The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0) didn’t quite cover the spread, but they still got a 49-26 win over Indiana (4-2, 1-2) on Saturday.
Quarterback Dwayne Haskins threw for the most yards ever in a Buckeye victory (455), while the Buckeyes rushed for the fewest yards ever in a win (154).
Okay, the second stat is fake, but isn’t the fact that it sounded true a significant problem?
Defensively, it wasn’t great, and even when it was much better in the second half, the aroma of the first half was impossible to ignore.
There was a lot to take in from this game, so why don’t we talk it out point by point and examine what we learned this week from a 23-point win by the Buckeyes.
1. The defense was lost at times.
Greg Schiano had to call three timeouts in the first quarter because he didn’t like what he was seeing from his defense and himself. That’s never great. And that was just before the snap. After the snap, the Buckeye corners had a rough go of it. Kendall Sheffield got turned around once for a touchdown. The four plays of 30+ yards in the first half were also an indicator of a defense having difficulty finding the the football. The second half — as has been the case throughout the season — was a different story.
2. Jahsen Wint isn’t ready.
Jahsen Wint is an outstanding special teams player, and outstanding special teams play is usually what it takes to get on the field for scrimmage downs. Unfortunately, Wint’s play this season at safety has not be up to Ohio State’s standard at the position. He is just a redshirt sophomore, so there is no shame in that. Heck, there’s no shame in any of it, but a better option may have been Jordan Fuller and Shaun Wade, which is what Alex Grinch and Greg Schiano went to late in the first half. Interestingly, Fuller was moved back to strong safety when Wade came in. Wade’s experience at corner and nickel makes him a better fit at free safety in this defense. Fuller told me after the game he’s willing to go back to his old position if he is asked. Isaiah Pryor returned from his first-half suspension and played well in the second half, delaying the need for Wade to move into a starter’s role. There is still going to be a competition in practice, however.
3. This team isn’t winning a national title.
The defense won’t allow it and neither will the running game. You need both and Ohio State doesn’t have either for more than two quarters per game this year. Granted, this isn’t the finished Ohio State football product, but the same issues from game one are still evident and not getting better. And the road is only going to get more difficult.
4. This must be the first year ever defenses have set out to stop the Ohio State run.
Ohio State can’t run the ball because defenses are setting out to stop the Buckeye running game, which begs the question of why didn’t defenses ever think of this before? The answer, of course, is that defenses have always set out to stop the Ohio State run, and generally failed. And now with Ohio State’s most prolific passing attack in school history, for some reason the Buckeyes can’t run the ball.
5. Terry McLaurin is going to be missed.
After taking out two defenders with a block two weeks ago and three defenders last week, Terry McLaurin was asked if there were any plays where he took out four defenders this week. He said no, but then added with a smile that he had two knockdowns on defensive ends. Imagine recruiting wide receivers and telling them that we’re going to need you to plant some defensive ends along the way. How many do you think return Ohio State’s calls?
6. The Buckeye linebackers were targeted, and will continue to be.
Because of Ohio State’s man-to-man defense, Indiana did a great job of isolating slot receivers and running backs on the OSU linebackers. Several times throughout the game, Pete Werner’s man was split out near the sideline, and then they would run in-routes or slants against him. That’s a tough ask for any linebacker. Every level of the pass defense struggled on Saturday, and as Urban Meyer said after the game, it began with a lack of pass rush. We will find out on Monday where Jonathon Cooper and Malik Harrison are with their injuries. The Buckeyes cannot afford to lose either player for long.
7. J.K. Dobbins should continue to be used in the passing game.
J.K. Dobbins is only averaging 4.7 yards per carry, but he is still a dynamic playmaker for the Buckeyes. Since he isn’t making those plays between the tackles, Ryan Day needs to continue calling his number in the passing game. Dobbins has had two catches in each of the last three games, and could have had an even bigger day on Saturday with a bit more accuracy from Dwayne Haskins.
8. A big back wouldn’t be so bad.
The short-yardage concerns continue after the Buckeyes failed to pick up a fourth-and-one. I know Dwayne Haskins has said he is willing to run whenever asked, and that may very well be true, but if it’s not in the best interest of success, then there’s no point. Enter the big back. Under Urban Meyer, the Buckeyes have always had a guy who could pound the ball. It began with Carlos Hyde, then to Ezekiel Elliott, and finally ending with J.T. Barrett. All three players were at least 6-feet tall and over 220 pounds. The Buckeyes just lost a big back commit on Sunday. Or maybe instead of a “big back” they need a “small quarterback.”
