Defense owns day for Buckeyes

Urban Meyer knows the first real test will come at No. 14 Oklahoma next week. The Buckeyes intercepted four of quarterback Dane Evans’ passes, including pick-sixes by safety Malik Hooker and cornerback Marshon Lattimore late in the first half. “The offense was going slow, so the defense and I went out there trying to make a spark”.

The Ohio State put together its best drive of the first half, looking like they were finally ready to roll.

The Hurricane, which gave up 45 unanswered points and was kept out of the end zone for the first time since 2009, unraveled with a catastrophic conclusion to a second quarter that spiraled out of control with a pair of interceptions returned for touchdowns in a span of 2½ minutes. Following the rain delay, Ohio State came out and went primarily to the running game.

See above. It was hard for Mike Weber to get going after a solid debut last week. The 79-year-old Cooper was on hand for Saturday’s game. That would’ve been a good bet going into the season, but when Dante Booker went down with a sprained MCL in the opener, it was fifth-year senior Joe Burger who filled in for most of the game.

After both teams exchanged field goals, both teams entered the second quarter with three points. Hooker and Lattimore each sit with a touchdown and three picks in just the first two weeks of the season.

At halftime, the Buckeyes led 20-3 without having an offensive touchdown and with just 161 total yards of offense.

Lightning in the area extended halftime to about 70 minutes and driving rain fell throughout the second half, chasing away numerous 104,410 fans.

“Right before the half, the picks were a tough pill to swallow”, Montgomery said.

Three quarters of Ohio State’s 2015 secondary plays in the National Football League now – Eli Apple with the New York Giants, Vonn Bell with the New Orleans Saints and Tyvis Powell with the Seattle Seahawks – and yet the Buckeyes haven’t missed a beat. Inexplicably, the offense couldn’t generate any fireworks in the first half against a defense that ranked among the worst in the FBS previous year. They finished with 417 yards. He completed 15 of 32 passes for 127 yards, threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles.

The Cats’ defense picked off Illinois State twice but allowed 372 total yards.

With the Ohio State offense set up on the 16 yard line, and expected to score early and often against a suspect Tulsa defense, it appeared that the scoring was about get started in an instant. Tulsa and Ohio State met for the first time. Linebacker Raekwon McMillan led the Buckeyes with nine.

Whatever was said at halftime worked.

Still, the shocking lack of offensive production in the first half had all of Buckeye Nation uneasy.

“We didn’t underestimate them”.