Standings
1) Draper 8-1 (1-1 upset)
1) Seeberg 8-1 (0-2 upset)
3) Schweinfurth 7-2 (1-1 upset)
4) Hoying 5-4 (1-1 upset)
Hope you enjoyed those easy victories over Virginia Tech and Hawai'i, Buckeye Nation, because the cupcake train is over. Coming up, the Bucks have not one, but TWO games against teams from the MAC, the first conference this season to crack the ALMIGHTY SEC WEST. There are a few ranked matchups scattered across the college football landscape, but the real action this Saturday will be down by the banks of the Olentangy.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Draper: Malik Zaire is gone and that is simply devastating to the Irish hopes of greatness. They eked out the win last week, but GT is just steamrolling people now. Paul Johnson is showing what can happen with the option offense and really good athletes. It's nearly impossible to get ready to face a pure option offense that runs this well. The best chance to win is to outscore the option team...and ND lost their QB. Jacketstime! GT: 41 -- ND: 24
Hoying: Old and busted...new hotness. The Irish are losing weapons fast, with RB Tarean Folston going down at the hands of the 'Horns and QB Malik Zaire getting destroyed by the 'Hoos. The injuries haven't hurt the Irish yet, because they played...Texas and Virginia (and apparently college DBs still don't know what "defense" is), but a powerful Georgia Tech offense is going to put a lot of pressure on the Notre Dame offense to keep up. Good thing they still have Everett Gols...whoops. The Ramblin' Wreck crashes into the playoff discussion with a big road victory. GT: 34--ND: 24
Schweinfurth: Notre Dame had a game last week, eh? Losing Zaire plus several other playmakers are going to make, what looked like a top 10 team, a team that will probably make a meh bowl game. Georgia Tech can just grind teams down and that is exactly what the Yellow Jackets do. GT: 35--ND:20
Seeberg: At the start of the season I had Georgia Tech as the surprise ACC winner. Notre Dame might have been a decent test as they can likely score with the Ramblin' Wreck (they're a heckuva engineer), but without Zaire at QB I can't picture them conjuring up enough points. Georgia Tech's triple option is tough enough to prep for as it is, and ND's subpar defense will be exposed. GT: 38--ND: 21
Ole Miss Rebels @ Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: Ole Miss seems to continually get credit simply for playing in the SEC West. They pulled the upset last year...then collapsed. They've overrun the 'competition' this year, but those quotation marks tell a story. Revenge is always a factor and Nick Saban doesn't forget. Revenge game in Tuscaloosa? Sorry Rebs. Miss: 17 -- Bama: 31
Hoying: Poor Ole Miss. Last year they pulled off the monster upset in Oxford, catapulting them into the national title discussion, and it didn't matter at all. Alabama still ran the table and ended up #1 in the final playoff committee rankings. After last week's SEC West near-implosion, it looks like the Tide are poised to do it again, regardless of the outcome of this game. And that's a shame, because Ole Miss has blown the doors off their first two opponents and look like they could really put a scare into another super-tough Tide defensive squad. But if there's anything my last two weeks of craptastic picks have taught me, it's that 2015 does not appear to be the year of the upset. Pick the favorite and move on. Miss: 24--Bama: 31
Schweinfurth: Ole Miss' offense has looked really good this year, albeit against very inferior competition. However, Alabama's offense isn't exactly lighting teams up. As much as Saban likes to play defense and a adequate offense, the Tide are going to have to score a lot of points. I think Ole Miss pulls this one out...and Bama will drop 1 spot in the poles. Miss: 42--Bama:35
Seeberg: The Ole Miss football team is averaging 74.8 points over its first two games. Allow that to sink in for a minute. For perspective, only 29 men's BASKETBALL teams averaged more last season. That average is likely to drop significantly against a staunch Crimson Tide D...but not as much as you might think. The Bama offense has been very mediocre thus far, managing just 36 ppg, including a sleepwalking 37-point performance against Middle Tennessee State. To put it bluntly, I don't trust Lane Kiffin to keep the ball away from Ole Miss long enough. He'll probably give the ball to Derrick Henry more often than he did in the Sugar Bowl (I've said it before and I'll say it again- if he had 25 touches in that game the Buckeyes would have lost), but I don't think it will be enough. The Rebels do the unthinkable and pull back-to-back upsets of the King of the SEC. Miss: 38--Bama: 33
BYU Cougars @ UCLA Bruins
Draper: Everyone continues to hype the Bruins, but how good are they really? BYU has been the master of the Hail Mary, but will that last? Something's gotta give. BYU is an ok team...but I don't see a real contender (especially without Taysom Hill). Rosen isn't the second coming, but he's pretty darn good. The game in the Rose Bowl solidifies the choice. Bruins win comfortably (and make sure the game is not within a TD on the last possession). BYU: 20 -- UCLA: 38
Hoying: How good is UCLA's prevent defense? We know how good Nebraska's and Boise State's are (bad, m'kay.) 2-0 is 2-0, and against 2 good teams at that, but the Cougs are 2 Hail Joseph Smiths away from being another mid-major also-ran with a busted QB. Meanwhile every trendy voice in the college football world is falling all over himself to crown freshman QB Josh Rosen as the next Jameis Manziel. With no Taysom Hill taking the field for BYU, we won't learn as much about UCLA as we might've from this game, unless they lose. Make sure you keep a 2 possession lead until the end, Bruins. BYU: 20--UCLA: 31
Schweinfurth: Let's see, I know enough about these teams to pick a score. :) BYU: 17--UCLA: 28
Seeberg: UCLA has looked remarkably steady under freshman QB Josh Rosen early. BYU has looked exactly how you'd expect a team to look under a reasonably talented backup thrown into duty: bipolar. Still, both squads are 2-0 making this a surprisingly intriguing early-season game. I can't decide if Rosen will break out and drop 50 on anyone this year. I don't think it will happen just yet, but a sound bend-but-don't-break defense (*cough Tressel cough*) will keep the freshman confident and he appears to play well as a front runner. The Cougars run out of Mormon Magic in the Rose Bowl. BYU: 13--UCLA: 34
Auburn Tigers @ Louisiana State Tigers
Draper: Auburn has those stirring wins vs. 0-2 Louisville and in OT vs. Jacksonville State...woof. LSU has an impressive win vs. CLANGA on the docket, and returns to the Bayou...uh oh. I think this one should be a sizable win for the Tigah's, but Les Miles tries to 'dumb it up' and makes it closer. Leonard Fournette is still a stud and will finally show that Malzahn is back to earth. Aub: 17 -- LSU: 31
Hoying: Y'all is still Tiger bait. One team can't throw the ball well, the other doesn't even try to. I suppose that gives the advantage to the team that can run the ball. LSU has Leonard Fournette, who gashed the Bulldogs for 159 yards and 3TDs. Auburn has Peyton Barber: good, not great. Then again, this game might come down to the team that doesn't collapse during the 4th quarter, a feat neither of these teams has yet accomplished (though it hasn't cost either one...yet). LSU should have the lead at that point, so...advantage Auburn? Hahahaha no. Aub: 17--LSU: 24
Schweinfurth: Auburn almost lost to Jacksonville St. While I don't think LSU is a world beater, Auburn should have lost to Jacksonville St. Because Auburn should have lost to Jacksonville St, I'll take LSU. Aub: 10--LSU: 17
Seeberg: Auburn looked very good for a half against Louisville...and very horrendous in the three halves (plus OT) they have played since. I really thought that the Tigers' (Auburn Tigers, that is) run game would give Jeremy Johnson enough time to adjust and surprise a few people. I thought wrong. He has a mediocre QBR and less than 190 passing yards per game against Louisville and a 1-AA opponent (albeit one on the top 5). LSU is just too suffocating on D and Fournette will keep the ball away from Auburn, limiting their opportunities to score. This one goes to the Tigers (can't go wrong there!) Aub: 13--LSU: 27
Northern Illinois Huskies @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: This is simply another round of: Will Urban call a game suited to the strengths of this team? If he stretches the field with Cardale and/or runs the read option with JT, this team won't be stopped. Otherwise, I'm confident the Bucks win comfortably, but I want a pasting. The defense was great last week. If they keep it going, we'll be in great shape. I'm more concerned with the offense. There are no more excuses. Time to stomp these teams mercilessly. 38-0 is great, but we were not good on offense. What happens if we do play well on offense? It may be rated NSFW. That's what we need here. Take no prisoners and be the monsters of college football that you should be. NIU: 10 -- OSU: 56
Hoying: Whither the Buckeye O? Cardale didn't look too sharp on Saturday, and the defenders were getting outside before Zeke was, but the Bucks did have an impressive red zone performance, going 5-for-5 with 4 TDs. With a full week to prepare for a mediocre MAC-style defense, Buckeye Nation should expect a few more fireworks this week. Of course, you always win when the other team doesn't score, and the Silver Bullets look even better than they did during last year's championship run. They'll be tested by QB Drew Hare and the impressive Husky passing attack, but Eli Apple, Gareon Conley, and Vonn Bell should be able to make some big plays and preserve a big margin for our beloved Bucks. MORE JT! NIU: 13--OSU: 52
Schweinfurth: The offense was a hot mess last week. The execution was messy and I think the Slobs looked tired. I am in the camp that a short week after a VERY physical game will do that to a team. Yes, Northern Illinois is a good MAC team. The Huskies just aren't on the same level as the Buckeyes. I do think the Huskies will score and keep it close for a quarter or two, but Ohio State just has way too much talent to lose. I expect the Silver Bullets to stay loaded and force a few turnovers. The offense will respond and we should see the typical Cardale led offense that we grew accustom to in the postseason last year. Zeke gets his yards, Braxton goes X-Brax again, and Cardale shows of the 12 gauge. On a side note, Ohio State made the best decision in bringing back the grey sleeve stripes. NIU: 17--OSU: 49
Seeberg: Let's be honest, even if this were the Northern Illinois team circa 2012 that was ripping the MAC apart, they would still be no contest for the Buckeyes. Sadly for the Huskies, they are a couple notches worse than those NIU teams and they are entering the 'Shoe to face a team looking to prove last week (a 38-0 win, mind you) was nowhere near their best game. The playcalling offensively has been head-scratching at times, likely a combination of new play-callers not knowing how to best use the vast array of weaponry available to them. No shutout this week, but an equally convincing win. NIU: 10--OSU: 48
Upset Special
Draper: Stanford over SC (saw Duke was favored)
Hoying: Boston College over Florida State
Schweinfurth: Air Force over Michigan St (why not)
Seeberg: Western Kentucky over Indiana
Friday, September 18, 2015
Monday, September 14, 2015
Grading the Bucks: Week 2--Hawai'i
Still...not. good. enough.
Offense: C-
This offense has the skill player to absolutely annihilate the competition...and I didn't see enough yesterday. Cardale made some horrible decisions (hidden by the fact that Hawai'i is bad), Zeke couldn't get going, and the team was just blah. Curtis Samuel had a fantastic game but that was the only bright spot offensively. The playcalling was questionable once again. More to come later on that. JT brought came in and ran the standard offense quite well. Many are judging the poor two-minute drill as a monster negative. I don't because that's not his skill set. Running the zone read was great again. I know I'm picky about Cardale's game, but I think an objective viewer would have just as much to be desired. Braxton ran well again, but it's becoming predictable (more later).
Defense: A
Nothing bad to say here (except for the dropped interceptions). There's really nothing to nitpick when the goose-egg is on the scoreboard for the opponent. The pass coverage was excellent (first time Hawai'i held under 100 passing yards since 1998). A couple hiccups with stupid, but overall consistent sure tackling. Darron Lee was fantastic (on defense) as were the rest of the linebackers. D-line looked pretty good with Bosa's return. Bosa demolished his man but got double teamed a lot. Expect that to continue so time for the backside DE to push the envelope.
Special Teams: Hot garbage
Death, taxes, and Urban Meyer special teams kicking off out of bounds--the few sureties in life. Darron Lee was great on defense but the roughing the punter in the endzone...c'mon man. I'm at the point where I want a touchback every time on kickoffs (I've always said that), play base defense vs. punts and let all punts bounce. This is a major issue...but we won the title last year so...eh?
Coaching: B-
Defensive coaching was fine. Again, the offensive playcalling raised eyebrows. Why is Zeke running laterally? Will Braxton ever hand off on the read option? Why is JT lined up outside when Braxton takes the snap? These are serious questions that the dumb fan in me has raised...and if I see it, I would expect the opposing team sees these trends. Every time Zeke went between the tackles, he got about 4+ yards. Stretch plays or read sweeps yielded -1 to 2 yards. I just don't understand why the playcalling doesn't match the strength of the players.
Overall: B-
38-0 shutout and I'm giving a slightly above average grade. Why? Because this game was closer than it should have been. OSU should have limped to 50+ points. The defense was great but I was not pleased with the offense. There is still work to do. I think the coaching staff needs to gameplan with the players skills in mind. When everything gels, look out.
