Refusing to trudge through the dismal slate of mid-December bowl games, I've spent the bulk of my football time perusing stats generated by this year's version of Urban Meyer's Buckeyes compared to the output of his previous squads in Columbus.
Last week I took a glance at this year's passing attack compared to season's past and before that, a look at various individual metrics along with the fabulous season-to-date turned in by J.K. Dobbins which has him on track to own the single-season Buckeye record for yards per carry by the team's leading rusher.
This week, I took a less targeted approach and simply went searching for five stats from this year's squad that stand out in comparison to previous Buckeye teams under Meyer's guidance.
ON SCHEDULE
Many factors go into producing the nation's 6th-most prolific total offense (523.6 ypg) and 5th-ranked scoring offense (42.5 ppg).
One such aspect is the offense's ability to stay on schedule, avoiding negative plays that get the group behind the chains and into unfavorable play calling situations.
Ohio State's 2017 offense, led by its offensive line, is having the second-best season of the Meyer era with regard to staying on schedule.
| YEAR | TFL ALLOWED | TFL YARDS | TFL / GAME | NATL RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017* | 54 | 193 | 4.15 | 9 |
| 2016 | 66 | 251 | 5.08 | 30 |
| 2015 | 70 | 237 | 5.36 | 35 |
| 2014 | 78 | 364 | 5.20 | 37 |
| 2013 | 56 | 229 | 4.00 | 6 |
| 2012 | 68 | 294 | 5.67 | 63 |
Through 13 games, Ohio State ranks ninth nationally allowing just 4.15 TFL per game. A key reason besides the offensive line is the shiftiness of tailback J.K. Dobbins. The true freshman has lost just nine yards from scrimmage on 181 carries this season.
Another key factor, pass protection, is on pace to be the best of the Meyer era from a sacks allowed per game perspective. So far this season, the slobs have given up 1.46 sacks per game, tied for the lowest mark with the 2015 group headlined by Taylor Decker and Pat Elflein.
RUSH TO JUDGMENT
Ohio State owns the 8th-ranked total defense so far this season yielding just over 292 yards per game via the 5th-fewest yards per play (4.38).
A key reason for the unit's overall success is its ability to shut down the run.
| YEAR | YARDS/CARRY | NATL RANK | YARDS/GAME | NATL RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017* | 3.04 | 8 | 108.77 | 8 |
| 2016 | 3.35 | 12 | 123.85 | 19 |
| 2015 | 3.38 | 14 | 126.85 | 22 |
| 2014 | 3.95 | 43 | 141.33 | 34 |
| 2013 | 3.29 | 12 | 109.43 | 9 |
| 2012 | 3.55 | 21 | 116.08 | 14 |
Through 13 games, this year's unit is allowing 108.77 rush yards per game on 3.04 yards per carry, both good for eighth in the country.
The marks also currently serve as the best since Meyer's arrival, narrowly beating the 2013 defense's 3.29 yards per carry and 109.43 rush yards per game.
The Buckeyes haven't just gotten fat off bad opponents either. The group held Saquon Barkley to 44 yards on 21 carries (2.1 ypc) and Jonathan Taylor to 41 yards on 15 carries (2.7 ypc) with a long of seven yards.
Yes, Iowa rushed for 6.4 yards per carry but only Army (4.5) and UNLV (4.3) joined the party as the Buckeyes held the likes of Oklahoma (2.8), Michigan (2.8), Penn State (2.6) and Wisconsin (1.9), among others, to under three yards per carry.
COVERAGE MAP
One of the more puzzling aspects of the Meyer era is the woefully inconsistent play turned in by the kickoff coverage teams.
Under Meyer the Buckeyes have ranked anywhere from third to 112th nationally in yielding 30+ yard returns. As I'm sure you're aware, the Buckeyes have had their struggles this season.
| YEAR | G | 30+ RETURNS | NATL RANK | 40+ | 50+ | 60+ | 70+ | 80+ | 90+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017* | 13 | 6 | 86 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 2016 | 13 | 5 | 65 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2015 | 13 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 15 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 | 14 | 5 | 44 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 | 12 | 11 | 112 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Not a threat to be worse than the incredibly 2012 outfit which gave up 11 kickoff returns of 30+ yards, the 2017 group still sits second-worst of the Meyer era with 6 such kickoff returns allowed with one game to play.
To their credit however, the 2017 coverage team – which went through some personnel changes to stop the bleeding – has done exactly that.
After giving up a 43-yard return to Army and later 100-yard and 97-yard touchdown returns to Maryland and Penn State, the Buckeyes have righted the ship.
Over the last five games, the kickoff coverage team's longest return allowed is 23 yards and on 25 total kickoffs, they're holding opponents to a strong 14.48 yards per kickoff return.
MARGIN FOR ERROR
With an offense turning it over six more times than last year and a defense doing well at limiting yards and points but not creating turnovers at an elite rate, the 2017 team's turnover margin is on track to finish as the worst of the Meyer era at +.15 per game.
Through 13 games, the Buckeyes have gained 20 turnovers, good for just 40th nationally while coughing it up 18 times, good for only 57th in the land.
| YEAR | GAMES | TO GAINED | NATL RANK | TO LOST | NATL RANK | TO MARGIN/G | NATL RANK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017* | 13 | 20 | 40 | 18 | 57 | 0.15 | 58 |
| 2016 | 13 | 27 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 1.15 | 3 |
| 2015 | 13 | 21 | 59 | 18 | 42 | 0.23 | 48 |
| 2014 | 15 | 33 | 5 | 26 | 101 | 0.47 | 33 |
| 2013 | 14 | 24 | 40 | 19 | 41 | 0.36 | 37 |
| 2012 | 12 | 21 | 69 | 18 | 29 | 0.25 | 48 |
If the Buckeye defense fails to register a turnover against USC, the 2017 unit will finish with 20 turnovers gained, good for the lowest of the Meyer era.
The low total is largely fueled by a sharp decrease in interceptions – 12 this year – after last year's secondary put on a show with 21 picks led by Malik Hooker's seven while Gareon Conley and Marshon Lattimore tallied four each.
This year, Damon Webb leads the team with four while Jordan Fuller, Damon Arnette and Denzel Ward have two each.
While the 2016 output of 21 was impressive, the 2014 team owns the gold standard under Meyer with 25 interceptions led by six from Vonn Bell, five from Doran Grant and four from Tyvis Powell.
KEY INGREDIENT
After a slow start featuring lapses in pass coverage and some missed tackles, outside linebacker Jerome Baker has come on late and now leads the defense with 67 total tackles.
Safety Jordan Fuller led the team in stops for the majority of the season before Baker's late charge gave him a seven-tackle edge.
Baker built his lead on the strength of five tackles against Michigan and more notably, a ridiculous 16-tackle effort against Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game.
Those 21 tackles over the last two games compare extremely well to the modest 27 stops he tallied over the previous seven games.
Potentially playing his last game as a Buckeye, Baker will be a player to watch against the Trojans both in the run game and in coverage against USC's tailback and tight end.
