Ohio State’s receiving corps, dubbed "Zone 6" by receivers coach Zach Smith, has taken its share of criticism in the first half of the season. But Saturday the Buckeye receivers stepped up, got separation, and made plays for their quarterbacks.
Michael Thomas had a career day. Despite not getting into the end zone, Thomas caught a season-high seven passes for a career-high 107 yards. Braxton Miller finished with five receptions for 79 yards and a touchdown, including a circus catch on a 33-yard Cardale Jones throw that was a bit off the mark. Jalin Marshall caught four passes for 78 yards, including a 48-yard touchdown.
The trio of starters helped Jones set new career highs in completions (21) and yards (291). And Jones only played one snap inside the Maryland 20-yard line—his 19-yard scoring strike to Miller.
Cardale has now topped 200 yards in three consecutive games. His previous high for the season was 288 against Western Michigan. Jones also avoided throwing an interception for the first time since the Hawai’i game. He had thrown four picks in the last three games. With the receivers stepping up and making plays, Cardale didn’t feel compelled to force anything.
It was a big performance by the receivers, which also includes a six-yard reception by Dontre Wilson. Thomas, Miller and Marshall getting open against Maryland’s secondary helped Jones keep the offense moving much of the day. The Buckeyes punted only three times, with one of those coming on the very first drive. With everyone in sync, Jones and Barrett were named Ohio State’s co-offensive players of the game.
And you can expand the receiving corps to include Ezekiel Elliott. Zeke finished with six receptions for 47 yards on a day when the opposition did a good job of limiting big run plays and clogging up the middle.
Felt like a receiver today @CoachZachSmith
— EzekielElliott#15 (@EzekielElliott) October 10, 2015
In addition to helping Jones have a career day, Thomas also caught a crucial 20-yarder from J.T. Barrett on a third-and-16 play in the first quarter to keep a drive alive—a possession that ended with a 3-yard Barrett touchdown run. Thomas's seven receptions equaled Curtis Samuel’s team best for 2015, set against Hawai’i.
“I did my job,” Thomas said after the game. “I feel like I can keep progressing during the season and I feel like with the great coaches I have here and everything going on here I feel like the sky’s the limit.”
For the first time in 2015, Ohio State had three receivers with more than 70 yards and four with more than 40. It was also the first time the Buckeyes have had more than two receivers with four or more receptions in a game.
If the OSU targets can continue to get open, Jones should be able to stay relaxed and lead the Buckeyes down the field. Since he apparently doesn’t have to worry about the red zone anymore, he won’t need to press and can play loose.
More importantly than their catches, however, is their play away from the ball. Urban Meyer said yesterday that Miller is doing a better job of blocking on wide receiver screens to Marshall and Thomas. Meyer also said, "he is fully integrated right now at wide receiver,” although he said that wasn’t the case earlier in the year.
It’s a good thing the starting receivers stepped up, because Ohio State has lost some depth at the position with the injuries to Corey Smith, Noah Brown, Johnnie Dixon and Parris Campbell, although the latter did see some action on Saturday. If they can continue to play the way they did Saturday against stiffer competition, Ohio State’s offense could return to the level it reached last season.
And then, as Thomas said, the sky really is the limit.
