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October 13, 2015Josh McCown and Gary Barnidge headline Katie Nolan’s latest #MMM
October 13, 2015For the first time since their season opener at Virginia Tech, Ohio State scored more than 40 points. In fact, they totaled 49 points — their highest output of the season — in their win over Maryland at the Horseshoe Saturday. As always, there are always some good things, bad things, and downright ugly things from the game. Let’s dive into the win over the Terrapins:
The Good
Two-quarterback system
After hinting about it in the week leading up to the game, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer decided to use J.T. Barrett as his red-zone quarterback, and the change worked perfectly.
Since being named the Buckeyes’ starting quarterback going into the Big Ten Championship Game in 2014, redshirt junior Cardale Jones has struggled in the red zone. He has yet to throw a touchdown from inside the 20-yard line since being in Columbus.
While only getting snaps in the red zone Saturday, Barrett finished the game with a near perfect stat line: 2-for-2, 26 yards, while having 12 carries for 62 yards and three touchdowns. Jones, on the other hand, completed 21-of-28 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns (the completions and yards were career-highs) and added six carries for 19 yards. The three touchdown passes by Barrett mark the first time in his career that he has thrown for three scores in a single game.
Whether Ohio State fans like the new-look offense or not, it seems to give them the best chance to put points on the scoreboard, which is all that matters, right?
Ezekiel Elliott
Another week, another 100 rushing yards for the man they call “Zeke.” Ezekiel Elliott carried 21 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns, making Saturday the 11th consecutive game in which he has ran for over 100 yards. He was involved in the passing game as well, finishing with six catches for 47 yards (both season-highs).
Even when the offense has its struggles, Jones or Barrett can always lean on Zeke to give them a burst. We know he can carry the ball out of the backfield, but he proved in the game against Maryland that he can also be a pass-catching threat as well.
Michael Thomas
Thomas proved yet again why he is the Buckeyes best receiver in 2015. With seven catches (season-high) for 107 yards, the junior eclipsed 100 receiving yards for the first time in his career. He has now caught a pass in 22 consecutive games.
Braxton Miller
Braxton looks to be back on the map for the Buckeyes’ offense. Miller hauled in season highs of five catches for 79 yards and a touchdown, scoring for the first time since Ohio State’s season opener at Virginia Tech.
His 19-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter gave him 87 touchdowns in his college career, which extends his own Ohio State record.
Jalin Marshall
For the second consecutive game, Marshall impressed on the offensive side of the ball. Against the Terrapins, he recorded four catches for 78 yards and a touchdown.
The last two weeks, Marshall has looked to be the deep threat that Ohio State has been searching for so far in 2015. His 48-yard touchdown catch on Saturday was his second touchdown grab of the season.
Red-zone offense
Whether it was the change in quarterbacks or the fact that Maryland’s defense struggled, the Buckeyes red-zone offense Saturday was the best Ohio State has had all season.
They converted all six of their red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. If Barrett and the offense can play like that in the red zone, the Buckeyes’ offense has a chance to go from good to great for the rest of 2015.
Raekwon McMillan
Leading the Silver Bullets in tackles, again? Just another day in the office for the sophomore. Along with eight tackles (tied for the team lead with safety Vonn Bell), McMillan also finished with one tackle for loss.
He has continued to impress so far in 2015, while being the “quarterback” of the defense in just his second season as a Buckeye.
Tyvis Powell
While notching four tackles, the safety also had one of the two interceptions the Silver Bullets had against Maryland. The interception was the second of Powell’s career.
Tyquan Lewis
One of the most improved players on the Ohio State so far in 2015, Lewis finished Saturday’s game with five tackles, a career-high two sacks, and a team-high 2.5 tackles for loss.
The sophomore has emerged as yet another force along Ohio State’s defensive line, to go along with players like Joey Bosa and Lewis has impressed this season. He leads the team in both sacks (5.5) and tackles for loss (nine).
Cameron Johnston
One of the most under-appreciated players on the Buckeyes, Johnston has been nothing short of incredible so far in 2015.
When the offense has struggled, Johnston has changed the field position game with his leg. He came into Saturday’s game averaging a Big Ten-best 46.3 yards per punt. Against Maryland, his three punts averaged 54.7 yards. That is his highest average of the season and third highest of his young career.
The Bad
Defense
For one of the first times this season, the defense did not play well. They allowed 28 points against Maryland and allowed Terrapins QB Perry Hills to run for 170 yards and two touchdowns on 25 carries. They held Hills to just 10-of-27 passing for 133 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions, but the Silver Bullets’ run defense was exposed on Saturday.
Luckily for the defense, the offense came through with its best game of the season and Ohio State’s generous defense did not prove costly.
The Ugly
Red-zone defense
While Ohio State’s red-zone offense was perfect, Maryland’s was also. The Terps scored all three times they were inside the 20-, with three touchdowns in three red-zone chances. The Terrapins offense has been underwhelming — they were shut out by Michigan and scored just six points against West Virginia — so a perfect day in red zone for them is not a good luck for the Silver Bullets.
Whether it was the play-calling or just the fact that Ohio State’s defense struggled for the majority of the game, the Buckeyes cannot allow better opponents to convert all of their red-zone opportunities into touchdowns.