close
close

Gottagopestcontrol

Trusted News & Timely Insights

    • 5 things we learned from the win
    Michigan

    5 things we learned from the win

    Caradoc Wyn Posted on

    EAST LANSING, Mich. – Here are five things we learned from Ohio State’s 38-7 win over Michigan State on Saturday night:

    The Buckeyes are making real progress on offense

    Michigan State presented the first real test of a Chip Kelly-revamped offense.

    Through four weeks, the Spartans allowed just 4.3 yards per play, a mark that ranked 17th in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

    Part of their success came from pressuring quarterbacks. Before this weekend, only one defense in the country had recorded more sacks.

    The pressure contributed to Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard intercepting a pass to Emeka Egbuka in double coverage in the second quarter.

    But otherwise, Ohio State was flawless and broke through the defense. Six of his first eight drives resulted in points. The offensive line also prevented Howard from being sacked. Before retiring their starters after three quarters, the Buckeyes were averaging 7.3 yards per play, relying on the backfield tandem of TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins and a group of other playmakers.

    Ryan Day trusts Will Howard

    Two decisions in the quarterfinals by Day showed how much he trusted Howard.

    It was early in the second quarter when Howard was nearly picked off in the end zone on third-and-goal, appearing to tackle Jeremiah Smith as safety Malik Spencer slid over to coverage to break up the pass.

    Day responded by making them go all out on the next play, with Howard dropping back and finding tight end Gee Scott Jr. open on a drag route for a score.

    The Buckeyes also had Howard scanned downfield when they faced a fourth-and-5 at Michigan State’s 33-yard line in the third quarter.

    The call resulted in him connecting with Egbuka in a crossing pattern. Egbuka caught the ball just inside the 20-yard line and stayed in front of safety Nikai Martinez as he ran down the sideline en route to a 33-yard touchdown.

    “I love when you feel the confidence of your coordinator, your head coach,” Howard said, “when they put the ball in your hands on fourth down.”

    Slow starts plague the defense

    While Michigan State didn’t score any points on its first possession, it was the last team to move the ball against the Buckeyes’ defense in the early going.

    The Spartans covered 55 yards in seven plays, reaching Ohio State’s 20-yard line before linebacker Cody Simon stuffed Aidan Chiles on a quarterback sneak on fourth down.

    It was the third time in four games that the Buckeyes allowed an opponent to cross midfield on their first drive, after Akron started last week with a 48-yard field goal and Marshall reached the end zone.

    The Buckeyes were so vulnerable this week that they allowed the Spartans an average of 8.6 yards per play on their first four drives.

    In addition to the four-down stop, forced fumbles prevented drives from making much of a difference on the scoreboard, but a more experienced offense will likely benefit from it.

    Jeremiah Smith is the key to the red zone

    Through four games, the Buckeyes have been nearly perfect in the red zone.

    Each of their 16 trips inside the 20-yard line resulted in points and only once was it not a touchdown.

    One factor is Smith, the star freshman wide receiver. Smith is a skilled pass catcher who made a one-handed grab for a 17-yard touchdown late in the second quarter on Saturday and also ran 19 yards into the end zone on an earlier drive.

    Of the Buckeyes’ 15 red zone touchdowns this year, four were the result of Smith, including two against the Spartans.

    The search for kickoff returnees continues

    The Buckeyes have used a different kickoff returner in three straight games.

    After Jayden Ballard misjudged a fair catch on a return against Western Michigan, they replaced him with Brandon Inniss, who started as a returner against Marshall last week.

    But they sent Emeka Egbuka against the Spartans so he could reprise his role from his first season in 2021.

    Touchbacks from Michigan State kicker Jonathan Kim ultimately prevented Egbuka from returning the ball.

    Inniss continues to return punts, taking two of them for 19 yards this week, but there is no clear option on kickoffs.

    Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. @joeyrkaufman or send him an email at [email protected].

    Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts

    Tagged:

    LEAVE A RESPONSE

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Caradoc Wyn
    View all posts

    You Might Also Like

    ads