Offense: C-
This offense has the skill player to absolutely annihilate the competition...and I didn't see enough yesterday. Cardale made some horrible decisions (hidden by the fact that Hawai'i is bad), Zeke couldn't get going, and the team was just blah. Curtis Samuel had a fantastic game but that was the only bright spot offensively. The playcalling was questionable once again. More to come later on that. JT brought came in and ran the standard offense quite well. Many are judging the poor two-minute drill as a monster negative. I don't because that's not his skill set. Running the zone read was great again. I know I'm picky about Cardale's game, but I think an objective viewer would have just as much to be desired. Braxton ran well again, but it's becoming predictable (more later).
Defense: A
Nothing bad to say here (except for the dropped interceptions). There's really nothing to nitpick when the goose-egg is on the scoreboard for the opponent. The pass coverage was excellent (first time Hawai'i held under 100 passing yards since 1998). A couple hiccups with stupid, but overall consistent sure tackling. Darron Lee was fantastic (on defense) as were the rest of the linebackers. D-line looked pretty good with Bosa's return. Bosa demolished his man but got double teamed a lot. Expect that to continue so time for the backside DE to push the envelope.
Special Teams: Hot garbage
Death, taxes, and Urban Meyer special teams kicking off out of bounds--the few sureties in life. Darron Lee was great on defense but the roughing the punter in the endzone...c'mon man. I'm at the point where I want a touchback every time on kickoffs (I've always said that), play base defense vs. punts and let all punts bounce. This is a major issue...but we won the title last year so...eh?
Coaching: B-
Defensive coaching was fine. Again, the offensive playcalling raised eyebrows. Why is Zeke running laterally? Will Braxton ever hand off on the read option? Why is JT lined up outside when Braxton takes the snap? These are serious questions that the dumb fan in me has raised...and if I see it, I would expect the opposing team sees these trends. Every time Zeke went between the tackles, he got about 4+ yards. Stretch plays or read sweeps yielded -1 to 2 yards. I just don't understand why the playcalling doesn't match the strength of the players.
Overall: B-
38-0 shutout and I'm giving a slightly above average grade. Why? Because this game was closer than it should have been. OSU should have limped to 50+ points. The defense was great but I was not pleased with the offense. There is still work to do. I think the coaching staff needs to gameplan with the players skills in mind. When everything gels, look out.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
Week 2 - Humuhumunukunukuapua'a
Standings
1) Schweinfurth 4-1 (1-0 upset)
1) Draper 4-1 (0-1 upset)
1) Seeberg 4-1 (0-1 upset)
4) Hoying 3-2 (0-1 upset)
The good news: our beloved Bucks are still holding down the #1 spot. The bad news: the remaining 24 spots are occupied by SEC teams. At any rate, we've scraped together a few matchups that may have an impact on whom OSU might face if the GRIND continues to succeed.
Oregon Ducks @ Michigan State Spartans
Draper: A nice top ten matchup to get things really going. Oregon was able to pull away last year in Eugene but this is a whole new animal. Welcome to East Lansing where the Spartans return most of their skill players and the Ducks...not so much. I'm not sold on the Ducks being the steamroller of the recent past. There offense will be ok, but that defense was hot garbage last week. I think Sparty gets some revenge and stakes their claim as one of the top teams in the country. Ore: 20--MSU: 34
Hoying: Last year, in Eugene, Sparty put quite the scare into the Autzen faithful for about 3 quarters, until Super Mariota proved to be too much. This year, Oregon has another very good QB, Vernon Adams, but he's not quite the world-beater that M&M was. The No-Fly zone seems to have been grounded since their landmark 2013, but State has managed to work Walrusball into a high-powered offense behind the arm of Heisman dark horse Connor Cook. Oregon struggles with big, physical offenses like Michigan State. Look for the Spartans to score early and often and the defense to get just enough stops with the home team roaring in Adams's ears. Ore: 31--MSU: 38
Schweinfurth: Michigan State plays defense, Oregon does not. Oregon plays offense, Michigan State has Jim Bollman running the offense. With as much disdain as I have for Bolman, I do respect what Mark Dantonio has built on the banks of the Red Cedar. The Spartan defense knows how to slow down these spread offenses (see the 2nd half of the Cotton Bowl). Let's face it, Oregon couldn't slow down Eastern Washington last week. I think that trend continues and the Spartans get their revenge on the Ducks. ORE: 36--MSU: 49
Seeberg: Both of these teams looked surprisingly meh in their openers. Oregon gave up a whopping 42 points to the 1-AA program whose QB they pilfered. Meanwhile, MSU looked quite pedestrian (and oddly out of place in a MAC stadium) in a lackluster 13-point win over Western Michigan. The Spartans will likely be in a shootout which is typically not their forte. However, their massive comeback against Baylor might give them the confidence to win another high-scoring battle. I honestly believe this game is an outright toss-up, so I'm going with the home team. ORE: 38--MSU: 42
Oklahoma Sooners @ Tennessee Volunteers
Draper: Speaking of hot garbage on defense, hello Vol fans. The Volunteers look like they may have turned the corner offensively with some positives on the near horizon, but that defense got scorched by BG. I'm very leery about pick Oklahoma in any road game, but Samaji Perine is a beast. Expect a high scoring affair with the Sooners staying in the hunt in a rare big road win. OU: 48--UT: 41
Hoying: Here comes another sucker non-conference foe ready for a beating at the hands of the Soon...wait, this game isn't in Norman? The shroud of invincibility tends to get torn away when Oklahoma leaves the friendly confines. But after a few years of top-notch, is Tennessee finally ready to perform? The Vol defense wasn't anything special against Bowling Green and they'll need to reach another level to stop the Baker Mayfield passing attack. I think their time has finally come. Neyland will be rocking, and Tennessee takes their first big step back toward national relevance. OU: 27--UT: 31
Schweinfurth: I feel like Tennesse is getting a pass this year and is way overrated. Yes, Butch Jones is doing a good job turning that program around, but it is still a work in progress. Oklahoma isn't what they used to be, but they will never be out of games with Samaje Perine. I'll take Oklahoma. OU: 35--UT: 28
Seeberg: Well, there's good news and bad news on Rocky Top, my graduate school alma mater. The good news? The Vols hung half a hundred on Bowling Green, and then nine more points for good measure. The bad news? They gave up 30, and much like the OSU-VT game, it was competitive into the 3rd quarter before their superior talent finally won over. Oklahoma, however, has similar- if not better- talent. Samaje Perine and Co. will run all over the Vols, wearing them down late. OU: 41--UT: 31
Louisiana State Tigers @ Mississippi State Bulldogs
Draper: LSU gets ready for game 1 after the rainout last week so there will be some jitters, but I'm not buying Mississippi State this year. Dak Prescott runs well, but LSU is looking to return to real National contention. Leonard Fournette is really really good (drawing comparisons to AD) and I think he silences the glorious din of the cowbell. Les drinks a victory bourbon chasing a fescue salad. LSU: 31--MSU: 27
Hoying: Last year, Mississippi State splashed their way into the playoff chase with a big win in Death Valley in which they hung 34 on the vaunted LSU defense. The Tigers are a sexy pick to represent the league at the end of this year's slate, but MSU still has Dak Prescott and LSU still has...Leonard Fournette, who is a terrific RB, but not enough by himself to deliver a win in Starkville. LSU: 27--MSU: 30
Schweinfurth: LSU has big questions marks at QB, and I mean big questions. LSU was okay last year, but not a great team. The Bulldogs came out of nowhere and Dak Prescott along with them. I will go with the team that knows who is behind center. CLANGA!!! LSU: 24--MSU: 38
Seeberg: This is almost a week-one style game to predict as LSU didn't play last week and it's tough to figure out what to make of the Bulldogs. MSU's all-purpose QB Dak Prescott is back but they only return less than half of the starters from their overacheiving squad of a year ago. LSU is almost the exact opposite, with a big question mark at QB but a largely veteran team otherwise. The Hat starts off 1-0. LSU: 31--MSU: 17
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Wooooooo....this...is gonna be gross. Welcome back Joey, Dontre, Jalin, and Korey. While Joey will certainly be on the field, are we convinced that the others will make an impact? The crowd of WRs (led by Braxton) looked just fine. Suspensions might relegate these guys to the pine for more than a game. Jalin will be there to return (fumble?) punts but other than that, I'm good with what we have. I need a shored up D-line and O-line, but this is the opponent that is good for what ails you. Will JT start just to screw with us? Don't count it out. Either way, we should get some Steven Collier in the blowout. Zeke will be limited in that he'll be taken out early. Bucks roll. Haw: 10--OSU: 66
Hoying: A home game against an awful Group of Five opponent. It's finally September in Columbus. After defying Let's Go Bucks! and starting Cardale Jones at QB, Urban faces the task of psyching 12 Gauge up for a craptastic opponent in his home starting debut. Don't expect any rust. After being frustrated on the ground and through the air by a sound Hokies defense (yet still racking up almost 600 yards), Cardale and Co. must be itching to turn the offense loose and showcase its full potential, especially with Wilson, Marshall, and Smith returning. Not that the Bucks need them with Braxton making defenses look silly by himself once again. The best part: we should get to see PLENTY of JT this week, as garbage time should be at least 40 minutes long. How about a nice Hawaiian punch? Haw: 10--OSU: 70
Schweinfurth: The only concern I have with this game is the quick turn around. Hawai'i gets two extra days to rest and the Buckeyes had a physical game Monday night. Outside of that, this game shouldn't be close. The Buckeyes could put up 60 without batting an eye. I can't wait to see some Bosa shrugs this week. Urban will use this week to pad Zeke's stats. This is over after the first quarter and we get to see plenty of Cardale and JT. HAW: 14--OSU: 63
Seeberg: The best part about being 1-0? Thechance near-certainty to go 2-0. Hawaii grabbed a respectable win over Pac-12 bottom-feeder Colorado last week but in case you haven't noticed, the Buckeyes dropped 42 on the road against a top 15 defense with three primary offensive weapons sidelined. Oh, and Joey Bosa has had an extra week to gather his Thor-like hair and muscles to unleash them on a suspecting-but-unable-to-do-anything-about-it Hawaii team. The offense gets better, the defense gets better, the special teams can scarcely get worse. The only trepidation I have about this game is finding some place in North Carolina with BTN to watch it. HAW: 20--OSU: 52
Upset Special
Draper: BYU over Boise
Hoying: Toledo over Arkansas
Schweinfurth: Oregon St. over TTUN
Seeberg: Nevada over Arizona
1) Schweinfurth 4-1 (1-0 upset)
1) Draper 4-1 (0-1 upset)
1) Seeberg 4-1 (0-1 upset)
4) Hoying 3-2 (0-1 upset)
The good news: our beloved Bucks are still holding down the #1 spot. The bad news: the remaining 24 spots are occupied by SEC teams. At any rate, we've scraped together a few matchups that may have an impact on whom OSU might face if the GRIND continues to succeed.
