Ohio
How much did Ohio State’s offensive line improve? What I saw against Western Michigan
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State dominated Western Michigan 56-0 on Saturday, recording its first shutout since 2019 when it routed Cincinnati.
In a week when plenty of teams around the country either struggled or were upset at home, this was a great showing by the Buckeyes.
They tallied 693 yards and averaged 9.5 yards per play while giving up just 99 total. Ohio State’s defense has been as good as advertised through two games, giving up just six points and 276 total yards. Still, the offensive line made the biggest jump from Week 1 to Week 2. It was only Western Michigan, but there were things on film that should translate even after the bye week.
Finding bodies on perimeter
One thing Ohio State struggled with at times, against Akron, was blocking on the perimeter. It’s not that Ohio State couldn’t get outside, but there were moments when the blockers just seemed to block space and miss their assignments. That wasn’t the case on Saturday.
This run, Quinshon Judkins’ first touchdown, is a good example of that.
Ohio State ran this play twice on Saturday, resulting in big gains. On the first one, right tackle Josh Fryar sprung a touchdown. Fryar hit the perimeter quickly and took out the linebacker from Western Michigan, giving Judkins a chance to get into space. From there, Western Michigan had no answer.
Ohio State ran the same pitch concept later in the game, but this time it was to TreVeyon Henderson.
Western Michigan played this one better, but keep an eye on Fryar and tight end Will Kacmarek. I’m not sure this was blocked the way it was supposed to be. It looked like Kacmarek missed the linebacker, but Fryar did a great job of not just running to space, and instead, he found a body. Kacmarek, too, did a good job after the linebacker went by him and blocked two defenders out of the play. Henderson hit the hole quickly, but because Western Michigan played it better, there wasn’t a touchdown. But a run of 14 yards is good any day.
Offensive tackles and tight ends often get a lot of love when a perimeter run breaks for a big play, but there were a few times on Saturday when interior linemen made some important plays.
This one, Henderson’s second touchdown, opened up because of a nice block from right guard Tegra Tshabola.
Fryar did a nice job of blocking enough for Tshabola to get a hold of the lineman and then got to the second level so that was a big part of this play. Also, Western Michigan’s safety took a terrible pursuit angle here, but that shouldn’t discount Tshabola’s effort. Watch as he latched on to the defensive end and kept him locked in until Henderson got by: This was really good work from an extremely athletic and powerful player. Tshabola has a chance to be a really good guard this season.
Pass protection
Ohio State wasn’t really threatened by Western Michigan’s pass rush, and part of that was because of Chip Kelly’s game plan. When the running game is working, Ohio State is going to be hard to slow down because Kelly can use the run-pass action and play-action game as much as he wants to keep the pass rush at bay.
This was a play-action play, which was set up well with this wide receiver motion. Ohio State ran a few fake jet sweep counters in this game that broke for some good yardage. This time, Kelly went with the play-action off a similar motion, although not the same formation and look. Western Michigan sent three here so that gave Ohio State’s tackles and guards a chance to double-team, but the real winner here was Seth McLaughlin.
The Alabama transfer was fantastic on Saturday, and he stood up the defensive lineman here and gave Will Howard time to throw a beautiful ball to Emeka Egbuka downfield.
Western Michigan had two sacks, both came against Devin Brown in the third quarter. Howard was barely touched on Saturday.
Some love for interior line
This play, Judkins’ second touchdown, could’ve been put in the perimeter section, but I wanted to highlight a few things here.
First, Josh Simmons did a nice job on the edge to spring Judkins. He blocked his defender twice, and left guard Austin Siereveld latched onto the linebacker at the second level to make sure Judkins didn’t get touched. But look at McLaughlin here, too.
He took the nose tackle early in the play, got to the second level and blocked the backside linebacker in pursuit. He ate up two defenders in one play to help spring this touchdown.
Ohio State blocked this play perfectly, even out to freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith on the outside.
Offensive line coach Justin Frye had to love this play.
The last offensive line play was a simple one.
Ohio State went jumbo with four tight ends on this play so I thought they were going to go outside, but instead, it went right up the middle, and Henderson scored diving above the line from 3 yards out.
That jump, however, didn’t get near the goal line if the line didn’t get the push it got from the moment the ball was snapped.
