The 2015 Ohio State Recruiting Class, By The Numbers

Before reviewing the 2015 Ohio State recruiting class, I want to congratulate Coach Stan Drayton for his recent move to the NFL’s Chicago Bears as the Bears running backs coach. Coach Drayton was highly instrumental in the development of Ohio State running backs Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott from 2012-2014. I wish Coach Drayton all the best as he moves onto the NFL.

The 2015 Ohio State recruiting class, with twenty-seven players signed, ranks as one of the top recruiting classes in the country. While I have never placed too much emphasis on how various recruiting analysts rate recruiting classes, I do pay attention to 1) if other top programs are recruiting the players that Ohio State has signed, and 2) if the recruiting class helped to address needs within Ohio State’s program. By those measurements, Ohio State’s 2015 recruiting class did very well.

Geographically, Ohio State signed twelve players from Ohio, three from Florida, two each from Michigan and Virginia, and one player each from Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, South Dakota, and Utah. While Ohio players may be the majority, the graph below will demonstrate that Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer and his staff will scour the nation in order to find the best players and convince them to become Buckeyes.

2015 OSU Recruits By State

The best position group with this recruiting class? In my estimation, the offensive line recruits are tremendous. Branden Bowen, Matthew Burrell, Kevin Feder, Mirko Jurkovic, Isaiah Prince, and Grant Schmidt will help Ohio State co-offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Ed Warriner maintain the strong play at the line of scrimmage that Ohio State fans have become accustomed to since the 2012 season. Schmidt is an early enrollee and will participate in spring practice. It is such a relief to see Coach Meyer and Coach Warriner place the strong emphasis on offensive line recruiting; gone are the days of 2010 when Andrew Norwell was the only offensive lineman signed in the recruiting class. One!

A concern for this recruiting class? Very minor, but few interior defensive linemen were signed. Joshua Alabi, DaVon Hamilton, and Robert Landers were signed, but even Coach Meyer stated that the backup defensive line play has been “disappointing”, and “”You’ve got to go, or you’ve got to go.”. With Michael Bennett’s departure to a probable NFL career, and the targeted departures of Adolphus Washington and Joey Bosa after the 2015 season, I am guessing defensive linemen will be a premium target for the 2016 recruiting class.

Which player will be able to make an impact during the 2015 season as a true freshman? Early enrollee Nick Conner may be able to make a mark on special teams, and even at linebacker. A sleeper pick may be Rashod Berry, who will be played at tight end. With Jeff Heuerman’s departure, Nick Vannett a senior, and Marcus Baugh sometimes skirting the good graces of the coaching staff, it may be possible for Berry to get some playing time at tight end.

Yes, recruiting is key to the long-term health of any program. As my Dad used to say, you have to have the horses in order to be able to win, and Coach Meyer was able to secure some highly-touted talent with this class. I believe Fox Sports 1’s Joel Klatt said it best as it relates to what now awaits all of the talented football players who signed their respective national letters of intent on February 4, 2015…

Buckeyes Prepare For First Rumble Against Rutgers

Rutgers University is off to a surprising 5-1 start to its 2014 season. With a surprising victory in the first week over Washington State, an inspiring victory at Navy, and a scrappy victory in its first B1G contest against Michigan, Rutgers is poised to make the second half of its inaugural season as a member of The B1G Conference quite successful.

While Ohio State has been established as a strong favorite (Ohio State is close to a 20 point favorite), it would be wise for Ohio State fans to not necessarily count this game as being a sure thing. One need only reminisce back to the second week of the season, when Virginia Tech entered Ohio Stadium as an underdog, only to be rejoicing happily upon the conclusion of that game. Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer will certainly be emphasizing the “don’t be cocky” theme to his well-rested squad this entire week. Both Rutgers and Ohio State come into this contest off a bye week.

The three primary areas of concern I have for this game are as follows:

1. How Will Ohio State Handle A Strong Rutgers Pass Rush? – While undersized by traditional B1G standards for defensive lines, Rutgers has strong pass rushers led by Darius Hamilton and Kemoko Turay. Turay was the player responsible for blocking the Michigan field goal that culminated in the Rutgers victory over the Wolverines. While the Ohio State offensive line has been improving since the struggles versus Virginia Tech, will the Buckeyes be able to adequately protect QB J.T. Barrett against what should be a blitzing Scarlet Knights pass rush?

