2016 Ohio State Spring Football Conclusions

“Almost everything that is great has been done by youth…” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

For the past couple months, beginning in February, every Friday at 8am EST has begun with this quote on this site. I have written about what I perceived concerns about various position groups, and it culminated in a glorious 2016 Ohio State Spring Game on April 16th in Ohio Stadium.

Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer must be pleased with one crucial area as it relates to spring football – the Buckeyes left the spring game with no injuries that could impact the 2016 season. Fifth-year senior running back Bri’onte Dunn did not play in the spring game with a sprained ankle, but will be back in the mix for the starting running back spot for fall camp.

Showing my age, I can vividly recall Ohio State spring game performances that were tremendous, yet did not translate into fall game production. It is important to keep things in proper perspective. With those caveats in mind, below are three distinct impressions that were made upon me as I sat in D Deck of Ohio Stadium…

1. The 2016 Ohio State Defensive Line Will Rotate Frequently ~ Yes, Ohio State was playing as many offensive and defensive linemen as possible in the spring game. It was challenging for either the Gray’s or Scarlet’s offensive lines to protect Joe Burrow or Stephen Collier whenever either was playing quarterback. With all of that on the table, the defensive linemen who have been waiting in the wings used the spring game as an opportunity to show what they could do if given the opportunity. For example, I don’t want to call him a sleeper, but Jashon Cornell, a moved defensive end to defensive tackle, seemed to emerge during the spring game.

On a somber note, Donovan Munger’s Ohio State career has come to an end, due to health concerns. Best of luck to Munger in all of his future endeavors, and many thanks for all of his contributions to Ohio State football…

For the first time since Coach Meyer came to Columbus in 2012, Ohio State has so many defensive linemen that will allow Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson to continually refresh players who will be able to harass the opposition’s quarterback. Think about this – Nick Bosa is not yet on campus, and Coach Meyer has stated Bosa will play in 2016.

2. Do Not Sweat J.T. Barrett’s 2016 Spring Game Performance ~ J.T. Barrett had an uneven day during the spring game, but there were several extenuating circumstances that impacted his performance. First of all, Barrett wore a black jersey that did not allow him to scramble or face contact. As stated up above, the offensive line was more of a ragtag collection, with projected starters Pat Elflein and Billy Price being withheld from competition. And projected starters Noah Brown and Corey Smith did not play this spring as both are still recuperating from their respective 2015 injuries.

Did Barrett make some throws in the 2016 spring game that were puzzling? Absolutely. Do I believe Barrett would have made those same throws in actual game competition? Absolutely not. Look at Barrett’s spring game as someone who was dealt some specific restrictions, and was testing the boundaries of what was possible, with a mandate to avoid injury at all costs. Look for Barrett to come out impressively against BGSU on September 3rd looking more like his typical self.

3. The 2016 Team Will Continue To Improve Every Week ~ It bears repeating, but with so many young players, the competition for playing time will be fierce and continuous all year long. Will inexperience sometimes be frustrating, especially in the secondary? Without question. The game at Oklahoma in week three will be must-watch TV for not just Ohio State and Oklahoma fans, but the nation –

Don’t take my word for it; go back and listen to the podcast link that included Clair Crawford. Read my man Tony Gerdeman’s thoughts on Ohio State following the spring game. Remember that I wrote this in April – this is going to be a team that will be feared by the end of the 2016 season.

The 2016 Fiesta Bowl May Be A Festive & Fitting End For The 2015 Buckeyes

Happy New Year! Hopefully this article comes to you in good spirits, with no lingering after effects from your previous night’s exploits and adventures…

Many thanks to Shannon Sommers for a terrific year of managing our Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast. Our latest podcast featured Tony Gerdeman of theozone.net, discussing Tony’s latest book “The Thrillogy“, which details Ohio State’s three game victory march to the 2015 national championship over Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon. If you are not following Tony Gerdeman already on Twitter, do yourselves a favor and start following him @GerdOZone. In addition to discussing Tony’s book, Shannon, Tony, and I all gave our thoughts as they relate to The 2016 Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl. By the way, in case any of you were wondering what or who Battlefrog is, here is a link to help educate you before kickoff. You are all welcome.

