Archives for August 2014

Three Preseason Storylines: The Importance of Braxton Miller

August 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Braxton Miller is a huge piece to the puzzle of the Buckeye offense. Last season he threw for 2,094 yards and ran for 1,068. Coming into this season, the hype for the Heisman hopeful is high. Fans expect great things out of Braxton. Sure, there are many weapons surrounding him on the offense but Miller is the key piece to production for the Bucks. The key concern to this season is health. Will Braxton Miller be able to stay healthy?

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I do believe Braxton will stay healthy. He has many weapons around him such as Dontre Wilson, Devin Smith and Ezekiel Elliot. The offense is full of weapons which could lead to less reliability on Miller. Having all of these athletes will help lead to the opposing defense to focus on other players other than Miller. It will definitely be interesting to see who else emerges in this fast offense.

Miller missed spring ball due to shoulder surgery. Braxton has also been limited this fall camp, but is expected to be ready for August 30th against Navy. As of right now there are still concerns whether he will be 100 percent. Urban Meyer stated that Braxton will be ready in time, despite still being limited in practice. It is definitely beneficial that Miller has had a good amount of time to recover. Buckeye fans should see a ready to go starting quarterback against Navy.

The importance of Braxton Miller is a lot higher with no proven backup Quarterback. Cardale Jones was just overtaken by Redshirt Freshman JT Barrett. Both players do not have much game experience. Fans saw Jones play in a couple of games but mostly just to run the ball. With no proven backup, the offense needs Braxton to run the show as much as possible.

Braxton Miller will be a huge part in this season’s offense. I believe he will have a breakout senior year. Look to see improvement in the passing game and players excel around Miller. Coming off a breakout year last year, everyone is excited to see another offense under Braxton Miller.

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, Ohio State Football Tagged With:

Smoke Meets Fire- Denial Meets Inevitability

August 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment

After Tim May of the Dispatch reported last night that Braxton was injured and might miss the entire season most fans instantly went into panic mode. Then other reports came in it wasn’t that serious. Then reports came in that it was even worse possibly career threatening. Today we have some what of a definitive answer…

Braxton Miller is hurt.

Braxton Miller is not going to play this year.

Braxton Miller may or may not seek a Medical Redshirt to play in 2015.

Ohio State fans are sad, possibly dejected, even devastated.

JT Barrett or Cardale Jones or Stephen Collier will start every game this year. OSU will be fine. They have an extreme amount of talent at every position. Yes they will miss Braxton. He is an amazing player and leader and was set to break nearly every QB record OSU has this year.

They will not go 3-9 or 4-8 or 5-7 or 6-6 or well you get the point. The talent and schedule makes this a 10+ win team even without Braxton. Whoever takes the helm still has 4 and 5 stars surrounding him and coaches who are the best in the business. All of them have been taking first string reps in practice since last season ended. Adversity will define this team and it could go either way but odds are…

OSU will be fine!!!

Filed Under: Ohio State Football

2014: The (Other) B1G Coaches

August 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment

This season marks the beginning of a new era for the B1G conference. There are two new member schools, a new East/West divisional structure, and of course the new College Football Playoff as a potential post-season reward. Navigating this new world are 14 coaches in various stages of their careers. We already know all about our own fearless leader, but let’s take a look at where the rest of the head honchos stand:

The Veteran

Kirk Ferentz – Iowa. I’m honestly not sure how Ferentz manages to hang on to this job, but there he is. Still. The only current B1G coach who had his job before Y2K, Cap’n Kirk has only hit 10 wins four times out of 15 seasons, and only once in the last nine.

But guess what? This year Iowa misses Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State and Michigan. They play Wisconsin and Nebraska at home at the end of the season and face Northern Iowa, Ball State, Iowa State and Pittsburgh out of conference, with only the Pitt game on the road. Nine wins should be the minimum acceptable out of that bunch, and I’d guess they snag another one in there too.

Ferentz is a lock for B1G Coach of the Year, which he won in three of those four 10-win seasons, including 2002–when Jim Tressel took Ohio State to the national championship game (the award was given out before he also won that game.)

The Newbie

James Franklin – Penn State. Franklin is in an unusual position for first-year coach. Even though he still has to deal with the fallout of NCAA sanctions related to the Jerry Sandusky scandal, he is unlikely to get any of the forgiveness that coaches typically get in these cases. That’s because his predecessor Bill O’Brien managed a 15-9 record in the first two years under the harsh punishment. If Franklin can’t at least match that performance, fans will grow impatient.

Right or wrong, Franklin needs to finish above .500 right out of the gate to stay off the hot seat. Fortunately for him, he was able to that for two of his three years at Vanderbilt, and went 6-7 in his first year, which tripled the win total from the previous year.

The Safe Zone: Coaches Who Aren’t Going Anywhere Unless They Want To

Mark Dantonio – Michigan State. It’s impossible to overstate what Mark Dantonio has achieved for the Spartans. Besides being the most recent conference and Rose Bowl champion, he has won 69% of his games, including five out of seven against in-state rivals Michigan (the two losses coming by a total of six points.)

Pat Fitzgerald – Northwestern. Following the shocking death of Randy Walker, Fitzgerald was named the new Wildcat head coach. He had no previous head coaching experience, having served as linebackers coach for five years at Northwestern, and for three years before that at Maryland, Colorado and Idaho.

Yet he has become perhaps the most accomplished coach in the program’s history, making five consecutive bowl games and delivering the first post-season win since the 1949 Rose Bowl. He also turned in the school’s second 10-win season in history–the first came when he was suited up at linebacker.

