Run and Gun in the Big Ten!

Big Ten football is not known for high powered offensive shootouts,but one was delivered in Columbus as Ohio State pounded Nebraska 63-38 to improve their record to 6-0 and 2-0 in the Big Ten.
It was the Buckeye ground attack that led the way as Braxton Miller finished with 186 yards and a touchdown while Carlos Hyde rushed for 140 more yards to go with four touchdowns.
Ohio State will face Indiana next week in an attempt to go 7-0..

Buckeye Leaves

1) This has nothing to do with the win,but I couldn't help but think of Gene Smith,the athletic director at OSU.
Had Smith shown a bit of forethought and kept a 6-6 team at home last year instead of meaningless Gator Bowl trip,this team might be headed for the National Championship game.

It is those types of decisions that should get people fired...

2) For the first time under Urban Meyer,I saw an offensive line that was blowing holes in the defense and allowing runners to go through them instead of relying on Braxton Miller to scramble around and make something happen.
The line is beginning to jell and that does not bode well for the remaining Big Ten foes...

3) Bradley Roby intercepted two passes,bringing one back for a touchdown and the other deep into Husker territory to set another score up.
Roby reminds me of a corner that will make and allow big plays,but is not a true shutdown corner.
Roby is a gambler and as frustrating as that can be,will make plenty of big plays....

4) I talk John Simon every week,but what a dominant player he was again with five tackles for loss and two sacks.
Even when Taylor Martinez managed to get a pass off,he still was contending with Simon and Jonathan Hankins consistently.
The defensive line is starting to get the bully mentality of beating down an opponent.

5) What else can I say about Braxton Miller?
Miller still runs the ball more than I would care for him to and he still needs more touch on his long to intermediate passes,but Miller even is improving there as shown on his 18 yard pass over the middle to tight end Jeff Heuerman.
Braxton Miller might not be an NFL quarterback,but he is perfect for Urban Meyer and the college offensive game...

6) Another thought on this game from the what if club,What if Jordan Hall,the best back had played would Ohio State finished with even more than 371 yards on the ground,which was a record number allowed by Nebraska?
Maybe,but not much of a difference.
Hall might have used his breakaway speed for more yardage,but that likely would have trimmed Braxton Miller's numbers a bit..

7) Backbreaker in this one? Has to be the Corey Brown punt return for a score in the third quarter.That moved the lead to 18 points and a visible sag in the Nebraska shoulders.
You could see in the body language that Nebraska knew that this game was finished.

8) Ohio State did allow 38 points and that (of course) is far too many,but some of that came when Ben Burkhead was in the game before a third period injury.
Ohio State was having major issues stopping Burkhead as he averaged over eight yards a carry when he was in the game.
Without Burkhead,Taylor Martinez was forced to throw both by being behind in the game,but having the main horse of the ground game unavailable to him.

9) Etienne Sabino left the game in the first half and did not return.
The fifth year senior is not the Buckeyes best linebacker,but he is immensely valuable due to his experience as the remaining backers with the most playing time are not veteran players other than Ryan Shazier,who played a lot despite being a sophomore.
Sabino's injury will be a interesting one to follow next week....

10) I still would like to see the Buckeyes take care of the ball better.
Braxton Miller coughed up two (lost one) and Carlos Hyde lost another on a drive that could have ended this game sooner than it was.
Fumbles will happen with mobile quarterbacks,but I still think that this problem could be minimized with a few less hits on Miller,which also has the effect of keeping Miller healthier.

11) That leads me to Miller being around for the entire season.
In each of the last two games,Miller has left the game with injuries to an ankle.
The ankle is the anchor for a player that depends on sticking his cleat in the ground and juking the tackler.
When the ankle is weaker,it is only natural that could eventually take a toll on Miller's effectiveness.

12) Very disappointed that next week's Indiana game is a night game as the road office does not have the Big Ten network.
I'll likely watch the first half before I go to work and then if the game is not out of hand,I'll listen via XM at the road office.
No guarantees on a quick recap with that in mind....

Photo Credits;Cleveland Plain Dealer.....