Ohio State Buckeyes

Is This the Game When the Ohio State Offense Flips the Switch?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Isn’t it time for the Ohio State offense to get on a roll?

As No. 6 Ohio State gets ready for the No. 10 Nebraska, several questions come to mind. Will the normal week of practice have a positive impact on the team’s play? Will Nebraska playing the second of back-to-back road games hurt its ability to play well?

Will the crowd be deafening on every Nebraska possession to disrupt its execution?  Not just third down, but every down. More importantly, will the Ohio State offense finally execute at the level everyone expects?

Unfortunately, wanting something to happen is much different than it really happening.  Through the first four games, the offense averaged 57 points-per-game.  The last four, 28 points-per game.

Granted, we think the level of competition improved considerably, but it is worth mentioning that Michigan scored 49 on Penn State, Michigan State scored 40 on Northwestern and Maryland scored 36 on Indiana.  Buckeyes scored 21, 24 and 37 points on those same defenses.

Am I supposed to believe that this offense is just in a funk or the lack of deep threat is really the cause for 29 points less per game?

Hardly.  What the offense lacks is the consistent willingness to dictate how the game is played.  If the Ohio State athletes are truly better, then it should not matter what formation the defense throws at them.

The over thinking, resetting of the SLOBS, getting every player in the right position and letting the play clock dwindle down to less than 10 seconds is paralyzing the execution. Will it change this week?

Nothing that I have seen suggests this is the game when the offense flips the switch, even though I believe it can do it simply by calling a play and running it quickly.

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Coach Urban Meyer looked more relaxed this week.  Maybe he knows something we don’t.  Did he channel his inner Saban on his offensive staff?

I hope so.  The offense needs to exercise the demons that are holding it back.  Maybe a good ass chewing is the remedy for what ails this unit.

If not, the defensive staff should do it because the offensive inefficiencies are killing the defense.  The Silver Bullets are now allowing 21 points-per-game compared to nine points-per-game over the first four games.

The College Football Playoff Committee gifted a No. 6 spot to the Buckeyes because they are not playing like it right now.  The program and coach Urban Meyer have earned the benefit of the doubt.

Now it is time to earn the spot and beat the Cornhuskers decisively at home, at night and in front of 105,000 screaming Buckeye Nation fans.

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