The 2016 Buckeyes never seemed quite as multi-faceted and dominant as the 2014 squad that won the national championship. The defense is impressive, but the offense lacked an imposing passing attack to complement the run game. The same was true in 2015, and it eventually brought the Buckeyes down when they had to play a physical Michigan State defense on a cold, rainy day. In 2016, despite some big-scoring OSU games early in the year, it was Penn State who had the chance to make the most of inclement weather (and a raucous home crowd) and expose some of the cracks in the Buckeyes’ armor. Penn State’s solutions are evident on the scoreboard, where the Buckeyes scored only 21 points, or in J.T. Barrett’s box score, which reads as follows: 43 passes for 245 yards, 5.7 yards per attempt, one TD, zero INTs. Six sacks for 38 lost yards. 11 carries for 64 yards, 5.8 yards per carry, and zero TDs. Here’s how the Lions managed to slow down the Buckeye offensive machine and allow a block-six to win the game. How Penn State corralled Ohio State’s run game Penn State has some lengthy defensive ends. Torrence Brown is 6’3,…
Continue Reading: How Penn State took full advantage of Ohio State’s problems on offense
