After its second 10-2 regular season in the last three years, Tennessee football is headed to Columbus this weekend for its College Football Playoff matchup against Ohio State.
The Buckeyes are one of the nation’s best programs but have underwhelmed this season posting a 10-2 record themselves with losses against Oregon and Michigan.
Each week, Rocky Top Insider will take you behind the scenes with a question and answer with a media member who covers Tennessee’s opponent.
This week, Eleven Warriors’ Garrick Hodge discusses Ohio State’s success in the red zone, how he’d assess the Buckeyes’ passing attack and much more.
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Despite a lot of talent at receiver, Ohio State’s passing attack doesn’t seem like it’s been all that overwhelming this season. Is that fair? If so, what’s held it back?
“I guess it depends on what you mean by overwhelming. This isn’t the C.J. Stroud-led passing attack that’s going to throw for 350 yards on teams consistently. But Michigan game aside, it’s been extremely efficient. Nobody will mistake Will Howard for Justin Fields or Stroud, but he has had six games this year where he’s completed at least 80 percent or more of his passes. No other OSU QB has done that in their career, let alone in one season. Ultimately the offense has been pretty balanced for the most part for most of the year, even if that probably hasn’t always been the smartest play (cough, cough, Michigan game). But as you mentioned, the skill talent here is the envy of almost every other team nationally. I don’t think there’s a team left in the field with a better trio of wideouts than Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate and Emeka Ebuka. The big question is whether Chip Kelly and Ryan Day finds the right way to utilize them against Tennessee and if the offensive line which has been ravaged by injuries can hold up in pass protection.”
What’s made Ohio State’s offense so good in the red zone?
“A number of things, really. Howard’s efficiency has been a major plus, and OSU is much harder to defend in the red zone than it was last year because Howard is a threat to run, which keeps the defense honest. Last year with Kyle McCord, you didn’t have to cover him as a running threat whatsoever. Quinshon Judkins is also a very effective running back in short-yardage situations, and TreVeyon Henderson is no slouch either. And above all else it doesn’t hurt when you have an alien freshman wide receiver named Jeremiah Smith who doesn’t lose many jump balls.”
Statistically, Ohio State’s defense has been almost flawless this season. What are that unit’s greatest strengths? Do they have any true weaknesses?
“I don’t know if I’d call them flawless. They did get exposed a bit against Oregon at the season’s midway point, primarily through the Ducks attacking them deep, which also set up big running lanes. There’s been a lot of schematic adjustments from Jim Knowles since then, though, and the Buckeyes have been pretty lockdown since then. From a talent perspective, you’re right, there’s an argument to be made they’re the best defense in the country and they’re capable of shutting down any team on any given day. But to answer your question, if it were me, I’d attack OSU’s corners. Don’t get me wrong, both cornerbacks are still very good, but that’s where the Buckeyes have been the most getable. Denzel Burke has had a disappointing senior year by his standards and Davison Igbinosun has a tendency to get a little grabby sometimes which can lead to a PI call or two. For what it’s worth, mobile quarterbacks have also given the Buckeyes some fits this year.”
“Keys one, two and three are finding a way to generate push up front across the offensive line against a very stout Tennessee defensive line. Ohio State is still trying to find the right five up front following injuries to left tackle Josh Simmons and center Seth McLaughlin, and it looks like there may be more changes to the lineup coming on Saturday, possibly at guard or center. I also wouldn’t advise stubbornly trying to run the ball into the teeth of the defense like Ohio State tried to against Michigan.”
Score Prediction
