2016 Season in Review

OHIO STATE BUCKEYES (11-2)(8-1)

77        Bowiing Green              10

48        Tulsa                              3

45        at Oklahoma                24

58        Rutgers                          0

38        Indiana                        17

30        at Wisconsin                23 (OT)

21        at Penn State               24

24        Northwestern              20

62        Nebraska                      3

62        at Maryland                  3

17        at Michigan State        16

30        Michigan                     27 (2OT)

  0        Clemson                      31

            (Fiesta Bowl)(Playoff)

Although the 2016 season ended with a thud in the Fiesta Bowl, it will be remembered as a season in which a team with many new starters navigated their way through a tough schedule, won on the road at Oklahoma and at Wisconsin and came from ten down to defeat rival Michigan in two overtimes.  

Offensively, there were things to like and things not to like.  The emergence of Mike Weber as a ground-pounding back in the same mold as Ezekiel Elliott was a plus.  Weber was thrust into the starting role just before the season opener verses Bowling Green when projected starter Bri’on’e Dunn was dismissed from the team for an assault incident.  Weber responded by gaining over 1000 yards, averaging six yards per carry, and scoring nine touchdowns.  His production no doubt paved the way for quarterback J.T. Barrett and hybrid back Curtis Samuel to have productive seasons on the ground, as Barrett gained 845 and Samuel 771.  While the rushing attack generally hit on all cylinders, the passing game was hit-and-miss all year.  Part of that was due to young receivers and a young offensive line that struggled at times in pass protection.  Curtis Samuel was the leading receiver with 74 receptions for 865 yards and seven touchdowns.  No doubt that Samuel gets my vote as offensive MVP for this 2016 team.  Noah Brown emerged as a big-time receiver in the Oklahoma game, with four touchdown receptions and ended up with 32 catches for 402 yards and seven scores.  Marcus Baugh also had a good year at the TE position as he showed his receiving skills on both the short and deep routes with 24 receptions for 269 yards and two scores.  The offensive line was expected to have some growing pains this year and they were exposed against Penn State and Clemson and struggled against Wisconsin and Michigan State.  This was balanced out against strong performances in the win against Oklahoma and in the fourth quarter and OT against Michigan.

The defense was strong all year and only against Clemson did they finally wilt, and not until the fourth quarter.  My defensive MVP goes to CB Malik Hooker, as the first-year starter became an All-American and set a school record with seven interceptions, returning three of those for touchdowns.  Thought to be a weak point in this defensive unit, the rest of the secondary performed at a high level.  First-year starter Marshon Lattimore got four picks, along with experienced CB Gareon Conley.  The linebackers were also stellar, with MLB Raekwon McMillan leading the way with 102 tackles and first-year starter Jerome Baker chipping in 83 tackles and two interceptions, one of them a pick-six at Oklahoma.  The defensive line also played well with Dre’Mont Jones and Sam Hubbard stepping up into starting roles and performing very well along with Nick Bosa who picked up where his older brother Joey left off with five sacks. 

Special teams were a strength that, unfortunately, seemed to taper off at the end of the season.  Tyler Durbin entered the Michigan game having missed on only one field goal attempt, however, ended the season on a slump, hitting only one of his last five.  Cameron Johnston continued as one of the best punters in the country, averaging almost 46 yards per punt.

The bottom line is, one of the youngest, least experienced teams in all of major college football, managed to win on the road at Oklahoma and Wisconsin, defeat a top-5 Michigan team, and make the College Football Playoff.  Next year looks pretty bright, even if a few players opt to the NFL.  Center Pat Elflein is the only one along the offensive line who will not be back.  If everybody stays, they’ll have more experience at every skilled position, a proven RB in Mike Weber, and an experienced senior quarterback JT Barrett.  What will be needed, however, may be a shakeup in the offensive coaching staff.  The offensive production sagged significantly in multiple games.  Against Penn State, Curtis Samuel touched the ball only four times and not that many times at Michigan State and there were other times when the offensive coaching staff was slow to make needed adjustments. 

So, in the off-season, look for changes in the offensive coaching staff to be made as well as a replacement for defensive coach Luke Fickell, who will be taking the head coaching job at the University of Cincinnati. 

But, with a lot of these young players having a year under their belt, the Buckeyes look to be loaded for 2017.

My next post will be in March at the beginning of spring practice.  Until then, enjoy the off-season.

2017 Schedule

Aug 31: at Indiana

Sep 9: Oklahoma

Sep 16: Army

Sep 23: UNLV

Sep 30: at Rutgers

Oct 7: Maryland

Oct 14: at Nebraska

Oct 21: idle

Oct 28: Penn State

Nov 4: at Iowa

Nov 11: Michigan State

Nov 18: Illinois

Nov 25: at Michigan