2. Will Ohio State Be Able To Pressure Rutgers QB Gary Nova? – Nova has improved tremendously this season under the tutelage of new Rutgers offensive coordinator/QB coach Ralph Friedgen. Friedgen is a veteran college and NFL coach who may have some tricks up his sleeve to help Nova with what promises to be a fearsome Ohio State pass rush, led by DE Joey Bosa. Will Ohio State be able to pressure Nova into mistakes, as Penn State was able to in what turned out to be the only loss for Rutgers so far this season?

3. Will Ohio State Be Able To Run The Ball Offensively? – The improvement of the Ohio State offense since the Virginia Tech has coincided with the emergence of sophomore RB Ezekiel Elliott as Ohio State’s primary ball carrier. While undersized, look for Rutgers to stack the box against Ohio State. Will Ohio State be able to capitalize upon this strategy if Rutgers pursues it?

Even with all of my concerns, I believe Ohio State is starting to find its rhythm both offensively and defensively. The improvement along both lines of scrimmage, as well as within the secondary, will be too much for a talented Rutgers team making its first visit to Ohio Stadium. This game should be close until the second half, but Ohio State has too much size and speed for Rutgers to keep pace with the Buckeyes. I have it Ohio State 42, Rutgers 21.

Grading 2014 Ohio State Football, At The Bye

While I agree with Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer that having a bye week at this point in the season is not necessarily wanted or welcomed by the coaches, players, or fans, it does provide an opportunity to assess how Ohio State is doing after the first third of the season. (Technically, Ohio State was at the 1/3 point after the Cincinnati game, but this bye weekend gives me a chance to evaluate the team, without an opponent to preview against.) Let us begin with the various position groups:

Quarterbacks: A solid ‘B’, but could rise to an ‘A’ by the conclusion of the season. Redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett was unenviably thrown into the starting position when projected starter Braxton Miller’s shoulder injury was season-ending. Barrett struggled immensely against Virginia Tech in week two, but has had three straight sterling performances versus Kent State, Cincinnati, and Maryland. Will Barrett be able to continue his strong play as Ohio State continues B1G competition for the remainder of the season? Cardale Jones has played sparingly as a backup so far this season.

Running Backs: B+. Ezekiel Elliott has seized the starting position, and looks to be in the Carlos Hyde mold of being able to wear an opposing defense down. Senior Rod Smith figures to be a complimentary player for the remainder of his Ohio State career. Coach Meyer has praised Bri’onte Dunn as being worthy of more playing time. True freshman Curtis Samuel is presently battling an ankle injury. The coaching staff seems to have concluded that Dontre Wilson is best used as a perimeter player running the ball; the same for Jalin Marshall. Warren Ball has battled injuries this season, and gets little playing time.

Wide Receivers: B-. This position group is kind of a mixed bag. The talent is there, but has not established itself on a consistent basis. Michael Thomas, Corey Smith, Evan Spencer, Devin Smith, Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson – all play, yet none have seized the starting positions with a commanding performance. Senior TE Jeff Heuerman has battled injuries, but may have turned the corner. Nick Vannett has also played capably this season.

Offensive Line: B+. Considering where this group started, how the players were being mixed in and out of the lineup, with inconsistent results…This offensive line may be the most pleasant surprise on the team. Losing four starters, and moving the only returning starter with Taylor Decker to left tackle, meant the offensive line was completely unsettled and incohesive. The offensive line is only going to get better by the season’s end. Senior Darryl Baldwin has been singled out by Coach Meyer for his continuing development at right tackle. Jacoby Boren has taken a firm grasp of the starting center position.

Defensive Line: B-. Joey Bosa is staring down a first team All-American selection after this season. The suspension of Noah Spence has hurt Ohio State’s pass rush. Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington, and the combo of Steve Miller/Rashad Frazier have played well, but have not been nearly as dominant as expected by the fan base. An opportunity to dominate the opposition looms when the Buckeyes travel to Penn State on October 25th.

Linebackers: B. True freshman Raekwon McMillan may have clinched the starting middle linebacker position by the season’s end. Darron Lee was the player of the game in the season opener versus Navy. Joshua Perry has been relatively quiet on the playmaking front. Will this group be able to step up with physical rushing opponents such as Michigan State and Minnesota on the horizon?