Bo Pelini – Nebraska. I probably could have just as easily put Pelini in the Hot Seat section, since Cornhusker fans are consistently disappointed in how their season turns out. That’s probably because Pelini has consistently lost four games a year since become head coach in 2008.

Exactly four games. Every single year.

I can see how that would get maddening, but it also means he wins nine or ten a year, and it’s tough to argue that he should be let go for that. No, it’s far more likely that Pelini will be let go for choking an official to death and then using the corpse to beat his kicker for missing an extra point.

The Hot Seat: Coaches Who Need To Get Something Done Or Get Packing

Kevin Wilson – Indiana. Indiana doesn’t ask for much from their football program. Get to a bowl game on a regular basis like Bill Mallory did in the late-80s/early-90s, and you won’t hear too many complaints from the Hoosier faithful. But that doesn’t mean IU has a long leash. Bill Lynch only got four years, sputtering for three after reaching the Insight Bowl in 2007. Gerry DiNardo got axed after three years and eight wins. While Wilson’s teams have shown some promise, he needs to make the post-season in 2014 or it’s curtains.

Brady Hoke – Michigan. You probably won’t see the coaches of Michigan and Indiana grouped together too often, but unlike Wilson, Hoke has actually been regressing each season with the Wolverines, to the point that most people now credit his stellar first season more to Rich Rodriguez than to Hoke himself. Yeah, I know.

As if atoning for all of his own failures wasn’t enough, Hoke must try to make up for Lloyd Carr’s infamous loss to Appalachian State in 2007. If the unthinkable happens again, Hoke might not make it to this year’s edition of The Game.

Up-and-Comers: Coaches Showing Promise

Jerry Kill – Minnesota. No, Kill hasn’t posted a stellar record in his first three years as Top Gopher. Yes, his multiple kidney cancer induced sideline seizures have been terrifying and lead many (myself included) to wonder if this is the best job for him. But the most important thing about Coach Kill is that his teams are steadily improving, making him more likely to become the next Glen Mason (or better) rather than the next Tim Brewster.

Randy Edsall – Maryland. Having guided the Connecticut Huskies from I-AA to perennial bowl team over the course of 12 years, Edsall was brought in to take over the Terrapins program after the severely mishandled firing of Ralph Friedgen.* While they may not be quite where Maryland fans would like to see them, Edsall’s teams have been progressing each season.

*Interesting side-note: Friedgen is now the OC at Rutgers, while his former Maryland OC James Franklin is the new head coach of Penn State. All three teams will compete in the new Big Ten East division.

Gary Andersen – Wisconsin. After just one year on the job, Andersen is the best of this bunch so far. He turned in a 9-win season last year that would have been 10 if the Arizona State game had been officiated competently. His Badgers didn’t get blown out in any game, with the worst loss coming in the Capital One Bowl against South Carolina–a closely contested game that ended in a 34-24 defeat.

Too Early To Tell

Kyle Flood – Rutgers. He’s won 15 games in two years with Rutgers, but the B1G (East) is not the same thing as the Big East. If he gets time to adjust, he may end up okay. How patient will Scarlet Knights’ fans be?

Tim Beckman – Illinois. While six wins in two years isn’t great, Beckman’s team improved last year and if he keeps it up, he may prevent Illinois from becoming the go-to punchline of the B1G.

Darrell Hazell – Purdue. Last year was a complete disaster for Hazell. His lone win was a 6-point victory over Indiana State–a team that also went 1-11 last year. (Their lone win was against 2-9 Quincy. We better stop there.)

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, Ohio State Football

How The Braxton Miller Injury Got Blown Way Out Of Proportion

August 19, 2014 by 2 Comments

The way local and national media cover college football stories are completely different; the passion local fandoms and reporters have for their team can turn something as small as a bruise into a possible loss of limb. On Monday afternoon, as news started to leak about Braxton Miller leaving practice holding his shoulder, it began as a simple let’s wait and see, only to turn into a possible career-ending injury.

If you’re looking at facts alone, the Braxton Miller situation is not as season threatening as some Buckeye fans may lead you to believe. Braxton Miller was not involved in any type of contact prior to the injury and the medical staff scheduled his MRI for 24 hours after the injury with a facility to do so less than 5 minutes away from the practice field . Miller simply made a pass and then grabbed his shoulder; this could be a strain, a pull, or something that can be fixed with 1 or 2 physical therapy sessions; the point is, no one knows yet.

People are only looking at the worst case scenario and overlooking the fact that shoulder injuries are hard for anyone (athlete or not) and it’s possible that it was just sore. Even if the worst case scenario were to come true, do people really think that Urban Meyer would forego having a competent and prepared back-up quarterback ready to take the field?

Urban Meyer is one of the winningest and respected coaches in the league, and to think the season is over just because Kenny Guiton is no longer an option, and the others haven’t had much playing time, is a waste of time and energy. When Ohio State lost Terrelle Pryor (unexpectedly) after “tattoo-gate” the team was in a similar situation and it worked out just fine.

Is the relationship between the media and fans merely a lengthy game of telephone, or does the media like using attention grabbing adjectives simply to attract viewers? Lately, as sports related news has become more salacious and less about the actual work on the field, stories that would’ve easily been over looked have been covered for 12 hours a day on some networks.

The sky isn’t falling, and in just a few hours Ohio State will do a press conference and give everyone the updates they are impatiently waiting for.

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, Ohio State Football Tagged With:

Ranking The 2014 Ohio State Football Schedule (Part Two)

August 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Part one reviewed the 2014 Ohio State football schedule, ranking games from easiest to more challenging, as I perceive them to be. Part two will pick up from where we left off, reviewing the games I consider to be within the “Trap Games” category for Ohio State.

