My wife’s new favorite joke is walking by anytime the announcers mention Ohio State QB Will Howard’s name and proceeding to say, “Will Howard what?” as she cackles to herself and walks away.
It’s a good joke, a great joke even.
But it’s also a fair question.
Ohio State’s success this season rests majorly on the shoulders of the former Kansas State QB.
How will he perform in the big moments when they need him to? We’re about to find out.
Ohio State’s next four games include Iowa, Oregon, Nebraska, and Penn State. We’re going to learn a heckuva lot about this Buckeye team over the next several weeks.
Will Howard despite a couple of bad throws in the Michigan State game, has played exceedingly well for the scarlet and grey. He is surrounded by incredible NFL caliber talent at WR and RB. In practice he routinely goes against one of the best defenses in the entire nation. A group that touts an insanely deep and experience roster.
But we aren’t talking about practice. We’re talking about a game and going on the road to hostile environments like Oregon & Penn State aren’t easy places to walk away a winner. The crowds will be ready, the talent of the opposition will be strong, and it’s going to take the Buckeyes giving everything they’ve got to keep their season goals in front of them.
Preview: Iowa
Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson was quoted earlier this week in saying that even if Ohio State would have offered him a scholarship, he would have chosen to play elsewhere because he wants to beat them.
Sounds to me like someone who would have definitely come to Ohio State had they been offered but that’s just me.
Johnson, currently the nation’s second leading rusher, has been the entirety of the Iowa offense this year. He will have to do so again this weekend against the nations top defense. A defense that has held their opponents to less than 60 yards on the ground. It’ll be a tough go for Kaleb Johnson, where he will have to earn every yard.
The Buckeyes recipe for success is easy. Take care of the ball and shut Johnson down. If they’re able to force the Hawkeyes into 3rd and long situations where McNamara is forced to make play after play through the air, the Buckeyes will roll.
Ohio State 35 Iowa 10