Tony predicted an Ohio State victory, as did Shannon, and myself. Below are three critical areas I will be watching as The 2016 Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl unfolds at 1pm EST on ESPN…

1. What Will The Ohio State Offense Look Like Against Notre Dame? ~ As I have stated repeatedly heading into this bowl game, Ohio State has only truly looked dynamic on offense at Virginia Tech, portions of the Penn State game, at Rutgers, and most recently, at That Team Up North. Will J.T. Barrett get the keys to the car, entrusted to involve everyone within the offense, but not force the ball to certain people?

2. How Will Ohio State’s Secondary Handle Notre Dame’s Will Fuller? ~ Will Fuller comes into this bowl game with 56 receptions for 1145 yards, averaging 20.4 yards per reception, and 13 touchdowns. How will Ohio State’s secondary handle a gifted deep threat like Fuller? Keep an eye on if Eli Apple or Gareon Conley are matched up with Fuller, as well as how the safeties play.

3. Savor The Last Game Of Braxton Miller In An Ohio State Uniform ~ This kind of ties into the point I made up above in point 1 about the Ohio State offense “not force the ball to certain people“. Many times this season, the Ohio State coaching staff repeatedly tried to involve Braxton Miller, and sometimes it resulted in a detriment to the team. Will the coaching staff, led by Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer, make some of the same mistakes? From a selfish perspective, I am hoping to see one last moment of Braxton Miller’s magic in an Ohio State uniform, no matter if it is forced or not.

Notre Dame has a sneaky good type of offense, and Brian Kelly is certainly one of the better coaches in college football. Ohio State’s offensive line, featuring seniors Taylor Decker, Jacoby Boren, and Chase Farris, should be able to control the line of scrimmage against a decent, but not overwhelming, Notre Dame defensive line. If Ohio State can establish a strong running game with Ezekiel Elliott and Barrett, the play-action passing game should be able to thrive against a weakened Notre Dame secondary. I have it Ohio State 42, Notre Dame 31, with Ohio State running out the clock late in the second half, to send off the 2015 squad on a victorious note.

Ohio State Must Vanquish The Spartans On The Path To ‘Contenders In November’

Remember when I wrote this, back in the summer? The anticipation has been building for months, and now it is practically upon us.

Remember how former Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel used to say, “October is for pretenders, and November is for contenders.”? Doesn’t it seem that Ohio State is truly facing the moment of truth as it relates to that statement? And directly standing in Ohio State’s path, the team that has been led for nearly the past decade by Coach Tressel’s top protege, Mark Dantonio.

Here’s something interesting that I discovered in my preparations for this week’s Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast. Ohio State and Michigan State have played four times since Coach Tressel departed the sidelines for Ohio State. Michigan State has won twice (2011 in Ohio Stadium, 2013 in Indianapolis in The B1G Championship Game), Ohio State has won twice (2012 and 2014, both in Spartan Stadium). When I added up the final scores of the four games, the average score for both Ohio State and Michigan State was 24 points. This truly is a rivalry that defines well-coached and well-played. By the way ~ I know I repeatedly and shamelessly promote the podcast, but you will want to listen to this week’s edition. Major, major props to Shannon Sommers for getting Hondo Carpenter on the show as a guest to discuss Michigan State. It is well worth your time and listen, especially for Hondo’s perspectives on Michigan State. Please click on the link here to do so.

Senior Day in Ohio Stadium is always a special, emotional time. A big thank you to Adolphus Washington, Tommy Schutt, Joshua Perry, Taylor Decker, Nick Vannett, Jacoby Boren, Chase Farris, Bryce Haynes, Cam Williams, Jack Willoughby, Joel Hale, Jeff Greene, Braxton Miller, and all of the seniors for all of the tremendous contributions and memories all of those players helped to create in Ohio Stadium.

Here are three critical areas I will be watching throughout the contest ~

1. Ohio State’s Offensive Line vs Michigan State’s Defensive Line: Ohio State has struggled in pass protection this season. With Michigan State’s stellar defensive line, led by Shilique Calhoun, Malik McDowell, and Lawrence Thomas, will Ohio State be able to adequately protect J.T. Barrett? Will Ohio State roll Barrett out, in order to give Barrett more time?

If Ohio State tries to simply run the ball with Ezekiel Elliott on Michigan State, as the Buckeyes have done throughout the 2015 season, Michigan State will stack the box with nine men. Will Ohio State come out throwing on Michigan State, forcing them to adjust their defensive strategy? Can Michael Thomas, possibly playing his last game in Ohio Stadium, duplicate his performance of a year ago versus the Spartans?