If we were critical a week ago about the line not physically dominating Akron, you have to give those players their props against Western Michigan. It was an inferior opponent and one the Buckeyes should beat up front, but it was a good sign of progress. If the Frye’s group can build on this, Ohio State is going to be hard to beat. In fact, I’d argue only one or two teams would be able to challenge the Buckeyes.
D-line depth beginning to show
Ohio State talked a lot this offseason about rotating more at every position, especially on the defensive line.
So far, Ohio State is doing that, and you’re seeing the talent it has at the starter and backup spots. We’re going to highlight the nose tackle first, on the second play of the game, which is an impressive one by Ty Hamilton.
He won off the line of scrimmage right away with a forceful bull rush, throwing his man to the ground and then was alert and athletic enough to make a move back to the line of scrimmage and tackle the running back at the line of scrimmage.
We don’t talk enough about Hamilton, but he was tremendous on Saturday, tallying four tackles, half a sack and a half tackle for loss.
Hamilton’s direct backup is Kayden McDonald, whom the coaching staff has been raving about since spring practice. He’s another massive human being, at 326 pounds, but he moves well, too. Defensive coordinator Jim Knowles talks often about needed defensive tackles who don’t just eat up space but make tackles, and McDonald did just that on this play.
He did a great job of getting a push off the line and dictated where the running back could go on this play. His push opened two gaps where linebackers Sonny Styles and Cody Simon were waiting, but McDonald did a great job of shedding his block and making the tackle before Simon even really needed to.
It’s still early in the season, but when you think about the future defensive stars, McDonald is high on that list. He played 14 snaps on Saturday, and there’s probably an argument to be had that he should play more after having three tackles and a pass breakup.
A few other notes
• Defensive backs Davison Igbinosun and Caleb Downs were tremendous. They led the team with four tackles, and Igbinosun was particularly extremely physical on the outside.
This is a play a lot of corners don’t make. Some corners don’t like to tackle, but Igbinosun loves it. His physicality, length and hands sometimes get him in trouble with penalties, but they’re also going to make him a lot of money in the NFL.
• Downs was great, too. His numbers won’t jump at you, but if we had an All-22 film, you could see how good he was at reading everything Western Michigan wanted to do in the passing game. I noticed him a lot on Saturday just locking down where Western Michigan quarterback Hayden Wolff wanted to go with the ball, especially on rollouts. Downs does make some plays that make you wonder if he’s actually a safety because he’s so physical and quick in the box, but he covers well and does a good job shutting down passing lanes before they’re even open, too.
• One snap count note, linebacker Arvell Reese played 22 snaps on Saturday, while C.J. Hicks played just 11. I’m not sure if Reese has jumped Hicks in the rotation, for good, but that’s a notable snap difference.
(Photo: Barbara J. Perenic / USA Today)
Ohio
Wild video shows moment an Ohio family’s ‘fat and hungry’ dog sets kitchen on fire
That’s no Dalmatian.
A kitchen fire started by their “fat and hungry” puppy could have an Ohio family out of their home for six to eight months — or nearly nine dog years.
Homeowner Chris DiLuzio was at work when he received an alarming call that his house was on fire. No one was home, but his security camera caught the confused culprit in action — one of his apparently famished French bulldogs.
“If we didn’t have it on camera, it’s kinda a far-fetched tale; you wouldn’t really believe it,” DiLuzio told Cleveland 19 News.
The security camera footage shows his black Frenchie named Harvey perched on a chair reaching for a bowl of snacks atop the stove while his other tan bulldog innocently watches on.
“That’s him just being fat and hungry,” DiLuzio said of Harvey.
Within seconds, the click of a burner igniting is heard. Harvey, unbothered, seems to abandon his quest for his treats as he plops down on the chair, the clip shows.
Meanwhile, the kitchen is quickly filled with smoke as flames can be seen growing from the stovetop.
Harvey and his canine sibling were saved and the fire was put out, but not before causing significant damage to the family’s home.
The DiLuzio family, which includes a squadron of six children, expects to be out of their home as repairs are underway for several months, right at the start of the school year.
The pooch’s accidental act of arson is not the first of its kind.
Different families in Colorado, Oklahoma and Texas have all nearly lost their homes due to fires started by their beloved pooches in the past year.
Ohio
Ohio State Buckeyes Drop In Recent AP Poll Despite Big Win
Despite a dominant 56-0 victory over Western Michigan on Saturday, the Ohio State Buckeyes drop to No. 3 in the newest college football AP Poll.
