Ohio State hosted an Indiana team that is actually attempting to play defense this year. It wasn’t the prettiest of games, but the Buckeyes were able to grind it out and win a game it didn’t look as sharp as its previous body of work. Here are five things we learned after the hard-fought win over the Hoosiers.
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5. Youth equals inconsistency
This young and athletic Buckeye squad has played more seasoned than its age so far in 2016, but we sill have to remember that this is the youngest team in all of FBS. There are sixteen new starters on a team that lost a couple of minivans full of NFL talent.
So yes, it was still a three touchdown win, but the offense was a bit inconsistent, flat and befuddled by an Indiana defense that is much improved. The defense gave up a bit more than it usually does too, and found itself out of position on multiple occasions.
But hey, at the end of the day, really all we are talking about is Ohio State not covering the spread here. It still won convincingly despite the musings of the ESPN crew.
4. Indiana is a far better on defense
https://twitter.com/AlexJKirby/status/784873837548548096
This is isn’t all about Ohio State however. The Hoosier defense under new coordinator Tom Allen plays together much better than its predecessors and (gasp), is actually a strength of this team in 2016.
In this one, the Hoosiers were able to get the OSU offense off the field on third downs, and held JT Barrett and company to well under their season averages in points, yards and almost every other offensive stat. Finally, it appears, Kevin Wilson has seen the light on the defensive side of the ball.
The Hoosier offense will continue to come around, and as it does, you might see Indiana experience more big wins like the victory over Michigan State last week.
3. Can we say enough good things about Malik Hooker?
This didn't count because of a chop block on the return. But it was still beautiful. #MalikThorpe pic.twitter.com/mp4vgOy6tk
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 8, 2016
Ohio State’s new eye-candy at safety is good. Really good. He got caught with his hand in the cookie jar once on Indiana’s throw-back pass to the tight-end in the end zone, but he once again flashed the instincts and ball-hawking ability that has many comparing him to former Miami Hurricane and Baltimore Raven Ed Reed.
Hooker had yet another interception in this one, and it would have gone down as another pick-six if it weren’t for a chop-block call on the return. He’s the perfect center fielder for this Ohio State defense that likes to put its corners on an island and get in your face.
2. JT Barrett is better than his numbers say this year?
This is not to take anything away from JT Barrett, because he’s proven his worth. However, truth be known, Barrett probably gets more gaudy numbers than a lot of other quarterbacks because of the system that he plays in.
But not this year.
No. 16 has so many different weapons around him, that the coaching staff doesn’t have to rely on his dual abilities as much as previous years. He’s also been yanked early from a few games because of the lopsided scores.
However, he can still take over when he needs to.
Despite the score in this one, there was a period of time when Ohio State struggled to find any kind of rhythm on offense, and believe it or not, the outcome was in doubt. That’s when Barrett took over and began making plays with his legs. In the end, he rushed for a very quiet 137 yards and one touchdown on 26 carries to carry his team to victory.
1. The Ohio State defensive line needs to get more pressure on the quarterback
http://gty.im/612221406
This is a bit nit-picky for a defense playing with its hair on fire, but the young defensive-line for Ohio State is still getting its sea legs on the pass rush.
It’s doing a great job of stuffing the run, evidenced by the lack of running game opposing offenses show, and the fact that it has yet to allow a rushing touchdown through five games, but there hasn’t been the level of quarterback pressure we’ve seen in recent years coming from the group.
It’s a deep group with a high ceiling of potential, but I fear that aspect of the game needs to improve against the likes of Michigan and whomever might find itself lining up opposite of the Silver Bullets in the postseason.
The secondary has been killing it, but will need some help up front at some point.
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Phil Harrison is a frequent contributor to The Student Section. He is also a featured contributor to collegefootballews.com, and talking10.com. You can follow him on twitter @PhilHarrisonCFB or email him at pharrison28@gmail.com. If that doesn’t work, you can find him in the doghouse at home.
