Just one more game to get through until The Game is next on the docket.
While we're all looking forward to the showdown in Ann Arbor, it's important to remember football season goes way too fast so don't forget to enjoy tomorrow. Then, once it's over, you can turn your focus to Michigan Week.
Back to tomorrow, an overmatched Minnesota squad comes to Ohio Stadium unsure if it'll qualify for a bowl game and it could get ugly early with the Buckeyes looking to secure a win and start preparations for next week.
To get your mind right for tomorrow's tilt, our own Dan Hope, Kyle Jones and Josh Poloha join this week's roundtable.
Kyle McCord didn’t throw a pick and didn’t take a sack last week versus Michigan State marking the first time he’s done that against an FBS team this season. How are you feeling about McCord’s decision-making and pocket presence after that performance? Basically, how much of that is growth versus the fact Michigan State stinks? What still stands out as his biggest growth opportunity that could reasonably be achieved this season?
Dan: It looked like real growth to me. Yes, Michigan State is bad, but his first touchdown pass to Marvin Harrison Jr. and his touchdown pass to Cade Stover were two of the best throws he’s made all season, and he looked as composed in the pocket as he has all year. He's still not C.J. Stroud and he's probably never going to be, but his play over the past couple of weeks has increased my confidence that he can play well enough for Ohio State to win big games down the stretch. The most important thing for McCord is being able to consistently find open receivers and make the easy throws – now that the Buckeyes have all their weapons back, they don't need McCord to be spectacular, but they do need him to manage the game efficiently, avoid costly turnovers and deliver the ball accurately to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Co. when his playmakers get open.
Kyle: The Spartans didn’t do a great job of disguising their coverages, allowing the Buckeye QB to find an early rhythm. He looked far more confident and poised in his decision-making, which helped ensure his mechanics remained sound throughout the contest. To me, the fact that McCord was able to connect on the long downfield completion to Harrison showed the growth in his confidence, which should carry over to future contests. While his ball placement and decision-making have shown up at big moments already this season, he’ll need to prove he can take the top off at any time when OSU heads to Ann Arbor next weekend.
Josh: I discussed a lot of this in my evaluation and passing chart piece Tuesday morning, but McCord has shown a lot of growth as each game goes on this season and he has looked his best over the last 2.5 games. Michigan State isn't good, that's obvious, but it's not due to the Spartans' pass defense. On time, on target is the name of the game when it comes to a good quarterback and McCord's pocket presence, accuracy and timing have looked the best of late, culminating in McCord's best game of his career last Saturday night. Much like this season for Ohio State, it all comes down to how McCord performs in The Game. But if the last few weeks have proven anything, it's that he is ready for the Buckeyes' biggest game of the season against Michigan next week.
Emeka Egbuka has two games under his belt following a three-game absence due to a high ankle issue. In those two games he has just five catches for 41 yards on 10 targets. Any concern with how Egbuka’s easing back into the offense? Why or why not?
Josh: Not really. He'll find his groove eventually. At the very worst, Egbuka's still a dominant wide receiver that the defense will have to keep track of even if he isn't producing actual stats. Keep in mind: McCord, as previously mentioned, has been playing is best of late. Just imagine if his WR2 gets back to his normal self.
Dan: Seeing as I predicted Egbuka would have a big game against Michigan State, I’d be lying if I said his one-catch, 12-yard night against the Spartans wasn’t disappointing. Egbuka told reporters last week that he thought Rutgers' defensive game plan limited his production against the Scarlet Knights more than his ankle, but the reality is that we have yet to see Egbuka reach his expected form this season, especially since his injury.
While I viewed Egbuka as Ohio State’s clear-cut No. 2 offensive weapon behind Harrison entering the season, I’d put him fourth behind Harrison, TreVeyon Henderson and Cade Stover right now based on how they’ve performed this year. Which is to say that the Buckeyes don't necessarily need huge numbers from Egbuka as long as Harrison, Henderson and Stover keep producing. But Ohio State will certainly want to have every weapon in its arsenal firing at all cylinders against Michigan’s No. 1-ranked defense, so trying to get Egbuka going against Minnesota this week should be a priority.
Kyle: Luckily, the Buckeyes have such a plethora of riches in the passing game that they haven’t forced Egbuka to play a major role so quickly upon his return from injury. Stover’s emergence as a reliable target underneath, specifically, has given McCord the safety blanket Egbuka provided early in the season. But I believe this slow return has as much to do with the learnings that came from a year ago when the offense limped into the home stretch with injuries all over the depth chart. So, keeping a player like Egbuka healthy for the home stretch may be the biggest factor to his relatively quiet recent output.
Due to injuries in the secondary throughout the season, we’ve witnessed true freshmen Jermaine Mathews Jr. and Malik Hartford step up and play really well. On offense, we’ve seen Carnell Tate show his future is extremely bright and even Brandon Inniss and Luke Montgomery have flashed in lesser roles. Which freshman gives you the most confidence to be a contributor as necessary the rest of this season? Which true freshman projects to be the most impactful next year?
