2014 OSU Spring Football – Questions To Answer (Part 2)

March 3, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Part one of this series dealt with questions and challenges that I perceive as important, but lower priority, for Ohio State to address this spring. On any college football team, there will always be issues with players unhappy about playing time. Any coach will want to see more production from any position group. Below are the top five pressing issues, as I see them, for Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer to focus upon between March 4th and the date of the April 12th Ohio State Spring Game.

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5. Placekicker – While Coach Meyer is always wanting touchdowns from his offense, it is sometimes required to have a placekicker on the roster who can come through with a clutch field goal at the end of the game. Reliable Drew Basil has exhausted his eligibility, opening the door for true freshman Sean Nuernberger to claim the position. Nuernberger enrolled early at Ohio State, allowing him the opportunity to seize the job this spring. Competition for the placekicker position may come from Kyle Clinton, a walk-on who saw game action during the 2012 season. This position could rise in importance by the conclusion of spring games, based upon Nuernberger’s performance this spring.

4. Backup Quarterback – Senior quarterback Braxton Miller made the decision to come back to Ohio State for his fourth and final year of eligibility, pleasing Ohio State coaches and fans alike. With Miller’s recent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, Ohio State will use the spring practices to determine who the primary backup quarterback is to Miller – Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett, or newly-signed Stephen Collier.

Based upon Ohio State Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Tom Herman’s comments, Jones will begin spring practice as the primary backup…

https://twitter.com/BenAxelrod/status/436296300028387328

Jones played sparingly in 2013, appearing in three games. Most of Jones’ game appearances were as a result of both Miller and departing backup Kenny Guiton having Ohio State in front by a considerable margin; Jones usually would hand the ball off, or run himself. Throwing only three passes, it would be fair to say that Jones will certainly be given more opportunities as a passer this spring.

Barrett was the primary quarterback recruit targeted by Coach Herman for the 2013 recruiting class. Barrett redshirted in 2013, using the time to recover from a serious knee injury that wiped out most of Barrett’s senior high school season. Barrett’s leadership qualities have been raved about by the Ohio State coaching staff; will these qualities allow him to leapfrog Jones for the backup spot by the end of spring practice?

Lastly, Stephen Collier. The wild card of this group, Collier enrolled early and will participate in spring drills. Described by Coach Meyer as a “development guy”, Collier will battle for the backup position, but it would be highly surprising if Collier could overtake both Jones and Barrett for the primary backup quarterback spot.

Yes, Braxton Miller will/should be under center, when the season begins on the road at Navy on August 30th. As Ohio State fans have witnessed over the past two seasons, having a dependable backup quarterback behind Miller has often made all of the difference between winning and losing. This battle could also have repercussions for the 2015 season, after Miller has left Ohio State.

3. Linebacker – On National Letter Of Intent Day for 2014, Coach Meyer stated, “That’s far too many mistakes have been made in either lack of development or whatever and it’s just not where we need to be” in reference to the Ohio State linebackers. When that statement was made, this is how I interpreted it, along with many others…

Compounding the challenges for this position group are the losses of Ryan Shazier (to the NFL) and Mike Mitchell (transfer). With Curtis Grant and Josh Perry returning, Trey Johnson would seem likely to have an opportunity to claim Shazier’s starting spot. Based upon Grant’s concussion history, as well as Perry’s injuries, it is not improbable that Ohio State will have a completely overhauled linebacker corps for the season opener against Navy on August 30th. The biggest name for fans to be focused upon this spring? Incoming freshman Raekwon McMillan, who enrolled early. Others in the mix may be walk-on Joe Burger, Camren Williams, and redshirt freshman Darron Lee.