2. The Health Of Michigan State’s Connor Cook: Cook suffered an arm injury in last week’s win over Maryland, leading to Cook leaving the game in favor of Tyler O’Connor. Like Cook, O’Connor is an Ohio player, and also like Cook, was not offered a scholarship by Ohio State – I am a firm believer that particular scholarship slight, fair or unfair, always seems to give an extra motivational boost for those players when they are facing the Buckeyes. Back to Cook – while everyone expects Cook to play, will the Michigan State offensive line, which has been wracked by injuries this season, be able to protect Cook against a strong Ohio State defensive line?

3. Mark Dantonio’s Reputation For Special Teams Trickery: Has anyone forgotten the infamous “Little Giants” play Michigan State ran on Notre Dame years ago? How about this epic moment from this season, against That Team Up North?

The point I am making? Expect the unexpected, especially when it comes to special teams in this game.

Prediction: Both teams know what is on the line, and both teams are going to leave everything on the field. I think it will be rough sledding for Ezekiel Elliott running the ball, especially in the first half, but I believe Elliott will get his 100 yards, although it will certainly not come easy, in what may be Elliott’s final game in Ohio Stadium. I look for Joey Bosa to have a signature play or two, in what may be Bosa’s final game in Ohio Stadium. Ohio State toughs it out, and wins it in the second half. I have it Ohio State 28, Michigan State 20.

Buckeyes Hope To Enjoy “Champaign” After Defeating Illinois

Ohio State travels to The Land Of Lincoln to take on the Illinois Fighting Illini in Champaign, Illinois. Please forgive me if I sound overly cautious as I reflect upon previous Ohio State games held in Memorial Stadium.

Sure, Ohio State has not lost to Illinois in Memorial Stadium since 1991 (Illinois 10, Ohio State 7), a few years before the current players were born. Yes, Ohio State has been dominant in the rivalry, not having lost since the infamous 2007 game in Ohio Stadium.

My concerns are rooted in the memories of games in Memorial Stadium over the years that have come down to the wire. Games where Ohio State was heavily favored, and Illinois was not expected to play well against the Buckeyes.

Remember 2002? Ohio State, coming off the “Holy Buckeye” touchdown pass over Purdue the previous week, struggled against an Illinois team that wound up 5-7 on the year. Ohio State prevailed 23-16 in overtime, behind this Maurice Hall touchdown run…

Remember 2006? Ohio State, undefeated and ranked #1, behind eventual Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, escaped Champaign with a 17-10 victory over Illinois. Keep in mind, Ohio State crushed Illinois 40-2 in 2005. Do you think those players truly thought Illinois was going to be able to give them a game heading into the 2006 contest?

I am willing to bet Braxton Miller can tell you all about his first experience in Memorial Stadium in 2011. Ohio State won 17-7. Miller should be able to tell you all about his passing statistics from the 2011 game also, as he only attempted four passes, completing one of them. Don’t blink below in the clip below, or you might miss it…

Shannon Sommers and I had the opportunity to discuss all things Illinois on this week’s Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast. We were joined by Robert Rosenthal (@ALionEye) from illiniboard.com, and Robert was able to recall, as I can, all the quirky ways Illinois has played Ohio State through the years.

Below are three areas I will be focusing upon when Ohio State and Illinois kick off at 12pm EST/11am CST on ABC…

1. How Will The Ohio State Offense Perform Behind J.T. Barrett? ~ Yes, I know how Ohio State looked with Barrett at the helm at Rutgers two weeks ago. My curiosity is reflected primarily in the passing game, as the swirling winds of Memorial Stadium have been known to wreak havoc on the passing game. How will Barrett compensate, if this comes to pass on Saturday against the Fighting Illini?

2. Ohio State’s Run Defense vs. Illinois’ Rushing Offense ~ Illinois ran for 382 yards against Purdue, behind Josh Ferguson and one-time Ohio State recruit Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Ohio State limited Minnesota’s rushing attack to about 30 yards on the ground last week. Which of these units will win this battle?

3. Illinois’ Special Teams Play Against Ohio State ~ Considering Urban Meyer is the special teams coach, how much of an emphasis on punt protection took place this week in practice?

As I have stated up above, strange things have been known to happen in Memorial Stadium. While it would be tremendous for Ohio State to come out and dominate from the onset, I look for Ohio State to get into a consistent rhythm by the second half, pulling away for good from a pesky Illinois team in the fourth quarter. I have it Ohio State 35, Illinois 21.

