Ohio State-TCU | Rob Oller's Second Thoughts
![Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins carries the ball during the third quarter [Joshua A. Bickel]](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/authoring/2018/09/16/NBUX/ghows-OH-75eeee51-4f82-1a40-e053-0100007f95db-855fdc4b.jpeg?width=660&height=546&fit=crop&format=pjpg&auto=webp)
• I can’t believe I’m even thinking this, but maybe call a few more quarterback runs for Dwayne Haskins Jr. Don’t stone me. I know, I know, I’ve led the charge for fewer QB carries; probably became J.T. Barrettized over the past four years. But having Haskins run a few more times in “gotcha” situations — like his option keeper for a touchdown against TCU — would not be the worst idea. Then again, some of it falls on Haskins, who in run-pass options prefers to air it out. Can you blame him?
• While on the topic of Haskins, in my nearly 25 years of covering the Buckeyes — and 35 seasons for Dispatch beat writer Tim May — the redshirt sophomore owns the best arm/throwing motion/release of any Ohio State quarterback we have seen. It’s not just that Haskins has great arm strength and accuracy, he shows the confidence — some might say recklessness, but I would disagree with that assessment — to let his receivers make plays. And, maybe as importantly, he is being allowed to sling it. Credit acting head coach Ryan Day with giving Haskins the freedom to fail.
>> See 100 photos from Ohio State's win over TCU
• What separates good teams from great ones? Not just pure talent, but that talent rising to make game-breaking plays. It is fair to pick apart the Ohio State defense for getting gashed too often against the Horned Frogs, but it also takes special players to pull off the kind of plays turned in by defensive end Nick Bosa (strip sack of TCU quarterback Shawn Robinson) and defensive tackle Dre’Mont Jones, whose 28-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter was the turning point of the game. Throw Haskins into that gifted mix and this is the type of team that can go a long way. A long way.