7. @ Minnesota (11/15/2014 – kickoff and telecast TBD): This game at Minnesota will be Ohio State’s first game versus the Golden Gophers since the 2010 season, a now-vacated 52-10 victory. Why am I concerned about this game? As in life, timing is everything. Ohio State will be coming off a visit to East Lansing, MI, on 11/08. Even if Ohio State wins versus Michigan State, will Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer be able to have the Buckeyes “up” for a game on the road, against an opponent that plays a physical style of offense, in what could be less than ideal weather conditions? Perhaps I am giving Minnesota too much credit, but I believe this game could be closer than most Ohio State fans realize.

8. @ Navy (08/30/2014 – 12pm EST kickoff, CBS Sports Network telecast): In 2009, Navy came into Ohio Stadium, and nearly pulled off an upset, but were thwarted by former Buckeye linebacker Brian Rolle. While Ohio State has far superior speed and athleticism than the Naval Academy, Navy’s triple option offense will keep Ohio State’s newly-revamped defense off balance all game. For an Ohio State defense that has struggled the past two seasons, it is truly a baptism by fire for new Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash. Throw in the fact that the triple option offense is difficult for a scout team to adequately simulate, and you may understand why I am ranking this game so highly in terms of difficulty for Ohio State in the season opener.

9. Cincinnati (09/27/2014 – 6pm EST kickoff, BTN telecast): Ohio State has defeated Cincinnati in its previous visits to Ohio Stadium over the years (1999, 2004, 2006). With Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville at the helm, Cincinnati went 9-4 in 2013. The old 2002 storylines will be in overdrive leading up to this game. Be on the lookout for stories involving how Coach Tuberville has a winning record vs Coach Meyer, when both were in the SEC. With a 6pm kickoff, this should be a good one.

10. Virginia Tech (09/06/2014 – 8pm EST kickoff, ESPN telecast): The 2014 home opener for Ohio State should be rocking. Virginia Tech is the marquee non-conference opponent for Ohio State this season, and I expect Coach Meyer will try to use this game to highlight the program with recruits in attendance, as well as impress a national television audience. Virginia Tech’s defense, which ranked eleventh in the country in points allowed in 2013, may be disruptive to a still-developing Ohio State offensive line. The special teams battles between both squads will also be something to watch.

III. Rivalry Games: Throw out the records in these contests. Ohio State fans should not be surprised if these games come down to the final play, with Ohio State emerging as the victor or the victim. (Note: In fairness to Penn State, I believe the Nittany Lions will again be in this category for Ohio State, but not this season, with remaining NCAA sanctions against the program.)

11. Michigan (11/29/2014 – kickoff and telecast TBD): That Team Up North. THE GAME. In 2012, Ohio State rallied to win, 26-21. In 2013, Ohio State survived on the road, 42-41. With Michigan head coach Brady Hoke under fire to turn the Wolverines around from a disappointing 2013 season, does anyone doubt that this game will be lacking any suspense or intensity? This could be a game that saves Coach Hoke’s job, or seals his fate. In addition, this could be a game that determines the representative from The B1G’s East Division for its 2014 B1G Championship Game.

12. @ Michigan State (11/08/2014 – 8pm kickoff, ABC telecast): Here is the game that all Ohio State coaches, players, and fans have been looking toward since the Michigan State Spartans ruined Ohio State’s chances to compete for the 2013 BCS Championship. In 2012, Ohio State eked out a 17-16 victory in East Lansing. With an 8pm kickoff, the coaches for both sides will have their hands full making sure their players are not too high for this game, after a full day of probable intensive media attention. I doubt that there is anything that will be done to help the fans, who will have a full day to properly imbibe at tailgates and parties.

There you have it – my perspective on the 2014 Ohio State football schedule, from easiest to most difficult. Let me know what you think. The 2014 football season is just around the corner.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football Tagged With: , , , ,

Braxton Miller Injured, Season in Jeopardy (UPDATED)

August 18, 2014 by 2 Comments

(** Post updated, see below **)

Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch is reporting that Braxton Miller has reinjured his surgically repaired shoulder:

Ohio State senior quarterback Braxton Miller, considered by several polls to be among the preseason leaders to make a run at the Heisman Trophy, reinjured his right shoulder in practice this afternoon, sources told The Dispatch. The injury puts in jeopardy his playing status for the coming season.

This is according to a source and has no been confirmed by Ohio State nor coach Urban, so adjust your panic accordingly. This could be an overzealous source, mishearing a conversation or this could be the most devastating injury for Ohio State’s National Championship hopes since Roy Hall’s ill-fated tackle.

The Lantern tweeted out a few more details, and it doesn’t paint a pretty picture:

Also, from Patrick Maks at 11W:
https://twitter.com/maksimuspatrick/status/501539605217558528

Filed Under: Ohio State Football Tagged With:

RISING STARS: WHICH RECRUITS WILL HAVE THE BIGGEST IMPACT ON OFFENSE IN 2014?

August 18, 2014 by 2 Comments

Photo courtesy of article.wn.com

It’s hard to believe that the start of the 2014 college football season is less than two weeks away. The 2013 season didn’t end the way Urban Meyer and the Ohio State faithful envisioned, but 24 straight wins to start Meyer’s tenure at Ohio State is remarkable. What makes this feat even more astonishing is that Meyer did this with only one full recruiting class of his own. It’s no secret that Urban Meyer is among the best recruiters in the nation. In his two seasons at Ohio State, Meyer has signed two consensus top three recruiting classes. If that’s not impressive enough, when Meyer accepted the head coaching position at Ohio State he transformed their 2012 class into a top five class, nationally, in just over two months!