Buckeyes ‘Gopher’ A Hot Start To November Stretch Run

Quite a relaxing bye week, huh, Buckeye fans? To be honest, I truly do not have the energy to go over everything related to J.T. Barrett’s suspension, after Shannon Sommers (@smsommers84) covered it so extensively on this week’s Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast.

Loyal and long-time followers of Men of the Scarlet and Gray may recall how I wrote about Minnesota not necessarily being a pushover, back before the season started. It looks like Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer is of the same mindset, with the comments made after one of this week’s practices…

Say what you will about Minnesota lacking explosive speed at the skill positions. I will merely remind Ohio State fans that Minnesota is well-coached and fundamentally sound, despite the calamitous ending to the game against That Team Up North on October 31st.

Below are three critical areas I will be keeping an eye on as Ohio State and Minnesota kick off in Ohio Stadium at 8pm EST on ABC ~

1. How will Cardale Jones play as the unquestioned starter at quarterback – Last season, Cardale Jones was thrust into play, due to the season-ending injury to J.T. Barrett. With Barrett completely out of the picture, the team rallied around Jones…you know how that wonderful script ended. In a similar fashion, with Barrett suspended, will Jones go back to his carefree approach to playing quarterback that served him, and the Buckeyes, so well at the end of the 2014 season? And if Jones does play that way, will it be enough to earn Jones the starting quarterback job back from Barrett for the remainder of the 2015 season?

2. Braxton Miller as the backup/red zone quarterback – Ohio State fans became weary with Jones unable to lead the Buckeyes to touchdowns earlier this season. J.T. Barrett regained the starting quarterback position with his ability to fully execute the offense. With Barrett suspended, Coach Meyer has stated a willingness to use former quarterback and current wide receiver Braxton Miller as the backup, and possibly, the red zone quarterback. Will Miller be able to throw the ball, or is Miller’s shoulder still injured enough to preclude Miller from truly being more than just a wildcat quarterback?

3. Minnesota’s Confidence – Losing Jerry Kill to an unexpected retirement was bad enough. Losing a home game, in the manner and fashion that Minnesota did, truly defined the expression of “adding insult to injury”. How will the Golden Gophers respond after such a double dose of disappointment?

Prediction: Look for Cardale Jones to come out of the gate, playing with a confidence level that Ohio State fans have not seen this season. Even with Minnesota putting eight men in the box to stop Ezekiel Elliott, look for Jones to capitalize on some deep passes for big gains. Minnesota will put up a good fight, but I like Ohio State to pull away in the second half. I have it Ohio State 35, Minnesota 14.

Bye Week A Possible Boon For Buckeyes

Who does not enjoy the occasional day off from work? I am not talking about a day off when you are sick. I am talking about a scheduled day off from work, where you can relax, and do whatever you want to do. Essentially, that is what the players get with the scheduled bye week for October 31st.

That is not to say or suggest that the coaches have the same luxury. Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer has been using the bye week for promoting his new book, making the various media rounds. More importantly, the coaching staff have been on the road, visiting prospective recruits at various locations around the country.

Getting back to the players, this bye week is coming at an opportune time. Not surprisingly, Ohio State has had its roster depleted due to injury, with varying degrees of severity. Players such as Joshua Perry, Darron Lee, and Parris Campbell have battled injuries this season. It may be presumptuous of me to make this statement, but a week off from pounding for Ezekiel Elliott before the November slate of games is not a bad thing, in my estimation. Look at this linked article, courtesy of elevenwarriors.com, and tell me how a week off may do wonders for this team, heading into November.

In the shameless self-promotion department, please listen to this week’s Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast. Shannon Sommers was able to assemble an all-star ensemble to have a roundtable consisting of Joe Dexter (@BuckeyeRadio) of ScriptOhio, Derrek Coss (@BuckeyeBrothers) of The Buckeye Brothers, and Tony Gerdeman (@GerdOZone) of theozone.net. We discussed some of the surprises as they relate to the current freshman class, challenges, and even dabbled in some forecasting for the remainder of the 2015 Ohio State football schedule. As a teaser, we even worked in a Voltron reference into the show…

Continuing on the shameless self-promotion tour, I wrote about Ohio State at the midseason point previously for athlonsports.com. This article was written before J.T. Barrett was named the full-time starter at quarterback, but several of the points and concerns I have for Ohio State are still valid. To read my analysis, please click here.

