Will Ohio State “Rush” Into November Against Illinois?

October 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment

“November is for contenders, we always say that…” ~ former Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel

The Illinois Fighting Illini will enter into Ohio Stadium on a forecasted chilly evening to battle long-time rival Ohio State. While Ohio State is listed by Las Vegas oddsmakers as a comfortable favorite (Ohio State has a -28.5 point spread), Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and his coaching staff will do their very best to focus their team upon defeating the Fighting Illini and securing the seventh victory for the 2014 season.

Ohio State fans recall how Illinois came into Ohio Stadium in 2007 and upset the then-top ranked Buckeyes. As I stated this past week on the MotSaG podcast, it is quite vivid to me how Illinois tormented Ohio State coaches (most especially, former Ohio State head coach John Cooper), players, and fans throughout the 1980s and 1990s (1988-1992, 1994, 1999). When Ohio State fans contemplate how the Buckeyes had to rally last weekend on the road at Penn State (31-24 2OT), as well as how Illinois defeated a favored Minnesota team last weekend, the coaching staff, players, and fans cannot overlook the capacity of Illinois upsetting the Buckeyes.

Illinois has seventeen players on its roster from Ohio. The overwhelming majority of these players were not recruited by Ohio State; the lone exception to this is Caleb Day of Hilliard, who spurned Ohio State for Illinois in 2013. The most notable Ohioan is V’Angelo Bentley of Glenville, who made the key fumble recovery against Minnesota that secured the Illinois victory last week.

The areas that I will be focusing upon throughout the game will be…

1. Ohio State relying upon its running game – Quarterback J.T. Barrett sustained a sprained MCL injury against Penn State. Although Barrett has been cleared to play against Illinois, it would be surprising to see Barrett being asked to contribute much in the running game against the Fighting Illini. Ezekiel Elliott may be a workhorse, and other running backs such as Curtis Samuel and Warren Ball may also have opportunities to pad their respective statistics. Bri’onte Dunn will not play against Illinois, due to injury.

2. How Well Will Ohio State’s Defense Contain Illinois’ Reilly O’Toole? – O’Toole has ascended into the role of Illinois’ starting quarterback, after starter Wes Lunt was lost to injury. O’Toole is more of a dual-threat quarterback, capable of making plays with his legs as well as his arm. Will Ohio State’s quick and aggressive defense be able to contain O’Toole Saturday night?

3. Will Ohio State Play Cardale Jones Against Illinois? – Anyone who has listened to me throughout this season’s MotSaG podcasts will hear me questioning why backup quarterback Cardale Jones has not received more playing time this season. Considering Barrett’s sprained MCL injury, it is in Ohio State’s best interests to rest Barrett as much as possible, with the remainder of the 2014 season left to play. While Jones is not the passer Barrett is, Jones has the physical skills capable to play the quarterback position as a game manager for the Buckeyes. On this week’s podcast, I even made the suggestion that true freshman quarterback Stephen Collier, who has been targeted for a redshirt season, may be worthy of playing time, depending upon the type of potential lead Ohio State may be able to build upon against Illinois. Think of it this way – suppose Barrett reinjures his leg, and is out for the season, so now Cardale Jones is the starter. Anyone else comfortable knowing Stephen Collier is next up, with no playing experience? Thought so.

Perhaps Ohio State will be able to shut down Illinois all across the board, and get off to a fast start. While that would be very pleasing to Coach Meyer, as well as all Ohio State fans, I believe Illinois will be able to keep it close until the end of the first half. Look for Ohio State to pull away in the second half, behind a strong rushing performance, and an opportunistic defense. I have it Ohio State 35, Illinois 17.

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

Let Me Fix Your Team: Florida

October 24, 2014 by 1 Comment

I look around college football and I see a lot of disgruntled fan bases. They aren’t happy with their team whether it’s the coaching, the play on the field, all of the losing or a combination of these three. When I see these problems I start to think of a solution for these teams, but I never put them on paper. But in you’re luck now downtrodden schools! Now I’ve decided to use my expertise to help you through your issues. With my help you’ll be a winner in no time. Just call me Doctor Josh.
After I successfully advised Illinois last week, I’ve decided to take on a bigger challenge this week. They just got embarrassed at home…

Patient: Florida Gators
Status: 3-3 (2-3 in the SEC)
Current Fan Base Mood: Cranky, on the verge of eating bath salts and tearing Will Muschamp’s face off. Also still blaming Urban Meyer for all of their problems.
Most Embarrassing Moment of the Season: Losing to Missouri at home during homecoming 42-13. Also the entire offense has been a dumpster fire.

