Archives for September 2015
Western Michigan Open Thread
September 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Here’s the Open Thread for the Buckeye’s tilt against Western Michigan University.
Five Quick Questions with an Opponents Blogger
September 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Big game is fast approaching. Even though we were fortunate to have Justin Coffin from hustlebelt.com on our podcast I wanted to share some questions along with his thoughts to those questions. We had Justin on our MotSaG Podcast so if you haven’t heard you can now. You can follow Justin on Twitter, very appreciative of him taking the time out to share Western Xichigan football with all of us.
MotSaG: What are the biggest concerns for the Broncos this weekend entering The Shoe?
1. The biggest concern for the Broncos is their run defense and by extension Ezekiel Elliot. In the Broncos’ two losses they gave up over 300 yards per game on the ground to both Michigan State and Georgia Southern, the latter of which rushed for 413 yards. If the Broncos are to contain the Buckeyes in any way, it will have to start by stopping the run to some degree, which is something the Broncos have yet to prove they can do. Another concern I think the Broncos should have is absorbing the initial punch by Ohio State. Last week NIU struck first and really set the tone for the rest of the game, and WMU must be prepared to handle some pressure should they fail to do the same.
MotSaG: Do you think Western Michigan will come in with a hybrid defense like others have been doing to disrupt the Buckeyes offense?
HB: The defensive schemes of Hawaii and Northern Illinois seem to be the hot topic surrounding the Buckeye’s recent struggles offensively. I’m not really in a position to gauge what WMU’s coaching staff is thinking coming into this game, but I think it would certainly be foolish not to try something similar. Personnel differs from team to team, and I’m sure Urban Meyer has something up his sleeve to beat some of these “hybrid” schemes, so WMU will have to put its own spin on what the Huskies did last week in order have similar success. Whatever that wrinkle is, the Broncos will have to commit players to the box to stop Elliot and the rushing attack. The defensive front is simply too undersized – while not lacking for speed – and will have its hands full if too many players are committed to pass coverage. The Bronco pass defense has some new faces this season that are coming into form like safety Asantay Brown, and old faces looking to find their previous form – Ronald Zamort, the nation leader in passes defended last season, but perhaps the most interesting piece is last year’s third leading wide receiver, Darius Phillips, who made the switch to defense and has quickly become the best corner on the team.
MotSaG: What do you think or have seen is the weaknesses of the Buckeyes defense?
HB: Well, the Buckeye defense is only allowing just over 12 points per game, so they are definitely doing something right to cause these power outages. I’m not sure there is one, true weakness. I’m not even sure Northern Illinois did much to expose anything on that side of the ball, either. They amassed just 190 yards of total offense and didn’t even crack the century mark through the air, the beneficiaries of some good field position and turnovers. Speaking of which, Ohio State is very lucky the defense has been so good. Insulating an offense from five turnovers is difficult, and I’m not sure it can be done two weeks in a row. But since I can’t answer by saying Ohio State’s offense is its defense’s biggest weakness, I suppose I need to find something else. If Ohio State has a vulnerability it will be through the passing game, and WMU has a wide receiving corps that can expose just about any secondary in the country if its quarterback has time to throw.
MotSaG: Three keys for the Broncos to walk out Columbus with a victory?
HB: Three keys for a Bronco victory on Saturday
Contain Zeke Elliot
WMU isn’t going to take anybody’s run game away completely, but if you look at WMU’s first two games of the season, the defense gave up a ton of yards on the ground but felt good coming out of the first game and, well, not so much in the second. The reason for this is the lack of a big play on the ground. The Broncos gave up a ton of yards rushing to Michigan State, but never allowed scampers of over half a football field like it did to Georgia Southern a week later. I looked at the box score for OSU’s most recent game (one that I watched start to finish) and was pretty shocked that Elliot’s numbers were still pretty good. He’s going to get his yards, but I think if the Broncos make it difficult to find space, they have a chance to stick around in this one.
