MotSaG Podcast with the Fighting Gobbler’s Dwight Lester

September 2, 2015 by 1 Comment

Chip Minnich and myself had the opportunity to discuss the Virginia Tech and Ohio State rematch in Blacksburg, VA. We discussed a lot about the game from the stadium atmosphere, players and everything else in between.

The three of us also made some predictions on the biggest games for this upcoming weekend. Have to see who we took and how we did, we will keeping score amongst ourselves.

Chip and I also talk about the Tim Beckman terminatrion at Illinois. We also discuss the Noah Brown injury and who needs to step up then we wrap up the show talking about the newly elected captians. We even give a prediction about who we feel will be under center when the game starts Monday night.

It was a great honor discussing the match-up with Dwight Lester. You can enjoy hos work over at fightinggobbler.com or you can hit him up on twitter @HokieHiVP107.

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

Stanley Jackson Offers Insights On Playing QB For Ohio State (Part Two)

August 21, 2015 by 2 Comments

The battle between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones for the starting quarterback position will be the most scrutinized area by both the fans and the media as the Buckeyes prepare for the 2015 college football season. Everyone has an opinion on how it will turn out, but I thought I would go straight to a source who is as well-versed on the subject as anyone.

Stanley Jackson (@Jacksonville8) is a former Ohio State quarterback who knows a thing or two about what it is like to go through a quarterback battle, having experienced it himself with former teammate Joe Germaine during the 1996 and 1997 seasons. Mr. Jackson is an analyst for the Big Ten Network and WTVN 610 radio in Columbus, Ohio. Married with four children, living in Marion, Ohio, Mr. Jackson was kind enough to participate in a telephone interview after a work day at Buckeye State Bank, where he is owner and vice-president. The first part of the interview dealt more upon Mr. Jackson’s career, where part two focuses more upon the impending quarterback battle between J.T. Barrett and Cardale Jones.

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CM: What if J.T. Barrett winds up as the starter? Just from my perspective, could you see maybe Cardale Jones getting the second half?

SJ: Coach Meyer has a history of platooning guys, with Chris Leak and Tim Tebow. Here’s the problem with that. Both of these guys have the talent to possibly win the Heisman Trophy or be an All-American. They are both special. I don’t like platooning. I think you have to make a choice. I think back to when Joe and I were platooning, and neither one of us were picked as All-Big Ten; the year Joe was the starter, Joe was All-Big Ten. I would love for them to say that this is an open competition; whoever comes out on top is going to be the guy. As good a run that Cardale Jones had, Cardale became the starter because J.T. Barrett was injured – I don’t think a player should ever lose a job due to injury. I like both kids. I think they are both very worthy, they both deserve it, I think it is going to be a hard fought battle. I would hate to see a platoon system. I hope Coach Meyer picks a guy, and goes with him, no matter who it is. You can sometimes run two different offenses, and that can become confusing for the group as well.

CM: How surprised were you with the news that Braxton Miller was changing positions? Was that something you anticipated?

SJ: I am not very surprised. It was a tough decision for Braxton. My gut tells me that the arm has not healed enough for Braxton to be able to make all the throws. Very rarely do you see a kid make a decision like that when they can still play quarterback and switch; they have a love for the position and they want to prove everyone wrong. You look at Denard Robinson, who has emerged as a good running back in the NFL; everyone knew just from his pure stature that he was not going to play quarterback in the NFL. It took him losing his shoulder at Michigan before he made the position switch. I grieve with Braxton that he had to make the choice, and Coach Meyer is telling everyone to pump the brakes, but I think it is more about Braxton’s health than about a possible NFL career. If Braxton goes out and runs a 4.3, benches well, runs a tremendous shuttle time, the NFL will look at him for sure, because they want athletes. I think Braxton would like to go out with a bang, but I think it is difficult to win the Heisman as a wide receiver or an H-Back. The last wide receiver to win the Heisman also returned kicks (Notre Dame’s Tim Brown in 1987). Also, all of the talent at Ohio State is working against him – are you stealing touches from Mike Thomas, Jalin Marshall, Curtis Samuel, Dontre Wilson, Ezekiel Elliott? All of those players are special football players. It is a tough thing.

CM: You mentioned earlier about your career and how you had a period of growing up, needing to mature, and things you may have done differently. Ohio State recruited two quarterbacks in Joe Burrow and Torrance Gibson. What kind of advice would you give to those players as a former Ohio State quarterback as the season gets closer, as someone who has been down the path they are currently following?