Dr. Josh’s Advice: Well up until the Missouri game I thought head coach Will Muschamp was doing a fantastic job. They had big wins over Eastern Michigan and Kentucky. The Gators also only lost by three touchdowns to Alabama. That’s pretty impressive. Muschamp also led them to a Sugar Bowl a few years ago. In the SEC! I think they won that game, but I’m not quite sure.

But after that game against Missouri it became obvious it was time for the Muschamp era to sadly come to an end for Florida. So many great moments! I look forward to the day they build his statue outside the Swamp. What was sauce for the goose is now for the gander though. Or in this case the Illini. Now you don’t have to lure him away from Gainesville, Illinois!

After Florida fires Muschamp, I have some advice for you Gator fans. You need to make sure you go through each of the 12 steps in the grieving process. I know you’ll feel traumatized after this transpires and I just want you to know it’s not your fault. You tried to work out your differences with Muschamp, but you both wanted different things in life. He has a gypsy soul and likes to travel, while you’re more of homebody (which explains why Florida never leaves the state for non-conference games). Muschamp listens to Lady Gaga and you’re more of a Taylor Swift fan. This is completely normal. The main thing is you tried. Remember that there’s plenty of fish in the sea. Speaking of that…

Prescription: You need an offensive mastermind. A guy who can really light a fire under the program and get people talking. You need someone that’s brash, cocky and isn’t afraid of commitment. A real man’s man! That is why I highly recommend you hire Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. First and foremost by hiring Kiffin you immediately bring swag to your program and you stick it to Nick Saban by hiring him away. Remember Kiffin also has head coaching experiencing in the SEC. His 7 wins that season are the most wins Tennessee has had in a season the last five years. He led them to their last bowl game too. Are you not impressed?

Kiffin

To top it all off, by hiring Kiffin that guarantees comedian Daniel Tosh will make jokes about your program. Remember we’re not laughing at you, but with you. I think Florida could use some humor right now. Kiffin is the total package and I don’t see another coach out there that fits the Florida mold as well as Kiffin. Congratulations Florida! You’re not only going to be a successful program again, but also the coolest in college football.

Another satisfied patient! You’re welcome Florida. What lucky team will I help next week? Stay tuned…

Filed Under: College Football Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Buckeyes Prepare For First Rumble Against Rutgers

October 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment

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.

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

Grading 2014 Ohio State Football, At The Bye

October 10, 2014 by 2 Comments

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.

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

Instant Analysis: Ohio State stomps Maryland 52-24

October 4, 2014 by 1 Comment

There is nothing better than clearly hearing “O-H-I-O” loud and proud in an opponent’s stadium. It’s good for Maryland to learn early in their inaugural Big Ten season that Buckeye fans are the best traveling fans in the conference. They may have sold out Byrd stadium but there is always a sea of scarlet and gray.

The Buckeyes came out of their first conference game of the season with a very nice victory, beating the Terps 52-24.

OFFENSE

You can tell J.T. Barrett is gaining more confidence when he’s running the ball; he may not be as flashy as Braxton Miller, but he’s fast and efficient so I’m not mad about it. There were a few times he was surprised by Maryland’s defense from the back, but he just needs to stay aware in the pocket.

Urban Meyer is definitely training Ezekiel Elliott to be the next Carlos Hyde, and he’s getting more powerful by the day. The running game was a big part of the play calling and spreading it out between Elliott and Rod Smith opened up a lot of offensive options.

The Buckeye pass game is so well-rounded and Barrett is making much better decisions in the pocket. 1) We finally saw Jalin Marshall score off a short pass into the endzone; 2) Tight ends Heuerman and Vannett both had great catches; 3) Devin Smith had an incredible catch in the endzone after a quick series in the third.

Side note: when Cardale Jones came in during the fourth quarter, he proved that he could also have a future jumping hurdles.

DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS

My favorite part of the first half may have been the comparison of Joey Bosa to Houston Texans J.J. Watt; if Bosa can keep playing with the same energy, he’ll be a beast for years to come.

All week long, Maryland’s Stefon Diggs was a player to watch out for, and the Buckeye special teams absolutely crushed him on his first return attempt of the game. They stayed tight on Diggs and really took away the power he had coming into the game.

