Ohio State: 5 things I'd like to see from Buckeyes vs. Boilermakers

The Big Ten division races are starting to take shape, and Ohio State is at the center of the East race along with archrival Michigan.

The Scarlet and Gray will cross over the halfway point of the nine-game conference schedule this weekend as Ohio State (7-0, 4-0 B1G) visits Purdue (7:30 p.m. ET Saturday, ABC). Here are 5 things I’d like to see from the Buckeyes at Ross-Ade Stadium against the Boilermakers (3-3, 2-1):

A day where D-line stays intact

The Buckeyes defensive line, the deepest and probably best unit on the team when the season started, has been hit hard by injuries. Of course Nick Bosa is still out recovering from surgery, and starting end Jonathon Cooper missed last week’s Minnesota game with concussion symptoms. Defensive tackles Dre’Mont Jones and Robert Landers are not 100 percent either. This unit just needs to get through one more week without losing anyone else, then use next week’s bye to rest.

Stay gutsy

Ohio State has gone for it on fourth down in a few key situations in recent games, and why not? The staff has confidence in this offense and it has mostly been rewarded. On fourth downs this season the Buckeyes are 9-for-13 (69.2 percent) which is one of the 25 best conversion rates in the country. Only 13 teams in FBS have converted more times.

More sticky fingers

A catch like the one K.J. Hill had for a second-quarter touchdown against the Golden Gophers is worth savoring again. So here it is:

Better play on the lines

The offensive line has mostly been pretty good — ESPN named center Michael Jordan to its midseason All-America team and Dwayne Haskins has only been sacked eight times all season. But the past couple of games have been a bit tougher and the ground game in particular has suffered. J.K. Dobbins had a career low against Minnesota with 35 rushing yards on 10 caries. And Purdue has 2.83 sacks per game, tied for 30th nationally. OSU’s defensive line also had issues against Minnesota, but again that unit is banged up.

A couple of well-timed stops

This game might well become a shootout. Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer praised Purdue’s defense on Monday. “I haven’t talked to the defensive staff yet, but I’ve seen the stats,” Meyer said at his weekly press conference. “They’re really good.” The Boilermakers are fourth in the Big Ten and 42nd nationally at 33.5 points per game. Their total offense is even better, ranking second in the B1G and 10th in the country at 510.2 yards per game. But Ohio State’s stats are more impressive, as the Buckeyes lead the conference in scoring (46.3 ppg, sixth nationally) and yardage (557.1, second). So the Buckeyes D needs to make a couple of big stops, perhaps force a turnover or two, and let the offense do the rest.