SJ: That’s easy, whether you are redshirting or not. That’s another very interesting battle, because Braxton has moved to the H-Back, so you have to find the third quarterback. Two five-star quarterbacks coming in, both had outstanding high school careers. One of those guys is going to compete to be the third guy. Not that it means whoever wins the battle this year is going to keep that pole position, but that could put you in the catbird seat for when J.T. Barrett graduates. That’s an important race there. Either way, redshirting or not, what I would tell both of those guys is don’t waste a year. It is very easy to waste this year and lay back, not watch film like you’re a starter, not throw balls like you’re a starter, not be attentive at practice like you’re a starter. Then if they take you and have you run the scout team it can make it even easier for you to check out. Don’t check out on these minutes; this is your foundation year. You are building a foundation for the rest of your career at Ohio State. The reality for me is I was in a situation where I was the third string guy behind Bob Hoying and Bret Powers. Tom Hoying, Mark Zban, and I all competed for the third string spot all fall camp, and it was exciting then, but once the battle was over, it was not exciting anymore. Tom and Mark were running scout team, and they were getting more reps than I was because I was the third string guy, and I was watching most of the time, and it lost its luster for me. There were a lot of days when I wasted time, I checked out, and I wasn’t learning or getting better. I wasn’t throwing balls, and I didn’t stay extra after practice; a lot of times, I was probably the first guy off the practice field, so I wasted the year. Don’t waste the year. Every moment is vital. Get better every play.

CM: Last question, and this is more of a personal request. You work for The Big Ten Network as an analyst – I love when they show these Ohio State classic games, but they never show Ohio State defeating Alabama in The Sugar Bowl, or Ohio State defeating Oregon for the national championship. Anyone you can talk to at BTN about playing those games?

SJ: Don’t worry; they are chomping at the bit to play those games. Those are probably the two most watched games in the history of Ohio State football, maybe even The B1G with the beginning of the playoff run. I am not 100% sure, but as we were working those games, we could not show all of the clips. Those games were shown on ESPN and Fox Sports. I am not sure what the deal is with ESPN and how long they get that stuff, but eventually the license will run the course and BTN will be able to show those games. BTN will love to show those games. Those games are still being shown on ESPN. I will certainly go on BTN and ask that question for you.

CM: Do you know if you will be an analyst for BTN at any Ohio State games, like maybe the Hawaii game on September 12th?

SJ: I think they are trying to keep me away from doing any Ohio State games; I have about five games this season. This is my second year providing color commentary. Glen Mason is also a Buckeye, and he is the main guy. He will get to do most of the Ohio State games on BTN.

CM: Your BTN duties begin soon?

SJ: BTN Live, then Big Ten Football And Beyond on Wednesdays, and I will be scattered across the network on Fridays, Saturdays, and Mondays.

CM: You will also be working with Coach Bruce, right?

SJ: That is fair to say. We have a podcast, and we are presently in negotations with WTVN 610.

CM: It is so great to hear you speak about all of the positive things that have come about after your career at Ohio State.

SJ: Thank you. Please be sure to send me a copy of the article when it comes out.

CM: Will do. Thank you, sir.

I cannot thank Mr. Jackson enough for his time and patience with participating in this interview. Please be sure to follow him on Twitter @Jacksonville8, as well as Mr. Jackson’s media opportunities via The Big Ten Network and WTVN 610 AM in Columbus, Ohio.

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The Road for Braxton Miller

July 10, 2015 by 2 Comments

We all remember the big scandal; Jim Tressel was gone, and big-time Heisman contender Terrelle Pryor left for the supplemental draft. The future looked pretty rough at the time, we were left with no good QB, and stuck with Fickell as the intern head coach. We all remember that there was some hope, elite high-school QB Braxton Miller was on his way, having to be ready to take the reigns.

 

He began the season as the backup to all-time great Joe Bauserman. In Braxton’s first game against Akron, he saw little action, but you could see the excitement that he brought. He finished the game with 8 of 12 passes for 130 yards and 1 TD. After slim to no playing time the next two games, and horrific games from Joe Bauserman, all of Buckeye Nation knew who needed to come in, and take his spot as the next potentially great QB at Ohio State. In the 4th game of the season against Colorado, Luke Fickell finally gave Braxton the keys to the offense, and gave him the start. Braxton threw for 2 TD’s, and ran for 83 yards in this 37-17 victory. It was obvious that the team wasn’t great, but we all knew that the future was here. Braxton eventually helped lead that team to a bowl game, and he finished the season with 1,159 passing yards and 13 TD’s, along with 715 rushing yards and 7 TD’s.

Then in 2012, one of the best things that could happen for Braxton Miller and all Buckeye fans happened, Ohio State hired Urban Meyer as their head coach. Braxton’s talents were going to be especially used in Urban’s spread system. This new coach came in and really changed the culture of the program, and many of the sports world saw it through ESPN’s segments of Ohio State “training days”.

