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LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land: Ohio State dominates Western Michigan, avoids MACtion upset
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Hangout in the Holy Land: Ohio State dominates Western Michigan, avoids MACtion upset
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Notre Dame lost and Penn State had to battle against MAC opponents, but the Buckeyes result was never in question, winning 56-0.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Since it is officially in season, Josh and Justin are back for a second episode this week, and we are recapping Ohio State’s Week two’s dominant victory over Western Michigan.
Unlike last week against Akron, the Buckeyes got off to a hot start and cruised to a 56-0 win over the Broncos, heading into the bye week next week at 2-0. We recapped everything we saw from week two and what we liked from the first game to the second.
Before that, we discussed a crazy week in college football nationally and in the Big Ten. Does Michigan stink? Is Nebraska awesome? And Illinois picked up a good win over Kansas.
Please like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Notre Dame lost and Penn State had to battle against MAC opponents, but the Buckeyes result was never in question, winning 56-0.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Justin Golba as they discuss Ohio State football, basketball, recruiting, and much more! Come for the hot takes. Stay for the warm ones.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Since it is officially in season, Josh and Justin are back for a second episode this week, and we are recapping Ohio State’s Week two’s dominant victory over Western Michigan.
Unlike last week against Akron, the Buckeyes got off to a hot start and cruised to a 56-0 win over the Broncos, heading into the bye week next week at 2-0. We recapped everything we saw from week two and what we liked from the first game to the second.
Before that, we discussed a crazy week in college football nationally and in the Big Ten. Does Michigan stink? Is Nebraska awesome? And Illinois picked up a good win over Kansas.
Please like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast. As always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod:
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley:
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Justin Golba:
Twitter: @justin_golba
Continue reading...
LGHL Stock Market Report: Ohio State puts on cruise control, takes down Western Michigan 56-0
- News
- 0 Replies
Stock Market Report: Ohio State puts on cruise control, takes down Western Michigan 56-0
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
The running back room ran for six touchdowns and the offense totaled almost 700 yards in the victory heading into the bye week.
Unlike last week against Akron, No. 2 ranked Ohio State got off to a fast start and never looked back, taking down another MAC foe in Western Michigan, 56-0.
The Buckeyes were basically perfect, totaling 683 yards on offense and only giving up 99 yards on defense. The Silver Bullets have only given up six points and no touchdowns in eight quarters as Ohio State prepares for a bye week and then Marshall in two weeks.
Here is who helped and hurt their stock in Week 2:
The running back duo
I call it the duo, referring to TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, but it is really just the whole running back room in general. This was one of the negative (kind of) takeaways from Week 1, but I went against the grain and said I am buying the running back room moving forward.
Even though Western Michigan isn’t Georgia, 273 yards on 39 carries and six touchdowns is tough against anyone. Henderson and Judkins looked more comfortable than they did in Week 1. I expect them to continue to get better and become the focal point of the offense.
Chip Kelly
There was some pushback on Kelly after his first game calling plays against Akron, and he himself said that he was unhappy with the way he called plays. However, in his second showing as the play-caller, he was much better, bringing diversity and creativity to the offense while helping get the playmakers open in space and letting them create with the football in their hands.
Will Howard and the run-pass option
Howard is a good thrower, and with weapons like Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, he will put up numbers that he hasn’t yet put up in his career. However, what makes Howard the most dangerous in this Chip Kelly offense is his ability to run.
The way they have used the RPO this season thus far is an example of that. All defenses have to respect Howard’s ability to take off and get yards using his legs, opening up options for Kelly and Ryan Day to implement more plays and get guys open using the run-pass option.
Slow starts
I will be the first person to say I did not care about the Buckeye’s slow start and shaky first half against Akron. Still, it is way more fun when you have a game like this one, where the Buckeyes jump ahead big early and bury the opponent immediately.
Way more fun.
