As Ohio State built an early lead during its showdown at Texas last weekend, the Buckeyes did something they failed to do in previous meetings with the Longhorns.
They got Jeremiah Smith going.
Smith, the superstar wide receiver who is as dominant as any player in college football, had been held in check when the blue bloods tangled during the previous two years.
Ohio State’s focus on Smith was critical as it went ahead by as many as 20 points during their rematch.
When the Buckeyes mounted their first touchdown drive, quarterback Julian Sayin found Smith three times, including a needle deep into the middle of the Longhorns’ zone coverage on third down and a swing pass that Smith used to again move the chains.
The capper of Smith’s explosive first
half, which resulted in six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, was an 18-yard pass he hauled in between two defenders in the end zone of the north end of Darrell K. Royal Stadium to give Ohio State a 20-3 lead just before halftime.
But as Texas tightened its coverage on Smith during the third and fourth quarters, it ground the Buckeyes’ passing game to a halt. Sayin never found much of a connection with his other targets, and Ohio State's lead slipped away in a 24-23 loss.
While Smith ended with eight catches for 164 yards with his score, the rest of the wide receivers finished with only two receptions — Brandon Inniss’ 19-yard haul on third down in the second quarter and Devin McCuin’s 5-yard catch in the waning seconds.
For as much as Buckeyes coach Ryan Day liked the early approach, they grew too reliant on their premier playmaker. Nearly half of Sayin’s targets went to Smith.
“We've got to get other guys involved,” Day said. “We've got to take some pressure off of Jeremiah.”
The need to establish other weapons to complement Smith had loomed throughout the offseason following the departure of Carnell Tate to the NFL.
The lack of their emergence at Texas was a product of several factors, including the precision of Sayin’s passing.
“There were a couple of situations where I could have went to a different spot,” Sayin said, “or if I did go to a different spot, I missed a throw.”
The most glaring instance was in the third quarter when Sayin overthrew McCuin, who was left open by a safety rushing toward the line of scrimmage.
“He ran a great route,” Sayin said. “I ended up missing him high. I want that one back for sure. That one is definitely one I think about, because I had a good opportunity there, had a good play called, and I ended up missing him.”
McCuin, who transferred to Ohio State from UTSA, made the biggest impression during a season-opening win over Ball State with six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Had the pass from Sayin been on target as he ran toward the Longhorns’ 10-yard line, McCuin was in position for another score.
Sayin’s pass on third down on the following play was also tipped as he tried to find Smith in a sea of coverage rather than hit Inniss in the seam.
“There were opportunities where maybe I could have gotten them a little more,” Sayin said.
But Sayin did not always have help. When the Buckeyes were facing a third down later in the third quarter, Phillip Bell was unable to pull in a diving catch on a route toward the sideline.
“Any time you don't have success, you've got to look at everything and make sure we're doing what's right,” Day said, “but it goes without saying that we need to get other players involved rather than Jeremiah on offense.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football needs more support for Jeremiah Smith in passing game
