According to Nick Bosa, practice wasn't even competitive between Ohio State's offense and defense last season.
OK, that is a bit hyperbolic. But the point still resonates. The side of the football that boasted a Bosa on it ranked fourth in the country with 21 interceptions and third nationally in yards per play allowed over the course of the 2016 season. That made it difficult for pretty much every team it faced.
So when Ohio State's offense, led by quarterback J.T. Barrett, actually experiences some consistent success this spring against a defensive unit that returns eight starters, it is a big deal.
“Just the big plays they've been getting on us,” Bosa said on Thursday. “Last year, we dominated every practice. This year, they're competing.”
Bosa's sentiment jibes with something Urban Meyer said two days earlier. Understanding that his offense created only a handful of plays 40 yards or more last season, Meyer challenged new offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson, new quarterbacks coach Ryan Day and the rest of his staff to get the offense back to what it did so well in the earlier parts of his tenure. Create big plays.
“I see J.T. making a bunch of plays, which I love to see.”– Nick Bosa
The bulk of that falls on Barrett's shoulders in the downfield passing game but play calling, pass blocking and receivers who can stretch the field also play a significant role. As of last week, Meyer liked what he saw.
“Our deep ball percentage is the best it’s been since we've been here last week. We're charting everything,” Meyer said on Tuesday. “J.T. and the boys are doing a really good job. We didn't catch all of them but as far as accuracy, it was almost 90 percent. That's what we're looking for.”
A renewed taste of competition is a positive for both the offense and defense, with Wilson in place of Ed Warinner and Day taking over for Tim Beck. We won't exactly see what the stark changes entail from a schematic standpoint until the spring game on April 15 — and even then it is likely the Buckeyes won't show much.
In any event, it sounds like explosive plays are happening at a higher rate.
“There's been some plays. Probably given up seven, eight, nine big plays so far, long passes and what have you,” defensive line coach Larry Johnson said. ”Which is good.”
Johnson, Greg Schiano, Billy Davis and Kerry Coombs obviously don't want their 11 players giving up huge chunks of yardage in practice by any means. But it is April. Ohio State's season doesn't start until the last day of August.
“It's OK. We've just gotta get it fixed. It's spring football, that's when you can fix them,” Johnson said. “Doesn't hurt us right now.”
The emphasis and concern from fans and Meyer himself with the lack of a deep threat and any sort of explosion the last two seasons is a storyline that won't go away until Barrett and Co. prove they can recapture the magic of 2014. Devin Smith caught more passes of 40 yards or more over Ohio State's final three games that season (five) than the Buckeyes did all last year as a team.
Bosa noted that the starkest difference from last fall to now is how accurately Barrett and the other quarterbacks are chucking the ball deep.
“Really well. Really accurately,” Bosa said. “I see J.T. making a bunch of plays, which I love to see.”
Jalyn Holmes said he has never seen Barrett this locked in before. Meyer spoke on Tuesday about the competition behind him between Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell. Each guy senses the need to be better. As does the entire offense.
“The offense, they've really been playing well. I can tell it's a different swagger with them. They walk differently. Coach Wilson is doing his thing over there,” Holmes said. “J.T. has always been J.T. to me. I ain't never seen anything bad with him. He’s finally in his groove — not finally, he’s always been in his groove to me, but he’s in his groove right now and it’s looking good.”
Added Meyer: “Tate had his best day too the other day in the scrimmage. It's good competition and that brings out the best in people.”
It sounds like that is happening with the entire offense. But especially the quarterbacks.
“We're making them better. And they're making us better,” Johnson said. “We're forced competition. And competition is always good.”