Oregon Ducks @ Michigan State Spartans
Draper: A nice top ten matchup to get things really going. Oregon was able to pull away last year in Eugene but this is a whole new animal. Welcome to East Lansing where the Spartans return most of their skill players and the Ducks...not so much. I'm not sold on the Ducks being the steamroller of the recent past. There offense will be ok, but that defense was hot garbage last week. I think Sparty gets some revenge and stakes their claim as one of the top teams in the country. Ore: 20--MSU: 34
Hoying: Last year, in Eugene, Sparty put quite the scare into the Autzen faithful for about 3 quarters, until Super Mariota proved to be too much. This year, Oregon has another very good QB, Vernon Adams, but he's not quite the world-beater that M&M was. The No-Fly zone seems to have been grounded since their landmark 2013, but State has managed to work Walrusball into a high-powered offense behind the arm of Heisman dark horse Connor Cook. Oregon struggles with big, physical offenses like Michigan State. Look for the Spartans to score early and often and the defense to get just enough stops with the home team roaring in Adams's ears. Ore: 31--MSU: 38
Schweinfurth: Michigan State plays defense, Oregon does not. Oregon plays offense, Michigan State has Jim Bollman running the offense. With as much disdain as I have for Bolman, I do respect what Mark Dantonio has built on the banks of the Red Cedar. The Spartan defense knows how to slow down these spread offenses (see the 2nd half of the Cotton Bowl). Let's face it, Oregon couldn't slow down Eastern Washington last week. I think that trend continues and the Spartans get their revenge on the Ducks. ORE: 36--MSU: 49
Seeberg: Both of these teams looked surprisingly meh in their openers. Oregon gave up a whopping 42 points to the 1-AA program whose QB they pilfered. Meanwhile, MSU looked quite pedestrian (and oddly out of place in a MAC stadium) in a lackluster 13-point win over Western Michigan. The Spartans will likely be in a shootout which is typically not their forte. However, their massive comeback against Baylor might give them the confidence to win another high-scoring battle. I honestly believe this game is an outright toss-up, so I'm going with the home team. ORE: 38--MSU: 42
Oklahoma Sooners @ Tennessee Volunteers
Draper: Speaking of hot garbage on defense, hello Vol fans. The Volunteers look like they may have turned the corner offensively with some positives on the near horizon, but that defense got scorched by BG. I'm very leery about pick Oklahoma in any road game, but Samaji Perine is a beast. Expect a high scoring affair with the Sooners staying in the hunt in a rare big road win. OU: 48--UT: 41
Hoying: Here comes another sucker non-conference foe ready for a beating at the hands of the Soon...wait, this game isn't in Norman? The shroud of invincibility tends to get torn away when Oklahoma leaves the friendly confines. But after a few years of top-notch, is Tennessee finally ready to perform? The Vol defense wasn't anything special against Bowling Green and they'll need to reach another level to stop the Baker Mayfield passing attack. I think their time has finally come. Neyland will be rocking, and Tennessee takes their first big step back toward national relevance. OU: 27--UT: 31
Schweinfurth: I feel like Tennesse is getting a pass this year and is way overrated. Yes, Butch Jones is doing a good job turning that program around, but it is still a work in progress. Oklahoma isn't what they used to be, but they will never be out of games with Samaje Perine. I'll take Oklahoma. OU: 35--UT: 28
Seeberg: Well, there's good news and bad news on Rocky Top, my graduate school alma mater. The good news? The Vols hung half a hundred on Bowling Green, and then nine more points for good measure. The bad news? They gave up 30, and much like the OSU-VT game, it was competitive into the 3rd quarter before their superior talent finally won over. Oklahoma, however, has similar- if not better- talent. Samaje Perine and Co. will run all over the Vols, wearing them down late. OU: 41--UT: 31
Louisiana State Tigers @ Mississippi State Bulldogs
Draper: LSU gets ready for game 1 after the rainout last week so there will be some jitters, but I'm not buying Mississippi State this year. Dak Prescott runs well, but LSU is looking to return to real National contention. Leonard Fournette is really really good (drawing comparisons to AD) and I think he silences the glorious din of the cowbell. Les drinks a victory bourbon chasing a fescue salad. LSU: 31--MSU: 27
Hoying: Last year, Mississippi State splashed their way into the playoff chase with a big win in Death Valley in which they hung 34 on the vaunted LSU defense. The Tigers are a sexy pick to represent the league at the end of this year's slate, but MSU still has Dak Prescott and LSU still has...Leonard Fournette, who is a terrific RB, but not enough by himself to deliver a win in Starkville. LSU: 27--MSU: 30
Schweinfurth: LSU has big questions marks at QB, and I mean big questions. LSU was okay last year, but not a great team. The Bulldogs came out of nowhere and Dak Prescott along with them. I will go with the team that knows who is behind center. CLANGA!!! LSU: 24--MSU: 38
Seeberg: This is almost a week-one style game to predict as LSU didn't play last week and it's tough to figure out what to make of the Bulldogs. MSU's all-purpose QB Dak Prescott is back but they only return less than half of the starters from their overacheiving squad of a year ago. LSU is almost the exact opposite, with a big question mark at QB but a largely veteran team otherwise. The Hat starts off 1-0. LSU: 31--MSU: 17
Hawai'i Rainbow Warriors @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Wooooooo....this...is gonna be gross. Welcome back Joey, Dontre, Jalin, and Korey. While Joey will certainly be on the field, are we convinced that the others will make an impact? The crowd of WRs (led by Braxton) looked just fine. Suspensions might relegate these guys to the pine for more than a game. Jalin will be there to return (fumble?) punts but other than that, I'm good with what we have. I need a shored up D-line and O-line, but this is the opponent that is good for what ails you. Will JT start just to screw with us? Don't count it out. Either way, we should get some Steven Collier in the blowout. Zeke will be limited in that he'll be taken out early. Bucks roll. Haw: 10--OSU: 66
Hoying: A home game against an awful Group of Five opponent. It's finally September in Columbus. After defying Let's Go Bucks! and starting Cardale Jones at QB, Urban faces the task of psyching 12 Gauge up for a craptastic opponent in his home starting debut. Don't expect any rust. After being frustrated on the ground and through the air by a sound Hokies defense (yet still racking up almost 600 yards), Cardale and Co. must be itching to turn the offense loose and showcase its full potential, especially with Wilson, Marshall, and Smith returning. Not that the Bucks need them with Braxton making defenses look silly by himself once again. The best part: we should get to see PLENTY of JT this week, as garbage time should be at least 40 minutes long. How about a nice Hawaiian punch? Haw: 10--OSU: 70
Schweinfurth: The only concern I have with this game is the quick turn around. Hawai'i gets two extra days to rest and the Buckeyes had a physical game Monday night. Outside of that, this game shouldn't be close. The Buckeyes could put up 60 without batting an eye. I can't wait to see some Bosa shrugs this week. Urban will use this week to pad Zeke's stats. This is over after the first quarter and we get to see plenty of Cardale and JT. HAW: 14--OSU: 63
Seeberg: The best part about being 1-0? The
Upset Special
Draper: BYU over Boise
Hoying: Toledo over Arkansas
Schweinfurth: Oregon St. over TTUN
Seeberg: Nevada over Arizona
Tuesday, September 08, 2015
Grading the Bucks-- Week 1: Virginia Tech
Decent performance in week 1, but I'm going to be honest, I will be a very tough grader this year. This team isn't vying for a conference championship...they're trying to be an all-time great. If you want to be the best, criticism is needed.
Let me be clear, I think Urban made the incorrect decision concerning the starting QB, but that is NOT the purpose of this weekly post. I will grade based on the on-field performance (sans coaching).
Offense: B+
Coming out like gangbusters with the tough grading. Cardale was...good, but I expected more from an accuracy standpoint. The interception wasn't an issue (fantastic play by VT), but some of the decisions baffled me (the decision to throw late over the middle on the pick was bad). 12 Gauge continues to show the absolute jaw-dropping strength to casually flip the ball 40 yards while jumping backwards. Forgetting about accuracy, that arm strength is astounding. The passing game was fine but Cardale let a few passes go that he never should have attempted (and one was a TD). When you have a backup H-back making a diving catch while being interfered with, there just aren't words... Jones running was OK, but the option is not his game. The QB power is his strength so use it! Cardale will be fine, but his decision making still needs work.
Zeke was in midseason form from the first run, but Urban clearly didn't see the need to wear him out. More carries for the bell-cow would be nice, but the Oline needs some work. VT has a really good Dline and it showed here. Hard to knock the Oline that gave up 0 sacks and produced 300+ rushing yards, but Cardale's raw physicality kept the sack number round and the ball carriers were simply the top of the game. Price and Boren need to pick up their play to be an all-timer team.
JT comes in and immediately runs for 40 and throws a gorgeous touch pass for 26 for a TD to the next big star Mike Thomas. I loved the way the offense flowed effortlessly under JT. It was the style and panache to Cardale's muscle.
Finally, the biggest story was the forgotten Braxton Miller. What a fantastic resurgence! There aren't words for how amazing he must feel for reminding Buckeye Nation what he brings to the table. I think he's found a home position that will earn him a nice chunk at the next level and push the Bucks to another title. I thought he'd be ok as a WR, but I never expected the hands to supplement the raw athleticism.
Defense: C+
Secondary looked pretty darn good (other than Apple getting juked by a fullback...C'mon Man!). The concern is in the front seven. Bosa will certainly shore up the pass rush, but the interior line wasn't as dominant as I'd like. More concerning was the inconsistent play of the LBs. Lee, Perry, and McMillan made some nice plays, but were out of position on just as many plays. Hopefully, it was first game jitters, but that unit has a history to live up to. The biggest positive was the young guns. Hubbard, while not Bosa, filled in quite well and Conley was fantastic (other than a baaaad DPI). The downgrade is because I have no belief that VT is good on offense. Brewer was moving the ball comfortably when VT got the momentum. That shouldn't happen. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't hard. Final Note: The throwback TD was defended pretty well (options 1-4 were covered). When it comes to goalline defense, you need to sell out on a few options and hope for the best. The only realistic way to stop the throwback is to get to the QB (which we didn't).
Special Teams: Butt
Oh boy, here we go again. Let's see: kickoff out of bounds (check), hold on a punt that wasn't fielded (check), muffed punt (check), missed FG (check). Come on guys. There is simply no excuse here. I know Zeke isn't normally a punt returner...so don't make him return punts. Honestly, while Jalin Marshall provides home run potential, I'm not more confident that he won't fumble. Get. Better.
Coaching: C
The playcalling was very questionable. While Cardale was the starter, it sure seemed like the playcalling was optimized for JT's game. JT runs the option (read and/or speed) better than pretty much anyone in the game, but speed option isn't in Cardale's repertoire. The lack of the slant game still baffles me, and honestly, VT was giving Cardale single coverages all day. Why didn't we take more shots downfield? I don't understand the gameplan. Props to the coaches for preparing Braxton and making us completely forget about the suspensions.
Overall: B-
Good start, but I want more. If Brewer didn't go down, would the game have been different? I don't think so, but the question bears consideration. The defense needs to turn up to the level at which they finished the title run. The offense is going to be next level and we just scatched the surface. Let's not forget: the best player in college football (arguably), the number 1 punt returner, and 2 key receivers/Hbacks have yet to play...and we dominated a decent team in a tough environment. Check that, the score says dominated, but I don't give them that description...yet. We saw the flashes of all-time greatness. This entire season is about the chase for history. It has begun.
Let me be clear, I think Urban made the incorrect decision concerning the starting QB, but that is NOT the purpose of this weekly post. I will grade based on the on-field performance (sans coaching).
Offense: B+
Coming out like gangbusters with the tough grading. Cardale was...good, but I expected more from an accuracy standpoint. The interception wasn't an issue (fantastic play by VT), but some of the decisions baffled me (the decision to throw late over the middle on the pick was bad). 12 Gauge continues to show the absolute jaw-dropping strength to casually flip the ball 40 yards while jumping backwards. Forgetting about accuracy, that arm strength is astounding. The passing game was fine but Cardale let a few passes go that he never should have attempted (and one was a TD). When you have a backup H-back making a diving catch while being interfered with, there just aren't words... Jones running was OK, but the option is not his game. The QB power is his strength so use it! Cardale will be fine, but his decision making still needs work.
Zeke was in midseason form from the first run, but Urban clearly didn't see the need to wear him out. More carries for the bell-cow would be nice, but the Oline needs some work. VT has a really good Dline and it showed here. Hard to knock the Oline that gave up 0 sacks and produced 300+ rushing yards, but Cardale's raw physicality kept the sack number round and the ball carriers were simply the top of the game. Price and Boren need to pick up their play to be an all-timer team.
JT comes in and immediately runs for 40 and throws a gorgeous touch pass for 26 for a TD to the next big star Mike Thomas. I loved the way the offense flowed effortlessly under JT. It was the style and panache to Cardale's muscle.
Finally, the biggest story was the forgotten Braxton Miller. What a fantastic resurgence! There aren't words for how amazing he must feel for reminding Buckeye Nation what he brings to the table. I think he's found a home position that will earn him a nice chunk at the next level and push the Bucks to another title. I thought he'd be ok as a WR, but I never expected the hands to supplement the raw athleticism.
Defense: C+
Secondary looked pretty darn good (other than Apple getting juked by a fullback...C'mon Man!). The concern is in the front seven. Bosa will certainly shore up the pass rush, but the interior line wasn't as dominant as I'd like. More concerning was the inconsistent play of the LBs. Lee, Perry, and McMillan made some nice plays, but were out of position on just as many plays. Hopefully, it was first game jitters, but that unit has a history to live up to. The biggest positive was the young guns. Hubbard, while not Bosa, filled in quite well and Conley was fantastic (other than a baaaad DPI). The downgrade is because I have no belief that VT is good on offense. Brewer was moving the ball comfortably when VT got the momentum. That shouldn't happen. It wasn't easy, but it wasn't hard. Final Note: The throwback TD was defended pretty well (options 1-4 were covered). When it comes to goalline defense, you need to sell out on a few options and hope for the best. The only realistic way to stop the throwback is to get to the QB (which we didn't).
Special Teams: Butt
Oh boy, here we go again. Let's see: kickoff out of bounds (check), hold on a punt that wasn't fielded (check), muffed punt (check), missed FG (check). Come on guys. There is simply no excuse here. I know Zeke isn't normally a punt returner...so don't make him return punts. Honestly, while Jalin Marshall provides home run potential, I'm not more confident that he won't fumble. Get. Better.
Coaching: C
The playcalling was very questionable. While Cardale was the starter, it sure seemed like the playcalling was optimized for JT's game. JT runs the option (read and/or speed) better than pretty much anyone in the game, but speed option isn't in Cardale's repertoire. The lack of the slant game still baffles me, and honestly, VT was giving Cardale single coverages all day. Why didn't we take more shots downfield? I don't understand the gameplan. Props to the coaches for preparing Braxton and making us completely forget about the suspensions.
