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| Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Photo Editor The Lantern |
Dwayne Haskins threw for two more scores with an interception mixed in the victory that saw Nebraska lead at the half.
The now 8-1 Buckeyes (5-1 Big Ten) will travel to East Lansing next week for a tough game against the erratic, but more than capable Spartans.
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1) And indeed there was more of a ground game attack against the Huskers as J.K. Dobbins ran his way to those 163 yards at a seven yards per carry clip.
Dobbins ran with confidence and looked like the back of last season.
A return of that back to the lineup would be welcomed during the homestretch of the season.
2) How did the Buckeyes help Dobbins bounce back as well as Mike Weber, who ran for 91 yards on nine carries?
Using more beef on the offensive line to give the Buckeyes more push off the line and even using backup guard Wyatt Davis at tight end for extra bulk.
I know this will tip off defenses on a run/pass preference, but if that is what it takes to re-establish a running presence, I'm fine with that.
3) Dwayne Haskins didn't exactly struggle in the win, but nor did he dazzle in the win either.
Haskins only threw one interception,(He lost a fumble as well) but his accuracy seemed a bit off.
Not sure if it was the protection to be certain, but Haskins could have been simply adjusting to the differences in the line play.
It'll be interesting to see if this is a factor in East Lansing next Saturday.
4) The player of the game might have been a player that wasn't expected to play much if any as Brendan White entered the game when Jordan Fuller was ejected in the second quarter for everyone's favorite penalty-targeting.
White finished the game with eight solo tackles with two of those for loss.
Fuller will return for the Michigan State game, but White has certainly earned more playing time.
5) The defense gave its share of points up, but with one notable exception, it managed to keep the Men of Corn off the scoreboard and only on that drive, did they give up those big plays with large chunks of yardage to go with it.
It may have been a small step forward, but I'm hoping that it was a step forward.
6) It was only worth two points, but it was a good sign for the special teams when Keandre Davis rushed through in the first half to block a punt through the back of the end zone.
Quality special teams haven't always been a given for Urban Meyer's team despite his having a hand in them, so I take anything that I can get!
7) Dwayne Haskins may only have completed seventeen passes, but he set another Ohio State record as he broke the record for completions in a season.
That record was set by J.T. Barrett last season and I don't remember that record being set, nor do I remember Barrett throwing the ball all that often.
Considering that Haskins has at least three games to go, with the potential for as many as six (In case the Buckeyes go to the Big Ten title game and two playoff games), that record is going to be placed out of reach for a while.
8) Three turnovers inside Nebraska territory brings good news and bad news.
The good news is that the Buckeyes could have won this in a romp and that the offense was clicking, so with a little bit of improved ball control, OSU could be back in form.
The bad news is that is fundamental football and it is not always that easy, especially next week in a hostile East Lansing.
9) J.K. Dobbins moved over 2,000 yards for his career and with Mike Weber already past that mile marker, that gives the pair a notable achievement in Buckeye lore.
Dobbins and Weber are now the first set of teammates in Ohio State history to gain that amount of rushing yardage.
10) Michigan looked very impressive in dispatching Penn State 42-7 and they are playing quite well.
Las Vegas placed Michigan as a three-point favorite over Ohio State if they played tomorrow.
Keep in mind that home field is worth three points so oddsmakers would make Michigan a six-point favorite on a neutral field.
I don't think Ohio State is "back to normal", but I'm not sure Michigan hasn't peaked and with the game at Columbus, I'd rate it as an even matchup.
11) Michigan State is 6-3 and the Spartans always worry me.
The Spartans running game will test Ohio State, but they haven't scored more than 24 points in over a month.
If this becomes a shootout, it's Ohio State's game to win.
At this point, every game is important, I have a feeling "the Big Game Gambler" Mark Dantonio is going to be ready and have more than just one trick ready to go.
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