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LGHL Broken Records: Chase Young’s Ohio State single-season sack record may stand the test of time
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Broken Records: Chase Young’s Ohio State single-season sack record may stand the test of time
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Young’s total of 16.5 sacks in 2019 seems unfathomable now, given the fact that no Buckeye has even approached double digits since.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about records, the ones that have been broken, the ones that could be broken, and the ones that will never be broken. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Broken Records” articles here.
Chase Young, arguably the greatest pass rusher in Ohio State history, owns or shares a handful of school records, likely none more impressive than his single-season sack record. One of Larry Johnson’s many blue-chip recruits, Young succeeded Joey and Nick Bosa at the end of an otherworldly run of Buckeye pass rushers, making life especially difficult for opposing quarterbacks in 2018 and 2019. It was the second of his monstrous seasons that produced an OSU record that may never be broken... Like, never ever.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24753080/1192559518.jpg)
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Young totaled 16.5 sacks in 2019, breaking Vernon Gholston’s record of 14 set in 2007. Joey Bosa is third on the list with 13.5 in 2014, but the next four single-season marks were (all) established 25+ years ago, courtesy of Mike Vrabel (x2), Andy Katzenmoyer, and Matt Finkes. While the gap between Gholston’s 14 and Young’s 16.5 might seem insignificant, I would argue the exact opposite. Because Gholston broke a record that stood for 12 years, and he only exceeded Vrabel’s 1995 total by a single sack. Another 12 years went by before Young set the current record, so it’s not like passing or receiving records, which seem to be broken on a weekly basis.
Since 2019, no member of the Scarlet and Gray has sniffed Young’s single-season sack record. In fact, no Buckeye pass rusher has even finished with more than a third of Young’s 2019 total! Haskell Garrett owns the highest recent total, finishing with 5.5 sacks in 2021. Tyleik Williams finished right behind him (that same season) with 5, good for second on the recent list. Last season, it was Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall Jr. who tied for the lead in sacks, both finishing with 4.5. That’s 19.5 combined sacks from Ohio State’s last FOUR statistical leaders, over the course of two full seasons!
With the Buckeyes’ deteriorating pass rush fresh in our collective minds, Young’s single-season sack record certainly seems untouchable. And forget about the OSU career sack record of 36 owned by Vrabel. That sounds made up at this point. But I want to stay focused on Young’s single-season record because it is far more recent and perhaps just as sacred/unattainable as Vrabel’s 36.
The more I think about it, the less inclined I am to believe that Young’s record will ever be broken. And as much as I want to hedge by claiming hyperbole, I’m not sure that I can. Because think about it: Ohio State played 100+ seasons of football before Young set the single-season sack record. And in case you haven’t noticed, the sack business is not exactly boomin’ these days. Not with new rules, the style(s) of play, and weekly game plans focused on generating yards, touchdowns, and highlights for the offense. Sacks will only be harder to come by, in my opinion, for the foreseeable future — not easier.
Recent evidence seems to support my opinion above. Since Young put up 16.5 sacks in 2019, only one player in all of college football has finished a season with more. That was Will Anderson in 2021 when he totaled 17.5 for the Alabama Crimson Tide. It should also be noted that Anderson did so in 15 games, while Young set the OSU record in just 12 (a small Buckeye victory). Anderson playing 15 games is something I bring up reluctantly because it is actually harmful to my argument or prediction. Teams will regularly play 15, 16, or even 17 games when the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams, creating more record-breaking opportunities. But we’re really only talking about an additional game or two for most teams, so I am not going to overact.
Another other reason I feel confident in saying that Young’s record is incredibly safe is that true, stat-accumulating ‘sack artists’ seem to be part of a dying breed. Or a very rare breed at least, particularly in college football. I just mentioned that Anderson is the only player since Young to total 16.5 or more... Going a step further, if you take a look at the top 25 individual sack seasons (NCAA) since 2000 – Young is tied for ninth – you will see that 24 of the 25 totals pre-date 2020. Anderson’s 2021 season was an anomaly. Need more evidence? Please, keep reading.
When Young totaled 16.5 sacks in 2019, he was one of three players to finish with 15 or more. Only Anderson has done so since. Sure, 2020 was a shortened season, shrinking the sample size, but the fact remains, dominant pass rushers, while arguably bigger, stronger, faster, and more talented than ever, are not getting to the quarterback like they used to.
Tuli Tuipulotu of USC led the NCAA in sacks last year with a paltry (sarcasm) 13.5. Second behind him was Jose Ramirez of Eastern Michigan with 12... 12! That is simply not a big number. However, it might be indicative of where we are heading. Teams will still blitz like their collective hair is on fire, generate pressure and yes, sack the QB. But sacks are becoming more of a team stat, as opposed to an individual one. And that makes sense, right?
In today’s game, the ball moves and gets out very quickly on offense. There are wide receivers and tight ends all over the field. Offensive tackles are bigger, while edge rushers are shrinking. Football is just different than in years past. Defenses cannot simply roll out a few of their biggest, freakiest athletes and count on one or two guys to sack the quarterback. It takes a village.
A good example of this is or was Jim Knowles’ 2021 Oklahoma State defense. His Cowboys registered 55 team sacks to finish first in the NCAA. Yet no individual finished with more than 10.5. Pressure came from everywhere, chaos ensued on a weekly basis, and 21 players contributed at least half a sack. Which leads me (back) to Ohio State...
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24753083/1251852515.jpg)
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Will Knowles figure out how to ramp up the pressure in 2023?
Buckeye Nation was hoping that Knowles’ arrival in Columbus would lead to the same defensive chaos, sack totals, and generally just a dominant unit. Unfortunately, dominance did not take place in 2022, at least against top-tier teams. But I do believe that significant improvements will be made in 2023. Very significant. Do those hypothetical improvements lead to a J.T. Tuimoloau or Jack Sawyer nearing the OSU single-season sack record? Doubtful.
Only because, well, look at everything I have pointed out, mentioned, or cited in this piece! While I believe that players in the previous paragraph are destined for some level of greatness in 2023 or even 2024, accumulating 17+ sacks is hard work. And rare. It has happened just eight times in NCAA history. This is precisely why I believe Young’s record to be very, very safe. But if Tuimoloau, Sawyer, or any other Buckeye does break it (OSU’s single-season sack record), I will gladly eat crow.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Young’s total of 16.5 sacks in 2019 seems unfathomable now, given the fact that no Buckeye has even approached double digits since.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about records, the ones that have been broken, the ones that could be broken, and the ones that will never be broken. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Broken Records” articles here.
Chase Young, arguably the greatest pass rusher in Ohio State history, owns or shares a handful of school records, likely none more impressive than his single-season sack record. One of Larry Johnson’s many blue-chip recruits, Young succeeded Joey and Nick Bosa at the end of an otherworldly run of Buckeye pass rushers, making life especially difficult for opposing quarterbacks in 2018 and 2019. It was the second of his monstrous seasons that produced an OSU record that may never be broken... Like, never ever.
Young totaled 16.5 sacks in 2019, breaking Vernon Gholston’s record of 14 set in 2007. Joey Bosa is third on the list with 13.5 in 2014, but the next four single-season marks were (all) established 25+ years ago, courtesy of Mike Vrabel (x2), Andy Katzenmoyer, and Matt Finkes. While the gap between Gholston’s 14 and Young’s 16.5 might seem insignificant, I would argue the exact opposite. Because Gholston broke a record that stood for 12 years, and he only exceeded Vrabel’s 1995 total by a single sack. Another 12 years went by before Young set the current record, so it’s not like passing or receiving records, which seem to be broken on a weekly basis.
