Justin Fields to Thank for Red Zone Success of Ohio State Offense

Big plays make the headlines and the highlight shows, but if you're looking for the reason Ohio State is 6-0 and ranked No. 3 at the midpoint of its season, think small.

At least, plays of smaller distances resulting in touchdowns.

Oh, the Buckeyes are explosive with sophomore transfer Justin Fields at quarterback, tailbacks J.K. Dobbins and Master Teague and a stable of receivers the envy of most teams in the nation.

It's nothing unusual for OSU to strike quickly, as it did with Dobbins' 67-yard touchdown run and Binjamin Victor's 60-yard touchdown catch and run in a 34-10 win over Michigan State on Saturday.

Ohio State's best hope for playing national championship-caliber offense, however, hinges on its dramatic improvement this season getting touchdowns off trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line.

Its 80% TD success in the Red Zone so far ranks 12th in the nation and is a stark contrast to its 61% TD conversion rate on similar possessions last year.

That 6-out-of-10 struggle was the lowest of Urban Meyer's seven seasons and it's no mystery why.

For all his success as a passer, Dwayne Haskins was not a viable rushing threat and OSU seldom put him under center in short yardage.

Couple that with an offensive line that wasn't playing nearly as well as this year's edition, despite four new starters, and the Buckeyes battled Red Zone inefficiency throughout most of 2018 until improving over the final four games.

Fields is a vastly superior rusher to Haskins.

Not only is Fields a threat to keep the ball on the Zone Read, but he's also a more effective scrambler.

It's out. It's back.

All 130 QBs ranked after 6 weeks.

I'm here for the spirited debate, rude comments, reasons why your favorite QB should be higher, etc.

1. Joe Burrow
2. Jalen Hurts
3. Tua Tagovailoa
4. Justin Fields
5. Sam Ehlinger

1⃣-1⃣3⃣0⃣: https://t.co/m10ZDJkkre
— Cam Mellor (@CamMellor) October 9, 2019

Besides that, Day has schemed numerous plays with Fields under center inside the 10-yard line.

That complicates a defense in short-yardage situations, because it must deal with Dobbins and Teague getting hand-offs with a full head of steam approaching the line, and must honor Fields on bootlegs or the type of physical edge rush he scored on against MSU.

Day held his breath after that because Fields took a big hit and got up gingerly, but that's a value judgment the OSU coach will likely have to make frequently over the back half of the schedule with games approaching against No. 8 Wisconsin, No. 10 Penn State and No. 16 Michigan.

"There’s a give and take, a calculated risk every time that happens," Day said. "Again we don’t want him taking shots or expose him. But at the same time he’s a talent and he’s a load. It’s not like he’s skinny or he’s going to take too many shots, and he actually delivers the blow on some guys. That’s the way he’s built. He’s big and strong which really helps."

Fields has rushed for 283 yards on 57 attempts, but those totals are deceiving because OSU has been so dominant it hasn't been forced to rely on him as a rusher.

Four of its wins have come by 40 points or more, and the two others by more than three touchdowns each.

That may not change in the regular season because Wisconsin and Penn State both must play in Columbus and Michigan, though on the road, currently lacks the offensive firepower to hang with OSU.

But beyond that beckon neutral site games either against Wisconsin again or Iowa in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis and then the College Football Playoff semifinals, where Alabama, Georgia and LSU might await, as could Clemson or Oklahoma.

The threat of Fields' rushing, particularly in the Red Zone, would be valuable commodity then.

"We don’t want to be in a situation where we have to run him too much," Day said. "But when you get in the Red Zone or you get in those certain situations where it’s such an advantage for us, then if we’ve got to go win the game we’re going to do it.

"And he understands that and he’s been great about it. And he’s shown the toughness that we need to do that."

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