Buy: MACTion
Anyone who follows college football closely knows the Mid-American Conference is awesome. The Halloween games on Tuesday night in the snow in front of 30 people on ESPN2 have a romantic feel to them that rivals almost nothing.
On Saturday, Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame, and Bowling Green made Penn State sweat until the final seconds of the game. At least Ohio State didn’t struggle.
Buy: Kyle McCord
Hand up: I told people last season to buy stock in McCord, and I was wrong. But I can’t quit this guy. He has had a great start to his second start at Syracuse, and with the current state of the ACC and their schedule, the Orange could be in store for a big season.
McCord was not the right quarterback for Ohio State, and the Buckeyes did upgrade the position with Will Howard, but he is still a good to even great college quarterback. A place like Syracuse is perfect for him to succeed, and I will be rooting for him.
Sell: Targeting
Targeting was created with good intentions, but it has morphed into something genuinely ridiculous. On top of that, the punishment simply does not match the crime anymore.
It should not be an immediate ejection. It is too subjective of a penalty at this point, and unless it is clearly malicious and the intent to injure is present, the penalty has to be level to make it fair.
Sell: Injuries
They are a fact of life in the game of football and sports, but Western Michigan had to play this one without star running back Jalen Buckley, and injuries ruin good things. It would have been fun to see Buckley against this Ohio State defense, and I hope he recovers quickly.
Continue reading...
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
The running back room ran for six touchdowns and the offense totaled almost 700 yards in the victory heading into the bye week.
Unlike last week against Akron, No. 2 ranked Ohio State got off to a fast start and never looked back, taking down another MAC foe in Western Michigan, 56-0.
The Buckeyes were basically perfect, totaling 683 yards on offense and only giving up 99 yards on defense. The Silver Bullets have only given up six points and no touchdowns in eight quarters as Ohio State prepares for a bye week and then Marshall in two weeks.
Here is who helped and hurt their stock in Week 2:
Blue Chip
The running back duo
I call it the duo, referring to TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, but it is really just the whole running back room in general. This was one of the negative (kind of) takeaways from Week 1, but I went against the grain and said I am buying the running back room moving forward.
Even though Western Michigan isn’t Georgia, 273 yards on 39 carries and six touchdowns is tough against anyone. Henderson and Judkins looked more comfortable than they did in Week 1. I expect them to continue to get better and become the focal point of the offense.
Solid Investments
Chip Kelly
There was some pushback on Kelly after his first game calling plays against Akron, and he himself said that he was unhappy with the way he called plays. However, in his second showing as the play-caller, he was much better, bringing diversity and creativity to the offense while helping get the playmakers open in space and letting them create with the football in their hands.
Will Howard and the run-pass option
Howard is a good thrower, and with weapons like Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, he will put up numbers that he hasn’t yet put up in his career. However, what makes Howard the most dangerous in this Chip Kelly offense is his ability to run.
The way they have used the RPO this season thus far is an example of that. All defenses have to respect Howard’s ability to take off and get yards using his legs, opening up options for Kelly and Ryan Day to implement more plays and get guys open using the run-pass option.
Junk Bonds
Slow starts
I will be the first person to say I did not care about the Buckeye’s slow start and shaky first half against Akron. Still, it is way more fun when you have a game like this one, where the Buckeyes jump ahead big early and bury the opponent immediately.
Way more fun.
Buy/Sell
Buy: MACTion
Anyone who follows college football closely knows the Mid-American Conference is awesome. The Halloween games on Tuesday night in the snow in front of 30 people on ESPN2 have a romantic feel to them that rivals almost nothing.
On Saturday, Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame, and Bowling Green made Penn State sweat until the final seconds of the game. At least Ohio State didn’t struggle.
Buy: Kyle McCord
Hand up: I told people last season to buy stock in McCord, and I was wrong. But I can’t quit this guy. He has had a great start to his second start at Syracuse, and with the current state of the ACC and their schedule, the Orange could be in store for a big season.
