Grading the Bucks: Week 1--Miami (OH)

The Urban Meyer era kicked off with a whimper for a quarter then an explosion for the remainder of the game.  There were many positives, but this team is by no means perfect or near the level of Bama or USC.  There is always work to be done, but I'll take a week 1 46 point win.

Offense: B+
Overall, there was a lot of excitement in the sense that we ran more than simple Dave off-tackle runs.  Miller is an explosive runner, but he's clearly still working to pick up the spread option attack.  He's extremely dangerous in the open field as the hapless Miami defender found out.  The first quarter was atrocious offensively as Miller looked like he reverted to high school thinking that he had to be the focus on every play.  Once he started distributing the ball to the backs and receivers, it opened the game up immensely.  I'm a little disappointed with the improvement (or lack thereof) in the passing game.  Braxton is continually throwing over receivers when he gets excited, but when he settles down, I see great potential.  The biggest positives on this side of the ball were the emergence of Hyde as a legitimate threat and more importantly, some actual receivers.  The receivers were a major question mark entering 2012 and they answered quite well.  56 points is hard to scoff at, but we can be much more efficient.

Defense: B
The line failed to get much pressure but I believe that was due to the dink-and-dunk offense run by a savvy experienced QB and the lack of a steady blitz.  I liked the run stopping ability of our D-line and linebackers when needed.  The biggest question continues to loom in the secondary.  Miami should have had an EASY 10 point cushion is not more if their receivers could catch a ball.  Roby looked pretty competent, but Howard continues to suck (don't give me the 2 INTs--he was burned all day).  I'm very concerned about the regression of Christian Bryant and C.J. Barnett as they were studs a few years back but they've seemed to lost most of their step.  The linebackers also have work to do in pass coverage.  Thankfully, we don't play a lot of experienced pass-happy QBs on the schedule, but it's a major concern going forward.

Special Teams: B+
A good special teams performance as nothing really shocking on special teams.  Yes, they scored a TD due to an errant snap but that was more a factor of Miami suck than OSU special teams.  The kicking game was fine, Buchanan looked good, kickoff coverage was fine.  Nothing flashy but nothing problematic.

Coaching: B+
Many will point to the loss of points with the decision to go for the TD at the end of the half.  I would have preferred a different play (I wanted a 5-wide; QB power run up the gut), but the decision was fine with the solid lead.  I felt the game was called pretty well offensively after the adjustment was made in the 2nd quarter to take the onus off Miller. Once he realized he had plenty of talent around him, he settled into a groove.  The defensive playcalling was to sit in coverage with 8 people and send 3 to help the less talented secondary.  I think the future will see more blitzing schemes to rush the QB as we saw more people in coverage didn't necessarily translate into better D. Urban's first game was a solid performance on both sides but he must love the fact that there is plenty on which to work.

Overall: B+
Not giving the A because I saw plenty of room for improvement, but I like what I saw from the 2nd quarter on after the debacle of last season.  Let's hope this continues in the future again better teams.  Don't sleep on the Golden Knights.  They're much better than most will give credit.

Week 1 Picks: A New Era

Welcome back to the most wonderful time of the year: college football season.  We return this year to make some inspired game picks and perhaps we can keep track this year.  The expectations in Columbus are through the roof with the advent of the Urban Meyer era even without the hope of postseason play.  The first few weeks have very few games of interest, but we're here to present you with our opinions and thoughts on the biggest games of the week.  Stay tuned and GO BUCKS!

Boise State Broncos @ Michigan State Spartans
Draper:  I like the Spartans as a 'surprise' front runner in the B1G.  Michigan has the flash, Wisconsin has the recent history, and the Bucks are ineligible.  This is the time for the Spartans to forget who they are and actually break through. A new QB in green and white has a very nice security blanket in Le'veon Bell toting the rock.  Boise burns me on this 1st game every year but this is a true road game and the smurfs don't have that special QB leading the way.  MSU makes a statement by beating up the traditional "David".  BSU: 17--MSU: 31
Hoying:  Finally, the Bluegrass Boys get an out-of-conference opponent that will really challenge them.  Michigan State has been on the rise over the past few seasons, and the boys in green and white would love a chance to make a statement to kick off what they hope is a Big Ten Championship season.  Both of these have some questions, with both losing star senior QB's and Boise State missing practically all of last year's defense.  The Spartans still have some playmakers, like RB Le'Veon Bell and DE William Gholston, but Bronco coach Chris Petersen lives for match-ups like this.  Must be nice not to have to prepare for anyone else all year now that TCU's out of the Mountain West.  Expect the whole bag of Bronco tricks to spill out as Boise shocks Sparty in East Lansing.  BSU: 28--MSU: 27
Schweinfurth: This is Boise State's season this year.  The one big match up that the Broncos look forward to.  Like normal, I know nothing about Boise State coming into the season except that Keelen Moore is gone.  Even with a "green" (yes, pun intended) QB under center, I think Michigan State is just the flat out better team.  Only Ohio State has a better front 7 in the B1G and they have their way with the Broncos.  Go State!  BSU: 10--MSU: 35