My bye week plans? The lovely Mrs. Minnich and I plan on carving pumpkins with our three children, hoping to avoid any mishaps with the carving knives. Getting our kids ready for an evening of Trick Or Treat, hoping none of our children suffer the same fate as this poor young man. Lastly, I plan on turning on the TV at 8pm, to watch a few of our future opponents, to get some advance scouting on both of them. I would be remiss if I didn’t say I am also hoping to see this tweet continue to be referenced by the college football world…

Hoping everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween!

Buckeyes “Ramble On” To Rumble At Rutgers

“Leaves are falling all around, It’s time I was on my way.
Thanks to you, I’m much obliged for such a pleasant stay.
But now it’s time for me to go. The autumn moon lights my way.
For now I smell the rain, and with it pain, and it’s headed my way.
Sometimes I grow so tired, but I know I’ve got one thing I got to do…
Ramble On,
And now’s the time, the time is now…”

No, Led Zeppelin was not singing about the upcoming Ohio State at Rutgers game, as much as I would like to believe so. Undefeated Ohio State travels to Piscataway, New Jersey, for a conference clash with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Rutgers enters the contest at 3-3, fresh off a monstrous comeback victory over Indiana.

While playing Rutgers is a relatively new concept for Ohio State, the idea of traveling to New Jersey in search of high school football talent is not. In the past, Buckeye greats such as Jack Tatum and Alonzo Spellman starred for the Buckeyes. Present players on the team from New Jersey include freshman offensive tackle Kevin Feder, redshirt sophomore cornerback Eli Apple, senior placekicker Jack Willoughby, sophomore wide receiver Noah Brown, and redshirt freshman defensive end Darius Slade. As Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer stated, New Jersey is home to outstanding high school football, among other things…

Rutgers has had its share of controversies this season. Wide receiver Leonte Carroo was suspended earlier this season, and will be a game time decision for the Scarlet Knights. If Carroo can go, the Ohio State secondary will be put to the test, as Carroo is one of the most dynamic wide receivers in The B1G.

Ohio State enters into this game with tremendous anticipation to see how the offense will respond under the quarterback play of J.T. Barrett. With Barrett starting at the onset of the game, Ohio State fans believe the offense will finally emerge into the explosive unit that has been anticipated all season.

Besides controlling Leonte Carroo as a receiving threat for Rutgers, Ohio State must confront the challenges of a strong Rutgers running game. Ohio State’s rush defense has given up significant yardage on the ground in consecutive weeks, in wins over Maryland and Penn State. Ohio State enters into the game without the services of senior defensive lineman Tommy Schutt. To compensate for the loss of Schutt, Ohio State will rotate defensive linemen Michael Hill, Joel Hale, and true freshman Robert Landers.

Prediction: The Rutgers fan base will be out in full force for this one, as this game will be the first time Ohio State plays in High Point Solutions Stadium. After a full day of tailgating, look and listen for a raucous Rutgers crowd.

Look for Ohio State to come out fast, to try and silence the crowd. Rutgers has the talent to keep it interesting during the first half, but Ohio State has too much talent and speed for Rutgers to keep pace. I have it Ohio State 49, Rutgers 21.

Buckeyes Look To “Black Out” Penn State

Ohio State defeated Maryland 49-28 in what was arguably the best offensive performance by the Buckeyes in the 2015 season. Using a two quarterback system, Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett led Ohio State to a combined five touchdowns; the other two touchdowns were scored on the ground by Ezekiel Elliott. Ohio State was able to mix its traditionally strong running game, with play action passing to Michael Thomas and Jalin Marshall. The common football maxim is that if you are playing two quarterbacks, you may not have one – no matter how you feel about it, Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer may have unlocked the secret to a productive Ohio State offense for the remainder of this season.

Next up in Ohio Stadium are the Penn State Nittany Lions. Ohio State fans can recall how the Buckeyes needed to rally at Beaver Stadium in double overtime last season, until Joey Bosa sacked Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg by pushing Nittany Lions running back Akeem Lynch into Hackenberg’s leg. Ohio State fans will fondly hope that this game against Penn State will closely resemble more of what happened the last time Penn State visited in 2013, when Ohio State cruised to a 63-14 rout.

