Ohio State Football: Why Buckeyes Offense Must Not Let Defense Carry the Team

Have you heard the overused cliché that "defense wins championships?" Inevitably, it is a true statement. However, looking back on every title-winning team, there is no lack of offensive achievement, either.

In fact, over the last decade, each champion owned a high-caliber offense, scoring at least 29 points per game throughout their respective schedules. Every program had at least one instance where the offense had to carry the defense, as the opposing team put up 21 points or more.

Although Ohio State will be unable to participate in postseason festivities due to its NCAA-imposed bowl ban, it still has the opportunity to play a championship-like season and prepare for the real deal in 2013.

For that to be done, the Buckeyes will need a lot of production from their new spread-option offense, not relying on their defense like years past, and here's why:

Big Plays = Big Problems

Like we saw in 2011, when the offense fails to move the ball, the defense is forced to stay on the field longer than we all would like.

Unfortunately, it also led to a lot of big plays for opposing offenses. When your defensive unit grows tired, it is susceptive to mental breakdowns in both the passing and running game.

The Buckeyes allowed over 35 plays of 20-plus yards throughout last season, and that was largely in part of the offense relying on the defense to get the job done.

That simply cannot be the case in 2012 and beyond.

Above Average Offensive Opponents

There's no question that Ohio State's 2012 schedule heavily favors the Buckeyes, with their opponents combining for an overall 85-69 record last year.

Still, there are teams that are going to give co-defensive coordinator Everett Withers a headache with their ability to put points on the scoreboard.

California proved to be inconsistent with quarterback Zach Maynard under center, scoring 47 points one week and 10 the next. Nonetheless, the Golden Bears are dangerous on this side of the ball and have a solid balanced attack.

Despite his yearlong struggles, Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez had a very successful performance against the Buckeyes in his 34-27 win last year. His dual-threat abilities were too much for defenders and he will be back at it in the 'Shoe on Oct. 6.

Now a member of the Seattle Seahawks, there will be no Russell Wilson for Wisconsin (although it didn't matter in 2011). But don't count the Badgers' offense out—it returns the nation's top touchdown scorer (39) with Montee Ball in the backfield, who is always a home run threat.

And then there's Michigan, who returns Denard "Shoelace" Robinson at quarterback, tailback Fitzgerald Toussaint and receiver Roy Roundtree, who were the catalysts to the Wolverines' 33.3 points per game last season.

These are all legitimate scoring teams, and the Buckeyes' offense will likely have to take control if they want to come out on top.

Doubting Urban Meyer

It may be far too premature, a little absurd and simply ignorant, but if Urban Meyer's implemented spread-option offensive scheme fails in year one with Ohio State, his tactics will be doubted.

The Big Ten is a conference that is known for its traditional, power run-based offenses used because of  the harsh weather conditions anchored in the northeastern part of the country.

Meyer does not have the key pieces he wants for his offense just yet (like the ones from his 2008 championship team), so it'd be unfair to say his SEC-like game plan won't work in the B1G.

But he'll always have his critics.

The Buckeyes don't need this sort of negative attention on their program, so it's essential that Braxton Miller and Co. get things going early and ride momentum into the 2013 season.

Repeat of 2011

If the Buckeyes' offense lets the defense carry the team, we'll see a huge similarity to last season, where OSU finished 6-7 and fourth in the Big Ten Leaders division.

And it must avoid a repeat at all costs.

Time and time again, we witnessed a Jim Bollman-ran offense that would feature a run, run, pass and punt, in order to win the battle of field position. It would then leave the game to the defense, which proved to be reliable in the Jim Tressel era.

However, when a quarterback throws for 127.0 yards per game (115th in NCAA), leading an offense that scores 17 points or less on five separate occasions, it's going to make it a lot more difficult for his defense to lead the way for a win.

In their seven losses last year, the Buckeyes' defense allowed an average of 25.4 points, in which the offense scored 18.3.

Ohio State returns 10 starters to the field from the defensive side of the ball. Although it's expected that it will be vastly improved as a unit, there's no question that the offense will have a huge part in the team's success.

Urban Meyer is transforming the Buckeyes into an offensive football team, something we are not used to seeing in Columbus.


Follow this reporter on Twitter: @Tyler_Waddell.