Since 2019, no member of the Scarlet and Gray has sniffed Young’s single-season sack record. In fact, no Buckeye pass rusher has even finished with more than a third of Young’s 2019 total! Haskell Garrett owns the highest recent total, finishing with 5.5 sacks in 2021. Tyleik Williams finished right behind him (that same season) with 5, good for second on the recent list. Last season, it was Jack Sawyer and Mike Hall Jr. who tied for the lead in sacks, both finishing with 4.5. That’s 19.5 combined sacks from Ohio State’s last FOUR statistical leaders, over the course of two full seasons!
With the Buckeyes’ deteriorating pass rush fresh in our collective minds, Young’s single-season sack record certainly seems untouchable. And forget about the OSU career sack record of 36 owned by Vrabel. That sounds made up at this point. But I want to stay focused on Young’s single-season record because it is far more recent and perhaps just as sacred/unattainable as Vrabel’s 36.
The more I think about it, the less inclined I am to believe that Young’s record will ever be broken. And as much as I want to hedge by claiming hyperbole, I’m not sure that I can. Because think about it: Ohio State played 100+ seasons of football before Young set the single-season sack record. And in case you haven’t noticed, the sack business is not exactly boomin’ these days. Not with new rules, the style(s) of play, and weekly game plans focused on generating yards, touchdowns, and highlights for the offense. Sacks will only be harder to come by, in my opinion, for the foreseeable future — not easier.
Recent evidence seems to support my opinion above. Since Young put up 16.5 sacks in 2019, only one player in all of college football has finished a season with more. That was Will Anderson in 2021 when he totaled 17.5 for the Alabama Crimson Tide. It should also be noted that Anderson did so in 15 games, while Young set the OSU record in just 12 (a small Buckeye victory). Anderson playing 15 games is something I bring up reluctantly because it is actually harmful to my argument or prediction. Teams will regularly play 15, 16, or even 17 games when the College Football Playoff expands to 12 teams, creating more record-breaking opportunities. But we’re really only talking about an additional game or two for most teams, so I am not going to overact.
Another other reason I feel confident in saying that Young’s record is incredibly safe is that true, stat-accumulating ‘sack artists’ seem to be part of a dying breed. Or a very rare breed at least, particularly in college football. I just mentioned that Anderson is the only player since Young to total 16.5 or more... Going a step further, if you take a look at the top 25 individual sack seasons (NCAA) since 2000 – Young is tied for ninth – you will see that 24 of the 25 totals pre-date 2020. Anderson’s 2021 season was an anomaly. Need more evidence? Please, keep reading.
When Young totaled 16.5 sacks in 2019, he was one of three players to finish with 15 or more. Only Anderson has done so since. Sure, 2020 was a shortened season, shrinking the sample size, but the fact remains, dominant pass rushers, while arguably bigger, stronger, faster, and more talented than ever, are not getting to the quarterback like they used to.
Tuli Tuipulotu of USC led the NCAA in sacks last year with a paltry (sarcasm) 13.5. Second behind him was Jose Ramirez of Eastern Michigan with 12... 12! That is simply not a big number. However, it might be indicative of where we are heading. Teams will still blitz like their collective hair is on fire, generate pressure and yes, sack the QB. But sacks are becoming more of a team stat, as opposed to an individual one. And that makes sense, right?
In today’s game, the ball moves and gets out very quickly on offense. There are wide receivers and tight ends all over the field. Offensive tackles are bigger, while edge rushers are shrinking. Football is just different than in years past. Defenses cannot simply roll out a few of their biggest, freakiest athletes and count on one or two guys to sack the quarterback. It takes a village.
A good example of this is or was Jim Knowles’ 2021 Oklahoma State defense. His Cowboys registered 55 team sacks to finish first in the NCAA. Yet no individual finished with more than 10.5. Pressure came from everywhere, chaos ensued on a weekly basis, and 21 players contributed at least half a sack. Which leads me (back) to Ohio State...
Will Knowles figure out how to ramp up the pressure in 2023?
Buckeye Nation was hoping that Knowles’ arrival in Columbus would lead to the same defensive chaos, sack totals, and generally just a dominant unit. Unfortunately, dominance did not take place in 2022, at least against top-tier teams. But I do believe that significant improvements will be made in 2023. Very significant. Do those hypothetical improvements lead to a J.T. Tuimoloau or Jack Sawyer nearing the OSU single-season sack record? Doubtful.
Only because, well, look at everything I have pointed out, mentioned, or cited in this piece! While I believe that players in the previous paragraph are destined for some level of greatness in 2023 or even 2024, accumulating 17+ sacks is hard work. And rare. It has happened just eight times in NCAA history. This is precisely why I believe Young’s record to be very, very safe. But if Tuimoloau, Sawyer, or any other Buckeye does break it (OSU’s single-season sack record), I will gladly eat crow.
Continue reading...
LGHL Silver Bullets Podcast: The 2023 Ohio State schedule, future B1G scheduling plans, and the Glenville Pipeline
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Silver Bullets Podcast: The 2023 Ohio State schedule, future B1G scheduling plans, and the Glenville Pipeline
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images
A look ahead to this fall and beyond in terms of scheduling, the bad 2023 home slate, and the pipeline is restored.
We’re back with our June offseason episode, and we’ve got future Ohio State schedules on our minds. We start off by discussing the 2023 schedule, including all announced start times so far and the known TV schedule. Will the atmosphere at Notre Dame be too much for a first-year Ohio State starter just a couple of games into their first season in command of the offense?
I brought up the fact that the Buckeyes’ home slate is a bit underwhelming this season, as there’s not a lot of big matchups outside of Penn State. Most of the Ohio State’s biggest games will take place outside of Columbus this season.
We touched on the non-conference opponents the next couple of seasons, looked ahead at how the Big Ten is handling conference scheduling for the next two years, which games are protected rivalries, and how things might move forward if more teams are added to the conference. I propose (logistics be damned) that college football can add some drama to the schedule by doing Champions League-style draws for opponents and locations. Is it weird? Sure, but it could also be fun.
Finally, we touch on the revitalization of the Glenville Pipeline after two recent four-star recruits from that high school have committed to Ohio State. Is it important to have a Glenville Pipeline? We think so, but not just Glenville. Just because the Buckeyes recruit nationally, it doesn’t mean they can’t put that fence back up around the state of Ohio.
We’ll be back next month, or possibly sooner if news warrants, as we remain in our offseason broadcast schedule. We’ll return to our weekly format in August as we ramp up for the 2023 Ohio State football season. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email. Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by G. N. Lowrance/Getty Images
A look ahead to this fall and beyond in terms of scheduling, the bad 2023 home slate, and the pipeline is restored.
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
We’re back with our June offseason episode, and we’ve got future Ohio State schedules on our minds. We start off by discussing the 2023 schedule, including all announced start times so far and the known TV schedule. Will the atmosphere at Notre Dame be too much for a first-year Ohio State starter just a couple of games into their first season in command of the offense?
I brought up the fact that the Buckeyes’ home slate is a bit underwhelming this season, as there’s not a lot of big matchups outside of Penn State. Most of the Ohio State’s biggest games will take place outside of Columbus this season.
