Ohio State’s defense has been mostly solid through the 2015 season thus far, but in recent weeks, the run defense has allowed some big plays, mostly to mobile quarterbacks. Against Penn State, the Buckeye defense had some issues, especially stopping running back Saquon Barkley, who rumbled for 194 yards, including a 56-yarder.
The Silver Bullets also conceded a long pass play early in the second half, despite Eli Apple having good coverage on Chris Godwin, who made three catches for 103 yards.
However, despite some of the failings that Ohio State had on the defensive side of the ball, there were two areas in which the Buckeyes not only were solid, but actually excelled. The Bucks held Penn State to 1/11 on 3rd down conversion attempts and 0/2 on 4th down, stopping both by sacking Christian Hackenberg.
Ohio State entered Saturday night having allowed opponents 35 3rd down conversions in 104 attempts (33.7 percent) and four conversions on 10 4th down tries (40 percent). After the Penn State game, the Buckeyes have yielded 36/115 3rd down attempts (31 percent) and 4/12 on 4th down (33.3 percent).
Through seven games, the Bucks are fourth in the Big Ten in opponents’ 3rd down conversion percentage, behind Michigan (19.6 percent), Illinois (22.3 percent), and Northwestern (29 percent). On 4th down opponent conversion rates, Ohio State trails Rutgers (21.4 percent), Penn State (25 percent), and Michigan (27.3 percent).
Last season, the Buckeyes were fifth allowing 34.4 percent conversions, but that was greatly enhanced by a strong postseason run. Ohio State was pretty bad at stopping 4th downs last season, allowing a 52.6 percent conversion rate—10th in the B1G.
The Nittany Lions did some good things on offense against the Buckeyes, but their failure to convert must-have plays like 3rd and 4th downs kept them from mounting a serious comeback bid. It started on Penn State’s opening drive, when the Nitts didn’t see a 3rd down until they had reached the OSU 16. On that 3rd-and-five play, Hackenberg threw incomplete to Saeed Blacknall and the Lions were forced to settle for a field goal.
Penn State’s next 3rd down came on its own 12-yard line with six yards to make, but Joey Bosa pressured Hackenberg and forced an errant throw. Penn State finally converted a 3rd down on its third series, when Saquon Barkley rushed for six yards on 3rd and one. It nearly made two consecutive conversions later in the drive, but Barkley’s touchdown run was called back for holding on Brian Gaia. On the ensuing third down replay, Bosa sacked Hackenberg.
In the second quarter, Bosa threw Barkley for a four-yard loss on 3rd and two to squelch a drive. The next drive, Eli Apple ran down Hackenberg on a four-yard scramble on 3rd-and-12 and Chris Worley sacked the PSU quarterback on the next play, when James Franklin opted to roll the dice from the OSU 31.
Penn State finished the half offensively when Hackenberg threw incomplete for Blacknall again on the Nitts’ next 3rd down.
The Lions didn’t face a 3rd down on their touchdown drive coming out of the half. But on the next series, backed up inside their own 10, Franklin got conservative, and Barkley got only five of the necessary 11 yards before being stopped by Cam Williams.
After that…
- Barkley ran for one on 3rd and two (Raekwon McMillan and Bosa)
- Barkley ran for no gain on 3rd and two (Bosa)
- Hackenberg sacked on 4th and two (Tommy Schutt)
- Hackenberg threw incomplete for Akeel Lynch on 3rd and 11 (although Penn State would then get a first down on the Cam Williams targeting penalty)
- Lynch ran for a loss of two yards on 3rd and 10 (Bosa)
Do you see the pattern? Bosa raised his game on 3rd and 4th downs, almost singlehandedly blowing up six of those 13 opportunities. It’s no surprise that he was named the team’s defensive player of the game.
It shouldn’t be a surprise that Ohio State’s best defensive player made the most plays on decisive downs in a big game. Bosa has been great all season, but his stats weren’t showing it. On Saturday night, Bosa’s numbers were there, and they were there at the most important moments of the game.
If Ohio State’s defense can continue to crush it on 3rd and 4th downs, and if it’s Bosa leading the charge, the Silver Bullets should be just fine.