With a team lacking a lot skill and depth, Urban Meyer and Braxton Miller led the Buckeyes to an undefeated 12-0 season, but they couldn’t participate in the off-season because of sanctions. Braxton really carried the team on offense that year, especially since team had very few playmakers that Urban craves. Urban said that it was just “Braxton left, and Braxton right.”, which is very honest if you watched the team play. Braxton finished his first full season as a starter with 2,039 passing yards and 15 TD’s along with 1,271 rushing yards and 13 TD’s. He was also awarded with the Chicago Tribune Silver Football, which is the award for the B1G MVP; he was the first Buckeye to do so since Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith did so in 2006.

The 2013 season finally came along, and with it were some huge expectations (Heisman sized) for Braxton and the team. The team was out of sanctions, and Urban had been with the team for two years, and he had acquired some other playmakers by then as well. The thought was that this team could end the SEC’s reign over college football, and take home a Crystal Ball for the first time since 2002. For Braxton, the season didn’t start out great, as he got injured halfway through the 2nd game of the season against SDSU. Kenny Guiton filled in for a couple of games, and did such a great job that many Buckeye fans were cheering for Kenny to be the starter even when Braxton returned healthy. Urban knew the type of player Braxton was/is, so he told everybody that Braxton would be the starting QB when he came back. Braxton returned as the starter against Wisconsin where he showed off his arm and his legs, and he grabbed the victory 31-24. The Buckeyes mostly cruised through the rest of the schedule – but nearly gave us a heart attack against ttun – and took their 24 game win streak to Indianapolis where Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes were going to try and capture their first win in a B1G Championship game. After being behind early, Braxton put up a valiant effort against Michigan State’s defense that was arguably the best in the country. The comeback wasn’t enough, and Urban and Braxton had their first loss together. Still, Braxton won another Silver Ball, becoming only the second Buckeye to win B1G MVP twice (Archie Griffin is the other). Because of that loss, though, they missed the chance to play FSU in the championship, but went to play Clemson in the Orange Bowl. Braxton was working his “magic” once more, but took a hard hit fairly early in the game, and took another huge hit on a TD pass to Carlos Hyde. Braxton didn’t look the same the rest of the game, and he eventually threw a late INT to seal the game. The Buckeyes had lost two in a row, but worse than that, Braxton tore his labrum. This injury started a roller coaster of a ride for Braxton.

 

Braxton had surgery for his shoulder and was going through a quick rehab process so that he would be ready to start the first game of his senior year. There were plenty of rumors floating around that Braxton wouldn’t be ready, but Urban quickly shot those down. Then, 12 days before the game against Navy, Braxton got hurt in practice. Nobody hit him, but in a throwing motion, he re-tore his labrum. Not only would this be a terrible process for Braxton that would take approximately a year, but this would be a terrible season for the Buckeyes because of all the players they lost to the draft, and the lack of playing experience for the other QBs. J.T. Barrett ended up getting the start, and after a shaky first two games, things started coming together. “Dang, J.T. is good” all of Buckeye Nation was thinking. After going 10-1 and being a serious Heisman contender, J.T. broke his ankle against UM. The team was finally going to hit a wall with a 3rd string QB, but nope. Cardale Jones came along and put together one of the best first three starts in college football history winning the B1G Championship, the Sugar Bowl, and to cap it off, the National Championship. During this outbreak of two of the “Magnificent 3” more rumors came out about Braxton transferring. Braxton had to transfer, right? He couldn’t be a Heisman contender and then have to come back and fight for a starting job.

On Thursday, July 9th, Braxton finally ended all transfer rumors by saying he was staying. “I’m from Ohio; this is my home state,” Miller told The Dispatch. “This is where I started, and this is where I’m going to finish it.” This is arguably the most interesting situation in College Football history, but it’s great to see 3 guys not shy away from competition. It’s also great to see how the competition isn’t getting the best of any of them. Urban recently said that Cardale’s best friend on the team is J.T. Barrett. “They’re so close, how cool is that?”

Braxton also went on in his “statement” to say “God put me on this Earth … to be an athlete, and the first thing in mind is being a quarterback, and just be smart about what I do.” “I know who I am as a person. I know who I am as an athlete,” he also said. “As it stands right now, I know I am the best athlete in college football. If any competition wants to come my way, I’ve just got to be smart about things and just stay looking forward.” To me, that speaks volumes his willingness to play, and it sounds like that if he needs to play a different position he will.

No matter what happens in this intense competition, Urban will surely find a way to get Braxton on the field. He is a special player and athlete, and if you need a reminder go watch these.

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

Minnich’s Thoughts On The 2015 Ohio State Spring Game: Offense

April 24, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Before discussing the spring game, huge compliments to Buckeye Nation for showing up strong, setting a national attendance record with 99, 391 filling Ohio Stadium. I am happy that my wife, three children, and I could help in that tally.