We touched on the non-conference opponents the next couple of seasons, looked ahead at how the Big Ten is handling conference scheduling for the next two years, which games are protected rivalries, and how things might move forward if more teams are added to the conference. I propose (logistics be damned) that college football can add some drama to the schedule by doing Champions League-style draws for opponents and locations. Is it weird? Sure, but it could also be fun.
Finally, we touch on the revitalization of the Glenville Pipeline after two recent four-star recruits from that high school have committed to Ohio State. Is it important to have a Glenville Pipeline? We think so, but not just Glenville. Just because the Buckeyes recruit nationally, it doesn’t mean they can’t put that fence back up around the state of Ohio.
We’ll be back next month, or possibly sooner if news warrants, as we remain in our offseason broadcast schedule. We’ll return to our weekly format in August as we ramp up for the 2023 Ohio State football season. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with your feedback and questions below in the comments section or send us an email. Be sure to subscribe, rate, review, and share, and follow the show over on Twitter at @SilvrBulletsPod.
As always, thanks for listening!
Continue reading...
LGHL Four-star cornerback lists Ohio State among top schools
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Four-star cornerback lists Ohio State among top schools
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
With July just around the corner, the Buckeyes will hope to add to their recruiting classes.
Ohio State’s coaching staff has made it through one of the busier recruiting months of the year. There may still be a few days left in June, but with the turn of the month we will see the end of Ohio State hosting recruits on official and unofficial visits.
The Buckeyes have played host to dozens of recruits in June, and the hard work more than paid off. Ohio State earned three commitments this month in four-star cornerback Bryce West, four-star safety Jaylen McClain and four-star tight end Damarion Witten. The Buckeyes also earned a commitment from 2025 four-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair.
The haul now places Ohio State ahead of rival Michigan in the 247Sports Team Rankings, and the Buckeyes currently hold the No. 2 overall class behind only Georgia.
The 2024 recruiting class is dominating the headlines as the month winds down. However, the Buckeyes are also making sure to place focus on next years class as well. In doing so, Ohio State is already building strong relationships with recruits which, obviously, brings top-schools lists.
Ohio State made the top eight Monday for 2025 four-star cornerback Kevyn Humes (Baltimore, MD / St. Frances Academy).
Alongside Ohio State, Humes is also considering Oregon, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Maryland.
Humes does not yet have the highest composite rankings, but with the names on his list prove he is a blue-chip prospect and would make for a great early addition to Ohio State’s 2025 class. The Buckeyes already have two commitments in next year’s class with five-star safety Jontae Gilbert and the aforementioned St. Clair.
Humes was offered by Ohio State on June 7. He is the No. 29 CB and the No. 248 overall prospect. He is also the No. 7 recruit out of Maryland.
As was previously mentioned, Ohio State will see visits slow down this month, but they will not be completely over. Expect the Buckeyes to host a big summer recruiting event near the end of the month, preferably July 29 as it is a Friday, which could help make it easier for recruits and their families to visit.
Visits will be slowing down, but Ohio State making the recruiting headlines will not. July will also lead to multiple recruits announcing their commitments, and Ohio State will hope to land multiple. Below are just a few recruits the Buckeyes hope will commit to them in the coming month:
Hometown: Bellflower, CA / St. John Bosco
Size: 6-foot-3 / 230-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 7 LB / No. 100 overall / No. 14 CA
Hometown: Springfield, OH / Springfield
Size: 6-foot / 170-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 5 CB / No. 54 overall / No. 2 OH
Hometown: Chandler, AZ / Basha
Size: 5-foot-10 / 185-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 31 CB / No. 356 overall / No. 8 AZ
Hometown: Buford, GA / Buford
Size: 6-foot-1 / 185-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 1 S / No. 7 overall / No. 2 GA
Hometown: Olney, MD / Good Counsel
Size: 6-foot-4 / 190-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 63 WR / No. 431 overall / No. 11 MD
Hometown: Saint Louis, MO / Christian Brothers College
Size: 6-foot / 190-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 20 WR / No. 143 overall / No. 4 MO
Both schools have been courting Scott lately, as it is expected he will make a commitment this month. Ohio State is still viewed as the leaders in this one, but it is much closer to a 50/50 than it is to a runaway for the Buckeyes.
Continue reading...
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Scheller/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
With July just around the corner, the Buckeyes will hope to add to their recruiting classes.
Ohio State’s coaching staff has made it through one of the busier recruiting months of the year. There may still be a few days left in June, but with the turn of the month we will see the end of Ohio State hosting recruits on official and unofficial visits.
The Buckeyes have played host to dozens of recruits in June, and the hard work more than paid off. Ohio State earned three commitments this month in four-star cornerback Bryce West, four-star safety Jaylen McClain and four-star tight end Damarion Witten. The Buckeyes also earned a commitment from 2025 four-star quarterback Tavien St. Clair.
The haul now places Ohio State ahead of rival Michigan in the 247Sports Team Rankings, and the Buckeyes currently hold the No. 2 overall class behind only Georgia.
Four-star CB has Ohio State in top schools
The 2024 recruiting class is dominating the headlines as the month winds down. However, the Buckeyes are also making sure to place focus on next years class as well. In doing so, Ohio State is already building strong relationships with recruits which, obviously, brings top-schools lists.
Ohio State made the top eight Monday for 2025 four-star cornerback Kevyn Humes (Baltimore, MD / St. Frances Academy).
Alongside Ohio State, Humes is also considering Oregon, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, Notre Dame, Tennessee and Maryland.
Humes does not yet have the highest composite rankings, but with the names on his list prove he is a blue-chip prospect and would make for a great early addition to Ohio State’s 2025 class. The Buckeyes already have two commitments in next year’s class with five-star safety Jontae Gilbert and the aforementioned St. Clair.
Humes was offered by Ohio State on June 7. He is the No. 29 CB and the No. 248 overall prospect. He is also the No. 7 recruit out of Maryland.
BOOMing July?
As was previously mentioned, Ohio State will see visits slow down this month, but they will not be completely over. Expect the Buckeyes to host a big summer recruiting event near the end of the month, preferably July 29 as it is a Friday, which could help make it easier for recruits and their families to visit.
Visits will be slowing down, but Ohio State making the recruiting headlines will not. July will also lead to multiple recruits announcing their commitments, and Ohio State will hope to land multiple. Below are just a few recruits the Buckeyes hope will commit to them in the coming month:
Four-star LB Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa
Hometown: Bellflower, CA / St. John Bosco
Size: 6-foot-3 / 230-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 7 LB / No. 100 overall / No. 14 CA
Four-star CB Aaron Scott
Hometown: Springfield, OH / Springfield
Size: 6-foot / 170-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 5 CB / No. 54 overall / No. 2 OH
Four-star CB Miles Lockhart
Hometown: Chandler, AZ / Basha
Size: 5-foot-10 / 185-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 31 CB / No. 356 overall / No. 8 AZ
Five-star S KJ Bolden
Hometown: Buford, GA / Buford
Size: 6-foot-1 / 185-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 1 S / No. 7 overall / No. 2 GA
Four-star WR Elijah Moore
Hometown: Olney, MD / Good Counsel
Size: 6-foot-4 / 190-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 63 WR / No. 431 overall / No. 11 MD
Four-star WR Jeremiah McClellan
Hometown: Saint Louis, MO / Christian Brothers College
Size: 6-foot / 190-pounds
247Sports Composite: No. 20 WR / No. 143 overall / No. 4 MO
Quick Hits
- Ohio State priority 2024 four-star cornerback Aaron Scott could soon be making his decision following official visits to Ohio State and Michigan. The two schools have long been competing with one another for his commitment, and even though some considered Scott to be a guarantee for Ohio State with him being from Ohio, Michigan has only increased the pressure.