9. This won’t be Dwayne Haskins’ last 400-yard passing game this year.
A few weeks back — and maybe even before the season — Tom Orr and I discussed on Accost the Field whether or not Dwayne Haskins would have a 400-yard passing game this season. Tom doubled down and said Haskins was more likely to have two than none. Now he’s saying he’s been proven correct, but I have to disagree. At least until the next one. As long as the Ohio State defense allows 300 yards of total offense in the first half, the Buckeyes will keep throwing the ball. Tom and I aren’t the only ones who believe Haskins isn’t done with 400-yard games this year. Johnnie Dixon told me he expects another this year as well, but declined to name which team it would happen against.
10. The Buckeyes have five games to figure out how to run the ball.
I know Dwayne Haskins beat Michigan by throwing the ball last year, but there was very little scouting done on him back then. That is not the case any longer. Don Brown and the Michigan defense will know every single tendency and attack each of them in various ways. So far this season, the best way to make Haskins human is through pressure. That is no different than any other quarterback, but when given time, Haskins is very different from most every other quarterback. There are areas to attack the Michigan defense through the air, but it will require Ohio State’s best pass blocking. If the Buckeye offense is one dimensional, however, there probably won’t be enough pass blocking to keep Haskins upright enough times to get the win. In other words, the Buckeyes need to get the running game going, or they can kiss The Game goodbye.
Great article Gerd…right on the money.
Forever it seems we’ve been talking about and yearning for a great passing game….we finally find it….and now we lost the running game…GEEZ
This team doesn’t look like they could compete in the playoffs if they make it, but neither did the 2014 team until they played Wisconsin. That team turned into an unstoppable force, so who knows about the future of this team. What is obvious and for many years now is that teams with far less talent (like Indiana) appear to be equals or even better than OSU because of lack of developing players. Look at the improvement of the receivers by replacing the WR coach. Obviously there is a QB that can throw much much better than the previous QB to make the receivers look better, but they also are running better routes/schemes and producing more. OSU has top notch talent but they only have a few top notch coaches and the other coaches suck at developing HS talent into college talent.
This is a team that has had top-5 ranked recruiting classes since Urby got here. It CAN’T be a talent issue. It MUST be a coaching issue. These coaches are paid big, big bucks to improve players and put them in positions to succeed. They don’t appear to be doing either. Some serious introspection is needed by Urby and the individual coaches. Something here just doesn’t add up.
It is obvious that we have back-7 problems on D that appear to be scheme-oriented. It looks like a case of trying to fit players into a system instead of the other way around. This is a coaching weakness. One thing that isn’t really mentioned anywhere is the fact that the running game begins up front.
The offense seems to be caught in the middle between a R/O mentality without a R/O QB. That just doesn’t work. Make a decision and commit to it. I think Urby has gone back to calling the plays and he’s missing his kind of QB. He’s just unwilling to make the commitment to a passing QB. That is reflected by the O-line unable to open holes. There is no respect for Haskins running the ball so there is just one other option…the RB. Key on him and there goes the running game.
This is a good team, not a great team. This is an average coaching staff, not a great one. They are fun to watch but I don’t see a NC in them. At this point we just don’t seem to match up with Bama, and man, do I hate saying that!
It’s not a talent issues. I’ve read from several different reporters that visited top schools spring camps that have said osu has more talenet then anyone including bama. U just have to get that talent dialed in and playing as one unit. They aren’t running the ball great and we know Weber and dobbins are both great backs. But the o line has got to open lanes
If you want to be a dominant running team you usually don’t practically have an entire line standing at 6’7″. Need some maulers!
TEs not blocking well. LB all on line, and sometimes they back off at the snap and in the process end up confusing themselves instead of the the other team. Instead of backing off and keeping everything in front of them, they came pressure and the retreat sideways compromising their view and losing track of who has what, losing a step in a cross route, or opening lanes for the running back of QB. Keep it simple for them get the basics down and then get exotic.
DBs have to practice defending the deep ball and the slants all week. They will get better each week but they be tested and will continue with the big plays.
I think point number 3 should be point number 1. This team right now is not going to win a national championship against Bama or Georgia. I am okay with that, but I just do not want us to be embarrassed again. Big Ten is weak this year so I can see this team going undefeated this year just because of that fact and then the playoffs against SEC teams with speed and speed will kill this team. The year we beat Miami for the national title they had more talent but we had more heart and were better coached then Miami. The year Florida beat us we had more talent but they had the heart and were much better coached that day. Our Oline was not great that year so Tressel kept running QB. Meyer needs to keep run QB sneaks from under center. One game against Michigan Tressel used a backup lineman as a center and we ran the ball all over them. Berry is not much of a blocker or catcher so use a lineman. Someone said this and they were so right. In college Ohio State is where tight ends come to be ghosts and in the NFL they go to Arizona to be ghosts. Bill Davis is clueless and it is obvious to everyone but it is going to take another embarrassing loss on a big stage for Urban to wake up to this fact obvious to everyone else. This team is going to need creative coaching like we have had in the past and we have several games to experiment. Would also like to see us experiment with 5 defensive lineman since our line is so great. This team is going to need some great coaching like we received from Tom Herman if we wish for this season to be magical. I sure hope we get it because I am getting tired of embarrassing loses on big stages.
