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- Thread starter BUCK3YE5
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Breaking Down Will Howard’s Performance In Ohio State’s Season-Opening Blowout Win Over Akron
Will Howard was impressive in Ohio State's season-opening win over Akron, completing 61% of his passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns.
Breaking Down Will Howard’s Performance In Ohio State’s Season-Opening Blowout Win Over Akron
Not a bad Ohio State debut, Will Howard.
In fact, it was a really good one once he got settled in.
Howard came to the Buckeyes with plenty of experience, as the fifth-year senior played in 34 games at Kansas State. At Ohio State, he's in charge of an offense with plenty of playmakers, both in the backfield and on the outside, and is expected to make plays with both his arm and his legs while also maximizing the talent OSU has.
He did quite a good job of that in Ohio State's season-opening 52-6 win over Akron on Saturday, completing 17-of-28 passes (61%) for 228 yards and three touchdowns. Of those 17 completions, five different players caught at least one pass, led by freshman Jeremiah Smith, who had six catches for 92 yards and two touchdowns in his debut. Howard also had four carries for 18 yards.
There's no doubt that Howard's legs could be a difference-maker in 2024. Whether it's RPO, scrambles, or any other running play as a quarterback, his running ability will give opposing defenses something to not only worry about and prepare for, but also open up the field for Ohio State's receivers as well. Chip Kelly has already shown his ability to take advantage of that part of Howard's game.
In terms of passing, the 6-foot-4, 235-pound quarterback threw four straight incompletions to start the game, but that stretch included two drops and a should-be defensive pass interference penalty. He then completed six of his next eight attempts. Three of those were to Smith, including a 16-yard touchdown for Ohio State's first score of the season.
After missing on his next five passes, Howard had completed just six of his first 16 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown midway through the second quarter.
“I think just across the board they were a little uptight early on. I think they were kind of worked up. And you saw a couple of things off and we got ourselves off-schedule,” Ryan Day said after the game.
After that, the veteran signal-caller seemed to find his groove in his new threads. He completed 11 of his final 12 passes to five different receivers for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
“I thought we sort of settled in and started to have more fun, and we started to play a little looser, which is the way we need to play,” Day said. “I thought we were a little bit uptight early on, and we can't play like that. We gotta come out of the gates playing loose.”
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Buckeneye
I lead, you follow.
Sure.
This isn't an RPO, Fryer is on a jumpset to pickup the edge. Oline has a little slide and show high-hat. The step down on the fake is just to sell the give and suck up the LBs.
The decision itself on where to go with the ball is great. I'm taking Smith singled up against a high corner on a backside slant all day when I get 5 over 4 to the boundary. It's the window choice and the ball placement that is the issue.
Corner was smoked early, the only thing that could effect this throw was the underneath getting depth and flowing too far one way or the other to choke off a lane. Of the throwing window(s) in this frame, from a clean pocket, Howard pressed himself just a split second earlier than he needed and made the absolute most risky one.
Not only that, but the only reason the LB didn't get a hand on it was because he just missed, not because it was out of his reach.
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When the WLB started to overflow back to the field, the smarter, MUCH safer throw would be to put it back to his inside and to layer it a touch higher, as there was no DB who could have recovered to help the corner late. Shown below in red.
That means Jeremiah can use his wingspan to go get it and continue shielding from the corner, but also gets this ball out of unnecessary traffic.
I'm not saying you can't get away with one here and there, you absolutely can and you have to at times. I remember Beockman's first TD to Sanzo was paced between a nickel and a LB. It was a solid throw that has no other window on a 3 step drop. It was there or it was no where. But this isn't quite that.
Like I said, it's nitpicking at its absolute finest. But it reminds me of something Coach Saban said - essentially that, while the media praised his team and how great they are, he's too busy noticing the small oil leak under the car where problems can arise later.
There are some good LBs on the schedule this year in conference play. Don't take for granted or get used to throws like this connecting against better competition.
edit: To clarify, I'm sure this is something WH will improve on with more time in this offense. He has a solid defense, a running game that seems to be a bit improved (early look) and almost a full month of games before he gets a test against Iowa's group. Plenty of time and reps to keep elevating his game.
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Actually, you’re right. It wasn’t an RPO. Will’s eyes didn’t go backside at the snap.
But if the throws the ball on your trajectory, it’s likely incomplete. JJ was running full speed when he caught the ball on his face. And the LB was there before he slid to the left to get the ball. He was standing right in your line. And a throw with less zip is likely not completed. It would’ve required JJ to change his route path upward while running full speed. And if we’re using the fact that there will be better LB’s, we have to acknowledge there will be better DB’s too. You rarely ever see layered throws on quick slants.
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Buckeneye
I lead, you follow.
Appreciate the conversation.
The line I gave was dependent on linebacker flow. So when that Will sneaks into that lane, you either beat it or cross it. Timing based throws sometimes require pacing or reset. (ignoring the late drop from the weakside edge) Looking at JS' route, I see 3 then stab inside across the cb face and carry. I'm not sure how our coaches want route depth in this case, but squaring it tighter isn't an option for this throw (obviously). Ultimately Smith could have kept that same depth and WH would have waited for his 5th? By my count, step, before he was even and clearing the LB to find the window.
You are right, my choice of words on "layer" was wrong. A little more height, not at JS' facemask, is what I wanted. You're also correct that you can assume we'll see better DB play. But when you're that high on a WR, it would take a very special effort to recover. The turnover risk here is from the underneath coverage, and that's where I take exception.
It's a matter of interpretation, I suppose. I've seen throws like this get picked quite a bit. I'll be curious going forward when we see this and the counters from this look (weakside zone, QB wrap, HB lead, sooooo many) Because I'll be interested in seeing how/when B1G 'backers bite.
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Not that it makes either of us right or wrong, Day commented on this play and said they both did a great job.
I would like to see a better PA fake. The LB’s didn’t bite at all. Would make that throw much safer.
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He'll get at least 3 more TDs this week. No turnovers is the key every week for Will and we're golden.
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ORD_Buckeye
Wrong glass, Sir.
Absolutely thrilled with this guy's debut. I understood the running was going to be there, but he's passing like CJ. I won't buy in fully until he runs the gauntlet after Marshall, but I couldn't be happier right now.
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scarletngray
Gold Pants
Will has been doing well. Hoping he has time this "improvement week" to work on the deep ball. Very pleased with his production thus far.
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1926Buckeyes
Head Coach
He's started out very well. Quick and accurate, which seems to be the most important thing if they're going to rely on RPOs and option plays.
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