Both schools have been courting Scott lately, as it is expected he will make a commitment this month. Ohio State is still viewed as the leaders in this one, but it is much closer to a 50/50 than it is to a runaway for the Buckeyes.
O-H-I-O!showw luv #gobucks pic.twitter.com/LsThCmDAby
— Aaron Scott JR (@AaronScottJr1) June 26, 2023
Respect! Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: ‘Broken Records’ - Which Ohio State record would you like to see broken this year?
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You’re Nuts: ‘Broken Records’ - Which Ohio State record would you like to see broken this year?
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Within reason, what record would you like to see fall in 2023?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about records, the ones that have been broken, the ones that could be broken, and the ones that will never be broken. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Broken Records” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Which Ohio State record would you like to see broken this year?
LGHL’s summer content theme this week is Broken Records, and when it was first presented to us, or I first gave it any thought, two things jumped out rather quickly: 1) Ohio State football has some impressive (to say the least) records. And 2) I don’t see any of them falling in 2023. But the latter does not mean I expect OSU to stink this season. In fact, I am rather optimistic about the upcoming campaign.
That being said, if you just look at the player names and the years in which many of these Ohio State records were set, then I think it becomes easier to at least understand why I feel this way (about records), even if you do not agree. Most of the passing records belong to Barrett, Haskins, and Stroud, all certified Buckeye legends. Rushing records? How about names like Archie, Eddie, and Zeke? Certain receiving records might be within reach, but then you jump over to the defensive side of the ball and see a lot of Spielman, Cousineau, Vrabel, and Sensibaugh — guys who played in Columbus 20, 30, even 40 years ago.
While I am optimistic about the upcoming season, I also want to be reasonable when it comes to player expectations. Whoever wins the starting quarterback job will be unproven, meaning fans should not expect Stroud-esque production right away (if ever). In the backfield, OSU boasts a million running backs, making it easy to spread the wealth... if they get solid blocking from a revamped offensive line. As far as the receiving stuff goes, I have a feeling that Marvin Harrison Jr. will be mentioned often this week, so I will let others lead the Marv charge. That leaves defense. And it is on that side of the ball that I want to see records fall in 2023.
**Side note: I did not mean to rhyme just now, but that was a hot bar!
Some of the Ohio State defensive records are just insane. Many were set in a different era when offenses were far less sophisticated and/or teams ran the ball 50 times per game. Case in point: Marcus Marek’s total career tackles record of 572. I mean, c’mon. The highest total for a player who saw action after 1990 is 408 (Steve Tovar). 572 will stand the test of time forever, no doubt in my mind.
Gene and I are talking about records we personally want to see broken, but I still want to avoid sounding like a delusional homer here. Which is why I had to avoid all career total records. Few Buckeyes are starting for 3+ years, and if they do, they are not putting up numbers like Sensibaugh, Marek, or Vrabel. Single game records seem fun, but also fluky, and as much as I might want J.T. Tuimoloau or Jack Sawyer to rack up five sacks against Penn State or TTUN, there is that whole ‘reasonable’ thing I mentioned earlier.
So pretty much by default, I ended up looking at team defensive records. And I asked myself: What do I want from Jim Knowles and the Ohio State defense? Furthermore, what do the Buckeyes need to be successful and potentially win games in spite of their offense? The answer to both questions was the same... Sacks.
OSU has struggled to get to the opposing quarterback in recent seasons, bottoming out with just 34 sacks in 2022. Even in today’s game, with air-it-out offenses becoming more and more prevalent, that (34 sacks) is not going to get it done. There can certainly be a chicken or the egg argument here, but minimal pressure on the opposing QB has often resulted in big play after big play being given up by the Buckeyes’ secondary. And those big plays have been Ohio State’s Achilles heel.
Which is why Larry Johnson and his guys up front need to be better in 2023. And I certainly want them to be better. In fact, I want them to be so much better that they break the program’s team sack record of 54 set in 2019. Given what we’ve seen recently, 54 sacks might not seem reasonable. But I believe that this current d-line group is the most talented one we’ve seen in Columbus in many years.
Tuimoloau, Sawyer, Hall, Williams... the list goes on and on. And playing in front of what is expected to be a much-improved OSU secondary, there should be ample opportunity for the big dogs to eat. Also, don’t forget about the Knowles factor.
Prior to his time in Columbus, Knowles was known as a guy who could create pressure with odd looks and aggressive blitz packages, as evidenced by his Oklahoma State defense racking up 55 sacks in 2021. I don’t think he forgot to coach, and he certainly has access to far better talent in Columbus, so I am expecting a bounceback season in 2023. Something along the lines of 55 sacks, maybe?
It might be coincidence that Knowles’ Cowboys totaled exactly one more (sack) than the Buckeyes’ team record, but that is exactly what I want, Gene. And I think that this record, unlike many, many others, is one that is actually within reach.
As Josh outlined at the top, many of the records compiled throughout Ohio State history are likely unattainable today for a variety of reasons. Single-game records are fluky, and its highly unlikely the Buckeyes will ever pick off eight passes in one game again like they did against Chicago in 1938. Career records like Mike Vrabel’s 36 sacks and J.T. Barrett’s 104 passing touchdowns will probably stand the test of time because guys who put up big numbers like that don’t stick around long enough to reach those sorts of career totals.
The best chance for any Ohio State records to be broken in 2023 would have to be of the single-season or single-game variety, but even many of those are incredibly lofty goals, which is to be expected at a school that has had so much NFL talent walk through its doors over the years.
I don’t see Kyle McCord or Devin Brown breaking Dwayne Haskins’ 4,831 single-season passing yards record — not by any lack of talent on their own, but simply because that year’s Ohio State team could not run the ball to save its life, and I would hope McCord/Brown aren’t asked to shoulder that sort of load this year. J.K. Dobbins’ single-season rushing record of 2,003 yards will be tough to beat as well, both because its an impressive number and because I don’t trust this offensive line.
The obvious guy I looked to first for any sort of potential record-breaking is Marvin Harrison Jr., who is an absolute freak of nature who should be capable of doing big things in 2023 ahead of being the first wide receiver off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft. Still, even as the top dog at the position, Brian Hartlines room might be too loaded for Harrison Jr. to break either of Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s single-season records of 95 receptions or 1,606 receiving yards.
I do, however, think there is one record that Harrison Jr. is capable of breaking even with all the talent around him — albeit a bit more specific. I think Harrison Jr. could potential break the single-season record for most 100-yard receiving games, which is currently owned by David Boston with nine. If Ohio State plays 15 games — in an ideal world — I think Harrison Jr. could actually do this rather easily.
In a season where the Buckeyes played 13 games, missing the Big Ten Championship Game and coming just shy of playing in the national title game, Harrison put up seven 100-yard games. His biggest performance (yardage wise) of the year came against Penn State, wherein he hauled in 10 passes for 185 yards. It was one yard greater than his seven-catch, 184-yard performance against Arkansas State, where he also added three touchdowns to the ledger. Harrison Jr. eclipsed 120 yards in a game on five separate occasions, and even passed the century mark in the Peach Bowl against Georgia.
