Run. The. Damn. Ball.
With Ryan Day finally naming a starting quarterback in Kyle McCord for the season opener, while confirming backup Devin Brown will play, much of the talk about Ohio State's 2023 offense has rightfully centered on the sport's most important position.
That said, it'll likely take more than McCord or Brown trying to fill C.J. Stroud's shoes for Ohio State to avenge back-to-back losses to Michigan and again reach the College Football Playoff.
One goal for Day and his braintrust could be to achieve a little more offensive balance.
Last year, Ohio State's rushing attack produced 39% of the team's total offensive yardage. That was better than the 2021 run game's 32% of total yardage production which was on par with the pass happy 2018 offense with Dwayne Haskins dropping dimes all over the field. The 2021 run game finished No. 47 in the land averaging 180 yards per game while the 2018 rushing attack finished No. 63 in the country with 171 rush yards per game.
More importantly, while the 2022 run game was a bit more of a factor than those low points in 2018 and 2021, last year's rushing attack accounted for just 27% of the team's total offense in losses to Michigan and Georgia (262 rush yards, 959 total yards).
There's lots of ways to win football games but getting that rush yardage percentage in the mid-40s percent range should be a goal this season.
To do that, or better, Job One comes Saturday as the Buckeyes take on Tom Allen's Indiana defense which has ranked No. 69 in back-to-back years giving up 4.14 and 4.10 yards per carry respectively.
Those two seasons are tied for second-worst of Allen's seven-year tenure with the 2018 defense clocking in at No. 84 giving up 4.59 yards a pop.
Can Allen's defense, featuring just two returning staters and no less than nine transfers arriving during the offseason give the Buckeyes a test?
Allen spoke in late May of how the transfer portal was a key avenue to address his defensive line as nine new guys enter the fold.
“Probably the biggest area that sticks out to me is defensive line. A definite focus for us. It felt like that was a huge need to address, and so really excited about that group of guys. Just really had a chance to add some guys that give us more mass.– Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen
Allen's tune hasn't changed since that discussion a few months back. Asked earlier this week about which position groups he feels most excited about entering Saturday's matchup with the Buckeyes, he led off talking about that same defensive front.
"I think throughout camp, as you guys have asked and we’ve talked about different positions, I think an area that kind of sticks out numerically is our defensive line and just having some new guys there and the way those guys have performed during camp. So just excited to see those guys play. I think that’s going to be one of the strengths of our defense."– Indiana Head Coach Tom Allen
If the Buckeyes are to have major success running the ball Saturday, it'll have to neutralize one of those transfers in Andre Carter. The defensive end earned second-team All-MAC honors at Western Michigan last year after posting 13.5 tackles for loss and seven sacks.
He's not just Indiana's best defensive lineman, he might be the best player on the whole team. Alongside Carter, it'll likely be a heavy rotation of guys as Allen looks to slow Ohio State and sort out his depth chart.
While the Hoosiers likely won't provide the best litmus test for an OSU offensive line breaking in three starters, we'll likely at least get to form some early opinions on Day's two new starting tackles - Jimmy Simmons and Josh Fryar - when the match up with Carter on the edge.
Saturday also marks the return of a healthy TreVeyon Henderson. We know how good he was as a freshman and we've all heard he's not just healthy but playing with a chip on his shoulder. While that's very exciting to hear - and I've previously noted I'm all-in on a big Henderson bounceback season - his chance to show it is fast approaching.
Yes, Ohio State is deep at running back but a healthy, dialed in Henderson is the best back on the roster and if the offensive line and Henderson and company can get off to a fast start, it'll do wonders for McCord and Brown's ability to settle in and hopefully provide clarity at the quarterback position as soon as possible.