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Draper: ACC Coastal powers collide...sort of.  I like the Hokies in the division but the Yellow Jackets option attack is ridiculously pesky.  That being said, I don't know any of the backs at Tech.  The option is tough to adjust to, but the lack of the absolute stud may be an issue.  Logan Thomas is a great QB and should have a fantastic year as a dual threat.  This is the start of his campaign.  Blacksburg is always tough so advantage VT.  GT: 17--VT: 27
Hoying:  Why do teams play conference games in week 1?  Too much at stake for early season jitters.  Well, one Tech will start the season in a nice big hole.  On paper, this looks like an easy win for VT.  They beat the Yellow Jackets last year, the defense should continue to be impressive, the players are still all pissed off about ending last season with 2 miserable performances, and the game is in Blacksburg at night.  So.....they win.  GT: 10--VT: 27
Schweinfurth: These early season rivalry games are always a wild one and any night game in Blacksburg is bound to be insane.  Georgia Tech's offense is always fun to watch with all of the pre-snap movement and triple option.  Unfortunately for the Yellow Jackets, the ACC is starting to catch up to "gimmiky" offense.  Virgina Tech "Beamer Balls" their way to a win in this one.  GT: 7--VT: 20


Michigan Wolverines vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: Everyone's huge matchup of week one features the winningest college program of history vs.  defending National Champion (with a history that's not too shabby).  The Michigan defense is being lauded for their major 'strides' last year.  If you watched the games, you'd realize that the defensive improvement is fools' gold.  Yes, they've improved, but the defense is still soft (OSU went nuts on them and we sucked!).  Robinson is electric but Bama is going to break him.  Denard will try to throw for the win, but he just doesn't have the skill while running for his life.  Bama wins solidly and the SEC chants echo into the night. Mich: 13--Bama: 27
Hoying: Two of the greatest football programs of all time square off in the premier matchup of kickoff Saturday.  Alabama has been king of the college football landscape over the last few seasons, helped by that abomination of a do-over they got in last year's title game, while Corn and Blue are trying to prove they are back among the ranks of the elite.  ScUM QB Denard Robinson has never seen a defense this dominant, not even when he got shut down by...nobody...in some beatdown in Columbus that apparently never happened. Look for Shoelace to throw a few picks before getting broken in half, while Tide QB AJ McCarron and friends expose the overrated Big Blue D.  Not this year, Michigan.  Not this year.  UM: 13--Bama: 31
Schweinfurth: This game is a severely overrated team versus the defending national champs.  Denard may be the most electrifying player in college football, but that Alabama defense is just down right nasty.  In all honesty, I expect to see Robinson playing more wide receiver as the game rolls on, Gardner is just a better passer.  TTUN lost a lot off that defense from last year as well and they will be exposed as a still building team.  Alabama "rolls" in this one.  TTUN: 6--Bama: 33

Miami (OH) Redhawks @ THE Ohio State Buckeyes
Draper: And we're back.  After a tumultuous year, the Bucks look to forget 2011 ever happened, make a statement in 2012, and, most importantly, use this as a springboard into 2013.  The team is stacked on defensive line; so much so that every QB facing the Scarlet and Gray will spend most of the game in a fetal position.  Miller is ready to break out under Meyer's system (so long as he stays healthy--but Guiton is ready in the wings).  The running attack will be just fine, but the WR corps is a little weak.  This game, this season, is all about Urban saying hello and putting the fear of God into the rest of the conference/nation.  Sorry Redhawks.... MU: 10--OSU: 48

Hoying:  Well, Buckeye fans, our nightmare is half over.  Even though this season will end with no championship and no bowl (and no bowl trip, sad face), Urban and the Buckeyes have plenty to prove to the world after the wretched 2011 campaign.  And they get a nice squishy opponent to pound on!  Much like last year's opener against Akron, which featured a nearly flawless thrashing by the Scarlet and Gray, this game will tell us nothing.  Miami is a cupcake team from a cupcake conference, who will take their check and their bruises and go back on the Paul Ryan campaign trail.  Buckeyes get their first win since Indiana on November 5.  MU: 6--OSU: 41

Schweinfurth:  The Urban Renewal is upon us friends.  2011 was one of the worst years in recent memory to be a Buckeye fan.  A returning, more mature Braxton Miller (with free run of the offense and confidence of the coaches) is ready for a breakout season.  It all starts Saturday.  I expect the offense to have a monster day on the poor, hapless Red Hawks.  Braxton and Hyde both have big days and the Hawks only cross the 50 once against a nasty and angry Buckeye D. Urban will show no mercy on any opponent this year. The Silver Bullets are back!!! Miami (OH) at Oxford: 3--OSU:56

Upset Special

Draper: Ohio over Penn State
Hoying: Indiana State over Indiana
Schweinfurth: Ohio over Penn State (I promise I didn't copy Draper)