If McCord ends up winning the quarterback job, which would be the odds-on favorite at this point, he and Harrison Jr. have built-in chemistry as former high school teammates. The wide receiver room is loaded, but Harrison Jr. is the best guy in the room and a dependable safety blanket for a new starting quarterback that has plenty of experience throwing him the rock. At 6-foot-4, he’s a pretty easy target to hit, and he is open more often than not even despite the double teams and extra attention thrown at him.
I could easily see Harrison Jr. putting up 10-plus 100-yard games this season. I also dont think its too far-fetched to believe he could break Terry Glenn’s record of 17 touchdown receptions in a single season, as Harrison Jr. came awfully close last year with 14 TDs even without a B1G title game or national title game to play in. At a program that has had superstar after superstar take the field at wide receiver, Harrison Jr. has a chance to put his name in the record books as one of the best of the best.
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Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
Within reason, what record would you like to see fall in 2023?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about records, the ones that have been broken, the ones that could be broken, and the ones that will never be broken. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Broken Records” articles here.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Which Ohio State record would you like to see broken this year?
Josh’s Take
LGHL’s summer content theme this week is Broken Records, and when it was first presented to us, or I first gave it any thought, two things jumped out rather quickly: 1) Ohio State football has some impressive (to say the least) records. And 2) I don’t see any of them falling in 2023. But the latter does not mean I expect OSU to stink this season. In fact, I am rather optimistic about the upcoming campaign.
That being said, if you just look at the player names and the years in which many of these Ohio State records were set, then I think it becomes easier to at least understand why I feel this way (about records), even if you do not agree. Most of the passing records belong to Barrett, Haskins, and Stroud, all certified Buckeye legends. Rushing records? How about names like Archie, Eddie, and Zeke? Certain receiving records might be within reach, but then you jump over to the defensive side of the ball and see a lot of Spielman, Cousineau, Vrabel, and Sensibaugh — guys who played in Columbus 20, 30, even 40 years ago.
While I am optimistic about the upcoming season, I also want to be reasonable when it comes to player expectations. Whoever wins the starting quarterback job will be unproven, meaning fans should not expect Stroud-esque production right away (if ever). In the backfield, OSU boasts a million running backs, making it easy to spread the wealth... if they get solid blocking from a revamped offensive line. As far as the receiving stuff goes, I have a feeling that Marvin Harrison Jr. will be mentioned often this week, so I will let others lead the Marv charge. That leaves defense. And it is on that side of the ball that I want to see records fall in 2023.
**Side note: I did not mean to rhyme just now, but that was a hot bar!
Some of the Ohio State defensive records are just insane. Many were set in a different era when offenses were far less sophisticated and/or teams ran the ball 50 times per game. Case in point: Marcus Marek’s total career tackles record of 572. I mean, c’mon. The highest total for a player who saw action after 1990 is 408 (Steve Tovar). 572 will stand the test of time forever, no doubt in my mind.
Gene and I are talking about records we personally want to see broken, but I still want to avoid sounding like a delusional homer here. Which is why I had to avoid all career total records. Few Buckeyes are starting for 3+ years, and if they do, they are not putting up numbers like Sensibaugh, Marek, or Vrabel. Single game records seem fun, but also fluky, and as much as I might want J.T. Tuimoloau or Jack Sawyer to rack up five sacks against Penn State or TTUN, there is that whole ‘reasonable’ thing I mentioned earlier.
So pretty much by default, I ended up looking at team defensive records. And I asked myself: What do I want from Jim Knowles and the Ohio State defense? Furthermore, what do the Buckeyes need to be successful and potentially win games in spite of their offense? The answer to both questions was the same... Sacks.
OSU has struggled to get to the opposing quarterback in recent seasons, bottoming out with just 34 sacks in 2022. Even in today’s game, with air-it-out offenses becoming more and more prevalent, that (34 sacks) is not going to get it done. There can certainly be a chicken or the egg argument here, but minimal pressure on the opposing QB has often resulted in big play after big play being given up by the Buckeyes’ secondary. And those big plays have been Ohio State’s Achilles heel.
Which is why Larry Johnson and his guys up front need to be better in 2023. And I certainly want them to be better. In fact, I want them to be so much better that they break the program’s team sack record of 54 set in 2019. Given what we’ve seen recently, 54 sacks might not seem reasonable. But I believe that this current d-line group is the most talented one we’ve seen in Columbus in many years.
Tuimoloau, Sawyer, Hall, Williams... the list goes on and on. And playing in front of what is expected to be a much-improved OSU secondary, there should be ample opportunity for the big dogs to eat. Also, don’t forget about the Knowles factor.
Prior to his time in Columbus, Knowles was known as a guy who could create pressure with odd looks and aggressive blitz packages, as evidenced by his Oklahoma State defense racking up 55 sacks in 2021. I don’t think he forgot to coach, and he certainly has access to far better talent in Columbus, so I am expecting a bounceback season in 2023. Something along the lines of 55 sacks, maybe?
It might be coincidence that Knowles’ Cowboys totaled exactly one more (sack) than the Buckeyes’ team record, but that is exactly what I want, Gene. And I think that this record, unlike many, many others, is one that is actually within reach.
Gene’s Take
As Josh outlined at the top, many of the records compiled throughout Ohio State history are likely unattainable today for a variety of reasons. Single-game records are fluky, and its highly unlikely the Buckeyes will ever pick off eight passes in one game again like they did against Chicago in 1938. Career records like Mike Vrabel’s 36 sacks and J.T. Barrett’s 104 passing touchdowns will probably stand the test of time because guys who put up big numbers like that don’t stick around long enough to reach those sorts of career totals.
The best chance for any Ohio State records to be broken in 2023 would have to be of the single-season or single-game variety, but even many of those are incredibly lofty goals, which is to be expected at a school that has had so much NFL talent walk through its doors over the years.
I don’t see Kyle McCord or Devin Brown breaking Dwayne Haskins’ 4,831 single-season passing yards record — not by any lack of talent on their own, but simply because that year’s Ohio State team could not run the ball to save its life, and I would hope McCord/Brown aren’t asked to shoulder that sort of load this year. J.K. Dobbins’ single-season rushing record of 2,003 yards will be tough to beat as well, both because its an impressive number and because I don’t trust this offensive line.
The obvious guy I looked to first for any sort of potential record-breaking is Marvin Harrison Jr., who is an absolute freak of nature who should be capable of doing big things in 2023 ahead of being the first wide receiver off the board in the 2024 NFL Draft. Still, even as the top dog at the position, Brian Hartlines room might be too loaded for Harrison Jr. to break either of Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s single-season records of 95 receptions or 1,606 receiving yards.
I do, however, think there is one record that Harrison Jr. is capable of breaking even with all the talent around him — albeit a bit more specific. I think Harrison Jr. could potential break the single-season record for most 100-yard receiving games, which is currently owned by David Boston with nine. If Ohio State plays 15 games — in an ideal world — I think Harrison Jr. could actually do this rather easily.
In a season where the Buckeyes played 13 games, missing the Big Ten Championship Game and coming just shy of playing in the national title game, Harrison put up seven 100-yard games. His biggest performance (yardage wise) of the year came against Penn State, wherein he hauled in 10 passes for 185 yards. It was one yard greater than his seven-catch, 184-yard performance against Arkansas State, where he also added three touchdowns to the ledger. Harrison Jr. eclipsed 120 yards in a game on five separate occasions, and even passed the century mark in the Peach Bowl against Georgia.