Ohio State has been fortunate this off-season. Their off-field issues, injuries, and transfer requests have been manageable, thus far, and all 23 players in their 2014 class enrolled successfully. Anything can happen in two weeks, but for the most part, Ohio State’s roster is solidified. It’s always fun to follow the players throughout their recruiting process, but as you know, it’s not always the blue-chip recruits who have illustrious collegiate careers. This is a great time to evaluate the incoming freshman class and project what their contributions will be in year one. In part one of this two part series we will focus on the offensive side of the ball.

 

Marcelys Jones – 6-4, 345 lbs – OL – Cleveland Glenville HS (OH) – Committed 12/25/2012

The first commitment of Ohio State’s 2014 recruiting class, Marcelys Jones, always had an idea that he wanted to be a Buckeye. Playing at Cleveland Glenville you are almost expected to suit up in the Scarlet and Gray, if given the opportunity. Jones held offers from elite programs such as Alabama and Florida State but his first scholarship offer was given to him by The Ohio State University. Although Jones committed early to Ohio State, his recruitment was far from over. In the months leading up to National Signing Day, many felt that Jones would flip his commitment to Kentucky or Alabama. With Buckeye fans holding their breath, Jones decided to sign his letter of intent with Ohio State on National Signing Day. Despite his impressive offer list and an invitation to play in the Army All American Game, Jones was not ranked in the Rivals 300 or 247’s top 247, although both services had him ranked as a 4-star prospect.

Jones decided to take advantage of the opportunity to enroll early at Ohio State and has earned valuable reps throughout the off-season. His decision to enroll early gave him an enormous head start over his classmates, but I still feel confident that Marcelys will redshirt in his first season at Ohio State. I do not see him breaking the two-deep as a freshman so it would not make sense to waste a year of eligibility. I expect Jones to be the next great offensive lineman to come out of Glenville once he becomes acclimated to Ohio State’s offense.

 

Kyle Trout – 6-6, 300 lbs – OL – Lancaster HS (OH) – Committed 2/10/2013

Urban Meyer stressed that his primary focus for the 2014 recruiting class would be the offensive line and his first two commitments on the offensive side of the ball proved that statement to be true. Meyer followed up Marcelys Jones’ commitment with a pledge from offensive lineman Kyle Trout. Trout flew under the radar as most recruiting services didn’t have him ranked at the time of his commitment. Kyle grew up rooting for the Buckeyes and wasted little time committing after receiving his offer from Ohio State. His pledge sparked commitments from Parris Campbell and Lawrence Marshall (now with TTUN) on the same day. Trout later participated at The Opening, sponsored by Nike, and was soon rated as a consensus 4-star prospect by the three major recruiting sites. Trout could easily be the most under-appreciated, over-looked player in Ohio State’s 2014 recruiting class.

Kyle decided to enroll early at Ohio State in order to gain a leg up on the competition. People close to the program say that Trout is the type of player who will outwork anyone. In addition to his strong work ethic, he is extremely athletic. I am confident that Trout will be a difference maker for Ohio State at some point in his career, but it won’t be as a true freshman. I expect him to redshirt this year and compete for a starting role in 2015.

 

Parris Campbell – 6-1, 188lbs – WR – Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (OH) – Committed 2/10/2013

Sunday, February 10, 2013 proved to be a very important day for Ohio State football as two of the most intriguing prospects in the 2014 recruiting class decided to commit to the Buckeyes. Parris Campbell followed Kyle Trout’s lead and gave Urban Meyer a verbal commitment to play football at Ohio State. Campbell is one of the fastest players in the country and had the opportunity to showcase his speed at The Opening on national television. Campbell holds the Ohio high school record for the 60 yard dash with a time of 6.8 seconds. What makes these accomplishments even more incredible is that he graduated high school at 16 years old. Campbell is a consensus 4-star prospect but 247sports has him ranked significantly higher than any other service at #129. Campbell stole Urban Meyer’s attention at the 2012 State Championship game where Meyer was in attendance to observe Campbell’s teammate, Dante Booker. Campbell rushed for 168 yards and 3 touchdowns on only 14 carries in that game and the rest is history. Meyer asked Parris to take an official visit to Ohio State where Meyer extended a scholarship offer and Campbell committed on the spot. Other programs actually held off on offering Campbell because he was so adamant about playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes. It’s hard not to root for a guy like Campbell.

I fully expect Parris Campbell to contribute as a true freshman barring any setbacks. Campbell will start his career at Ohio State as a WR but will also be used out of the backfield. He will also be utilized on special teams throughout his career at Ohio State. Campbell has what it takes to be a future All American.

 

Stephen Collier – 6-3, 215 lbs – QB – Lee County HS (GA) – Committed 6/21/2013

Stephen Collier is my favorite player in the 2014 recruiting class. He has never received any attention from the national recruiting services, despite being invited to the Elite 11 finals and he is perfectly fine with the lack of publicity. He could not be any happier to be an Ohio State Buckeye regardless of what the future holds. He is the type of player you want to represent Ohio State. He comes from a great family who puts academics first as demonstrated by his 4.0 GPA in high school. There will be a tremendous amount of competition at quarterback over the next few years so it is difficult to predict Collier’s success but he is definitely a leader. Recruiting rankings are generally blown out of proportion and fans should trust their coach’s evaluation but it is strange that Collier’s offer list never expanded and his rating never improved after being offered by Ohio State and participating in the Elite 11. Collier was a phenomenal high school quarterback who threw for 2,291 yards with 24 touchdowns and rushed for an additional 1,021 yards and 20 touchdowns his senior year.

