But leading 17-7, Ohio State fell into a prolonged funk. The Buckeyes punted on their next five possessions. Lingering problems resurfaced — the lack of a consistent passing game, unimaginative play-calling. Northwestern seemed a step ahead, in coaching and in execution. Quarterback Clayton Thorson repeatedly found wide receiver Austin Carr (eight receptions for 158 yards) for crucial catches. Carr usually lined up in the slot, avoiding Ohio State’s top cornerbacks, Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore. Carr took poor Damon Webb to school on at least three occasions I saw. Thorson, not known as a runner, had well-timed scrambles to keep drives alive. However, the defense, once again put in bad positions by the lack-luster offense, found ways to keep the Wildcats from ever gaining the lead. They bent, as they never did find a way to shut down Austin Carr and the Wildcats on third down (Northwestern was 7 of 14 on third down conversion attempts). Malik Hooker was all over the field, leading the way with 14 tackles. Malik Hooker's presence and closing speed were apparent as he slashed at ball carriers on multiple occasions to stop them at the line of scrimmage or for a short gain. His 14 tackles easily led both teams and the Buckeyes needed every single one of them. But, at times, the secondary seemed lost as they gave up 258 yards through the air, the run defense was gashed for a couple of big gains on the ground and I noticed the defensive front four didn’t get much of a pass rush on Thorsen, notching just one sack.
As much as the Buckeyes continue to lack any semblance of a downfield passing game, Barrett and the offense took care of business on first down against the Wildcats on Saturday. The 5.7 yards per play average is a far cry from what happened a week earlier at Penn State, where Ohio State finished with an under 3.0 yards-per-play mark against the Nittany Lions in its 24-21 loss. The offensive line got a much better push against Northwestern than at Penn State, which helped the running game find space.
It also protected Barrett to the tune of only allowing one sack on Saturday, much better than the six that happened in State College. That helped the Buckeyes move forward on early downs, especially early in the game when they scored on their first three possessions. Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett accounted for 294 yards. He was 21-for-32 passing for 223 yards with 13 carries for 77 yards on the ground. He was not responsible for a touchdown. For Barrett, that was the first time in his career as a starter that happened, but Barrett made two of the biggest plays of the game on Ohio State’s final drive, too, a 16-yard strike to Noah Brown on 3rd-and-8 when the Buckeyes were backed up on their own 27-yard line late in the fourth quarter needing to extend the drive and a 35-yard run on third down later in that same drive that sealed the win. Despite the sputtering offense, I thought the offensive line took a step forward from last week. Ohio State's offensive line had its worst game of the season last weekend in the loss to Penn State. Northwestern is not as stout up front as the Nittany Lions, but there was significant progress up front for the Buckeyes in Saturday's win. Ohio State allowed only one sack against the Wildcats and they only allowed four tackles for loss. RT Isaiah Price and RG Michael Jordan looked significantly better than they did a week ago.
The downfield passing game continues to be a work in progress. The wind yesterday may have further hampered it, as it was swirling about, but It wasn't until the deciding drive of the game the Buckeyes completed a pass down the field—a 34-yarder to K.J. Hill on a wheel route where Northwestern defenders jumped the flat and left the redshirt freshman wide open behind them.
Next week, the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who suffered their first loss in OT at Wisconsin, will provide a sterner test to Barrett and the downfield passing attack and figures to test the young Buckeye secondary.
Despite a subpar performance, the Buckeyes remain in the same spot they were at the start of play Saturday in the Big Ten East race, due to Michigan's win at Michigan State and Penn State's at Purdue. Should all three teams win out, the annual battle between the Buckeyes and Wolverines will decide who heads to Indianapolis and the Big Ten Championship Game.
No comments:
Post a Comment