COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State soccer will host Toledo in its remaining nonconference recreation the 2022 common season.

The Buckeyes used the primary two video games to show that the protection is headed again in the best path, even when it’s nonetheless removed from a completed product able to compete with the very best in faculty soccer. In the meantime, absences from key items on offense have allowed others to step up into new roles and acquire priceless expertise that’ll repay down the street.

Now OSU comes right into a prime-time recreation towards the Rockets, probably the healthiest its been thus far, offering a glimpse at what this group seems like when at full energy.

Listed here are some questions that should be answered in Week 3:

Can the offense rid itself of the boom-bust strategy?

Ohio State’s offense can have moments the place it goes nuclear, shortly working up the rating with explosive performs. Once they occur, opponents are sometimes left hopeless as a result of they’re unable to maintain up with drives that solely final two or three performs. However that may go the opposite means too.

Currently, the Buckeyes are simply as more likely to have a three-play drive that goes minus-two yards earlier than punting as they’re to have a three-play drive that ends 75 yards down the sector with a landing. That was the case in a 45-12 win over Arkansas State. So what provides?

“If you’re enjoying towards sure kinds of defenses, it’s important to perceive going into the sport what model of recreation it’s going to be,” Ryan Day stated. “Arkansas State did a extremely good job of difficult us on the line of scrimmage. You guys noticed quite a lot of press man-to-man. … If you’re going towards a group that challenges you a large number in man-to-man, the completion proportion is probably not as excessive.

“You will have a few three-and-outs, however you’re additionally gonna have some explosive performs. Not panicking in these conditions, understanding the sport you’re in could be very, essential, actually for the quarterback.”

Day may even inform you that he’d quite by no means have a drive that ends in a three-and-out and the expertise on his roster backs up whereas that ought to by no means be the case. Towards Arkansas State, these derived didn’t matter as a result of they have been paired with fireworks. However a greater opponent will discover methods to restrict these fireworks simply as Notre Dame did in Week 1.

“If you’re going to get to bend however don’t break protection, it’s excessive completion proportion video games,” Day stated. “You’re gonna transfer the ball in between the 20s, however then it’s important to end off drives.”

Ohio State must be prepared for these moments. The ceiling for its manufacturing will at all times be excessive, however elevating the ground is simply as vital for a group attempting to win a nationwide title. It may achieve this towards Toledo by limiting these three-and-out drives to 2 or fewer.

Can the protection neutralize a duel-threat QB?

The Buckeyes held the primary dual-threat quarterback it performed this season in test. Notre Dame’s Tyler Buchner was held to only 18 yards on 12 carries, although three of these carries are as a result of sacks rely as such in faculty soccer. As a passer, he began the sport with eight-straight completion, however was 2 of 10 the remainder of the night time as soon as OSU pressured him to be a pocket passer.

Toledo will current an identical problem with DeQuan Finn, who’s already run for 138 yards this season. Finn will break some runs on Saturday night time, particularly on possibility performs, just because he made the best learn. However simply as OSU did with Buchner, one of the simplest ways to neutralize him is by containing him and forcing him to beat you along with his arm.

He’s coming off per week the place he accomplished simply 46.2% of his passes and has a 57.7 profession completion proportion. It’s truthful to imagine he gained’t choose aside your protection from the pocket. However he can kill you along with his legs if you happen to don’t maintain him in test.

Can Julian Fleming flash his 5-star upside?

It seems like we’re nonetheless ready on the Julian Fleming breakout second. He and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are anticipated to be again this week as two guys who have been projected starters heading into the season. We all know what Smith-Njigba is, whereas Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka spent the final two weeks exhibiting off what they’re as former highly-rated recruits.

Fleming’s return within the remaining nonconference recreation of the yr presents an opportunity for him to take action by exhibiting off precisely why he was the highest vast receiver within the 2020 recruiting class.

“Julian’s very versatile (and) very dynamic,” C.J. Stroud stated. “In fact, everybody is aware of he can go get the deep ball, however he’s been engaged on this recreation quite a bit this summer season. Snapping his routes down, making them clear and crisp. He’s undoubtedly stepped up his recreation. Then he brings a bodily factor, simply him being so massive and with the ability to block folks. We’ll use him in all these points when he comes again.”

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In the event you or a liked one has questions and wishes to speak to knowledgeable about playing, name the Ohio Downside Playing Helpline at 1-800-589-9966 or the Nationwide Council on Program Playing Helpline (NCPG) at 1-800-522-4700.