Collier enrolled early at Ohio State in hopes of breaking the two-deep rotation at quarterback. If there was ever a year that a young guy like Collier could back up Miller it would be 2014. Ohio State’s backup quarterback situation is dismal but it doesn’t seem like Collier did enough throughout the offseason to solidify the #2 spot. I am confident that Collier redshirts this year as a true freshman.

 

Terry McLaurin – 6-0, 184 lbs – WR – Cathedral High School (IN) – Committed 6/23/2013

Terry McLaurin is another example of someone who you would like to see represent Ohio State. He is a humble, well-spoken guy who gets it done on the football field. He took the recruiting nation by storm at The Opening last year, when he finished #2 in the overall competition. McLaurin showed off his 42.1 inch vertical and 4.37 second forty yard dash. His 1,697 yards and 16 touchdowns (combined) his senior year were good enough to earn him the coveted Mr. Football award in the state of Indiana. McLaurin’s offer list is modest despite being a consensus 4-star prospect. He is another recruit who virtually committed on the spot after being offered by the Buckeyes.

McLaurin is a player who I haven’t heard too much about as of late, but I have been impressed by everything I have seen thus far. I tend to believe that he will see the field as a true freshman but a redshirt wouldn’t surprise me either. His speed and athleticism will make it hard for
Meyer to keep him off the field. McLaurin has the potential to do great things in his four years at Ohio State.

 

Jamarco Jones – 6-4, 306 lbs – OL – Chicago De La Salle HS (IL) – Committed 6/27/2013

Ohio State fans were left holding their breath from Jamarco Jones’ commitment ceremony in June through National Signing Day in February of the following year. Jones picked the Buckeyes over Michigan State but Dantonio’s staff kept fighting until Jamarco signed on the dotted line. Jones, a consensus top 100 player, held offers from virtually every program in the country, was named the MVP of the Core 6 camp, and started at RT in the Under Armour All American Game. Jamarco’s accolades paired with Ohio State’s need at offensive line demonstrate why Jones was one of the most important players in this 2014 recruiting class. Coaches sat on pins and needles when Jones decided to take an official visit to Michigan State one week prior to National Signing Day. Luckily for Ohio State, Jones reaffirmed his commitment to Urban Meyer following his visit to East Lansing.

I am fairly confident that Jones will progress into a future All-Big Ten selection at OT but I don’t see him contributing as a true freshman. It is extremely difficult to come into a program like Ohio State and contribute at offensive line as a true freshman, especially without enrolling early. Barring a catastrophic string of injuries along the offensive front, I fully expect Jamarco Jones to redshirt this year.

 

Demetrius Knox – 6-3, 302 lbs – OL – All Saints Episcopal HS (TX) – Committed 7/28/2013

Fresh off of an unofficial visit to Ohio State, Demetrius Knox opened his recruitment on April 22, 2013 when he decommitted from the University of Texas. Ohio State was always considered a heavy favorite in Knox’s recruitment due to his family ties to Columbus and his childhood dream of dawning the Scarlet and Gray. Knox hinted at the idea of committing to the Buckeyes but most analysts expected him to drag the process out to National Signing Day. Unexpectedly, on July 28, 2013, Knox committed to Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes. Meyer was well on his way to signing the nation’s top offensive line class. Considered the top OG in the country by many analysts, Knox’s offer list is as impressive as I’ve seen. He competed at The Opening and US Army All American Game. Knox flirted with the idea of visiting UCLA prior to National Signing Day but decided to stick with the Buckeyes.

Several OSU insiders feel confident that Knox sees the field as a true freshman but I tend to disagree. Knox decided not to enroll early and I don’t think he has had enough time to become acclimated to Ohio State’s offense. I know Knox will have an incredible career in Columbus but I don’t see any true freshmen contributing along the offensive line this season.

 

Curtis Samuel – 5-11, 190 lbs – RB – Erasmus Hall HS (NY) – Committed 8/16/2013

Curtis Samuel, a consensus top 50 prospect, is the most electrifying player in Ohio State’s 2014 recruiting class. Samuel’s recruitment got off to a slow start with many analysts left wondering why Urban Meyer hadn’t offered him yet. Once Meyer started communicating with Samuel, Ohio State was considered the team to beat. Samuel’s high school coach, Danny Landberg, deserves as much credit as anyone for Samuel committing to the Buckeyes, as he felt Meyer’s system was almost identical to the offense that Samuel ran in high school. Samuel rushed for 1,461 yards and 17 touchdowns (21 total) on only 92 carries (15.9 ypc) in his senior year of high school which was good enough to earn him the Gatorade Player of the Year award for the state of New York. Samuel showed off his 4.36 second forty yard dash and 40.7 inch vertical at The Opening and participated in the Army All American Game.

I have always felt that Curtis Samuel would be the most impactful incoming freshman at Ohio State in 2014 and his decision to enroll early solidified my opinion. Samuel will play the same role that Dontre Wilson played last year, only this year there is no Carlos Hyde so I fully expect Samuel to carry a heavier load. He will back up Ezekiel Elliott but will have specific formations molded around him due to his speed and elusiveness. If the thought of Wilson, Elliott, and Samuel on the field together doesn’t get your blood pumping, you need to check your pulse.