Keep Terrell Upright
To win you have to score more points than the other team, right? Ohio State is giving up just 12 per game and I’ll guarantee WMU gives up quite a few more than 12 points on Saturday. If the Broncos are going to keep pace with the Buckeyes, they need to give their quarterback time to throw. Zach Terrell (Fort Wayne, Indiana) is regarded as one of the best in the MAC, and completed 67.9% of his passes last season. So far this year it’s been a bit of a roller coaster for Terrell, going from being very good against Michigan State to very poor against Georgia Southern. If the Broncos get the best of Terrell on Saturday, they can pick apart a very good secondary, but Bronco fans won’t get a chance to see that if Joey Bosa and company are pounding him into the turf.
Score without your offense
A major reason WMU was able to stick around against the Spartans was a 100 yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Darius Phillips. In fact, Phillips had a career high in return yards in a game that day, and he did it all in just the first quarter. Another performance like that out of Phillips will go a long way towards taking some of the pressure off of the Bronco offense to move the ball.
MotSaG: What are your predictions for the game?
HB: I don’t take pleasure in picking against my alma mater, but if NIU couldn’t do it with 5 turnovers, then I don’t see any way the Broncos can pull this off in Columbus. P.J. Fleck was an assistant on Jim Tressel’s staff in 2006, so maybe he will have some insight for WMU on how to deal with the environment at The Shoe, but words can only help so much. I think WMU responds well to an initial punch by the Buckeyes and fades gradually into the fourth quarter. 42-17 in favor of Ohio State sounds about right to me.
Once again thank you to Justin for all his help this week. Lets go Buckeyes!!
Noon Games Open Thread: Week 4
September 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Some notable games today at noon:
| Week 3 | ||
| Game | Time | TV |
| #8 LSU vs. Syracuse | 12:00 PM | ESPN |
| #20 Georgia Tech vs. Duke | 12:00 PM | ESPN2 |
| Southern vs. #7 Georgia | 12:00 PM | SECN |
| #22 BYU vs. Michigan | 12:00 PM | ABC |
| Central Michigan vs. #2 Michigan State | 12:00 PM | BTN |
| Bowling Green vs. Purdue | 12:00 PM | BTN |
| Kansas vs. Rutgers | 12:00 PM | BTN |
| Southern Mississippi vs. Nebraska | 12:00 PM | ESNN |
| Indiana vs. Wake Forest | 12:30 PM | ESPN3 |
| Northern Illinois vs. Boston College | 1:00 PM | ESPN3 |
The Rivals, Part V: Confidence Game
September 26, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Urban Meyer is, according to the only other man anyone would consider for the title, “the best college coach right now in football.†Those are Nick Saban’s exact words. Although to be fair, he said that on GameDay last week before Ohio State turned in what Meyer called “one of the worst-executed performances since we’ve been here.†He wasn’t just talking about the players; Meyer is the type of person who, if you were to invite him to your house and sucker punch him at the front door, would blame himself for not expecting it. He also has an unimpeachable track record of quickly turning setback into progress, so if you think you’re going to get another jab in, he will make you pay.
While there are a number of issues contributing to the uncharacteristic lack of offensive production, the foremost in everyone’s mind is the quarterback situation. To say that it’s been a rollercoaster ride would be both a cliché that I am better than and also an entirely accurate metaphor. Neither starter Cardale Jones nor backup J.T. Barrett has been impressive since week one. It’s enough to furrow the brow of even the most optimistic fan, except: week one. Both QBs looked great against Virginia Tech in the opener and have inexplicably regressed in the following two games.
Jim Harbaugh has no doubts about his quarterback. Jake Rudock has not performed well in any of the three games so far, yet there doesn’t seem to be any significant challenger behind him. One could argue that this is actually a preferable position to be in, and it probably is, if your team isn’t shouldering the expectations that come with returning a large percentage of a national championship team and being the first-ever consensus #1 team in the pre-season AP poll.