McCord was not the right quarterback for Ohio State, and the Buckeyes did upgrade the position with Will Howard, but he is still a good to even great college quarterback. A place like Syracuse is perfect for him to succeed, and I will be rooting for him.
Sell: Targeting
Targeting was created with good intentions, but it has morphed into something genuinely ridiculous. On top of that, the punishment simply does not match the crime anymore.
It should not be an immediate ejection. It is too subjective of a penalty at this point, and unless it is clearly malicious and the intent to injure is present, the penalty has to be level to make it fair.
Sell: Injuries
They are a fact of life in the game of football and sports, but Western Michigan had to play this one without star running back Jalen Buckley, and injuries ruin good things. It would have been fun to see Buckley against this Ohio State defense, and I hope he recovers quickly.
Continue reading...
LGHL All the news from Ohio State’s 56-0 blowout of WMU; Howard, Judkins, Smith dominate
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All the news from Ohio State’s 56-0 blowout of WMU; Howard, Judkins, Smith dominate
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
Ohio State Rushers Lead in 56-0 Win over Broncos
Ohio State Athletics
OSU offense lights up like Fourth of July on Western Michigan
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
Buckeyes get out of the starting block fast, bury Western Michigan 56-0
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Ohio State Steamrolls Western Michigan, 56-0, For Second Win of 2024 Season
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Buckeyes defense finally notches shutout in dominant performance (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Buckeyes shut out Broncos 56-0 in dominant performance
Samuel Cipriani, The Lantern
Postgame Quotes vs. Western Michigan
Ohio State Athletics
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ohio State’s 56-0 win over Western Michigan
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Snap Judgments: Buckeyes start fast, throttle Western Michigan
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
5 things we learned from OSU’s 56-0 win over Western Michigan
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Quick Takes: Buckeyes start fast, dominate defensively against Western Michigan
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Moment of the Game: Will Howard brings a much-needed extra dimension to Ohio State’s offense
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
This is what the second play in Week 1 was supposed to look like:
Postgame Notes vs. Western Michigan
Ohio State Athletics
First thoughts: Buckeyes steamroll Western Michigan (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State Shows How Elite It Can Be in 2024 with Dominant Performance Against Western Michigan
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Helmet Stickers: Ohio State newcomers get comfortable in blowout win
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes
Ohio State’s Defense Posts First Shutout Since 2019, Allows Just 99 Yards in Dismantling of Western Michigan
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Already the best receiver in the country:
Stock Market Report: Ohio State puts on cruise control, takes down Western Michigan 56-0
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Oller’s OSU instant thoughts: Michigan meltdown, Buckeyes in a blowout
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
Report Card: Grading Buckeyes Week 2 win over Western Michigan (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Donovan Jackson Expected Back vs. Marshall, Arvell Reese Emerges As Third Linebacker and Denzel Burke Ejected for Targeting
Dan Hope and Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
It is long past ridiculous:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara J. Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe to the Land-Grant Podcast Network for all of your Ohio State needs
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | iHeart Radio
News From Ohio State’s 56-0 Victory Over Western Michigan
Ohio State Rushers Lead in 56-0 Win over Broncos
Ohio State Athletics
OSU offense lights up like Fourth of July on Western Michigan
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
Buckeyes get out of the starting block fast, bury Western Michigan 56-0
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Ohio State Steamrolls Western Michigan, 56-0, For Second Win of 2024 Season
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Buckeyes defense finally notches shutout in dominant performance (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Buckeyes shut out Broncos 56-0 in dominant performance
Samuel Cipriani, The Lantern
Postgame Quotes vs. Western Michigan
Ohio State Athletics
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ohio State’s 56-0 win over Western Michigan
