Ohio State Football: Week 7 unit grades vs. Minnesota

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COLUMBUS, OH – OCTOBER 13: Kiondre Thomas #31 of the Minnesota Golden Gophers keeps a hold on the jersey of Parris Campbell #21 of the Ohio State Buckeyes as Campbell runs upfield in the second quarter at Ohio Stadium on October 13, 2018 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

Quarter 3:

Offense:

In the first half, I talked about how the defensive line was getting killed by the Minnesota offensive line. The same fate started happening in the second half to the Buckeye offensive line.

There was absolutely no room for Dwayne Haskins to work with in the pocket, and the run was getting absolutely stuffed.

The result? Ohio State’s first punt of the game to start off a half in which they only lead by three.

The coaching staff for Ohio State clearly made adjustments on the next drive, as when Haskins dropped back to pass the ball was coming out very quickly and the Buckeye offense was moving once again.

Unfortunately, the end result was a field goal and an uncomfortable 6 point lead.

Grade: C

Defense:

Give the defense credit, they came out ready to play in the second half as thanks to a punt that backed Minnesota up to their own one yard line, the Buckeyes were able to stuff the Minnesota run game on their first drive of the half and force them to punt.

This is a mass improvement from the first half as the Buckeye defense seemed as though they couldn’t stop a high school team from running the ball on them.

It was back to first half problems for the defense on the ensuing Minnesota drive, as it seemed that Minnesota was putting together another long drive.

This drive included a sequence in which the Golden Gophers completed about a 15 yard slant route on 2nd and 24 and a run on third down in which the Buckeyes defensive line parted like the red sea. That is enough to give die-hard Buckeye fans a nervous breakdown.

Fortunately for the Buckeyes, the drive stalled in Ohio State’s end of the field and Minnesota’s kicker missed the field goal by a mile. So the score stayed at 14.

It’s weird for me to say that the Buckeyes didn’t give up a point this half, but I guess that what a long, drawn out Minnesota drive that ends in a missed field goal will do.

Grade: B-

Special Teams:

Drew Chrisman, kept his fantastic year going with a punt that was downed at the one by the Buckeyes. This greatly helps a struggling Buckeye defense as now Minnesota has to start a drive backed way up into their own territory.

Add a made field goal onto the list of things the special teams did in the third quarter and you have a very good grade. By the way, can I grade the brutal field goal attempt by Minnesota at the end of the quarter? It would be an F.

Grade: A+

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