Ryan Day's Ohio State Buckeyes hit the road tomorrow to take on a pretty bad Purdue squad in West Lafayette, hoping to bring back a W to set up a showdown next week versus Penn State.
Yeah the Buckeyes might be favored by 19 points tomorrow but I know all you cagey veterans recognize Ross-Ade Stadium as a house of horrors that has gobbled up superior Ohio State teams in the past. Some wind and rain could also accompany the ghosts tomorrow at noon.
Will Day have his team focused and able to start fast? Will Kyle McCord take another step? Will the run game look competent?
For answers to those questions and more, our own Jason Priestas, Ramzy Nasrallah and Chase Brown have you covered in this week's 11W Roundtable.
After throwing for 320 yards and recording his first two touchdown passes against a power five opponent, Kyle McCord slots No. 2 in the B1G with an average of 275 yards per game, a 164.0 passing efficiency rating and and a 65.5% completion rate. He also has just one interception in 158 attempts. What’s your grade on McCord through five games? Has met or exceeded your expectations? Will Ohio State need even more from him against better competition considering the state of the running game?
Chase: After five games, I would grade McCord's performance(s) as a B. The have been a couple of pros for McCord: He has taken excellent care of the football, having thrown only one interception in 142 attempts, and he has made plays when it has mattered most. That game-winning drive vs. Notre Dame, save for one pass that the Irish probably should have intercepted, was a masterclass in the two-minute drill. In fact, McCord has finished games really well as a first-year starter. However, and here is a con, McCord has taken far too long to get going on Saturdays. For whatever reason, it feels like it has taken McCord some time to find a rhythm and get in sync with Ohio State's pass-catchers. I couldn't name the reason that has occurred, but the slow starts have been noticeable, at least to me. All in all, McCord has exceeded my expectations in the Buckeyes' 5-0 start to the season. I look forward to how he will perform this weekend in West Lafayette against and next weekend in Columbus against a very talented Penn State defense. Ohio State will need him to be at his best in both games (and the rest of the season).
Jason: I love the kid. Look, he's trying to fill massive shoes, and he's not going to be C.J. Stroud right away (or maybe ever – Stroud was filthy); and sure, he takes tough sacks at times, and maybe he has more underthrows than we would like to see, but Kyle heats up when it matters most. His numbers are ridiculous for the second halves of Ohio State's two closest games, Notre Dame and Maryland, and he's just going to get better and better with live reps. Practice is great, but there's nothing like live reps against real live competition to get better. I also love his knack for taking care of the football. He has 580 and zero picks against the Irish and Terps. And he's doing all of this with no real threat in the run game! I'm really excited to see what he becomes as the season progresses because he has the best QB coach in college football working with him.
Ramzy: Imagine CJ, Justin or Dwayne operating behind this offensive line to start their careers while engaged in a battle for the starting job. Kyle is pretty much where I expected him to be but the guys in front of him...I did not think this condition was possible, and I do think it's impairing both his confidence and ability to get to the second and third reads. The Buckeyes are going to need more from him, but Kyle is not the problem on that side of the ball.
Speaking of the rushing attack, it currently ranks No. 7 in the B1G and No. 65 in the country averaging 4.4 yards per carry. How important is it for Ohio State to have a legit running game once it faces teams like Penn State and Michigan? Do you think the primary reason Ohio State can’t run the ball very well is the offensive line’s talent, coaching of that talent, the scheme / playcalling or something else? Should Ryan Day just go full 2018/2021 mode (when the run game accounted for just 32% of the total yards) and pretty much abandon the run in favor of the pass?
Ramzy: Buckeye privilege is not being able to remember the last time the Ohio State offense had a four-alarm fire at center. That's a Rimington position in this program, and it's clear they were absolutely unprepared for Luke Wypler to forfeit his remaining eligibility after last season. Donovan Jackson seems to have regressed, Josh Fryar has been alarmingly rickety and Matt Jones is perfectly decent - which makes him the best player in a unit where decent should be the floor, not the ceiling. Sometimes the form and technique in games are shocking, guys standing upright, poor balance and stance, getting beat by primitive moves or just being pushed backwards like a sled. The unit performing that poorly coming out of a bye week is incredibly disappointing.