Overall: B-
Good start, but I want more. If Brewer didn't go down, would the game have been different? I don't think so, but the question bears consideration. The defense needs to turn up to the level at which they finished the title run. The offense is going to be next level and we just scatched the surface. Let's not forget: the best player in college football (arguably), the number 1 punt returner, and 2 key receivers/Hbacks have yet to play...and we dominated a decent team in a tough environment. Check that, the score says dominated, but I don't give them that description...yet. We saw the flashes of all-time greatness. This entire season is about the chase for history. It has begun.
Wednesday, September 02, 2015
Week 1 - Title Defense Mode
Welcome back to Ohio State's sport: college football. We're still a few days away from seeing the Bucks take the field but there's plenty of action in the meantime, starting with the enemy heading out west for a revenge game of their own.
Here are our thoughts on the best five games of the week. Maybe. It's Week 1; who knows where any of these teams will end up?
Michigan Wolverines @ Utah Utes
Draper: Harbaugh, Harbaugh, Harbaugh....blah, blah, blah. The Wolverines had a decent roster last year and limped to a 5-7 record. Is the coach enough to turn this team around in a snap? I just don't see it. They'll be improved, but I think the national media is giving far to much credit to the coach. Harbaugh is also nuts so let's pump the brakes. I think Michigan ends the season with 8 wins, but this isn't one of them. UM: 20-Utah: 24
Hoying: How bad was Maize and Blue Satan last year, really? The defense was quite good, the running game was passable, and What What Jake Butt was enough by himself to bail out any semi-competent QB. Except...they didn't have a competent QB, and there's nobody swooping in to take the job. Any improvement will have to come from the top down, but fortunately for You Know Who, Harbaugh excels at developing QBs. Not everyone can take a 3rd string QB and guide him to a win over a 41-point favorite. What difference does a stellar head coach make? Ask 2011 and 2012 Ohio State. UM: 27--Utah: 20
Schweinfurth: I can't wait for this game to kick off just so I don't have to hear about Harbaugh. Yes, the QB situation at TTUN isn't ideal, but the defense is a bit underrated. I think this game is close to the end with the Utes kicking a last second field goal for the win. UM: 21--Utah: 24
Seeberg: Last year, Utah's victory over TTUN was a big deal. Except it shouldn't have been. Utah was the better team last season and, at least early on, it's likely to be the better team again. Remember, Utah should've been up 14-0 on Oregon going into the second quarter last year if it weren't for that whole "who needs to actually carry the ball over the goalline" issue. The Khaki Eclipse gets off to a rocky start out west. UM: 23- Utah: 31
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: I'll be honest, I know very little about these teams. I do know Bama tends to have a revolving door of good players and they usually come out like gangbusters in these early season games. Wisconsin was overrated last year and most of their offense now plays for the Chargers. I'm banking on the Tide reloading. Wisc: 16--Bama: 31
Hoying: Oh boy, another marquee non-conference game for Wisconsin. Wisc: 13--Bama: 27
Schweinfurth: I really don't know what to think of Wisconsin. Paul Chryst did a great job as a coordinator but Pitt was meh with him as head coach. Both teams lost a lot of talent but Bama has the (oversigned) talent to restock. This is the first game of, what I think will be, a long season for Wisconsin. Wisc: 10--Bama: 35
Seeberg: This is likely to be a defensive battle as both squads return solid units on that side of the ball but have lost Heisman finalists in Melvin Gordon and Amari Cooper. Wisconsin will have to rely on Stave and/or McEvoy to make some plays which is a dicey prospect at best. The best offensive player on either team is easily Derrick Henry, who torched the Buckeyes in last year's Sugar Bowl (and probably should have gotten the ball more often in that game). He will make enough plays to keep the Badgers in passing situations which is the kiss of death for the Wisconsin offense. Wisc: 13- Bama: 27
Texas Longhorns @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Draper: Are these teams ready to burst back onto the big stage? Texas hasn't really been the same since the Colt McCoy injury in the National Title game vs. Bama and the Irish had a brief resurgence the following year before crashing back to earth. While Notre Dame seems to be the media darling to return to prominence, I don't think they're ready for big time yet...that being said, neither is Texas. Charlie Strong is working to improve things in Austin, but we aren't back to the VY era yet. Here come the Irish. UT: 21--ND: 31
Hoying: Can the Irish survive without Everett Golson? After Golson's precipitous drop last year, which resulted in him...transferring to the team that beat him, the Irish now turn to Malik Zaire (Congo?). The sky's the limit for Malik, but Texas knows that they still have butt at QB, where the ineffective Tyrone Swoopes still holds handoff duties. The Longhorns can't keep getting worse, but a road game in South Bend is not the place to turn their fortunes around. UT: 13--ND: 28
Schweinfurth: I honestly don't know much about either team. While both teams are typically media darlings, I just don't see much in either team. I do know that Notre Dame has more talent and should win this game. UT: 17--ND: 35
Seeberg: Ah yes, the age-old question: How overrated is Notre Dame this season? In years past, an opening game against powerhouse Texas might have answered that question immediately. Not so much recently. Texas just hasn't gotten back to Mack Brown levels since, well, Mack Brown. Charlie Strong just can't get any offense going to supplement his typically solid D. Notre Dame's strength is it's offense so those possessions will be interesting, but the Texas O versus Notre Dame D confrontations might set the game back a generation or two. Sadly, the golden domers should prevail, allowing the hype to continue a while longer. UT: 13- ND: 24
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Texas A&M Aggies
Draper: No clue. ASU was sneaky good last year and A&M is always tough to pin down. The Sun Devils should be a factor in the Pac 12 (along with most of the crowd out west). The Aggies love the flash from Manziel and then Kenny Trill (for a few games last year) but I think the Sun Devils' more blue collar mentality will lead to a close win. Kyle Field is a bear to deal with, but the creepy boom mike Todd Graham emerges victorious. ASU: 40--TAMU: 35
Hoying: Here we see two teams heading in different directions. The Aggies have fallen off a bit after storming their way into the SEC in 2012, while the Sun Devils were a touchdown away from playing in the Pac-12 championship game for a second consecutive year. A&M isn't going to turn anything around without some solid QB play, and I need to see more from Kyle Allen (or Kenny Trill) before I buy in. SEC QBs should be BAD this year, and A&M sadly should be no exception. ASU: 38--TAMU: 24
Schweinfurth: ASU looked good last year, and I think that momentum will carry over into this year. The Aggies just seem to be going the other way since Johnny Football left. Yes, A&M looked good and surprised everyone to start the year last year, but I just don't see it this year. ASU: 42--TAMU: 31
Seeberg: If I were a betting man (and I am- but only when I actually have money to bet, which means currently I'm not), I'd wager this one will be high-scoring. Both teams return most pieces from good offensive units and lackluster defensive squads. A&M's new D-coordinator, John Chavis, may help- but he was hired almost as much to stop thwarting A&M's offense as he was to improve their defense. The Sun Devils have a decent shot to make some noise in the Pac-12 and a big win against the now-slightly-less-vaunted SEC could slingshot them to a third-straight 10-win season. ASU: 45- TAMU- 35
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Draper: I didn't see it last year...and I really don't see it this year. OSU will have the bullseye on their back all year...but if they will be amped for any game this year, this is it. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Yes, suspensions surround the team, but I can't believe Urban is terribly concerned. Michael Brewer had the game of his life last year and the Buckeyes folded. This time, they will rain fire and brimstone on their opponents from the first down. There are far too many weapons on this team to breed concern. Zeke dominates the lunch box defense and the huge question at QB...is rendered moot after a beat down. OSU: 45--VT: 20
Hoying: Why did the Buckeyes lose this game last year? The undermanned Hokies counted on an inexperienced offensive line that couldn't handle a relentless blitzing front, and a QB that couldn't make the right reads under tremendous pressure. VT will have neither luxury this year; it'll be their personnel vs. ours. Anyone who watched Tech carefully last season (including this gem) shouldn't be too worried. Look for the Buckeyes to come out a little too excited (especially the backups for our boneheaded dopers), gagging away some early opportunities on both sides of the ball, but ths one shouldn't be in doubt in the second half. Hopefully. OSU: 38--VT: 20
Schweinfurth: The Hokies defense absolutely mugged the Buckeyes offense last year. That was a very inexperienced offensive line and a guy making his second career start. I just don't foresee the Buckeyes being underprepared and not ready for whatever Bud Foster has to throw at the offense. The loss of Bosa for this will be felt by the defense, but the Hokie offense is okay not great. I think we see a heavy dose of Zeke, a few slants to Thomas, and Braxton catches a bomb for a TD. This game is only close because of the suspensions. OSU: 35--VT: 21
Seeberg: Ah yes, redemption time (and also brag time: I have 35-yard line seats for this one!). This felt like a relatively open and shut game before the one-game suspensions were levied against the Buckeyes. Despite the fact that three were offensive, the loss of Bosa may be the most critical (see my post on preseason predictions). The Hokies will be amped up for this game as well and even under Tressel I would've been nervous for this one. The key is Urban, no doubt. The grind for nine will get tougher the longer the season wears on- manufacturing motivation to play the likes of Purdue and Maryland. That won't be an issue September 7th. 'Zeke runs well, J.T. Jones runs and throws and Braxton scares the crap out of 11 other defensive coordinators. The Grind for Nine starts with a revenge win. VT: 27- OSU: 38
Upset Special
Draper: Minnesota over TCU (get lucky)
Hoying: Louisville over Auburn
Schweinfurth: Northwestern over Stanford
Seeberg: North Carolina over South Carolina
Here are our thoughts on the best five games of the week. Maybe. It's Week 1; who knows where any of these teams will end up?