2. Defensive Back – After being torched through the air by Michigan State in The B1G Championship Game, then by Clemson in The 2014 Orange Bowl, changes were necessary for the Buckeyes across the board, both in coaching and in personnel. Coaching changes bring new Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach Chris Ash, to replace Everett Withers, who left for the head coaching position at James Madison. Kerry Coombs remains on staff, but Ohio State fans believe Coach Ash will be in charge of rebuilding the Ohio State secondary. From National Letter Of Intent Day 2014, Coach Meyer stated on Ash, “And then Chris Ash is charged with he’s got a serious responsibility. That’s to improve our pass defense. He’ll be in charge of the entire back end of our defense. He’s going to coach safety. He’s going to continue to coach corners. However we’re going to have one voice back there, it’s his responsibility to improve our pass defense… And obviously it’s more than just a secondary. It’s linebackers and everything. But you’re going to see some significant changes in the way we approach our business back there.”.

Personnel changes are needed not only due to poor performance, but also for players who have exhausted their eligibility, such as Bradley Roby (NFL Draft early departure), C.J. Barnett, Christian Bryant, and Corey “Pittsburgh” Brown. Doran Grant is the only returning starter, and after the 2013 season by the defensive backfield, Grant may not have a lock on a starting position. Armani Reeves, Eli Apple, Cam Burrows, Vonn Bell, Tyvis Powell, Gareon Conley, Christopher Worley, Jayme Thompson, and Ron Tanner will all be battling for starting positions and the prestige of their new position coach this spring.

1. Offensive Line – This was a close call, between the revamped secondary or the offensive line, for the most important area of concern for Ohio State to work upon this spring. While the secondary loses three starters, the offensive line loses four starters, plus flips starting right tackle Taylor Decker to the left side. Ohio State did very well with its recruiting class for offensive linemen, securing five players; two freshmen, Marcelys Jones and Kyle Trout, have already enrolled and will participate in spring practice.

If Decker can switch over from right tackle to left tackle with minimal issues, that will be very reassuring for the Ohio State coaching staff and fans. Jacoby Boren seems likely to have the inside track to the center position, as Boren filled in admirably for departing senior Corey Linsley. Likewise, Pat Elflein would seem to have a shot at the right guard position, after filling in for departing senior Marcus Hall. “Darryl Baldwin is penciled in at right tackle”, based on Coach Meyer’s comments from National Letter Of Intent Day 2014. Keeping my eyes and ears open for news about the performance of the offensive line will be paramount this spring, as this unit will largely determine the strength or the challenges of Ohio State’s offense for the 2014 season.

As always, looking forward to all of your commentary and critiques. Most of all, I am just happy to have football to focus upon, even if it is just from March 4th through April 12th.

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Three Yards and a Cloud of Links

February 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Good morning Buckeye Nation. Today I am speaking to you from the frozen tundra of Antarctica. Whats sad is if you actually looked up the weather conditions for Antarctica its actually warmer in many places than Ohio. OK so lets grab our cups of coffee or hot cocoa and get started.

Broken Tater? Word out of Pickerington Central is that Jae’Sean Tate has been shut down for the rest of the year due to a shoulder injury. Tate who is a senior forward for the Tigers signed in November to be a Buckeye next season. Reports are saying he needs surgery for a torn labrum which has been hurting him since May.

We here at MotSaG are hoping Tate makes a full and speedy recovery and is at full strength for the Buckeyes next season. Get well soon young man.

Buckeye Tabloid Gossip: Apparently the Internets were sent a buzzing recently. I’ll be honest here I am not sure of the who when and where, but someone or something was putting out there that coach Meyer and former coach Vrabel had some kind of falling out. Now since I don’t know the story I am going to put my shiny little two cents in here. Mike Vrabel left for the Houston Texans to coach the linebackers leaving behind his alma mater. I truly believe this was his choice and his alone. The man bleeds Scarlet and Gray and I feel did one heck of a job for the Buckeyes and it was great having him on the sidelines helping these kids become men. Vrabel had an opportunity to coach in the NFL which maybe in his mind (and buy his actions) was much bigger than the collegiate level. He might have aspirations of being a head football coach in the NFL. The reason I bring all this up is that coach Meyers wife had to go to twitter Thursday to set the record straight.

https://twitter.com/spinnershells/status/431580522934841344

Good luck in the NFL coach Vrabel and you will always be a Buckeye in my and many many of Buckeye Nations hearts. Chase your dream and may you encounter success where ever you turn.