Anyone anticipating truly informative or revealing plays, formations, or schemes in a spring game are bound to be disappointed. The primary goal of any spring game, no matter what college program we are discussing, is to finish the game with no injuries. Save for sophomore defensive end Jalyn Holmes, who seemed shaken up but walked off the field under his own power, no Buckeyes were injured during the game. I do not believe Holmes’ injury was even discussed by Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer or reported by any of the customary Ohio State beat reporters, so it must not have been a serious injury, which is a great thing.

Below are some brief points on various offensive players who played in the spring game. A few of the names are going to be familiar with Buckeye fans, but many are newer players who are rising up the ranks of the depth chart…

Offense

Wide Receivers: Corey Smith, Noah Brown, Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin, and Jalin Marshall all had their moments. Corey Smith was a targeted deep threat for Cardale Jones throughout the game, and may have emerged as the replacement for Devin Smith. Noah Brown has lost weight from his freshman season, and was mentioned by Coach Meyer as being a probable starter in the lineup. Brown had an impressive one-handed grab from Cardale Jones in the first half. Parris Campbell scored a touchdown from the H-Back position for his designated Scarlet team, and was cited by Coach Meyer as having had an impressive spring. Terry McLaurin was targeted repeatedly on deep passes and scored a touchdown to end the first half for the Scarlet team. Jalin Marshall will expand his role beyond his H-Back position this fall as a wide receiver, but may keep his role as the primary punt returner – it was somewhat disconcerting to see Marshall bobble a punt that resulted in a fumble. Hopefully, Marshall can get that area of his game to be more consistent.

Running Backs: The running game was not much of factor, as the passing game was strongly emphasized. With Ezekiel Elliott sitting out the spring due to his surgery on his wrist, Bri’onte Dunn demonstrated a capability to spell Elliott if needed this fall. Curtis Samuel had a drop of a pass thrown by Cardale Jones in the first half, but also demonstrated his elusiveness on an impressive spin move. Samuel also had a fair catch for a punt later in the game; could Samuel possibly be a factor in the punt return game? Warren Ball will always provide maximum effort, but could incoming freshman Mike Weber surge past Ball on the depth chart during fall camp?

Quarterbacks: J.T. Barrett and Braxton Miller were excluded from actual participation in the spring game, but impressed in different ways. Barrett competed in the halftime quarterback accuracy, winning versus former Buckeye Troy Smith and Cardale Jones. Miller competed against Elliott in the fastest student race, and possibly won. If Miller cannot play quarterback due to his shoulder issues, rest assured that Coach Meyer will figure out a way to involve Miller within the Ohio State offense this fall; Miller’s speed is too much to ignore and keep off the field. Cardale Jones was somewhat inconsistent, but Jones’ arm strength dazzled many with deep passes to Corey Smith. Jones easily won the halftime arm strength contest against Troy Smith and Barrett, throwing a pass 74 yards. Without Michael Thomas in the spring game, how much did that impact Jones on shorter or intermediate routes? Stephen Collier had some struggles playing behind a makeshift offensive line, and may only serve as a backup throughout his career at Ohio State, but I would remind people that Cardale Jones did not play at all in the 2012 spring game, and look at how well Jones has blossomed over the past few seasons. In other words, do not jump to conclusions about Stephen Collier just yet. Be patient.

If you are curious as to whether Cardale Jones has locked down the starting position after the spring game, I will say no. J.T. Barrett has the edge in accuracy, while Cardale Jones has the size and arm strength that opens up the offense for the deep throws that crushed Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon last season. My early guess, and I want to emphasize the words “early” and “guess”, is J.T. Barrett will win the job in fall camp, but Cardale Jones will play a lot. As for Braxton Miller, I am holding off judgment, as Miller’s shoulder has everyone associated with the program holding their breath. As with Stephen Collier, I stress patience on figuring out who the starting quarterback will be this season. I certainly do not envy Coach Meyer or the coaching staff with this challenging decision.

My offensive player of the spring game? Corey Smith, with 6 receptions for 174 yards and two long touchdowns (58 yards, 37 yards).

Part two will focus on the defensive players who impressed in the 2015 Ohio State spring game…

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2015 Ohio State Spring Football Questions: Options Abound At RB And H-Back For Buckeyes

March 12, 2015 by 1 Comment

On March 10th, Ohio State began spring practice and will have fifteen spring football practices before the conclusion of spring practice on April 18th in Ohio Stadium. Over the next few weeks, I will rank the top ten questions facing Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer and his coaching staff as the Buckeyes retake the football field after concluding the 2014 season as the national champions.

These articles will be submitted from areas of lowest concern to highest concern. While Ohio State returns the overwhelming majority of its 2014 team, and welcomes in a highly-touted recruiting class, it will be important for Coach Meyer to convey to his team that complacency within the player ranks could derail any hopes of the Buckeyes repeating as national champions in 2015.

