MY THOUGHTS-AKRON

                                    MY THOUGHTS…..AKRON

            So another season-opener is in the books for Ohio State.
There is a new coach in Columbus, but the same results for the Buckeyes, as they won their 33rd-straight home-opener with a 42-0 victory over visiting Akron Saturday.
It was the debut of first-year head coach Luke Fickell, who held serve with his predecessors. The last Ohio State coach to lose his coaching debut was Jack Ryder, who suffered a 40-4 loss at Oberlin in 1892.
OSU coaches are 21-0-1 in their home debuts. The last one to lose his home opener was Alexander Lilley in 1890. That is a lot of winning. It also probably says a lot about the caliber of opponent they are playing to start the season.
In fact, Ohio State has not lost a home-opener in 33 years - Sept. 16, 1978 to be exact when No. 6 Ohio State suffered a 19-0 loss to No. 5 Penn State in Woody Hayes’ final season as head coach.

The heat not withstanding, there were many things I saw that were pleasing.  After a shaky first series, Braxton Miller showed flashes of his athletic ability with a 12-yard scramble and run and threading the needle on his touchdown throw to Devin Smith.  Joe Bauserman firmly grasped the offensive reigns with a solid performance running the offense and his three scoring tosses, and who says Bauserman can’t run.  His 14-yard scoring scramble looked almost, dare we say, Pryor-esque?  The offensive line showed some crisp run blocking schemes and did not give up a sack.  Jake Stoneburner showed he is capable of making up for lack of depth in the receiving corps by hauling in three scoring tosses, the most by a tight end in a game in OSU history, and the one-handed catch by Evan Spencer made all the ESPN highlight reels.  Of course, all of this was against an Akron defense that was the worst in the MAC last year, but considering all the missing players on offense (either due to graduation or suspension), it was hard not to come away at least somewhat impressed.

Defensively, the Buckeyes were lights out.  Again, it was against a pitiful Akron offense that was second to last in the MAC last year, but any coach knows it’s not that easy to get a shut out against anyone.  Andrew Sweat led the way with 2 tackles for loss and an interception.  Also turning in a solid game was true freshman back up linebacker Ryan Shazer.  In his very first game, Shazer accounted for two tackles for loss and a sack.  Dominic Clarke and C.J. Barnett were tested deep several times, and each proved equal to the task, breaking up big-play opportunities for Akron. 

Special teams appeared to be the weak link here.  Although Ben Buchanan averaged over 40 yards per punt, and the coverage seemed adequate, it appears Drew Basil has work to do, fanning twice on field goal attempts that were very makeable (on his first miss, Akron was offsides, so he got a second try five yards closer).

What can we conclude from this?  Not much, other than Ohio State defeated Akron 42-0.  Akron is easily the worst team on the schedule this year and the quality of the opponent starts ramping up, starting this week with the Toledo Rockets, picked by some to win the MAC this year.  It still is something to build on.  Actual game experience is priceless, even against an inferior opponent and it provides a defining point of breaking with the rough off-season Ohio State has had.