Gene Ross, Land-Grant Holy Land
Snap Judgments: Buckeyes start fast, throttle Western Michigan
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
5 things we learned from OSU’s 56-0 win over Western Michigan
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Quick Takes: Buckeyes start fast, dominate defensively against Western Michigan
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Moment of the Game: Will Howard brings a much-needed extra dimension to Ohio State’s offense
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
This is what the second play in Week 1 was supposed to look like:
Postgame Notes vs. Western Michigan
Ohio State Athletics
First thoughts: Buckeyes steamroll Western Michigan (paywall)
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Ohio State Shows How Elite It Can Be in 2024 with Dominant Performance Against Western Michigan
Dan Hope, Eleven Warriors
Helmet Stickers: Ohio State newcomers get comfortable in blowout win
Jeremy Birmingham, Dotting the Eyes
Ohio State’s Defense Posts First Shutout Since 2019, Allows Just 99 Yards in Dismantling of Western Michigan
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Already the best receiver in the country:
Stock Market Report: Ohio State puts on cruise control, takes down Western Michigan 56-0
Justin Golba, Land-Grant Holy Land
Oller’s OSU instant thoughts: Michigan meltdown, Buckeyes in a blowout
Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch
Report Card: Grading Buckeyes Week 2 win over Western Michigan (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Donovan Jackson Expected Back vs. Marshall, Arvell Reese Emerges As Third Linebacker and Denzel Burke Ejected for Targeting
Dan Hope and Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
It is long past ridiculous:
Continue reading...
LGHL The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ohio State’s 56-0 win over Western Michigan
- News
- 0 Replies
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Ohio State’s 56-0 win over Western Michigan
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
There was a whole lot to like about the Buckeyes
Ryan Day was hoping to see his team get out to a faster start in Week 2, and that is exactly what Ohio State did as a 21-0 first quarter paved the way for a 56-0 win for the Buckeyes over Western Michigan. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins each scored twice, Jeremiah Smith did his thing and the Silver Bullets allowed less than 100 yards of total offense in a comprehensive beatdown of the Broncos.
Here is the good, the bad and the ugly from Ohio State’s victory over Western Michigan.
Jeremiah Smith
For the second-straight week, Smith led Ohio State in the receiving department, recording five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. The bulk of his yardage came on one long catch-and-run score of 70 yards in the first quarter, outrunning the entire Western Michigan defense en route to the end zone. It is clear that Will Howard has zoned in on Smith as one of his favorite targets, and that’s for good reason.
The first-year phenom is well on his way to shattering all of Ohio State’s receiving records. With three touchdowns in just his first two games, Smith is already tied for 5th on the Buckeyes’ freshman TDs list. The record is currently held by Cris Carter, who scored eight times as a freshman in 1984. The five-star is already nearly halfway there despite playing less than six full quarters of collegiate football.
Offensive Line
Ohio State’s offensive line was not all that impressive in the season opener against Akron. It wasn’t terrible by any means, but it definitely left something to be desired. Fans began to wonder if they would have to wait until the return of starting guard Donovan Jackson to get a full picture of what the unit would look like, but Jackson sat out for a second-straight game against Western Michigan despite being designated as available before the contest.
Even without Jackson, Ohio State’s offensive line played much better in Week 2. The Buckeyes were able to run the ball at will, with Quinshon Judkins the star of the show tallying 108 yards on nine carries (12 yards per carry) with two touchdowns, and TreVeyon Henderson right behind him with 10 carries for 66 yards (6.6 YPC) and two scores. The starting unit also kept a majority clean pocket for Will Howard, who threw for 292 yards and a TD while also rushing for a six-yard score.
RPOs
Speaking of Howard, a lot of his success passing the ball was a result of a strong RPO game by Ohio State. Chip Kelly has a plethora of weapons at his disposal on this offense, and the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator was finding really creative ways to keep the defense guessing. The long TD by Smith was set up on one of these RPOs, with Howard faking the handoff to Judkins and looking at Carnell Tate in the flat before firing to the freshman on an in-breaking route upfield.