What was the question? Oh rushing attack. Yeah Eddie George and Carlos Hyde on their best days aren't doing much behind this line. You'd need a junior year JK Dobbins jump cutter to make this almost work and that's not a running back type currently in that room. I would not be opposed to the Buckeyes conceding half of their rushing plays for passing ones until they can figure it out up front. I haven't loved the play designs either, but these guys have been barely serviceable in any rushing playbook.
Chase: I believe Ohio State's run game struggles fall on the coaching staff, primarily because the offensive line has not executed consistently across the first five weeks of the season. On Wednesday, Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye said the Buckeyes' issues could be fixed with better technique, coaching and "maybe even" the scheme. I must say, it's a little confusing to hear a coach not know what the pertinent issue is with his own unit. Sure, he could be keeping that in house, but I still find it a little concerning that Ohio State is seemingly throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks at this point. That's not a good sign for the future of the run game. To your second question, I don't think Ohio State should abandon the run game entirely, but they should look to be more pass heavy in more difficult matchups (i.e., Penn State, Wisconsin, Michigan) or else those games could go poorly for the Buckeyes.
Jason: This is one of those questions that's hard to answer. It's really hard for fans and even guys like us who attend practice and know this program inside and out to really say whether it's talent, coaching, some combination of the above, or whatever. Maybe as the years go and the remnants of Urban Meyer's players and scheme fade, this just becomes who Ohio State is. I'd love to have a killer rushing attack, but Ryan Day is a throwing man. Still, he knows how much better a potent running game makes the passing attack, so I expect some work on his end to continue to try to establish the run.
I wrote in my recent Five Things that it’s easy to subconsciously take Marvin’s skill for granted because he’s been so consistent and his production looks virtually effortless. Speed, body control, hands, spatial awareness. It’s all off the charts. Is he Ohio State’s best receiver of all-time (setting aside pro numbers of course) or is that still Cris Carter? Someone else? If time didn’t exist, who are the three OSU receivers you’re selecting to run out on the field?
Jason: Man, what a tough question! I'm old enough to vaguely remember Cris Carter doing ridiculous things for Ohio State and you have to wonder what he could have done in a modern system, playing with 5-star WRs surrounding him and taking some of the pressure off. Marvin is that dude, though and it's a joy to watch what he does every Saturday. If I'm picking three from the books for one game, I have to go with Carter, Harrison Jr., and Ted Ginn Jr. to stretch those safeties out and make life easy for Marv and Cris. This is purely a tactical play. I love Teddy, but I don't think he's a top-three wide receiver in Ohio State history.
Ramzy: MHJ is probably the hardest-working OSU WR ever, with physical attributes and natural skill to boot. All-time, I'll take David Boston, Joey Galloway and Michael Jenkins. Boston had elite route running and changed defensive game plans just like MHJ does, except he was also psychologically intimidating and vocal. He was a refreshing breath of bravado in an era where Ohio State puckered against confident and braggadocious Michigan secondaries. Nobody went after Charles Woodson like that in college or the NFL. By stark contrast, Harrison is soft-spoken; you only have to contend with the football stuff. We're in an unfortunate era where the Buckeyes need that kind of vibe back. As a matter of personal preference I will always prefer elite wide receivers who have all of their screws but about half of them are loose. That said, I do have a dog named after Dane Sanzenbacher and that makes me a huge hypocrite.
Anyway, Galloway destroyed everyone he faced. That position has a legacy of aliens, including guys on the current roster - but what Galloway did on the field makes nearly every other Ohio State receiver seem human. And Michael Jenkins made catches that will matter for a century. He's the most clutch and consequential Ohio State receiver in program history without a close second. He saved multiple games in 2002, including three of the final four that produced a BCS title. Without Jenkins Ohio State loses at Purdue and Illinois and Miami doesn't find the opposing sideline in that postseason timeline - and that game ends on 4th and 13 if he doesn't make a title-saving catch on a tightrope. Circumstance matters, which puts Jenkins in a class by himself.
