By: Doug Lesmerises (Cleveland Plain Dealer) –
Columbus — Ohio State should be glad to be done with Navy, but the Buckeyes aren’t done with the option. While the Midshipmen used their triple option to push Ohio State to the brink Saturday, the option also was one of the best offensive choices the Buckeyes made.

It probably won’t be a go-to in the game plan against USC in five days, but running the op tion five times against Navy, the Buckeyes gained 37 yards and averaged 7.4 yards per play, while on their other 21 runs, tailbacks Dan Herron and Brandon Saine averaged 4.2 yards per play.

“I think that we definitely feel really comfortable doing it, and Terrelle makes real good decisions out there,” Saine said, “so hopefully we’ll see it a lot more.”

With quarterback Terrelle Pryor, the option was certainly part of the package last season — the game-winning play against Wisconsin came on Pryor’s option keeper.

Against Navy, it was a second-half adjustment to the Navy blitz.

“We saw they were blitzing with the zone blitz every time,” Pryor said. “So we saw whenever we were in that formations, they were bringing the blitz . . . so it was successful for us.”

With that blitz, Pryor’s read every time was to pitch the ball. He didn’t keep it once or absorb a blow while he was pitching. Not that he would be worried about that.

“He can definitely handle it,” Saine said. “He’s probably going to hit them anyway.”

The option is just one way to work the threat of Pryor running the ball into the game plan. Ohio State threatened the Midshipmen with planned Pryor run calls on about 15 percent of the plays. Besides the five options, Pryor ran four quarterback draws (though one was wiped out by holding) and one bootleg for a 2-yard touchdown. He ran off a scramble just once, gaining 7 yards.

Officially for the game, Pryor ran six times for 30 yards. Last season, he averaged 11 carries and 49 rushing yards per game. The six carries fit with the coaches’ preseason admission that they’ll run Pryor just as much as they have to in order to win. Against the Trojans, expect him to get at least 11.

In the rest of the run game, Ohio State’s offensive line didn’t always get a consistent push up front, particularly on three straight fourth-quarter run calls that ended with a fourth-down stop that started Navy’s comeback. When that’s not working, the option can provide relief under the right circumstances, though it will be tougher against USC’s defensive speed.

“It’s a hard play to defend, and it’s easy to block,” right tackle Jim Cordle said. “As long as you execute the pitch, it’s going to be a good play for us with the guys we have in the backfield.”

And with the guy they have at quarterback. While Herron and Saine are capable of getting to the edge, the biggest worry for any defense remains Pryor.

“If they had to choose who they’re going to defend, they’re probably picking the quarterback first and making the running backs make plays,” Cordle said, “which they can do.”

The option almost took the Buckeyes down in the first game. Maybe it can help lift them up in the second.