Ohio State is dangerous enough with all of the playmakers it has on that side of the ball alone, but some of these new looks and wrinkles add another whole element that opposing defenses will have to game plan for. Howard seems really comfortable running this offense, and made some great reads time and time again. We have likely only scratched the surface of what these guys are capable of when everything is clicking.
Shutouts
Defensively, Ohio State held Western Michigan without a single point — the Buckeyes’ first shutout victory since defeating Cincinnati 42-0 in 2019. The Broncos were able to muster only 99 yards of total offense, with quarterback Hayden Wolff completing 8-of-15 passes for 71 yards and the run game averaging less than one yard per carry.
The Buckeyes did not come away with any takeaways in this one, but they were consistently flying to the ball and making it nearly impossible for Western Michigan to move the chains. The Silver Bullets recorded two sacks — one each by Cody Simon and Jack Sawyer, with Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton each getting credit for a half-sack — five tackles for loss and held the Broncos to just 3-of-15 on third down.
One-Minute Drill
In a performance as good as Ohio State’s on Saturday, we’re going to have to get a little nit-picky to find the bad stuff. One of those areas we can look at is the Buckeyes’ attempt at practicing a one-minute drill at the end of the first half.
Ohio State got the ball at its own 13-yard line with 1:04 remaining in the second quarter. The drive started off well enough, with Smith leaping to snag a slightly overthrown ball for a gain of 15 yards. The Buckeyes followed that up with another 6-yard gain by Smith, but two straight incompletions after that forced OSU to punt the ball back with 35 seconds remaining before the break.
It obviously isn’t the end of the world, but Ohio State will need to get some reps in those types of situations for when they go up against the better teams on their schedule. The Buckeyes had a few breakdowns up front that led to the incompletions on that drive, and it will give them something to work on as they head into an off week.
That One Will Howard Throw
Again, nitpicking, but probably the worst throw of the night for Howard — other than a ball that simply slipped out of his hand and fell harmlessly to the turf — was on a deep ball to Jeremiah Smith early in the second quarter. Howard had the freshman wide open over the top for what would have been a 55-yard touchdown, but he under-threw the receiver and the ball wound up incomplete. Ohio State would wind up punting on the drive.
Howard has been excellent overall for the Buckeyes in his first few games, showcasing the ability to make correct reads, move around in the pocket to avoid pressure and even use his legs to pick up yards. The one area we have really yet to see from the Kansas State transfer is the deep ball, which was a knock of his when he first got to Ohio State. We will have to wait and see how that develops as the season rolls along.
Officiating
It was not exactly a banner night for the officials at Ohio Stadium on Saturday night.
The most egregious call by far was the targeting call and subsequent ejection of Denzel Burke late in the first quarter. Western Michigan running back Jaden Nixon ran towards the sideline and lowered his helmet into contact as he was hit by both Burke and Caleb Downs. There was no flag thrown on the play, but the booth buzzed down to call for a review, and Burke was then ejected for targeting despite there being no intentional helmet-to-helmet contact.
There was another questionable call on Ohio State’s first offensive play of the second quarter, where a holding penalty was called on Bryson Rodgers to negate what would have been an 80-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins. The former Ole Miss running back would wind up scoring a 23-yard touchdown later on the drive anyway, but it was a real ticky-tack call on what was an electric run by Judkins.
Overall, Ohio State was called for six penalties worth 58 yards. Some of that will have to be cleaned up, of course, but the majority of them could have been let go by the officials or were just flat out wrong.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
There was a whole lot to like about the Buckeyes
Ryan Day was hoping to see his team get out to a faster start in Week 2, and that is exactly what Ohio State did as a 21-0 first quarter paved the way for a 56-0 win for the Buckeyes over Western Michigan. TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins each scored twice, Jeremiah Smith did his thing and the Silver Bullets allowed less than 100 yards of total offense in a comprehensive beatdown of the Broncos.
Here is the good, the bad and the ugly from Ohio State’s victory over Western Michigan.
