The scrambling QB erasers -- Caleb Downs, Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles; plus Brandon Inniss time and Jedd Fisch's history with Ohio State: Doug Rants

Ten thoughts on Ohio State football heading into Saturday's showdown at Washington

Ten thoughts on Ohio State football, with the No. 1-ranked Buckeyes 8.5-point favorites at Washington on Saturday.

1. Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. is the most diverse quarterback run threat in the country. According to PFF stats, he’s second in scramble yards among power conference quarterbacks at 46 per game, and fourth in yards on designed runs at 40 per game.

   Those are two different skill sets. Some quarterbacks are great in the zone-read, but don’t know when to take off when a pocket breaks down. Others thrive in the chaos of scrambles, but can’t execute a planned run game very well.

   Williams is both. He’ll keep the ball outside on called read plays, turn upfield and make quick cuts. Ohio State corners must help tackle on those plays.

   And while he’s not a one-read and run kind of quarterback — he doesn’t look to run instead of throwing — he is decisive when a pocket breaks down, and he’ll escape up the middle of the field.

2. Not that the Buckeyes can’t handle that.

   In the second line of its defense, Ohio State has three of the best scrambling quarterback erasers in the country in linebackers Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles and safety Caleb Downs.

   Williams can rip it, and receiver Denzel Boston and running back Jonah Coleman are as good as any skill players in the Big Ten (outside of Jeremiah Smith). But Williams’ running ability unlocks that offense, which has been the best in the country on third down, converting 75 percent of them.

   If you see the Buckeyes pinning in Williams early on with their pass rush, as those defenders in the middle of the field take away his escape lanes, the magic in the Washington offense will dissipate.

   

   Sonny Styles is one of the Buckeyes who will be tracking down Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. on Saturday. (Photo courtesy of Ohio State)

3. Opponents didn’t seem to spy Williams much during the Huskies’ 3-0 start, but Washington head coach Jedd Fisch knows the Buckeyes have the guys to hover in the middle of the field and track Williams down when he goes.

   “We would expect them to have some spy variation, whether they use Caleb Downs, whether they use Reese, whether they mix and match different guys to keep an eye on Demond,” Fisch said. “That’s fine. They gotta keep an eye on Demond and then Jonah and (backup running back Adam Mohammed) and Denzel and other players as well

   “We understand that challenge, of what they’re gonna do to try to take away the quarterback run game, and we’ll have to adjust.”