Secondary: C. A true work in progress. While improving, this is the weak area of the team. How much of it is scheme, and how much of it is personnel? Eli Apple may have turned a corner, no pun intended, with his performance at Maryland last weekend. This position group may improve with better performances at Penn State and Indiana.

Special Teams Units: B+. True freshman Sean Nuernberger has been better after two missed field goals against Virginia Tech in the second game of the season. Will Nuernberger be able to come through if needed to make a game winner? Cameron Johnston is quietly reliable at the punting position. Coach Meyer stresses the importance of special teams as being a gateway to playing time, and the coverage units have been solid.

Conclusion: If 2014 Ohio State football were a stock, this would be a solid buy acquisition. Ohio State should be 7-1 heading up to East Lansing, MI, for what should be a B1G East Division elimination game. “Should be” does not mean “will be”, especially after Virginia Tech came into Ohio Stadium and defeated the Buckeyes in week two of the season. If Ohio State can defeat a very good Michigan State team in front of a national television audience, it is not far-fetched for Ohio State to possibly emerge as a playoff participant.

Terrapins Can Make It Terrible For Ohio State’s First MD Visit

Ohio State travels to Byrd Stadium in College Park, Maryland, for its first ever contest against B1G newcomer Maryland. Maryland was projected as having a strong initial season within the B1G, and this trip to Byrd Stadium should prove to be quite a raucous beginning for Ohio State as the Buckeyes begin conference play for the 2014 season.

Last weekend’s contest versus the University of Cincinnati left Ohio State fans curious about the Buckeye pass defense. New co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash was brought in during the offseason to fix what was considered the weakest link in Ohio State’s defense. After allowing Bearcats WR Chris Moore to average nearly 74 yards per reception (3 receptions for 221 yards, 3 touchdowns), who could blame Ohio State fans for feeling somewhat anxious heading into a game that features two of the B1G’s leading receivers in former Ohio State recruiting target Stefon Diggs and Deon Long?

Besides Diggs and Long, Maryland features other players on its roster who may be familiar to Ohio State fans. Players such as OT Damian Prince, OT Derwin Gray, and WR Taivon Jacobs were all recruited by Ohio State, but chose Maryland instead. The lone Ohioan listed on Maryland’s roster is freshman TE Andrew Gray, who did not receive an Ohio State scholarship offer.

Three areas I will focus upon during the game are:

– Ohio State’s Press Coverage With Its Secondary: Anytime a team decides to play aggressively with its pass defense, it is a high risk, high reward situation. Receivers such as Diggs and Long can easily take a pass all the way to the end zone, like Chris Moore did last weekend. Will Ohio State adjust its safety play to offer up more help to its cornerbacks, and help neutralize the threat of big plays?

– Ohio State’s Pass Rush Must Come Up Big: So far this season, sophomore DE Joey Bosa has been causing disruptive plays along the line of scrimmage, resulting in turnovers against the opposition. Will Bosa be able to come up big again, especially against a Maryland team that may double-team him? If Bosa is double-teamed, will Adolphus Washington or Michael Bennett be able to pick up the slack, and create the necessary pressure to help Ohio State’s secondary?

– Ohio State’s Run Game Must Control The Clock: Against Cincinnati, sophomore RB Ezekiel Elliott ran for 182 yards, while teammates J.T. Barrett, Rod Smith, Dontre Wilson, Curtis Samuel, and Jalin Marshall also contributed to the overall team rushing effort (380 yards on the ground). To keep Maryland off the field, Ohio State will need its rushing attack to come through in the clutch time of this contest.

While the oddsmakers have penciled Ohio State as a strong favorite, I believe this game will be in doubt until midway through the fourth quarter. Even though there will be anxious moments for Ohio State fans, players, and coaches, I have it Ohio State 42, Maryland 31, with Ohio State scoring a late touchdown to secure its first B1G victory of the 2014 season.

3 Areas Of Focus For Cincinnati @ Ohio State

Every Ohio State fan can vividly recall how close the University of Cincinnati came to upsetting the Buckeyes in Paul Brown Stadium in 2002. I am willing to guess that many Buckeye fans have either forgotten, or have decided to ignore, that Cincinnati gave Ohio State a good game in 1999 in Ohio Stadium as well (Ohio State 34-20). Of course, Ohio State had easier games in Ohio Stadium versus Cincinnati in 2004 (27-6), and in 2006 (37-7), both times with current Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio facing former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel.