Heading into the second week of the 2024 season, the Buckeyes were the No. 2 ranked team. However, Texas head coach Steven Sarkisian and his squad jumped Ohio State after defeating Big 10 rival Michigan, 31-12. Former Buckeyes quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 246 yards and three touchdowns, which helped solidify the Longhorns as the second-best team behind Georgia.
Looking at the rest of the Big 10 landscape, Penn State stayed put at No. 8, but newcomer Oregon dropped to No. 9 after a close win against Boise State, 37-34. USC benefited from the shakeups within the top spots, as they moved up two places to No. 11. The Trojans have shocked the college football world after the team’s hot start to the 2024 season, and have proved to be a real threat for the conference title.
With a big loss to the Longhorns, Michigan took a dramatic fall to No. 17. The Wolverines’ schedule still includes USC, Oregon, and Ohio State. And after a huge start to the season for Nebraska, the Cornhuskers make the programs first appearance in the top 25 at No. 23.
Ohio State will have a bye this coming week, but will return to action on Sept. 21 against Marshall. The Thundering Herd are coming off a tough loss against Virginia Tech, but will also have a week to reset before traveling to Columbus.
Ohio
5 takeaways from South Alabama’s 27-20 loss to Ohio
South Alabama went down in defeat to a “peer” program once again on Saturday, losing 27-20 at Ohio to fall to 0-2 this season.
Major Applewhite’s Jaguars played without starting quarterback Gio Lopez, who was dealing with a turf toe injury suffered last week vs. North Texas. South Alabama had opportunities to tie the game or take the lead in the second half, but could not cash in.
South Alabama drops to 0-2 after 27-20 loss at Ohio
The Jaguars have a short week before hosting Northwestern State on Thursday. Before that, here are 5 takeaways from the loss to the Bobcats:
1. Jaguars’ offense lacked consistency without Gio Lopez
Bishop Davenport played fairly well in his first extended action for South Alabama, but was nowhere near the dynamic force that Lopez is when healthy. Davenport missed a few open throws, and was late with some others that might have been bigger plays. The Jaguars also didn’t take many shots downfield in the passing game, something they’ve done with regularity the last three years.
2. Fluff Bothwell is the best running back on the team
Starting running back Braylon McReynolds didn’t play due to injury, so Bothwell moved up to No. 2 behind Kentrel Bullock. It’s starting to look like the talented freshman should be No. 1, however. He’s just a different kind of runner than anyone else on the South Alabama roster, and the Jaguars probably wasted some opportunities to use him more early in the game. Once Ohio got up by two scores, the running game went away.
3. Defense was better but still not good enough
The Jaguars weren’t completely helpless against the Bobcats, though they still allowed three killer scoring drives. Ohio took control with a pair of long touchdown marches, one right before the half and one right after. Then they killed most of the fourth quarter with a 13-play field-goal drive. The Jaguars did make a few big plays — including a sack/fumble in the third quarter — but couldn’t get off the field when it mattered most against an offense that wasn’t exactly dynamic.
4. Special teams again have a bad day
Other than placekicker Laith Marjan, South Alabama’s kicking game has been pretty horrid this year. A fumbled punt in the second quarter gifted a touchdown to Ohio after the Jaguars’ defense had made a stop. Kick coverage has also been suspect this year, as were kick returns on Saturday. The Jaguars would have been better off just fair-catching all kickoffs instead of trying for a return and winding up with the ball short of their own 20. Aleksi Pulkkinen made his first appearance at punter and had an up-and-down day in windy conditions.
5. It’s getting difficult to find 6 wins on this schedule
South Alabama is sitting at 0-2 despite being favored in both of its games this season. The Jaguars will almost certainly win Thursday vs. FCS opponent Northwestern State, which lost at home to Prairie View on Saturday. But then come consecutive road games against Sun Belt preseason favorite Appalachian State, SEC power LSU and much-improved Arkansas State. The Jaguars will be hard-pressed to enter the nationally-televised Oct. 12 “Battle for the Belt” with Troy at better than 1-5, and thus will struggle to be bowl-eligible for the third straight year.
NEXT UP: South Alabama hosts Northwestern State at 6:45 p.m. Thursday. That game will be streamed live via ESPN+.
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