Harbaugh has the luxury of being a slam-dunk hire at a top-notch program coming off an extended period of poor performance. Every win is another Reese’s in his plastic pumpkin bucket. When you have no expectations, your confidence can’t be shaken. Michigan’s 2-1 record is viewed as an improvement, despite being exactly the same as last year. (In fact, the Wolverines haven’t started worse than 2-1 since 2008, when they only won three games all year.)
And for all the indecision Meyer seems to be having about his quarterbacks, one thing still hasn’t changed: Jones will start again today, for the seventh consecutive game. He is currently 6-0 as a starter, although it’s difficult to credit him for the NIU win. Many fans are disappointed by this decision, and you can’t really blame them. It’s a pretty typical reaction when the starting QB is struggling, even when the backup didn’t finish fifth in Heisman voting the previous year.
But if you can’t have confidence in a three-time national championship coach who has won 93% of the games he’s coached at Ohio State, then who exactly is going to earn your trust? Consider the stats of Barrett, Jones, and Rudock so far this year:
A. 56.5% completion, 7.3 yards/attempt, 118.82 rating
B. 64.8% completion, 6.4 yards/attempt, 118.46 rating
C. 57.1% completion, 5.5 yards/attempt, 116.61 rating
A is Cardale Jones. J.T. Barrett is C. Yet, I’m pretty sure Urban isn’t lying awake at night, cursing the heavens that he doesn’t have Jake Rudock on his roster.
An area where both teams (and fan bases) can find an abundance of confidence is the defensive side of the ball. Northern Illinois’ Drew Hare threw for around 360 yards in each of his first two games, but only managed 80 against Ohio State. Similarly, Michigan stifled the UNLV running game, which had put up respectable if not stellar numbers in their first two games. Through three games, both teams rank in the top 15 in yards allowed per carry, and in the top 25 in yards allowed per pass attempt. Overall, Ohio is #3 and Michigan is #7 is yards allowed per play.
Of course, all that really matters is the score, and again both teams do a phenomenal job of keeping their opponents out of the end zone. Ohio State is giving up just 12.3 points per game, good for #11 in the country (tied with Clemson.) Michigan is right behind, giving up 12.7 and sharing the #13 spot with Wisconsin.
Today, Michigan welcomes #22 BYU, fresh off a disappointing 1-point loss to UCLA. A victory in this game could potentially catapult the Wolverines into the top 25. Statistically, BYU doesn’t really excel at anything except game-winning Hail Mary passes. This is a prime opportunity for Michigan to make a statement in a game against a team that is probably overrated.
Ohio State will be hosting Western Michigan and looking to play with the kind of confidence they displayed on Labor Day night, which seems much longer than just 19 days ago. The Broncos only real strong point is their passing attack; QB Zach Terrell has already thrown for 947 yards this year (that’s over 400 more than Ohio State’s QBs) and his backup is Joe Flacco’s brother, who looked decent in limited action against Murray State last week.
Preview: Western Michigan Broncos
September 25, 2015 by Leave a Comment
The Ohio State Buckeyes will look to settle an under-performing quarterback battle but mainly to improve their record to 4-0 this coming weekend when they take on Western Michigan. Here are the need-to-knows about the game:
When: Saturday, September 26 @ 3:30 pm
Where: Ohio Stadium. Columbus, Ohio
TV: ABC/ESPN2
Spread: Ohio State (-27)
The Western Michigan Broncos bring in a 1-2 record into Columbus in hopes of knocking off an uninspiring Ohio State Buckeyes team who is still struggling to find its starting quarterback.
This is something that Broncos head coach PJ Fleck will be looking to take advantage of in his game plan to stop the Buckeye offense. Interestingly, Fleck knows the Buckeyes well as he was a graduate assistant for OSU in 2006. Fleck played at Northern Illinois as a wide receiver, and he is currently 10-18 in his coaching career at Western Michigan. While earning 2014 MAC Coach of the Year, Fleck made some progress with an 8-5 record, but his team fell to Air Force in the bowl season, 38-24.
