Ohio State Football: Week 5 unit grades for Penn State game
It’s always exciting when the Ohio State football team collides with the Penn State Nittany Lions. Here are unit grades by quarter in last night’s big game.
It was a roller coaster of emotions in Happy Valley as #4 Ohio State took on #9 Penn State. There were many ups and downs in the game, but it all came to a climax eventually. I attempt to give you an insight on how we got to the climax as well as describe how well each unit for the Buckeyes played in particular.
1st Quarter
Offense
For about a week now, everyone has been speculating? Will Dwayne Haskins be able to handle the white out conditions in Happy Valley.
With experience on the offensive line and athletes all over the field. I thought that we would be able to move the ball solidly against an overall weak Penn St defense. I was wrong.
Ohio State amassed a grand total of 20 yards in the first quarter, 3 rushing yards, 17 passing yards. That is not a recipe for success no matter what environment you are playing in, but make no mistake, the Penn St fans had a lot to do with it. That stadium was rocking tonight, and while I am a Buckeye fan through and through, the white out in Happy Valley has always impressed me.
What exactly went wrong for the Buckeyes? It was a combination of everything including dropped passes, shaky protection and a nonexistent rush game.
The good news for the Buckeyes though was that it was just one quarter. We all remember pulling our hair out and biting our fingernails last year as the Buckeyes didn’t get off to a good start against Penn State. There is one major difference this year though, the leadership of J.T. Barrett wasn’t there.
Grade D-
Defense
On all accounts the defense played up to par in the first half. They didn’t stop the Nittany Lions on offense as much as the Penn St defense did to us, but they held their own. And thanks to a missed field goal, the Buckeyes came out of the first quarter only trailing by 3.
As previously implied, this defense wasn’t perfect. There were a number of plays where McSorely was able to break free for big gains, something that worried me with the absence of Nick Bosa.
That being said, the run was overall handled pretty well. In the passing, game there were a couple of big passes by the veteran McSorely and the catch of the year so far by Juwan Johnson which allowed the Nittany Lions to keep the Buckeye defense on its heels.
The defense was never completely broken down though and I was impressed by their ability to fight against adversity to get stops.
Through one quarter it was fairly obvious which quarterback was a three-year starter at home, and which was enduring his first true road game as a starter.
Grade: A-
Special Teams
This was by far the best unit for the Buckeyes in the first quarter making a couple of nice punts and covering them very well. We all remember the special teams fiasco last year, including Barkley taking one to the house on the first kick of the game. There was none of that today and my heart is all the better for it.
Grade: A