8. Running Back/Hybrid

Key Players/Contributors Lost: None

Key Players/Contributors Returning For 2015: All. Jalin Marshall (Redshirt Sophomore H-B), Dontre Wilson (Junior H-B); Warren Ball (Redshirt Junior RB), Bri’onte Dunn (Redshirt Junior RB), Ezekiel Elliott (Junior RB), Curtis Samuel (Sophomore RB).

A few things to point out before writing too much further…

Ezekiel Elliott had surgery on his left wrist on February 20th, which will preclude Elliott from participating in any contact drills during spring practice. On March 10th, Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer stated that Dontre Wilson was also going to be limited for spring practice, as Wilson is still rehabilitating from his injury that ended Wilson’s 2014 season.

It is truly difficult to list this position group as a concern. After Elliott’s performances versus Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon last season, Elliott has been tagged as a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate heading into the 2015 season.

My concerns are more of the variety of what would Ohio State do in the event that Elliott is injured and unable to play?

Rising sophomore Curtis Samuel may get the first opportunity to emerge as the primary running back. With Elliott limited this spring, Samuel may be running with the first team offense during contact drills.

Rising redshirt juniors Bri’onte Dunn and Warren Ball should look at this spring with the theme of an old Elvis Presley song ~ “It’s Now Or Never“. While both Dunn and Ball were heavily recruited players coming out of high school, both players have been supplanted by first Elliott, then Samuel, on the depth chart. If either want to become more involved in the offense, beyond playing on special teams, both need to make their moves this spring to catch the eye of Coach Meyer and new Ohio State running backs coach Tony Alford. With highly-touted recruit Mike Weber arriving this summer, neither can squander these spring practices, or they both run the risk of Weber leapfrogging them on the depth chart. It will not be surprising to see both earn considerable time in the spring game scheduled for April 18th.

At the H-Back position, rising redshirt sophomore Jalin Marshall would be the likely candidate to start. While Marshall had challenging moments during the 2014 season, Marshall also had moments in 2014 that showed why the 2015 season is so eagerly anticipated by Buckeye fans.

Dontre Wilson also had challenging moments at the H-Back position in 2014. In the season opener at Navy, Wilson struggled with blocking assignments. At Michigan State, Wilson had some fumbles and drops, but came up with a big touchdown reception to help seal the victory against the Spartans. The H-Back position allows Wilson an opportunity to get to the perimeter and use his speed and quickness, yet Wilson’s lack of size almost eliminates him from being able to run the ball in the middle of the field effectively. Look for Ohio State’s coaches to take their time with getting Wilson back onto the field this spring, as they will certainly want to have Wilson back at full strength and speed for the fall campaign.

While not listed at either running back or H-Back, I have a suspicion that redshirt freshman Parris Campbell may get some opportunities this spring at the H-Back position. Campbell was a high school running back who was moved to wide receiver. Blessed with blazing speed, and running back experience, Campbell is certainly worth looking into as an H-Back this spring.

The question that others have asked – could Braxton Miller be moved from quarterback to H-Back if Miller does not win the starting quarterback position?

Ohio State is blessed to have so much talent on hand at both the running back and H-Back position groups. The challenge for Coach Meyer, and his offensive coaching staff, will be figuring out how to get as many of these talented players on the field and involved enough to keep everyone satisfied.

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2015 Ohio State Spring Football Questions: Will It Be “Three’s Company” Or “Three’s A Crowd” At QB?

March 6, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Beginning March 10th, Ohio State will have fifteen spring football practices before the conclusion of spring practice on April 18th in Ohio Stadium. Over the next few weeks, I will rank the top ten questions facing Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer and his coaching staff as the Buckeyes retake the football field after concluding the 2014 season as the national champions.

These articles will be submitted from areas of lowest concern to highest concern. While Ohio State returns the overwhelming majority of its 2014 team, and welcomes in a highly-touted recruiting class, it will be important for Coach Meyer to convey to his team that complacency within the player ranks could derail any hopes of the Buckeyes repeating as national champions in 2015.

9. Quarterback

Key Players/Contributors Lost: None

Key Players/Contributors Returning For 2015: All. Braxton Miller (Redshirt Senior), Cardale Jones (Redshirt Junior), J.T. Barrett (Redshirt Sophomore), Stephen Collier (Redshirt Freshman).

Let’s review from August 2014 to now, shall we?

All was seemingly lost for Ohio State at that point. While Ohio State fans hoped for the best, many prepared themselves for the possibility that Ohio State would not be able to survive the loss of Miller at quarterback and still qualify for the inaugural College Football Playoff.

