Ohio State Football 2022 Halfway Point Review

[Omega]

Ohio State is at the halfway point of the 2022 season. Might be a good time to look at their season performance to date:

Overall Record: 6-0
Conference Record: 3-0
AP poll ranking: 2nd
Coaches poll ranking: 3rd

Offense

Yards per game - 543.7 (2nd place)

Yards per game (passing) - 315.7 (14)

Yards per game (rushing) - 228.0 (14)

Points per game - 48.8 (1)

Defense

Points allowed per game - 15.7 (16)

Yards passing allowed per game - 160.3 (8)

Yards rushing allowed per game - 93.2 (15)

Yards allowed per game - 253.5 (7)

https://www.ncaa.com/stats/football/fbs

My primary preseason concerns about the Buckeyes have been satisfactorily addressed:

Defense, especially the play of the DL and LB's, has improved tremendously under new Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles. They still give up a few big plays each game, but have been able to keep their opponents from driving at will.

The offense has shown much better pass/run balance this season along with effectiveness in the red zone. QB CJ Stroud has grown as a game manager, not needing to have huge passing numbers to win ball games. The running game has been solid behind an O-Line that blocks well and has provided excellent pass protection.

The issues I see as concerns:

Nagging injuries, especially in the defensive backfield.

The strength of schedule to date has proven to be weaker than expected. Are the Bucks truly as good as their stats suggest? We may not know until OSU travels to State College.

Minor items of concern I see is lack of work for the kicking specialists, and giving backups playing time to gain experience.

What are your thoughts on the Buckeyes as they get ready to face the always dangerous bye week?

[Bleeding Red]

I am sorry to say that NIL has done what I thought it would do to college football. These players already got PAID and they do not play with a nagging injury. Not just tOSU, but all across the Power 5. Some of these college players came from silver spoon families and were already accustomed to having a decent amount of money at their dispersal, but for many, they grew up inner city poor or rural poor and they get a shot of money in the bank and all of a sudden they dont have to work as hard. Or play through injuries.

Smith Njigba has played 2 plays this season. Its week 7. Come on dude. Show some resiliency here.

On the flip side, if he is really still hurt, they dont need him with all the WR talent on the field, so a healthy JSN when it really matters down the stretch will be worth it. But one cant wonder if NIL is having an impact on these "hurt" and "dinged up" players.


Back to the thread at hand and off my NIL rant.........

OSU running game, O line play, D line play, LB play and safety play is worlds apart from where they were last year. I thought Eichenburg SUCKED last year but he is unbelievably good this year.

The biggest weakness right now are the corners. They make good plays but they also never turn around to find the ball in coverage and get dinged over and over with pass interference penalties. Something they definitely need to clean up!

[baseball16]

DB's will continue to be a concern. They are young and inexperienced. Also they never turn around and get lost very easily. Could cost the Buckeyes in a very Close Game. Penn St. Maryland and Meatchicken will be the BAR to jump over!

[countywide35]

We will continue to get better.

[Omega]

I am sorry to say that NIL has done what I thought it would do to college football. These players already got PAID and they do not play with a nagging injury. Not just tOSU, but all across the Power 5. Some of these college players came from silver spoon families and were already accustomed to having a decent amount of money at their dispersal, but for many, they grew up inner city poor or rural poor and they get a shot of money in the bank and all of a sudden they dont have to work as hard. Or play through injuries.

Smith Njigba has played 2 plays this season. Its week 7. Come on dude. Show some resiliency here.

On the flip side, if he is really still hurt, they dont need him with all the WR talent on the field, so a healthy JSN when it really matters down the stretch will be worth it. But one cant wonder if NIL is having an impact on these "hurt" and "dinged up" players.


Back to the thread at hand and off my NIL rant.........

OSU running game, O line play, D line play, LB play and safety play is worlds apart from where they were last year. I thought Eichenburg SUCKED last year but he is unbelievably good this year.

The biggest weakness right now are the corners. They make good plays but they also never turn around to find the ball in coverage and get dinged over and over with pass interference penalties. Something they definitely need to clean up!

Good insight BR. You have stated what many of the talking heads on tv won't say. Coaches now must protect their booster's investment while trying to win football games.

I think Coach Day has learned to consider player well being with the Harry Miller situation and criticism about playing hurt from Buckeyes who quit last year. That said Smith-Njigba, Henderson, and others missing games or playing sparingly makes one think the Wexner's, Schottenstein's, and the NIL foundations attorneys have made it clear their investments will be protected.