 

Noah Brown – 6-1, 244 lbs – WR – Pope John XXIII HS (NJ) – Committed 9/9/2013

Yes, you read that correctly – 6-1, 244 lb WR! That’s bigger than David Boston in his prime. Noah Brown also has the best hands in this 2014 class. Did I mention that he runs a 4.4 second forty? He has to be the most overlooked offensive weapon in this class. Brown, a consensus 4-star prospect, racked up 1,301 all-purpose yards and 19 touchdowns in his senior year of high school. Despite a hefty offer list and a great senior season, Brown was not invited to the Army or Under Armour All-American Games. He was considered an Ohio State lean for the majority of his recruitment but many analysts were unsure whether Ohio State would accept his commitment. Those questions were answered on September 9, 2013 when Noah Brown gave his verbal commitment to Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Noah Brown has benefitted from Mickey Marotti’s strength and conditioning regime more than anyone else in this class. He put on 35 pounds of muscle in the off-season which will drastically increase his chances of playing early. Everyone knows that Meyer loves the smaller, quick receivers like Dontre Wilson but people seem to forget that Percy Harvin was one of the strongest players on Meyer’s Florida squad. It’s hard to imagine a 185 pound cornerback playing press coverage against a 244 pound receiver like Brown. Brown will find the field this year if he is anywhere close to being ready. He is too unique of a weapon to be redshirted.

 

Johnnie Dixon – 5-11, 198 lbs – WR – Dwyer HS (FL) – Committed 12/17/2013

Johnnie Dixon’s commitment to Ohio State exemplifies why Urban Meyer is deemed “The Closer”. A day after pulling 5-star LB Raekwon McMillan out of the heart of SEC country, Meyer landed a commitment from Johnnie Dixon, a 4-star WR from Florida with offers from Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Florida, and Notre Dame, just to name a few. Dixon participated in The Opening, Army All American Game, and won a state championship prior to enrolling early at Ohio State. He is a humble guy who will represent the program well.

Dixon’s decision to enroll early will certainly help his chances of earning playing time as a true freshman. All signs point to Dixon contributing early and often and a redshirt seems highly unlikely. The competition at WR will be stiff but he seems to have what it takes to become Urban Meyer’s next great WR. Dixon is unique because he’s unlike Meyer’s infamous “Percy Harvin” type WRs. Johnny Dixon is a traditional WR who will line up wide at the X spot.

 

Brady Taylor – 6-5, 293 lbs – OL – Bishop Ready HS (OH) – Committed 1/20/2014

I have always said that I prefer players who WANT to play for Ohio State and no one wants to play for Ohio State more than Brady Taylor. He spent his childhood dreaming of playing for the Ohio State Buckeyes but was unable to earn a scholarship offer from their coaching staff. With other prestigious programs pursuing Taylor’s services, he decided to commit to Virginia Tech on July 29, 2013. His pledge to the Hokies remained strong but he still dreamt of receiving an offer from Ohio State. Finally, on January 12, 2013 he received the offer that he had been waiting his entire life to receive. Taylor took a week to speak with his family and the Virginia Tech coaches and decided to flip his pledge to Urban Meyer and the Ohio State Buckeyes.

As one of the lower ranked prospects in this class, Taylor has a chip on his shoulder. The Ohio State coaching staff has raved about Taylor’s work ethic and progress thus far and he could easily be the diamond in the rough in the 2014 class. I am excited to watch the competition between Taylor, Trout, Knox, Jamarco Jones, and Marcelys Jones. They all have a tremendous amount of potential, now we can wait and see who makes the most of their talent.

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, College Football Recruiting, Ohio State Football

Outlining the 2015 Wideout Possibilities

August 18, 2014 by 1 Comment

The Buckeyes are yet to land a Wide Receiver in this 2015 class. Even though local Canton McKinley Eric Glover-Williams who is committed to the Buckeyes could play the position if need be, most expect the 4-star to instead play on the defensive side of the ball at Cornerback when he arrives to Columbus next fall. Even though the Buckeyes have yet to secure a commitment from a Wide Receiver in this year’s class that is not something to be worried about. The Buckeyes are in on a hand full of targets which include the likes of 5-star Christian Kirk, 4-star Van Jefferson, 4-star Devante Peete, and 3-star Lawrence Cager.

imagesChristian Kirk is the biggest fish out in the market and Urban Meyer and his staff is going full out to try and land his services. Kirk is a 5-10 Receiver from Scottsdale, AZ and has offers from just about every college football team out there. He recently trimmed his list to a final six which included the Buckeyes along with Texas A&M, USC, UCLA, Arizona State, and Auburn. Kirk has been to Ohio State on two occasions with the most recent being on June 21st with his high school coach. Relationships seem to be the most important factor in Kirk’s recruitment and he has great one’s with Freshman Quarterback Kyle Allen and 2015 Quarterback commit, Kyler Murray from Texas A&M. This is one of the top reasons that A&M is perceived as the front runner to land Kirk in the 2015 cycle as they sit at 74% in the crystal ball. The Buckeyes only have 3-Star Quarterback Joe Burrow (who is greatly underrated IMO) in the fold and it is seemed as a weakness in the Kirk sweepstakes. A commitment from Quarterback/Athlete Torrance Gibson on October 20th could help vault Ohio State to the top of Kirk’s recruitment. Two things that Ohio State has going for them is Kirk’s relationship with both Urban Meyer and some of the players already at Ohio State. Kirk is good friends with fellow Wide Receiver Johnnie Dixon who is a true freshman this year and Kirk has compared his recruitment to Johnnie’s. If Ohio State could add the final piece of a top named Quarterback (ie. Torrance Gibson), then Ohio State could land the talented prospect. A team that a lot of people don’t talk about in Kirk’s recruitment and could be a dark horse is USC. The Trojans are of course closer to Arizona then the previous mentioned Buckeyes and Aggies, making it easier for Kirk’s family to attend more games. This is one reason that may help USC’s chances. Another thing that helps USC’s chances is Kirk’s relationship with Quarterback commits Ricky Town and Sam Darnold. Town is one of the top pro-style Quarterbacks in the nation and at one point was committed to Alabama before flipping to USC. Kirk’s recruitment has been and will continue to be a fun one to watch, but hopefully in the end Ohio State is where he chooses to spend his next three to four years.