If McCord ends up winning the quarterback job, which would be the odds-on favorite at this point, he and Harrison Jr. have built-in chemistry as former high school teammates. The wide receiver room is loaded, but Harrison Jr. is the best guy in the room and a dependable safety blanket for a new starting quarterback that has plenty of experience throwing him the rock. At 6-foot-4, he’s a pretty easy target to hit, and he is open more often than not even despite the double teams and extra attention thrown at him.
I could easily see Harrison Jr. putting up 10-plus 100-yard games this season. I also dont think its too far-fetched to believe he could break Terry Glenn’s record of 17 touchdown receptions in a single season, as Harrison Jr. came awfully close last year with 14 TDs even without a B1G title game or national title game to play in. At a program that has had superstar after superstar take the field at wide receiver, Harrison Jr. has a chance to put his name in the record books as one of the best of the best.
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LGHL Broken Records: Archie Griffin’s career Ohio State rushing yards mark will never fall
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Broken Records: Archie Griffin’s career Ohio State rushing yards mark will never fall
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
SetNumber: X18300 TK1 R27 F5
Anyone who approaches Griffin’s mark will leave for the NFL before they can reach his OSU career record for rushing yards.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about records, the ones that have been broken, the ones that could be broken, and the ones that will never be broken. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Broken Records” articles here.
They say that records are made to be broken, and that has nearly always been true, but because of the way players approach college football and a professional career beyond, there’s one Ohio State career mark that I don’t believe will ever fall. That OSU record is Archie Griffin’s career record for most rushing yards.
The primary reason for this has nothing to do with Griffin’s talent or the talent that walks through the Woody Hayes Athletic Center each year. Times have simply changed in a way that makes any approach to Griffin’s record seriously unlikely at best.
Griffin amassed 5,589 yards rushing on 924 attempts from 1972-75, scoring 26 touchdowns in those four seasons — many of his would-be scores were vultured near the goal line by Pete Johnson or quarterback keepers. Archie’s closest pursuer in the nearly half century since he last played has been J.K. Dobbins.
Dobbins racked up 4,459 on 725 carries from 2017-19, scoring 38 touchdowns. He averaged more yards per carry than Griffin (6.2 ypc, compared to Archie’s 6.0). While Dobbins played in only four fewer games than Griffin (42, to Archie’s 46), he still fell more than 1,100 yards shy of catching the two-time Heisman Trophy winner. If he had returned for his senior season rather than declaring for the NFL Draft, he had an excellent chance to set a new career school record.
Therein lies the rub.
Any running back at Ohio State who, like Dobbins, gets to within striking distance of Griffin’s mark in three seasons is likely going to receive a high draft grade. The lure of a lucrative NFL contract is too good for these young players to pass up, because football is a violent sport and anything can happen. One wrong cut that puts too much torque on the knee and a player may never see the same kind of salary he would have if he’d turn pro. The players know this and that’s why even a third-round draft grade can be enough to sway a college player to enter the draft.
NIL would probably have to substantially challenge NFL salaries in order for a player with big rushing totals to stick around for their fourth year of eligibility.
It’s possible that some running back could covet Griffin’s career OSU record enough to stay in school and get it done, but that would be an extraordinary decision. It’s also possible that someone could put up 2,000 yards per season and get it done in three years, but that too seems unlikely unless the current pass-happy style of football falls out of fashion. That doesn’t seem like something that could happen, given the evolution of the game over the past decade, barring a rules change that helps defensive backs to the point that attempting more running plays makes more sense.
Ohio State will try to keep up with what the other top programs are doing. It’s hard to imagine the Buckeyes would hire a coach who prefers to run the football more than 50 or 60 percent of the time, and the fanbase would likely riot if a triple-option head coach were hired.
With the trend of athletes opting to pursue a professional career at the first sign of a decent draft grade, Griffin’s record seems safe. It would take some kind of sea change in NIL and/or the game of college football — or just someone who cares more about setting the record than NFL dollars — in order for it to be broken.
Until that record does fall, I will forever remain skeptical that it can.
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Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
SetNumber: X18300 TK1 R27 F5
Anyone who approaches Griffin’s mark will leave for the NFL before they can reach his OSU career record for rushing yards.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about records, the ones that have been broken, the ones that could be broken, and the ones that will never be broken. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Broken Records” articles here.
They say that records are made to be broken, and that has nearly always been true, but because of the way players approach college football and a professional career beyond, there’s one Ohio State career mark that I don’t believe will ever fall. That OSU record is Archie Griffin’s career record for most rushing yards.
The primary reason for this has nothing to do with Griffin’s talent or the talent that walks through the Woody Hayes Athletic Center each year. Times have simply changed in a way that makes any approach to Griffin’s record seriously unlikely at best.
Griffin amassed 5,589 yards rushing on 924 attempts from 1972-75, scoring 26 touchdowns in those four seasons — many of his would-be scores were vultured near the goal line by Pete Johnson or quarterback keepers. Archie’s closest pursuer in the nearly half century since he last played has been J.K. Dobbins.
Dobbins racked up 4,459 on 725 carries from 2017-19, scoring 38 touchdowns. He averaged more yards per carry than Griffin (6.2 ypc, compared to Archie’s 6.0). While Dobbins played in only four fewer games than Griffin (42, to Archie’s 46), he still fell more than 1,100 yards shy of catching the two-time Heisman Trophy winner. If he had returned for his senior season rather than declaring for the NFL Draft, he had an excellent chance to set a new career school record.
Therein lies the rub.
Any running back at Ohio State who, like Dobbins, gets to within striking distance of Griffin’s mark in three seasons is likely going to receive a high draft grade. The lure of a lucrative NFL contract is too good for these young players to pass up, because football is a violent sport and anything can happen. One wrong cut that puts too much torque on the knee and a player may never see the same kind of salary he would have if he’d turn pro. The players know this and that’s why even a third-round draft grade can be enough to sway a college player to enter the draft.
NIL would probably have to substantially challenge NFL salaries in order for a player with big rushing totals to stick around for their fourth year of eligibility.
It’s possible that some running back could covet Griffin’s career OSU record enough to stay in school and get it done, but that would be an extraordinary decision. It’s also possible that someone could put up 2,000 yards per season and get it done in three years, but that too seems unlikely unless the current pass-happy style of football falls out of fashion. That doesn’t seem like something that could happen, given the evolution of the game over the past decade, barring a rules change that helps defensive backs to the point that attempting more running plays makes more sense.
Ohio State will try to keep up with what the other top programs are doing. It’s hard to imagine the Buckeyes would hire a coach who prefers to run the football more than 50 or 60 percent of the time, and the fanbase would likely riot if a triple-option head coach were hired.
With the trend of athletes opting to pursue a professional career at the first sign of a decent draft grade, Griffin’s record seems safe. It would take some kind of sea change in NIL and/or the game of college football — or just someone who cares more about setting the record than NFL dollars — in order for it to be broken.
Until that record does fall, I will forever remain skeptical that it can.
Continue reading...
LGHL Broken Records: Could Ohio State’s offense be the most dominant in school history?
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Broken Records: Could Ohio State’s offense be the most dominant in school history?
Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
Ohio State has an elite group of offensive skill talent. Looking at some all-time records, we can see how good they could be.
Records are meant to be broken. That is especially the case when a team is built like Ohio State with a freightage of talent at the disposal of the offensive staff. The Buckeyes have routinely paced with the best offenses in the country, but with the veteran skill talent this year could be one where the exceptional happens.
