Ohio State Football: 3 bold predictions vs. UNLV in Week 4
3. Ohio State uses the run to set up the pass
It’s no secret that the best player on Urban Meyer’s offense, and maybe his entire Buckeyes squad is true freshman phenom running back J.K. Dobbins.
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Over his first three games in the scarlet and gray, Dobbins rushed for an astounding 425 yards on 55 carries and three touchdowns.
Though Dobbins has only recorded 23 receiving yards in his young career at Ohio State, his impressive vision as a runner has established him as a truly impressive weapon, and a future cornerstone for the Buckeyes to build their offense around for years to come.
And other teams are sure to take note.
After torching Army’s defense for 181 yards on 29 carries in Week 3, the Rebels will surely try to stack the box at the line of scrimmage and prevent Dobbins from beating them single-handedly.
But if the Rebels do decide to stack the box against Ohio State’s formidable rushing attack, it will only open up the passing game for senior quarterback J.T. Barrett and the team’s stable of young wide receivers.
And that could be the best thing for a Ohio State moving forward.
Other than Dobbins’ impressive rushing abilities, the Buckeyes’ offense has been fairly pedestrian in the first three weeks of the season, only averaging 267 yards and 34 points per game, which is a far cry from last season when they averaged 459 yards and nearly 40 points per game.
If UNLV does crowd the line of scrimmage and force Ohio State to throw the ball in Week 4, it will be against a secondary that’s currently ranks 50th in the nation, and could result in an incredible day for Barrett and the Buckeyes’ aerial attack.