Step Back from the Ledge: I know Buckeye fans we have had some trying times this season watching the mens basketball team. We have been spoiled and expect nothing but the best because lets face it this is The Ohio State University and nothing but the best will do for ANYONE wearing Scarlet and Gray. How spoiled have we become in mens basketball? Well Doug Lesmerises of cleveland.com (Clevleand Plain Dealer) has a nice story on how the Buckeyes program has been the third most successful team in the nation during the regular season. During the last four years the Buckeyes have averaged a 2 seed for the NCAA tournament. That’s pretty impressive when Kansas has averaged a 1 seed and Duke 1.5 seed during the same span.

Speaking of the men’s basketball team don’t forget to watch them go for three in a row versus Purdue tonight and read Josh Schott’s preview on the game.

Breaking cHoke Steps Down: Word out of Ann Arbor is that Brady cHoke is stepping down. The Big House Report is reporting yesterday that cHoke is stepping down as the defensive lines coach. Apparently he wants to be the “head coach” now or something along those lines. Seems that his failures to date have his seat a little hot (must be the reason he doesn’t need a long sleeve shirt on a cold day) so he wants to concentrate on being a the head guy. This is Brady cHokes comments on the move.

Until next time Buckeye Nation stay warm and stay safe.

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Basketball, College Football, NFL, Ohio State Basketball, Ohio State Football Tagged With: , , ,

Surprise visitor to make Official Visit to OSU this weekend

February 4, 2014 by Leave a Comment

Late last night news broke that a surprise visitor would take an official visit to Ohio State this weekend just a few days after National Signing Day. This news isn’t that unusual in the grand scheme of things but the player taking the OV and his relationship to another current commit makes it a very interesting development.

The news was broke by 247sports National Football writer Steve Wiltfong…

So many of you will be asking yourself who exactly is Shelby Spence and why has he popped up on OSU Radar so late in the process. The truth is Shelby has long been on OSUs radar as he attended Friday Night Lights last summer with his teammate and good friend Jamarco Jones. So there is why this visit has become so important as Shelby and Jamarco are great friends and as all of you know by now Ohio State and Michigan State are in a heated battle to land current OSU commit Jamarco Jones who is considering flipping to MSU after a last minute visit to MSU this past weekend and only 24 hours to go to NSD.

What does this all mean for OSU and Spence and Jones? I was able to sit down and talk with Shelby late last night and get some info out of him about his recruitment and whether or not he and Jones are a package deal and the answers were somewhat surprising.

The important thing to know from my interview with Shelby was that the OV didn’t just pop up out of no where late in the process. When I asked him about the visit he said, “We’ve been talking about it” for a while. Also asked him who was main recruiter and he mentioned, that his original recruiter was Mike Vrabel but since Vrabel left that “Coach Meyer has taken over his recruiting”. It also helps that new Co-DC Chris Ash was his recruiter when he was at Wisconsin last year. This is important because it shows how serious they are in trying to land the 6’0″ 200 lbs DT QB/ Athlete. When I asked what position they would like to use Shelby at he mentioned Safety and that is what they had him play when he was out last summer for Friday Night Lights.

Academics play a huge role in Shelby’s life and prior to the announcement of his OV to OSU this weekend he was mainly considering Ivy League schools and told me he wants to major in Economics where ever he goes and certainly OSU has a highly rated Business/Economics program that could fit the bill for Mr. Spence.

Currently Shelby does not have an offer and when I asked him about that he told me, “I’ll have a better idea on his visit” what if any offer Coach Meyer can give him. There are 2 basic options at this point a traditional offer if OSU has a spot to give him say if either Jamarco Jones or Malik McDowell choose to go elsewhere. Or they could offer him a Preferred Walk-On which means he would walk-on and be in line to get a scholarship as soon as one becomes available. Which I am sure most OSU fans would prefer since it means they also landed both Jones and McDowell.