Ohio State still has significant questions to answer in regards to who exactly will be on the field at some key positions. The quarterback battle is unsettled, but both quarterbacks in the room in Kyle McCord and Devin Brown ooze pedigree and talent. Offensive line coach Justin Frye has worked with less-talented groups prior and found significant success. If those questions are answered, the sky is the limit for this offensive group.
Surprisingly enough, historically the team after the team with the top-5 pick/NFL prospect at quarterback is the one that wins it all. Looking back to Peyton Manning, it was Tee Martin who finally held up the trophy. Down in Alabama, Tua Tagovailoa was the one who threw the pass to knock off Georgia, but it was Mac Jones who led the most explosive offense in school history. College football is filled with succession plans like these where the amazing comes when the worst could be expected.
This Ohio State team can be the next in the long line of football teams that outperform their more lauded predecessors. Looking at some national and school records relating to total offense, we can look at the potential thresholds that this team could reach given their talent on the offensive side of the ball.
In 2014 Ohio State set their program bench mark for total offense with 7,674 yards in the 15 games on the way to a national championship. The 2014 offense was an incredibly dynamic show led by red-shirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett and running back Ezekiel Elliott. The Buckeyes also ran out Michael Thomas and deep-threat Devin Smith, who were responsible for their share of explosiveness in the offense. Overall this group had similar questions heading into their season after the shock injury to incumbent starting quarterback Braxton Miller.
The 2014 offense was the greatest in total yards, but before we get into how this current group can get themselves into the record books, let’s take a look at the most yards per game offense in school history. That group was the 2018 no defense Buckeyes led by Dwayne Haskins Jr. The Buckeyes set countless passing records in both the school’s history and the Big Ten’s. They needed every single ounce of those yards, and ended up with two losses in spite of the offensive output due to challenges converting points at times.
That takes me to these records being broken, and why the 2022 team can be the one to unseat them. The first area of getting past the total yards on the season record is playing 15 games. If they get to 15 games, the record is in reach because each of the last four Ryan Day led teams would have eclipsed that number with 15 games. Now I know that is imaginative thinking, but the 2019 team was 200 yards short of being the best. If they take on LSU that following Monday, we may have a different idea on who the best offense in school history was.
For the yards per game, that just means the talent needs to show up on a week-to-week basis. What all the teams have in common is a dynamic backfield – Treveyon Henderson, MIyan Williams, Chip Trayanum, Dallan Hayden, and Evan Pryor definitely check those boxes. The group also needs explosive receivers on the outside, the son of a hall of farmer who is already on that trajectory himself in Marvin Harrison Jr. is a start. You add Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming, and the elite freshman coming in, and there is definitely a group of players capable of making big plays.
All this to say, the offense should put up a lot of yards. Questions on the offense line have limited teams before, but if that group can find its footing the other questions will answer themselves. At quarterback, Day’s track record is elite with none of his quarterbacks having bad stats in year one. Lastly, to have the most yards the team has to win a lot of football games to play in a lot of football games. With the backfield and the receivers, the next quarterback at Ohio State just needs to not crash the car and these records will be in reach.
Verdict: They can break both of these records if every thing goes right (or things go horribly wrong on defense)
The last two seasons Ohio State has had the No. 1 yards per play offense and No. 3 yards per play offense in school history. This is the state of the offensive side of the program, and this year the expectation is that this will continue. Ohio State has consistently ranked near the top offenses in yards per play since Urban Meyer took over the program in 2012, and that has set a lofty standard.
In school history, the highest yards per play in a single season was the 7.8 YPP in 2021-2022 when the Buckeyes had a breakout year from Treveyon Henderson, two first round draft picks at wide receiver, and a quarterback in C.J. Stroud who grew into the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Ohio State will have a healthy Henderson back which is a big step, and in addition to Miyan Williams the No. 2 back, they should have more depth behind them as well this season.
Ohio State also has two first round wide receivers on their roster at this moment as well, and would you look at that, a first year starter at quarterback. A big reason the yards per play stat can be even greater this year is the balance the offense will try to find with a young starting quarterback. The offense won’t be simpler, but as we saw in Stroud’s first season, Day is willing to scheme up some big time throws down field.
Against Rutgers after Stroud returned from injury, he threw for five touchdowns with three of them coming off of well designed plays off of the run actions. This is what happens when a coach is trying to build the confidence of his quarterback, and when the running game is on there is that much more danger for defenses which is why this yards per play record should be in jeopardy.
Getting to eight yards per play is no small task, but the Buckeyes were incredibly close with the last two games hurting them. This season, it will once again come down to the final weeks. If the Buckeyes grow, improve, and become more dynamic as the season goes as they should. This record might be the most in jeopardy of them all, and could very well be broken with or without serious success.
Verdict: Having a young quarterback means the starter will be in games longer to get reps, the quality will be higher for longer and the Buckeyes have their most yards per play in a season
The last section is the most important because you can’t win a football without scoring points even though schools like Iowa continue to try. Ohio State is on the opposite end of that spectrum every single year, so looking at the history books 2019 is the year to beat. The Buckeyes led by Justin Fields averaged 46.9 points per game, and were looking to make a statement every time they stepped on the field.
Ryan Day has his back against the wall, he’s handed the keys over to Brian Hartline in terms of play-calling, so this year has the makings of a prove it year like 2019. There is also the similarities between this team and the 2019 team. Ohio State had a first year starting quarterback, a star running back, and elite receivers all looking to make sure every defense paid for any mistakes.
Looking at Ohio State’s schedule, the Buckeyes only play two teams who ranked in the top-10 in opponent’s points per game and I’m sure you can guess who the two are. For the Buckeyes to break this record, they will need to maintain the offensive explosiveness agains their two rivals as well as not having low scoring games like Northwestern or Notre Dame from last year. With two early games against Western Kentucky and Youngstown State, the stat padding can be real.
Verdict: Long shot because 47 points per game is a lot, even in a good year.
The Buckeyes can break all three of these records on offense for a multitude of reasons, but it all starts with figuring out the starting lineup. Once the Buckeyes have the offensive line and quarterback position settled, we can really dive into the skill sets and how the coaching staff will build their plan of attack. With differing skill sets at the quarterback position, the offense’s strengths will be different depending on who wins the starting job. The only reason there is little concern there from my side is Day’s track record with quarterbacks.
Day has lost two important games that are seen as unforgivable, but he has routinely paced the country with explosive offenses. This years team at the skill positions might be the most talented on paper since Day took over. That means on paper all these records are breakable if things come together. For Day, trusting Hartline to manage the games and building the offensive line with Frye will be the difference in this offense being an all-time great group, or falling flat.
The final verdict here is answering the question, could this group be the most dominant in school history? They absolutely have the talent to get that done, the schedule is favorable, and outside the trips to Ann Arbor, Madison, and South Bend, there is a lot of opportunity in non-hostile environments to blow some numbers out of the water. If they play well in those match ups, and get the job done there is no reason this group can’t be seen as the most dominant in school history.
A lot of things need to go right, but the ceiling of this offense is untenable, if they don’t fall through the floor they have the makings of a group that can be truly special. Now it is time for Day to bring that talent together, and go prove it on the field.
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Chris Renne via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images
Ohio State has an elite group of offensive skill talent. Looking at some all-time records, we can see how good they could be.
