So it begins. The most brutal part of the Buckeye schedule starts with the game against Denver on Saturday. And what a game it will be.
Last year Ohio State took Denver behind the woodshed and delivered a beating the likes of which the Pios have rarely seen. 16-7 was the score in Ohio Stadium, and I am not sure it was ever really that close. OSU out-Denvered Denver, and it resulted in a massive win, and huge boost in momentum. We all know how that season turned out
This year, Ohio State has started off a bit slow, with a pair of OT losses we all know about. Denver has started off a bit slow this year as well, dropping games against Duke (in an epic collapse) and Notre Dame (which they were never really in). Denver is a tough nut to crack, as offensively they are almost without peer.
At the top, Offensive Coordinator (and coach-in-waiting) Matt Brown has led one of the nation's most prolific offenses for years now. I know for a fact that other D1 teams steal his concepts in whole or in part to make their own offenses better. No greater compliment you can give someone, really. This year, Denver has started a bit slower than in previous years.
Denver won its first two games quite easily before it dropped a 15-12 decision to Duke, where they had the Blue Devils on the ropes before collapsing late under a barrage of goals. Duke struggled all game, then scored 7 unanswered goals in the 4th quarter to come away with the W.
Denver rattled off 3 straight wins in response, before falling 11-9 to Notre Dame this past weekend. Denver went down 6-1 after 1 quarter, and they never recovered. If the Buckeyes want a W, they will need to do the same.
Offensively, the Pios are masters of finding and converting the right shot. They will pass up good shots in favor of great shots. The ball moves fast, picks are set quickly, and the entire O is a whirling dervish of mayhem. This year, though, they are less balanced than in previous seasons.
Sophomore attackman Ethan Walker leads the Pios with 22 goals. On 30 shots. Not shots on goal. SHOTS. The man is playing out of his mind, and the Pios go as he goes. Shoot, sometimes Walker puts in 4 or 5 regardless of whether the Pios win or lose.
Walker reminds me of Tre Leclaire a whole lot. He is a lefty shooter, but absolutely kills teams as a designated goalscorer. Most of his goals are stepdown shots off a dodge from one of Denver's many talented offensive players. Walker will invert a shortstick middie every now and then, but his shot is so good that it's almost a waste. He has such a short, violent motion that it is really hard for a goalie to track the ball out of his stick.
Not to give short shrift to the other Pio players, but it really is an offense this year designed to draw a slide and dump the ball to Walker. Junior attackman Austin French has 9 goals and 13 assists, while junior middie Colton Jackson has 9 goals and 4 assists. The Pioneer supporting cast is good, but really is measured by how well they are able to get Walker an open look.
Defensively, Denver is fairly mediocre. The Pioneers give up 8.83 goals a game, putting them in a tie for 20th nationally with Johns Hopkins. Starting defenseman Dylan Gaines has 16 groundballs and 6 caused turnovers, with shortstick defensive middie Nick Phillips picking up 7 groundballs and causing 2 turnovers. Overall, the Pios have caused 23 turnovers on the year, ranking...dead last, at 3.83 per game. If ever there was a time for the Buckeye offense to wake up, this is it.
Denver is easily the best in Division 1 at faceoffs. Trevor Baptiste is already a member of the US national team that will compete in the World Championships this summer. He's currently winning 75% of his faceoffs, and has 63 groundballs. That's phenomenal. No two ways about, the Buckeyes are in for a long day at the faceoff X.
On special teams, Denver is exceptional with the man advantage. The Pioneers have 10 goals in 16 chances, good for a 63% conversion rate. That's 3rd in the country. Ohio State is currently at 29%, having converted 6 of 21 chances. That's good for a tie for 43rd. Not ideal.
On Man Down, Denver and Ohio State are on even footing. Denver is in a tie for 60th, allowing 6 goals in 12 opportunities, while OSU is 59th, having allowed 9 goals in 19 opportunities. Denver has a decided advantage here, so Ohio State needs to play very cleanly.
In goal, Alex Ready has started all 6 games, but Denver has given all 4 of its goalies an opportunity. Ready has given up 45 goals this season, good for 8.36 goals against per game.
Ready has made 41 saves on the year, for a .477 save percentage. Watching Denver a little on film, Ready can be beaten anywhere on the left side of the goal (Ready is a lefty, so it's to his right). Ohio State needs to shake off last week and do some more shooting in practice for this week.
Ohio State dominated every phase of the game last week except goals, and it allowed an overmatched Towson team to escape with a win. In Colorado, Ohio State really has to put the pressure on a Denver team that has been susceptible to long defensive lapses.
The Buckeyes have the defensive talent to slow down Denver, and (on paper) have the shooters to make Denver pay. This will be OSU's biggest test of the season, and it really could go either way.
Amateur prediction: Denver wins, 12-10.
