It seems like everything up until this point has been a warm up for the Ohio State football team. There’s been games against decent opponents, but nothing will compare with what the Buckeyes will face this Saturday.
That’s because the Wisconsin Badgers bring in the country’s best defense, a physical brand on offense, and the history of making this thing a donnybrook with them to the ‘Shoe on Saturday.
Will it be the real deal, or did the Badgers get exposed a little last weekend against Illinois? I say it’s the former, but we’ll just have to wait and see. In the end, many believe Ohio State will walk away from this one having met yet another challenge.
Here’s five reasons the Buckeyes beat back the Badgers on Saturday.
Next … Sledgehammer, meet sledgehammer
Ohio State is physical enough to matchup
Wisconsin is of course known for its physical brand of football. With it comes all sorts of matchup nightmares. Teams just don’t have the personnel and experience to deal with that type of play in today’s day and age of lighter, faster players to deal with the spread offenses.
But Ohio State does.
Yeah, the Buckeyes have more hybrid-type linebackers than in year’s past, but it’s still a physical bunch. Add the middle layer of the defense to the talent and strength on the defensive line, and Wisconsin can’s simply bully its way to a victory. Not against Ohio State.
Next … Skill on the outside
Ohio State’s playmakers at the skill positions
This will be the most skill and athleticism the vaunted Wisconsin defense has faced all year. You can’t simulate it in practice either. Ohio State has speed and skill on the outside, at quarterback, and at the running back position.
It’s one thing to use the attacking style of 3-4 defense to stifle teams like Northwestern, Michigan State, and even Michigan (sorry Wolverine lovers), but the Buckeyes will be a different beast. The Badger defense is definitely tough enough, but I don’t know that it can keep the playmakers of Ohio State in check all day.
Next … A Fields Day
Justin Fields, the headache for defenses
There’s not been a quarterback Wisconsin has faced that has anywhere near the ability to beat up on teams both in the air and on the ground like what Justin Fields can do. Maybe a little with Shea Patterson, but it’s not the same.
You know what you need when a defense like Wisconsin comes clawing at you with pressure packages and a down-hill style designed to wreak havoc on an offense? A guy that can improvise when everything breaks down, or that gets flushed out of the pocket. Field fits that bill to a T.
Look for him to shake free for some non-designed runs to keep things alive and active in this one. He’ll be pressured, but he’s going to make the Badger D pay on more than one occasion for over-pursuing and opening up some running and passing lanes in scramble mode.
Next … The opposing quarterback
Jack Coan can’t win it on his own
Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan has been more than serviceable this year, but he’s not your difference maker when all else fails. While the Badger defense is the best in the country statistically speaking in a lot of categories, Ohio State is right behind it at No. 2. In fact, the Buckeyes’ defense is actually allowing less yards per play than what Wisconsin is.
I say the Buckeyes are going to be able to slow down (notice I didn’t say stop) Jonathan Taylor a little and make Jack Coan have to throw the ball more than what the Badger coaching staff would like. I also don’t think Ohio State’s going to be shut out in this one, so Wisconsin could eventually be playing from behind.
When that happens, and the defense knows the ball is going through the air, it’s advantage Buckeyes. Coan might meed to be more than a compliment to the offense and I don’t know if that’s a consistent proposition.
Next … Home cookin’
The ‘Shoe will be rockin’
It’s not a night game so things won’t be at the extreme fever pitch, but even at noon, the ‘Shoe is going to be a loud and boisterous place Saturday. There’s maybe no harder venue to go play at than Camp Randall, so Ohio State should enjoy all the comforts of home in this one.
Wisconsin will have a false start penalty here or there, and some issues communicating that will cause the offense to not operate as effectively. On the other sideline, the Buckeyes will be playing with the emotion of the crowd and be frothing at the mouth, ready to make a statement.
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