The Buckeyes played another ugly game. The final score doesn't show how close this one was for at least three quarters. For at least the first half, the defense was nothing special, Kyle McCord struggled again, and the Buckeyes played down to their competition. But at the end of the day, Ohio State gets to 9-0. No matter how ugly a game is, a win is a win. How did Ohio State make the final score in this one look a little more respectable? Let's take a look at the Keys to Victory!
Third quarter defensive spark
I rarely refer to single plays as the reason a game completely changed. Usually there are patterns that I notice as the key to Ohio State's success. But if there was a play that turned this game on its head, this was it. Rutgers was threatening to put a serious scare into the Buckeyes early in the second half. The Scarlet Knights were already up 9-7 and looking for more. If they had punched it in to go up 16-7, Ohio State would've been in some serious trouble!
But Buckeye safety Josh Proctor jarred the ball loose at the Ohio State 7-yard line, and Jordan Hancock caught the ball in midair, and raced 93 yards the other way for a crucial touchdown that gave Ohio State a 14-9 lead, and FINALLY woke up the defense, which at that point had been sleepwalking through the game and getting gashed on the ground. That one play gave the Buckeyes the lead for good, and they buckled down the rest of the day from there.
TreVeyon Henderson does it again!
It's no secret that Ohio State's offense hasn't been as explosive as we're used to seeing. But one reason for that could be that the Buckeyes were missing a certain running back who wears #32.
TreVeyon Henderson has battled injury issues all season long, and so far he's handled them like a champ. He posted his third straight game of 100+ rushing yards, and absolutely gashed the Scarlet Knights for 128 yards on 22 carries (5.8 avg) and scored a touchdown.
Henderson just adds a whole other dimension to an Ohio State offense that quite simply struggles without him. Without Henderson on the field, the offensive explosiveness just isn't there outside of Marvin Harrison Jr. The Buckeyes need him to continue rolling along like this for Michigan State, Minnesota, and That Godforsaken Team Up North, if they want to accomplish big things to end the regular season. Fingers crossed that he stays healthy!
Kyle McCord looks decent
I'm still flustered that Kyle McCord doesn't look very good. But I think that mentality comes from being spoiled with watching so many great Buckeye quarterbacks over the years. He didn't have a bad stat line. McCord went 19-26 for 189 yards, three touchdowns and an interception.
Those aren't eye-popping numbers by any stretch of the imagination. But he played within himself, didn't try to do too much, and took what the Scarlet Knights defense gave him. But he still seems to try to force balls too much at times, he misses wide open receivers (he had a chance to hit Marvin Harrison Jr. for a big gain or touchdown and didn't see him), and he just doesn't look very comfortable out there.
I still think McCord is adjusting to being Ohio State's quarterback. But it also doesn't help him when the offensive line struggles with pass blocking at times. These two things worry me the most as the Buckeyes continue their stretch run to end the regular season.
What will the Wolverines do to McCord and the offensive line if they can't get it together? What about a possible Big Ten Championship Game opponent? What about Georgia, Alabama or anyone the Buckeyes could potentially face if they make it to the College Football Playoff? This clearly isn't the best team in the country right now. They don't deserve to be #1 right now. Top 4? Yes. But certainly not #1.
I love the Buckeyes. I have since 1996, and I will until the Good Lord calls me home. They're my football team, and the first team of any kind that I watched as a little boy with my father. I love them to pieces!
But I also love them enough to rightly criticize them when they deserve it. and Kyle McCord and the offensive line definitely deserves some criticism today. Speaking of deserved criticism, here's how I want to finish this article...
Missing Persons Report: Ohio State Run Defense
"Yes, is this the Columbus Police Department? I'd like to file a missing persons report for the Ohio State run defense. They haven't been seen since the Penn State game."
Folks, I can't begin to tell you how angry I get when I see a defense stop a running back cold...only for him to gain 3, 4, 5, extra yards before they finally bring him down. It drives me bananas! This Buckeye "run defense" was giving me a conniption. I was saying things that would make Bobby Knight blush. May he rest in peace.
But all jokes aside, Ohio State's run defense was virtually nonexistent this game. As a team, Rutgers ran the ball 43 times for 232 yards against the Buckeyes. This wasn't against Michigan and Blake Corum. This wasn't against Georgia or Alabama. This was against Rutgers.
Ohio State had no answer for them. Which makes me nervous to think about what the truly great teams Ohio State will face, will do to the Buckeyes if they can't shore up this area of the defense. I like Jim Knowles and Ryan Day for the most part. But I was frustrated with Knowles' seeming lack of a game plan for the Rutgers running game, and I rolled my eyes at halftime when Ryan Day said the "defense is battling their tails off."
No, Coach. No they weren't. I've seen Buckeye defenses who battle their tails off. They look so much stronger than these guys did today. They stop opposing teams at the point of attack, wrap them up, and prevent extra yardage. They smack any running back foolish enough to fight for extra yardage. And they consistently do these things. Over. And over. And over again. I saw some great plays from the Buckeyes, but not a consistent, nasty defensive effort against the running game. They failed in this area of the game. Simple as that.
But they'll get another chance to sharpen things up next week, as a struggling bunch of Michigan State Spartans comes to town next Saturday. These aren't the Mark Dantonio-led Spartans who were actually a tough, solid, fearsome football team. Those days are long gone. And hopefully Ohio State plays like it, too. They need to take Sparty to the cleaners next weekend in the 'Shoe.
But until then, Ohio State racks up another win, as they climb to 9-0 on the season and 6-0 in Big Ten action! GO BUCKS!
Statistical Leaders
Kyle McCord: 19-26, 189 yards, 3 TDs, INT.
TreVeyon Henderson: 22 carries, 128 yards, TD
TreVeyon Henderson: 5 catches, 80 yards
Marvin Harrison Jr.: 4 catches, 25 yards, 2 TDs
Source: ESPN
Picture Credit: clutchpoints.com
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