First Posted: 11/23/2014
COLUMBUS — A Monday morning grade card on a 42-27 Ohio State win over Indiana that might have been written off as a case of looking ahead to this week’s Michigan game back before the Wolverines fell on hard times after Lloyd Carr retired in 2007:
OFFENSE
For the second straight week the Buckeyes had three turnovers, which made the final score closer than it could have been.
They rolled up 527 yards but the offensive line did not seem as dominant as it has at times. Take away a 65-yard touchdown run on Ezekiel Elliott’s first carry of the day and he averaged only 3.5 yards per carry the rest of the day.
Quarterback J.T. Barrett completed 25 of 35 passes for 302 yards and four touchdowns and broke Troy Smith’s Ohio State season record for touchdown passes. But he also had two interceptions.
The best game of Jalin Marshall’s career — a punt return for a touchdown and three touchdown catches — compensated for a lot of things. Tight end Jeff Heuerman also had a big day with five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown and Elliott rushed for 107 yards.
Grade: B
DEFENSE
Linebacker Joshua Perry had a career-best two sacks and led OSU with 14 tackles. Michael Bennett continued his second half of the season surge with a sack and a tackle for loss. Tyvis Powell had an interception when the Buckeyes really needed it, leading only 28-20 in the fourth quarter.
The biggest concern was giving up big plays. Indiana running back Tevin Coleman scored on runs of 90 yards and 52 yards. Quarterback Zander Diamont, not known for his running, had a 53-yard scramble and receiver Shane Wynn got loose for a 49-yard catch.
Grade: C+
SPECIAL TEAMS
It’s hard to overestimate the importance of Marshall’s 54-yard punt return for a touchdown late in the third quarter when Ohio State was down 20-14 after Indiana had scored 20 unanswered points.
It was huge for Ohio State and for Marshall personally after he had lost two fumbles a week earlier in a win over Minnesota.
Cameron Johnston’s punt that pinned Indiana on its own 1-yard line just before Marshall’s touchdown also was big.
Freshman kicker Sean Nuernberger continued to be inconsistent, missing his only field goal attempt and is now 10 of 16 on the season.
Grade: A-
OVERALL
If Ohio State plays at the same level it did against Indiana this Saturday, it probably still could beat Michigan. But it will need more than this when it gets to the Big Ten championship game against either Wisconsin or Minnesota.
Grade: B-