The secondary got a few breaks when Maryland’s quarterback’s inefficiency made up for the defensive backs getting beaten down field throughout the game. The Terps had a huge completion off Doran Grant’s helmet in the third quarter which was QUICKLY rebuffed by Eli Apple with an interception in the endzone. There is still work that needs done, but they were able to create a lot of turnovers which was at least one bright spot.

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

3 Areas Of Focus For Cincinnati @ Ohio State

September 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment

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.

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

The B1G Is In BIG Trouble On The Coaching Front

September 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment

There is an old axiom that football teams take upon the personality of their head coach. For Ohio State fans, think back to when Jim Tressel was on the sidelines as Ohio State’s head coach from 2001-2010. During close games, most especially during the 2002 national championship season, Tressel remained calm and composed. Consequently, a player such as Craig Krenzel seemed to also remain calm and focused, especially when the game was on the line for the Buckeyes.

This article is not going to be about how Ohio State has taken upon the personality of Coach Urban Meyer. Ohio State fans, and college football fans everywhere, will generally acknowledge that Coach Meyer is one of the best coaches in college football. Ohio State does not have to worry about the positive direction of the football program under Coach Meyer.

The rest of the B1G? I will be charitable when I say, “Ugh”.

There are so many theories that are being offered up for the decline of B1G football – Population shifts to the Southern areas of the country. Oversigning of recruits by other conferences, most notably from the SEC.

My theory? It all starts with the coaching, or lack thereof.

For example, here are some of the names who were B1G coaches in 2004: The aforementioned Jim Tressel. Lloyd Carr, who shared the national title in 1997, and won five B1G titles during his tenure. Joe Paterno, who won two national championships while at Penn State (1982, 1986), and could have arguably won others, such as the 1994 season. Joe Tiller, who won the B1G title in 2000 and led Purdue to the 2001 Rose Bowl. Barry Alvarez, who built Wisconsin football into a top program and won three B1G titles. Glen Mason, who made every school he coached at into a competitive team (Kent State, Kansas, Minnesota). Randy Walker, the winningest coach in Miami University football history and the man who helped to make Northwestern competitive via the spread offense.

Now think about who is on the sidelines today: Only a few truly respected coaches, such as Coach Meyer. James Franklin has won at Vanderbilt, and will win at Penn State. Mark Dantonio won the B1G in 2013 and his Michigan State team ranked fourth in the nation at season’s end.

The reality is the rest of the conference have entrusted their programs to individuals who are not necessarily in-demand on the coaching front. I believe Darrell Hazell of Purdue has potential, but will Hazell be able to turn Purdue around? Pat Fitzgerald may have done all he can at Northwestern. Jerry Kill may have done the same at Minnesota. I believe Brady Hoke is demonstrating to fans of That Team Up North what is meant by The Peter Principle. And Kirk Ferentz of Iowa, who has been the team’s head coach since 1999, has a contract that makes it virtually impossible to be replaced. Tim Beckman of Illinois has taken a bad situation from Ron Zook, and somehow made it worse.

December is usually when programs determine to replace their head coaches. Based upon the dismal performances and reputation of B1G football in 2014, do not be surprised if the axe falls more frequently than ever before. What remains to be seen is if the respective B1G institutions decide to open up their checkbooks to truly bring in quality coaches, like other conferences seem to be willing to do to be relevant within the college football landscape.

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

3 Concerns From Ohio State/Navy From The Mind Of Minnich

September 3, 2014 by 1 Comment

Congratulations to Coach Urban Meyer and the 2014 Ohio State Buckeyes for their 34-17 victory over the Navy Midshipmen. On the road, with nine new offensive starters, against a quality opponent, having to defend the triple option…Ohio State rallied in the second half, escaped Baltimore without any notable injuries, and get to come home to Ohio Stadium to face the Virginia Tech Hokies in a nationally televised contest. I seem to recall one joker predicting the final score as 35-17 in favor of Ohio State, but I digress…

1. The Ohio State Offensive Line Remains A Concern: At the conclusion of spring practice, I ranked Ohio State’s offensive line group as my biggest concern heading into the summer, and nothing I saw versus Navy helped to remove or reduce that concern. While Ohio State’s offensive line chemistry will develop over the course of the season, it should be the primary focus of work this week before the Virginia Tech game. Pass protection was shaky in the first half, and it remains to be seen if the offensive line will be able to control the line of scrimmage for a dominating power running game. Which leads me to…

2. Ohio State Misses The Power & Blocking Of Carlos Hyde: As promised, Dontre Wilson was heavily involved in all facets of the game plan, and probably will be so as the season progresses. An area of Carlos Hyde’s game that Dontre Wilson does not have is strong blocking. Wilson tried to block, but simply lacks the strength and power of Hyde; I wonder if Rod Smith will get more chances versus Virginia Tech, as Smith is physically comparable to Hyde.

