Ohio State must find a way to rebound and handle business this week against Oregon after a consequential loss to USC.
Ohio State enters Saturday’s matchup with Oregon facing an important opportunity to respond after its 30-18 loss to USC. The Buckeyes must clean up costly penalties, continue developing Luke Fahey and establish consistency in the ground game against a talented Ducks team.
With the postseason picture tightening, Ryan Day’s team needs a disciplined performance across all three phases to protect its playoff hopes and avoid another damaging setback.
Penalties and Discipline
Ohio State finished the loss against USC with 11 penalties for 75 yards. This dropped the Buckeyes to 96th nationally in penalties per game (7.3), their worst performance of the year in this area. Infractions have been a theme for OSU all season and have gotten worse since the Maryland game, when the Buckeyes had 8 penalties for 65 yards against a lowly Terrapin team.
After issues like this in conference play, still managing a performance like this coming off a bye week is worrisome, to say the least. Ohio State simply won’t be a playoff team if this trend continues.
The Buckeyes also struggled with a slew of fundamentals. Whether it was missing tackles and leaving gaps wide open or dropping a handful of key receptions down the stretch, the easy things just didn’t come easy for OSU. If there was ever a recipe for losing by 12 points even with double the time of possession and outgaining a team by 130 yards, it was failing at the basics.
Without the two biggest plays of the game, where breakdowns were evident (Trent Mosley’s 69-yard reception and Mark Bowman’s 70-yard reception), the game likely becomes a much different story. Ryan Day and his staff simply have to tighten their vices in this team starting this weekend if they want a shot at making the playoff, let alone win games in the postseason.
Progression for Luke Fahey
There’s no doubting that Luke Fahey found himself in a difficult position for the first start of his collegiate career. With all factors considered, he did about as well as you could have expected him in the spot he was in as a true freshman. He didn’t turn the ball over, managed the game well, and kept the offense running. That said, there was still room for growth. After all, nobody comes to Ohio State to just be ‘good enough.’
Fahey’s completion percentage was just over 55% on 38 attempts. This percentage would be 17th in the Big Ten as it stands today. Regardless of the elements in LA or the key drops by his receivers, this has to improve. Luke had his share of overthrows, including multiple in the end zone to wide-open receivers in Jeremiah Smith and Devin McCuin.
Against Oregon, look for Fahey to make the easy throws and take a step forward against the Ducks’ 73rd ranked pass defense.
Secondly, Fahey will need to prove that he is more valuable operating under pressure in a 2-minute drills-style offense. Although the coaching staff takes a large chunk of the blame for the lack of urgency in the final 8 minutes against the Trojans, Luke was also complicit in not recognizing the situation and making the mercenary adjustments to the tempo. If Saturday’s contest calls for it, look for him to improve his pace and urgency.
Continued Success on the Ground
Bo Jackson and Isaiah West combined for 186 yards at 5.4 yards per carry against the Trojans. This is a welcome sight, as OSU has averaged only 159 yards per game and 4.1 yards per carry as a team this year, which puts them in the bottom half of the FBS. It may be a challenge with Ja’Kobi Jackson still out, but finding success is paramount. If the offensive line can limit penalties, the opportunities should be there for the backfield.
If there’s one thing that will always be a young QB’s best friend, it’s having a dependable run game. Ohio State will have a prime opportunity to build on its success on the ground against an Oregon run defense that currently ranks 71st in the country. If OSU’s offense can keep leaning on the run game and make life easier for Luke Fahey, the path to the postseason becomes much more realistic for the Buckeyes.
The reality is that this team’s margin for error is paper thin. Over the next four weeks, mistakes will be magnified and success can’t be taken for granted. If personnel changes need to happen, so be it, because Oregon has plenty of talent and nothing to lose right now. If the Buckeyes let them hang around by the fourth quarter, this already bleak situation for OSU could become very grim, very quickly.
Grant Kincaid was born in Columbus, Ohio, and raised in Dayton. He serves as Creative Director and basketball contributor at The Silver Bulletin. At one point, Grant, a collegiate baseball player, also holds a B.A. in Management and Leadership Studies. Aside from the Buckeyes, he is an avid supporter of both the Cincinnati Reds and Bengals. His favorite Buckeyes include Braxton Miller, AJ Hawk, and Ted Ginn Jr.
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