Players to Watch
Western Michigan’s aerial attack with star wide-outs Corey Davis and Daniel Braverman should be provide a good test for Buckeye corner-backs Eli Apple and Gareon Conley. Davis and Braverman recorded a combined 164 receptions, 2,405 receiving yards, and 21 touchdowns last season. So far this season, they’re on pace to pass those markers. In the first three games, Davis has tallied 309 yards on 18 receptions with three schools, while Braverman has amassed 398 yards on 40 receptions and also three touchdowns.
The gunslinger for the Broncos is junior quarterback Zach Terrell who has thrown for 947 yards and eight touchdowns so far this season, six of them going to either Davis or Braverman.
For the good guys, it will be intriguing to see who Meyer starts at quarterback, but I would expect to see more of Braxton Miller who was only targeted two or three times in last week’s game against Northern Illinois. I would also keep an eye out for junior h-back and wide receiver Dontre Wilson to fully emerge as a true weapon in the midst of an offense with so many other weapons. Wilson made an impressive appearance, albeit a small one in last week’s game against the Huskies. He recorded three receptions for 20 yards, but he showed the quickness and speed that has been lacking from the offense thus far. Lastly, a true deep threat is still needed for “Zone 6” to replace last year’s Devin Smith, and I expect Johnnie Dixon to have a solid game at the receiver position this week.
Prediction
Western Michigan – 10 / Ohio State 52
This should (hopefully) be the week that the Buckeyes offense explodes and figures themselves out. Even though the starting quarterback is still unknown, I expect either one to get out of their slump. Meyer should correct the offensive struggles out with Warriner and Beck, and the results will be explosive and more reminiscent of the season opener against Virginia Tech.
The defense will remain solid despite giving up one touchdown to the Broncos’ passing attack, and the fans should be able to breathe a sigh of relief before the Buckeyes start their Big Ten Conference slate with Indiana the week after.
For those looking to break the game down with the opposition, you can check out the Broncos Stampede forum.
Ohio State Looks To ‘Buck’ Western Michigan Broncos
September 25, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Two very sluggish and lackluster offfensive performances in a row. Coming off a game that saw starting quarterback Cardale Jones post 4/9 passing for 36 yards, with 2 interceptions, the popular opinion was that J.T. Barrett would claim the starting quarterback spot against Western Michigan.
As is often in life, popular opinion was incorrect. Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer stated that Cardale Jones would still start at quarterback.
Urban Meyer Made a Statement with Actions: We Don't have a Quarterback Problem http://t.co/zEClnTDevK pic.twitter.com/uTxlGOdLYk
— Tony Gerdeman (@GerdOZone) September 24, 2015
While the quarterback decision loomed over the proceedings this week, there are other areas related to Ohio State that must be considered as they take on Western Michigan in Ohio Stadium at 3:30 pm ET on ABC (or ESPN, depending on where you live).
1. Establishing A Consistent Offensive Identity ~ I completely agree with Coach Meyer when he states that “Quarterbacks are product of those around them”. I also believe that in many respects that Ohio State may have an issue with having too many weapons that the coaching staff is trying to incorporate into the offense. If you are not aware of how Meyer came to design his style of the spread option offense, please click on this link to learn about when Coach Meyer was an assistant at Notre Dame, and a painful loss to Nebraska that did not include former Fighting Irish WR David Givens.
What is the point? That in the quest to include playmakers, Ohio State is deviating from what led them to the emphatic victories over Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon on their way to the national championship in 2014.
To make Cardale Jones more effective at quarterback, Ohio State needs to be able to run the ball with authority against Western Michigan. Yes, I know Ezekiel Elliott has been running for over 100 yards against Hawaii and Northern Illinois, but the running game has not been nearly as dominant as it was last season in those aforementioned games. Once Ohio State has the dominant running game going, it will open up the passing game for play-action opportunities down the field. Once the running game is going north and south, it will open up the opportunity to run east and west with Braxton Miller or Curtis Samuel out of the wildcat. In case this sounds familiar, it is because I mentioned it earlier this week on our regularly scheduled edition of the Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast with Shannon Sommers.
