After each Ohio State game during the 2021 football season, LGHL will offer its market analysis of the Buckeyes’ performance. Using a standard bond rating system, we’ll evaluate the offense, the defense, and the special teams, according to this formula:
AA (yeah, I may also use + and -): Very Strong
A: Strong
BBB: Adequate
BB: Facing Major Uncertainty
Then, we’ll take a look at any individual players whose performance stood out (in one way or another!) and assign them a stock rating: Blue Chip, Solid Performance, Penny Stock (akin to a junk bond, dangerously high risk).
Quick Overview
The Buckeyes didn’t play particularly well, they didn’t cover the spread, the final outcome was iffy until well into the fourth quarter, and there are still plenty of questions to answer.
But, Ohio State won the game. It’s the third game in a row that I (and everybody else) have said that the Bucks didn’t play a strong game. Time will tell whether the 2021 version of Ohio State is a good team not playing up to par (for various reasons) or, say, an 8-4 team playing like a team about to go 8-4. Akron next week will give an opportunity, I hope, to try out some new things and some new players. That seems also to have been the case yesterday.
Offense
What a difference a week makes. Against Oregon, I said that OSU’s passing game is going great, but that they needed to find a complementary running game to achieve balance, unpredictability, and better efficiency in the red zone.
Flip it this week and C.J. Stroud played his worst game of the young season. He completed 60% of his passes (15/25) for 185 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Stroud looked tentative, unsure of himself — and of his receivers. He threw high again. He held the ball too long, leading to a sack and fumble.
Stroud’s best pass, a long shot to Chris Olave, was unfortunately called back on a hands-to-the-face penalty against offensive lineman Paris Johnson. Olave, who dropped another ball, had no receptions for the game. One would think that the young quarterback would look to the veteran star. The longest pass play in the game was only 20 yards. What happened to the big plays, like the ones against Minnesota?
On the other hand, there was a running game. Wow, was there a running game, and it’s name is TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson’s 277 yards rushing broke Archie Griffin’s freshman rushing record and was the third most rushing yards of any Buckeye runner — ever!
Henderson had runs of 48, 54, and 52 yards and nearly broke a couple of others, including the game’s first play. With 24 carries, Henderson averaged a whopping 11.5 yards per rush attempt and scored three touchdowns. With his vision, his quick cuts, and his outright speed, Henderson is that elite back that comes along (at least to places like OSU and Alabama) every so often. They need to keep him healthy, give him the ball, and get out of the way.
Master Teague also played well, I thought. We…
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