Ohio State football: Winners, losers from OSU vs. Oregon

Ohio State has one of the best offensive lines on paper, but against the Oregon defensive line, they could not get anything going on the ground.

When a new quarterback comes in for their first few starts, most coaches will try to rely a little heavier on the run game to put the quarterback in a down and distance he can manage. This was thought to be what Ohio State would do, especially considering the talent that is in the running back room. So far in the year, that unit has been a disappointment.

Against Minnesota, it was pretty clear that the Buckeyes would likely have a two0headed monster in the future with Myian Williams and TreVeyon Henderson taking the majority of the carriers. That happened against Oregon, with no other running back getting a carry. But ultimately, that ended with a rushing attack that looked anemic throughout the game.

When Ohio State needed a big rush, it did not come. When they needed a conversion they either got stopped or had to rely solely on the passing game. The offensive line for Ohio State still has the potential to be a top-tier unit, and they showed that they can pass block mostly well, but running for a 4.1-yard average is not going to get it done for this team. The rushing game will be a point of emphasis moving forward so that it can help compliment and open up the passing game.

If the offensive line can’t open up holes in the running game, the Buckeyes are in massive trouble because then they can’t control the clock and keep their own bad defense off the field. That’s a big problem.