2. Be Patient With Cardale Jones ~ Easier said (or in this case, written) than done. No quarterback can get into a rhythm if they believe they will be pulled after the first time a mistake is made. I was in Ohio Stadium last weekend against Northern Illinois, and the mood was palpable after Jones threw his second interception that Barrett would be entering the game. While I hope and believe Jones will play better than he did against Northern Illinois, it is crucial for Jones’ confidence that he is given the opportunity to go the distance, to squash any chances of a quarterback controversy from growing beyond the point that it already has.
3. “A Lot Of Hope Is Dangerous” ~ If that phrase sounds familiar, props to you for recognizing it. Northern Illinois left Ohio Stadium feeling that the game at Ohio State was winnable, as Ohio State only defeated them 20-13. How does this relate to Western Michigan? It will be important for Ohio State’s psyche to crush the hope of Western Michigan, early and often. Once Ohio State gets a lead, it will be crucial to maintain a level of intensity that has not been seen this season since the opening game victory at Virginia Tech.
Prediction: Look for Ohio State to come out with a focus and intensity after what can only be presumed as a physical week of practice. While I have no idea how Cardale Jones will perform, look for a better game plan that will take the best of Jones’ talents, and the offensive line playing at a level not seen since the opening game. I am going Ohio State 42, Western Michigan 14.
I would be remiss if I did not give many plaudits and compliments to my co-host Shannon Sommers on the Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast for lining up the esteemed Bill King as a guest. Bill was tremendous in our interview, and if you have not yet heard the podcast, you are really missing out on what was a very informative and fun time.
The Silver Bullets are Back!
September 24, 2015 by Leave a Comment
You guys know the old saying, “Defense wins Championships.” As old as that is, and how disputed that often is, it consistently turns out to be true. Just look at XLVIII between the Broncos and the Seahawks. A case of offense vs defense, and we all remember how that turned out; 43-8, Seahawks were champions.
Ohio State is one of the most historic and most prolific programs in college football history. With each championship was a great defense. In the latest championship before Urban’s arrival, the 2002 season, the Ohio State defense was one of the best in the nation, with 24 points being the most allowed all season. That 24 points was in a double overtime game against Miami (FL) that was arguably one of the best teams in college football history. Although the offensive game has certainly evolved since then, that number is extremely impressive.
Over the years, the Ohio State defense has taken the name of “The Silver Bullets.” A bunch of fast, angry, and hard hitting football players. In 2012, Urban Meyer’s first year as the Buckeyes’ Head Coach, he wanted the defense to play like like their predecessors. Although Urban didn’t have anything near the skill or depth that he wanted, they did fairly well. They consistently held their opponents below or around the 20 point area, but they did have a rough two game stretch where they allowed 38 and 49 points against Nebraska and Indiana respectively. As you may remember, that team ended up a scrappy 12-0, but with a bowl-ban, they couldn’t go any farther.
Then in Urban’s second year the team had high expectations. Junior QB Braxton Miller was a huge heisman candidate, and with more depth built, some had projected this team to potentially make it to the National Championship. The team and defense were rolling early, but at the end of the Wisconsin game, tragedy struck the Silver Bullets. Safety captain and leader Christian Bryant went down with a season ending injury.
“We lost Christian Bryant last year, one of the best safeties in the country,†Meyer said after the 2013 season. “I knew deep in my heart when I saw his leg break against Wisconsin that there was a chance that we wouldn’t be able to go play for a national title.” “When I saw that leg snap right in front of me, it’s a tough game, on the second-to-last play against Wisconsin, I knew in my heart we had a problem. But I thought we might be able to overcome it. We did not. We did not.â€
There were some very tough, and surprising games for the Buckeyes down the stretch, such as the 60-35 victory against Illinois and the 42-41 victory against TTUN, Â and many people knew this would not get it cut. The Buckeyes were, of course, 12-0 going into the B1G championship game, though. After the historic Alabama defeat at the hands of a field goal return for a TD against Auburn, the Buckeyes were a lock for the National Championship if they could beat a Michigan State team that had greatly struggled on the offensive side of the ball all year.
