MY THOUGHTS.....ILLINOIS

                 

                          On a windy day in Champaign, the Ohio State run game and defense provided the muscle needed to overpower Illinois and set the stage for the tough tests that await the Buckeyes from here on out.  Quarterback J.T. Barrett made his return from the suspension and was hit-and-miss in the first half, although he clearly got shafted out of a touchdown on Ohio State’s first possession.  (I will have a post sometime next month on the poor quality of officiating).  Still, the Buckeyes had trouble on offense in the first part of the game, failing to gain more than 15 yards on five of their first eight possessions.  The Illinois front seven was able to pressure Barrett for much of the game with a myriad of blitz packages and the offensive line had some trouble adapting.  On the other hand, the offensive line was solid in the running game as they paved the way for Ezekiel Elliott to tear up the Illini defense to the tune of 181 yards and two touchdowns.  Elliott pushed his nations-best streak of 100-yard rushing games to 15 and his power and toughness was showcased on Ohio State’s first scoring drive of the second half.  Carrying seven times in the drive, including five in a row, Elliott delivered a fearsome mixture of power, speed, and punishment to the Illini defenders.  Even though the Illini got pressure on Barrett, he was still to connect with Michael Thomas six times for 76 yards and the first touchdown in which Thomas completely outclassed Illinois CB Eaton Spence on a beautiful 24-yard throw from Barrett.   Thomas also ran his consecutive-games streak with at least one catch to 26.  Barrett’s biggest play was the 4^th-and-11 just before halftime where he picked up 16.  Three plays later, Barrett scored a touchdown he got credit for, on a 6-yard keeper.

The Ohio State defense completely stoned the Illini running attack, limiting Josh Ferguson to a mere 49 yards and getting three sacks on QB Wes Lunt while pressuring him on countless other plays.  Lunt was never able to get into a rhythm throwing the medium and deep balls and I noticed how Bosa, Washington, and Tyquan Lewis were usually in Lunt’s face forcing the normally accurate Illinois quarterback to complete less than half of his throws (23 for 47).  The defining moment came midway through the second quarter when Illinois recovered a Barrett fumble at the Buckeyes’31.  The Ohio State defense rose up and stuffed the Illini and the 50-yard field goal attempt hit and bounced off the right upright.  Joey Bosa was the leader up front with seven tackles, sharing a sack with Raekwon McMillan.  McMillan lead the team with 14 tackles and in addition to the aforementioned defenders, I noticed safety Vonn Bell and linebacker Darron Lee coming up on several plays to squash any semblance of a ground game as Illinois managed a paltry 20 yards on the ground. 

Ohio State has allowed only 34 points the past four games, and with Barrett and Elliott hitting their stride running the ball, the Buckeyes seem to be finding a clear identity on both sides of the ball.  It’s happening at the right time, as every game from here on out (starting Saturday with Michigan State), will be against a quality opponent.