Kyle: Hartford may have played well, but it was readily apparent that Jim Knowles didn’t trust him to execute the entire playbook, as the Buckeye defense has been far less diverse since Proctor was injured midway through the Rutgers game. Matthews, on the other hand, proved capable of staying on the field regardless of scheme, which should allow Knowles to employ even more unique personnel packages that feature three true corners in addition to Jordan Hancock, if ever needed. Down the road, however, it certainly seems as though Tate is the heir apparent to Harrison in the receiver room, having flashed his potential on several occasions this fall.
Josh: Carnell Tate and Jermaine Mathews Jr. The duo have already proven that they can be reliable playmakers on their respective sides of the ball. While it would be ideal to have the starters at full strength, I'm not scared whatsoever to have those two freshmen play bigger roles going forward.
Dan: Jermaine Mathews Jr. is the freshman I have the most confidence in right now because he’s already proven he can handle playing a major role in a big game against Penn State. Simply put, Mathews has never looked like a freshman when he’s gotten the opportunity to play this year; he’s provided consistently strong coverage even when opponents have tried to test him, and the moment never looks too big for him.
I think we should all appreciate the opportunity to watch Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka play for the Buckeyes while we still can, but I’m expecting big things from Carnell Tate and Brandon Inniss next season – especially Tate, considering how much he’s been talked up all year and that he’s already earned a spot in the rotation – as I expect them to move into starting roles next year when Harrison and Egbuka are playing in the NFL.
I know we’ve all been following Michigan very closely, beyond the scandal of course, and I’m sure you watched the Wolverines slowly choke out Penn State. Now that Michigan finally has a legit win under its belt, what scares you the most about the impending matchup with Ohio State? What aspect of Michigan’s current team provides the biggest opportunity for the Buckeyes to exploit?
Dan: As great as Ohio State’s defense has been this year, I’m still slightly concerned about the Buckeyes’ ability to consistently stop the run against a team that can run the ball as effectively and will be as willing to commit to the run as Michigan is. While the Wolverines‘ ground game hasn’t put up the same numbers this year that it did last year, they showed they can still take over a game with their rushing attack against Penn State, which makes me think Ohio State's run defense will face its biggest test of the year on Nov. 25.
Conversely, Michigan’s decision not to throw a single pass in the second half suggests the Wolverines don’t have a ton of faith in their passing offense with the game on the line. That could potentially be a trap, as Ohio State sold out to stop the run last year and ended up getting burned through the air – but this year’s Ohio State secondary has proven much more capable of limiting big plays in the passing game, which could make forcing Michigan to win through the air a much more successful strategy this year. Michigan has yet to be in a situation this year where it's had to pass the ball to win in the fourth quarter, but if the Buckeyes can force the Wolverines into that situation, I’d like Ohio State’s chances.
Kyle: The biggest threat to Ohio State’s chances remains allowing McCarthy to escape the pocket and make plays in the passing game. The Buckeyes have been much better at containing such big plays this season, but the Wolverines’ QB remains most dangerous when the initial structure breaks down. On the other side, Penn State proved the Michigan run defense is not impenetrable, and I believe fans of both teams may be surprised at Ohio State’s ability to move the ball on the ground. Add that to the fact that there is no defensive back in the country capable of shutting down Marv by himself, and I feel rather optimistic about the Buckeyes’ chances to keep The Game from turning into another rock fight.
Josh: Just the fact that they have won The Game two straight years and that the matchup is in Ann Arbor next Saturday. The Wolverine defense is solid and J.J. McCarthy is one of the best quarterbacks in the country, but it's Michigan's run offense that scares me because it could allow them to not only control the line of scrimmage, but control the game as a whole. That said, Ohio State's defense is much improved in almost all areas and the Buckeyes should be able to keep Michigan's offense in front of them. OSU must just keep doing what it has been doing of late in order to take care of business in Ann Arbor.
Ohio State hosts the Gophers as a 27.5-point favorite tomorrow. Do the Buckeyes cover? Give us your final score and game MVP.
Josh: Ohio State 41, Minnesota 10. Marvin Harrison Jr. will dominate in the first half once again in order to keep his Heisman campaign going at full steam heading into The Game, even if it means he will play less than three quarters against the Gophers.
Dan: I’m expecting a similar game as last week; Buckeyes dominate the first half before calling off the dogs in the second half as they look to enter The Game as fresh and healthy as possible. Even so, I’ve got Ohio State covering 38-7. Ohio State gives Marvin Harrison Jr. plenty of opportunities to make plays and continue building his Heisman candidacy, and he delivers by topping 100 yards again and becoming the first Ohio State receiver ever to catch multiple touchdown passes in four straight games.
Kyle: Ohio State barely covers, 38-10, with Harrison having another big game that bolsters his Heisman campaign. The Buckeyes could run up the score, but Day takes his foot off the gas to minimize the risk of injuries heading into the most important week of the season.