The Good
Jeremiah Smith
For the second-straight week, Smith led Ohio State in the receiving department, recording five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. The bulk of his yardage came on one long catch-and-run score of 70 yards in the first quarter, outrunning the entire Western Michigan defense en route to the end zone. It is clear that Will Howard has zoned in on Smith as one of his favorite targets, and that’s for good reason.
The first-year phenom is well on his way to shattering all of Ohio State’s receiving records. With three touchdowns in just his first two games, Smith is already tied for 5th on the Buckeyes’ freshman TDs list. The record is currently held by Cris Carter, who scored eight times as a freshman in 1984. The five-star is already nearly halfway there despite playing less than six full quarters of collegiate football.
Offensive Line
Ohio State’s offensive line was not all that impressive in the season opener against Akron. It wasn’t terrible by any means, but it definitely left something to be desired. Fans began to wonder if they would have to wait until the return of starting guard Donovan Jackson to get a full picture of what the unit would look like, but Jackson sat out for a second-straight game against Western Michigan despite being designated as available before the contest.
Even without Jackson, Ohio State’s offensive line played much better in Week 2. The Buckeyes were able to run the ball at will, with Quinshon Judkins the star of the show tallying 108 yards on nine carries (12 yards per carry) with two touchdowns, and TreVeyon Henderson right behind him with 10 carries for 66 yards (6.6 YPC) and two scores. The starting unit also kept a majority clean pocket for Will Howard, who threw for 292 yards and a TD while also rushing for a six-yard score.
RPOs
Speaking of Howard, a lot of his success passing the ball was a result of a strong RPO game by Ohio State. Chip Kelly has a plethora of weapons at his disposal on this offense, and the Buckeyes’ offensive coordinator was finding really creative ways to keep the defense guessing. The long TD by Smith was set up on one of these RPOs, with Howard faking the handoff to Judkins and looking at Carnell Tate in the flat before firing to the freshman on an in-breaking route upfield.
Ohio State is dangerous enough with all of the playmakers it has on that side of the ball alone, but some of these new looks and wrinkles add another whole element that opposing defenses will have to game plan for. Howard seems really comfortable running this offense, and made some great reads time and time again. We have likely only scratched the surface of what these guys are capable of when everything is clicking.
Shutouts
Defensively, Ohio State held Western Michigan without a single point — the Buckeyes’ first shutout victory since defeating Cincinnati 42-0 in 2019. The Broncos were able to muster only 99 yards of total offense, with quarterback Hayden Wolff completing 8-of-15 passes for 71 yards and the run game averaging less than one yard per carry.
The Buckeyes did not come away with any takeaways in this one, but they were consistently flying to the ball and making it nearly impossible for Western Michigan to move the chains. The Silver Bullets recorded two sacks — one each by Cody Simon and Jack Sawyer, with Tyleik Williams and Ty Hamilton each getting credit for a half-sack — five tackles for loss and held the Broncos to just 3-of-15 on third down.
The Bad
One-Minute Drill
In a performance as good as Ohio State’s on Saturday, we’re going to have to get a little nit-picky to find the bad stuff. One of those areas we can look at is the Buckeyes’ attempt at practicing a one-minute drill at the end of the first half.
Ohio State got the ball at its own 13-yard line with 1:04 remaining in the second quarter. The drive started off well enough, with Smith leaping to snag a slightly overthrown ball for a gain of 15 yards. The Buckeyes followed that up with another 6-yard gain by Smith, but two straight incompletions after that forced OSU to punt the ball back with 35 seconds remaining before the break.
It obviously isn’t the end of the world, but Ohio State will need to get some reps in those types of situations for when they go up against the better teams on their schedule. The Buckeyes had a few breakdowns up front that led to the incompletions on that drive, and it will give them something to work on as they head into an off week.
That One Will Howard Throw
Again, nitpicking, but probably the worst throw of the night for Howard — other than a ball that simply slipped out of his hand and fell harmlessly to the turf — was on a deep ball to Jeremiah Smith early in the second quarter. Howard had the freshman wide open over the top for what would have been a 55-yard touchdown, but he under-threw the receiver and the ball wound up incomplete. Ohio State would wind up punting on the drive.