When asked if he had a dream school or if he grew up a fan of any particular school he told me, “Not any school but grew up a fan of specific players such as Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr, and Terelle Pryor.”. He certainly doesn’t hurt that all of the players he mentioned were OSU greats that’s for sure.

He did mention, he would not make a haste decision and that if he loved his visit to OSU he would “sit down and discuss everything with his family before making a final decision.”.

I did get to ask him on the record about his relationship with Jamarco Jones and whether he felt like OSU considered himself and Jamarco to be a package deal or if they considered themselves to be a package. He definitely feels like he is being recruited on his own abilities and that he is not tied to Jamarco. He said, that he and Jamarco “Have not discussed that at all” and neither have the coaches. He also told me he hasn’t discussed with Jamarco which way he is leaning and that whatever decision that Jamarco makes it won’t effect his own personal decision.

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It certainly doesn’t hurt that this could be Jamarco and Shelby together for the next 4-5 years and the longtime friends could play together at Ohio State even if they haven’t discussed it in great detail as of yet.

Are you still curious why “all of a sudden” OSU is interested in Shelby then you haven’t taken the time to watch his highlights to see he is the real deal and as I informed Shelby last night … Troy Smith was the last recruit taken in his class and only got the spot when another player chose to go elsewhere but he made his own destiny after arriving and eventually ended up a Heisman winner and a legend to OSU fans so I ask you to watch his highlights and see what the OSU coaches see before being a jaded fan…

Filed Under: B1G Football, College Football, College Football Recruiting, High School Football, Ohio State Football Tagged With: , , ,

Heading Into 2014, Ohio State Has Every Reason To Be Defensive

January 5, 2014 by

Congratulations to the Clemson Tigers for their 40-35 victory over Ohio State in the 2014 Orange Bowl. Clemson’s offensive performance, as well as physical defensive play, were the difference.

Before heading into the gist of this article, I believe @TomOrr4 summarized my feelings on the 2013 Ohio State season very well…

https://twitter.com/TomOrr4/status/419341440368406528

Another excellent thought from @Kirk_Barton. Barton not only was a standout for Ohio State along the offensive line, but may have a future in prognostication…

https://twitter.com/Kirk_Barton/status/419468054272425984

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As Mr. Barton pointed out, the sun did come out this morning. Living in northeastern Ohio, especially during the winter months, that is not necessarily something I take for granted. With the benefit of a decent night’s sleep (yes, I did toss and turn over this game, but I eventually fell asleep), a good breakfast, coffee nearby, a sunny morning, and some hindsight, here are some thoughts for Ohio State fans to contemplate heading into the 2014 season…

The Defense Will Be, And Must Be, The Focus All Offseason ~ The “#FireFickell” chants have grown from a steady murmur to an incessant shout. Regardless of Luke Fickell being on Ohio State’s coaching staff in 2014, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer realizes the Ohio State defense has been the weak spot of his tenure. Changing coaches and/or coordinators may soothe the feelings of angry fans, but the root symptoms are much deeper.

With a deep defensive line heading into 2014, has Ohio State truly embraced the concept of rotating multiple defensive linemen throughout the game? Highly-touted players fill the roster, and others are on the way with the next recruiting class. The Orange Bowl performance of redshirt freshman Jamal Marcus is a clear example of someone deserving of playing time. Can Ohio State Defensive Line Coach Mike Vrabel come up with a rotation that will keep all the players fresh and opposing offenses uneasy?

The linebacker corps has been a weak spot since Coach Meyer was hired in November 2011. Transfers, career-ending injuries, and graduations have depleted a position area that is arguably the proudest in Ohio State’s football history. Ryan Shazier has contemplated an early departure to the NFL; this area could only be weakened by such a move. The inexperience of this group will be concerning heading into 2014, especially with an opening game at Navy and a vaunted triple option attack that is difficult to simulate and prepare for in summer camp.