Ohio State will unveil a special black uniform for the night game against Penn State. If going to the game, be sure to wear black, or be prepared to face the wrath of Shelley Meyer…

Black uniforms can be debated positively or negatively from now until the conclusion of the Penn State game. In my estimation, Penn State is the best team that Ohio State has faced so far this 2015 season.

Here are three things I will be keeping an eye upon when the game kicks off at 8pm EST on ABC…

1. Penn State’s offensive line versus Ohio State’s defensive line ~ Penn State has given up 19 sacks through the first six games of the season, with ten sacks in the opening game loss to Temple. Ohio State’s defensive line, led by Bosa and Adolphus Washington, will pin their collective ears back on passing downs. Will Penn State be able to protect Hackenberg? Will Penn State use screens or other quick passing plays to try and negate the Ohio State pass rush?

2. Penn State’s Opportunistic Defense ~ On the latest Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast, our guest Kevin McGuire noted how Penn State’s defense has been capitalizing upon turnovers in their five victories. With the exception of Ohio State’s win over Maryland, the Buckeyes have turned the ball over at an alarming rate. Will Ohio State revert back to its bad habits against the Nittany Lions?

3. Ohio State In The Red Zone ~ Using Barrett opened up the offense in a positive way against Maryland. Will Ohio State be able to build upon the momentum moving forward against Penn State?

Prediction: New uniforms and a night game are tremendous energy builders, but any game comes down to the team that is able to consistently block and tackle their opponent. Penn State is closing the gap talent-wise with Ohio State, but is not there yet with the Buckeyes. Look for Ohio State to pull away in the second half, behind the strong Buckeye offensive line and the running of Ezekiel Elliott. I have it Ohio State 35, Penn State 21.

Northern Illinois Poses A ‘Husky’ Challenge For Ohio State

The words of caution and concern have been raised by me in the past, in case you forgot. Northern Illinois, the team that has defeated other B1G programs such as Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Purdue, will be entering Ohio Stadium to face the top-ranked Buckeyes in week three of the 2015 season. This game will mark the first time Ohio State and Northern Illinois have played since the 2006 season opener, when Ohio State won 35-12 over Northern Illinois.

Almost lost in the focus of this game is that former Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel, as well as former Buckeye football players Joey Galloway and Tim Anderson, will be honored with inductions into the Ohio State Hall Of Fame. Congratulations to these individuals, as well as all of the former Buckeye athletes who are immortalized with this tremendous honor.

Courtesy of buckeyegrove.com, below is a video clip of Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer describing what lies ahead for Ohio State with a talented Northern Illinois team…

Below are three areas I will be keeping a close eye on during the game…

1. Will Ohio State “Feed The Zeke” Against The Huskies? ~ Ohio State is 2-0 to start the 2015 season, but the offensive attack has been somewhat inconsistent and lacking the identity of the traditional power running game associated with Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes. With four of five offensive linemen returning, are the challenges simply a reflection of early season chemistry issues? If Ohio State can establish its traditional running game by running the ball well up the middle with Ezekiel Elliott, look for the rest of the offense to fall into place.

2. Can Ohio State Shut Down Northern Illinois’ Running Game? ~ If Ohio State can shut down Northern Illinois’ running game, with RB Joel Bouagnon as the key player, it will allow Ohio State to unleash its pass rush against Huskies QB Drew Hare. Hare is a steady quarterback who rarely makes mistakes; Hare has not thrown an interception yet this season. If Ohio State can keep the Huskies in third and long situations, the opportunity to wear the Huskies down with the Ohio State running game (see item # 1 in my preview) is that much more likely.

3. Has Ohio State Figured Out Its Quarterback Issues? ~ Nobody wants a quarterback controversy. All a quarterback controversy will do is divide, and possibly fracture, the locker room. Cardale Jones, off to a slow start, needs to play a smart game – instead of trying to force a big play, making a smart play is the way to approach this game. While J.T. Barrett should get playing time, introducing Barrett into the game too early can only fan the flames of a possible quarterback controversy.

Earlier this week, on The Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast, Shannon Sommers and I discussed this game in greater detail. While I respect Northern Illinois, I believe Ohio State will benefit from a full week of preparation, coming out with more energy and better focus. The Huskies will keep it interesting for the first half, but I see Ohio State slowly but surely pulling away in the second half to make it Ohio State 42, Northern Illinois 17.

