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

April 1, 2016 by Leave a Comment

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

Ohio State began 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.

3rd – Defensive Tackle

Players Lost – Adolphus Washington, Tommy Schutt, Joel Hale. Say what you want about how it ended, but Ohio State lost a great deal of experience and dependability when Washington, Schutt, and Hale all exhausted their eligibility as Buckeyes.

Returning Players/Incoming Players – Malik Barrow (Freshman), Jashon Cornell (Redshirt Freshman), Michael Hill (Redshirt Junior), Dre’Mont Jones (Redshirt Freshman), Donovan Munger (Redshirt Junior), Tracy Sprinkle (Redshirt Junior), Dylan Thompson (Redshirt Sophomore), Joshua Alabi (Redshirt Freshman), Davon Hamilton (Redshirt Freshman), Robert Landers (Redshirt Freshman).

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

· The 2016 Fiesta Bowl actually gave Ohio State coaches and the fans a glimpse at what the 2016 season would be like, without the aforementioned Washington, Schutt, and Hale. Michael Hill, Donovan Munger, and Tracy Sprinkle all seem poised to rotate at these interior defensive line spots. With teams such as Oklahoma and Wisconsin on the schedule in 2016, teams that can and have run the ball effectively between the tackles, having a strong interior defensive line is a must for the Buckeyes. Nothing can be more discouraging for a defense than to have the opposing team be able to run the ball at will, killing the clock, while maintaining possession. Hill, Munger, and Sprinkle will all need to rise to the occasion for the Buckeyes this season. The lack of experienced depth at this position is why I have ranked defensive tackle third in my concerns of most pressing questions for the Buckeyes this spring.

· If there is a player along the interior defensive line I am most anxious to see in the upcoming spring game on April 16th, it is Robert Landers. Landers was a later addition to the 2015 recruiting class, and did not play at all in 2015. Landers nearly played in 2015, but was able to be withheld from game action.

· Ohio State has moved Dre’Mont Jones and Jashon Cornell from defensive end to the interior defensive line positions this spring. Just like Robert Landers, neither Jones or Cornell played in 2015. Jones redshirted due to a knee injury sustained in high school basketball, so it will bear watching to see how much, if any, that he plays in the upcoming spring game on April 16th.

· Malik Barrow is an early enrollee at defensive line, participating in spring practices. Barrow sustained a knee injury in high school that may impact how much, if any, that he will play in the spring game on April 16th.

· Davon Hamilton seems to have caught the eye of Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer in a positve light ~

· If there is a player who seems to be in the doghouse of the coaches, Dylan Thompson may qualify. Thompson redshirted his freshman season in 2014, due to a knee injury. Thompson did not play in 2015, and seems to be in the now or never mode of making a move on the depth chart. When asked about Thompson, Urban Meyer stated his desire of Thompson as spring practices began was “do something. Underline that, do something.”. That does not sound like an endorsement bathed in warmth and love from the head coach.

These questions, among others, have been on my mind, as Ohio State resumed spring practice on March 22nd.

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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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Buckeyes Back On Road To Battle Hoosiers

October 2, 2015 by 2 Comments

4-0 Ohio State at 4-0 Indiana. How many of you thought it was going to be like this, back when thinking about this game as it related to the schedule?

You can put your hand down, Kyle Swick of The Crimson Quarry. By the way, thank you again for appearing on The Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast with Shannon Sommers and me to preview this game.

Back to business. Ohio State took a step in the right direction offensively against Western Michigan, running a faster tempo offense behind the quarterback play of Cardale Jones. While Jones played better than in previous contests versus Hawaii and Northern Illinois, Jones also left points on the field by being late with deep passes; one of the three was intercepted, and two of the passes were almost intercepted. Jones also had some time management issues at the end of the first half, taking a costly intentional grounding call that led to the clock running out on the Buckeyes, missing an opportunity for a field goal.

All of what I wrote up above are fixable, and probably will be addressed going forward, especially the deep passing fundamentals that are crucial for the offense to succeed. Below are three areas that I will be focusing upon when Ohio State and Indiana get going in Bloomington at 3:30pm EST on ABC/ESPN2.

1. Ohio State’s Run Defense Versus The Indiana Running Game ~ Ohio State gave up 169 yards last week to Western Michigan, prompting concern from the Ohio State fan base, as well as Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer. Indiana is led by UAB transfer Jordan Howard. Howard has already rushed for 675 yards this season, and is coming off an impressive 168 yard game at Wake Forest. The interior defensive line, led by seniors Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt, need to rebound against Indiana as B1G play begins.

2. Ohio State’s Turnover Problems ~ A problem area from the end of last season, Ohio State has been entirely too generous with the football. Interceptions and fumbles are becoming far too commonplace this season for Coach Meyer to feel comfortable.

3. Braxton Miller’s Status In The Offense ~ It has become more and more evident that the coaching staff is trying to incorporate Miller into the offense, and more and more evident that the offense bogs down whenever this takes place. Yes, Braxton Miller is a dynamic player, but is it so important to get Miller the ball that the entire offense stalls out? Keep an eye out to see if the coaching staff lets the game flow better, before getting Miller the ball in situations that seem or feel forced.

Prediction: Ohio State is the best team Indiana has faced so far this season. While Indiana has talent across the board offensively, the Indiana defense has been giving up an average of 32 points a game, ranking them 97th defensively in this category. Indiana did not improve its team outlook by suspending DL Darius Latham prior to this contest. Look for Ohio State to use this game to continue to fine tune and improve upon its offense, while also working to shore up its run defense. I have it Ohio State 42, Indiana 21.

