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Ohio State: Did Buckeyes find identity in fairly ugly Tulsa win?
By Joe Cox
Published:
The 2021 season hasn’t been what Ohio State fans wanted. The 2-1 record is bad enough. The defense has been something near a circus. The offense, while productive, has lacked an identity … or it did.
Saturday’s 40-21 victory over Tulsa win, while something of a clunker, might have given a reboot to this season. With a suddenly competitive looking Big Ten season looming, OSU faithful certainly hope so.
Whose defense is it anyway?
It seems to be all over but the shouting for Kerry Coombs’ run as OSU defensive coordinator. After allowing 3 of 8 opposing passers to rack up 400 passing yards on the Buckeyes last season, Coombs’ defense opened this season by being remarkably porous on the run, coughing up 200+ yards on the ground to both Minnesota and Oregon. Secondary coach Matt Barnes called the plays against Tulsa, which racked up a 428-yard passing day. Whoever calls whatever, OSU lacks a defensive identity.
Should we revise those preseason expectations?
Probably. The Oregon game was always going to be a challenge, and while losing it was far from a huge deal, the continued defensive issues suggest that Ohio State’s perfect run in the B1G could be in real jeopardy. The Buckeyes better find another gear fast if they want to contemplate the CFP.
Who has emerged?
TreVeyon Henderson, in Game 3, became the feature playmaker for OSU. His 277 rushing yards on just 24 carries broke Archie Griffin’s OSU freshman single-game rushing record, set in 1972. Henderson’s rushing yards were the fourth most ever for the Buckeyes. Henderson has the extra gear to make him a touchdown threat on every touch. After going with a running back by committee in Week 1 and juggling Henderson and Miyan Williams in Game 2, OSU might have found its offensive answer.
C.J. Stroud certainly hasn’t been bad. His game against Tulsa was something of a clunker, but while Henderson may be the featured playmaker, his emerging skills will only help Stroud use play-action to dent opposing secondaries all season.
Garrett Wilson has been who we thought he was — maybe a little less explosive than Chris Olave, but more consistent. Stroud has leaned on him heavily, and will likely continue to do so.
Who has disappointed?
The entire OSU defense could be named. The pass rush has been pretty poor, with Zach Harrison being a virtual non-factor aside from his sack-and-strip play against Minnesota in the opener. The run defense has been bad. Basically, it’s just a mess. The individual talent is there, but the results aren’t.
OSU’s linebackers have also struggled to step up. Teradja Mitchell missed the Tulsa game, and with him out, too many times, OSU has failed to rally to the ball. Oregon picked on the inexperienced OSU outside backers by sucking them inside, then running around them on the edge. It’s definitely a priority area to improve moving forward.
Are they who we thought they were?
Frankly, the defense isn’t. The offense? It has been good, but it has changed week to week. The Olave and Wilson show from Week 1 was explosive, but it appears to have given way to Henderson and then play-action to the wideouts. The fun thing for OSU is that, either way, the Buckeyes are moving the ball and scoring points. The playmakers on offense will keep OSU competitive, but they may have to win shootouts.
They’ll enter November with a 6-2 record.
OSU still has a great chance to right the ship. Home vs. Akron, at Rutgers, home against Maryland, an off week and then at Indiana. IU has the firepower to make that game interesting, but there should be some easy blowouts in that bunch … if the defense gets it together.
That brings us to Penn State, which has snuck past both Wisconsin and Auburn early. If the game was played today, Penn State would be our pick. This could change entirely before the game on Oct. 30. But over the next few games, Ryan Day’s squad could look to gain ground on the Nittany Lions while running over, around and through some outmatched defenders.
Veteran college writer Joe Cox covers Ohio State and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.