It is just twelve days and counting until Ohio State plays Clemson in the 2019 Fiesta Bowl. This game will be dissecting 1,000 different ways until December 28, but some deep dives into the game are more relevant, and more important than others.
I tend to think that J.K. Dobbins against the Tigers’ defense is one of the most important aspects of the prime-time affair in the desert. The NCAA stats tell a story of two exceptional defenses matching up, but it also builds a narrative of two very explosive offenses going toe-to-toe.
There’s a good chance we’ll see some points scored in this one. However, it’s most likely the two tailbacks starting in this one that might have the most impact on each respective team moving the ball. Will the Buckeyes’ J.K. Dobbins make more hay, or will Clemson’s Travis Etienne have more of an impact?
I feel that Dobbins has to have a big day for Ohio State to move on.
Dobbins has 1,829 yards rushing and is knocking on the door of the single-season record if the Buckeyes can get the job done and move on. As good as Justin Fields, Chris Olave, Chase Young and gang have been, it’s not a stretch to say that OSU’s starting tailback has been the MVP of this season.
Jk Dobbins (@Jkdobbins22) continues to impress me each and every week. Makes some filthy jukes moves in the hole, and has burst to get into the endzone. You can't stop him when he gets going in the open field.#WNSFilm pic.twitter.com/TMs0hfM1D8
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) November 11, 2019
The ability to run the ball looses up the secondary and wears down a defensive front. We’ve seen Ohio State stick with its running back in huge matchups against the likes of Wisconsin (twice), Michigan, and Penn State. Eventually, the dam broke in all cases, but you have to have a workhorse explosive and durable enough to keep chipping away.
Some teams have it, but it’s not the norm. And in the case of Dobbins, there’s only a handful of teams that have a weapon that compares to his abilities to hold up and be a game changer.
The numbers tell the story of just how important he is to the offense.
Ohio State is 18-0 when Dobbins runs for more than 100 yards in his career. However, in losses, it’s been a different tale. In the three years he’s played, the Buckeyes have lost only three total games. In all of those, he didn’t get to the century mark. Now granted, he was splitting time with Weber in previous years, but when he’s the man, he always got the carries.
To prove that point — in those three losses, Dobbins got just 14 total carries.
The key to winning is simple, feed Dobbins. And when it’s not working, feed Dobbins again until it does. Just ask Michigan. Or Penn State. Or Wisconsin — twice.