OSU attempts to draw lessons from blowouts
Editor's note: After each Ohio State football game, beat reporters Joey Kaufman and Bill Rabinowitz discuss the lasting storylines and other key developments.
Ohio State hasn't encountered much resistance through the first two weeks of Big Ten play.
After routing Wisconsin in its conference opener, it handled Rutgers in a similar fashion on Saturday.
The combined margin of the victories: 101-31.
Both of them came without Jaxon Smith-njigba, the star receiver who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury.
The Buckeyes have one more game on the schedule, a road trip to Michigan State, before an idle week that will mark the midpoint of the regular season.
Kaufman: Dissecting an Ohio State beatdown of Rutgers always feels a bit like a fool's errand. The Scarlet Knights are grossly overmatched, and especially since Greg Schiano returned in 2020, they've run their share of trick plays and gimmicks against the Buckeyes, making for some rather odd games between the teams. (Late-game sideline shouting matches included). I'm leery of drawing any super significant takeaways from Saturday. So, uh, Bill did we learn anything about Ohio State?
Rabinowitz: Rutgers games are always funky, so definitive takeaways are difficult. I do believe the game was further proof that OSU'S defense is legit. Rutgers' only touchdown came after a turnover gave the Scarlet Knights the ball at the Buckeyes' 18-yard line. The rest of the game, the defense was mostly lights out. I don't see C.J. Stroud's paltry numbers as a red flag. The interception into quadruple coverage was an obvious mistake, but Stroud is too good to think of
Saturday as anything except an off day. Some of his incompletions were smart throwaways.
Kaufman: There was progress for the defense. It forced two more turnovers due to disruption caused by Zach Harrison. He stripped quarterback Evan Simon, leading to a fumble recovered by Mike Hall, and Harrison tipped a pass that resulted in an interception for Steele Chambers. Both times, Harrison made plays while lined up in the interior of the defensive line. The unit also didn't give up many explosive plays. Only one pass longer than 15 yards was completed against the Buckeyes' secondary after it had been burned deep several times in the past few weeks, even against some of the lesser non-conference opponents. But cornerback Denzel Burke was beat for another touchdown in what is turning into a sophomore slump.
Rabinowitz: Burke's issues are a surprise and a concern. He was so good as a true freshman last year. Missing time in training camp because of an injury must have affected his play. With Cam Brown
out injured, the Buckeyes need Burke to return to form. Ohio State is fortunate that its schedule doesn't include a lot of quarterbacks who can light it up. Michigan State's Payton Thorne has thrown six interceptions and only eight touchdowns, and Iowa's offense is, well, offensive. As for the rest of the defense, it's rounding into form nicely. Tommy Eichenberg and Steele Chambers are turning into elite linebackers.
Kaufman: The need for improvement by Burke is more of a long-term concern for the defense. Two of the best quarterbacks they face in Maryland's Taulia Tagovailoa and Michigan's J.J. Mccarthy don't appear on the schedule until late November. Some talented passers await in the College Football Playoff too if the Buckeyes make a return. I think this week does present a potentially interesting matchup for Burke, though. He'll likely go against Jayden Reed, a reigning Allamerican. The Spartans' star receiver was out with an injury last month, but caught his first touchdown last Saturday against Maryland. If successful, Burke
could benefit from a jolt of confidence.
Rabinowitz: On the other side of the ball, the Buckeyes' passing game will likely get plenty of opportunities. The Spartans historically have put their cornerbacks on an island. That's a challenge Stroud and OSU'S receivers will relish. It would help if Jaxon Smith-njigba is able to return, but it might be smart for the Buckeyes to hold him out in hopes of having him be 100% after the off week following the Michigan State game. As good as Smith-njigba is, the Buckeyes have shown they don't absolutely need him as long as they have Emeka Egbuka, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Julian Fleming, as well as tight end Cade Stover.
Kaufman: A lot of quarterbacks have relished facing the Spartans, which were last in the Football Bowl Subdivision in pass defense last season and aren't much better this fall. They now rank 115th out of the 131 FBS teams. This matchup seems ripe for a “get right” game for Stroud after he threw for the fewest yards of his career against Rutgers.
Rabinowitz: The Spartans are a major disappointment this year. Losing three straight to Washington, Minnesota and Maryland is not what Sparty had in mind when it gave Mel Tucker an extension worth $9.5 million annually. Michigan State was riding high until late last year when Ohio State embarrassed the No. 7 Spartans in Columbus, 56-7. I wouldn't be surprised if it's another blowout in East Lansing.