It’s time for another red and gray Saturday and it’s a game Ohio State isn’t expected to win hands down. However, results don’t happen on paper, and the two teams must get off the bus and play a real American football game.
All that being said, the Buckeyes will still have to take care of business against an in-state MAC opponent when Toledo steps out of the tunnel at the Grand ‘ole Horseshoe for Saturday night’s affair.
We’re sure Ohio State won’t have much trouble against the Rockets, and before you lay your head on the pillow tonight, we’re going to give you five reasons why OSU should take care of business.
The athletes
There is no other way to look at this game than as a David and Goliath analogy. Toledo has a lot of kids who love being recruited by Ohio State. The MAC is a strong conference, but it’s built on a collection of players who aren’t your four- and five-star kids. And while there are obviously a lot of kids who get passed over as diamonds, that’s often not popular. When Buckeyes line up, they’ll be better athletes against athletes with something to prove. Benefit Ohio State.
The return of Jackson Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming
Despite the lack of play there, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said earlier in the week that receivers Jackson Smith-Njigba and Julian Fleming are expected to return for the game against Toledo. The Buckeye offense hasn’t shown the same explosiveness as last season, but look for a rush of yards and points against Toledo and the offense to put it on the board. The Rockets will struggle to keep up.
Ohio State Defense
What was a weakness last season now looks like a strength. The numbers are skewed when looking at the landscape right now due to the level of competition others have and haven’t played, but there’s no doubt that Ohio State’s defense is a more potent unit that creates issues for opposing offenses. Toledo has moved the ball well in its two games so far, but things haven’t been smooth sailing for Jim Knowles’ defense.
Home cooking
It’s one thing for Ohio State to travel on the road to try and knock off a less talented opponent. Hosting that team is a huge obstacle to an upset. And an afternoon crowd at Ohio Stadium is sometimes old compared to an under-the-radar opponent, and that shouldn’t be the case for a night game. Get the crowd engaged in this by cheering on the team wearing red and gray.
Ohio State plays on both ends of the line
Ohio State is big and strong on both sides of the line. The defensive line is one of the deepest and most talented in the country, and the offensive line is a collection of veterans capable of pushing some of the best defensive units. Toledo will be undersized and isolated in the dumps, and the Buckeyes will have to lean on those front lines and wear down the Rockets.
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Story first appeared on Bucky Wire
