Football: Five takeaways from Ohio State’s win against Wisconsin

Andy Anders, Brian Nelson
Mon, 28 Oct 2019 22:07:59 +0000
Football, News, Sports, Al Washington, Branden Bowen, Buckeyes, Buckeyes football, Chase Young, Chris Chugunov, college football, Day coaching staff, garrett Wilson, Greg Mattison, Gunner Hoak, J.K. Dobbins, Jeff Hafley, jeffrey okudah, Jonah Jackson, jonathan taylor, jonathon cooper, Jordan Fuller, Josh Myers, justin fields, K.J. Hill, Matt Barnes, Mike Yurcich, ohio state, ohio state 2019 schedule, ohio state football, Ohio State football coaching staff, Ohio State football roster, Ohio State football score [and 17 more]

Ohio State junior running back J.K. Dobbins (2) celebrates after a run in the second half of the game against Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Ohio State won 38-3. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Managing Editor for Multimedia

No. 3 Ohio State defeated then-No. 13 Wisconsin Saturday 38-7, its first win against a top 15 team. The Buckeyes outgained the Badgers 431 yards to 191, mounting 264 rushing yards against a defense that entered the contest allowing roughly 60 per game. Here are The Lantern’s five takeaways from the victory:

Dobbins dominates

Ohio State junior running back J.K. Dobbins (2) blows a kiss to his fans after scoring a touchdown in the second half of the game against Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Ohio State won 38-7. Credit: Cori Wade | Assistant Photo Editor

Ohio State junior running back J.K. Dobbins badgered the nation’s No. 1 rush defense for 163 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries, adding 58 yards receiving.

“J.K. ran with an edge all day,” head coach Ryan Day said. “I think he’s the best running back in the country.”

The Texas product gained much of his ground in chunks, with five carries going 10 yards or longer against a defense that entered Saturday allowing 8.3 total 10-yard-plus plays per game.

Dobbins is currently on a four-game streak of 120-yard rushing performances, and ranks No. 2 in the nation with 1,110 yards through eight games in 2019.

Dobbins stands 202 yards away from Eddie George for No. 3 on Ohio State’s career rushing list.

Chase Young: Heisman contender?

Ohio State junior defensive end Chase Young (2) sacks Wisconsin junior quarterback Jack Coan (17) in the first half of the game against Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Ohio State won 38-7. Credit: Cori Wade | Assistant Photo Editor

Chase Young’s performance Saturday against Wisconsin has the nation abuzz over whether the junior defensive end should be in the discussion for winning the Heisman Trophy.?

Young torched the Badgers’ offensive line for four sacks, two forced fumbles and six tackles total.?

His four sacks bring his season total to 13.5, which ties the highest total former Buckeye Joey Bosa had in 2014 and is only half a sack behind the school record set by Vernon Gholston at 14 back in 2007.?

In addition, Young is now tied for second in career sacks for Ohio State with Jason Simmons at 27.5, the school record belonging to Mike Vrabel with 36.?

With four games left in the regular season, plus a possible conference championship, Young has plenty of opportunities to showcase his skills to sustain the Heisman talks.

Weather the weather

The Buckeyes run onto the field prior to the start of the game against Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Ohio State won 38-3. Credit: Casey Cascaldo | Managing Editor for Multimedia

The Buckeye offense received its first tough-weather test Saturday, tossing the ball through heavy, consistent rainfall and swirling winds.

While the team finished with its second-lowest point total of 2019, it mounted 38 points against the nation’s No. 1 scoring defense in Wisconsin. The Badgers entered Saturday allowing 7.6 points per game.

Ohio State achieved success with a steady run game, finishing with 264 yards on the ground, and a few key downfield completions as they came open. Sophomore receiver Chris Olave snagged a 27-yard score near the end of the first half.

The weather still made an impact, however. Ohio State didn’t attempt a pass until its third possession, and several dropped passes yielded sophomore quarterback Justin Fields his lowest completion rate of the season at 55 percent.

“I think in all honesty we could have put up 50,” sophomore quarterback Justin Fields said. “I think if the weather was different I think we could have threw the ball more and put up way more points than we did.”

Taylor tackled

Wisconsin junior running back Jonathon Taylor (23) runs the ball down the field during the game on Otc. 26. Ohio State 38-7. Credit: Amal Saeed | Photo Editor

Coming into this past Saturday’s game against Ohio State, Jonathan Taylor was averaging 136 rushing yards per game, good enough for No. 3 in the nation along with 19 touchdowns to his name.?

The Buckeyes effectively neutralized Taylor and the running game for the Badgers, limiting the Wisconsin junior running back to just 52 yards on 20 carries with no touchdowns.

Day said the defensive staff put together a tremendous gameplan to stop Taylor, led by co-defensive coordinators Jeff Hafley and Greg Mattison.

“So many things have to go into it for something like this to happen, and just proud of the way those guys performed,” Day said.

This marks the first time this season that Taylor has not found the end zone in 2019, and his average gain of 2.6 rushing yards per carry is the worst of Taylor’s three-year career.?

Stopping Taylor kept the Badgers from gaining any momentum, which allowed Ohio State to hold Wisconsin to only 191 yards of total offense.?

Nonlinear line play

Ohio State sophomore quarterback Justin Fields (1) gets ready for the play during the second half of the game against Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Ohio State won 38-7. Credit: Amal Saeed | Photo Editor

While the Ohio State offensive line was a big reason the team achieved its success rushing the ball, it also contributed to some of the team’s issues throwing it.

The front five allowed five Wisconsin sacks Saturday — four in the first half alone.

Pressure affected other plays that didn’t result in a sack. Redshirt senior quarterback Chris Chugunov was forced to throw a screen pass away after facing heat from the Badger front, and Fields was forced to scramble on multiple occasions.

Wisconsin’s presence on the edge became a clear factor, but the offensive line still pieced together a strong enough effort for Ohio State to double up Wisconsin’s yardage allowed per game.