Defense could be leaned on vs Broncos
COVER PHOTO: OSU safety Lathan Ransom celebrates his 27-yard fumble return for a touchdown against Akron in the 2024 season opener. Picture by Sam Fahmi/Columbus Wired.
It’s no secret that Ohio State is expecting big things out of their defense this year. Last year’s third-rated overall stalwarts did great things and even helped them win some games when the offense wasn’t exactly clicking.
Turnovers, though, were somewhat of a bane of their existence when they only forced 11 all season long. But last weekend’s game against Akron could be a promising indication that they’re looking to right that ship after forcing three and scoring not one, but two defensive touchdowns in a 52-6 victory over the Zips.
Saturday’s matchup versus Western Michigan (0-1) could be much of the same where a veteran defense is asked to put the offense in position to score. Plodding beginnings have kind of been somewhat of a norm for OSU the past few seasons.
The No. 2 Buckeyes (1-0) didn’t look horrible offensively last weekend but it seemed like they still have a longer road to hoe after putting up “only” 38 points. A sluggish 3-and-out start on their first drive lent to an early 3-0 Akron lead in the first quarter but was squashed the very next drive after trooping 75 yards in 14 plays that resulted in both 5th-year senior quarterback Will Howard and true freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith’s first touchdown as Buckeyes, hooking up on a 16-yarder to the near corner of the end zone.
However, it was a mixed bag in the first half for OSU. They scored a second TD - another Howard to Smith hookup, this one from nine yards out - and kicker Jayden Fielding knocked down his lone field goal attempt of the game from 40 yards. But they also punted twice and failed on 4th-and-5 from the Akron 25.
The result was a 17-3 halftime lead, which led some in Buckeye Nation to scratch their heads and maybe even roll their eyes that some of the hype surrounding the offense was just that.
The second half was a little more fortuitous for the Scarlet and Gray offense, though, putting 21 more points on the board. Junior running back Quinshon Judkins and true freshman running back James Peoples both snared their first TD’s as Buckeyes and Howard threw his third scoring strike of the game, that one a 34-yarder to sophomore receiver Carnell Tate with a little over 10 minutes to play.
But it was the defense that turned heads in the second half when fifth-year safety Lathan Ransom returned a fumble 27 yards to the house on Akron’s ensuing drive after Judkins’ score. Then the second-team D got to eat in the fourth quarter and their appetites were satisfied after third-year linebacker Gabe Powers hauled in a batted pass off the hands of true freshman defensive end Eddrick Houston and returned it 29 yards for the defense’s second score of the game.
So what can be expected out of the offense against the Broncos?
Head coach Ryan Day knows it could be a stiffer test than what they got against the Zips.
"When you watch the film you're seeing them play a Big 10 opponent which gives us a little bit more of a barometer of what we're dealing with,” he said on Wednesday.
“They played Wisconsin strong. They play physical up front and they do have some really good, skilled players. It looked like a Big 10 style of game overall and there was a point where that game was in balance. I know that has our guy's attention."
Indeed, the Broncos gave the Badgers all they had in a 28-14 loss in last weekend’s season-opener in Madison, Wisc. However, the Broncos hung tough and even took a 14-13 lead to start the final quarter.
Fourteen points don’t exactly scream dominance, though, for a Western Michigan offense that finished third overall and second in passing yards last season in the MAC. An offense that returns veterans like quarterback Hayden Wolff, running back Jalen Buckley and several receivers including last season’s yards leader, Kenneth Womack.
However, Womack was ruled out last weekend with a broken hand and it’s not clear as of this writing whether or not he’ll play on Saturday.
And with the Buckeyes returning virtually everyone from last year’s third-ranked overall defense that also led the country in passing yards allowed and supplemented themselves with sophomore safety Caleb Downs, things might get hairy for the Broncos to be able to move the ball.
The Buckeyes are favored by 37.5.
PREDICTION: OSU - 31, WMU - 7
Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. and the game airs on the Big Ten Network.