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Post-2015 Ohio State Spring Game: Reranking Concerns

May 1, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Throughout the weeks leading up to the 2015 Ohio State spring game, I had written ten articles where I ranked my concerns about Ohio State heading into the 2015 season. These articles were written from lowest concern to highest concern, primarily based upon players lost to eligibility or injury.

A couple weeks have passed since the glorious spring game, allowing me to contemplate and reflect upon what I saw during the spring game, as well as what I had written prior to the game. Were my concerns warranted?

Here are my top three concerns as Ohio State prepares for the influx of freshman talent in their 2015 recruiting class to arrive upon campus in June, gearing up for the all-important summer workouts that will be key to the Buckeyes’ 2015 national championship hopes…

3. Wide Receiver: Corey Smith had a terrific spring game, and Michael Thomas was sidelined due to a surgery procedure. Why am I ranking this wide receiver position higher than my earlier concern? Quite simply, losing Devin Smith as a consistent deep threat is something that will need to be demonstrated in true game competition. Corey Smith had some moments in the spring game, but I am skeptical about the consistency aspect that has plagued him in the past. We shall see if Corey Smith becomes the deep threat that is necessary for Ohio State’s passing offense to flourish.

2. Tight End: Nick Vannett is the listed starter, and could be primed for a big senior year, provided he stays healthy throughout the season. Marcus Baugh would have to be considered the second-string tight end heading into summer workouts. Why am I ranking this position higher than my earlier concern? Plain and simple, Baugh did not play in the spring game, due to a stomach virus that sidelined him. The lack of experienced depth has me concerned, but incoming freshmen Rashod Berry and A.J. Alexander may have opportunities to get playing time in the early portion of the season.

1. Defensive Tackle: Yes, my earlier concerns about defensive tackle heading into spring practice remain my top concern heading into the summer and fall. Ohio State did not truly emphasize the run in the spring game, so it would be difficult to gauge how effective the interior defensive linemen are at shutting down the run. Tommy Schutt did not play in the spring game, so there is another factor in not being able to accurately see the position group at full strength. With the Virginia Tech game on September 7th, Ohio State fans such as myself are going to have to be in a true “wait and see” mode as to how strong the defensive tackles are for the 2015 Buckeyes.

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

April 25, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Continuing with where we left off regarding the 2015 Ohio State Spring Game, we will focus upon some of the players who caught my eye on the defensive side of the ball. As I stated in part one, no spring game is going to be truly informative scheme-wise; why would any coach, especially one as smart as Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer, ever show off formations or packages in a spring game, especially one that will be televised and repeatedly shown by The Big Ten Network?

Most of these players, as was the case when I reviewed the offense, are players who have not played extensively, or in some circumstances, not at all (redshirted in 2014). A few have played considerably, and made some key plays during the spring game…

Defense

Defensive Ends: Sam Hubbard, Darius Slade, Jashon Cornell, Jalyn Holmes – remember how I listed defensive end as a concern leading up to the spring game? Let us just say that I am going to revisit my position concern rankings after the spring game. All played, and all were disruptive. Hubbard was redshirted last season, but showed glimpses of why Coach Meyer was lamenting and second-guessing his decision from last season. Hubbard was credited with two sacks, and was also causing deflections along the line of scrimmage. Darius Slade, Jashon Cornell, and Jalyn Holmes did not make any sacks, but they each made their respective presences known to the opposing quarterbacks. Even though Tyquan Lewis is penciled in as the starter at defensive end opposite of Joey Bosa, look for these players to be continually rotated in throughout the season.

Defensive Tackles: Tracy Sprinkle, Donovan Munger, and Adolphus Washington all caught my eye. As my colleague Shannon Sommers has mentioned, it is always good to see players from our native Lorain County playing well ~ Sprinkle had off the field issues last season, so it is a step in the positive direction to see and hear him playing on the field well. Munger and Washington were both credited with a sack. Tommy Schutt has been penciled in as the starter, but I would suspect these players, along with Michael Hill, may also be continually rotated at the position.

Linebacker: There was one linebacker who seemed to be everywhere, and that was true freshman Nick Conner. Credited with an interception and a forced fumble, Conner seized the spring game opportunity to showcase himself to Coach Meyer and the coaching staff. It will be a surprise if Conner does not earn a chance on special teams coverage this season, barring injury.

Secondary: Erick Smith, Gareon Conley, Damon Webb, and Tyvis Powell all played extensively. Smith served notice to the coaching staff and the fans in attendance that he is more than a consistent tackler, with two interceptions. Tyvis Powell had an interception off roommate Cardale Jones that resulted in a sideline thumping by Jones, followed by a “selfie” that delighted the crowd. Conley played the ball in coverage very well, defending passes that may have been completions a season ago. Webb was credited with three solo tackles and three assists, so the prognostication that Webb may be battling Conley for the starting position opposite Eli Apple seems legitimate.

The defense, which had been considered a liability prior to the 2014 season, has truly turned the corner. There is talent in every position group, and the competitive atmosphere that Coach Meyer has long advocated has taken root. Look for these players, among others, to become very familiar to Ohio State fans this coming season.

My defensive player of the spring game? It is a close call between Sam Hubbard, Nick Conner, and Erick Smith, but I will give it to Conner, as Conner was a true freshman playing in Ohio Stadium for the first time. Plus, who wouldn’t want to be able to go back to their high school senior prom, as Conner did the evening of April 18th, bragging about how they spent their afternoon?

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