Inside Slant

The Sports Xchange

November 13, 2018 at 9:20 pm.

Run game shows improvement in win over Spartans

One more road test remains for No. 10 Ohio State before its attention fully turns to archrival Michigan for a game that presumably will decide the East Division representative in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Ohio State’s visit to Maryland for a Big Ten game Saturday (noon ET, ABC) provides another chance for the Buckeyes (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) to build on a 26-6 victory last week at Michigan State in which the defense and special teams ruled the day.

The offense still hasn’t rediscovered the groove it was in before the Oct. 20 loss at Purdue, but coach Urban Meyer did see some positive signs from the beleaguered running game against a Michigan State defense that’s No. 1 in the Big Ten in fewest yards allowed per game on the ground.

Running back Mike Weber ran for 104 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. That’s not a lot of yards, but it’s encouraging for the Buckeyes despite managed just 120 yards on the ground.

Meyer said Ohio State will see a similar defensive scheme this week at Maryland (5-5, 3-4), though the Terrapins aren’t as formidable as Michigan State. He also knows that teams need to be able to run the ball in the chilly, unpredictable November weather.

“This is going to be very same. It’s a rugged group,” Meyer said.

The 100-yard rushing mark is an important number because Ohio State has a 15-0 record the past three seasons with a running back breaks that barrier.

“Mike Weber, probably his best game,” Meyer said. “I know he’s had more yards, but as far as physical against a rush defense like that, 22 carries, 104 yards, most of it post-contact.”

That’s not to say Ohio State’s focus will be one-dimensional. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins is closing in on school season records for touchdown passes and passing yards, and a strong performance this week could bode well for his confidence and for the receiving corps going into the showdown with Michigan the following week in Columbus.

“We didn’t play our best ball” against Michigan State, Haskins said, “but the good thing is we have another game to play and we’ve got a lot of potential and we can keep getting better.”

Haskins’ numbers have dropped off slightly in recent games, but that’s in part a product of more pressure from pass rushers and some drops by receivers. He still ranks among the national leaders in passing yards (3,280), touchdown passes (33), yards per game (328.0) and completion percentage (68.9).

“I think his development has been very good to this point,” Meyer said. “We’d like to see him catch fire again.”

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