Chase: I wasn't alive to watch Cris Carter in an Ohio State uniform (or an NFL one), so I have only heard of his greatness from those who came before me. I understand Carter was excellent for the Buckeyes, but I believe Harrison is on another level. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound receiver had an All-American and Biletnikoff finalist season on a sprained ankle for crying out loud. Depending on how fast his ankle heals this season, he may be able to make the same claim after 2023, though with a Biletnikoff win instead of a runner-up. That would be incredible. If time didn't exist, I would have Harrison, Chris Olave and Ted Ginn Jr. as my three receivers running out on the field. Talk about a fast group of dudes who could make plays.
Heading into the matchup with Purdue, Ohio State’s defense ranks No. 3 nationally giving up just 10.2 points per game while the pass defense is No. 6 with 5.2 yards per attempt allowed. The run defense hasn’t been bad but it’s just 65th in the county giving up 4.4 yards per carry. While the offensive line is this team’s chief concern by a mile, is there any defensive player, position group or Jim Knowles scheme items you’re keeping your eye on as a potential issue when the competition ratchets up?
Chase: I think Ohio State's defense is solid top-to-bottom. I know there have been concerns about the performances of Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers at linebacker, but I believe those concerns are unwarranted. After five games, Eichenberg has 38 tackles (26 solo, 12 assists) with one sack, one tackle for loss, three quarterback hits and one forced fumble. Meanwhile, Chambers has 32 tackles (17 solo, 15 assists) with one tackle for loss, one interception, one pass breakup and one quarterback hit. Those are excellent numbers near the midway point of the season. I look forward to Eichenberg and Chambers responding in a big way this weekend and ramping up to Ohio State's matchup with Penn State on Saturday.
Jason: There's honestly not for me right now and it's weird. It's been so fun to watch Silver Bullets out there flying around again this season. I know some close to the program were worried about the safeties coming into the season, but Josh Proctor, and to a lesser degree, Lathan Ransom, are killing it. Jim Knowles is a smart guy, and smart guys tend to get into their own heads and overthink themselves, so we'll have to see what happens when Penn State comes to town and later when Ohio State travels to Michigan, but right now, I'm at peace.
Ramzy: The linebackers have regressed over the past two games, but I'm not sure what can be done about that aside from spelling Steele Chambers for either of the other guys behind him on the depth chart. Tommy Eichenberg can't leave the field, he's McCord on that side of the ball. The Buckeye defense is allowing 10 points a game. Rushing yards don't matter when your offense only needs 11 to win. It's working thus far. Offensive line and special teams are the clear liabilities for the 2023 team, and for the latter - that's been a liability for years.
Ohio State hasn’t enjoyed a ton of success in West Lafayette but enters Saturday’s contest as a beefy 19-point favorite. Do the Buckeyes cover? Give us your final score and game MVP.
Ramzy: This should be like Western Kentucky but in a notoriously spooky environment allergic to sunshine. The Buckeyes played bored football until Malachi Corley scored at which point they went into full tree shredder mode and did whatever they wanted for the rest of the afternoon, with zeal that's been largely missing ever since. There's a version of that WKU game where OSU just wins on talent alone in an uninspiring stretch-play-to-the-boundary-for-two-yards manner. We were spared that version. We've had several stretches where Ryan Day seems committed to that kind of football. It's exhausting. It's late state Earle Bruce, but without Brian Hartline's Beat Literally Anyone button available to press when things get shaky.
As for this game, Purdue's defense is pretty stinky. If the Buckeyes feel like wasting everyone's time and making this closer than it needs to be I'm sure they can do that. But I think they'll accumulate some long, demoralizing touchdown plays, and I don't see Emeka Egbuka playing on Saturday - so Xavier Johnson and whomever else fill that vacuum should benefit if Purdue goes all-in on bracketing MHJ. I believe Ohio State's safety-driven defense will hold against Hudson Card's 45+ passing attempts. Ohio State 38, Purdue 13. McCord does it again, and the Buckeyes complete the trifecta to win the Indiana State Championship.
Chase: Ohio State will cover against Purdue on Saturday. I have the score as 42-14 Buckeyes. The MVP of the game will be Marvelous Marv.
Jason: Bucks, 41-9 with Kyle McCord going off to earn my MVP pick.