3. The Defense Will Be The Team Strength: I am not concerned about the rushing yardage accumulated by Navy. As I stated last week, the triple option is difficult to simulate and execute – giving up 390 yards on the ground is worse than hoped, but the final score still was in Ohio State’s favor at the end of the game. An area that I believe the coaching staff needs to address is the defense needs to wrap up, as many of the Navy rushing yards came after initial contact by an Ohio State defender.

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

Three Preseason Storylines: Running Backs

August 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Throughout the rich history of Ohio State football, running backs have always been a big part of the offense. Whether it was during Woody Hayes’ era of “three yards and a cloud of dust,” or Jim Tressel’s conservative “Tresselball,” or the present day no-huddle, spread offense of Urban Meyer, running backs have played a big part in the success of Buckeye football. Just look at all the Heisman trophy-winning running backs throughout the program, including the only two-time Heisman winner in the history of college football, Archie Griffin. So what’s the running back situation look like heading into 2014? Well for starters let’s address…

1. Filling the Void of Carlos Hyde – The graduation of Carlos Hyde from the program is a noticeable one. He was one of the constant playmakers for the Buckeyes all season long in 2013. Hyde rushed 208 times for 1,521 yards and 15 touchdowns, while averaging 7.3 yards per carry. He accomplished this despite being suspended three games at the beginning of the season. He’s basically irreplaceable. You don’t find running backs like Hyde everyday and it’s unfair to expect this year’s running backs to match this type of stellar production (they have the potential to match it). And this year’s group of running backs aren’t short on talent either. The running backs tasked with replacing Hyde are sophomore Ezekiel Elliott, redshirt-senior Rod Smith, redshirt-sophomore Bri’onte Dunn, redshirt-sophomore Warren Ball and true freshman Curtis Samuel. Who will standout as the #1 running back out of all them? It’ll most likely be Ezekiel Elliott. Speaking of Elliott…

2. Will Ezekiel Elliott Have a Breakout Season? – The most likely starter for the opening game against Navy at running back will be Ezekiel Elliot. He might not get as many reps in the opening game as you expect because he’s coming off a fractured left wrist surgery. But once the season gets going expect Elliott to shine the most among the running back stable. Buckeye fans got a taste of what Elliott had to offer last season during some blowout games. If you forget Elliott’s work, take a look at his 2013 highlight reel:

Granted these were against clearly inferior opponents and backup defenses, but you could see the potential in Elliott. He’s got the ideal “package” for your starting running back. Elliott is big and strong enough to truck defenders over, yet has breakaway speed and agility to outrun secondaries. With another offseason under strength and conditioning guru Mickey Marotti, I’m sure Elliott is even stronger and faster than last season. I have a feeling Big Ten defenses are going to get to know Elliott quite well this season and not in a good way (for them). In a couple of years he may even reach the same level as his predecessor. But I’m getting ahead of myself. As Urban Meyer would say, it’s all about “Navy. Navy. Beat Na-vy.”

3. The Loss of Braxton Miller Adds More Pressure to Running Backs – When it was announced Braxton Miller would out for the season with a shoulder injury, attention immediately turned to the expected replacement, redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett. The pressure is now on Barrett, but more importantly the running game. Many are expecting Meyer to employ a similar offense under Barrett as he did with Kenny Guiton last season, by throwing the ball off play action passing plays. In order to make this type of offense work successfully is a productive running game of course. As Barrett gets his feet wet and becomes comfortable in his new starting role, the running game will have to shoulder most of the burden on offense. And with the running game being relied on more often, that means at least “a pair and a spare” will be needed. Remember that term Jim Tressel famously coined? It was a great philosophy and is something Meyer will need this season, especially in the early games.

It will be interesting to see who’s ultimately #2 and #3 on the running back’s depth chart. True freshman Curtis Samuel has been praised plenty in the offseason by the coaching staff and will be getting look at in-game action immediately. The elder statesmen of the group, senior Rod Smith, will be one of the first Urban can turn to because of his experience and familiarity of the pressures of being a running back at Ohio State. Another running back to keep an eye on is the burly Bri’onte Dunn, who redshirted last season. Dunn is an ideal third down and short running back, along with being a good hand in a goal line situation. His power could also make him a good blocker out of the backfield. Long story, short the Buckeyes have plenty of options at running back. With the amount of competition at the position, I wouldn’t worry too much about losing Carlos Hyde because the next Hyde could easily emerge from this talented group.

