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Can Ohio State reach its full potential with still-lingering issues? Andrew Gillis’ observations
COLUMBUS, Ohio —The Ohio State football team is nearly halfway through its season, and despite sitting at 5-0, there are still a bevy of issues to work through.
Can those be rectified?
Here are a few observations from the afternoon:
1. Ohio State’s offensive line is what it is
The offensive line is a problem. It’s not worth the effort any longer to debate if it is, or how big a problem it is. The only thing that matters now is what the fix is.
Ohio State has a few options at its disposal, and they’ve got a shortening timeframe to figure things out.
The first, and most basic, fix is to start switching with personnel. They have yet to rotate much on the offensive line this year, and they’ve also avoided the injury bug through a few weeks. Getting some others involved in the mix against Purdue might not be the worst idea to try and a different look.
The second option is to work around the offensive line and what they’re giving you, and more accurately, what they’re not. Chip Trayanum ran for just 3.1 yards per carry on 20 carries, which certainly isn’t good enough to last against some of the best teams in the country. Quick-hitting passing plays to keep the defense on their heels is the most ideal option, as no one can argue with getting the football in the hands of their talented receivers more often. But that, as coach Ryan Day alluded to, will involve a bit of a schematic change.
In any sense, the offensive line isn’t going to spring forward into a run-grating unit that can simply overpower opposing defensive fronts. The fix now is to figure out how to best mitigate any potential risks with that unit.
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2. The defense is as advertised
At some point, the realization should come (and should have, in the past-tense) for fans that Ohio State’s defense is for real.
There are struggles, indeed, like fitting the run — which was a problem against Maryland — and the lack of sacks — which remains an issue. But the defense has a remarkable amount of talent, the secondary is playing well, and the entire unit is making enough plays when they have to to keep the game in reachh.
Take for example Saturday: With Maryland up 10-0, Ohio State’s defense got a pick six. Then with the game tied 10-10, the Buckeyes forced Taulia Tagovailoa into a checkdown that ended the half in the red zone. And after touchdown drives by both teams, the defense got an interception that, in essence, was the beginning of the end for the Terps.
The defense is one of college football’s best. It’s time to understand that, and focus on what the offense can do to elevate the roster.
3. Everything, including the ultimate goal, is still on the table
Ohio State has its problems, absolutely. But find another team in the country, perhaps aside from Georgia, that doesn’t have its share of concerns. You’ll be searching for a while.
The Buckeyes are 5-0 and have the entire season in front of them. If there’s a concern about what this team might be, or what the ceiling of it is, that feels premature at this moment.
Sure, Ohio State has issues to work through: The offensive line is a work in progress, the defensive front needs to fit the run better, short-yardage situations need to improve, the special teams play needs to improve and there has to be a better performance for a full 60 minutes.
But those are issues that can be fixed, or at least mitigated, as the season heads into the back-half.
Texas now has one loss. Notre Dame has two losses. Alabama has one loss. Washington or Oregon will have one loss next Saturday. Washington State earned its first loss. And the season isn’t halfway over for a majority of teams in the AP Top 25.
Every team has its flaws. Ohio State isn’t unique in that regard. Until the Buckeyes play Penn State, improvement each week is all that should be on the mind.
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