Ohio State Football: Final 2015 Positional Grades for the Buckeyes
Ohio State came into the season as the No. 1 team and the runaway favorite to win the College Football Playoff, and it was hard to identify one weakness on a roster stacked with All-American talent.
The Buckeyes fell short, however, thanks to a stunning 17-14 upset loss to Michigan State in Week 12. Urban Meyer's squad looked uneven throughout the entire regular season, and that eventually cost Ohio State a shot at repeating as national champions.
What went right, and what went wrong? Which position groups lived up to the preseason expectations, and which units disappointed?
Quarterbacks
1 of 7
Quarterback was supposed to be Ohio State's strength and was a big reason it entered the season as the national title favorite, but subpar play at the position actually cost the Buckeyes a spot in the playoff.
Meyer went with Cardale Jones to start the year, but Jones looked like a shell of the signal-caller who led the Buckeyes through their postseason tear a season ago. Jones struggled with his accuracy, completing 62.4 percent of his passes and throwing seven touchdowns against five interceptions before Meyer benched him in favor of J.T. Barrett in the second half of the Penn State game.
Barrett lifted the Buckeyes' rushing attack, and he made much better decisions in the passing game with a 10-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio, but Ohio State's passing attack ranked just 104th nationally.
Final Grade: C-
Running Backs
2 of 7
With a running back as productive as Ezekiel Elliott, there's no need for any kind of rotation.
The Buckeyes rode Elliott all season, and he responded with an incredible 1,672 yards and 19 touchdowns on 262 carries, averaging 6.4 yards per attempt. He had two games when he eclipsed the 200-yard mark, the highlight of which came in the season finale when he torched the Michigan Wolverines for 214 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.
Ohio State didn't call on its backups too often, as Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball combined for just 119 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries.
Final Grade: A
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
3 of 7
Ohio State's wide receivers fell victim to the uneven play at quarterback, but it was clear the unit didn't have the resources to handle the departure of senior leaders Devin Smith and Evan Spencer and a slew of devastating injuries.
Michael Thomas was the Buckeyes' best and most consistent pass-catcher, leading the team in receptions (49), receiving yards (709) and receiving touchdowns (eight). He was the only player with more than 500 receiving yards on the season, as Jalin Marshall failed to develop into the deep threat the team needed, and Braxton Miller struggled with consistency at H-back.
The tight end group didn't do much to enhance the passing attack. Nick Vannett and Marcus Baugh combined for 153 yards on 19 receptions, but each was a solid run-blocker.
Final Grade: C+
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Offensive Line
4 of 7
With four returning starters to an offensive front that paved the way to a national title last season, people expected the Buckeyes to dominate in the trenches this season.
That was the case in the run game, as Ohio State ranked 12th nationally, averaging 241.9 rushing yards per game. Left tackle Taylor Decker led the unit, earning first-team Associated Press All-American honors, and guard Pat Elflein anchored the interior while earning AP second-team honors, according to Eleven Warriors.
But the lone new starter, right tackle Chase Farris, struggled this season—especially in pass protection. Opposing offenses consistently attacked the right side of the Buckeyes offensive line with great success this year.
Final Grade: B
Defensive Line
5 of 7
Joey Bosa and Adolphus Washington were dominant forces this season.
Bosa followed up a breakout sophomore season with an outstanding junior campaign, and while he didn't generate the sack numbers he did a year ago, he commanded so much attention that he made just as much of an impact. Despite consistently facing double- and triple-teams, Bosa still averaged 1.5 tackles for loss per game, which ranked 17th nationally.
Bosa's presence alone opened up huge opportunities for Ohio State's other defensive linemen. Weak-side defensive end Tyquan Lewis and defensive tackle Adolphus Washington were the biggest beneficiaries, combining for 11 sacks and 20 tackles for loss.
The Buckeyes also received plenty of production from key reserves, highlighted by Bosa's backup, Sam Hubbard. The redshirt freshman ranked second on the team with 5.5 sacks, and he looks like a ready-made replacement for when Bosa leaves for the NFL.
Final Grade: A
Linebackers
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The emergence of Raekwon McMillan put Ohio State's linebacker corps over the top.
The unit already featured team leader Joshua Perry, who not only served as the voice of the defense, but also brought incredible production to the field with 98 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. Also in the middle was Darron Lee, one of the most disruptive defenders in all of college football. Lee supported the run exceptionally but also dropped in coverage with incredible effectiveness.
But McMillan was the anchor of the defense, leading the team with 114 total tackles. Having a defender that productive in the middle of the defense was a big reason for Ohio State's surge this season.
Final Grade: A
Secondary
7 of 7
Ohio State's secondary was the strongest unit on the team.
Bolstered by safeties Vonn Bell and Tyvis Powell, the back end of the Buckeyes defense held up all season. Bell, who was named a first-team AP All-American, per Eleven Warriors, was sensational as a junior, totaling 63 tackles and a team-high two interceptions and nine pass breakups.
But what set the unit apart was the steady, dominant play of cornerbacks Eli Apple and Gareon Conley.
Apple seamlessly stepped into the role of lead cornerback, replacing Doran Grant from a season ago. He routinely shut down opposing teams' best wideouts and had one interception and seven pass breakups. Conley was just as good on the other side, registering 42 tackles and tying for the team lead with two interceptions.
With a pair of lockdown corners to complement Bell and Powell at safety, Ohio State ranked 12th nationally in passing yards allowed, averaging 176.2 yards through the air per game.
Final Grade: A+
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