Then J.T. Barrett emerged. After a disastrous game at home versus Virginia Tech, Barrett regrouped and emerged as a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate in his own right, setting numerous records before being lost for the season in THE GAME versus That Team Up North.

I seem to recall some joker posting something about Cardale Jones, even before the diagnosis had been revealed about the extent of Barrett’s injury…

Heading into The B1G Championship game versus Wisconsin, Fox Sports’ Gus Johnson summed up what all Buckeye fans were feeling about the newly-designated starter at quarterback…

Needless to say, I’m not going to bore you with how it all turned out. Well, maybe I will give you this little clip that I have personally decided is among my favorite…

After the national championship, many people, including myself, expected Cardale Jones to declare for the 2015 NFL Draft. With no guarantees to start for Ohio State in 2015, and the possibility of a lucrative financial future, Jones stepped up to the podium in the gymnasium at Cleveland Glenville and made the following announcement…

And in the bitter cold on January 24th, 2015, while in Ohio Stadium to honor the 2014 national champions, could there have been a better moment to summarize how blessed Ohio State fans were in 2014, and possibly will be, in 2015?

Getting down to business, here is how the quarterback position will probably be handled this spring ~

Braxton Miller, while coming along in his recovery, will be handled with caution by both Ohio State’s medical staff, as well as coaching staff, this spring. Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer stated the same recently in an interview with 97.1 The Fan’s Anthony Rothman…

J.T. Barrett will also be somewhat limited in his spring football participation. While Barrett is no longer on crutches, as he was during the national championship celebration on January 24th, will need to be cautious as well this spring…

With those concerns being publicly stated, this results in Cardale Jones having the opportunity to run with the first team offense for fifteen practices. With new quarterbacks coach/co-offensive coordinator Tim Beck on staff this spring, Jones will have the best chance to cement his role as the starter before Barrett or Miller are fully healthy.

Where does this place Stephen Collier, last year’s scout team quarterback?

Look for Collier to be provided ample opportunities to play this spring, with both Miller and Barrett limited. It would not be a shock to see Collier play substantially in the spring game on April 18th. With newly-signed Torrance Gibson and Joe Burrow arriving this summer, Collier will want to take advantage of any and every chance to impress the coaching staff this spring.

There are always exceptions to every rule. The old football axiom that “if you have two quarterbacks, that means you don’t have one” was shattered by the performances over the last few seasons by Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, and Cardale Jones. Will the three quarterbacks prove to Ohio State fans that the quarterback situation at Ohio State is more “Three’s Company” than “Three’s A Crowd”? That question will possibly not be answered until fall camp, so it may be raised as a priority in my mind by that time. Even so, I am guessing Coach Meyer, Coach Beck, and all of the coaches and players at Ohio State will be reassured knowing they have three dynamite players at the most crucial position on the football field.

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“Don’t You Forget About Me” – OSU’s 2014 Redshirts

February 13, 2015 by Leave a Comment

“As you walk on by
Will you call my name?” ~
Don’t You Forget About Me, Simple Minds

These song lyrics from a classic 1980s song “Don’t You Forget About Me” represent to me what it must be like to football players redshirted at major college football programs. While there is always considerable fanfare when players sign their respective letters of intent, players who redshirt seem to fall by the wayside of fans.

Think about the players who signed with Ohio State in February 2014. While all were accomplished athletes coming out of high school, and coveted highly by Ohio State and other top football programs, several of them were redshirted for various reasons by Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer and his coaching staff. Perhaps some were battling an injury; perhaps others were not deemed ready to contribute during the 2014 season, and the coaches did not want to waste a valuable year of eligibility.

Regardless of the reason, these players are now facing the challenge of a newly-signed crop of recruits coming into Columbus in 2015, while many of the top players who won the national championship return. It will be important for these players to step up over the next few months, during winter conditioning, spring football, and summer workouts, to gain traction on the depth chart.

Below are the various position groups, and some names that may become more prominently known over the coming months to Ohio State fans ~

Quarterback: Stephen Collier. Anyone who listened to me on various Men Of The Scarlet And Gray podcasts this past season will recall how I often speculated if Collier was going to play in 2014. With J.T. Barrett’s injury at the conclusion of the regular season, Collier was elevated on the depth chart. With Cardale Jones’ strong performances at the end of the season, Collier was not needed to play, but contributed tremendously on the scout team during the bowl preparation periods. With two quarterbacks signed, as well as both Barrett and Braxton Miller rehabilitating from injuries, Collier should get ample playing time this spring behind Cardale Jones.

Wide Receiver: Parris Campbell Jr.; Terry McLaurin; Johnnie Dixon. Dixon was an early enrollee last winter, and seemed primed to be a contributor, until redshirted due to tendinitus in October. Campbell and McLaurin redshirted from the onset, due to a logjam at the position. With the departures of Devin Smith and Evan Spencer, the time is ripe for any or all of these players to move up on the depth chart at wide receiver.

