Saturday’s game is probably one where Buckeyes fans are going to have gripes with the offensive play-calling. There may be some PTSD from last year’s game against Michigan involved, but it also could be the lack
of a prolific offensive output Saturday from the No. 1 Buckeyes.
Here’s the deal, though: The Buckeyes’ offense was good on Saturday. The stats may not show it, but it was still a good day for the Buckeyes’ offense on Saturday.
That’s where going beyond the box score helps, and it’s why we do that at Land Grant Holy Land every Monday. This week, we’ll look at how Saturday, despite the lack of prolific numbers, was still a good day for the Buckeyes’ offense in their 34-16 win at No. 17 Illinois.
Saturday was a good day for the Buckeyes’ offense
Admittedly, Saturday’s game was weird. The team stats would not indicate what the final score actually was.
The Buckeyes’ defense lived up to its reputation, again, but in a different way this time. It didn’t completely shut down Illinois, but the Buckeyes were able to force three turnovers and turn those into 21 points.
That’s where the offense comes into play. Five of its 11 drives started in Illinois territory, with an average starting field position at the Buckeyes’ 45-yard line. That’s only five yards from midfield.
Ohio State has two all-world receivers, not to mention other great skill players on offense. They want to be vertical and throw the ball downfield. But with shorter fields, it’s harder to have those plays and routes develop. It’s harder to gain separation with only so much room to work with.
Offensively, the Buckeyes didn’t need to be prolific on Saturday. The defense gave them short fields five times, and they scored on four of those drives. Three of those drives resulted in touchdowns.
Let’s not forget, too, that the Buckeyes’ first drive was a 12-play, 67-yard drive. Yes, it ended in a field goal. But still, the Buckeyes put their defense on the field for the first time Saturday with a 3-0 lead.
The Buckeyes answered Illinois’s first touchdown Saturday with a 14-play, 63-yard touchdown drive that took nearly eight minutes off the clock. On the Buckeyes’ two lengthy drives, they put the ball in the end zone.
In addition, Jeremiah Smith had a 32-yard reception overturned because replay showed he lost control of the ball on the ground. That stuff is going to happen throughout the course of the season. Smith didn’t drop the pass. He just didn’t survive the ground.
Let’s talk about the playcalling
This is probably a hot topic among Buckeyes fans. It seems to always be that way.
First off, Brian Hartline is in his first season as the sole offensive coordinator and play-caller. He’s going to have games like Saturday, and he will also evolve as this season progresses.
Second, the Buckeyes only punted twice before the fourth quarter on Saturday. Even though they punted twice in the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes were already ahead 34-10.
Hartline is smart enough to know that games are going to take on different forms. Saturday’s game saw the Buckeyes’ defense force three turnovers, which the offense turned into 21 points. Are fans going to blame the offense for cashing in on all three turnovers with touchdowns?
Because of the defense forcing those three turnovers, there wasn’t an urgent need to be aggressive on offense. Hartline didn’t need to put Sayin in positions where he could give the ball right back to Illinois. The Buckeyes could be more methodical and wear down Illinois’s defense.
Ohio State ran the ball 37 times Saturday. They only averaged 2.9 yards per run, but it’s the number of runs that’s important to note here. The Buckeyes’ continued use of the run brought Illinois defenders down into the box, which opened up opportunities in the passing game.
Ten times on Saturday, the Buckeyes had a first and second down sequence where they went run-run. That may be a little high with the all-world talent at wide receiver and Julian Sayin, but it was fine on Saturday because of how the game was playing out.
Remember how NBC Sports’ Chris Simms said the Buckeyes are reminiscent of the heyday of the New England Patriots’ dynasty? The Patriots could win games in multiple ways. Whatever worked in a particular game, they used it. It could be a different game plan each week, but it worked.
The Buckeyes are becoming that kind of team. Questions about play-calling aside, Saturday’s game plan worked. When airing the ball out is the game plan, like it was against Minnesota, the Buckeyes will do just that.
This team is incredibly versatile. That’s what makes them dominant, and it’s why they are the No. 1 team in the country.