Will The Warriors Want To ‘Come Out And Play’ Ohio State?

Congratulations to Ohio State on the impressive 42-24 opening victory on the road at Virginia Tech. Ohio State not only was able to avenge its lone loss in 2014 by defeating the Hokies, but the game marked the dynamic return of Braxton Miller for the first time since The 2014 Orange Bowl.

The 1979 movie “The Warriors” is a personal favorite. It is well worth the rental if you have never seen it; scrounge some change from your car or couch, and I am guessing you will be able to have enough for the rental. Anyway, below is one of the classic clips that I felt I had to include in my preview, as Hawaii’s team name are the Rainbow Warriors. Wouldn’t it be tremendous if the Ohio State P.A. announcer included this on Saturday, with Urban Meyer’s face superimposed on the screen of the Rogues’ leader? (I would tell you more, but I truly don’t want to spoil the movie for those of you who have not seen it.)

Earlier this week, Shannon Sommers and I previewed the home opener for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes will welcome in the University of Hawaii for a 3:30pm EST kickoff that will be televised on The Big Ten Network. This game will mark the first time that Ohio State and Hawaii have met on the gridiron. Ohio State comes into this game on only four days of rest, while Hawaii is coming off ten days of rest; Hawaii played Colorado on 09/03/2015. As I stated on this week’s Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast, traveling to/from Hawaii is a physically exhausting experience, as the trip to/from Ohio will take about nine hours of total flight time.

Here are three quick items to keep an eye out for with Hawaii at Ohio State…

1. Cardale Jones Is The Starting Quarterback, But… ~ Look for J.T. Barrett to get substantially more playing time than what happened against Virginia Tech. It would not be surprising to see Barrett enter the Hawaii game while the contest is still in doubt, as Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer may want to keep Barrett fresh. Ohio State fans certainly remember how the 2014 team was forced to play three quarterbacks during the course of the season; why would the coaching staff not have the same pressing concerns? Here is something to contemplate – if this game gets out of hand, and Ohio State builds a truly substantial lead, will redshirt freshman Stephen Collier earn his first playing time as a Buckeye?

2. How Soon Will The Suspended Players Return To The Lineup? ~ Ohio State welcomes back defensive end Joey Bosa and wide receivers Dontre Wilson, Corey Smith, and Jalin Marshall. All are talented players, and can only help the team in a variety of ways going forward. Will Coach Meyer play them in the second or third series, as a manner of continued discipline? On The Urban Meyer Call-In Show on 09/10/2015, Meyer stated that Parris Campbell is a starter, as well as that Curtis Samuel and Braxton Miller will play at H-Back, the same position that Wilson and Marshall have also played.

3. Youth Can, And Should Be Served ~ Jones, Knox, Taylor, Lisle, and Prince. Sounds like a prestigious law firm, and maybe it will be someday in the future. (Jamarco) Jones, (Demetrius) Knox, (Brady) Taylor, (Evan) Lisle, and (Isaiah) Prince represent the listed second team offensive line, from left to right. With Taylor Decker, Jacoby Boren, and Chase Farris all seniors, plus Pat Elflein a redshirt junior who could leave after this season for the 2016 NFL Draft, Ohio State may be in the exact same predicament that the program had in 2014, with four players to replace along the offensive line. Why not play the inexperienced backups, to gain that necessary experience? Ezekiel Elliott will probably rush for over 100 yards by the half; what is there to gain by tiring Elliott out against Hawaii, when players such as Bri’onte Dunn or Warren Ball can take some carries, keeping Elliott fresh for the important stretch run that will begin in November?

Prediction: Hawaii enters this game with a victory over Colorado, but traveling across the mainland into Ohio Stadium is a very tall order. Hawaii has a talented quarterback in Max Wittek, and will throw a 3-4 defensive scheme against Ohio State that the Buckeyes do not routinely encounter. The talent, depth, and experience across the board will just be too much for Hawaii to keep pace.

Earlier this spring, I ranked the opponents on Ohio State’s 2015 schedule, and I ranked Hawaii last. Even the Hawaii correspondent we e-mailed, @dontwarriorboutit, predicted this to be a rout for Ohio State, with a 61-17 prediction. I have it 63-10, as Ohio State will try to keep it from getting out of hand, but it may be difficult with so many talented players, eager to impress the coaching staff, in the hope that impressive plays may garner them more playing time.