Lastly, the secondary. Bradley Roby departs for the NFL, and Ohio State fans may not necessarily believe that is a bad thing, based on tweets that were sent and seen throughout the evening.

Armani Reeves and Doran Grant return, but other defensive backs on the roster need to step up in preparation for the 2014 season. Vonn Bell played well after a rocky start in the Orange Bowl, and Tyvis Powell also returns.

The key to the secondary will be improvement all across the board – coverage, turning for the ball, tackling. Every area is room for improvement. As Everett Withers leaves Ohio State for James Madison’s head coaching position, a new coach can come into this position group and make an immediate impact.

All across the defense, fundamental improvement is necessary. Tackling drills, taking proper angles to the ball carrier, etc. – all should be covered extensively and exhaustively heading into spring drills and summer camp.

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My Dad used to say that anyone can be a fan when a team is winning. Being a true fan means wearing the team’s stuff after a tough loss, when things are not so easy. As Mr. Barton stated, the sun did come out, and I have Ohio State garb on today, as I write this post.

24-2 over the last two seasons, yet it feels lacking, a la 1995. Wear Ohio State garb proudly today. Prepare for a strong finish to the incoming recruiting class over the next few weeks, and anticipate Ohio State being very defensive heading into the 2014 season.

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Back(s) To The Future

December 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment

When Urban Meyer was hired as Ohio State’s head coach in November of 2011, Ohio State fans were familiar with Meyer’s formidable spread offense attack, having been brutally victimized by Meyer’s Florida Gators in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game. The possibility that Ohio State would render B1G opposition in similar fashion was a tantalizing vision for Buckeye fans.

While Ohio State fans were eager to see the spread offense in action, one of the aspects of the spread offense was somewhat disconcerting. Buckeye fans, accustomed to powerful tailbacks such as Archie Griffin and Eddie George, were somewhat perplexed as to whether Coach Meyer’s offensive philosophies would mesh with a school accustomed to legendary Coach Woody Hayes’ “3 Yards And A Cloud Of Dust” style.

In both 2012 and 2013, Ohio State fans could exhale easily, as Carlos Hyde emerged in the mold of a dominant power back for the Buckeyes. Heading into the 2014 Orange Bowl contest versus Clemson, Hyde has rushed 183 times for 1408 yards, averaging 7.7 yards per carry during the 2013 season. Jordan Hall, who filled in for Hyde at the beginning of the 2013 season, rushed 81 times for 536 yards, averaging 6.6 yards per carry.

Hyde and Hall will have exhausted their eligibility after the 2014 Orange Bowl, which could lead Ohio State fans to wonder which back is next on the horizon, to carry on the storied legacy of Buckeye running backs. The answer is Ohio State does not have one back to carry on the strong rushing attack. Ohio State may have four.

Heading into 2014 winter conditioning and spring football, a front-runner for the starting tailback position may be Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott has rushed 30 times for 262 yards, averaging 8.7 yards per carry. Elliott was Coach Meyer’s top tailback recruit from the 2013 recruiting class, and could emerge as the starter heading into the 2014 season.

Senior Rod Smith may contest Elliott for the starting position. Smith has the physical characteristics to be the starting tailback at Ohio State, but has struggled with fumbles in the past, as well as off the field issues, that have prevented him from more playing time. 2014 will be Smith’s last opportunity for significant playing time.

Redshirt sophomore Warren Ball has carried the ball sparingly in 2013, but may have an opportunity for more work in 2014. Ball redshirted in 2012, and has carried the ball 13 times for 76 yards, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Ball has worked primarily on special teams, and may need to continue to do so to garner carries next season.

The enigma of this group is Bri’onte Dunn. Dunn played as a true freshman in 2012, rushing 25 times for 133 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Reluctant to play special teams, and facing a logjam at the position in 2013, Dunn was redshirted for the 2013 season. Rumors swirl that Dunn may transfer after the season, yet Ohio State fans remain hopeful that Dunn will stay in Columbus.