Offensive Line: Kyle Trout; Demetrius Knox; Brady Taylor. With six new offensive linemen arriving this summer, with one already on campus in new enrollee Grant Schmidt, none of these players can waste any opportunity to try to move up on the depth chart. The challenge is Ohio State is only losing one starter from its offensive line in Darryl Baldwin, so the test will come in trying to perform well in the eyes of the coaching staff for possible backup time in 2015 as a springboard for the 2016 season.

Defensive Line: Dylan Thompson; Sam Hubbard; Darius Slade. Thompson was redshirted almost immediately, due to a broken kneecap suffered early in the season. Hubbard fluctuated from tight end to linebacker to defensive end; it remains a mystery if he will remain at defensive end this spring. Slade was a signing day addition who had previously committed to Michigan State. With the losses of Noah Spence to transfer, and Michael Bennett, Steve Miller, and Rashad Frazier to graduation, the opportunity to rise up for playing time along the defensive line is there for these defensive linemen.

Linebacker: Kyle Berger. Berger reinjured a knee ligament during the summer of 2014 that wiped out his senior year at Cleveland St. Ignatius in 2013. It is possible that the coaching staff will take a cautious approach to rushing Berger onto the field, lest he sustain another injury.

Defensive Back: Malik Hooker; Marshon Lattimore. Hooker was an athlete designated for the secondary; it is possible that special teams will be where Hooker can make his first impact upon the depth chart. Lattimore was considered for both defense and offense, yet sustained a hamstring injury serious enough to warrant surgery that necessitated his redshirt season.

“As you walk on by Will you call my name?” ~ This question will be on the minds of the players listed up above, as well as by Ohio State fans such as myself, as the 2015 season approaches.

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The 2014 OSU Seniors’ Theme? “Redemption Song”

January 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment

It was tremendous attending the celebration in Ohio Stadium on January 24th, 2015, with approximately 45,000-50,000 other Ohio State fans. Yes, it was cold; about 27 degrees. It was not as cold as the other national championship celebration I attended in January 2003; that celebration had more snow and was several degrees below zero. Yes, the players did join in a singing of “Carmen Ohio” at the conclusion; there was no Cie Grant moment in this celebration.

While I sat with my friend Bob during the celebration, my mind could not help but think of the senior class who signed letters of intent with Ohio State in February 2011. Twenty-four players signed with Ohio State in February 2011, yet only seventeen remained by January 2015. Fortunately for Ohio State fans, a few of these individuals have eligibility remaining to play for Ohio State in 2015 (Chase Farris, Joel Hale, Bryce Haynes, Cardale Jones, Braxton Miller, Ron Tanner, and Nick Vannett).

While “Carmen Ohio” was naturally performed at the national championship celebration, another song has crossed my mind as I reflect upon the careers of the players who signed in 2011 ~ Bob Marley’s “Redemption Song”.

“But my hand was made strong
By the ‘and of the Almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly…”

My first experience watching Braxton Miller as an Ohio State Buckeye was in the 2011 Ohio State Spring Game. Enrolled as a true freshman, there were questions as to whether Miller would be the quarterback during the first five games, as returning starter Terrelle Pryor served a five game suspension, along with Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel. Little did anyone know that the 2011 Spring Game would be the last time Coach Tressel would coach Miller in any capacity.

Memorial Day 2011 dawned with the bombshell that Coach Tressel, under siege by the national media and members of the university power struggle, resigned as head coach. Former Ohio State defensive lineman and longtime Ohio State assistant coach Luke Fickell was promoted to head coach for the 2011 season, and possibly beyond.

While 2011 was a disappointing season for Ohio State and Coach Fickell, optimism for these players came into Columbus with the hiring of Urban Meyer as head football coach on November 28, 2011. In less than one full year, many of these players had experienced signing to play for one head coach, suffering through a losing season under an interim coach, and now were going to play for a coach that had not recruited the majority of them (Coach Meyer had recruited Braxton Miller while Coach Meyer was at Florida, if you recall). Even with this optimistic turn of events related to Coach Meyer’s arrival, it was only natural that a few of the players decided to look elsewhere to continue their football and educational careers.

“Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds…”

The 2012 season under Coach Meyer resulted in a perfect 12-0 season, yet no rewards were possible as the program was under a bowl ban. The 2013 season began in tremendous fashion, yet collapsed down the stretch with a loss to Michigan State in The 2013 B1G Championship Game, and followed up with a loss to Clemson in the 2014 Orange Bowl. The 2014 season, after three years, would prove to be the last opportunity to leave a positive legacy in the archives of Ohio State football for several of these players who began in 2011.