With a 6pm EST kickoff on The Big Ten Network, Tommy Tuberville will lead his undefeated Cincinnati team into Ohio Stadium to face the Buckeyes, led by Tuberville’s former SEC nemesis, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer. Before presuming Ohio State should be able to easily dispatch Cincinnati, Buckeye fans would be wise to remember that Meyer’s Florida teams lost to Tuberville’s Auburn teams in both 2006 (Auburn 27, Florida 17) and 2007 (Auburn 20, Florida 17).

My points are no matter who the coaches are for Cincinnati or Ohio State, and no matter if the game is in Cincinnati or Columbus, this game should prove to be a battle. This is as close to an in-state rivalry that Ohio State can, or will, develop. Of all the Ohio colleges that Ohio State schedules, Cincinnati will traditionally have the most talent, and the best chance, of defeating Ohio State. Below are three critical areas I will be focusing upon when Cincinnati @ Ohio State kicks off at 6pm on the Big Ten Network:

1. Has Ohio State Settled Its Offensive Line? – A major reason why Ohio State was defeated at home by Virginia Tech was because Ohio State’s inexperienced offensive line had difficulties with the Bear front the Hokies repeatedly used. While LT Taylor Decker and RT Darryl Baldwin seem to be set at their respective positions, the interior positions are still in flux. Considering Coach Tuberville’s experience as a defensive coordinator (Arkansas State, Miami (FL), Texas A&M), look for Cincinnati to do what they can to stymie and stump Ohio State’s offensive line throughout this contest. Cincinnati may not be able to play a Bear front, but Coach Tuberville probably has some ideas on how to confuse and challenge Ohio State’s offensive line Saturday evening.

2. Can Ohio State Establish Its Running Game? – I have stated this before, and will state again that Ohio State truly misses the power running game of Carlos Hyde. Ohio State has been trying to establish its running game with Ezekiel Elliott and Curtis Samuel, but it has not been easy or smooth. Considering Cincinnati has a high-powered passing game, an effective strategy Ohio State could use would rely upon its running game to keep the Buckeye defense on the sidelines, and control the clock. Will Ohio State be able to run the ball when it wants to, or needs to, versus Cincinnati on Saturday evening?

3. Will Ohio State’s Defensive Line Emerge? – [Warning! Shameless Self-Promotion Rapidly Approaching!] On the most recent podcast, I mentioned how Ohio State’s defensive line has not been nearly as dominant as I expected this season. While Joey Bosa has played well, and Noah Spence is suspended indefinitely, can Ohio State develop a pass rush to harass Cincinnati quarterback Gunner Kiel on Saturday evening?

Those three areas are going to be on my mind when the Cincinnati @ Ohio State commences Saturday evening. If Ohio State is to maintain its winning streak versus Cincinnati, Buckeye fans can hope the answers will develop in Ohio State’s favor.

Top 3 Players To Impact The Defense (Guest Post)

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As the Buckeye season gets closer, anything less then winning the Big Ten Championship and a trip to the College Football Playoff, will be a disappointment. Last season there were plenty of could have, should have moments but one of the biggest in my opinion was the defense, namely the pass defense which Urban Meyer obviously was not happy with either. But with the addition of Chris Ash this season, hopefully it will be new and improved.

Even with two undefeated seasons, Coach Meyer still doesn’t have a conference title or a bowl game win under his belt. I think this is the season for all of that to happen though and helping to get that done this season will be Michael Bennett at defensive tackle. At 6’2”, 288 pounds, Bennett will be the offensive lineman’s worst nightmare. He had 42 tackles last season with 11 of them for a loss and seven sacks. He also is a huge team leader. Bennett up the middle will drive offensive coordinators crazy trying to find a way around him. Ohio State should have one of the best defensive seven in the Big Ten this year.

BpOU0iECMAAHraD

Another big contributor this year on defense will be Joey Bosa. Bosa was a freshman phenom last year, stepping up for the graduated John Simon. He stepped in immediately and made an impact with 44 tackles, 13.5 for a loss and 7.5 sacks. He has the strength and that killer instinct the Buckeyes need. Quite simply, he is a freak!

