Ohio State Quarterback Shines Amid Season Challenges

The Ohio State Buckeyes‘ win over Northwestern on November 21 has garnered significant attention due to the standout performance of their quarterback, Howard. Held at Chicago‘s Wrigley Field, the Buckeyes exited the field with a decisive 31-7 victory.

Howard has been a subject of interest throughout the season for Ohio State. Known for his efficiency, the quarterback has checked off almost every expectation set for him. His completion rate has reached 72.9%, a notable improvement over his previous seasons, including his tenure at Kansas State.

This season, Howard has matched his career-high 24 touchdowns while reducing interceptions to just five, half of what they were last season. Despite not rushing as many yards as his time with the Kansas State team, his ability to find the end zone remains intact with six rushing touchdowns, according to Ohio State coaching staff. «Throwing deep balls is throwing deep balls,» Howard commented before the game, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of these passes.

The deep ball has been a contentious point for Ohio State this year. Metrics have ranked Howard among the top nationally for deep ball completions, yet the team has faced challenges with consistency. «Sometimes I try to get a little too cute with it,» Howard admitted.

Ohio State’s head coach, Ryan Day, noted, «A big part of it is footwork. He’s thrown some really good balls down the field and sometimes he’s been a little late with his feet.»

Howard’s stats show a 50% completion of deep ball attempts over 30 throws, amassing over 500 yards and four touchdowns. His ranking in deep ball efficiency is second only to Florida’s DJ Lagway, as per Pro Football Focus.

In the game against Northwestern, Howard exhibited marked improvement in his deep throws, making five ‘big time throws’. This has been crucial for Ohio State moving forward as it faces challenging upcoming games.

Ohio State’s offensive coordinator, Chip Kelly, emphasized, «He’s doing a really good job but there’s still improvement needed. If we can get it all together, it’s going to be really impressive.»