Ohio State's offensive line did not play well in its 38-0 win over Hawai'i last weekend against an odd, 3-4 defense. The Buckeyes were expecting to see a more traditional base 4-3 against Northern Illinois on Saturday, and were hopeful that would get them back on track offensively.
Things didn't exactly work out that way, though. The Huskies surprised everyone, including Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, as they came out and play a defense similar to that of the Rainbow Warriors.
"They played all odd," Meyer said following the Buckeyes' narrow 20-13 win. "They changed their defense."
Ohio State's offense again struggled against this specific look as it only gained 298 total yards and committed five turnovers. Those struggles, left tackle Taylor Decker said, have a lot to do with how the Buckeyes' poor play up front. Ohio State didn't allow any sacks, but the Buckeyes' only gained 162 yards on the ground on 37 carries (4.4 yards per rush) and had no big plays.
"Our offense is kind of getting held back a little bit by us not executing, not being prepared," Decker said. "Year to year an offensive line gets better and better and I have all the confidence in the world. I have all the confidence in the world in eacah and every one of my teammates. Especially my linemen. I love them and we'll get it figured out."
Lee Calls His Shot
Darron Lee picked up on the fact Northern Illinois ran a few bubble screens his way in the first half and Ohio State's redshirt sophomore linebacker wanted to make sure that didn't happen again.
So when the Huskies tried one late in the third quarter, Lee was ready. He picked off the swing pass and took it 41 yards to the house for a touchdown.
"Just seeing how tight he was, we just knew he was going to run a bubble," Lee said. "That’s my job is to eliminate all bubbles in any way I can so really just saw it, made a play. They ran a couple of them in the first half so.”
Lee said he knew Northern Illinois was going to run that play because it had run it a couple times already and it was something the Huskies had shown on film. Ohio State co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell said Lee came over to him on the sideline and told him if Northern Illinois ran that play again, he'd make a big play.
"In some ways he called it," Fickell said. Saying if they’re going to try and run that again I’m going to steal it and pick it off.”
Elliott Tops 100 Again
It was in doubt for a little while, but in the end, Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott got over the 100-yard mark. Again.
Elliott carried the ball 23 times for 108 yards against Northern Illinois, but did not find the end zone. It was the eighth-straight time Elliott has run for at least 100 yards. Elliott averaged 4.7 yards per carry against the Huskies, but it almost didn't feel that way.
"We’re a power running team with the inside zone then we take shots down the field," Elliott said after the game. "But, we establish the run first."