Another player to keep in mind that also impacts the tailback position for Ohio State is Dontre Wilson. Wilson does not have the physical attributes of the other players listed above, but Wilson will also be used by the coaching staff in a variety of ways going forward.

Four powerful tailbacks, all eager and ready to take over the load. Four backs to the future for 2014 and beyond in Ohio State football.

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Ann Arbor = Assistant’s Agony For Coach Meyer

November 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment

For those who may have forgotten, Coach Urban Meyer will be making his first trip as Ohio State’s head coach to Ann Arbor, the city and location for That Team Up North. (I realize that everyone on Ohio State’s campus is forgoing the letter “M”, but I am not that creative. Please bear with me.) Coach Meyer also repeated in his press conference on 11/25/2013 how he recalled the infamous 1987 game, which served as former Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce’s last game with the Buckeyes. Ohio State defeated That Team Up North, 23-20.

Coach Meyer was a graduate assistant from 1986-1987 for Coach Bruce and Ohio State and suddenly without work, in the wake of Coach Bruce’s firing. Coach Meyer landed an assistant job at Illinois State from 1988-1989, reuniting with Coach Bruce at Colorado State in 1990. Coach Meyer served on the Colorado State staff from 1990-1995.

An opportunity to serve as Lou Holtz’s wide receivers coach at Notre Dame led Coach Meyer to South Bend in 1996. Fortunately for Coach Meyer, Bob Davie retained Coach Meyer on his Notre Dame staff when Davie was named Holtz’s successor at Notre Dame in 1997.

Unfortunately for Coach Meyer, return trips to Ann Arbor as a Notre Dame assistant coach were not pleasant experiences again. In 1987, Coach Meyer coached against That Team Up North, knowing he was soon to be out of a job. In 1997, as an assistant at Notre Dame, That Team Up North defeated Notre Dame 21-14. In 1999, again That Team Up North defeated Notre Dame, 26-22.

Before anyone becomes too antsy or nervous about Coach Meyer and his lack of success in Ann Arbor, something important to keep in mind regarding Coach Meyer and rivalry games – Coach Meyer is very successful. Check out his record in rivalry games below…

Perhaps it was just because Coach Meyer was an assistant coach, and not the head coach, for his challenges with Ann Arbor. It would certainly be understandable if Coach Meyer referred to that city as Assistant’s Agony instead, as he makes every effort to not refer to That Team Up North by name.

Filed Under: Ohio State Football Tagged With: ,

Buckeyes Have No Time For Senioritis Against Indiana

November 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment

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?

https://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen/status/402869503945486336

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.

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

Ohio State Does Not “Hyde” Issues Versus Illinois, 60-35

November 17, 2013 by 4 Comments

Appearing lethargic from the end of the 2nd quarter through the end of the game, which earned the team a stern halftime tongue lashing from Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, Ohio State defeated Illinois — to claim its 22nd straight victory. Ohio State tied a school record with its 22nd straight victory, yet Ohio State did not impress its head coach, fans, or likely poll voters by giving up the most points to an opponent this season.

Ohio State started the game in strong fashion, scoring a touchdown off a 69 yard run by quarterback Braxton Miller. Ohio State led 7-0 after less than thirty seconds, and never looked back.

Illinois was unable to get anything going offensively in its first two series. Illinois quarterback Nathan Scheelhaaase was intercepted by Ohio State safety C.J. Barnett during the Illini’s first series, and Illinois was forced to punt the ball back to Ohio State after their second series.

Ohio State moved down the field, largely on the strength of runs by senior running back Carlos Hyde. Braxton Miller had a key 31 yard scramble to put Ohio State in scoring position. Miller hit Hyde for an 18 yard touchdown reception to put Ohio State up 14-0.