Michigan Wolverines @ Utah Utes
Draper: Harbaugh, Harbaugh, Harbaugh....blah, blah, blah. The Wolverines had a decent roster last year and limped to a 5-7 record. Is the coach enough to turn this team around in a snap? I just don't see it. They'll be improved, but I think the national media is giving far to much credit to the coach. Harbaugh is also nuts so let's pump the brakes. I think Michigan ends the season with 8 wins, but this isn't one of them. UM: 20-Utah: 24
Hoying: How bad was Maize and Blue Satan last year, really? The defense was quite good, the running game was passable, and What What Jake Butt was enough by himself to bail out any semi-competent QB. Except...they didn't have a competent QB, and there's nobody swooping in to take the job. Any improvement will have to come from the top down, but fortunately for You Know Who, Harbaugh excels at developing QBs. Not everyone can take a 3rd string QB and guide him to a win over a 41-point favorite. What difference does a stellar head coach make? Ask 2011 and 2012 Ohio State. UM: 27--Utah: 20
Schweinfurth: I can't wait for this game to kick off just so I don't have to hear about Harbaugh. Yes, the QB situation at TTUN isn't ideal, but the defense is a bit underrated. I think this game is close to the end with the Utes kicking a last second field goal for the win. UM: 21--Utah: 24
Seeberg: Last year, Utah's victory over TTUN was a big deal. Except it shouldn't have been. Utah was the better team last season and, at least early on, it's likely to be the better team again. Remember, Utah should've been up 14-0 on Oregon going into the second quarter last year if it weren't for that whole "who needs to actually carry the ball over the goalline" issue. The Khaki Eclipse gets off to a rocky start out west. UM: 23- Utah: 31
Wisconsin Badgers vs. Alabama Crimson Tide
Draper: I'll be honest, I know very little about these teams. I do know Bama tends to have a revolving door of good players and they usually come out like gangbusters in these early season games. Wisconsin was overrated last year and most of their offense now plays for the Chargers. I'm banking on the Tide reloading. Wisc: 16--Bama: 31
Hoying: Oh boy, another marquee non-conference game for Wisconsin. Wisc: 13--Bama: 27
Schweinfurth: I really don't know what to think of Wisconsin. Paul Chryst did a great job as a coordinator but Pitt was meh with him as head coach. Both teams lost a lot of talent but Bama has the (oversigned) talent to restock. This is the first game of, what I think will be, a long season for Wisconsin. Wisc: 10--Bama: 35
Seeberg: This is likely to be a defensive battle as both squads return solid units on that side of the ball but have lost Heisman finalists in Melvin Gordon and Amari Cooper. Wisconsin will have to rely on Stave and/or McEvoy to make some plays which is a dicey prospect at best. The best offensive player on either team is easily Derrick Henry, who torched the Buckeyes in last year's Sugar Bowl (and probably should have gotten the ball more often in that game). He will make enough plays to keep the Badgers in passing situations which is the kiss of death for the Wisconsin offense. Wisc: 13- Bama: 27
Texas Longhorns @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Draper: Are these teams ready to burst back onto the big stage? Texas hasn't really been the same since the Colt McCoy injury in the National Title game vs. Bama and the Irish had a brief resurgence the following year before crashing back to earth. While Notre Dame seems to be the media darling to return to prominence, I don't think they're ready for big time yet...that being said, neither is Texas. Charlie Strong is working to improve things in Austin, but we aren't back to the VY era yet. Here come the Irish. UT: 21--ND: 31
Hoying: Can the Irish survive without Everett Golson? After Golson's precipitous drop last year, which resulted in him...transferring to the team that beat him, the Irish now turn to Malik Zaire (Congo?). The sky's the limit for Malik, but Texas knows that they still have butt at QB, where the ineffective Tyrone Swoopes still holds handoff duties. The Longhorns can't keep getting worse, but a road game in South Bend is not the place to turn their fortunes around. UT: 13--ND: 28
Schweinfurth: I honestly don't know much about either team. While both teams are typically media darlings, I just don't see much in either team. I do know that Notre Dame has more talent and should win this game. UT: 17--ND: 35
Seeberg: Ah yes, the age-old question: How overrated is Notre Dame this season? In years past, an opening game against powerhouse Texas might have answered that question immediately. Not so much recently. Texas just hasn't gotten back to Mack Brown levels since, well, Mack Brown. Charlie Strong just can't get any offense going to supplement his typically solid D. Notre Dame's strength is it's offense so those possessions will be interesting, but the Texas O versus Notre Dame D confrontations might set the game back a generation or two. Sadly, the golden domers should prevail, allowing the hype to continue a while longer. UT: 13- ND: 24
Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Texas A&M Aggies
Draper: No clue. ASU was sneaky good last year and A&M is always tough to pin down. The Sun Devils should be a factor in the Pac 12 (along with most of the crowd out west). The Aggies love the flash from Manziel and then Kenny Trill (for a few games last year) but I think the Sun Devils' more blue collar mentality will lead to a close win. Kyle Field is a bear to deal with, but the creepy boom mike Todd Graham emerges victorious. ASU: 40--TAMU: 35
Hoying: Here we see two teams heading in different directions. The Aggies have fallen off a bit after storming their way into the SEC in 2012, while the Sun Devils were a touchdown away from playing in the Pac-12 championship game for a second consecutive year. A&M isn't going to turn anything around without some solid QB play, and I need to see more from Kyle Allen (or Kenny Trill) before I buy in. SEC QBs should be BAD this year, and A&M sadly should be no exception. ASU: 38--TAMU: 24
Schweinfurth: ASU looked good last year, and I think that momentum will carry over into this year. The Aggies just seem to be going the other way since Johnny Football left. Yes, A&M looked good and surprised everyone to start the year last year, but I just don't see it this year. ASU: 42--TAMU: 31
Seeberg: If I were a betting man (and I am- but only when I actually have money to bet, which means currently I'm not), I'd wager this one will be high-scoring. Both teams return most pieces from good offensive units and lackluster defensive squads. A&M's new D-coordinator, John Chavis, may help- but he was hired almost as much to stop thwarting A&M's offense as he was to improve their defense. The Sun Devils have a decent shot to make some noise in the Pac-12 and a big win against the now-slightly-less-vaunted SEC could slingshot them to a third-straight 10-win season. ASU: 45- TAMU- 35
THE Ohio State University Buckeyes @ Virginia Tech Hokies
Draper: I didn't see it last year...and I really don't see it this year. OSU will have the bullseye on their back all year...but if they will be amped for any game this year, this is it. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Yes, suspensions surround the team, but I can't believe Urban is terribly concerned. Michael Brewer had the game of his life last year and the Buckeyes folded. This time, they will rain fire and brimstone on their opponents from the first down. There are far too many weapons on this team to breed concern. Zeke dominates the lunch box defense and the huge question at QB...is rendered moot after a beat down. OSU: 45--VT: 20
Hoying: Why did the Buckeyes lose this game last year? The undermanned Hokies counted on an inexperienced offensive line that couldn't handle a relentless blitzing front, and a QB that couldn't make the right reads under tremendous pressure. VT will have neither luxury this year; it'll be their personnel vs. ours. Anyone who watched Tech carefully last season (including this gem) shouldn't be too worried. Look for the Buckeyes to come out a little too excited (especially the backups for our boneheaded dopers), gagging away some early opportunities on both sides of the ball, but ths one shouldn't be in doubt in the second half. Hopefully. OSU: 38--VT: 20
Schweinfurth: The Hokies defense absolutely mugged the Buckeyes offense last year. That was a very inexperienced offensive line and a guy making his second career start. I just don't foresee the Buckeyes being underprepared and not ready for whatever Bud Foster has to throw at the offense. The loss of Bosa for this will be felt by the defense, but the Hokie offense is okay not great. I think we see a heavy dose of Zeke, a few slants to Thomas, and Braxton catches a bomb for a TD. This game is only close because of the suspensions. OSU: 35--VT: 21
Seeberg: Ah yes, redemption time (and also brag time: I have 35-yard line seats for this one!). This felt like a relatively open and shut game before the one-game suspensions were levied against the Buckeyes. Despite the fact that three were offensive, the loss of Bosa may be the most critical (see my post on preseason predictions). The Hokies will be amped up for this game as well and even under Tressel I would've been nervous for this one. The key is Urban, no doubt. The grind for nine will get tougher the longer the season wears on- manufacturing motivation to play the likes of Purdue and Maryland. That won't be an issue September 7th. 'Zeke runs well, J.T. Jones runs and throws and Braxton scares the crap out of 11 other defensive coordinators. The Grind for Nine starts with a revenge win. VT: 27- OSU: 38
Upset Special
Draper: Minnesota over TCU (get lucky)
Hoying: Louisville over Auburn
Schweinfurth: Northwestern over Stanford
Seeberg: North Carolina over South Carolina
2015-16 Preseason Predictions
Conference Champions
ACC (Atlantic, Coastal, Champ)
Draper: A: FSU, C: GT, Champ: FSU
Hoying: A: Clemson, C: Pitt, Champ: Clemson
Schweinfurth: A: Clemson, C: GT , Champ: Clemson
Seeberg: A: Clemson , C: GT , Champ: GT
B1G (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: Ohio St., W: Wisc, Champ: Ohio St.
Hoying: E: Ohio St., W: Wisconsin, Champ: Ohio St.
Schweinfurth: E: Ohio St, W: Nebraska, Champ: Ohio St.
Seeberg: E: Ohio St. , W: Wisconsin , Champ: Ohio St.
Big 12
Draper: TCU
Hoying: TCU
Schweinfurth: TCU
Seeberg: TCU
Pac 12 (North, South, Champ)
Draper: N: Oregon, S: USC, Champ: USC
Hoying: N: Oregon, S: Arizona, Champ: Arizona
Schweinfurth: N: Oregon, S: USC , Champ: USC
Seeberg: N: Oregon S: USC , Champ: USC
SEC (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: Georgia, W: Alabama, Champ: Alabama
Hoying: E: Missouri, W: Alabama, Champ: Alabama
Schweinfurth: E: Georgia, W: Alabama , Champ: Alabama
Seeberg: E: Georgia , W: Auburn , Champ: Auburn
Playoffs (champ in bold)
Draper: Ohio St., Alabama, TCU, USC
Hoying: Ohio St., Alabama, TCU, Arizona
Schweinfurth: Ohio St., Alabama, USC, TCU
Seeberg: TCU, Ohio St., Auburn, USC
Heisman Ballot
Draper
1) Ezekiel Elliott
2) Trevone Boykin
3) Nick Chubb
Dark Horse: Everett Golson
Hoying
1) Trevone Boykin
2) JT Barrett
3) Ezekiel Elliott
Dark Horse: Connor Cook
Schweinfurth
1) Ezekiel Elliot
2) Nick Chubb
3) Trevone Boykin
Dark Horse: Cody Kessler
Seeberg
1) Ezekiel Elliott
2) Cody Kessler
3) Trevone Boykin
Dark Horse: Samaje Perine
ACC (Atlantic, Coastal, Champ)
Draper: A: FSU, C: GT, Champ: FSU
Hoying: A: Clemson, C: Pitt, Champ: Clemson
Schweinfurth: A: Clemson, C: GT , Champ: Clemson
Seeberg: A: Clemson , C: GT , Champ: GT
B1G (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: Ohio St., W: Wisc, Champ: Ohio St.
Hoying: E: Ohio St., W: Wisconsin, Champ: Ohio St.
Schweinfurth: E: Ohio St, W: Nebraska, Champ: Ohio St.
Seeberg: E: Ohio St. , W: Wisconsin , Champ: Ohio St.
Big 12
Draper: TCU
Hoying: TCU
Schweinfurth: TCU
Seeberg: TCU
Pac 12 (North, South, Champ)
Draper: N: Oregon, S: USC, Champ: USC
Hoying: N: Oregon, S: Arizona, Champ: Arizona
Schweinfurth: N: Oregon, S: USC , Champ: USC
Seeberg: N: Oregon S: USC , Champ: USC
SEC (East, West, Champ)
Draper: E: Georgia, W: Alabama, Champ: Alabama
Hoying: E: Missouri, W: Alabama, Champ: Alabama
Schweinfurth: E: Georgia, W: Alabama , Champ: Alabama
Seeberg: E: Georgia , W: Auburn , Champ: Auburn
Playoffs (champ in bold)
Draper: Ohio St., Alabama, TCU, USC
Hoying: Ohio St., Alabama, TCU, Arizona
Schweinfurth: Ohio St., Alabama, USC, TCU
Seeberg: TCU, Ohio St., Auburn, USC
Heisman Ballot
Draper
1) Ezekiel Elliott
2) Trevone Boykin
3) Nick Chubb
Dark Horse: Everett Golson
Hoying
1) Trevone Boykin
2) JT Barrett
3) Ezekiel Elliott
Dark Horse: Connor Cook
Schweinfurth
1) Ezekiel Elliot
2) Nick Chubb
3) Trevone Boykin
Dark Horse: Cody Kessler
Seeberg
1) Ezekiel Elliott
2) Cody Kessler
3) Trevone Boykin
Dark Horse: Samaje Perine
Burning Preseason Questions
For a team to be unanimously voted #1 by the Associated Press, you would think that college football nation, or at least Buckeye Nation, would have their major questions surrounding the team answered by the start of the season. Not so for our beloved defending champions. The Let's Go Bucks! staff weighs in on the QB controversy as well as what we can expect from such a talented squad.
1a. The starting quarterback should be ________. . .
Draper: JT Barrett. Everyone seems to forget that JT Barrett matured like crazy after that VT debacle (mostly on the O-line). I have said for the past year that Braxton is the best athlete, Cardale has the most NFL ready body, and JT plays the mental game best and has the most accurate arm. While I won't be upset with either QB, great quarterbacks all have the mental game at the peak. Cardale isn't the same guy from freshman year, but he can't read defenses as well as JT. Jones can throw it farther, but no one puts the ball on a dime as well as Barrett. In addition, Cardale has the skill of running defenders over but Barrett makes them miss. Both are great but I see JT more as Russell Wilson and Jones more as a Roethlisberger. At this level, I want someone that relies more on the head than the brawn. Both Superbowl winners, but the loss of Devin Smith will affect Cardale more than it will JT.
Hoying: JT Barrett. Quick, what Buckeye QB had the best season in Ohio State history? Rex Kern in 1969? Bobby Hoying in 1995? Troy Smith in 2006? Braxton Miller in 2013? Try JT Barrett in 2014. Barrett set the school record for yards in a season, as well as the B1G record for TDs (breaking a record held by Drew Brees). "But Cardale won the title," you say. Good point. If Craig Krenzel were on this team, then I guess the battle would be between him and Cardale. Barrett put this team in a position to compete for the title and was a sure-fire Heisman finalist before his untimely injury. Don't forget about JT's superhuman performance in Happy Valley in double OT, or his complete dismantling of the no-fly zone in East Lansing. There's a reason he won the starting job last season.
Schweinfurth: Cardale Jones. I have been so split on this all summer. JT put up some great numbers last year, but my biggest concern was late in the season. JT slowed down and missed a lot of passes (just watch the TTUN game last year). While Cardale isn't as polished, he did win 3 of the 4 toughest games the Buckeyes played last year. His arm backs the defenses off; and we all know what Zeke can do with room to run. After all of that, the one stat that caught my eye was completion percentage against the blitz. Cardale was almost 10% higher than JT. It is just unfortunate one of these guys have to sit. You really can't go wrong with either guy.
Seeberg: J.T. Barrett. Both Barrett and Jones are obviously capable of running the Buckeye offense in high gear, but J.T. is the slightly more polished QB, particularly in terms of pocket awareness and accuracy on short/intermediate routes. J.T. is the choice, but having a 12-gauge loaded as a fallback is a phenomenal luxury to be sure.
1b. . . but actually will be ________.
Draper: JT Barrett. If Jones was to be the starter, I think Urban would have made the announcement (even though there is no real benefit to announcing it). He's the senior, he's the QB from the playoff, he decided to come back....but the silence makes me lean on the side that Urban is looking for the best chance to win which in my opinion behind JT. The spread is more tailored to a QB of JT's skill set than a beast that would prefer a pro-set.
