Ohio State has been playing murder-ball so far in the playoffs. I didn't watch but just a few of their games this year, but I found myself asking where has that team been all year? Seems to me the answer is the sudden transformation of Howard. When I've watched them, I mostly shook my head at Howard and I've texted our board-absentee Buckeyecraaazy that I don't know about that kid. I've said it more than once, and imo, it's the biggest factor for why the Buckeyes didn't look better in wins, why they lost to Oregon the first time, and why they lost to Michigan.
But holy cow, he's looked much better in the playoffs, and its unlocked the incredible potential of the rest of the team.
Ohio State may win a NC, but now I just feel like Buckeye fans would be justified to feel even more irritated about losing to Michigan and not winning the B1G. Despite the great talent Michigan has at spots, this Buckeye team absolutely should not have lost to this Michigan team, and the question is why didn't Howard find this footing earlier?
I've been absent since prior to the holidays, but I think I mentioned here I didn't think Tennessee was that great and I thought OSU would win. However, TN wasn't a bad team, and the way OSU treated them like Directional U was quite something. Then they proceed to beast-whip Oregon to the point where I considered calling local police to investigate Jeremiah Smith and the entire Buckeye defense for manslaughter. This is a different animal, and to my casual eye, the difference is the play of Will Howard. He's gone from "How did you get a scholarship at OSU?" to "Good lord, kid, slow down."
The difference isn’t that drastic.
He had just as good of a game against Oregon the first time around. Statistically, better.
They just didn’t play good defense that day and also had 2 turnovers ( 1 fumble deep in their own side that led to an Oregon TD from a short field, and a fluky kickoff/ onside kick that was actually more of a hard-rocket squib that hit the OSU player in the chest)
But all people remember is his slide at the end as time expired. But he got the ball down 1, with 1:47 left and drove them right down the field and into FG range at the Oregon 20 yard line. But then they called that WEIRD OPI on Smith. Then Lanning ran his smart 12 men on the field scam which took 10 seconds off the clock, and that was it.
Howard has been in the top 2-5 all season in QBR and completion %. He did have an occasional bad decision/interception now and then- averaged about 1 per game. ( same as most good QBs)
His only really bad game of course was Michigan. He threw an early pick which gave UM their only TD that day. Props to UM- they baited him.
But he is famous for bouncing back when he makes a bad play. A drive or 2 later he got drilled in the head. Had to leave the game and never looked the same after he came back. Again- props to UM.
But he was recruited to be a game manager and distribute the ball to his weapons. Truthfully- he has been great at that all season. Accurate and efficient with few mistakes.
The thing that might be different now- which makes him look better- is more aggressive offensive game plans and play calling. Remember- OSU was very good running the ball until they lost their projected 1st round LT( Josh Simmons) and their Rimington Awarded best Center- Seth Mcgaughlin. Howard has had to work around that and has been asked to do more.
