IDLE WEEK 2

 

The Ohio State Buckeyes have their second idle week this week still unscathed after getting three road wins over a decent, ranked conference opponent, a decent conference opponent just outside the top 25 and a struggling conference program sandwiched around a dominant home win. 

            The defense, under new defensive coordinator Matt Patricia, has been performing at an unbelievable rate.  Giving up less than six points per game, it is the best mark in that area in the first half of a season since 1973.  This includes a mere four touchdowns in the seven games and only two touchdowns (both against Illinois) given up in the red zone.  It includes the first shutout of a conference opponent on the road since 2017 and giving up an opponent third-down conversion rate of barely over 20 percent and 85 yards per game on the ground.  Arvell Reese is the leading tackler with 42 tackles, which includes six sacks.  Caden Curry has been a stud on the defensive line, leading the team with his eleven tackles for loss and seven sacks, while the secondary has seen improved play from Davison Igbinosun.  Thus far, Igbinosun has reduced his holding and pass interference penalties, while recording 26 tackles and breaking up four passes. Caleb Downs leads the secondary in tackles with 34 and has contributed a couple of tackles for loss as well.  Payton Pierce has made quite a contribution as a newcomer with his 25 tackles and seems to be getting better as the season goes on.  The way this defense is playing gives Ohio State an edge over anybody remaining on their schedule, even if the offense is not playing at their best.

            Speaking of the offense, the obvious work that needs to be done is in the ground game.  At times, the offensive line had trouble getting a push, especially against the Illinois and Wisconsin defensive lines.  This comes as the offensive line is doing a good job of protecting QB Julian Sayin from defensive pressure.  But the offense is averaging just 152 yards per game on the ground.  Newcomer Bo Jackson has been a pleasant surprise and is a bona fide threat to take it the distance on any play.  Jackson leads the team with 433 yards, averaging over six yards per carry, and scoring two touchdowns, while C.J. Donaldson’s power running has netted 249 yards and his six touchdowns have come in goal-line situations where he has been nearly impossible to stop.  James Peoples has contributed 202 yards and newcomer Isaiah West has gotten opportunities in the RB rotation with 104 yards, averaging nearly five yards per carry and scoring once.  Of course, the Julian Sayin-to-Jeremiah Smith connection has been the talk of college football.  Sayin has completed an amazing 79 percent of his throws for almost 1900 yards and 19 touchdowns against a mere three interceptions.  Sayin has been as accurate on deep throws to Smith and Carnell Tate, as well as short routes to the running backs and TE Max Klare.  Jeremiah Smith leads the way with 49 receptions for 602 yards and seven touchdowns.  Opposing defenses are finding out by paying too much attention to Smith, they are paving the way for Carnell Tate to get open, and getting open, Tate has done with a flourish, catching 34 passes for 587 yards and six touchdowns.  Klare is third on the team with 20 receptions for 204 yards and a touchdown.  We’ve also seen Brandon Innis figure prominently in the receiver rotation with 14 catches for 113 yards and a touchdown. 

            Next week, Ohio State welcomes a struggling Penn State team into the ‘Shoe.  Even though the Nittany Lions have dropped four straight, dumped Coach James Franklin, and lost their star quarterback Drew Allar for the rest of the season, they figure to put up a tougher than expected fight, so Ohio State will need to come out of this idle week ready to take the fight to them from the get go.