BadgerBlitz.com brings back it's Behind Enemy Lines series, where we get an opposing beat writer's take on the upcoming matchup.
For Week 4, we spoke to Austin Ward of DottingTheEyes.com, and touched on Heisman candidate C.J. Stroud, the Buckeyes' front seven, and more.
How healthy are the Buckeyes to open up conference play?
Ward: The Buckeyes are certainly not at full strength yet, and they will again be carrying a few nagging injury issues into the weekend. Jaxon Smith-Njigba has dealt with a hamstring issue dating back to the opener, TreVeyon Henderson only played one series last week and rotation cornerback Jordan Hancock has missed all three games. There are teams dealing with more issues than Ohio State, of course. And it obviously helps that the roster is loaded from top-to-bottom and equipped to handle some setbacks, but it has not been at 100 percent yet.
Rohrer's Reaction: The Buckeyes will be just fine. Smith-Njigba and Henderson are names to keep an eye on, but both are expected to play. Ward is right; Ohio State is a revolving door of talent. It would take a lot for them to be in serious injury trouble.
It's early yet, but can C.J. Stroud be the Buckeyes' first Heisman winner since Troy Smith in 2006?
Ward: At the rate he's going, it would be an upset if C.J. Stroud doesn't win the Heisman Trophy. The guy was already a finalist a year ago, and he's playing at an even higher level in Year Two as a starter. All the pieces are in place for him to break that Heisman Trophy drought for the Buckeyes.
Rohrer's Reaction: This guy is unbelievable. Before the season, there were debates as to who's better, Stroud or the reigning Heisman winner, Bryce Young. Through two weeks, Stroud has all but put those debates to bed with his play. His signature trait? Pinpoint, meticulous accuracy.
Have Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka been able to fill the shoes of Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson?
Ward: Without a doubt. There's a case to be made that the ceiling for Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka might wind up being higher than the one raised by that dynamic duo a year ago. Harrison had his breakout in the Rose Bowl with three touchdowns, and he's already added a second three-score game to his resumé this season. Egbuka is getting better every week and could be on the kind of pace Smith-Njigba had last season alongside those first-round NFL Draft picks. It's a scary thought, but those two are a handful.
Rohrer's Reaction: Ohio State's talent at receiver is absurd, and it's terrifying that Egbuka and Harrison might actually better than the first-round pick duo of Wilson and Olave. The rich get richer.
Who has been Stroud's most reliable target thus far?
Ward: He can use all of them reliably, which is what makes the Ohio State passing attack such a headache for defensive coordinators. Now that the Buckeyes are also using the tight end as a threat with Cade Stover, there's even more to worry about.
Rohrer's Reaction: The Buckeyes have so many weapons, you can't hold them all down. The Badgers must have eyes on Smith-Njigba and Henderson, specifically, at all times. Stroud appears comfortable with all his targets, but Wisconsin has to make him go to his third and fourth reads to slow down this offense.
Was Jaxon Smith-Njigba's injury holding him back against Toledo?
Ward: No question. He only played a handful of snaps and came out after his second catch.
Rohrer's Reaction: Smith-Njigba not being at full strength would be massive for the Badgers. He's as dynamic a receiver as you'll find, and if he's limited, Wisconsin could allocate defensive resources elsewhere.
Who's the most dangerous player on Ohio State's defense?
Ward: A healthy Mike Hall is an absolute game-wrecker at defensive tackle. The sophomore didn't play last week while recovering from a left-shoulder injury, but he's expected to be back in the lineup against the Badgers. Hall didn't get a ton of offseason buzz, but he's exploded on the scene with five tackles for loss in just two games.
Rohrer's Reaction: The Buckeyes get contributions from all up and down their front seven; Wisconsin's offensive line has their hands full. Hall is Ohio State's Keeanu Benton, except he's putting up serious numbers.
Are the Buckeyes as good against the run as the numbers say they are?
Ward: The Silver Bullets are living up to the moniker again, and the way the defense swarms to the football is a sight to behold. Any team that expects to rely on a consistent ground game against the Buckeyes is probably going to be disappointed. The depth at defensive tackle behind Mike Hall is not great, so there have been occasional cracks up front. But running on the first-team group is not a winning proposition.
Rohrer's Reaction: Let's see, any team that relies on a consistent ground game...(checks notes)...yep, that's Wisconsin. It'll be strength on strength — you could say any team that relies on a strong run defense will probably be disappointed against the Badgers. Ohio State may be stout around the line of scrimmage, but that won't scare the chronically run-oriented Badgers. I've said it before and I'll say it again: this game will be won and lost in the trenches.
Prediction for the game?
Ward: Ohio State has a clear-cut talent advantage, and it's playing at home under the lights. While the Wisconsin defense has as good of a shot as any in the Big Ten of trying to slow down the Buckeyes, it's hard to imagine this one being all that close. The Buckeyes should win and cover the wide point spread.
Rohrer's Reaction: The 19-point spread feels spot on. I do think this game will be closer than expected, at least momentarily. I can see the Badgers getting an early turnover or busting a big run to keep the game close initially. Ohio State should pull away eventually, it's just a matter of when.
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