The terrifying potential of Ohio State’s offense didn’t truly reveal itself until the second half of the Buckeyes’ 42-24 demolition of Virginia Tech on Monday night.
There were glimpses in the first half, of course.
Ezekiel Elliott’s 80-yard touchdown scamper on his first carry served as a reminder of how he finished the 2014 season, when he rushed for 696 yards and eight touchdowns in his final three games.
Cardale Jones showed that he’s nearly impossible to corral in the backfield, as Virginia Tech failed to register a single sack after notching seven in Columbus a season ago. Jones’ arm is as strong as ever, and he showcased that with an effortless, back-footed touchdown throw to Curtis Samuel that soared 40 yards with a flick of his wrist.
But the Buckeyes bogged down after scoring touchdowns on their first two drives against the Hokies, netting just 93 yards in their final four drives while turning the ball over twice and missing a field goal.
That slump allowed Virginia Tech to take a 17-14 lead into the locker room at halftime.
It also woke a sleeping giant.
The Potential
Throughout the course of the 2014 season, Braxton Miller sat on the sideline and watched as the Buckeyes offense grew into an efficient machine.
Under the steady guidance of redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett, Ohio State attacked teams with a balanced and multifaceted attack, averaging 44 points in the 12 games he started before breaking his ankle against Michigan.
While the Buckeyes…
Continue Reading: Ohio State Football: How Dangerous Can Buckeyes Offense Be in 2015?