As Urban alluded to, the Buckeyes did not get the job done. Not only was Michigan State’s defense extremely tough, but our defense got embarrassed by Connor Cook and Sparty. After a rough regular season for the Buckeyes on the defensive side of the ball, this was the near tipping point for Ohio State fans everywhere. #FireFickell was definitely trending.
Like I said, Michigan State was the NEAR tipping point, the Orange Bowl was certainly THE tipping point. Although the Orange Bowl definitely wasn’t what the Buckeyes wanted, it was a BCS Bowl, and Urban wasn’t going to let them get purely embarrassed by Clemson on a huge primetime stage. After a fairly close game between two teams that were famous for scoring, Clemson edged Ohio State 40-35. Even though it was just a 5 point loss, everyone knew that consistently  allowing 35 points was never going to win a National Championship.
Then, start the 2014 season, and exit Everitt Withers, and enter Chris Ash. “We’ve competed against a Chris Ash defense before and I have respect for him as a coach,†Meyer said after Chris’s hiring. “I like the fact he has experience in the Big Ten Conference and that he is a great recruiter. He was highly recommended by everyone I spoke to.†This man, Chris Ash, was expected to turn around the Ohio State defense.
With the injury of Braxton Miller and the relative inexperience of many positions, this team was expected to be good, but probably one year away from a national championship. In the first two games of the season, the Buckeyes allowed 17 and 21 points, which was slightly disappointing for many people. There was a good reason for it, though; there first game was against Navy, which is obviously a challenging triple-option offense. After preparing for that all off-season, and then having a week to prepare for a regular spread, the Buckeyes were a bit behind, but shortly afterward they started rolling.
Their next game was against Kent State whom they shutout, then they allowed 28 points against a high-powered Cincinnati offense led by a highly recruited QB named Gunner Kiel. The Buckeyes next main challenge was against Michigan State who was vastly improved from the year before. Ohio State ended up victorious with a 49-37 win, with the defense coming up with a few huge stops.
The Buckeyes then embarked on their famous 3 game journey against 3 of the top teams in the nation in Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon. Against Wisconsin, many people were questioning Ohio State’s run defense. They went against the (at the time) top running back in the nation in Melvin Gordon, and ended up holding him to under 100 rushing yards, and they shutout the Wisconsin offense. Next came Alabama, and the best WR in the nation, Amari Cooper. The defense held Amari Cooper to under 100 yards receiving, and although they allowed 35 points, they had huge stops at certain times to end up beating one of the most physcial teams in the nation.
The final test came against one of the best offenses of this decade, and their heisman winning QB, Marcus Mariota. After a first drive TD, the Buckeyes held Mariota and their up-tempo offense in check. Oregon scored just 13 points the rest of the game. Ohio State won 42-20, holding Oregon to their lowest point total in over 2 years. “I think the defense the last 3 games was as good as I’ve ever witnessed.” said Coach Urban Meyer.
Were the Silver Bullets actually back? That was the question during the off-season. Can the defense replace Doran Grant, Curtis Grant, and Michael Bennett? Will it ever be as good as the offense? Well, so far, 3 games into the season, the Buckeyes have seemed to sufficiently answer that question. In the 3 games, the defense has only allowed a total of 37 points, with 24 coming in the 1st game of the season against VA Tech, and many of them coming off a series when the offense turned the ball over. Going against a fairly high-powered offense in Northern Illinois, Ohio State only allowed 13 points, even though the offense turned the ball over 5 times.