Hoying: JT Barrett. When does Urban enjoy his highest level of success? When his quarterback is a run/pass dual threat spread master. NOBODY, not even Blessed Timothy of Philadelphia, runs the zone read like JT. I think I saw him make one bad read during all of last season, on the play that broke his ankle. And JT is able to see the field and utilize all of his weapons in a way Cardale can't, especially after the departure of Cardale's biggest deep threat. Cardale's bomb to Devin Smith set the tone for a rout of Wisconsin, but he threw the ball into double coverage and let Smith bail him out. If Corey Brown's running that route, the pass is picked off and the game may have followed a very different path. Cardale is, of course, the better pro prospect, but this is Division 1-A football, brother.
Schweinfurth: JT Barrett. There is a reason he won the job over Cardale last year and his ability to distribute the ball will be needed without 4 wideouts.
Seeberg: J.T. Barrett. He won the job last year just before Braxton was hurt, no reason to think he won't again. And let's remember, the last three games Cardale won were every bit as much about 'Zeke than Cardale, as well as the gelling of the offensive line. Despite the occasional heroics of Cardale, I believe this has always been J.T.'s job to lose.
2. The 2015 season will be a disappointment if __________.
Draper: the Buckeyes don't play in the National Championship game. One can make a convincing argument that it's title or bust, but national championships are really, really hard to come by. There are so many factors that can bite you in the butt. Just think about TCU last year. A stupid 4th down throw may have cost TCU the undefeated season and the shot for the playoff...one play. Now, with that said, there is no one...NO ONE...that should compete with this team. You want history, win it all; you want to 'not be a failure', make the title game (and don't crap the bed a la 2006 Buckeyes---stupid Meyer).
Hoying: another banner doesn't go up in Woody Hayes. Anyone remember the 2006 season? The Buckeyes were preseason #1 and played like it all season long, trouncing #2 Texas in Austin and engineering a convincing win over #2 Michigan in the Game of the Century. But, upon retrospection, does anyone feel like two wins over #2, a 12-0 regular season record, the Bucks' first outright B1G title since 1984 made that season a success? Not hardly. How about 2007's national runners-up? 2010's SEC-beating* 12-1* #5* campaign? Uh-uh. As soon as that #1 is attached to your name, it's national championship or bust. The margin for error is even smaller when one considers that the "nine units strong" should be "nine units stronger" this season, with the possible exception of WR. The wins over Alabama and Oregon were no fluke, and it'll take nothing short of a disaster to stop this team from repeating.
Schweinfurth: I agree with Draper and Seeberg. This team should make the National Championship game.
Seeberg: I have to agree with Draper here. The new format makes it one really really tough game harder to win a national title. Last year, were it BCS style, Oregon would've played Alabama and OSU wouldn't have even had a shot. OSU has got to make the playoffs and win their semifinal, but to simply anoint this team champs again with this 4-team playoff is premature, particularly with a defensive line and secondary lacking some depth.
3. Compared to other Ohio State teams of the past, this team is __________.
Draper: in the team photo of best teams (top 5). Need more data to place them at the top. The talent is all there, but I need to see real results. Last year was fantastic, but USC was an all-time great team....on paper when Barkley returned for his senior year....and crapped the bed. There is no reason this won't be another studly team, but games aren't won on paper. Finish and go down as one of the (if not THE) all-time greats.
Hoying: better. "Nine units strong" from last year should be "nine units stronger" this year, with the possible exception of WR. The losses of Devin Smith and Evan Spencer (and Noah Brown) are huge, but hopefully the addition of Braxton to the arsenal and the dual threat of Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall should lessen the impact of the losses (if they stay healthy - don't hold your breath). I discussed above that we can expect the best QB season in OSU history this year. RB should be no problem, since not even Eddie or Archie could match Zeke's 3 consecutive 200+ yd games. The lines are practically identical to last season's Tide-manhandling groups, and the secondary should surpass last year's already much-improved squad. Is this team flawless on paper? No. 2005 and 2009 had better defense. 1995, 1998, and 2006 had more seasoned QBs (although not more talented). 2002 had a better kicker. But this team knocked off the #1 and #2 teams in the country with performances that would have been blowouts if not for mistakes. And mistakes are the mark of a young team that has a lot of room to grow.
Schweinfurth: If this team wins a second National Title, this is the best team in Ohio State history.
Seeberg: Hmmm. IF we assume a second national title run, it has to be in the top three. The offensive is terrifyingly stacked, littered with potential first-round draftees (Zeke, Jones, Barrett, Thomas, Decker, etc. etc.). The D has two phenomenal playmakers in Bosa and Lee but is lacking some depth. The Buckeye benchmark will always be 1968, the infamous "because I couldn't go for three" squad that dismantled scUM 50-14 before beating USC in the Rose Bowl. The 1998 squad was so hysterically talented even Cooper couldn't lose to that team up north with them. 2006 was also an incredible team before the defense suddenly decided to stop blitzing and give up 80 points in their last two games. Hard to imagine this D being comparable to any of the three aforementioned squads, but a repeat would stand on its own in Buckeye lore.
4. The player to watch in 2015 is __________.
Draper: Michael Thomas. Unlike my co-writers, I'm not going to cop out. We know the big names: Zeke, Barrett, Jones, Bosa, Braxton, etc. Who will step up? Michael Thomas had a sneaky good year last year, but this is his year to take control of the WR corps and become a force to be reckoned with. Losses of Smith and Spencer leave a void that I fully believe Thomas will fill. He had some eye-popping plays last year, but was mostly an unknown due to the star power. This year, he takes the step to the big boy table. Don't close your eyes. Keyshawn's nephew is ready to star.
Hoying: Braxton Miller. The biggest question mark on this team is at wide receiver after the losses of Devin Smith, Evan Spencer, and Noah Brown. 2-time B1G player of the year Braxton Miller may be the answer. We've seen Braxton make seemingly impossible plays from the pocket. What can he add to Urban's spread offense when given the length of the field to work with?
Schweinfurth: Ezekiel Elliott. An Ohio State running back wins the Heisman every 20 years. It's been 20 years since Eddie George. He will easily break Eddie's 1927 yard mark if he runs the way he did the last 3 games.
Seeberg: It's Joey Bosa. Yes I'm not exactly going off the radar here, but with good reason. Aside from Bosa and Adolphus Washington, the D-line is very inexperienced. Teams will double up on Bosa and perhaps Washington as well, so Bosa has to stay healthy, not suspended, and still make his share of plays despite lots of attention. Otherwise the linebackers and secondary will be forced to make far too many tackles and cover for far too long for the defense to be effective.
1a. The starting quarterback should be ________. . .
Draper: JT Barrett. Everyone seems to forget that JT Barrett matured like crazy after that VT debacle (mostly on the O-line). I have said for the past year that Braxton is the best athlete, Cardale has the most NFL ready body, and JT plays the mental game best and has the most accurate arm. While I won't be upset with either QB, great quarterbacks all have the mental game at the peak. Cardale isn't the same guy from freshman year, but he can't read defenses as well as JT. Jones can throw it farther, but no one puts the ball on a dime as well as Barrett. In addition, Cardale has the skill of running defenders over but Barrett makes them miss. Both are great but I see JT more as Russell Wilson and Jones more as a Roethlisberger. At this level, I want someone that relies more on the head than the brawn. Both Superbowl winners, but the loss of Devin Smith will affect Cardale more than it will JT.
Hoying: JT Barrett. Quick, what Buckeye QB had the best season in Ohio State history? Rex Kern in 1969? Bobby Hoying in 1995? Troy Smith in 2006? Braxton Miller in 2013? Try JT Barrett in 2014. Barrett set the school record for yards in a season, as well as the B1G record for TDs (breaking a record held by Drew Brees). "But Cardale won the title," you say. Good point. If Craig Krenzel were on this team, then I guess the battle would be between him and Cardale. Barrett put this team in a position to compete for the title and was a sure-fire Heisman finalist before his untimely injury. Don't forget about JT's superhuman performance in Happy Valley in double OT, or his complete dismantling of the no-fly zone in East Lansing. There's a reason he won the starting job last season.
Schweinfurth: Cardale Jones. I have been so split on this all summer. JT put up some great numbers last year, but my biggest concern was late in the season. JT slowed down and missed a lot of passes (just watch the TTUN game last year). While Cardale isn't as polished, he did win 3 of the 4 toughest games the Buckeyes played last year. His arm backs the defenses off; and we all know what Zeke can do with room to run. After all of that, the one stat that caught my eye was completion percentage against the blitz. Cardale was almost 10% higher than JT. It is just unfortunate one of these guys have to sit. You really can't go wrong with either guy.
Seeberg: J.T. Barrett. Both Barrett and Jones are obviously capable of running the Buckeye offense in high gear, but J.T. is the slightly more polished QB, particularly in terms of pocket awareness and accuracy on short/intermediate routes. J.T. is the choice, but having a 12-gauge loaded as a fallback is a phenomenal luxury to be sure.
1b. . . but actually will be ________.
Draper: JT Barrett. If Jones was to be the starter, I think Urban would have made the announcement (even though there is no real benefit to announcing it). He's the senior, he's the QB from the playoff, he decided to come back....but the silence makes me lean on the side that Urban is looking for the best chance to win which in my opinion behind JT. The spread is more tailored to a QB of JT's skill set than a beast that would prefer a pro-set.
Hoying: JT Barrett. When does Urban enjoy his highest level of success? When his quarterback is a run/pass dual threat spread master. NOBODY, not even Blessed Timothy of Philadelphia, runs the zone read like JT. I think I saw him make one bad read during all of last season, on the play that broke his ankle. And JT is able to see the field and utilize all of his weapons in a way Cardale can't, especially after the departure of Cardale's biggest deep threat. Cardale's bomb to Devin Smith set the tone for a rout of Wisconsin, but he threw the ball into double coverage and let Smith bail him out. If Corey Brown's running that route, the pass is picked off and the game may have followed a very different path. Cardale is, of course, the better pro prospect, but this is Division 1-A football, brother.
Schweinfurth: JT Barrett. There is a reason he won the job over Cardale last year and his ability to distribute the ball will be needed without 4 wideouts.
Seeberg: J.T. Barrett. He won the job last year just before Braxton was hurt, no reason to think he won't again. And let's remember, the last three games Cardale won were every bit as much about 'Zeke than Cardale, as well as the gelling of the offensive line. Despite the occasional heroics of Cardale, I believe this has always been J.T.'s job to lose.
2. The 2015 season will be a disappointment if __________.
Draper: the Buckeyes don't play in the National Championship game. One can make a convincing argument that it's title or bust, but national championships are really, really hard to come by. There are so many factors that can bite you in the butt. Just think about TCU last year. A stupid 4th down throw may have cost TCU the undefeated season and the shot for the playoff...one play. Now, with that said, there is no one...NO ONE...that should compete with this team. You want history, win it all; you want to 'not be a failure', make the title game (and don't crap the bed a la 2006 Buckeyes---stupid Meyer).
Hoying: another banner doesn't go up in Woody Hayes. Anyone remember the 2006 season? The Buckeyes were preseason #1 and played like it all season long, trouncing #2 Texas in Austin and engineering a convincing win over #2 Michigan in the Game of the Century. But, upon retrospection, does anyone feel like two wins over #2, a 12-0 regular season record, the Bucks' first outright B1G title since 1984 made that season a success? Not hardly. How about 2007's national runners-up? 2010's SEC-beating* 12-1* #5* campaign? Uh-uh. As soon as that #1 is attached to your name, it's national championship or bust. The margin for error is even smaller when one considers that the "nine units strong" should be "nine units stronger" this season, with the possible exception of WR. The wins over Alabama and Oregon were no fluke, and it'll take nothing short of a disaster to stop this team from repeating.
Schweinfurth: I agree with Draper and Seeberg. This team should make the National Championship game.
Seeberg: I have to agree with Draper here. The new format makes it one really really tough game harder to win a national title. Last year, were it BCS style, Oregon would've played Alabama and OSU wouldn't have even had a shot. OSU has got to make the playoffs and win their semifinal, but to simply anoint this team champs again with this 4-team playoff is premature, particularly with a defensive line and secondary lacking some depth.
3. Compared to other Ohio State teams of the past, this team is __________.
Draper: in the team photo of best teams (top 5). Need more data to place them at the top. The talent is all there, but I need to see real results. Last year was fantastic, but USC was an all-time great team....on paper when Barkley returned for his senior year....and crapped the bed. There is no reason this won't be another studly team, but games aren't won on paper. Finish and go down as one of the (if not THE) all-time greats.
