Eleven Warriors Roundtable: Tulsa Time

After taking one on the chin last weekend at home against Oregon, you can bet Ryan Day and company are more than ready to take out some frustrations on Tulsa tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. ET in Ohio Stadium.

It's been an interesting for Day as his team dropped its first regular-season game under his guidance and media questions around the status of defensive coordinator Kerry Coombs swirled around him.

For his part, Day's been impressive in meeting the queries head on and it should be an interesting Saturday for Ohio State's defense both on the field and as we observe shifts in staff responsibilities.

With the storylines abundant this week, we welcome our very own Ramzy Nasrallah, Chris Lauderback and George Eisner to this week's roundtable.

It's a bit wild how polarizing C.J. Stroud's play has been considering Ohio State's more-glaring issues. How would you grade Stroud's performance through two games and what's his ceiling this season?

Ramzy: In four halves of football Stroud has led the offense to eight touchdowns, five punts, three failed 4th down conversions, two interceptions and a field goal. He’s airmailed a few passes, missed a few open guys (and this offense will always have open guys) and suffered an understandable case of the yips in Minneapolis until halftime.

If you grade him straight up, it’s a C+. On a curve for degree of difficulty with his experience level, it’s a B. The Buckeyes are 1-1 because of their defense, and their new QB’s ceiling in 2021 is a gentleman’s A.

Stroud’s development is on schedule. Being scrutinized into oblivion is just a perk of being an Ohio State Buckeye. If your measuring stick is Justin Fields, you’ve got the wrong stick and you probably shouldn’t be trusted with sticks either.

Chris: I'm going B- for Stroud thus far. He hasn't been spectacular by any stretch but considering he played eight snaps last year and attempted zero passes, I think he's been fairly solid. Yeah, he's thrown two costly picks and when he's inaccurate, he's high and hard but I think beyond his lack of experience, we also need to consider that his first two collegiate starts have seen Ohio State's awful defense put added pressure on him and the offense to deliver. I'd love to see Stroud be a bit more decisive and a more-willing runner but I feel like he's coming along.

Too many people want him to be Justin Fields right out of the gate, forgetting Fields was the best to ever do it in an OSU uniform. I feel like it's very possible next year will be an open competition for the starting QB gig but I'm content with what Stroud has shown so far and I do expect that he'll keep getting better since he has an elite coach in Ryan Day working to develop his skills.

George: Stroud should not be where the concerns of Ohio State fans rest right now. For a little over two more weeks, he is a 19 year old tasked with guiding the national title hopes of a perennial college football playoff contender. Growing pains were inevitable. There have been a lot of parallels to 2014 this week, but it is certainly worth remembering the path of the redshirt freshman quarterback that guided the Buckeyes that season in the context of Stroud's journey.

If putting a letter grade on it, a B- is probably about right. Stroud has started slow in two games, faded late when behind in the latest, and absolutely shredded the field in the interim. He has regularly made more than a few impressive throws, but his bad habit of missing high is already well documented and his lack of execution in critical situations has cost Ohio State dearly in more ways than one. The tone of this week could be very different right now had Stroud not missed a wide-open Wilson for what would have been the game-tying touchdown late in the 4th quarter.

I think Kyle Jones framed the issue well while we were watching the game last week when he said that Stroud has the talent but doesn't trust himself enough. Confidence comes with experience, and the reality is Stroud has had the in-game reins for all of two weeks. It will be a month and a half before Ohio State hosts Penn State on Halloween weekend. Give him time to correct his mistakes, and I think the guy that just threw for 484 yards will settle in while guiding this team to where it wants to be.

A lot has been made about Ohio State playing four tackles across the offensive line yet not exactly running the ball down Minnesota or Oregon's throats. You good with the current lineup up front? Anything you'd change? Will the group find a groove soon?

George: Perhaps the greatest strength of the offensive line last season was that it featured two bookends at the tackle spots in Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere. So it was a bit shocking when the implementation of Dawand Jones earlier in fall camp resulted in not only weak side position changes for NPF, but also Munford. None of this shuffling has resulted in the bulldozer effect many expected along the line of scrimmage, and the players that excelled last year are not finding similar success so far.

NPF's faulty flip from right to left tackle has been particularly alarming. He was arguably the best pass-protecting right tackle in college football last season but has had trouble adjusting to the other side of the line through the first two games. Munford has shockingly had some similar woes, giving up the sack on the play prior to Stroud's game-sealing interception — which itself was precipitated by NPF being beat on the edge earlier in the play.

If I'm Greg Studrawa, I keep Jones in at right tackle, but I strongly consider moving Munford back to his original position at left tackle and give NPF a shot at guard. Having one player acclimate to a new role is much easier than having two do so next to each other on the same side of the offensive line.

Ramzy: The 2018 team that couldn’t run the ball for shit finished 63rd in the FBS in rushing with 171 yards a game. This one is currently 66th with 165, albeit only through two games. That passing offense with Dwayne Haskins was 2nd nationally. This one with Stroud is already 4th. So the 2021 team - it’s super early! - is trending toward being that kind of an offense again.

You’re seeing the manifestation of what the coaches believe give them the best chance to win. If they had maulers and could run the ball the way they wanted to, they’d be doing it already. I expect them to develop into a more balanced attack as the season progresses.

