Ohio State football having many impactful pass catchers has allowed OSU to be explosive, but having multiple running backs has stalled the run game.
In a 42-3 win over the Minnesota Golden Gophers, Ohio State's football team had five plays that covered 30 yards or more.
The very same team a week earlier beat the Washington Huskies 24-6 on the road, and in that game, the Buckeyes' longest play was 19 yards.
In both games, OSU averaged 4.4 yards per carry.
It's just Week 6, but Ohio State appears to have an offensive identity: a versatile passing game and a running game still trying to find its legs.
"We're going to watch this film and see some things that we're going to be frustrated with," said coach Ryan Day Oct. 4 after the win over Minnesota. "We know where we need to go."
Part of the reason the running game has a ways to go is that the running back battle is still playing out. Freshman Bo Jackson got his first start against the Golden Gophers. He had 13 carries for 63 yards and a 5-yard touchdown.
"Bo's been very impressive," said wide receiver Carnell Tate. "When the ball's in his hands, he's electrifying. I'm proud of him, happy for him, rooting for him all the way."
James Peoples, who started the season as the second-string running back behind C.J. Donaldson, totaled 58 yards with an average of 8.4 yards per carry on his seven rushes. However, the first and only time Peoples touched the ball in the first half was when he went 3 yards with 13:57 left in the second quarter. All the rest of his attempts came in the fourth quarter, when Ohio State had the game comfortably in hand.
As for Donaldson, the starter at the beginning of the year, he had a modest 3 yards on three carries, but has been Ohio State's go-to back in short-yardage situations, especially in the red zone. He leads the Buckeyes with four rushing touchdowns.
Ohio State's wide receiving corps also operates by committee, but not because the personnel situation has yet to sort itself out. OSU knows who its top pass catchers are.
In fact, asked if he thought he and Jermiah Smith were the best two wide receivers in college football, Tate responded: "I know that. For sure."
It was Tate who was quarterback Julian Sayin's primary option against Minnesota. He had a career-best nine catches for a career-high mark of 183 yards.
"We were just shocked that they came out in man, so they tried us in man and we made them pay for it," Tate said.
He had a TD catch of 44 yards. He also had receptions for 48 and 49 yards.
Smith can also go deep. Indeed, his 87-yard touchdown against Grambling State earlier this year stands stands as the second-longest passing play in school history. (Ohio State's longest pass play is a 90-yarder from Kenny Guiton to Devin Smith in 2013.)
However, against Minnesota, Smith also showed what he can do in the short passing game. He caught a 6-yard touchdown on a crisp slant route. Before that, with OSU starting at the 31, Sayin made a short pass to Smith. Smith caught the ball at the 27 and made three defenders miss before a fourth caught him at the 2-yard line.
"When you can be accurate underneath and get the ball out quick, but can also (hit) down the field," said Day, "that's when our offense can be clicking on all cylinders."
Day has options beyond Tate and Smith. Against Washington, the running backs got into the act with Jackson, Donaldson and Peoples all catching passes. The tight ends have contributed all year. Brandon Inniss was Ohio State's second-leading receiver against the Huskies.
"All of these guys are very prideful," Day said. "All of them want the ball. All them, you know, have expectations. And to see the unselfishness each week of a bunch of guys who just want to win? That's winning football in a day and age when there's a lot going on."
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football's offensive identity taking shape
Category: General Sports
