Ohio State looked impressive in their season debut. They were aggressive, imposing their will on Akron en route to a 42-0 victory.
Their play may be a sign of things to come.
Luke Fickell came out with an aggressive game plan. He went for it on fourth down, continued to blitz in the fourth quarter and allowed the offense to continue to play even when the game was out of reach for Akron. The team seemed to respond well to his intensity.
On defense, the Silver Bullets were excellent. They flew to the ball and as the game progressed, they had success sacking the quarterback. Even when the Zips were able to make a big play the Buckeyes clamped down and came up with big stops, keeping Akron off the scoreboard. Ohio State held Akron to 90 total yards.
Meanwhile, the offense looked excellent.
Both quarterbacks performed well. Joe Bauserman did a great job building momentum on the offensive side early. He finished the game with 163 passing yards and three touchdowns. Braxton Miller, who only played in one series in the first half, took over in the second and showed signs of his promise. Miller finished the game with 130 passing yards and one touchdown.
The fact that both are playing well is great for the offense as it will provide them with versatility. If Joe and Braxton continue to make big plays, the offense will be able to employ two different systems, which is going to make life miserable for opposing defenses.
What was unique about today was seeing many younger players getting their shot. Many of those players made the most of the opportunity they received today.
Carlos Hyde made the most of his opportunity. Hyde averaged close to five yards a carry. He looked comfortable, finding running lanes and he was one of the catalysts that helped the offense get going.
Dominic Clarke also made excellent plays. He had several pass deflections and did a great job in coverage.
Another was Verlon Reed. Reed didn’t have many touches but made huge plays when he had a chance. His route running is sharp and it’s easy to see why he’s going to be a target for both quarterbacks.
Two players’ performances in particular, stood out to me.
Jake Stoneburner had a career day as he had three touchdown receptions. Stoneburner showed today he can stretch defenses vertically and will be a go to receiver all season.
Zach Boren had a monster game. Boren made many key blocks. He was a consistent performer last season and if this running game continues to click, he’ll be a big reason why.
Overall, it was hard not to be impressed with how Ohio State played.
The Buckeyes must continue this momentum as they prepare for Toledo. The Rockets should push back more than Akron. Still, if today was any indication of what the Buckeyes might be able to do this season Buckeye Nation has to be thrilled.
Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images
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