downloadVan Jefferson’s recruitment has been very intriguing as well. Jefferson is 6-3 Wideout from Brentwood, TN. At one point it seemed as though Jefferson was a lock to choose the Buckeyes and then all of a sudden Jefferson decided to slow his recruitment back down and take more visits. Word is that Jefferson’s parents advised their son to look at all options to make sure the Buckeyes were the right choice. Since then Jefferson took visits to Georgia and Tennessee and both programs vaulted back into Jefferson’s leaders providing Ohio State some stiff competition for the touted player. After those visits, many experts believed that Jefferson was going to choose local Tennessee and changed their crystal ball to show accordingly (currently 50% Tennessee). However, Jefferson decided to make a return trip to Ohio State on July 16th and has since had his recruitment go silent. It seems that Ohio State is back in the thick of things, but no one really knows where Jefferson will land or even when. It will be interesting to see if it will be the hometown Vols, our Buckeyes or the dark horse Bulldogs in the end. You’ll want to keep an eye on this one.

download (1)Devante Peete has said he is very interested in the Buckeyes as he hails from pipeline high school St. Thomas Aquinas. Peete stands at 6-6 and currently has his crystal ball split 50-50 between the Buckeyes and Hurricanes. Peete has flirted with the idea of being a Buckeye often, but he is yet to even visit campus. Peete has been scheduled to visit on numerous occasions including recently on ‘Friday Night Lights’, but every time has had a reason on why he couldn’t make the trip. This recruitment is a pretty easy one to read in if Peete makes the visit to Ohio State, then Ohio State becomes the overall favorite in Peete’s recruitment, but if Peete doesn’t make the trip, then he won’t be a Buckeye and will most likely land at local Miami with his teammates Jordan Scarlett and fellow Wide Receiver Sam Bruce.

download (2)Lawrence Cager is the Wide Receiver that most experts and fans are most confident will end up in the Scarlet and Grey. Cager is a 6-5 Wideout from Towson, MD and recently earned an offer from the Buckeyes after camping at ‘Friday Night Lights’. Cager seemed to love his visit to campus as he got to bond more with Quarterback Torrance Gibson, who he originally met at The Opening. Cager has since narrowed his choices down to a final 7 in Alabama, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Rutgers, Tennessee, Notre Dame, and Ohio State. He recently told me that he planned to make an official visit to Columbus for the Virginia Tech game on September 6th. There is no doubt that the offer from Ohio State was a game changer to him as it was the one he coveted the most growing up a Buckeye fan.  It won’t be surprising one bit to see Lawrence Cager to be one of the names rolled out as an Ohio State signee come National Signing Day 2015. The visit on September 6th should seal the deal.

So as you can see, Buckeye fans don’t get worked up about not having a Wide Receiver in the 2015 class just yet because Urban Meyer is on some great prospects who he has a very good chance of landing. It will just take a little bit of time to see which one’s of Kirk, Jefferson, Peete, and Cager decide to join the family at Ohio State and ultimately don the Scarlet and Grey in 2015.

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, College Football Recruiting, High School Football, Ohio State Football Tagged With: , , ,

Three Storylines: The Coaching Staff

August 18, 2014 by 3 Comments

Surprisingly, after 24 wins in two years, Urban Meyer’s coaching staff remains largely the same. Tom Herman, Kerry Coombs and Luke Fickell–all three heavily rumored to be entertaining head coaching offers–return to the sidelines under Meyer, looking to snag the first College Football Playoff Championship. To fill the holes left by Mike Vrabel (Houston Texans – LB coach) and Everett Withers (James Madison University – head coach,) Meyer brought in a heavy hitter and an up-and-comer. What their impact will be remains to be seen, but we’re feeling optimistic.

Can Chris Ash become the defensive Tom Herman?

When Urban Meyer and Tom Herman showed in 2012, they took a team that had averaged 24.5 points and 318 yards per game the year before and turned it into an offensive machine, churning out an average of 37.2 points and 424 yards. Last year they kicked it up a notch, finishing with 45.5 points and 512 yards per game.

The sacrifice for all that output seems to have been on the other side of the ball, particularly in the passing game. The traditionally stout Silver Bullet defense turned into a predictably exploitable sieve, culminating in 268 passing yards given up per game in 2013. You remember.

Enter Chris Ash, managing to escape the hot-sauce-soaked clutches of Bret Bielema the way no chicken wing or Busch Light ever could. Ash had some success as DB coach and defensive coordinator at Wisconsin, but is still largely unproven.

Not unproven however is Urban Meyer’s eye for coaching talent, so if he thinks Ash can help right this ship, I believe him. Critics may point to last year’s dismal showing at Arkansas, when Ash and the Hogs turned in the #73 pass defense. I’m not going to make excuses for that; I’ll just point out that it’s still 39 spots higher than Ohio State finished. Yeah.

What does Larry Johnson Sr. bring to the table?

