Ohio State Football: Preparation, execution keys to big win in Lincoln

You could tell early in Saturday’s game how well prepared Ohio State players were with how they stayed composed and how well they executed.

There are so many things to say about the Ohio State 48-7 win over Nebraska but this is what stood out. The team was well prepared which led them to be composed in a hostile environment and players on both sides of the ball executed the game plan at a high level.

That’s great coaching, and a well prepared team.

First a look at the offense. You could expect the sophomore quarterback Justin Fields and the offensive line to be rattled at the beginning and have communication problems in front of 90,000 hostile fans.

Instead, every offensive player performed well early as though it was a home game.

On the first drive, Fields took the Buckeyes down the field and scored on a 15-yard run. Later in the quarter he threw a touchdown pass to K.J. Hill and the rout was on.

When Ohio State took a 38-0 lead into halftime only a die-hard fan who had consumed too much alcohol thought Nebraska could come back.

On defense, the Buckeyes concerns were to limit the Cornhuskers rushing attack and to keep star quarterback Adrian Martinez from beating them with his arm and / or legs. For the most part they were successful.

By stopping the run game it made Nebraska one-dimensional on offense and the defensive coaches had a plan of attack when the Cornhusker’s had to throw.

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Let Larry Johnson’s defensive linemen attack the QB and have an athletic defender act as a spy so if he escaped the mayhem Martinez couldn’t turn a negative play into a big gain.

In the second half he finally took off on a 56 yard run which led to Nebraska’s score but by that time it was too little, too late.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Jordan Fuller intercepting a pass and Jeffrey Okudah snatching two throws by Martinez. Those were back-breaking plays.

It was impressive how well coaches on both sides of the ball had the Buckeyes prepared to play in Lincoln. And possibly the players execution was even more so.

There must be more of the same this week. The Michigan State Spartans are coming to town for a huge game.