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

Ranking The 2014 Ohio State Football Schedule (Part Two)

August 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Part one reviewed the 2014 Ohio State football schedule, ranking games from easiest to more challenging, as I perceive them to be. Part two will pick up from where we left off, reviewing the games I consider to be within the “Trap Games” category for Ohio State.

7. @ Minnesota (11/15/2014 – kickoff and telecast TBD): This game at Minnesota will be Ohio State’s first game versus the Golden Gophers since the 2010 season, a now-vacated 52-10 victory. Why am I concerned about this game? As in life, timing is everything. Ohio State will be coming off a visit to East Lansing, MI, on 11/08. Even if Ohio State wins versus Michigan State, will Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer be able to have the Buckeyes “up” for a game on the road, against an opponent that plays a physical style of offense, in what could be less than ideal weather conditions? Perhaps I am giving Minnesota too much credit, but I believe this game could be closer than most Ohio State fans realize.

8. @ Navy (08/30/2014 – 12pm EST kickoff, CBS Sports Network telecast): In 2009, Navy came into Ohio Stadium, and nearly pulled off an upset, but were thwarted by former Buckeye linebacker Brian Rolle. While Ohio State has far superior speed and athleticism than the Naval Academy, Navy’s triple option offense will keep Ohio State’s newly-revamped defense off balance all game. For an Ohio State defense that has struggled the past two seasons, it is truly a baptism by fire for new Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash. Throw in the fact that the triple option offense is difficult for a scout team to adequately simulate, and you may understand why I am ranking this game so highly in terms of difficulty for Ohio State in the season opener.

9. Cincinnati (09/27/2014 – 6pm EST kickoff, BTN telecast): Ohio State has defeated Cincinnati in its previous visits to Ohio Stadium over the years (1999, 2004, 2006). With Cincinnati head coach Tommy Tuberville at the helm, Cincinnati went 9-4 in 2013. The old 2002 storylines will be in overdrive leading up to this game. Be on the lookout for stories involving how Coach Tuberville has a winning record vs Coach Meyer, when both were in the SEC. With a 6pm kickoff, this should be a good one.

10. Virginia Tech (09/06/2014 – 8pm EST kickoff, ESPN telecast): The 2014 home opener for Ohio State should be rocking. Virginia Tech is the marquee non-conference opponent for Ohio State this season, and I expect Coach Meyer will try to use this game to highlight the program with recruits in attendance, as well as impress a national television audience. Virginia Tech’s defense, which ranked eleventh in the country in points allowed in 2013, may be disruptive to a still-developing Ohio State offensive line. The special teams battles between both squads will also be something to watch.

III. Rivalry Games: Throw out the records in these contests. Ohio State fans should not be surprised if these games come down to the final play, with Ohio State emerging as the victor or the victim. (Note: In fairness to Penn State, I believe the Nittany Lions will again be in this category for Ohio State, but not this season, with remaining NCAA sanctions against the program.)

11. Michigan (11/29/2014 – kickoff and telecast TBD): That Team Up North. THE GAME. In 2012, Ohio State rallied to win, 26-21. In 2013, Ohio State survived on the road, 42-41. With Michigan head coach Brady Hoke under fire to turn the Wolverines around from a disappointing 2013 season, does anyone doubt that this game will be lacking any suspense or intensity? This could be a game that saves Coach Hoke’s job, or seals his fate. In addition, this could be a game that determines the representative from The B1G’s East Division for its 2014 B1G Championship Game.

12. @ Michigan State (11/08/2014 – 8pm kickoff, ABC telecast): Here is the game that all Ohio State coaches, players, and fans have been looking toward since the Michigan State Spartans ruined Ohio State’s chances to compete for the 2013 BCS Championship. In 2012, Ohio State eked out a 17-16 victory in East Lansing. With an 8pm kickoff, the coaches for both sides will have their hands full making sure their players are not too high for this game, after a full day of probable intensive media attention. I doubt that there is anything that will be done to help the fans, who will have a full day to properly imbibe at tailgates and parties.

There you have it – my perspective on the 2014 Ohio State football schedule, from easiest to most difficult. Let me know what you think. The 2014 football season is just around the corner.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football Tagged With: , , , ,
« Previous Page
Next Page »