Ohio State game plan for victory
Ohio State finally found the ground game against a good Indiana defense. Combined, the Buckeye rushing attack tallied over 300 yards running, highlighted by Master Teague’s 41-yard gallop to the endzone. It was a sight for sore eyes and it couldn’t have come at a better time as Justin Fields had his worse game in Scarlet and Gray.
No need to panic about Fields’ off day. Everyone has one of those from time to time. Fields will learn from his less than memorable day and will be better for it in the long run. A balanced attack takes pressure off of the OSU QB and opens things up a bit.
On the defensive side of the ball, Ohio State has to get things straightened out in the secondary. Illinois doesn’t have the same caliber quarterback as the Hoosiers, but they do have a more than capable signal-caller who would like nothing more than to knock the Buckeyes down a notch. Brandon Peters is a transfer from Michigan and led the Fighting Illini to an upset victory over Nebraska this past Saturday. Even though he doesn’t wear the Maize and Blue any longer, you can be sure the hatred for Ohio State runs deep.
Upfront, Ohio State has been a little bit of a Jekyll and Hyde. Against Penn State, the Buckeyes made life difficult for Sean Clifford all night. But against Indiana, while they stuffed the run effectively, they gave Michael Penix Jr. more than enough time to pick the OSU secondary apart. Pressure is key because Penix showed us what happens when a quarterback gets too comfortable.
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Next … The key players for Ohio State
Two Key Players For Ohio State
Jeremy Ruckert – Tight End: Jeremy Ruckert has become the go-to tight end when it comes to needing a short-yardage gain. We know he has a great set of hands as we all remember the one-handed catch against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game last year. And while he doesn’t have a ton of catches in 2020, he’s made the most of his opportunities hauling in three touchdowns on the season.
Justin Fields TD to Jeremy Ruckert. Ohio State up 42-9 pic.twitter.com/n2U6SKIVxU
— The Buckeye Nut (@TheBuckeyeNut) November 8, 2020
Pete Werner – Linebacker: Pete Werner has steadily improved in his time as a three-year starter and is now one of the unquestioned leaders on the Buckeye defense. He’s been great attacking the run and even better in pass coverage. Werner will look to be all over the field again making plays that earned him a Defensive Player of the Game honor against Indiana.
Game changer.#GoBuckeyes pic.twitter.com/cmmLza24RD
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) November 23, 2020
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