didn’t have the ball was blocking well for ball carriers for the Buckeyes. This is something to build off of and something championship teams do. The 2014 National Champions did it very well.
It was a historic day of production for the law firm of Judkins and Henderson. Judkins now has over 3,000 career yards and leads the nation in rushing touchdowns in a career with 36. Henderson tied Buckeye legend Carlos Hyde for seventh in career total touchdowns with 41. The Buckeyes clearly have the best two running backs in the nation.
Buffalo Hunting
On defense, the Buckeyes have some more question marks. Ohio State’s defense today was led by the secondary. The defensive backs were making tackles near the line of scrimmage and for a loss. Jack Sawyer, J.T. Tuimoloau, Cody Simon, and Sonny Styles their starting defensive ends and linebackers only had one tackle for a loss between the four of them (Tuimoloau). Caden Curry notched the Buckeyes only sack of Marshall in the game.
This is concerning for Ohio State because if your senior, all-Big Ten, maybe all-American defensive ends struggle to pressure Marshall, how will they do in Big Ten play against Oregon, Penn State, and that team up north? Ryan Day, Jim Knowles, and Larry Johnson Sr. have to find a way to get more from this defense in generating tackles for a loss, sacks, and quarterback pressures.
That absence was why Marshall moved the ball a little in the first half of the game. Credit the secondary for stepping up and stopping the Thundering Herd and shutting them out in the second half. Jordan Hancock, Caleb Downs, Denzel Burke, and Lathan Ransom got the defense to do a Taylor Decker in-game and bounce back and clamp down Marshall. They were doing impressions of Mike Doss, Chris Gamble, Will Allen, and company from the 2002 Nation Champions.
A Quiet Air Assault
Aside from the one pick, Will Howard had a very solid day throwing the football. He was 16 of 20 for 275 yards and two touchdowns. Early, the Bucks kept attacking with quick, short, slashing passes to the outside. This set up some more downfield passing attacks in the middle as the game went on.
This wide receiver unit like K.J. Hill, just quietly does their job. Emeka Egbuka led the way again with an early 68-yard touchdown that reminds defenses you pick your poison with these receivers. Jeremiah Smith struck in the second half for a 53-yard touchdown when Egbuka was getting most of the attention. They were supported by another quiet but solid game from Carnell Tate. Zone 6 made almost as big of a difference in blocking for Judkins and Henderson too.
Towards a Title
Marshall did something early that teams will try to do to stop Ohio State as this season marches on. They used their offense to try and play defense. They figured the best way they could stop Ohio State’s offense was to keep them off the field. To have long touchdown drives not only keeps them on the sideline but keeps them cold and makes it hard to get on track.
Expect that as this season goes on especially from Iowa, Oregon, and the cheaters up north. Teams that can run the ball well and play solid defense. It will wear out the Buckeye defense as well as slow the offense.
Ohio State has done a solid job with their non-conference games. Aside from being 3-0, you want to win big like you should and learn. The Bucks learned how they will be attacked as already mentioned, and how to do the attacking with running first but staying balanced. They saw some things that need cleaning up like with the kicking game yips today. If there’s ever such a thing as an easy game, they’re long behind them now. Now comes the grown-man games. Next week, at night, in East Lansing at Spartan Stadium.
