Running room like Ja’Kobi Jackson and others had against Ball State would be a welcome sight Saturday even if it’s only against Kent State. (Press Pros Feature Photos)
Buckeyes going back to the drawing board to figure out who they are, beginning with Kent State on Saturday at noon.
Columbus, OH — The money line was easy to pick out from Ryan Day’s press conference on Wednesday night.
Well, easy if you’re an old lineman anyway.
Easy if you appreciate good offensive line play and expect Ohio State to exhibit it once in a while in a game that really matters.
“There were some good things, but I think we would all say we want more,” Day replied to a question about the offensive line’s performance in a 24-23 loss to Texas last Saturday. “Overall when the game is on the line, we’ve all got to be better.”
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Not only did the words stick out, the delivery served as a sort of pre-punctuation. Day paused for a full second before answering then let out a deep sigh. The actions spoke loudly, but so did the words he used.
“I’ve said it before, one of the goals is to win because of the offensive line in the fourth quarter,” Day said. “Again, I’m not throwing them under the bus and saying it’s their fault. There’s so much we can point to, and I know they want to play better in those moments and we’re going to. I know they are. I can see it. I know these guys, I know what they’re made of.
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“I know where we want to go with this offense, but we’ve gotta go do it. And those guys are going to be a key component in all of it.”
Despite the optimistic language, the feeling of frustration was palpable. Ohio State has played only two games this season, but the effort to build a traditional Ohio State-quality offensive line has been going on much longer than that.
Yes, the Buckeyes have been adequate up front at times, but is adequate the goal?
This week, Day left no doubt: They aim to be good enough to win the game in the fourth quarter by leaning on the guys up front. These were measured words, well-considered, and senior left guard Luke Montgomery indicated they have been taken to heart.
“We’re really confident in ourselves,” Montgomery said. “It’s just a matter of that controlled aggression at the line. We’re a super smart unit. We’ve got a lot on our plate and it’s our job, we’re leaders here. When things go wrong we’ve gotta hold our chin up high and keep going.”
Senior safety Earl Little Jr. was more succinct when asked what went wrong for a defense that allowed three points in the first three quarters and 21 in the fourth in Austin.
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“It’s kind of simple,” Little said. “Everybody has to do their job at a very high level, no matter what quarter it is and what time it is in the game.”
I’ve sometimes wondered if Day actually cared much about the running game at all. He always paid it lip service, but his play-calling indicated he was much more Don Coryell than Woody Hayes.
However, Day’s actions since the Buckeyes lost control of the Michigan rivalry and the Big Ten in 2021 have indicated he does care. After throwing more than 50 percent of the time that season, Day seems to have been clawing at becoming a more balanced offense for four-plus seasons now. The question remains if he knows how to make it happen. So far, there’s not much proof, but it is early yet, at least for this season.
“It’s just a matter of that controlled aggression at the line. We’re a super smart unit. We’ve got a lot on our plate and it’s our job, we’re leaders here.” – left guard Luke Montgomery
Playing a game such as the one Ohio State lost in Austin has a funny effect on feelings.
The euphoria of the opening of the season has been pierced, but there is plenty of time to heal. The weather is still warm, and we’re still getting used to the game-day routines, of getting to see our football people again whether it’s on a sideline at a high school on Friday night or at the Horseshoe on Saturday.
As for the teams, few are finished products, but some things are starting to come into focus. Overall, clashing with another titan early in the season is a good thing even for the loser.
The pride lasts longer than the pain. That’s not only a great slogan for a weight lifting T-shirt but also describes the situation the Buckeyes seem to be in now. Losing hurt, but there’s pride in playing such games when others might choose to entertain Howard instead.
The hope is lessons can be taken from such a game that wouldn’t be available in a win over a lesser opponent.
Losing the joy of the return of football season so soon into it is a bit jarring, but that feeling of disappointment shouldn’t last long — perhaps not more than a few snaps into the Kent State game on Saturday.
The Golden Flashes (1-1) figure to bring more of a challenge than fellow-Mid-American Conference member Ball State did two weeks ago, but perhaps not much. Kent State has a second-year coach in Mark Carney who led them to five wins last season. That might not sound like much, but it’s five times more than the Golden Flashes enjoyed in the previous two seasons combined.
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They have a returning starter at quarterback in Dru DeShields and a dangerous return man with a memorable name — Da’Realyst Clark. DeShields is a small-school success story, having made his way from Beloit West Branch to a Division I FBS starting quarterback so he should serve as an inspiration to plenty of youngsters in the Press Pros coverage area and beyond.
Kent State has 58 players from Ohio, so it’s a safe bet there is plenty of motivation to put their best foot forward at the Horseshoe on Saturday.
How far will motivation get them? Recent history says not very, but you don’t have to be an old-timer to know there was a day these MAC schools could come to Columbus and hold their own, at least for a while.
Kent has been blown out in its three trips (average margin of defeat 48.3 points), but Northern Illinois (now a member of the Mountain West for some reason) put a scare into Urban Meyer’s defending national champions in 2015. The Huskies intercepted Cardale Jones twice and lost just 20-13 in late September 11 years ago. Since then, the closest Ohio State-MAC decision was by 28 points against the Ohio Bobcats last season.
Legend Bey made a dazzling debut against Ball State, then got only one touch at Texas. Will he get more reps against Kent State and earn more snaps when Big Ten play begins a week later?
The Buckeyes’ average margin of victory against MAC teams under Day is 51.4, nearly two touchdowns more than the Meyer era (38.7) and double the days of Jim Tressel (25.4). Of course, Day said this week the opponent doesn’t matter: For Ohio State, the key is playing to its standard.
He says that all the time, but it seems to fit more some weeks than others.
“I have a lot of respect for Texas,” Day said. “I think (Texas coach Steve Sarkisian) does a great job. I think they did a great job in how they won that game and how they played in the fourth quarter, but we can’t help but think we beat ourselves.
“You’ve heard me say it a million times, it’s about our standard.”
And what is the standard? Turns out, that is TBD.
“We have to redefine it because we didn’t finish it good enough in that game,” Day said. “So it doesn’t matter who the opponent is, it’s gotta be about us. If we’re executing, it shouldn’t matter who the opponent is. So we’re looking for a high level of execution. The issues are already there, it’s just highlighted in big games.”
As the contrast in play from the Buckeyes the first two weeks of the season demonstrates, only so much can really be established against a team like Kent State.
Only stacking strong performances on Saturdays — including again next week when Big Ten play starts with a visit from Illinois — will define what this Ohio State team is all about.
But at least maybe Saturday they’ll be able to run the ball.
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