Game Thread Ohio State vs. Maryland Game Recap + Players Of The Game Poll

[MD Buckeye]

The Buckeyes kept rolling on Saturday, welcoming Maryland to the B1G with a 52-24 romping. Redshirt Freshman Quarterback J.T. Barrett continues to impress, completing 78% of his passes for 267 yards and 4 scores, while also adding 71 yards and 1 TD on the ground. Running back Ezekiel Elliott hit the century mark again, rushing for 139 yards on 24 carries. Without the offensive line playing well, none of the above would've been possible. Despite giving up four sacks on the day, the young line continues to improve. The Silver Bullet defense also had a good day with 4 INTs and 3 sacks. Growing pains are expected with the young D giving up some big plays, but it's apparent that they have improved since 2013. The Buckeyes enter their second off week feeling confident and look forward to their matchup with Rutgers on the 18th.

Official Stats






Don't forget to select your offensive & defensive players of the game and discuss below!

 

[MaxBuck]

If I could have split my defensive vote equally between Bosa and Michael Bennett, I would have. Bennett had a tremendous game.

 

[buckeyebri]

Voted for JT and Joey as their performances were without question very impressive. I had to really think about Thomas for his TD grab, as well as, a couple of others. I also have to give props to Darron "that's Darren to you" Lee for his INT and his play overall was just excellent.

 

[sepia5]

If I could have split my defensive vote equally between Bosa and Michael Bennett, I would have. Bennett had a tremendous game.

I was thinking the same thing. Bosa's stats were a bit better and he was dominant, but Bennett was a seriously disruptive force in the middle of the line.

 

[lvbuckeye]

Can there be a vote for 'O-line'?

Sans Decker, I guess.

Maybe a unit poll?

 

[C-busBuck]

Barrett and Bosa hands down. But Bennett was awesome and Zeke and Josh Perry had solid games as well.

 

[Mariotwins]

Starting to feel much better about this team as the season goes on.

 

[pianobuck46]

Starting to feel much better about this team as the season goes on.

Me, too. My hopes are sky high, but it's time for us to step back, take a deep breath, and let the team do the same thing. Anything can happen.

GO BUCKS!!!

 

[RB07OSU]

My weekly recap (it will be shorter, a lot of the observations were straight forward and don't bear repeating mostly):

1) We've beaten the JT vs. Braxton subject into a pulp and while I will NOT venture as to the future between the two, one difference I notice in JT is that he is Mr. Automatic in throwing the bubbles, screens, escape routes, etc. (all within that 5-8 yard range) and nobody has mentioned that yet. Those throws are not as easy as they seem and Braxton would routinely misfire on those...sometimes he would complete it but be off target enough to kill the receivers momentum. JT does a great job of hitting the receiver right in stride and allowing them to get that YAC we have been getting.

2) Best defensive gameplan yet from Ash. We were bound and determined to lock down Diggs and Long, and we did when it mattered...not an easy task at all. I will give our DBs a lot of credit but Ash did a great job of giving plenty of safety support to the corners over the top, dropping LBs deeper to take away crossing routes, and getting more exotic looks to get pressure on the QB to disallow him to get in any rhythm (especially moving Bosa around). But lots of credit to the DBs...really aggressive around the LOS, stayed right in the hip pocket, and made every ball contested basically. Also a great job of blowing up the quick WR screen.

3) Outstanding kick coverage, especially with how dangerous they are. I might also add that Cameron Johnston could well be the best in the country...canon for a leg but so precise in pinning the ball inside the 20. Really soft bounce that allows his coverage to get down there and down it deep.

4) Joey Bosa...obviously I have raved nonstop since his junior year of HS but yesterday he absolutely put on a clinic. He will be the first DL off the board in the NFL draft in 2016 (obviously I hope he stays, I just think no way he does). Not only is he dominant but he is so versatile in moving around the DL...he could be a SDE in a 3-4, a pure 4-3 DE, and also move inside on 3rd downs.

5) Random but if Spielman and McDonnough announced every OSU game, I would be cool with that.

6) Decker must have taken notes from Shugarts on getting at least one false start per game...c'mon Taylor. Great OL but he is our leader and the false starts need to stop. Speaking of OL, it really seems Billy Price is getting comfortable out there...really kicking ass in the run game but also not getting confused in pass blocking.

7) I know we want to impose our will inside the 5 and run, but a defense can take that inside read away if you don't break tendency on 1st and 2nd downs occasionally. And honestly, JT flat out missed a couple reads where he would have walked into the endzone if he keeps it.

8) Honestly, it looks like Washington is playing hurt...just looks a step slow out there most of the time.

9) Great all-around game. Points only came against us when the game was out of reach and we made the plays when it mattered.

 

[Jagdaddy]

My weekly recap (it will be shorter, a lot of the observations were straight forward and don't bear repeating mostly):

1) We've beaten the JT vs. Braxton subject into a pulp and while I will NOT venture as to the future between the two . . .

2) Best defensive gameplan yet from Ash. We were bound and determined to lock down Diggs and Long, and we did when it mattered...not an easy task at all. I will give our DBs a lot of credit but Ash did a great job of giving plenty of safety support to the corners over the top, dropping LBs deeper to take away crossing routes, and getting more exotic looks to get pressure on the QB to disallow him to get in any rhythm (especially moving Bosa around). But lots of credit to the DBs...really aggressive around the LOS, stayed right in the hip pocket, and made every ball contested basically. Also a great job of blowing up the quick WR screen.

5) Random but if Spielman and McDonnough announced every OSU game, I would be cool with that.

7) I know we want to impose our will inside the 5 and run, but a defense can take that inside read away if you don't break tendency on 1st and 2nd downs occasionally. And honestly, JT flat out missed a couple reads where he would have walked into the endzone if he keeps it.

1) Thank you.

2) I can't quantify it, but it seems to me as if the defense is considerably more effective when it mixes up the look of the front and shows pre-snap movement, regardless of whether the nature of the pass rush actually changes when the ball is snapped. They're definitely starting to play faster and re in most cases sticking a lot closer to receivers. A work in progress, but rapidly improving IMO.

5) +1. Spiels is always good, but he was great on Saturday. Definitive and clear with analysis, explanation and apportionment of credit and blame. Also love that he called Zeke out on the "eating" nonsense: Might have to shame Zeke out of it with some video of D-Tard if he keeps it up.

7) I honestly think (hope?) that this was a toughness test. The funky play calling near the goal line really only kicked in once the game was pretty well in hand. Might have been an effort to show MSU some tendency too. I do think that the roll JT left to run or pass thing doesn't need to be tried again. Even the time that it worked earlier in the season, it was much more great execution than an optimal call.

A couple of other things:

1. Great post on your part even though I didn't UBET WOT it and quote the whole thing.

2. I want to single out Darron Lee a bit because I think that he is kind of a one-man microcosm of the team (especially the defense because JT's more of a steady hand on the tiller of the offense): A balls out high risk-high reward player who is a little raw and undisciplined but is increasing the ratio of big plays to d'oh plays every time out. If Darron and the rest of the team can keep playing fast and get just a little bit cleaner each time out, the sky's the limit. We all demanded a more aggressive D, and we're getting it: We'll just have to live with a few growing pains and the occasional blunder.