Bad quickly went to worse for Illinois, as Nathan Scheelhaase was intercepted by Ohio State’s Bradley Roby. Roby returned the interception for a 63 yard touchdown to put Ohio State up 21-0 in the first quarter.

The second quarter was where Ohio State’s dominance turned to lethargy. While Ohio State was able to extend its lead to 28-0, off a Corey “Philly” Brown touchdown reception with 10:20 left in the second quarter, Illinois began chipping away at Ohio State’s lead.

On Ohio State’s sixth offensive series, Braxton Miller was sacked by Illinois’ Tim Kynard. The subsequent punt was returned for a 67 yard touchdown by Illinois’ V’Angelo Bentley. Bentley, formerly of Cleveland Glenville, put Illinois on the scoreboard at 7:29 left in the second quarter. The poor punt coverage, and missed tackles by Ohio State’s special teams, allowed Illinois to score its first punt return touchdown since the 2003 season.

Senior running back Jordan Hall aided Ohio State with a strong kickoff return. Braxton Miller was able to keep Ohio State’s seventh offensive series going on a strong 14 yard run, thanks to a great block by “Philly” Brown. Carlos Hyde scored his second touchdown of the day with an 8 yard run, putting Ohio State up 35-7 with 5:47 left in the second quarter.

During Illinois’ seventh offensive series, ESPN’s announcing team of Dave Pasch, Brian Griese, and Tom Luginbill began discussing the struggles of Illinois’ in-state recruiting and the tenuous job status of Illinois head coach Tim Beckman. Fortunately for Illinois, the players paid no heed to the negative tone, as Illinois scored with a 19 yard touchdown reception to Steve Hull to bring the score to 35-14 with 2:25 in the second quarter.

Ohio State’s eighth series began poorly. Dontre Wilson bobbled the kickoff return, and Carlos Hyde sustained his first negative rushing attempt of the season. As Ohio State left for the half, Coach Urban Meyer did not hide his disdain with Ohio State’s efforts…

During the half, ESPN provocateur Mark May predictably ridiculed Ohio State’s schedule, in comparison to other national powers such as Alabama and Florida State. Thankfully, both Lou Holtz and Rece Davis represented the side of fairness and logic.

Despite a belief that Ohio State would come out intensely in the third quarter, the lethargy continued for Ohio State. Illinois quickly scored with an easy touchdown score to Evan Wilson, cutting Ohio State’s lead to 35-21. Ohio State’s Joey Bosa suffered an injury, forcing Bosa from the game, as the mood among the Ohio State faithful became even more concerned.

As Illinois began to threaten Ohio State, a critical series took place midway through the 3rd quarter. Pinned deep in their own territory, Illinois inexplicably attempted a pass with backup quarterback Reilly O’Toole. O’Toole was in the game as Nathan Scheelhaase was hit on a pass rush and lost his helmet. O’Toole was sacked for a safety by Ryan Shazier, putting Ohio State up 37-21.

After Illinois kicked off to Ohio State, Carlos Hyde was called upon to cap off the drive with his third touchdown of the game, putting Ohio State up 44-21. A scary moment for Ohio State took place, as Braxton Miller was hit late by Illinois’ Jonathan Brown, knocking Miller out of the game for a moment. On another drive in the quarter, Ohio State’s Drew Basil missed his first field goal attempt of the season, missing a 49 yard attempt into the wind.

Illinois did not quit, as the fourth quarter began. Nathan Scheelhaase scored on a quarterback keeper, then converted a two point conversion, to pull Illinois to within fifteen points to make it Ohio State 44, Illinois 29.

Ohio State went back to its 2012 playbook, running Braxton Miller on three straight plays on its first possession of the fourth quarter. Kenny Guiton was inserted into the game to give Braxton Miller a breather, while Carlos Hyde went over 100 yards rushing in the contest. Drew Basil atoned for his earlier miss, putting Ohio State up 47-29, with a 30 yard field goal.