Records are meant to be broken. That is especially the case when a team is built like Ohio State with a freightage of talent at the disposal of the offensive staff. The Buckeyes have routinely paced with the best offenses in the country, but with the veteran skill talent this year could be one where the exceptional happens.
Ohio State still has significant questions to answer in regards to who exactly will be on the field at some key positions. The quarterback battle is unsettled, but both quarterbacks in the room in Kyle McCord and Devin Brown ooze pedigree and talent. Offensive line coach Justin Frye has worked with less-talented groups prior and found significant success. If those questions are answered, the sky is the limit for this offensive group.
Surprisingly enough, historically the team after the team with the top-5 pick/NFL prospect at quarterback is the one that wins it all. Looking back to Peyton Manning, it was Tee Martin who finally held up the trophy. Down in Alabama, Tua Tagovailoa was the one who threw the pass to knock off Georgia, but it was Mac Jones who led the most explosive offense in school history. College football is filled with succession plans like these where the amazing comes when the worst could be expected.
This Ohio State team can be the next in the long line of football teams that outperform their more lauded predecessors. Looking at some national and school records relating to total offense, we can look at the potential thresholds that this team could reach given their talent on the offensive side of the ball.
Total Offense
In 2014 Ohio State set their program bench mark for total offense with 7,674 yards in the 15 games on the way to a national championship. The 2014 offense was an incredibly dynamic show led by red-shirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett and running back Ezekiel Elliott. The Buckeyes also ran out Michael Thomas and deep-threat Devin Smith, who were responsible for their share of explosiveness in the offense. Overall this group had similar questions heading into their season after the shock injury to incumbent starting quarterback Braxton Miller.
The 2014 offense was the greatest in total yards, but before we get into how this current group can get themselves into the record books, let’s take a look at the most yards per game offense in school history. That group was the 2018 no defense Buckeyes led by Dwayne Haskins Jr. The Buckeyes set countless passing records in both the school’s history and the Big Ten’s. They needed every single ounce of those yards, and ended up with two losses in spite of the offensive output due to challenges converting points at times.
That takes me to these records being broken, and why the 2022 team can be the one to unseat them. The first area of getting past the total yards on the season record is playing 15 games. If they get to 15 games, the record is in reach because each of the last four Ryan Day led teams would have eclipsed that number with 15 games. Now I know that is imaginative thinking, but the 2019 team was 200 yards short of being the best. If they take on LSU that following Monday, we may have a different idea on who the best offense in school history was.
For the yards per game, that just means the talent needs to show up on a week-to-week basis. What all the teams have in common is a dynamic backfield – Treveyon Henderson, MIyan Williams, Chip Trayanum, Dallan Hayden, and Evan Pryor definitely check those boxes. The group also needs explosive receivers on the outside, the son of a hall of farmer who is already on that trajectory himself in Marvin Harrison Jr. is a start. You add Emeka Egbuka, Julian Fleming, and the elite freshman coming in, and there is definitely a group of players capable of making big plays.
All this to say, the offense should put up a lot of yards. Questions on the offense line have limited teams before, but if that group can find its footing the other questions will answer themselves. At quarterback, Day’s track record is elite with none of his quarterbacks having bad stats in year one. Lastly, to have the most yards the team has to win a lot of football games to play in a lot of football games. With the backfield and the receivers, the next quarterback at Ohio State just needs to not crash the car and these records will be in reach.
Verdict: They can break both of these records if every thing goes right (or things go horribly wrong on defense)
Yards per play
The last two seasons Ohio State has had the No. 1 yards per play offense and No. 3 yards per play offense in school history. This is the state of the offensive side of the program, and this year the expectation is that this will continue. Ohio State has consistently ranked near the top offenses in yards per play since Urban Meyer took over the program in 2012, and that has set a lofty standard.
In school history, the highest yards per play in a single season was the 7.8 YPP in 2021-2022 when the Buckeyes had a breakout year from Treveyon Henderson, two first round draft picks at wide receiver, and a quarterback in C.J. Stroud who grew into the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL Draft. Ohio State will have a healthy Henderson back which is a big step, and in addition to Miyan Williams the No. 2 back, they should have more depth behind them as well this season.
Ohio State also has two first round wide receivers on their roster at this moment as well, and would you look at that, a first year starter at quarterback. A big reason the yards per play stat can be even greater this year is the balance the offense will try to find with a young starting quarterback. The offense won’t be simpler, but as we saw in Stroud’s first season, Day is willing to scheme up some big time throws down field.
Against Rutgers after Stroud returned from injury, he threw for five touchdowns with three of them coming off of well designed plays off of the run actions. This is what happens when a coach is trying to build the confidence of his quarterback, and when the running game is on there is that much more danger for defenses which is why this yards per play record should be in jeopardy.
Getting to eight yards per play is no small task, but the Buckeyes were incredibly close with the last two games hurting them. This season, it will once again come down to the final weeks. If the Buckeyes grow, improve, and become more dynamic as the season goes as they should. This record might be the most in jeopardy of them all, and could very well be broken with or without serious success.
Verdict: Having a young quarterback means the starter will be in games longer to get reps, the quality will be higher for longer and the Buckeyes have their most yards per play in a season
Total Scoring
The last section is the most important because you can’t win a football without scoring points even though schools like Iowa continue to try. Ohio State is on the opposite end of that spectrum every single year, so looking at the history books 2019 is the year to beat. The Buckeyes led by Justin Fields averaged 46.9 points per game, and were looking to make a statement every time they stepped on the field.
Ryan Day has his back against the wall, he’s handed the keys over to Brian Hartline in terms of play-calling, so this year has the makings of a prove it year like 2019. There is also the similarities between this team and the 2019 team. Ohio State had a first year starting quarterback, a star running back, and elite receivers all looking to make sure every defense paid for any mistakes.
Looking at Ohio State’s schedule, the Buckeyes only play two teams who ranked in the top-10 in opponent’s points per game and I’m sure you can guess who the two are. For the Buckeyes to break this record, they will need to maintain the offensive explosiveness agains their two rivals as well as not having low scoring games like Northwestern or Notre Dame from last year. With two early games against Western Kentucky and Youngstown State, the stat padding can be real.
Verdict: Long shot because 47 points per game is a lot, even in a good year.
The Buckeyes can break all three of these records on offense for a multitude of reasons, but it all starts with figuring out the starting lineup. Once the Buckeyes have the offensive line and quarterback position settled, we can really dive into the skill sets and how the coaching staff will build their plan of attack. With differing skill sets at the quarterback position, the offense’s strengths will be different depending on who wins the starting job. The only reason there is little concern there from my side is Day’s track record with quarterbacks.
Day has lost two important games that are seen as unforgivable, but he has routinely paced the country with explosive offenses. This years team at the skill positions might be the most talented on paper since Day took over. That means on paper all these records are breakable if things come together. For Day, trusting Hartline to manage the games and building the offensive line with Frye will be the difference in this offense being an all-time great group, or falling flat.
The final verdict here is answering the question, could this group be the most dominant in school history? They absolutely have the talent to get that done, the schedule is favorable, and outside the trips to Ann Arbor, Madison, and South Bend, there is a lot of opportunity in non-hostile environments to blow some numbers out of the water. If they play well in those match ups, and get the job done there is no reason this group can’t be seen as the most dominant in school history.
A lot of things need to go right, but the ceiling of this offense is untenable, if they don’t fall through the floor they have the makings of a group that can be truly special. Now it is time for Day to bring that talent together, and go prove it on the field.
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