Ohio State has instituted a new bag policy for Ohio Stadium, beginning with the 2016 season.
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Bowling Green’s seasoned offensive line vs. Ohio State’s retooled defensive front. The OSU Buckeyes are looking to sort out their quarterback situation, after having lost significant QB talent to the National Football League in the offseason, even as the have one eye on winning the Big Ten.
Conversely, Ohio State will be lining up several new starters at wide receiver, tight end, and running back, so the Bowling Green defensive coaching staff will need to be prepared in a comparable manner.
For the first time since the 2006 season, Bowling Green will venture a couple of hours south to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes in Ohio Stadium.
“It’s hard to take positives from a butt-whooping like that”, Bowling Green Coach Mike Jinks said. He also showed that when he gets some space, he’s pretty fast. “If you’re overplaying the tailback and the run game then obviously people are neglecting him and there’s yardage to be had there”, he said. You’ve seen them around campus: normal cars tricked out to look like an Ohio State collectors dream.
Regardless the Buckeyes are considered to be a force to be reckoned with because of Meyer’s ability to “coach up” the talent that surrounds him.
“Well, it’s one game”, he said. They’re going to come here ready to play, and we know that. Let’s not put the cart before the horse and start anointing anyone. Other than that, we’ll watch film. It didn’t get much better from there for the Falcons.
Assistant Head Coach Larry Johnson in a well publicized pep talk may have described the current state of The Ohio State football program best. And, this could be a special squad.
That doesn’t mean the team won’t be any good, though. Ohio State is 113-9-4 in home openers since 1890, including 36 of the last 37. “And I’m real excited about them”. What’s going to make the difference for Barrett in terms of individual accolades (Heisman Trophy, All America teams, etc.) is Ohio State’s place in the Big Ten standings.
Ohio State raised the lead to 14-7 on a 25-yard touchdown throw from Barrett to Dontre Wilson. He also ran for 30 yards. “When things break down, I think that’s one of his strengths”, Meyer said.
Among that new skill is the aforementioned Weber, a redshirt freshman who arrived amid big hype. So, the Buckeyes’ secondary, which has just one returning starter in Gareon Conley, should expect to be tested early and often. Six different ballcarries combined to average 6.5 yards per carry.
And how about do-everything Curtis Samuel?
Samuel had a 92% rushing success rate and three explosive receptions to finish the day with 84 yards rushing and 177 receiving.
“My mom told me she’s not going to be a Buckeye fan until after the first game”, Hale said with a smile. “And Curtis Samuel, you know, if I get – 177, nearly 300 yards by himself which is – he’s a tremendous talent and it was great to see him have some success”. So far, Weber, Samuel, and Noah Brown look like the team’s core. Both those guys give us a little bit of a 1-2 punch back there. In addition to the competition for the fourth running back job, DE William Gholston played much of the first half in a bid to nail down a starting job.
Other than that, nearly everything went Ohio State’s way.
Asked if he had some anxieties about the Buckeyes, Meyer said: “Sure”.
“There were a lot of guys doing a lot of great things in practice previous year but couldn’t play because the talent was so great at any position”. Tommy Armstrong Jr. ran for two touchdowns and threw a ideal deep ball to Alonzo Moore for another, and Nebraska pulled away in the second half to defeat Fresno State 43-10.
“These are the games we ought to want to be in”, Jinks said.
“You go back and see what they’ve done in their past”, Meyer said. “I think he was right there with Mike (Thomas)”.
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No, he played great.
