It’s good to be number one.
It’s especially good to be number one after a thoroughly dominating victory of an outmatched opponent. As nice as the win against Indiana was, questions linger for Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes as they look for their 7th win of the season on the road in Madison.
In particular, concerns surrounding the running game just won’t go away. Of the 478 yards of offense against Indiana, only 130 of them came via running the ball.
While those rushing numbers appear concerning on the surface, as usual, a look deeper into the stats reveals that the ‘problem’ Ohio State is having running the ball isn’t quite the issue it is made out to be.
Before I get into discussing the running game (which is quickly becoming my number one pet peeve for the season) here are some quick thoughts on Indiana, bullet pointed for your convenience:
- Brandon Saine is a formidable weapon in the passing game (out of the backfield or even spread wide). After a disappointing start to the year running the ball, it was good to see him get involved in the passing attack. He adds a dimension to Ohio State’s offense that can keep opponents off balance which could pay huge dividends in the future.
- Ohio State’s defense is lights out good. The level of excellence on defense is something that Buckeye fans everywhere have come to expect, but this years version takes it to a whole different level and it is a lot of fun to watch.
- Terrelle Pryor isn’t an NFL quarterback yet, but if his decision making, footwork, and accuracy continue to improve like they have between last year and this, he may get there. Now let’s see him take those improved traits with him on the road.
- Jaamal Berry and Carlos Hyde have a certain ‘it’ that brings a spark to the running game. I fully support the calls to get them more carries. They also have a certain level of uncertainty and lack of experience about them, I fully support Coach Tressel’s decision to limit their touches in crunch time. I would be surprised if we see them very much in Madison in the event of a close game.
Speaking of the running game, join me after the jump for yet another look at the Ohio State ground attack, or how I learned to stop worrying and love passing the ball to wide open receivers.
First, I stand by my original analysis that every team Ohio State faces goes all out to stop the run, regardless of how vulnerable it makes them in the passing game. Teams would rather take their chances that Pryor will have a bad day passing the ball then attempt to stop the run game and the passing game of Ohio State.
And honestly, who could blame them?
You basically have to pick your poison when trying to stop Ohio State’s offense. The chances that Ohio State will beat you running the ball is pretty high. The chances that Terrelle Pryor will beat you throwing the ball is less certain… comparatively speaking.
There is a reason Ohio State’s receivers are so wide open time and time again on Saturdays. Defenses have chosen to take away the run game and take their chances with Pryor’s arm.
Jim Tressel and the offensive coaching staff, to their credit (and despite the criticism they have received over the years for being predictable and lacking aggressiveness on offense), have decided to take what the defense gives them each game, and that means throwing the ball.
Reason number one why Ohio State is not putting up overwhelming rushing numbers is because they have chosen to pass the ball to wide open receivers instead of running into the teeth of the defense.
Through 6 games Ohio State has attempted to throw the ball 174 times compared to only 137 times last year.
The increase in passing attempts means a decrease in rushing attempts, which naturally results in a decrease in rushing yards.
It is easy to look at the rushing numbers, or even to look at the game film, and say that the offensive line isn’t doing their job and opening up running lanes for the backs, who aren’t able to hit the running lanes when they do appear anyway (according to the critics).
Well, when a defense puts 7 players in the box, it is difficult for five offensive lineman to block them. Even with the full back thrown in, there is still an extra defender that will go unblocked on every play. The numbers just don’t add up.
What can you do against a defense that is going all out to stop the run? Well, your quarterback can complete 24 of 30 passes for 334 yards and 3 touchdowns.
While Pryor was putting up those career numbers, Boom Herron only had 12 carries, Carlos Hyde had 9, and Jaamal Berry added 5. Throw in Jordan Hall’s single carry and that comes to 27 rushing attempts for the game.
Compare that to the last six games a season ago when Ohio State averages rushing the ball over 50 times a game and the difference may not have anything to do with the linemen or the ball carriers, but with the number of touches.
The coaches pound the rock all game and get raked over the coals for being uncreative. They go crazy passing the ball at the expense of the ground game and fans scream for a better rushing attack.
They just can’t win.
The backs only had 130 yards rushing on those limited carries against Indiana, but the key point is that with the opportunities they did have, they were able to move the ball. The backs averaged 5.7, 5.3, and 8.4 yards per carry respectively, which, in my estimation, is pretty damn good.
The issue that many fans are having is that a consistent running game is just that; consistent. A Terrelle Pryor led passing attack has been effective so far this season, but the Illinois game puts a serious question mark around his ability to perform on the road.
Pryor isn’t perfect, but if teams are going all out to stop the run, I would rather take my chances throwing the ball than try to force a run game into the teeth of an opponents defense.
As long as Pryor and the receivers hold up their end of the bargain in the passing game, Ohio State will keep on winning. If not, repeats of the Illinois game are in the future.
The good news? with our defense, we can still win games like Illinois.
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