How Ohio State football QB Will Howard has responded to loss to Michigan
Will Howard gripped a podium inside the Woody Hayes Athletic Center and shrugged his shoulders.
It was more than two weeks since Ohio State had been upset by unranked Michigan, but the frustration bubbled to the surface.
Howard was terse at times on Monday when asked for his reflections on the loss, a contrast to his affable exterior.
“What did I learn?” Howard said. “Can’t turn the ball over.”
Howard insisted he and teammates had moved on from the inexplicable defeat, a setback that kept the Buckeyes from winning the Big Ten, but not one that eliminated them from capturing the ultimate prize.
Beginning with Saturday’s game against Tennessee in the first round of the College Football Playoff, they can plot a path to pursue the national championship and avenge the loss to their bitter rival.
In the fallout of the upset, few on Ohio State’s roster have drawn as much blame as Howard. An experienced quarterback who had risen to the occasion in other big games the fall, his accuracy fell off against the Wolverines.
Howard was twice picked off, his first multi-interception game since transferring from Kansas State in January, and he completed less than 60% of his passes. Both his 57.6% completion percentage and 175 passing yards were season-lows.
Immediately following the loss, Howard said he misfired on the passes that resulted in interceptions.
Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly put blame on himself on Monday.
“I got to put Will in a better position to make plays,” Kelly said. “I didn’t do that.”
Kelly pointed to Howard’s second interception as an example. The Buckeyes faced third-and-7 at Michigan’s 16-yard line in the third quarter when Howard attempted to a fit a pass to Emeka Egbuka between two defenders.
But the ball was behind Egbuka and picked off by Wolverines safety Makari Paige.
Part of Kelly’s second-guessing was owed to having only three targets downfield for Howard, a result of keeping running back TreVeyon Henderson and tight end Gee Scott Jr. in pass protection.
“Maybe we could have gone to a five-man release,” Kelly said, “and get more guys into the coverage, so we could spread the defense out a little more.”
Buckeyes coach Ryan Day praised Howard for his response in practices over the last two weeks in preparation for the first-round game against the Volunteers. In addition to his trouble passing against Michigan, he also took a big hit in the second quarter that resulted in him being evaluated for a head injury.
“One thing about Will is he’s got a very positive mindset,” Day said. “He’s very resilient. You can see he has a bounce in his step. He wants to get back on the field as fast as he possibly can, and he wants to lead this offense.
“It’s going to be a very important part of this game, his leadership, and he’ll be ready to go.”
In a quarterback matchup with Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava, he is the more experienced passer.
Howard has made 40 career starts between Kansas State and Ohio State, while Iamaleava is only in his first year as a starter as a redshirt freshman.
As Howard prepares for the postseason, he expects his intangible traits to give the Buckeyes an edge.
For as much as the loss to Michigan stung, he vowed to help them overcome it.
“It was terrible for all of us, a terrible loss,” Howard said, “but we can’t let them beat us twice.”
He emphasized his leadership in rallying them.
“My ability to push this team,” Howard said, “and to lead this team in this game is going to be crucial and I know that.”
Howard said the Buckeyes showed an edge when they beat previously unbeaten Indiana the previous week.
He added they needed to rediscover it.
“I need to be the one that sparks that and am bringing that all game.”
Joey Kaufman covers Ohio State football for The Columbus Dispatch. Email him at jkaufman@dispatch.com.
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