Johnson was a mind-blowing hire, and to this day I’m not sure how Meyer convinced him to leave Penn State–literally the only other college he has ever worked for, and where his two sons played football. As well as taking over the D-Line from Vrabel, he also snagged Withers’ Assistant Head Coach title.

I’ll admit that I initially thought this was a primarily recruiting-oriented hire, but after taking a look at Johnson’s accomplishments, that may have been naive of me. His D-Lines at Penn State were top-notch and he produced more conference defensive Players of the Year (5) than any other position coach since 1996.

He seems to be in sync with Meyer when it comes to overall philosophy, focusing on personal relationships with players and placing a high value on fast, relentless play. I have no doubt he’ll be able to pick up where Vrabel left off and then some.

Can Urban Meyer bounce back from the disappointing end of last season?

Meyer hasn’t had many disappointments in his coaching career, from his successful spread experiments at Bowling Green to his world-shocking run at Utah to those jaw-dropping Florida teams. His worst season ever was the 8-5 stumble in his last year with the Gators–a year he was begged to coach by Florida’s AD. That season still ended with a bowl win over… somebody… who can remember these things?

And to call 12-2 a disappointment is kind of absurd, but the back-to-back losses to Michigan State and Clemson in the biggest games of the year were, frankly, disappointing. So, how does Meyer respond?

If history is any indication, pretty well. Meyer’s teams have never trended downward two consecutive seasons. Of course, Ohio State is only the second team he’s gone to Year Three with, but still, BGSU and Utah both improved greatly while he was there.

At Florida he went from 9 wins in 2005 to 13 and a national title in 2006. After another 9-win campaign in 2007, he tore off two consecutive 13-win years and won another championship, before finishing with that 8-win snoozer.

Meyer is a master motivator, and I have no doubt that he is using those two final games as fodder for Buckeye fire this season. Armed with that, a sideline full of play-makers, and one of the greatest coaching staffs ever assembled, watch out for the Urban Meyer Redemption Tour in 2014.

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, Ohio State Football Tagged With: , ,

Ranking The 2014 Ohio State Football Schedule (Part One)

August 18, 2014 by 5 Comments

As Ohio State fans everywhere anxiously count down the days toward the start of a new football season, it is somewhat natural to review the schedule from start to finish. Which game looks to be the easiest? Which game may be the most difficult or challenging? Which game could be a trap for the Buckeyes?

Over the period of two articles, I will give you my perspective on the 2014 Ohio State football schedule, ranking the games from the perceived easiest, through the games that could truly jeopardize Ohio State’s goals of winning the B1G Championship in 2014. Let us begin.

I. Easiest: By my definition, Ohio State should have this type of game well in hand by the end of the first half, and certainly by the end of the third quarter. These are the type of games where it would truly serve Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer to play as many backup players as possible, for live game action and skill development.

1. Kent State (09/13/2014 – 12pm EST kickoff, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2 telecast): A sort of homecoming for former Ohio State assistant Paul Haynes and former Buckeye Najee Murray, this game might get out of hand in a hurry, if past games versus the Golden Flashes are any indication (2002 – Ohio State 51, Kent State 17. 2007 – Ohio State 48, Kent State 3). Yes, I know that Kent State played well in 2012 (11-3 record), but I believe Kent State will be overwhelmed by the superior speed and athleticism of the Buckeyes in this one.

2. Illinois (11/01/2014 – 8pm EST kickoff, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2): Last season, Illinois played Ohio State tough until the fourth quarter before losing, 60-35. Considering how Illinois head coach Tim Beckman is under fire to save his job, how Ohio State is looking at a challenging slate of November contests, and how this will be under the lights in Ohio Stadium for Halloween weekend, I see Coach Meyer wanting to send a message with this one.

3. Rutgers (10/18/2014 – 3:30pm EST kickoff, telecast TBD): Rutgers’ first visit to Ohio Stadium may not be an easy one. Rutgers has a bye week before the contest with Ohio State. Unfortunately for them, so do the Buckeyes. This might be the game that spends Rutgers’ first season in The B1G into a downward spiral.

4. Indiana (11/22/2014 – kickoff and telecast TBD): In 2013, Ohio State had this game well in hand 28-0 by the end of the first half. Indiana did not score until late, losing 42-14. While Indiana has probably made strides defensively, the fact that this game will serve as Ohio State’s final home game of the 2014 season does not bode well for the Hoosiers.

II. Trap Games: Any football coach worries about complacency and overlooking their opponents. Several of these teams have the talent and coaching to stick with Ohio State, possibly until the end of the contest.

5. @ Maryland (10/04/2014 – kickoff and telecast TBD): Maybe I am giving the Terrapins too much credit, but I believe Byrd Stadium will be well-amped for the first B1G contest between Maryland and Ohio State. Maryland WR Stefon Diggs was heavily coveted by Coach Meyer in 2012, and could play for any football team in the country. Ohio State will win this game, but I look for this one to last until the end of the third quarter before the Buckeyes pull away.

6. @ Penn State (10/25/2014 – 8pm EST kickoff, ABC/ESPN/ESPN2): The designated “white out” game for the Nittany Lions, Penn State head coach James Franklin will do his best to have the fans and the players ready for this one. Ohio State is familiar with the “white out” theme, having played at Penn State in 2012 in a similar theme. Another bonus for Penn State is the Nittany Lions will have a bye week before this contest, while Ohio State will not. Revenge will be a topic, as Penn State looks to avenge its 63-14 mauling by Ohio State from last season. Look for a Buckeye victory, but for it not to be easy.

Part two will cover the remaining 2014 Ohio State contests, ranking the games in difficulty as I see them. Hope to see you then.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football Tagged With: , , , , ,
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