“Haven’t watched all the secondaries in the country, the defensive back fields, but I take ours, especially the way they’re playing, the way they worked, the way they’re coached. We went from one of the worst pass defenses in America two years ago — I know we’re No. 1 in the Big Ten, but we have to be up there in the national rankings. I haven’t seen that. But playing at a high, high level.” said Urban when asked about the play of the DBs this season.
“Offensively there are going to be great days and there are going to be bad days. Defensively, there are going to be great games and already going to be bad games,†Chris Ash said. “But the true measure of a great team is you can balance each other out and pull through tough times when one side of the ball maybe didn’t have a great game or the other side of the ball didn’t; the playmakers on the opposite side pulled the team through and you get a victory.â€
It’s different to see the Urban Meyer – led Buckeyes defense having to pull out a victory for Ohio State considering the offense this team has had and was suppose to have this season. Though the offense may not struggle like this again, it’s good to know the other side can step up and win the game. We hope they don’t have to do what they did against NIU again, but if they do, they will be ready. The Silver Bullets are back.
SHOW ME THE MONEY!
September 24, 2015 by 2 Comments
In a recent interview on ESPN, former Oklahoma tailback, Marcus Dupree, told ‘Highly Questionable’ host Dan LeBetard that he was offered $250k a year to play at an unnamed university (that’s over $700,000 a year in 2015, inflation adjusted value). Dupree went on to say that he was also offered an OIL WELL by another school. Yep, an oil well (He says mom made him turn it down). After hearing about this, I did a little research to see who else in college football has or could’ve been cashing in. 
Erick Dickerson. We all know him right? Former SMU running back. Hall of Fame running back from the Rams. He says that he was offered $50,000 in cash by one university to commit there. Dickerson also admitted that he was paid by Southern Methodist. He says he, “never got thousands of dollars or condominiums and all of that kind of stuff,” but if he ever asked for $50 for spending money, he got it.
And then there was Reggie Bush. He’s one of the best to ever play at Southern Cal, but unfortunately he has been disassociated with the football program completely in the last few years; due to an NCAA investigation that uncovered that he and his family received improper benefits that included monetary benefits of about $100,000 and staying, rent free, at the $757,000 home of Michael Michaels; an alleged agent of Bush. SC is just now recovering from sanctions handed down by the NCAA in 2010, that included a two year bowl ban, a vacation of all wins that Bush played in; including the ’05 national championship. The Trojans were also docked 10 scholarships per year for three years.
SMU is said to have received the “death penalty” from the NCAA after there program was suspended for two years. USC has taken about five years to recover from their scandal, and they still are not where they were as a program before it all happened. So the question remains, is paying players worth it? Even if they are the best players? All it takes is for the wrong person to find out and your entire program could be in jeopardy.
Quarterly Appraisal Report: 2015 Buckeyes
September 24, 2015 by 1 Comment
Believe it or not, the 2015 regular season is a quarter of the way complete. Even though the #1 Buckeyes are sitting at 3-0, there is a lot that needs fixed.
Ohio State has made a smart move and hired me- Nick Picker (2 time America’s Top Business Analyst) to come to Columbus and give a report on how each department is running.
Despite the 6 figure salary it brings me, appraisals are arguably the dumbest invention in human history. Confused as to why your business is struggling? Why not pay some arrogant jamoke thousands of dollars to come visit you for a week and pass judgement? Mortgage appraisals are even worse…
You want house? Not before some nerd slithers around your new place and cuts the value of your future home by 10K because Ned (who lives a mile away) lost his job and got his house foreclosed on (This is literally how it works).
What were we talking about? Oh football. I graded every department of the Bucks on the standard business model: Needs Improvement, Meets Expectations or Exceeds Expectations based on the first three games.
Here’s my Quarterly 2015 Ohio State Football Appraisal:
Of course I will start with the Quarterback Department:
Grade: Needs Improvement
Assessment: There is too much talent here between Barrett and Jones to play as poorly as they have the last two weeks. Not all the fault lies with them and I will get into that later.
Action Plan: Start using your legs more. This offense has flourished when the quarterback is a threat to keep the ball and for some reason this has been forgotten the last two games. This will open up the field more for everybody on offense.
