Ohio State football: 5 reasons the Buckeyes will destroy Maryland
By Alec Hartman
2. Maryland’s defense is not equipped to slow down the Buckeyes’ multi-threat offense.
The Buckeyes have had the luxury of having a flexible offense over the years. Their pieces include the typical explosive skill players but they’ve also included a dual threat quarterback. However, this type of offense can be a curse as much as it is a luxury.
Having a dual threat quarterback comes with its downside which usually comes in the form of having a passing threat to a lesser degree. This has been the case for J.T. Barrett for periods of time in his storied career as a Buckeye. The offense has been limited in recent history because of this.
Times have changed for the Bucks in the last few games. Barrett has been completing passes all over the field and is finally making his receivers look like the superstars that they are. He is currently leading the Big Ten in touchdowns passes and is tied for the least amount of interceptions.
The combination of an efficient J.T. Barrett, dual running backs with J.K. Dobbins/Mike Weber, and an explosive receiving corps has made the Buckeyes’ offense look almost unstoppable. This is especially true against lower level defenses that don’t have the personnel or the speed to match up. The Terrapins’ defense ranks 101st in the nation in passing defense, 54th in the nation in rushing defense, and 96th in scoring defense.
The offense is operating at such a high level that many believe that it is unlikely to be sustainable. There may be some truth to that considering the competition level in the last few weeks but there are some things that are here to stay. J.K Dobbins is a star running back and will likely produce against any competition, Mike Weber is a proven thousand yard rusher so his numbers can be counted on, and the receivers have shown great promise/capability this season.
The most incredible part of this offense as a whole is they may not even have hit their peak yet. If it’s this early in conference play and they’re producing at this high of a level then imagine what this offense has the potential to look like down the road. Expect the Bucks to have way too much firepower for the Terrapins to handle.