BYE WEEK NOTES

       

         

The regular season is a quarter complete and Ohio State's defense is outscoring opposing offenses 28-23. The team's lowest scoring output thus far - 45 points in Norman, where the game ended in victory formation near Oklahoma's end zone - would have been the second-highest total last season.   The Buckeyes are one of the youngest teams (in terms of starters with game experience) in the country and they made an emphatic announcement they were to be taken seriously in the national title hunt this year.

                Curtis Samuel has been the top running back and has, thus far, confounded opposing defenses in lining up in different spots.  He has lined up on 73 pays split wide, 64 in the backfield and another six taking direct snaps. He’s averaging 8.1 yards per carry while leading the team in receiving with 259 yards. Meyer is known for using running backs and slot receivers interchangeably and Samuel has been a perfect fit so far this season.  Of course, Ohio State players and coaches have been talking up WR Noah Brown since he came here.  A season-ending injury last year before the season started ended Brown’s 2015 campaign.  In Ohio State’s 45-24 win at Oklahoma, the redshirt sophomore has five catches for 72 yards and four touchdowns.  Of course, one of those will still be on highlight reels throughout the season.  Brown showed he has the ability to be the Buckeyes' true No. 1 option out wide this fall with his latest performance, aka Devon Smith.

                  Marshon Lattimore is someone who has really progressed in his role on the Buckeyes defense.  Targeting Lattimore has not gone well for opposing quarterbacks so far this season, as he’s allowed five catches on 10 targets, but he also has three interceptions and two other passes defensed.  In fact, the young players in the secondary, particularly Malik Hooker, have stepped into their starting roles without missing a beat thus far and didn’t seem to slow down after the experienced Gareon Conley left the Oklahoma game with an injury.  Conley should be full go for Rutgers on October 1.  The offensive line, their first half struggles against Tulsa notwithstanding, played a great game against the tough Oklahoma odd defensive front.  I’ve also been impressed with the performance of the defensive line as one of the biggest question marks of this team was replacing Joey Bosa and Adolphus Washington off of last year’s team.  The defensive coaches have taken a strong “committee” approach and it has thus far paid dividends.  DE Sam Hubbard has been solid while the other DE Tyquan Lewis has continued his strong play with his improved pass rushing. Among the new names, defensive tackle Michael Hill has held the point in the running game. DT Dre’Mont Jones had his best game of the year against Oklahoma and DT Robert Landers has played well on his 20 or so snaps per game.

               Special teams also look to be in good shape as Cameron Johnston continues to be one of the best punters in the country, averaging over 50 yards per punt and kicker Tyler Durbin has made each of the three field goals he has attempted.

              Awaiting the Buckeyes however, is a B1G Conference that appears to be much improved from a year ago.  The Buckeyes still have to go on the road against ranked conference foes Wisconsin and Michigan State.  So, the win over Oklahoma was big, but going to Madison and East Lansing will be tougher tests for this young Buckeye squad.  But from this perspective, they certainly have the talent and coaching to win these games, the B1G Championship, and get into the College Football Playoff for the second time in three years.