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Ohio State Football: Buckeyes need to get back to the basics on offense

By Frank Teriaca

Nov 26, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (77) hugs quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) following an interception late in the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State lost 45-23. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Michigan Wolverines At Ohio State Buckeyes
Nov 26, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. (77) hugs quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) following an interception late in the second half of the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium. Ohio State lost 45-23. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus DispatchNcaa Football Michigan Wolverines At Ohio State Buckeyes /
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The Ohio State football team was crushed by Michigan on Saturday afternoon in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes need to get back to the basics on offense.

The Ohio State football team was embarrassed on Saturday by Michigan. Scoring three second-half points isn’t good enough to win any game, let alone The Game. It is time for this Buckeye coaching staff to start looking inward and asking tough questions about its offensive philosophy.

The running game needs to be fixed this offseason. Plain and simple. And I’m not talking about getting back to the Woody Hayes three yards and a cloud of dust offense. But when has this Ohio State team historically been at its best? When they run the ball at will against teams.

J.K. Dobbins rushed for 2,000 yards in 2019. That team was loaded, and one awful penalty call away from playing for a national championship. The Ezekiel Elliot teams of 2014-2015. He was a one-man wrecking crew in the 2014 College Football Playoffs. The Beanie Wells teams of 2006-2008, went to two straight national title games. And finally, the 2002 Maurice Clarett led championship team.

Ohio State needs to find a lead back and needs to find a running game system to exploit defenses. Whether it’s a healthy TreVyeon Henderson, Miyan Williams, or Dallan Hayden. Having a true threat at running back opens up the defense so much for this lethal passing game. C.J. Stroud would not have seen eight-man dropped coverages yesterday in Ohio Stadium.

Yes, Henderson was supposed to provide a great running threat this season, but he was often injured. Early in the season, however, when he was healthy, Henderson wasn’t providing what Dobbins did in 2019.

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I believe a huge part of the blame lies on Ryan Day’s shoulders. He is way too predictable in the run game. For as good of a play caller that Day is, he truly needs to ask himself if he’s setting the run game up for success. And with a new quarterback likely at the helm next season, the Buckeyes will need that running game to work more than ever.

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