2016 Ohio State Spring Football Preview: Youth Will Be Served, Early And Often – RB Preview

February 19, 2016 by 1 Comment

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

Ohio State will begin spring football practice on March 8th. Heading into the 2016 college football season, Ohio State will have 44 players on its roster designated as either a redshirt freshman (21 of the 25 players signed in February 2015), or a true freshman. For a roster that can have only 85 scholarship players, Ohio State will have around 52% of its roster with no playing time experience. As former Ohio State Head Coach John Cooper used to say, “If a dog is going to bite you, it will bite you as a pup.”.

For the next several weeks, I will be writing position group previews, leading up to the Ohio State Spring Football Game in Ohio Stadium on April 16th, 2016. These position groups will be ranked, from least to most concern, as I perceive them. It is entirely possible that my concerns, as well as the coaching staff’s concerns, will be reevaluated after the spring game.

(Honorable Mention – Placekicker) ~ In 2015, Ohio State had issues with both Jack Willoughby and Sean Nuernberger at placekicker. Late in the season, Nuernberger was awarded the placekicker position, and was successful in the 2016 Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl, hitting on all three of his field goals attempts. Considering how young Ohio State will be in 2016 across the board, Nuernberger may be counted upon more from a points option than Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer would prefer.

9th ~ Running Back

Players Lost – Ezekiel Elliott, Warren Ball. Ball has a fifth year of eligibility, but has decided to use it at Akron this coming season. Best of luck to Ball in all of his future endeavors, on and off the football field. Ezekiel Elliott? Yeah, you may have heard about him these past three years. Elliott was the focal part of the Ohio State offense, as Urban Meyer’s philosophy is to lean heavily upon the power running game. No matter if Ohio State has a dominant running back, or decides to use a committee approach, having a dependable running game is essential for Ohio State’s success on the field.

Returning Players/Incoming Players – Bri’onte Dunn (Redshirt Senior), Curtis Samuel (Junior), Mike Weber (Redshirt Freshman), Antonio Williams (Freshman).

A few things to keep in mind as it relates to this position group…

· Curtis Samuel has fluctuated between playing running back and the H-Back position in his first two seasons in Columbus. A very versatile player, Samuel has also been used on special teams for kickoff returns. Samuel underwent surgery in January, which means Samuel’s involvement in spring football is likely to be minimal. Could Samuel emerge as the leading candidate at running back? Certainly, but Samuel will likely need to make his move in fall camp, not spring football.

· Bri’onte Dunn is one of two redshirt seniors on the roster; the other is projected starting center Pat Elflein. Dunn was a highly-touted recruit in 2012, yet has not been able to consistently stake a claim for playing time as a running back; the vast majority of Dunn’s playing time has been as a well-respected special teams coverage member. Dunn has had occasional fumbling issues when given the chance to carry the ball. Can Dunn finally break through in his last opportunity to play as a running back for Ohio State this spring?

· Mike Weber redshirted in 2015, thanks to a surgery that took place during fall camp. Weber was earning rave reviews at the time of his surgery, and seemed likely to play at some point in 2015. Could Weber emerge this spring as the top candidate to replace Ezekiel Elliott in the Ohio State offense?

· Antonio Williams arrived on campus and began classes in January 2016. Originally committed to Wisconsin, Williams flipped his commitment to Ohio State in November 2015. Through the years, Ohio State has had several running backs enroll early, with names such as Maurice Clarett, Antonio Pittman, and Beanie Wells notably taking advantage of spring football to stake their respective claims for playing time. Will Antonio Williams be able to add his name to this illustrious list by the end of spring practice?

These questions, among others, will be on my mind once Ohio State spring practice begins March 8th.

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Bidding Best Wishes To Buckeyes As They Leave For Possible NFL Bounty

January 8, 2016 by Leave a Comment

For several members of the 2012 recruiting class, it began with a 56-10 victory over Miami University on September 1, 2012, in Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer’s first game as Ohio State’s head coach in Ohio Stadium. True freshmen such as Joshua Perry, Jacoby Boren, Michael Thomas, Tommy Schutt, Taylor Decker, and Adolphus Washington all participated, albeit as backups in mop-up time, for a team coming off a 6-7 season in 2011. Cam Williams, a highly-touted recruit, contributed later in the season against Alabama-Birmingham, as a special teams coverage player. These were recruited players who signed on for a team that was going to be denied a bowl berth at the end of the 2012 season, despite the fact that these players signed in 2012 had absolutely nothing to do with the transgressions that led to the penalty.

Some of the players who helped to contribute to Coach Meyer’s tremendous 2012 season were players who signed to play for former Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel, battled through the tumultuous 2011 season under interim Ohio State Head Coach Luke Fickell, and were strong enough to stay during the transition to Coach Meyer. The most dynamic of these players was Braxton Miller, but Miller was joined in the 2012 season by classmates such as Bryce Haynes, Nick Vannett, Chase Farris, and Joel Hale.

Even though 2012 was an undefeated season, Coach Meyer knew that reinforcements were desperately needed to effectively transform the Buckeyes into the type of team that would be capable of challenging for B1G Conference championships – national championships were still too far to contemplate. In February 2013, players such as Joey Bosa, Vonn Bell, and Ezekiel Elliott were among those who signed with the Buckeyes and played during the 2013 season; much to Coach Meyer’s chagrin, so many of the talented players were regrettably redshirted in 2013.

During the 2013 season, assistance came in the form of some of the 2012 redshirted players, such as Warren Ball on special teams. Remember that Ball verballed to Coach Tressel, stayed with his commitment during 2011 under Coach Fickell, and was willing to help the team, even in a reduced manner, under Coach Meyer. It could be argued that one of the biggest contributions from the 2012 class came when most needed and most unexpected, as Tyvis Powell, a safety who redshirted in 2012, came up with an interception to preserve a victory in Ann Arbor over That Team Up North in 2013. Powell was the first player to verbal to Ohio State and Coach Fickell after Coach Tressel resigned in May 2011.

In 2014, several of those talented but redshirted freshmen from the 2013 recruiting class were ready and eager to contribute on the field for the Buckeyes. Jalin Marshall, Eli Apple, and Darron Lee seemingly came out of nowhere to play prominently. A former Georgia Tech scholarship player, who chose to walk-on at Ohio State, by the name of Jeff Greene contributed on special teams. Perhaps the biggest contribution came from arguably the most unheralded player from either the 2012 or 2013 classes, a player Urban Meyer seemingly did not want, by the name of Cardale Jones.

In 2015, a player named Jack Willoughby decided to end his collegiate career as a Buckeye, after a successful four year career for Duke. Even though Willoughby had not taken nearly as long of a road as so many others within the program, Willoughby’s contributions were tremendously appreciated by the coaching staff, his new teammates, and the Buckeye faithful.

There are so many memories from this group of Buckeyes, from the 2012 season until the 2015 season. Fifty wins over a four year span, equaling a record held by Boise State. I feel at a loss for words, so I will simply write…

Thank You.

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

November 20, 2015 by Leave a Comment

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.

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Buckeyes “Ramble On” To Rumble At Rutgers

October 23, 2015 by Leave a Comment

“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.

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