Howard has been excellent overall for the Buckeyes in his first few games, showcasing the ability to make correct reads, move around in the pocket to avoid pressure and even use his legs to pick up yards. The one area we have really yet to see from the Kansas State transfer is the deep ball, which was a knock of his when he first got to Ohio State. We will have to wait and see how that develops as the season rolls along.
The Ugly
Officiating
It was not exactly a banner night for the officials at Ohio Stadium on Saturday night.
The most egregious call by far was the targeting call and subsequent ejection of Denzel Burke late in the first quarter. Western Michigan running back Jaden Nixon ran towards the sideline and lowered his helmet into contact as he was hit by both Burke and Caleb Downs. There was no flag thrown on the play, but the booth buzzed down to call for a review, and Burke was then ejected for targeting despite there being no intentional helmet-to-helmet contact.
There was another questionable call on Ohio State’s first offensive play of the second quarter, where a holding penalty was called on Bryson Rodgers to negate what would have been an 80-yard touchdown run by Quinshon Judkins. The former Ole Miss running back would wind up scoring a 23-yard touchdown later on the drive anyway, but it was a real ticky-tack call on what was an electric run by Judkins.
Overall, Ohio State was called for six penalties worth 58 yards. Some of that will have to be cleaned up, of course, but the majority of them could have been let go by the officials or were just flat out wrong.
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LGHL Moment of the Game: Will Howard brings a much-needed extra dimension to Ohio State’s offense
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Moment of the Game: Will Howard brings a much-needed extra dimension to Ohio State’s offense
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
I wish for nothing but good things for Kyle McCord, but Will Howard is an upgrade in almost every category.
We are going to pick out one moment from every single game that carries special significance. It can be a game-winning score, it can be a heart-warming moment, it can be something that speaks to a larger storyline for the Buckeyes. Relive the season via the Moments of the Game.
This might not have been the most exciting play of the day — Jeremiah Smith’s touchdown, or one of Quinshon Judkins’ were more thrilling — but Will Howard’s second-quarter, six-yard touchdown run might be the most important. The Buckeyes’ first-year starting quarterback finished the game with 292 yards passing on 18-for-26 yards passing with one score through the air, and this ground score as well. Ohio State dominated Western Michigan in The Horseshoe by a score of 56-0.
Through two games, Kyle McCord has thrown for 735 yards and eight touchdowns for the Syracuse Orange, and — despite his and his dad’s salty exit from Columbus — I am happy for his success and hope that Cuse finds a way to contend for the ACC title.
But Howard is an upgrade at quarterback in nearly every imaginable way. His leadership is evident in press conferences and on the field, which is something that McCord just wasn’t able to achieve in Columbus. At OSU, you need a quarterback who can be a leader in both word and action. McCord’s personality never really allowed him to grab the mantle on the former, and I would say he got a B+ in the latter when factoring in on-field performance and off-field work ethic and leading by example.
I loved seeing, immediately after scoring this touchdown, Will ran toward the stands and gave the crowd an “O-H!” He just seems to be comfortable in his position as the leader of this team and as the center of attention for an entire fanbase. Of course, the absolutely loaded nature of this roster allows him to share the spotlight, but he is still the quarterback at Ohio State, arguably the most dissected position in all of college football. Howard seems to be at ease with that responsibility, while it never felt like it fit Kyle in quite the same way for whatever reason,
Then, Will’s on-field skill set is just so better suited for what Ohio State ants to do than Kyle’s. The latter is a fairly traditional, sit-in-the-pocket-and-throw QB while Howard has the ability to pick defenses apart from the pocket, he also can avoid pass rushers — which we saw him do multiple times tonight — and then he can do this. He can keep the ball, avoid multiple defenders, and scamper into the end zone.