The last of my top three impact players on defense is Noah Spence. Although he will have to sit out the first two games for a failed drug test last year that also included him missing the Orange Bowl game, he will still make a huge impact on defense. Speed is Noah’s threat on opposing quarterbacks. He will play a big role this year and definitely be a playmaker.

I think the defensive line will be the strength of the Buckeyes this season outside of Braxton Miller. The pressure will be on them, the rest of the team and coaching staff to go all the way.

Buckeyes Have No Time For Senioritis Against Indiana

Senior Day in Ohio Stadium is always a special occasion. Eighteen seniors, including Buckeye stalwarts such as Carlos Hyde, Corey “Philly” Brown, Jack Mewhort, Corey Linsley, Marcus Hall, and C.J. Barnett will be introduced for recognition by the fans, their respective families, teammates, and Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, in their final game as a Buckeye in Ohio Stadium. What may be an emotional moment for all could involve Christian Bryant, who was lost to injury near the end of the Ohio State/Wisconsin game on September 28th.

Senioritis is something that seems to afflict most students as they wind down their academic careers. Unfortunately for Ohio State fans and players, senioritis has been an issue in Ohio Stadium in recent seasons:

In 2011, Penn State defeated Ohio State 20-14 in the last home game at Ohio Stadium. This was the first post-Joe Paterno victory for Penn State, and one of many losses for the Buckeyes in the ill-fated 2011 season.

In 2007, Illinois defeated # 1 ranked Ohio State, 28-21. While Ohio State recovered nicely to earn a BCS Championship Bid after this defeat, it still marked a bitter ending for seniors such as Kirk Barton and Alex Boone.

Other areas of concern for Ohio State for this game stem from the fact that Ohio State suffered defensive lapses in their 60-35 victory over Illinois last week. Factor in how Indiana took Ohio State down to the wire last season, and one can understand why Ohio State cannot overlook Indiana in this upcoming contest.

Coach Meyer, a graduate assistant on the 1987 Ohio State coaching staff that suffered through what former Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce termed “the darkest day in Ohio State football” in a bitter home loss to Indiana in 1987, will keep his team focused upon the task at hand. I have every confidence in Coach Meyer relating these facts to his team before Saturday’s kickoff…

Below are some areas I will focus upon throughout the game…

Ohio State’s Focus Upon The Running Game: Indiana may be an offensive threat, but is poor by any definition defensively. A key way to keep Indiana’s dangerous offense off the field is for Ohio State to control the clock by relying upon its dominant running game.

Carlos Hyde is on the doorstep of a 1000 yard rushing season for Coach Meyer. Hyde should have his 1000 yards for this season by the end of the first quarter, based upon Indiana’s defensive status.

Once Ohio State has a comfortable lead, it would be advantageous for Ohio State to use other running backs such as Jordan Hall, Rod Smith, Ezekiel Elliott, and Warren Ball in the second half to finish off Indiana. Like Carlos Hyde, Jordan Hall is also a senior playing in his final game in Ohio Stadium. It would be a fitting conclusion to Hall’s Buckeye career if Hall had an opportunity to score at least one more time in front of the Ohio Stadium crowd.

Will Dontre Wilson Be Involved In The Game Plan? Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman acknowledged earlier this week that Wilson needs to be more involved in the offensive attack, yet wonders how to do that without Ohio State’s other offensive weapons such as Braxton Miller, Carlos Hyde, and Corey “Philly” Brown suffering as a result. Perhaps once the Ohio State running game has taken control of the game, Wilson may be factored into the contest.

Can Ohio State’s Pass Defense Slow Down Indiana? Illinois scored 35 points on Ohio State, the most points surrendured by Ohio State this season. Indiana, led by players such as Nate Sudfeld, Tre Roberson, Stephen Houston, Cody Latimer, and one-time Ohio State recruit and former Cleveland Glenville star Shane Wynn, can score on anyone. A case in point – Indiana was able to score 28 points on Michigan State, and Michigan State is arguably the toughest defense in the nation.

Secondary players such as Bradley Roby, Doran Grant, Armani Reeves, Tyvis Powell, and the aforementioned C.J. Barnett will all need to show up big in what promises to be an Indiana aerial assault. What would truly help would be if Noah Spence, Joey Bosa, and Michael Bennett can contribute with a pass rush to throw off the timing of the Indiana passing attack.