Chris: I definitely felt the offensive line would come out steamrolling dudes and that hasn't happened.. yet. I think I failed to consider that even though the four tackles bring crazy size and athleticism, the reality is some of experience Thayer Munford and Nicholas Petit-Frere have has been somewhat offset by the fact both are playing new positions. I also think Day was pretty down on the run after the Oregon game but in the reality is OSU is averaging 5.8 yards per carry on the young season. I know Ohio State trailed the whole damn game basically but I think Day abandoned the run a bit too early last weekend which I'm sure is easy to do when four of your six possessions in the second half (excluding the last gasp, two-play possession) came with the Buckeyes down 14 points.

Bottom line, I expect the offensive line is going to start mashing people in very short order.

Obviously the defense is a raging dumpster fire at the moment and there doesn't seem to be an easy fix in sight. What has surprised you most about the unit's shortcomings through two games? Or are you not surprised? How much better can things realistically get on that side of the ball this season?

Chris: Despite the lack of experience, I figured at least one linebacker would step up alongside MYHITTA to at least be serviceable. Mitchell hasn't been fantastic but man, the Mike spot has been atrocious which is evident as it has been a turnstile. I'm wondering (hoping?) this might be the week someone like Cody Simon steps up.

I don't think Ohio State will finish the season ranked No. 112 in total defense like they do now but I can't see this defense cracking the top 75 in either total defense or scoring defense. That would probably take giving up no more than roughly 365 yards and 24 points per game and I just can't see it right now.

George: Most people that were paying attention to offseason developments had some sense that the secondary and linebackers would continue to experience growing pains this year. There weren't many names to trust in the secondary other than Josh Proctor — get well soon — and the Buckeyes spent much of the transfer window angling for To'o To'os and Gaoteotes. But the pass rush has frustratingly not been there for the second season in a row, and it sure would help alleviate some of the issues we have seen so far behind the rest of the defense.

Even one sack can make the greatest difference in a football game. Zach Harrison proved as much against Minnesota. He is the captain of this defense and needs to set the standard for that side of the ball's improvement going forward.

There is no reason to believe Larry Johnson can't help Harrison and the rest of the defensive line find their stride over the rest of the season. However, accountability starts with leadership. In a moment where the Silver Bullets appear to have nothing in the chamber, someone will need to step up.

Ramzy: The general lack of situational awareness is the most glaring - they’ve run this system since Day took over and for a lot of these guys, it’s finally their turn to run it. They’re off-schedule. If fans didn’t appreciate Pete Werner before, shame on them. And poor Tuf Borland always knew where to be, right away. His body just didn’t always cooperate.

This is the point where I’d say if there was a difference maker hiding in the depth chart, we’d already see him - except that my cruel brain remembers saying that about Pittsburgh Brown eight years ago only to find out in a bowl game that Vonn Bell was exponentially better.

Yeah, I know those were different coaches. Hopefully there are biases and trust issues at play - very normal - that will subside and there’s an x-factor waiting to emerge because if there isn’t, Ohio State is going to have to win a bunch of scoring contests this season. You want another 52-51 game with Maryland? Because this is how you get another 52-51 game with Maryland.

To make sure we get some positivity in here, give us one player you've really been impressed with so far, outside of the known commodities.

Ramzy: Jesse Mirco dropped two punts inside of the Oregon one without the benefit of a lucky bounce, just pristine Australian marksmanship. An average defense would be able to take advantage of that kind of precision. Hopefully one will show up soon.

Chris: Denzel Burke has been impressive from the jump. Starting as a true freshman is a rarity and he looks the part. Yeah, Minnesota went after him and had some success at times but he had three PBUs in that game and added another versus Oregon. Through two games, he leads the defense in snaps. He's the one guy in the back seven the staff has been able to count on.

George: I am a huge Luke Wypler fan, another redshirt freshman carrying the weight of the Buckeye offense on his shoulders through the first two games of the season. I was a bit disappointed when we heard he had given Harry Miller a strong challenge for the starting center spot in camp but ultimately fell just short of winning the job.

I hope whatever Miller is currently dealing with is not too serious, but if Wypler continues to stand strong and improve his snap consistency relative to the opener, I would find it hard to see him going back to the bench when Miller is ready to return. A reason to switch back to guard could be in Miller's best interests anyway for those concerned about the "four offensive tackles" status along the line of scrimmage.

Ohio State enters the Tulsa contest as a 24.5-point favorite. Do the Buckeyes cover? Give us your final score and MVP.

George: Tulsa lost to UC Davis at home in their opener, but played Oklahoma State tough last week in a bounce-back effort. They are a tough, defensive-minded football team still seeking its first win. All of that would tell me Tulsa does not intend to go down easily.

Three touchdowns and a field goal is probably a bit much given the leaks we have seen from the Buckeye defense. I would guess this game hits the over, but Ohio State covering the spread may be a lofty expectation. Even so, I have the Buckeyes winning 49-21, with Stroud taking home MVP and Big Ten Freshman of the Week for the third game in a row.

Ramzy: Ohio State 56, Tulsa 28. The Buckeyes cover the spread that opened at 31 but quickly dropped to 26, so hopefully you degenerates showed some patience. Expect audible grumbles when Tulsa runs the Dollar Store version of Joe Moorhead’s offense and gets a few chunk plays out of it. Stroud settles down and puts up video game numbers again, failing to satisfy 25% of the fan base.

Chris: Like George, I've got this one playing out to a 49-21 Ohio State win. The defense will be pissed off but that doesn't mean it will be dominant. I still see Tulsa putting up at least 21 points though I also feel like we'll finally see Kerry Coombs and company settle on 15 or so defenders, instead of 26, for whatever meaningful snaps this game happens to provide. On offense, I'm looking for my guy Miyan Williams to have a big day - at least 125 on the ground with a couple scores.