Another week and another team gets its stats stuffed.
It's always interesting to see how a team's stats change after playing Ohio State.
Below you will be able to compare Western Michigan's stats before playing, and after playing, Ohio State.
THE OFFENSIVE NUMBERS
Last week Ohio State rushed for 162 yards and passed for 136. Both numbers were well below the Buckeyes' average. Enter Western Michigan and the offense gains 223 yards on the ground and 288 yards through the air. Ohio State put up 213 more yards and 18 more points against WMU than NIU.
Western Michigan entered the game with an offense that had a reputation for gaining a lot of yards passing and scoring 31 points per game .The Broncos finished the game with 169 yards passing and 12 points. What was surprising was the success WMU had on rushing the ball. The nation's 122nd ranked rushing attack gashed Ohio State for 169 yards on the ground. The Broncos found many holes in the middle of the Buckeyes' defense.
THE DEFENSIVE NUMBERS
Coming into the game there was a lot of talk about Ohio State's defense being one of the best in the school's history. After holding both Hawai'i and Northern Illinois to under 100 yards passing and a combined 13 points that talking point was gaining momentum. The Buckeyes did a good job of holding WMU's passing game in check. The Broncos finished just under 159 yards their average. However, Ohio State's defense sprung a leak and Western put up 169 yards rushing. However the defense went on the offensive again as Adolphus Washington scored a touchdown. That is the third straight week the defense has found the endzone.
Western Michigan is not a good defensive team. However, their pass defense was ranked 46th entering the game. Cardale Jones and his receivers hung 288 yards on the Broncos and the number could should have been much higher. The Slobs opened up holes and WMU gave up 223 rushing yards to Ohio State. Western Michigan's defense was the perfect tune-up before the start of B1G play.
SPECIAL TEAMS
For the second straight week Ohio State did not have a kickoff go out of bounds. Could this be a new trend? The kickoff coverage team stepped up to the challenge and held the nation's 14th best kick return team to an average of 18.3 yards a return. That was 10.6 yards below Western's season average. Cameron Johnston had the big boot again as he averaged 51.5 yards per punt. One of Johnston's punts was a touchback so his net punt average was 46.5. Jack Willoughby was perfect on field goals and extra points for the second straight week.
Western Michigan's punter, J. Schroeder averaged 43.7 yards per punt against the Buckeyes. The Broncos did a great job of punting away from Jalin Marshall. WMU punted 7 times and Marshall only had one return for 8 yards. Andrew Haldeman had a day to forget. Western's place kicker had missed both field goal attempts and hit the upright on his extra point attempt. 0/2 and 0/1 is bad. Real bad.
THE MOST IMPORTANT STAT
Ohio State 38, Western Michigan 12
Ohio State is 1-0 against Western Michigan and 11-0-1 on September 26th.
 |
|
||
| 2015 STATS | CATEGORY | Against Ohio State | Stat Difference |
| 31.0 | Points For | 12 | - 19.0 |
| 33.3 | Points Against | 38 | - 4.7 |
| OFFENSE | |||
| 93.3 | Rushing Offense | 169 | + 75.7 |
| 327.7 | Passing Offense | 169 | - 158.7 |
| 421.0 | Total Offense | 338 | - 83.0 |
| DEFENSE | |||
| 224.0 | Rushing Defense | 223 | + 1.0 |
| 189.0 | Pass Defense | 288 | - 99.0 |
| 413.0 | Total Defense | 511 | - 98.0 |
| OFF. MISC. | |||
| .500 | 3rd Down Conv. | .412 | - .088 |
| .786 | Red Zone | .500 | - .286 |
| 13.0 | Punt Return | ----- | ----- |
| 28.9 | Kickoff Return | 18.3 | - 10.6 |
| DEF. MISC. | |||
| .525 | 3rd Down Conv. | .615 | - .090 |
| .923 | Red Zone | .667 | + .256 |
| 127.0 | Pass Eff. Def. | 130.8 | - 3.8 |
| 35.4 | Net Punting | 41.9 | + 6.5 |
| MISC. | |||
| - 2.0 | Turnover Margin | + 1 | + 3.0 |
| 6.7 | Penalties Per Game | 8 | - 1.3 |
| Total: 12 | THE EDGE | Total: 5 |
Adolphus Washington was all smiles after he returned an interception for a touchdown. Ohio State's defense has scored a touchdown in the last three games.
|
|
|
|
|||
| 2015 STATS BEFORE OHIO STATE | NATIONAL RANKING | CATEGORY | 2015 STATS AFTER OHIO STATE | NATIONAL RANKING | DIFFERENCE |
| 31.0 | 63rd | Points For | 26.3 | 87th | - 4.7 |
| 33.3 | 103rd | Points Against | 34.5 | 103rd | - 1.2 |
| OFFENSE | |||||
| 93.3 | 122nd | Rushing Offense | 112.3 | 113th | + 19.0 |
| 327.7 | 18th | Passing Offense | 288.0 | 28th | - 39.7 |
| 421.0 | 66th | Total Offense | 400.3 | 78th | - 20.7 |
| DEFENSE | |||||
| 224.0 | 108th | Rushing Defense | 223.8 | 110th | + 0.2 |
| 189.0 | 46th | Pass Defense | 213.8 | 73rd | - 24.8 |
| 413.0 | 93rd | Total Defense | 437.5 | 96th | - 24.5 |
| OFF. MISC. | |||||
| .500 | 10th | 3rd Down Conv. | .474 | 24th | - .026 |
| .786 | 96th | Red Zone | .750 | 103rd | - .036 |
| 13.0 | 37th | Punt Return | 13.0 | 34th | No Change |
| 28.9 | 14th | Kickoff Return | 26.9 | 19th | - 2.0 |
| DEF. MISC. | |||||
| .525 | 120th | 3rd Down Conv. | .547 | 124th | - .027 |
| .923 | 105th | Red Zone | .875 | 90th | + .048 |
| 127.0 | 73rd | Pass Eff. Def. | 128.0 | 73rd | - 1.0 |
| 35.4 | 96th | Net Punting | 38.3 | 52nd | + 2.9 |
| MISC. | |||||
| - 2.0 | 120th | Turnover Margin | - 1.3 | 113th | + 0.7 |
| 6.7 | 70th | Penalties Per Game | 7.0 | 74th | - 0.3 |
| Total: 12 | THE EDGE | Total: 5 |
That concludes the non-conference schedule. No upsets and no major injuries equals a win. Now it's off to Indiana and Ohio Stadium West.
Coach Meyer, what percentage of a chance did Western Michigan have in defeating your Buckeyes?
Source- stats.ncaa.org
