Ohio State Defeats Akron, 42-0, Quarterbacks Play Well

Terrible a year ago, the Akron Zips admirably battled a bigger, faster, more athletic Ohio State team on a scorching afternoon in Ohio Stadium, but the collective talents of the Buckeyes were just too much for the visitors from the Rubber Capital, who failed to stay within reach despite a lethargic Buckeye first half.

Led by first year head coach Luke Fickell,  Ohio State began the game tentatively, running the ball on four of their first five offensive plays, before quarterback Joe Bauserman's 28-yard pass to Verlon Reed on a crossing route moved the Buckeyes into Akron territory. Two plays later, Bauserman would scramble into the endzone following a botched hand-off attempt, and Ohio State would take a 7-0 lead, a lead they would never give up.

Unplanned scrambling aside, Bauserman would have a quiet first quarter, handing the ball off 11 times, only attempting 3 passes. Offensive coordinator Jim Bollman eased the fifth-year, 26-year old senior into his first career start, working mainly under center and using heavy formations. 21 personnel, two backs and one tight end, was the prominent grouping in the first quarter, and remained so whenever Bauserman was in the game, reminding Ohio State fans of the pre-Terrelle Pryor offenses, which were based on similar principles.

Midway through the second quarter, the steady diet of power and zone runs turned into a stream of play-action and half-roll passes, punishing Akron for their downhill eagerness. Bauserman connected with tight end Jake Stoneburner, who has matured into a thick, tough matchup problem for opposing defensive coordinators. In zone coverage, Akron safety Doug Richardson found himself matched against Stoneburner's streaking form downfield, and he tried knocking the redshirt junior Buckeye off his route, to no avail. Stoneburner caught Bauserman's pass and strolled into the endzone for a 28-yard score and a 14-0 Buckeye lead.

Bauserman and Stoneburner would hook up twice more for touchdowns, giving Stoneburner 50 yards total and more touchdown grabs than he had all of last season.

Finishing 12/16 (75%) for 163 yards passing, Bauserman's day was a mild but clear success. Three touchdowns, zero interceptions, and a 10.2 yards-per-attempt average eased the fear that Bauserman's offense would devolve into a series of dump-offs and floated balls. By no means a gunslinger, Bauserman showcased enough as a passer to legitimize Fickell's decision to name him starter, even with a freshman phenom breathing down his back. Concern remains over his imminent performance against better opponents, but Bauserman proved that he at least belonged on the field.

Category	Akron	OSU
Plays	46	78
1st Downs	5	27
Total Yards	90	515
Passing	55	293
Rushing	35	222
Turnovers	1	1
Possession	23:39	36:10

If today clarified Ohio State's current quarterback situation, it also decided the future. Receiving his first anxious snaps early in the second quarter, crowd noise reverberating in his ears, Braxton Miller proceeded to rush for two yards, throw an incomplete pass, and lose a botched snap from center Michael Brewster. An inauspicious beginning, but one that removed the butterflies and assorted nerves that come with the pressures of college football.

Miller would reenter the game in the second half and play well, throwing for 130 yards and a touchdown on eight completions (67%). With Miller in the game, Ohio State operated primarily in the shotgun with three or more receivers split wide, using Miller's mobility as an additional threat with speed options and quarterback draws. In addition to his efficient passing debut, Miller ran for 30 yard on six attempts, showcasing a quickness not unlike former Virginia Tech quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Funnily enough, Joe Bauserman, due to some horrendous tackling by the Zips, ended with more yards and a higher yards-per-carry figure on the ground than the sprightly Miller. Joining the two quarterbacks on the rushing chart, tailbacks Carlos Hyde and Roderick Smith benefited from the suspensions of Dan Herron and Jordan Hall, and the absence of Jaamal Berry's healthy hamstring, which flared up again this week.

Once a forgotten member of the running back rotation, Hyde reshaped his body under strength coach Eric Lichter this off-season, transforming from a pudgy 260-pound freshman into a chiseled 240-pound bowling ball of pain. Lacking burst and quickness, Hyde hammers defenders with pure mass, leaving more than one Akron defender to feel the aftereffects of engaging him in physical combat. Hyde's day, 94 yards on 19 carries (4.9 YPC), was highlighted by a 24-yard run in the second quarter, setting up a Bauserman-to-Stoneburner redzone score.

To be truthful, there's little to say about the defense, mostly due to the continued ineptitude of the Zips' offense and the continued excellence of Jim Heacock's Silver Bullets. Held under 100 total yards, Akron averaged 1.9 yards per play, an abysmal figure. Starting quarterback Clayton Moore was removed in the 4th quarter, likely to preserve his health for MAC conference games. The scrappy Moore took a pounding, suffering repeated hits and pressure from the relentless Buckeye front seven, who compiled five sacks, including one each by freshman defensive tackle Michael Bennett and freshman linebacker Ryan Shazier.

Little Tidbits

• The play of the game, easily, goes to Evan Spencer, who made one of the best catches you will ever see in football. A rough cut of Spencer's one-handed, acrobatic grab is located here.
  
• Former Florida head coach Urban Meyer gushed over Miller's potential, imploring Ohio State fans to view every Miller snap as "an investment."
• At least seven freshmen burned their redshirt. Curtis Grant, Braxton Miller, Doran Grant, Michael Bennett, Evan Spencer, Ryan Shazier, Jeff Heuerman all saw time. Update: According to Ohio State SID Jerry Emig, 12 Buckeye true freshmen played vs. Akron. Only two schools - Texas with 18 vs. Rice and Auburn 13 vs. Utah State - played more.
• Chris Spielman still believes that Ohio State may receive a bowl ban from the NCAA once the ruling is announced in a few weeks.
• With Travis Howard's absence due to suspension, the Zips targeted his replacement, Dominic Clarke, on a few opportunities, but found no success. Clarke may have benefited from his abrupt entrance into the Sugar Bowl last season, where he was forced to play following an absurd string of defensive back injuries.

Poll

How would you grade Ohio State's opening game against Akron?

53%

A

72 votes

41%

B

56 votes

3%

C

5 votes

0%

D

0 votes

1%

F

2 votes

135 votes | Poll has closed