Hoying: better. "Nine units strong" from last year should be "nine units stronger" this year, with the possible exception of WR. The losses of Devin Smith and Evan Spencer (and Noah Brown) are huge, but hopefully the addition of Braxton to the arsenal and the dual threat of Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall should lessen the impact of the losses (if they stay healthy - don't hold your breath). I discussed above that we can expect the best QB season in OSU history this year. RB should be no problem, since not even Eddie or Archie could match Zeke's 3 consecutive 200+ yd games. The lines are practically identical to last season's Tide-manhandling groups, and the secondary should surpass last year's already much-improved squad. Is this team flawless on paper? No. 2005 and 2009 had better defense. 1995, 1998, and 2006 had more seasoned QBs (although not more talented). 2002 had a better kicker. But this team knocked off the #1 and #2 teams in the country with performances that would have been blowouts if not for mistakes. And mistakes are the mark of a young team that has a lot of room to grow.
Schweinfurth: If this team wins a second National Title, this is the best team in Ohio State history.
Seeberg: Hmmm. IF we assume a second national title run, it has to be in the top three. The offensive is terrifyingly stacked, littered with potential first-round draftees (Zeke, Jones, Barrett, Thomas, Decker, etc. etc.). The D has two phenomenal playmakers in Bosa and Lee but is lacking some depth. The Buckeye benchmark will always be 1968, the infamous "because I couldn't go for three" squad that dismantled scUM 50-14 before beating USC in the Rose Bowl. The 1998 squad was so hysterically talented even Cooper couldn't lose to that team up north with them. 2006 was also an incredible team before the defense suddenly decided to stop blitzing and give up 80 points in their last two games. Hard to imagine this D being comparable to any of the three aforementioned squads, but a repeat would stand on its own in Buckeye lore.
4. The player to watch in 2015 is __________.
Draper: Michael Thomas. Unlike my co-writers, I'm not going to cop out. We know the big names: Zeke, Barrett, Jones, Bosa, Braxton, etc. Who will step up? Michael Thomas had a sneaky good year last year, but this is his year to take control of the WR corps and become a force to be reckoned with. Losses of Smith and Spencer leave a void that I fully believe Thomas will fill. He had some eye-popping plays last year, but was mostly an unknown due to the star power. This year, he takes the step to the big boy table. Don't close your eyes. Keyshawn's nephew is ready to star.
Hoying: Braxton Miller. The biggest question mark on this team is at wide receiver after the losses of Devin Smith, Evan Spencer, and Noah Brown. 2-time B1G player of the year Braxton Miller may be the answer. We've seen Braxton make seemingly impossible plays from the pocket. What can he add to Urban's spread offense when given the length of the field to work with?
Schweinfurth: Ezekiel Elliott. An Ohio State running back wins the Heisman every 20 years. It's been 20 years since Eddie George. He will easily break Eddie's 1927 yard mark if he runs the way he did the last 3 games.
Seeberg: It's Joey Bosa. Yes I'm not exactly going off the radar here, but with good reason. Aside from Bosa and Adolphus Washington, the D-line is very inexperienced. Teams will double up on Bosa and perhaps Washington as well, so Bosa has to stay healthy, not suspended, and still make his share of plays despite lots of attention. Otherwise the linebackers and secondary will be forced to make far too many tackles and cover for far too long for the defense to be effective.
Sunday, March 08, 2015
Basketball, Wisconsin, and the Birth of the Buckeye "Nuthouse"
The Ohio State University is not, has never been, and will never be a basketball school. It's not that the school doesn't have a rich basketball history; the BasketBucks have won a national championship (1960), finished runners-up four times (1939, 1961, 1962, 2007), and made the Final Four an additional five times (including one vacated appearance). But Ohio State basketball isn't a top-5 elite level program like the football team is, and so it's had to be content chugging along in the shadow of Ohio Stadium.
The turn of the century was a particularly bleak era for the basketball Buckeyes. The team's 1999 Final Four run had been wiped out because of illegal benefits paid to player Boban Savovic, leaving the team without an official NCAA Tournament appearance since 1992's Elite Eight loss to Michigan. After Tressel's football team defeated Miami for the 2002 national title, it looked like basketball would forever be an afterthought at Ohio State.
Nowhere was this more visible than in the atmospheres within Ohio Stadium and Value City Arena. Down on the east bank of the Oletangy, the roar of the crowd on Saturday afternoons could be heard for miles around, shaking the composure of opposing QBs as they fruitlessly tried to direct their offenses. The Best Damn Band in the Land and Block O worked tirelessly in conjunction to whip 105,000 strong into a constant frenzy. Meanwhile, across the river, the Schottenstein Center, America's latest soulless pro arena clone, hosted the day's tepid half-capacity crowd as they reclined on their hands and watched the Buckeye cagers stumble through another mediocre campaign. The band's valiant attempts to rally the crowd were only with the echoes of their voices off the wall as the fans slept on and the "Buckeye Nuthouse" student section looked on in puzzlement.
I arrived on campus at the same time as the man who set in motion a change for the better, head coach Thad Matta. Though the Buckeyes were ineligible for the tournament during his first season because of self-imposed sanctions, Matta led the team to a respectable 20-win season and a home finale victory over the #1 and previously undefeated Illinois Fighting Illini. Then they won a B1G title the following season, and worked up to a #1 ranking of their own in 2007. But while the success was there, the excitement still lagged. The Athletic Band used to have a policy that required members to perform for a certain schedule of events, but allowed them to attend and perform at any additional basketball or hockey games they wanted. Even so, few members took advantage of this policy, even to see the #1 ranked men's basketball team play without having to buy a ticket. The crowd exhibited no coherence: the band and the Nuthouse would start competing cheers, with neither knowing what the other was doing, while the regular attendees paid little attention to either, taking their cues from the cheerleaders (the quietest of the three groups).
It took a visit from the hated Wisconsin Badgers to finally change the mood for the better. The #1/#2 ranked Badgers, one of only 3 teams to beat OSU in 2006-07, were in town to face the #2/#1 ranked Buckeyes, and the Schott was packed and rocking. Band members who normally spent time between songs in idle conversation were now glued to the action and attuned to the passions of the crowd. The Nuthouse was full of empty seats, but only because the filled-to-capacity student section refused to sit for even a minute. The rally towels placed on every seat pregame could've powered the scoreboard with all the attempted distractions the fans aimed at the Badgers. And most importantly, the disparate groups listened to and communicated with one another. The students finally figured out what the hell "Cheer 1" was and where the O, H, I, and O were supposed to go. The guy with the giant foam cowboy hat led the band in "Defense" and "Let's Go, Buckeyes" and even "Hey, Bucks, Come on Down" in flawless conjunction with the flow of the game action. And the cheerleaders took cues from and fed cheers to both. 40 minutes later, Michael Conley hit a beautiful teardrop jumper to lead Ohio State to a 49-48 win and their second consecutive outright B1G championship.
The culture of winning would remain, but the era of fan pride had just begun. By the time the next season started, the athletic department had designed a more exciting game introduction experience, although with the band's performance of "Across the Field" and "Buckeye Battle Cry" still providing the backbone from their new courtside seats. Today, the Nuthouse is as energetic and stimulating as any student section in the nation, including Ohio Stadium's beloved Block O. THE Ohio State University may still be a football school, but one visit from the Wisconsin Badgers closed the gap considerably between the school's two premier sports. Let's hope that a big win today can push the basketball experience even farther forward.
GO, OHIO! BEAT THE BADGERS!
The turn of the century was a particularly bleak era for the basketball Buckeyes. The team's 1999 Final Four run had been wiped out because of illegal benefits paid to player Boban Savovic, leaving the team without an official NCAA Tournament appearance since 1992's Elite Eight loss to Michigan. After Tressel's football team defeated Miami for the 2002 national title, it looked like basketball would forever be an afterthought at Ohio State.
Nowhere was this more visible than in the atmospheres within Ohio Stadium and Value City Arena. Down on the east bank of the Oletangy, the roar of the crowd on Saturday afternoons could be heard for miles around, shaking the composure of opposing QBs as they fruitlessly tried to direct their offenses. The Best Damn Band in the Land and Block O worked tirelessly in conjunction to whip 105,000 strong into a constant frenzy. Meanwhile, across the river, the Schottenstein Center, America's latest soulless pro arena clone, hosted the day's tepid half-capacity crowd as they reclined on their hands and watched the Buckeye cagers stumble through another mediocre campaign. The band's valiant attempts to rally the crowd were only with the echoes of their voices off the wall as the fans slept on and the "Buckeye Nuthouse" student section looked on in puzzlement.
I arrived on campus at the same time as the man who set in motion a change for the better, head coach Thad Matta. Though the Buckeyes were ineligible for the tournament during his first season because of self-imposed sanctions, Matta led the team to a respectable 20-win season and a home finale victory over the #1 and previously undefeated Illinois Fighting Illini. Then they won a B1G title the following season, and worked up to a #1 ranking of their own in 2007. But while the success was there, the excitement still lagged. The Athletic Band used to have a policy that required members to perform for a certain schedule of events, but allowed them to attend and perform at any additional basketball or hockey games they wanted. Even so, few members took advantage of this policy, even to see the #1 ranked men's basketball team play without having to buy a ticket. The crowd exhibited no coherence: the band and the Nuthouse would start competing cheers, with neither knowing what the other was doing, while the regular attendees paid little attention to either, taking their cues from the cheerleaders (the quietest of the three groups).
It took a visit from the hated Wisconsin Badgers to finally change the mood for the better. The #1/#2 ranked Badgers, one of only 3 teams to beat OSU in 2006-07, were in town to face the #2/#1 ranked Buckeyes, and the Schott was packed and rocking. Band members who normally spent time between songs in idle conversation were now glued to the action and attuned to the passions of the crowd. The Nuthouse was full of empty seats, but only because the filled-to-capacity student section refused to sit for even a minute. The rally towels placed on every seat pregame could've powered the scoreboard with all the attempted distractions the fans aimed at the Badgers. And most importantly, the disparate groups listened to and communicated with one another. The students finally figured out what the hell "Cheer 1" was and where the O, H, I, and O were supposed to go. The guy with the giant foam cowboy hat led the band in "Defense" and "Let's Go, Buckeyes" and even "Hey, Bucks, Come on Down" in flawless conjunction with the flow of the game action. And the cheerleaders took cues from and fed cheers to both. 40 minutes later, Michael Conley hit a beautiful teardrop jumper to lead Ohio State to a 49-48 win and their second consecutive outright B1G championship.
The culture of winning would remain, but the era of fan pride had just begun. By the time the next season started, the athletic department had designed a more exciting game introduction experience, although with the band's performance of "Across the Field" and "Buckeye Battle Cry" still providing the backbone from their new courtside seats. Today, the Nuthouse is as energetic and stimulating as any student section in the nation, including Ohio Stadium's beloved Block O. THE Ohio State University may still be a football school, but one visit from the Wisconsin Badgers closed the gap considerably between the school's two premier sports. Let's hope that a big win today can push the basketball experience even farther forward.
GO, OHIO! BEAT THE BADGERS!
Sunday, January 18, 2015
The Three-Body Problem: Ohio State's QB Dilemma
At this point in 2014, Buckeye Nation was frustrated after another tough loss, during which Braxton came up just short for the second straight game. But with Kenny Guiton graduating, it seemed like Ohio State's QB situation was clear: Braxton would make another run at the Heisman and the inaugural College Football Playoff his senior year, and then the job would go to the untested Cardale "They Don't Even Let Me Throw in Garbage Time" Jones.
Fast forward to now, where presumptive 3rd string QB Cardale "I Ain't Come to Play in College Stadiums" Jones, fresh off a national championship, announces that he's come to play school for at least one more year. The guy he replaced, JT Barrett, finished 5th in the Heisman voting after starting for the majority of his freshman year. And the smoke signals coming from Braxton's camp seem to point to his return as well. With such an embarrassment of riches at QB, to whom should Urban turn on Labor Day in Blacksburg?
Question 1: Who Starts for the Buckeyes in 2015, and Who's #2?
Draper: I'm going to focus on who I would start. Trying to predict Urban is incredibly hard because of his deep love for Braxton. In my mind, the edge goes to JT Barrett. I'm an unabashed fan of the skill set of JT who I think is the best quarterback on the roster. But herein lies the problem: Does the choice go to:
a) The best QB/passer? JT
b) The best athlete? Braxton
c) The best NFL body with (arguably) the highest ceiling? Cardale
Some say this is a great problem to have, and I'd prefer this to having no QBs, but it is called a problem for a reason. I lean to JT in the front if he's healthy with Cardale nipping at his heels. I don't think Braxton has the arm ability to succeed at the next level. He has more explosive play ability but the best QBs in any league must be competent in the pocket. Cardale shined against some tough defenses, but let's be honest with ourselves, Zeke was the key. Don't take everything away from Mr. Jones, but the 12-gauge chucked it deep and it worked. I saw a few nice throws that were far better than anything I'd seen in the short history of Cardale Jones, but not enough to hand the keys to the car. Cardale finished the run, but there is NO WAY we are there without JT. Give me the best passer with the best football mind. Give me JT Barrett.
