Ohio State game plan for victory
While Ohio State has continued to lose high-level talent to the NFL each year, it also has a pretty good record of being able to reload. However, it isn’t every year you have to replace someone like Justin Fields. With the offensive weapons on the Buckeye roster, all eyes are going to be on first-year starting quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Stroud doesn’t have to be great, but he does need to manage the game well. There is no need to try and be Fields — just be himself and take care of the ball. The running backs are explosive, and the receivers can catch anything in the general vicinity.
Speaking of the passing game, it is well documented that Ohio State has arguably the best receiving corps in the country. But the easiest way to help a young inexperienced quarterback is to allow the run game to set up the pass. I look for Ryan Day to ease Stroud into the game with a heavy dose of Master Teague and Miyan Williams.
Defensively, the Buckeyes will have to contain one of the best running backs in the country, Mohamed Ibrahim. He rushed for over 1,000 yards and 15 touchdowns in seven games a year ago. Even with the Gophers finishing under .500 last season, Ibrahim shined.
Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan could present a problem as well. The three-year starter had a down year in 2020 after a breakout 2019, however Morgan was concerned with more important things than football: His father was battling cancer. A young secondary could be tested, and we’ll find out quickly if Kerry Coombs has fixed a glaring weakness from a year ago.
Next … The key players for Ohio State
Two Key Players For Ohio State
C.J. Stroud – Quarterback: All eyes will be on the new starting quarterback at Ohio State. Can he manage a game and take what is given to him? The Buckeyes don’t need Stroud to be a hero, they just need him to get the ball in the hands of his playmakers and not turn it over.
Best bets? (📸 @ESPNCFB) pic.twitter.com/XHQMhzWQCi
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB) August 27, 2021
Haskell Garrett – Defensive Tackle: Garrett was the heart and soul of the Buckeye defense last season and Larry Johnson has to be ecstatic to have his leader back for another go. Garrett stuffs holes and he’ll be needed to do so on Thursday to keep Mohamed Ibrahim from breaking loose.
The countdown to @B1Gfootball kickoff has entered single digits, and so have the 𝗝𝗣𝟯𝟬 rankings. ⏳@RIP_JEP has @OhioStateFB star @HaskellGarrett_ at No. 9⃣ on his list of the Top 30 players in the league ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/g6YpKAHZ38
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) August 19, 2021