Scarlet and Game
Fansided

Ohio State’s best units, LSU may crash CFP Party and B1G West drama

By Blake Biscardi

COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 17: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on prior to the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on November 17, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 17: Chase Young #2 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks on prior to the game against the Maryland Terrapins at Capital One Field on November 17, 2018 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
1 of 3
Next
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 7: Quarterback Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores on a 7-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Ohio Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)
COLUMBUS, OH – SEPTEMBER 7: Quarterback Justin Fields #1 of the Ohio State Buckeyes scores on a 7-yard touchdown run in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Ohio Stadium on September 7, 2019 in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

A dive into how the Ohio State football team, LSU Tigers, Wisconsin Badgers and Nebraska Cornhuskers have all turned heads to open the season.

This week’s edition of 4th and Short will be a bit different from last week’s piece. I go in-depth and analyze your biggest questions in a special take called the Core Four. All four questions will play a role in the fate of the Big Ten in the postseason.

I will first break down what has impressed me about the Ohio State football team and then take a look around the country at a former Buckeye.

Following the Ohio State portion, I will expand the scope to the Big Ten West and dive into what could be brewing on the other side of the conference as well as the early Heisman conversation.

Q: Which [Ohio State] player(s) or units on both sides of the ball have been most impressive through two games?

Ohio State has been completely dominant on both sides of the ball through their first two games, so this question is definitely thought-provoking. Offensively, I will first say Justin Fields for the following reasons.

Fields has should tremendous poise in the pocket as well as adjusting his protection pre-snap after diagnosing the defense. His command of the offense, though, is what has really impressed me.

The Buckeyes lost so much talent from last year, yet they are operating like they haven’t skipped a beat. I did not expect Fields and the offense to be this far along this early, but since they are their eventual potential is even scarier. The Buckeyes are for real.

Secondly, I will give Ryan Day and his coaching staff credit for the play of all nine units. The Buckeyes had five new hires plus a new head coach and the transition seems to be seamless thus far.

Offensively, it is a balanced and efficient attack. Defensively the Silver Bullets are playing simplified fast, downhill defense giving opponents minimal opportunities to advance the football downfield.

On the defensive side of the ball I would love to say Chase Young, but that is obvious, plus I predicted a breakout season for him in 2018 last summer. So my choice is Jeffrey Okudah.

The young CB is draft eligible following the season and he will earn another first round selection for DBU.

Okudah has been glued to his receivers as they have been locked down with nowhere to go. He has essentially shut down a portion of the field and taken away an option from the QB giving the rest of defense a numbers advantage to get pressure or fly to the football.

Home/Ohio State Football