Dantonio surprised by Marshall

The Thundering Herd was very effective offensively in the second half.
By JOHN BASSETTI
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
COLUMBUS -- Ohio State defensive coordinator Mark Snyder saw a familiar scenario during Saturday's Ohio State-Marshall game.
Snyder was with Ohio State coach Jim Tressel at Youngstown State University when the Penguins played Marshall in several big games, including Division I-AA national championships.
Even though both coaches are with a big-time I-A program now, that hasn't diminished the importance of earlier matchups at the lower level.
"It was interesting in that we were back at it again, but, before, it was for all the marbles," Snyder said following OSU's last-second 24-21 win over Marshall.
Atmosphere of its own
Of Ohio State's outcome against Marshall on Saturday, Snyder said was equally important.
"In the I-AA games in Huntington, W. Va. and Statesboro, Ga., you're playing for the top of the mountain and that would be the difference, but playing in Ohio Stadium is also an atmosphere of its own."
Although Marshall is 0-2, Snyder, a former Marshall player, said that the Thundering Herd will create havoc in the Mid-American Conference.
He said he was surprised at how Marshall's offense moved on Ohio State in the second half when the Buckeyes were scoreless until the final seconds.
"Yeah, a little bit," he said of the surprise, but added, "but I'll take some responsibility for that. I wasn't making very good calls because they came out with something new. I hadn't seen it from them since the middle of last year.
"At halftime, it felt like they couldn't run the ball on us. They weren't even trying to run the ball on us. So we came out the second half saying we were going to play some more coverage, but they came out and said, 'we're going to run the ball.' And run the ball they did."
Player's perspective
Defensive lineman Jay Richardson agreed that Marshall's dominance in the second half may have been due to Ohio State thinking pass.
"They were shuffling in middle linemen and trying to pound the ball at us and then doing some zone cutback. Up front, at least, we were thinking pass, but they were pounding the ball at us. That catches you off-balance. The defensive backs were off-balance and we were getting out-flanked with the wide position of the tight end. That's why they were able to get outside of us."