Ohio State Football: Three keys to victory over Purdue
By Ryan Stano
2. The Ohio State football team needs to run better in short-yardage
Ryan Day has not been very happy with his offensive line in the run game. They haven’t done a good job of opening up holes or getting into the second level to help out the running backs. Any good run has mostly been a product of the running back making a good play.
That has been especially true in short-yardage scenarios. Ohio State once again struggled with that against Maryland. Even against Notre Dame on that final play where the Irish had only ten players on the field, Ohio State barely got the one yard they needed to win the game.
That has to change this week. In a game where the weather will not be conducive to throwing the ball, the run game has to be elite. The Buckeyes should get TreVeyon Henderson back this week, so that should help. But they need to get a better push at the line of scrimmage.
Ohio State rushed for just 62 yards on 33 carries a week ago. That absolutely cannot happen on the road this week. If they run the ball like that again this week, they will lose. They have to be better so that it opens up the play-action pass game down the field.
Justin Frye hasn’t done much since he’s been hired to inspire confidence in the offensive line. He wasn’t given a whole lot of depth up front once Paris Johnson Jr. and Dawand Jones left, but this line should be better than what they are. His coaching has to be better.
The final key to winning at Purdue has to do with the turnover battle.