Ohio State Football: Week 5 unit grades for Penn State game

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 29: Trace McSorley #9 of the Penn State Nittany Lions warms up before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 29, 2018 at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images) /

2nd Quarter:

Offense

It was a different quarter. The last one didn’t go very well but lets just attribute that to the nerves of a young quarterback and a couple of dropped passes. Execute on offense this quarter and it will be back to the high-flying offense that we have all come to love.

I wish that was the case.

I didn’t know if it was possible to start the second quarter off any worse than the first. For the second time, I was wrong. A tipped pass on a solid throw to young tight end in Rashod Berry ends in an interception by Penn State’s Garret Taylor and a short field for the Nittany Lions.

It didn’t get much better than that as the Buckeyes couldn’t even break the century mark at the end of the first half recording only 96 yards. The offensive line just wasn’t getting much of a push on the defensive front for the Nittany Lions and in passing situations, the young Haskins didn’t have any time to do what he does best, throw the ball downfield.

The offense does get credit for being able to take advantage of a Penn State fumble deep in their own territory and score a touchdown on a screen pass to JK Dobbins. After the fumble if I were to have bet money, it would have been on Ohio State settling for a field goal.

They didn’t though and the Buckeyes went into the locker room down just 6 points.

Grade C-

Defense

I was getting ready to sing praises on this Ohio State defense because in the beginning of this half it was very good. It held Penn State to a field goal after an interception in Ohio States own half of the field.

Then KJ Hamler gets away on a slant route for a 93 yard touchdown and the taste in my mouth is completely changed.

I talked about the fact that Penn State wasn’t able to get away on a huge play in the first quarter, they were able to get one in the second.

Other than that mistake, the Buckeyes were pretty impressive on this side of the ball in the second quarter. The fact that the Buckeyes only trailed by six at half is completely because of the defense.

Heck, the fact that the Buckeyes were able to score at all in the first half is because of a forced fumble the offense a short field.

Grade: B

Special Teams

Punting is often something that gets overlooked by a lot of fans. But to anyone who knows anything about football, it is one of the most important aspects of a game. Winning the field position battle helps defenses out immensely.

Punter Drue Chrisman for the Buckeyes was very important in helping the Buckeyes win that battle, including one punt that held the Penn State on the two yard line. Lets not talk about what happened on the punt after that drive though.

Grade: A

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