After back-to-back subpar performances against overmatched opponents, Urban Meyer and No. 1 Ohio State (4-0) got back on track with a 38-12 victory over Western Michigan (1-3) Saturday afternoon.
The Buckeyes offense eclipsed the 500-yard mark for the first time since the Virginia Tech game, piling up 511 yards after averaging just 330 yards against Hawaii and Northern Illinois.
Here's how Ohio State graded out from the 26-point win over the Broncos.
Ohio State Buckeyes Grade Analysis
Pass Offense
Cardale Jones got the nod at quarterback again, and it was clear that Meyer wanted to get him in a rhythm early. The big-armed junior did just that, completing 13 of 19 passes for 226 yards and two touchdowns through two quarters, but more importantly, he made good decisions and didn't throw an interception.
The second half didn't go as smoothly. Jones missed a number of wide-open receivers down the field and threw a bad interception. He finished the day with a career-high 288 passing yards, completing 57.6 percent of his passes to eight different receivers. J.T. Barrett came in to close out the game and threw an interception while failing to move the offense with any consistency.
Run Offense
The game plan didn't showcase the run in the first half, so Ezekiel Elliott didn't get a lot of work early. His first carry of the game went for 26 yards, and he finished the half with just six carries, accounting for 44 of Ohio State's 49 rushing yards.
That changed on the first drive of the second half as the Buckeyes fed Elliott, giving him five carries during a 75-yard drive. He capped that drive with a six-yard touchdown scamper, which ignited a solid second half. Elliott finished the game 124 yards on just 16 carries, pacing a rushing attack that totaled 223 yards on 34 carries.
Pass Defense
The Buckeyes faced a huge challenge with Western Michigan's passing attack that featured quarterback Zach Terrell and a pair of dynamic wideouts in Daniel Braverman and Corey Davis. But the secondary has been the strength of the team this year, ranking fifth nationally in passing yards allowed through three weeks.
Vonn Bell and Co. did their job, holding Terrell to just 169 yards on 18-of-33 passing. Braverman got free for a 55-yard touchdown on his way to a 10-catch, 118-yard performance, but that was the lone hiccup in an otherwise solid outing.
Run Defense
Ohio State came into the game allowing just 106 rushing yards per game and 2.6 yards per carry this season, but Western Michigan found some big lanes in the first quarter. Jarvion Franklin and JamauriBogan were gashing the Buckeyes, combining to run for 87 yards in the first quarter alone.
The Buckeyes improved in the second quarter, holding the Broncos to minus-three yards, but that was a temporary surge as Western Michigan finished the day with 169 rushing yards on 41 carries.
Special Teams
Ohio State had a sensational game on special teams, and it started early. Tyvis Powell kept the Broncos off the board in the first quarter when he broke free and blocked an Andrew Haldeman field-goal attempt. Late in the second quarter, Corey Smith got through the line and blocked a punt, but it was negated by a holding penalty.
Cameron Johnston was outstanding as well, averaging 61 yards on his first two punts, both of which pinned Western Michigan inside its own 10. He finished the day with four punts that averaged 51.5 yards.
Coaching
Meyer and the Buckeyes coaching staff placed a premium on bringing the explosive plays back to the offense this week after a pair of subpar performances against overmatched opponents. That was certainly accomplished against Western Michigan as the Buckeyes had 13 plays of 15 yards or more on Saturday.
The decision to make Jones the starter at quarterback, and the commitment to stick with him throughout the game, proved to be the difference. The offense found a much better rhythm this week, and the consistency at quarterback was a big part of that.
David Regimbal is the Ohio State football Lead Writer for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @davidreg412.
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