Ohio State Football: Has the Buckeye run game finally awoken?
The lack of a consistent rushing attack has been a major issue for the Ohio State football team but the running game picked up against Nebraska.
If you take a look at Ohio State’s statistics in the rushing category they don’t look too bad. The team is average close to 175 yards a game, 1.7 touchdowns and 4.5 yards per carry. These aren’t terrible stats by themselves.
It makes it seem like the Buckeyes have a decent run game that scares opposing defenses. Then why is it that every announcer, writer and fan in the country seems to have the opinion that Ohio State can’t run the ball?
At the beginning of the year, the hype around the one-two combo of Mike Weber and JK Dobbins could barely be contained in Columbus. The Buckeyes were going to have one of the most dynamic offenses in the country because teams would have to game plan for two possible 1,000 yard rushers and Heisman hopeful Dwayne Haskins.
The hype has somehow never materialized on the field this season.
The switch from a run-pass offense has really been detrimental to the blocking schemes of the offensive line. This year there has been struggles up front as the Buckeyes have had problems creating gaps for the backs to run through.
It doesn’t help that Haskins doesn’t run often either. Defenses don’t have the threat of him taking off like they had in previous years with J.T. Barrett behind center. With opposing teams being able to stack eight in the box and bring blitzes the Buckeyes have struggled to get things going on the ground.
Ohio State has only had three games in which a back rushed for over 100 yards. Only during the first game of the season against Oregon State, the third game versus TCU and last Saturday against Nebraska.
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The struggles on the ground have allowed teams to play the pass and it finally has taken a toll on Haskins. He had to throw the ball 70+ times in the loss to Purdue and that should never be the case with the talent the Buckeyes have in the backfield.
JK Dobbins rushed for 163 yards last Saturday while Mike Weber also put up a solid 91 yards on only 9 carries. The run game against Nebraska saved the offense as Haskins struggled to throw the football against a mediocre Nebraska defense.
For the Buckeyes to win the Big Ten and have a chance at the College Football Playoff, this is the type of performance the Buckeyes run game will have to produce.
Ohio State is going up against 18th ranked Michigan State tomorrow and the game is being played in East Lansing. It has been a nasty battle between these two teams lately so expect more of the same.
Next. 4th and Short, questions for Week 11. dark
Hopefully the Buckeyes will look to continue to build on their rushing performance from last week. The question is, will they be able to so against the No. 1 ranked rushing defense in college football?