Has Ohio State Figured Out Its Special Teams Coverage Units? Shane Wynn is capable of taking a punt back for a touchdown, as V’Angelo Bentley of Illinois (another Cleveland Glenville alum, like Wynn) did last week against Ohio State. Has Coach Meyer figured out what went wrong against Illinois, and will it be fixed against Indiana?

No time for senioritis in Ohio Stadium on Saturday. Ohio State wants to send its eighteen senior players off with a victory in their last game in Ohio Stadium. It will bear watching to see how Ohio State handles the offensive challenges Indiana will bring to this game.

Hyde, Bosa, Roby Honored with B1G Player of the Week Awards

b1g_iconCongratulations to Carlos Hyde, Bradley Roby and Joey Bosa for being recognized as Offensive Co-Player, Special Teams Player and Freshman of the Week (respectively).

Carlos Hyde had a game for the ages at Northwestern, rushing for a career-high 168 yards (in addition to 38 yards of four catches), scoring three second-half touchdowns and was pretty much unbringdownable (yes that’s a word, look it up. There’s a picture of Carlos Hyde next to it)

While Bradley Roby and the rest of the secondary had their struggles against Northwestern’s passing attack, Roby had himself a great day on special teams. His block of Northwestern’s punt in the endzone was Ohio State’s only touchdown of the first half. He also managed to other tackles on Special Teams. He may not have had the best night overall, but he was instrumental in Saturday Night’s victory.

Finally, Joey Bosa, the defensive end freshman out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida had a Simon-esque night. He seemed to be in Northwestern’s backfield at will, disrupting the pocket and getting to the quarterback. He notched two sacks, five tackles and the fumble recovery in the endzone that sealed the deal.

The Buckeyes have had a player recognized the Offensive Player of the Week four of the six weeks of the season (Guiton x 2, Miller and now Hyde)

Ohio State Looks To Run With, Then By, The Bulls In 2013 Opener

Trying to forecast a final score, or what will happen decisively in game one of the college football season, is an exercise of confidence that I do not possess. There are so many factors involved, especially against an unfamiliar opponent as the University of Buffalo Bulls, that it would be easy for someone to read this blog post after the game and say, “What was he thinking?!?”.

Here are some things I will look for in the 2013 season opener versus Buffalo ~

  • Ohio State’s rushing attack: During the 2012 season, QB Braxton Miller ran far more frequently than I preferred, and I surmise Coach Urban Meyer preferred. With a deep arsenal of running backs (Jordan Hall, Bri’onte Dunn, Warren Ball, Ezekiel Elliott), as well as hybrid players such as Dontre Wilson, I wonder how Ohio State will be able to involve as many of these players versus Buffalo.
  • Ohio State’s front seven defensively: Replacing the entire defensive line, as well as two linebackers, will be of concern to me, as the lack of experience can only strengthen throughout the season. How effective Ohio State is able to shut down Buffalo’s running game, as well as pressure the passer, will be areas watched in the season opener.
  • How many freshmen or newcomers will play for Ohio State: Coach Meyer has stated players such as Wilson, Elliott, defensive linemen Michael Hill and Joey Bosa, and new punter Cameron Johnston will all play versus Buffalo. Will there be others? If so, who, and how much will these players play?
  • The maturation of Ohio State’s passing game: Miller has supposedly improved from 2012, according to reports from Ohio State’s coaching staff. Will Miller’s mechanics be on display versus against Buffalo? Will Miller demonstrate the ability to find secondary options, versus just taking off with his legs? Conversely, will Miller demonstrate his maturity of not forcing passes into covered areas, while making positive yardage if all other options have been closed off?
  • How many backups will play: My rationale in this thought is how critical it is for any team to develop battle-tested depth throughout the team. As soon as Ohio State has developed a strong lead, I would hope to see backups along the offensive line, as Ohio State will lose four of its five starters for the 2014 season. How about playing backup quarterback Kenny Guiton, in the event Miller is injured at some other point in the 2013 season? How about playing Cardale Jones, the second backup quarterback, to get Jones some valuable playing experience?

Ohio State is heavily favored, and should win this game easily. While winning is always the primary objective, other goals should always be pursued to help develop Ohio State into a true national championship contender.