“Won’t you help to sing
These songs of freedom? –
‘Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs”

Yes, “Carmen Ohio” was on my mind, along with 45,000-50,000 other members of the Buckeye faithful on January 24th, 2015, in Ohio Stadium. But I will admit this other tune will also be on my mind and in my heart as I will fondly think back to the magical season of 2014, and to several of the Buckeyes who helped to make it that way, beginning back in February 2011.

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Phil Steele Names Urban Meyer 2014 College Coach of the Year

January 21, 2015 by 1 Comment

Phil Steele, the well-known college football guru, awarded Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer the 2014 Phil Steele College Coach of the Year Award. It’s the fourth year he has handed out the award and a full-page will be dedicated on it in his upcoming preview magazine for the 2015 college football season (click here for a preview of it). The runner-up for the award was TCU head coach Gary Patterson. Here’s Steele’s reason for picking Meyer as his coach of the year winner:

In his third year as head coach at The Ohio State University, Meyer led the Buckeyes
to their eighth National Championship and second since 1970. Meyer also is the
only FBS head coach to post a perfect regular season conference record over the last
3 seasons (24-0).

The 2014 season started without one of the Heisman front-runners in QB Braxton
Miller then OSU lost the 2014 FWAA freshman first team All-American QB JT Barrett.
Meyer and his staff prepared QB Cardale Jones for one of the games finest 3 game
performances winning the Big 10 Championship, the Sugar Bowl semi-Final and the
first ever College Football Playoff.

Meyer not only has a tremendous impact when tutoring student athletes, but coaches
as well. With the departure of co-OC Tom Herman to Houston the growing total of
assistants which he has coached that have become a FBS or FCS head coach now
stands at 10. The group includes 6 coaches who earned bowl berths with their teams
last year and one which took his team to the FCS playoffs.

Congratulations to Coach Meyer on winning Phil Steele’s 2014 College Coach of the Year Award.

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A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The NFL…

January 16, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Before going any further, congratulations to Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer and the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes. I am still basking in the happiness of winning the national championship, and will have posts in the future to best articulate my feelings on this accomplishment. Needless to say, I wanted to make sure I added my congratulations to the many that have been directed to Coach Meyer and the 2014 Ohio State coaches and players on this outstanding achievement.

**
The popular and probable consensus opinion regarding Cardale Jones and his announcement was that Jones was going to declare for the NFL. Over the previous days, many people asked me for my opinion, and now is as good as any for me to articulate why I believed Jones was going to the NFL ~

Cardale Jones and Braxton Miller were recruited by former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel in the 2011 recruiting class. To shore up his grades, and provide some separation from Miller, Jones agreed to enroll at Fork Union Military Academy in 2011.

Upon returning to Columbus in 2012, Jones was faced with the following realities – the head coach who recruited him was gone, and replaced with someone who neither recruited him, nor wanted him. Braxton Miller had completed a freshman season in 2011 that had captivated the fanbase, as well as the incoming coaching staff. As someone who attended the 2012 Ohio State spring game, the fact that Jones did not garner a single snap in an intrasquad scrimmage spoke volumes about where Jones stood in the eyes of the coaching staff.

And then during the 2012 season, Jones decided to tweet…THIS.

Yes, I guess you could say I was fairly certain Cardale Jones was eventually going to leave Columbus, and probably not in a positive fashion in the eyes of Coach Meyer or any of the other Ohio State coaches.

Jones played sparingly in 2013, and was beaten out for the starting quarterback position by J.T. Barrett in the 2014 fall camp after Miller went down with a season-ending injury. Again, there was speculation that Jones would transfer after losing the job to Barrett, especially after being the starting quarterback throughout all of the 2014 spring practices.

Flash forward to November 29th, 2014. Ohio State is in a dogfight with That Team Up North, and J.T. Barrett is knocked out for the season. Anyone who has listened to me throughout this past season on any of the Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcasts can recall how I often lamented how infrequently Jones played, especially when Ohio State had substantial leads. I actually tweeted after Barrett went down about this…

We all know how gloriously it turned out. I believe @JeffSvoboda articulated it well…

When I think about being 22 years old, with a child to provide for…I can honestly say that I probably would have taken the money. Quite honestly, even without a child, turning down the money at 22 years old would have been probably impossible, as I reflect upon it.

No matter how it turns out in 2015, Cardale Jones has secured his place in the hearts and minds of Ohio State fans going forward.

Will Jones be the Ohio State starter at quarterback next season? It is certainly possible, but if Ohio State fans have learned anything this past season, anything is possible, especially at the quarterback position. Jones does have one advantage going into the 2015 season…

No matter how this all turns out, at least Ohio State fans can count upon Tyvis Powell to keep Cardale Jones in line throughout the 2015 season…

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