Kent State

We won’t learn anything from this game.

Sure, Ohio State will win and win convincingly against Kent State and will likely cover the 32 point spread.  But the Golden Flashes are no measuring stick in any shape or form.   Kent State is 0-2 having lost at home to both Ohio and South Alabama.  The Golden Flashes are 2-23-1 in road openers and have lost 6 straight by an average of 28 ppg.   This team was supposed to be much improved off of their 4-8 season a year ago, but clearly there are problems – mostly on the offensive side.  The team has yet to rush for 100 yards total in 2 games.    Passing is not much better as Sophomore QB Colin Reardon’s QB ratings for the first two games have been 65.6 and 34.1 (contrast that to J.T. Barrett’s 84.8 and 26.7).    Their defense has not played that poorly but still has given up nearly 200 yards rushing per game.  I attribute that mostly to the fact that the offense cannot stay on the field.

Kent will watch the film of Va. Tech and realize that if they blitz Barrett they can force some errors.  However, the Golden Flashes DBs are not the same caliber as the Hokies.  Plus, I sincerely hope that the OSU coaching staff spent the week helping Barrett identify blitzes and practice throwing to the hot receiver.   On the other side of the ball, our 3^rd down defense must get better.  Given Kent State’s rushing woes, they should be looking at a lot of 3^rd and longs.   At that point, I expect our defense to look like Va. Tech and bring extra bodies to force early throws on 3^rd down, rather than sitting and letting Reardon find an open receiver.   Of course, with Noah Spence returning and the existing talent we have on the DL, we should (in theory) be able to overwhelm the young KSU OL by simply rushing four.

I expect our offense to run our typical sets with no special modifications for Kent.  This will be a glorified scrimmage for Barrett to get use to hot reads, slants, and shifting up into the pocket – all in preparation for Cincinnati in 2 weeks (FYI – the Bearcats still have not played a game and finally start their season this Saturday night).  Urban and Tom Herman will feature the running game and both Ezekiel Elliott and Curtis Samuel could top 100 yards.  Ohio State will win 51-10 and cover the 32 points.   But at the end of the day, Buckeye fans will have the same insecurities and uncertainties about this team.  Each and every positive will be met with a “Yeah, but . . . “ due to the opponent.  So take the Buckeyes, give the points, and bet the over (currently at 50.5).   After this, we will have 2 weeks to work out other kinks in preparation for Cincinnati, a game if it were being played this weekend would scare me to death.