This is an extra dimension that Howard brings to the Buckeye offense that I think is going to be incredibly important throughout the season. Not only will they eventually play better defenses that will put him in situations where his legs will have to save plays, but the possibility of him keeping a ball on an RPO will likely freeze defenses — if even for a split second — and will change the way that defensive coordinators call plays and bring pressure.
Kyle, admittedly, probably still has a better arm and throws a better deep ball than Howard — he did miss an obvious touchdown connection to Jeremiah Smith — but as evidenced on other passes, the K-State transfer can put the ball on a dime when called for.
I wrote about it after Week 1, but I was thoroughly impressed with what OSU’s new starting quarterback did against Akron. It might not have been a perfect game — and neither was this one, honestly — but the diversity of ways that he can make plays is something that I think will make a major difference this year, and can potentially win the Buckeyes a game or two this season.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
I wish for nothing but good things for Kyle McCord, but Will Howard is an upgrade in almost every category.
We are going to pick out one moment from every single game that carries special significance. It can be a game-winning score, it can be a heart-warming moment, it can be something that speaks to a larger storyline for the Buckeyes. Relive the season via the Moments of the Game.
This might not have been the most exciting play of the day — Jeremiah Smith’s touchdown, or one of Quinshon Judkins’ were more thrilling — but Will Howard’s second-quarter, six-yard touchdown run might be the most important. The Buckeyes’ first-year starting quarterback finished the game with 292 yards passing on 18-for-26 yards passing with one score through the air, and this ground score as well. Ohio State dominated Western Michigan in The Horseshoe by a score of 56-0.
Through two games, Kyle McCord has thrown for 735 yards and eight touchdowns for the Syracuse Orange, and — despite his and his dad’s salty exit from Columbus — I am happy for his success and hope that Cuse finds a way to contend for the ACC title.
But Howard is an upgrade at quarterback in nearly every imaginable way. His leadership is evident in press conferences and on the field, which is something that McCord just wasn’t able to achieve in Columbus. At OSU, you need a quarterback who can be a leader in both word and action. McCord’s personality never really allowed him to grab the mantle on the former, and I would say he got a B+ in the latter when factoring in on-field performance and off-field work ethic and leading by example.
I loved seeing, immediately after scoring this touchdown, Will ran toward the stands and gave the crowd an “O-H!” He just seems to be comfortable in his position as the leader of this team and as the center of attention for an entire fanbase. Of course, the absolutely loaded nature of this roster allows him to share the spotlight, but he is still the quarterback at Ohio State, arguably the most dissected position in all of college football. Howard seems to be at ease with that responsibility, while it never felt like it fit Kyle in quite the same way for whatever reason,
Then, Will’s on-field skill set is just so better suited for what Ohio State ants to do than Kyle’s. The latter is a fairly traditional, sit-in-the-pocket-and-throw QB while Howard has the ability to pick defenses apart from the pocket, he also can avoid pass rushers — which we saw him do multiple times tonight — and then he can do this. He can keep the ball, avoid multiple defenders, and scamper into the end zone.
This is an extra dimension that Howard brings to the Buckeye offense that I think is going to be incredibly important throughout the season. Not only will they eventually play better defenses that will put him in situations where his legs will have to save plays, but the possibility of him keeping a ball on an RPO will likely freeze defenses — if even for a split second — and will change the way that defensive coordinators call plays and bring pressure.
Kyle, admittedly, probably still has a better arm and throws a better deep ball than Howard — he did miss an obvious touchdown connection to Jeremiah Smith — but as evidenced on other passes, the K-State transfer can put the ball on a dime when called for.
I wrote about it after Week 1, but I was thoroughly impressed with what OSU’s new starting quarterback did against Akron. It might not have been a perfect game — and neither was this one, honestly — but the diversity of ways that he can make plays is something that I think will make a major difference this year, and can potentially win the Buckeyes a game or two this season.
Continue reading...
