Before each week's Ohio State game, Eleven Warriors catches up with a media member who covers the opposing team to get his or her perspective on the Buckeyes' upcoming opponent.
With Tulane coming to town to play the Buckeyes at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at Ohio Stadium, we caught up with Joseph Halm, who covers the Green Wave for NOLA.com and The Times-Picayune.
Tulane is just 1-2 to start the season, with losses to each of the two Football Bowl Subdivision opponents it has played, Wake Forest and UAB. That's keeping expectations for the Green Wave low as they arrive in Columbus as Ohio State's final non-conference opponent of the year. According to Vegas Insider, the Buckeyes are favored to win by Saturday's game by 37 points.
With that being said, the Green Wave have had a chance to win every game they've played, losing in overtime (23-17) to Wake Forest and by only a touchdown (31-24) to UAB. As Tulane head coach Willie Fritz said earlier this week, the Green Wave are just "a couple plays from being 3-0 and feeling really good about ourselves."
Alas, they're not, so what is their mindset going into Saturday's game against the Buckeyes, and have their expectations for the season already changed? And what challenges should Ohio State expect Tulane to present this weekend?
We asked Halm for his insight into those questions and more.
Q: Tulane has lost two of its first three games this season, but both of those losses have been by only one score. What have been the Green Wave's biggest shortcomings that have kept them from turning those wins into losses?
Halm: Missed opportunities and slow starts have killed Tulane this season. Against Wake Forest in the season opener, the Wave punted on their first three drives – all inside Wake Forest territory. Against UAB last week, Tulane was down 21-7 at halftime before coming back to tie it up in the fourth quarter. If they avoid those slow starts, they're likely a 3-0 team.
In both of those games, Tulane had the ball with a chance to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. Coach Willie Fritz mentioned before the season that the Green Wave's margin for error is very slim, and he's been right thus far.
Q: What were the expectations for this year's team coming into the season, and have those expectations changed at all as a result of its 1-2 start?
Halm: This was expected to be Tulane's first bowl season since 2013, but that was largely dependent on winning at least two of its first three games. Players and coaches still hold those same bowl aspirations, but in order to achieve them, it means that Tulane will likely have to win five games in conference play. That hasn't happened in a long time.
Q: Who are some of the Tulane players that Ohio State and its fans need to be aware of entering Saturday's game?
Halm: Running back Darius Bradwell finally looks healthy after an injury late in the summer, and he'll be a big part of Tulane's running game. Running back Corey Dauphine, a Texas Tech transfer, has breakaway speed and is averaging 12.4 yards per carry. Tulane has a pair of dynamic wide receivers in Terren Encalade and Darnell Mooney. Mooney is riding back-to-back 100-yard receiving games. The key to Tulane's success offensively will be how quarterback Jonathan Banks rebounds from a three-turnover performance against UAB.
Defensively, free safety Roderic Teamer is having a nice season, and cornerback Donnie Lewis has two interceptions and five pass breakups on the season. Freshman nose tackle Jeffery Johnson (6-3, 320) has clogged up the middle despite battling an injury. Tulane's linebacker trio of Zachery Harris, Lawrence Graham and Marvin Moody have been active, registering 67 tackles as a group this season. Those three will likely be very active Saturday.
Terren Encalade is among Tulane's players to watch for Saturday's game. Stephen Lew – USA TODAY Sports
Q: What are the Green Wave's biggest strengths, and in what areas do you believe they have the best chance to challenge Ohio State?
Halm: Offensively, Tulane's strength is their two receivers. Encalade and Mooney have both registered at least one 100-yard receiving game this season. If Banks can find either consistently, it should open up some room for the running game. Tulane is at its best when Banks throws the ball about 15-20 times, and they control the clock with the running game. Dauphine is a game-changer. If they can find him in space, he has a chance to beat any defender in the country.
Defensively, it's all about the takeaways. Tulane has forced seven turnovers, including six interceptions, in three games. The defense is going to give up yards, but thus far, they've found a way to come up with a big turnover in key situations. That has to continue again Saturday if they have any chance of holding Ohio State in check.
Q: Ohio State goes into this game as more than a five-touchdown favorite. What do you think Tulane's mindset is going into a game like this, and what do you think would be considered a positive outcome for the Green Wave?
Halm: Tulane's mindset is simply to go out there and execute their game plan. Fritz is big on focusing within for each game, and for the most part, I think the players buy into that. Several players said the message this week was “Why not us?” I think they'll have an "us against the world" mentality, so I don't think they will lack for effort early. As for a positive outcome, No. 1 is getting out of this game without any injuries, and No. 2 is competing well. The odds of an upset are slim, but if Tulane can hang around for a bit and avoid any major mistakes, Saturday would be considered a success.