GO Bucks
Never seen so many ppl doubt a 6-0 team that has 2 top 15 wins. Teams get better I know fans expect it right now but young players don’t develop over a few games to a finish product. Now I do think the LB coach needs to be fired and losing combs was a big loss to. Do I think they can win a NC this yr not sure defense needs to improve and run game needs to improve. I know it was a different team but the 2015 team after getting beat up by VT I thought the yr was over with to. We all know how that turned out.
It was the 2014 team and this years team seems to be ahead of that team.
Interesting that after 6 games you think that OSU won’t win the National Championship. They still have plenty to fix but anything can happen and saying this now I feel is premature. It’s a long season and anything can happen when the playoffs come around and everyone has the long layoff to prepare.
The third sentence is key.
The defense won’t allow it and neither will the running game. You need both and Ohio State doesn’t have either for more than two quarters per game this year. Granted, this isn’t the finished Ohio State football product, but the same issues from game one are still evident and not getting better. And the road is only going to get more difficult.
All of that would be true if they didn’t have countless receivers and a lethal passing game.
Big back? good thought. Get creative with the talent you have. Hand the ball to DreMont Jones. He has ball skills. You don’t even have to change his number. That move could make this Buckeye team look like the ’85 Bears.
Tony Tony Tony! You know the culture too well to make so much out of Indiana playing a gutsy first half against the Buckeyes. A little history please! Oh the woe and Purdue is coming! Calm down. The defense is a work in progress, but six points in the second half speaks volumes. My take away, is a young team banked another week of experience and Haskins just gets better and better!
Wint will never start for the Buckeyes. I believe he is a MAC type player. I agree that they will not win a NC. The running game is pathetic as is the defense. You can talk about defensive line depth all you want but the D-line is average without Bosa. I believe there are coaching problems. The running game is not all on the line. Maybe get a running game that has a fullback. You get a better blocker and a tough guy on your offense. I dont know why Ruckert stays watching how seldom the TE gets the ball. Meyer was a psycology major. Doesnt he realize that he looks like he is in a panic the whole game. Players see that and then they start to panic.
1. The defense is lost BECAUSE the linebacker position is coached poorer than ANY at Ohio State since the turn of the “20th” century. The Jury went out, and they returned a guilty verdict. 2nd. Greg Schiano somehow thinks star power equals the right to be exotic. He’s wrong and I won’t be sad to see him back on the Rutgers sideline in 2019.
2. Had Isaiah Pryor not been erroneously benched for the a fake targeting call in Sappy Valley, we wouldn’t have heard Jahsen’s name until the 4th quarter. Jahsen is a really great young man, but he’s not a starter for the Buckeye’s……….yet.
3. YEP! Unfortunately.
4. A sad reality.
5. I already miss TMac.
6. MY OH MY how the mighty have fallen. From being always one of the premiers position in ALL of CFB, to one of the most laughed at and about units in just 2 years.
7. I guess if your tailback (s) can’t be exploited positively in the rush game, you have to find a way to utilize them. Perhaps a reason why Mr. James decommitted!
8. Develop a jumbo package with the QB under center, a defensive lineman in fullback position, and a tailback.
9. I’ve purchased my tickets for Dwayne’s election into the Heisman club.
10. One of the sad disclaimers on this football team (not named linebackers) is run blocking. It’s pathetic. It’s not that the Buckeyes couldn’t line up on 4th and 1 and fail to make it. It’s that on the play before that they lined up in 3rd and 1 and failed to get it……………..against frigging Indiana. 2 tries with a monster offensive line and they can’t get it. SMDH. Indiana must have swapped their players for the olden days Fearsome Foresome of the LA Rams, or the Steel Curtain during Mean Joe Greens reign of terror. Unfortunately EVERY team appears to be using one of those 2 units against the Buckeyes every week. When did drive blocking become such a failure for Ohio State?
Te only fact out of all of this is the lack of improvement week to week. There are issues with every team early in the year and those issues gradually get tightened up week to week.
That is not happening and in fact a case could be made the running game and secondary are getting worse.
This will be another 2 loss season when all said and done and another year of underperforming team not playing to full potential.
Regarding the run game, I don’t think the problem is the size of the running backs. Rather, it is the lack of holes being opened up by the offensive line.
By the way, the short passing game moves the sticks just like a good running game – see many current NFL teams.
……….and the size of the fight in the dog. Go to the line, look the defensive front in the eye and straight up tell them; “We’re running a dive play to the right side A-Gap to pick up a first down, and there’s just not a damned thing in the world you can do to stop it.”
Last I checked the Buckeye weight room was world class, Mick is still the S&C coach. The ONLY things the Buckeye offensive line needs to add are…..attitude and will.