Olave & Ohio State Silence Early Questions

The Buckeyes started hot, as Miyan Williams broke loose for a 71-yard touchdown run on the team’s first drive. Quarterback CJ Stroud got off to a slow start going 8 of 14 for 58 yards and an interception during the first half, but bounced back finishing the game with 294 passing yards and 4 TDs. Ohio State gets the win 45-31.

Hot Start

What better way to start the season than to have a running back break off a 71-yard touchdown run on the first offensive drive? That’s exactly how things started for the Buckeyes against Minnesota last night as Miyan Williams got the first score of the year for Ohio State. Literally just outrunning everybody.

CJ Stroud

Talk about a pressure packed moment for a freshman QB to making their first start. Division game, on the road, not to mention that freshman is starting for The Ohio State Buckeyes. Things started well on offense with the big play to open, followed by a lengthy drive that ended in a field goal. It was on the team’s third offensive drive when things got a bit bumpy, as Stroud threw a ball behind an open Olave who was able to get a hand on the ball but it ultimately ended up in the arms of a defender for an interception.

The good news for Ohio State fans was the fact that Stroud was able to shake off the first half jitters as he bounced back for a big second half. After only having 58-passing yards in the first half, Stroud threw for 236-yards in the second half totaling 294-yards for the game with 4 passing touchdowns.

Chris Olave

Smooth seems like somewhat of an understatement when it comes to describing the playing style of Buckeye’s receiver Chris Olave, who finished yesterdays game with 4 catches totaling 117 with 2 TDs. He’s no stranger to making big plays, as he averaged nearly 15 yards per catch on 50 catches during the 2020 season and over 17 yards per catch on 49 receptions in 2019.

Making Look So Easy

Career Long for Olave

This game featured multiple big-play touchdown receptions for Olave, but this 61-yard beauty up the right sideline set a new career high for the standout receiver.

Questionable Calls

Roughing the Passer

Despite how soft this call seems to be, there is contact to the head/neck area which is very clearly defined as being considered “roughing the passer”. I will say that in real time I thought it was a terrible call, but once I saw the replay showing the defender’s forearm colliding with the QBs helmet it became very clear that it was indeed the right call.

Targeting

The targeting non-call in the Ohio State vs Minnesota game immediately set Twitter ablaze, with plenty of people on both sides of the argument ready and willing to make their thoughts known. In my opinion, no call seemed like the right call in this case. I’ve yet to see any replay angle that actually shows helmet to helmet contact. Not saying it did not occur, just have yet to actually see it.

In looking at a variety of angles, it appears Ransom’s face-mask makes contact with the receiver’s shoulder pads meaning his head was up and he was not leading with the “crown” of his helmet as many have speculated. The reaction to the hit seemed to be more so due to the receiver being visibly unconscious as a result. Had the receiver bounced up immediately most would’ve likely viewed it as a big hit and everyone would’ve moved on.