I'm watching Ohio State's 54-7 win against Indiana for the second time, separating my thoughts solely by quarters and how it applies to the game coming up.
First quarter:
Prior to the first offensive snap, Dusty Dvoracek named three things redshirt freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud does well: accuracy, arm strength and anticipation.
He showed each of those in Ohio State’s first drive, not really pushing anything: hitting Ruckert twice in the flat, Garrett Wilson once for four yards on the sideline and Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a cross, while a home run to Wilson was snuffed by a wonderful play by Devon Matthews.
On the other hand, this was a drive that was fueled by the offensive line. No matter if it was TreVeyon Henderson or Miyan Williams back there, the line performed.
Williams took the brunt of the work in the first down, showing an elusiveness and physicality that he showed against Minnesota in the season opener.
But to be honest with you, I probably could have scored on his 11-yard run with the hole Luke Wypler and Nicholas Petit-Frere gave him.
And when you talk about accuracy, arm strength and anticipation, none of those are used more than Stroud’s 32-yard pass to Smith-Njigba at the beginning of Ohio State’s second drive, ending with a 21-yard touchdown run by Henderson where he shows he is indeed good at football.
Defensively, you all know what happened.
Despite starting Indiana’s first offensive drive with a Haskell Garrett sack and, later, a sack after Zach Harrison beat Jack Tuttle in a footrace, Ohio State’s defense seemed to go back in time, allowing a 15-yard shot from Tuttle to tight end Peyton Hendershot on first down and, later a 15-yard run by freshman QB Donovan McCulley on first down.
But the killer was four converted fourth downs on four chances for 33 yards, including botched zone coverage between Cody Simon and Ronnie Hickman to allow a wide-open Hendershot secure a seven-yard touchdown.
This is where Ohio State started from. And it was not a good start.
But it gets better. Facing McCulley with Tuttle sidelined, Ohio State showed increased pressure with the run-first guy behind center, overthrowing his receiver on an over-the-shoulder grab and throwing the ball away.
How does this quarter apply to Penn State
Stroud did not look rusty one bit, finding receivers in stride, taking what the Indiana defense was giving him even if offensive plays didn't go in favor of the Buckeyes, like a drop by Wilson. This is the kind of quarterback the redshirt freshman will have to be from the get-go against the Nittany Lions, the No. 3 scoring defense in the Big Ten.
You also have to be pleased with the depth at running back. Even without Marcus Crowley or Master Teague III, Williams and Henderson showed they can both be relied on to move the offense.
Defensively, Ohio State can't have a start like this against Penn State. It's as simple as that.
First quarter:
Prior to the first offensive snap, Dusty Dvoracek named three things redshirt freshman quarterback C.J. Stroud does well: accuracy, arm strength and anticipation.
He showed each of those in Ohio State’s first drive, not really pushing anything: hitting Ruckert twice in the flat, Garrett Wilson once for four yards on the sideline and Jaxon Smith-Njigba on a cross, while a home run to Wilson was snuffed by a wonderful play by Devon Matthews.
On the other hand, this was a drive that was fueled by the offensive line. No matter if it was TreVeyon Henderson or Miyan Williams back there, the line performed.
Williams took the brunt of the work in the first down, showing an elusiveness and physicality that he showed against Minnesota in the season opener.
But to be honest with you, I probably could have scored on his 11-yard run with the hole Luke Wypler and Nicholas Petit-Frere gave him.
And when you talk about accuracy, arm strength and anticipation, none of those are used more than Stroud’s 32-yard pass to Smith-Njigba at the beginning of Ohio State’s second drive, ending with a 21-yard touchdown run by Henderson where he shows he is indeed good at football.
Defensively, you all know what happened.
Despite starting Indiana’s first offensive drive with a Haskell Garrett sack and, later, a sack after Zach Harrison beat Jack Tuttle in a footrace, Ohio State’s defense seemed to go back in time, allowing a 15-yard shot from Tuttle to tight end Peyton Hendershot on first down and, later a 15-yard run by freshman QB Donovan McCulley on first down.
But the killer was four converted fourth downs on four chances for 33 yards, including botched zone coverage between Cody Simon and Ronnie Hickman to allow a wide-open Hendershot secure a seven-yard touchdown.
This is where Ohio State started from. And it was not a good start.
But it gets better. Facing McCulley with Tuttle sidelined, Ohio State showed increased pressure with the run-first guy behind center, overthrowing his receiver on an over-the-shoulder grab and throwing the ball away.
How does this quarter apply to Penn State
Stroud did not look rusty one bit, finding receivers in stride, taking what the Indiana defense was giving him even if offensive plays didn't go in favor of the Buckeyes, like a drop by Wilson. This is the kind of quarterback the redshirt freshman will have to be from the get-go against the Nittany Lions, the No. 3 scoring defense in the Big Ten.
You also have to be pleased with the depth at running back. Even without Marcus Crowley or Master Teague III, Williams and Henderson showed they can both be relied on to move the offense.
Defensively, Ohio State can't have a start like this against Penn State. It's as simple as that.
