Ohio State Buckeyes' Success Runs Through Chris Wells

Ohio State hopes the Wells won’t run dry Saturday night.

Last week against Michigan State, Chris Wells had 31 carries that wore down an overmatched Spartans defense. The Buckeyes will look to go back to Wells Saturday night against No. 3 Penn State in hopes of finding similar offensive success on the tails of their 45-7 victory in East Lansing last week.

The emergence of Terrelle Pryor and his ability to beat defenses with his arm or his legs has made things significantly easier for Wells. This rapid maturation has provided a tandem that seems to be hitting its stride at the right time for Ohio State.

Because of the versatility of Pryor, opposing defenses are trying to do anything they can to contain him. Teams have used linebackers as spies, and and at other times have brought corner blitzes. As soon as teams key on Pryor, however, "Beanie" becomes primed for big plays. 

At 6’1” and 225 pounds, not many expect the Akron native to be a quick back. He is remarkably fast for his size, though, and couples his speed with a devastating stiff-arm to be, arguably, the best runner in the Big Ten. Many teams have loaded the box this season to attempt to slow him down, but Wells’ ability to kick the ball outside and beat defenders to the corner allows the Buckeyes to have an ever-present offensive threat. 

Saturday’s prime time matchup will showcase a highly anticipated head-to-head meeting between Wells and outside linebacker/defensive end Aaron Maybin, a 6’4”, 236-pound sophomore who's wreaked havoc on opposing teams all season long. He is a devastating pass-rusher and does not miss open-field tackles. Although cliché, this may be best summed up as a battle of the unstoppable force against the immovable object.

Maybin keys a defense that will likely come out looking to apply heavy pressure early on, with a scheme of zone blitzes designed to contain Wells and confuse Pryor. The key for Wells’ success lies in his offensive line’s ability to create holes for him, and Pryor’s effectiveness in managing the game. As long as the Buckeyes stay close or play with the lead, the ground game will be a viable option and leave Ohio State with its best chance to win. 

Look for the Buckeyes to pound the ball with Wells in various single-back and shotgun sets, try and open up their passing game, and keep the Lions guessing all day. If Ohio State does this effectively, Wells should go for 150 yards on 30-plus carries with a couple scores and give the Buckeyes a big win in Columbus, resulting in a huge edge on winning the Big Ten outright for the third straight year.