On the subsequent kickoff, Craig Cataline helped the Illini effort with a personal foul penalty that put Illinois in better field position. Nathan Scheelhaase was able to shake off the effects of a Bradley Roby blindside hit, completing a pass to Steve Hull to maintain possession. Illinois scored on a Josh Ferguson touchdown run, and failed on its two point conversion. Ohio State still maintained the lead, 47-35.

Ohio State sputtered offensively, despite strong runs by Carlos Hyde. Braxton Miller on a third down pass threw an ill-advised pass that could have been intercepted by Illinois on a scramble that went nowhere for Ohio State.

Bradley Roby suffered a pass interference call to help Illinois on its next drive. A key sack by Ohio State’s Michael Bennett forced Illinois into a punting situation with about five minutes left to play.

Carlos Hyde continued his quest to become Urban Meyer’s first 1000 yard rusher, scoring his third rushing touchdown on an impressive 51 yard run, to put Ohio State up 53-35. Hyde had his career rushing game in this contest versus Illinois, going for 246 yards rushing. Hyde tacked on another touchdown, with a 55 yard scoring run, to give Hyde his fifth touchdown of the game, to put Ohio State up 60-35 with about two minutes in the game.

While Ohio State won this game, it is doubtful that Ohio State’s defensive performance, or lack thereof, will help them in the eyes of the voters. After the game concluded, here is what ESPN.com had to say on the matter…

In the eyes of the national media, Ohio State is “holding off” unranked teams, yet other teams are not held to the same standard. By the way, I never heard back from ESPN on the Twitter exchange below…

Will Ohio State be jumped by Baylor in the BCS Standings? More importantly, what Buckeye fans will have to hope the defensive staff will be able to figure out what went wrong against Illinois, before the season concludes with Indiana and Michigan.

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The Spread, Week 3: An L For An L

September 11, 2013 by 2 Comments

This weekend, Alabama and Texas A&M meet for a much-anticipated follow-up to last year’s thrilling game, a surprise Aggie upset that put Johnny Manziel on the map, for better or worse. Okay, definitely for worse.

Alabama is loaded again this year and still coached by Nick Saban, the Dark Lord of College Football. It’s no secret that Saban is a great coach, but he is especially adept at revenge. In fact, if there’s one thing that makes Nick Saban happy (if that is indeed an emotion he is capable of experiencing), I’d bet it’s beating the tar out of a team who bested him in their previous meeting.

I’ve examined Saban’s career as a head coach, from Michigan State through the present day (he was only at Toledo for a year, so there were no revenge opportunities), and I have found that Saban has a career Revenge Percentage of 71%. This is pretty good, considering his early MSU days were not kind to him. If you ignore his time with the Spartans, that number jumps to a staggering 88.2%, as he has lost just two revenge opportunities since the year 2000. With Alabama, he is currently at an impressive 87.5% (which would increase to 88.9% with a win this weekend).

But enough about those SEC jerks, what about our own favorite and least favorite coaches?

While Urban Meyer would first have to lose a game at Ohio State before he could avenge said hypothetical loss, it’s not a bad idea to check into his history with such things, just so we’re prepared. And it’s no surprise that I have good news: Meyer has a career Revenge Percentage of 80%, with only two losses ever, both at Florida (one to Nick Saban). This is a reflection of two qualities that have made Meyer such a successful coach: he doesn’t lose much and his teams tend to improve, especially from his first year to his second.

On the flip side, there’s Brady Hoke, who has done more than his fair share of losing. One need only look at his days at Ball State and San Deigo State to see that success does not come as easily for That Coach Up North. Neither does vengeance, as Hoke’s career Revenge Percentage sits at a mediocre 51.5%. A bright spot for Wolverine fans: He is 3-0 at UM so far, including last weekend’s victory over Notre Dame. It may be difficult for Hoke to maintain that perfection for long though, with revenge games against Nebraska and Ohio State (and possibly South Carolina?) still to come this season.

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

August 28, 2013 by 2 Comments

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.

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