Ohio State quarterback Will Howard throws on the run. (Photo by Ohio State Athletics)
The highest of expectations dwell in the state of Ohio for the Buckeyes of Ohio State.
Doing Things Differently
Some of my readers and social media friends have said I’ve been too reactionary in my writing after games. So, I tried this one the day after the game. Getting it right is more important than being right. This is was certainly an interesting follow-up to the contest in Eugene. The bottom line of it is this; the Buckeyes won. The do-or-die season, the national title or bust season, isn’t dead or busted yet. There are some concerns that seemed to have grown and others that may have diminished. I’m a save-the-best-for-last kind of guy so let’s get the concerns out of the way first.
Worries
Nowhere is a greater cause for concern for Ohio State than the offensive line. They were thin there to begin with, and losing Josh Simmons against Oregon didn’t help. Simmons was arguably their best offensive lineman and was playing at an all-Big Ten, if not all-American level too. It doesn’t help that his backup who came in and was playing a decent game against Nebraska also went out hurt late in that game. Zen Michalski has another injury this unit and team can’t afford.
The offensive line has had its share of struggles since Dawand Jones and Paris Johnson Jr. left and hasn’t paved the way for a 1,000-yard rusher since 2021. They will have to dig deep and up their game if the goals of this season are to be met. This offense is loaded with weapons at all other positions but need blocking to succeed. No matter how good they are. Look no further than epic players TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins in their combined 20 carries for 54 yards and no rushing touchdowns against Nebraska.
The defense has been more of a mixed bag. It’s so loaded with stars you have to wonder if the guys who are quiet, are so only because others are feasting. On the defensive line, the tackles have been having a better year than the ends, even in pass rushing. Are the tackles just that good or is part of it that the focus on the ends? Does this allow them favorable matchups in which they are dominating?
That question can be asked about defensive backs too. The safeties and nickel are making more plays than the corners but does it mean the corners are struggling? Or are they drawing attention that allows the others to win those matchups?
Then the question becomes, what about all of this can be helped by coaching? What IS or ISN’T being helped by coaching. It certainly seemed like coaching troubles when a star defensive back struggled against the Ducks and seemed to get zero help.
But there is good news.
Truth
Will Howard is good. He had one bad throw that was intercepted against the Huskers but he shook it off and led the game-winning touchdown drive. Howard was cool and using all his assets to get the Buckeyes the win. Outside the pick, he was 13 of 15 for 221 yards and three touchdown passes. I’m a believer in Howard and I hope he wrecks his home state Nittany Lions next week.
Brian Hartline’s receivers are elite. These guys are insanely good and always have been under Hartline. There’s an argument that his unit and guys are carrying more weight than we even realize but let’s just focus on the obvious good they do.
Jeremiah Smith is a generational talent. I’ve never seen any receiver be this good this quick. If he didn’t have to play three seasons he could be one-and-done and be a top five pick in the draft. He had three catches for 70 yards and a touchdown as he tied the freshman receiver record for touchdowns set by Cris Carter in 1984. His highlight reel plays make him a Heisman candidate.
Emeka Egbuka was kept in check but Carnell Tate rose to the occasion in his stead and made true that with Buckeye receivers all you can do is pick your poison. The sophomore had four catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Defensive Improvement
The defense stepped up when they needed to in this game, holding the Huskers to 5 of 17 on third and fourth downs. As a team they made 59 tackles, 13 of them for a loss, got three sacks on the quarterback, and had a huge interception. It started up front with the Ty Towers, Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton. The senior defensive tackles each got three tackles and a sack and Williams had two tackles for a loss and Hamilton had one tackle for a loss. They opened things up for the whole defense. J.T. Tuimoloau followed them up with five tackles, two for a loss, and a sack of his own.
The rest of the defense followed their lead too, no one more than Cody Simon. The senior captain had eight tackles, three for a loss. He was a force for the defense that included a pivotal stand that saved the game. When Nebraska had first and goal at the Ohio State seven yard line in the third quarter when the Bucks had a 14-9 lead. Four straight runs, and four straight times of the Bucks keeping them out of the endzone. Goal line stands are always important but never more so than in a game decided by less than a touchdown.
The Best Thing About Being 6-1…
As Urban Meyer started Ohio State saying, the best thing about your record is the chance to add another win to it the next week. That will be a tall task for Ohio State as they go on the road to Penn State. I’m nervous about this one. Whether it’s the offensive line struggles, the feeling that PSU is due, or the Buckeyes track record in top five games as of late, I don’t know, but I’m nervous. Plenty in the comments section say I’m too pessimistic. Regardless, this is an important game for Ohio State not just in the 2024 season but as a program as a program in the Ryan Day Era. Regardless of worries, players to believe in, doubts, coaches I love, playoffs, history, or records in big games, this is my team. I am a Buckeye. Ohio is home. Go Bucks, beat Penn State!