RB and HB Department:
Grade: Meets Expectations
Assessment: Elliott is still the best player on offense and will start breaking more long gains when others around him improve. Braxton and Samuel (now moved to WR) have been steady. Need more big plays. Brionte Dunn should get more carries.
Action Plan: Other than some concerning fumbles, there is not much these guys can do until the blocking and passing game improves. Just keep hitting the holes and eventually the big plays from week 1 will be common place.
Wide Receiver Department:
Grade: Meets Expectations
Assessment: The only reason this wasn’t a needs is because Michael Thomas (on the few chances he has been given) has been exceptional. It seems every time he is targeted it is a first down, pass interference or touchdown. Curtis Samuel has been moved to WR on this weeks depth chart due to injuries to Parris Campbell and Noah Brown. Freshmen Johnnie Dixon and Terry Mclaurin need to become veterans and quick. Is Corey Brown still on the team?
Action Plan: To everybody but MT: If you’re not going to become a downfield threat then at least start blocking. Start going downfield more and make Braxton run legit WR routes 5-10 times a game.
Tight End Department:
Grade: Needs Improvement
Assessment: Does Ohio State have tight ends anymore? Nick Vannett had a few catches last week and appeared to find holes in the zone but how about somebody make a play? Marcus Baugh is supposedly coming along…
Action Plan: Go on the field and do normal tight end things like block and make a catch.
Oline Department:
Grade: Needs Improvement
Assessment: Out of sync is the best way to describe this unit. Odd fronts have caused confusion, penalties and no room for the running game. Very disappointing for a department with so much experience.
Action Plan: How about when you practice during the week you actually prepare for multiple fronts? Understand that when you are Ohio State and defending National Champion that teams will try to trick you with new wrinkles. Maybe get your mean streak back?
Dline Department:
Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Assessment: Stifling the run game and chaotic pressure on the quarterback have been the norm for this crew. Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard have been outstanding newcomers while Joey Bosa and Adolphus Washington have been QB and RB nightmares.
Action Plan: Keep doing what you’re doing.
Linebacker Department:
Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Assessment: Joshua Perry and Raekwon McMillan have been steady tacklers and exactly what is needed for the defense. Darron Lee has been arguably the best defensive playmaker in the nation. My goodness does he have a nose for the ball.
Action Plan: Stay healthy as the backups are still an unknown.
Defensive back Department:
Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Assessment: Minus two misdirection plays in the first week, this unit has given up nothing. Von Bell is always around the ball making plays, Tyvis Powell is solid as usual, Eli Apple has gotten even better after a great freshmen year and Gareon Conley has performed 10x better than anybody has expected.
Action Plan: For the love of Woody, do not change.
Kicking Department:
Grade: NA
Assessment: I am too important and make too much money to waste my time on evaluating kickers.
Action Plan: NA
Offensive Coaching Department:
Grade: Needs Improvement
Assessment: Yikes, where to start? Odd play calling, quarterback limbo and a complete change of identity from a National Title year have killed the mojo on offense. Seems like they are making life difficult by trying to appease all the playmakers.
Action Plan:Â Most importantly- pick a quarterback. One.
Quit trying to force the ball to players by design; call the best play for the situation and let the players decide who will step up. It’s time to quit worrying about feelings.  On 3rd and short in 4 down territory, quit calling deep patterns; give it to Zeke.  Throw the damn ball to Michael Thomas downfield at least 5 times a game; good things will happen.
Defensive Coaching Department:
Grade: Exceeds Expectations
Assessment: With great players and an aggressive approach, yards are hard to come by for Buckeye opponents so far.
Action Plan: Go to the offense meeting rooms during the week and coach them on keeping it simple and playing aggressive.
2015 Buckeyes Final Grades
Grade: Needs Improvement
Assessment: This team is not national championship caliber yet. The good thing is not many other teams are either.
AP: Let it ride boys. Enjoy the game again.
