The Buckeyes had an impressive opener. The offense played well and the defense shut down Akron. This week the competition kicks up a notch as Toledo rolls into town.
The Rockets possess a veteran roster and an offense that isn’t shy about putting up points as they scored 58 in their opener. They like to spread teams out and try the deep ball so it will be interesting to see how the Buckeyes prepare for Toledo’s offense.
For Ohio State, this should be a much better test than they received in week one especially in the secondary. They key for them to play within their assignments and put pressure on the quarterback early. If they can do this, they’ll knock the Rockets off their rhythm and keep them off the scoreboard.
Meanwhile, Ohio State’s offense needs to continue to build on its momentum.
The spotlight shines on Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller. Can Joe show he can consistently command the game? Will Braxton make more big plays when he receives the opportunity?
It will also be interesting to see how the coaching staff rotates the running backs this week. Jordan Hall returns fresh off serving a one game suspension. Does he immediately see the field or will Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith, both of whom had excellent games last week, receive more of the playing time?
Toledo’s defense will be stouter than Akron’s, as they possess a veteran rooster. That said the Rockets are not exactly the Steel Curtain so the Buckeyes should be able to score easily. The key for them is to not make mental mistakes and continue to build on what was an impressive performance last week.
Ultimately, we should know a little more about the Buckeyes after Saturday. While the game shouldn’t be close, it will be interesting to see how Ohio State’s secondary responds to their first real test and whether their offense can continue to make strides in the right direction. This is an important game in that it can provide this team with more confidence before their big trip to Miami.
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