Hoying: Urban loves Braxton. Let's not forget that in Evanston in 2013, after Kenny G had proved in September that he could be the man to lead Ohio State, and Braxton had already turned it over 3 times to Northwestern, Urban stuck with his guy to pull out the win. Braxton, not Hyde, got the ball on 4th-and-1 against Michigan State. And Braxton, even though obviously hurt, was the man Urban trusted to produce some endgame magic during the Orange Bowl collapse. This season, even after JT produced record-breaking numbers against Cincinnati, Urban reiterated that Braxton would be the man in 2015. How does Urban sit a 2-year Heisman contender and 2-time B1G Offensive POY?
Then Barrett set the single-season touchdown record, surpassing some guy named TROY SMITH who had a pretty good career at OSU. He was the All-B1G QB and finished 5th in the Heisman voting despite missing the last game and a half of the season due to injury. How does Urban sit the guy who willed this team to road wins against Penn State and Michigan State and shredded the record books along the way?
Cardale's record speaks for itself. 3 games against 3 of the top defenses in the country, 3 huge wins. Zero INTs that were his fault (though the fumbles against Oregon were horrendous). How does Urban sit the champ?
From where I'm sitting, I can't see a reason for Urban to stick with Braxton anymore. JT throws a prettier ball and keeps his eyes downfield while buying time in or out of the pocket. As for the ground game, it seemed like every single down this year, we had to listen to announcers say "JT isn't the running threat that Braxton Miller is, but he can still make some things happen." Poppycock. In 2012, Braxton rushed for 1271 yards, 5.6 YPC, and 13 TDs. This year, JT rushed for 938 yards, 5.5 YPC, and 11 TDs. JT can run as much as Braxton does, and while he doesn't quite have Braxton's escapability, he has the vision to avoid big hits and can actually absorb a couple without shattering (unless a lineman sits on his ankle). Furthermore, the guy DOES NOT misread the zone read. He runs Braxton's offense better than Braxton does, and he did it as a freshman. Anyone remember Braxton as a freshman?
That just leaves Cardale. JT was stunning this season, but he didn't face Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon. JT's first 3 starts were an uneven struggle against an OK Navy defense, a disaster against Virginia Tech (behind an awful O-line), and...pick your score against Kent State. Cardale's resume was impressive, but can we really say any of those victories was because of Cardale's efforts? His TD passes set the tone against Wisconsin, but the defense pitched a shutout, the receivers bailed him out on a couple of throws, and Zeke was crushing their spirits by the end. The Sugar Bowl was his shining moment, with 12 Gauge picking up 3rd and long after 3rd and long and rolling the Tide's LBs beneath his gargantuan frame. And the National Championship clearly belonged to Zeke and the Silver Bullets, though Cardale didn't stand in their way. Who was more impressive: JT against Michigan State or Cardale against Alabama? Hard to say.
I think the tiebreaker lies in Urban's system. Urban loves the zone read, and as previously mentioned, JT runs it perfectly. Cardale is an NFL-type QB, and he'll be playing on Sunday's, but Urban's not going to completely remake his offense around one of his QB options, just to switch it back after Cardale leaves next year. Depending on how fast the offense learns and how quickly the new starters jell together in the offseason, we may see a two QB system next year, just to give opposing defenses even more fits. BUT, during their first drive down the field, the men of the scarlet and gray will be led by...
1. JT Barrett, backed up by
2. Cardale Jones.
3. Braxton Miller...will be gone
Seeberg: First off, I would like to think that this will be a non-issue. I believe newly minted offensive coordinator Ed Warinner and his co-coordinator Tim Beck should spend months devising a passing version of the triple option in which all three are in the backfield simultaneously. It would be literally indefensible. Short of that? As absurd as this statement would have been just two months ago, 12-Gauge may have the inside track at the moment. He is still the least proven of the three and his numbers are actually not as good in terms of QBR as either Braxton or J.T. That said, he went up against three top 15 teams (which accounts for his lower QBR rating) and still beat them all. Further, Miller and J.T. will both still be rehabbing during spring ball which means Cardale gets another month of first-team reps to continue to get acclimated and improve.
Assuming all three are in the scarlet and gray, healthy for summer ball and it is a truly "open" competition, I have to give the edge to Cardale. My gut, however, tells me that Urban has a soft spot for Braxton and the job will still be his come opening day if he is healthy and performs well enough during the summer. In either case, I believe the opposite guy will be #2 (Braxton under Cardale or vice versa). J.T. Barrett and his B1G record for TDs responsible for in a season? Third-stringer. I know it's cliche, but it really is a pretty nice problem to have.
Question 2: What Should Braxton Miller Do?
Draper: I didn't mention my thoughts above, but the second Cardale said he was returning to play school, I tweeted #byeBraxton. There's only one reason to stay and that is that his style of football matches Urban's philosophy to a T. Even though OSU is the best fit for Braxton, I don't think the best fit for OSU is Braxton. If he transfers, he can take over the reins of another program in which he can flourish rather than being mired in a QB battle. He has served the university well and should be lauded for what he has done, but JT and Cardale seem to have a better future in college and the pros in my opinion. The injury issue with Braxton cannot be overlooked with the glut of talent. You need to have faith that your guy can stand in and take a hit. I don't think he can do that. Earlier in the season, there was chatter about him taking over the RB duties...but no way that's happening with Zeke exploding on the scene. I wish him well, but I think he'd be best served taking his talents elsewhere. FSU is a possibility, but I don't know if he fits Jimbo's pro style system. It would be good for him to refine his skills in an attempt to make the NFL but would the Noles want him? Oregon is a nice fit, but little room to grow. To step into a ready made position, Houston seems like a perfect fit with Tom Herman, but clearly, the chance for a title is essentially zero. I'm guessing he goes to Eugene or Tallahassee...who knows? Maybe we'll meet again.
Hoying: As I said above, I don't see a compelling reason for Urban to start Braxton over JT Barrett. One could make a case for him at #2 ahead of Cardale, but should a QB of Braxton's caliber be content to ride the pine his senior season? No. Braxton's still not NFL ready (and he missed the deadline), so he needs to transfer. He won't find a program that's a better fit than Urban's spread, but he may be able to develop some new skills that can impress NFL scouts and maybe even chase a title along the way. Oregon would be a good option if he doesn't want to be touched by opposing defenses. Baylor might be a good choice if he really wants to develop his passing game (though I don't think it's really his style). Anyone who saw Sean Maguire stumble his way to a victory against Clemson knows that FSU would love a good QB to replace Jameis Winston, and playing under the coaches who trained the overall #1 draft pick is very tempting. But FSU doesn't really run their QBs either. Perhaps Auburn could use a replacement for Nick Marshall. Perhaps (vomit) Nebraska needs a better version of Tommy Armstrong to start Mike Riley's tenure with a bang. Wisconsin (projectile vomit) is sitting on zero QBs, as always. The possibilities are endless for Braxton if he leaves, very limited if he returns to Columbus.
Seeberg: The rumors swirling around Braxton Miller's final campaign started well before this season was in the books and they are likely to intensify in the coming weeks. More often than not, however, the signs have pointed to him returning to Columbus. Why, you may ask? It can be pretty successfully argued that both J.T. and Cardale are better passers than Braxton. All three have capable arms, but J.T. seems to be a bit more accurate on short-to-intermediate throws while Cardale and his I-can-throw-it-through-the-uprights-from-midfield-while-kneeling arm has phenomenal touch on the deep passes, a skill Braxton has yet to master as he often overshoots them. Despite these observations, Braxton is the incumbent, and, I believe, the favorite of the head man, Saint Urban of Ashtabula. If he is to return to the 614, it is not without reason as he would be virtually guaranteed the starting job at FSU or Oregon a la Russell Wilson being borrowed by Wiscy for one season. Publicly, an open competition has been spoken of, but something tells me Braxton has the inside track, and if that's the case, he should return to the 'Shoe.
Fast forward to now, where presumptive 3rd string QB Cardale "I Ain't Come to Play in College Stadiums" Jones, fresh off a national championship, announces that he's come to play school for at least one more year. The guy he replaced, JT Barrett, finished 5th in the Heisman voting after starting for the majority of his freshman year. And the smoke signals coming from Braxton's camp seem to point to his return as well. With such an embarrassment of riches at QB, to whom should Urban turn on Labor Day in Blacksburg?
Question 1: Who Starts for the Buckeyes in 2015, and Who's #2?
Draper: I'm going to focus on who I would start. Trying to predict Urban is incredibly hard because of his deep love for Braxton. In my mind, the edge goes to JT Barrett. I'm an unabashed fan of the skill set of JT who I think is the best quarterback on the roster. But herein lies the problem: Does the choice go to:
a) The best QB/passer? JT
b) The best athlete? Braxton
c) The best NFL body with (arguably) the highest ceiling? Cardale
Some say this is a great problem to have, and I'd prefer this to having no QBs, but it is called a problem for a reason. I lean to JT in the front if he's healthy with Cardale nipping at his heels. I don't think Braxton has the arm ability to succeed at the next level. He has more explosive play ability but the best QBs in any league must be competent in the pocket. Cardale shined against some tough defenses, but let's be honest with ourselves, Zeke was the key. Don't take everything away from Mr. Jones, but the 12-gauge chucked it deep and it worked. I saw a few nice throws that were far better than anything I'd seen in the short history of Cardale Jones, but not enough to hand the keys to the car. Cardale finished the run, but there is NO WAY we are there without JT. Give me the best passer with the best football mind. Give me JT Barrett.
Hoying: Urban loves Braxton. Let's not forget that in Evanston in 2013, after Kenny G had proved in September that he could be the man to lead Ohio State, and Braxton had already turned it over 3 times to Northwestern, Urban stuck with his guy to pull out the win. Braxton, not Hyde, got the ball on 4th-and-1 against Michigan State. And Braxton, even though obviously hurt, was the man Urban trusted to produce some endgame magic during the Orange Bowl collapse. This season, even after JT produced record-breaking numbers against Cincinnati, Urban reiterated that Braxton would be the man in 2015. How does Urban sit a 2-year Heisman contender and 2-time B1G Offensive POY?
Then Barrett set the single-season touchdown record, surpassing some guy named TROY SMITH who had a pretty good career at OSU. He was the All-B1G QB and finished 5th in the Heisman voting despite missing the last game and a half of the season due to injury. How does Urban sit the guy who willed this team to road wins against Penn State and Michigan State and shredded the record books along the way?
Cardale's record speaks for itself. 3 games against 3 of the top defenses in the country, 3 huge wins. Zero INTs that were his fault (though the fumbles against Oregon were horrendous). How does Urban sit the champ?
From where I'm sitting, I can't see a reason for Urban to stick with Braxton anymore. JT throws a prettier ball and keeps his eyes downfield while buying time in or out of the pocket. As for the ground game, it seemed like every single down this year, we had to listen to announcers say "JT isn't the running threat that Braxton Miller is, but he can still make some things happen." Poppycock. In 2012, Braxton rushed for 1271 yards, 5.6 YPC, and 13 TDs. This year, JT rushed for 938 yards, 5.5 YPC, and 11 TDs. JT can run as much as Braxton does, and while he doesn't quite have Braxton's escapability, he has the vision to avoid big hits and can actually absorb a couple without shattering (unless a lineman sits on his ankle). Furthermore, the guy DOES NOT misread the zone read. He runs Braxton's offense better than Braxton does, and he did it as a freshman. Anyone remember Braxton as a freshman?
That just leaves Cardale. JT was stunning this season, but he didn't face Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon. JT's first 3 starts were an uneven struggle against an OK Navy defense, a disaster against Virginia Tech (behind an awful O-line), and...pick your score against Kent State. Cardale's resume was impressive, but can we really say any of those victories was because of Cardale's efforts? His TD passes set the tone against Wisconsin, but the defense pitched a shutout, the receivers bailed him out on a couple of throws, and Zeke was crushing their spirits by the end. The Sugar Bowl was his shining moment, with 12 Gauge picking up 3rd and long after 3rd and long and rolling the Tide's LBs beneath his gargantuan frame. And the National Championship clearly belonged to Zeke and the Silver Bullets, though Cardale didn't stand in their way. Who was more impressive: JT against Michigan State or Cardale against Alabama? Hard to say.
I think the tiebreaker lies in Urban's system. Urban loves the zone read, and as previously mentioned, JT runs it perfectly. Cardale is an NFL-type QB, and he'll be playing on Sunday's, but Urban's not going to completely remake his offense around one of his QB options, just to switch it back after Cardale leaves next year. Depending on how fast the offense learns and how quickly the new starters jell together in the offseason, we may see a two QB system next year, just to give opposing defenses even more fits. BUT, during their first drive down the field, the men of the scarlet and gray will be led by...
1. JT Barrett, backed up by
2. Cardale Jones.
3. Braxton Miller...will be gone
Seeberg: First off, I would like to think that this will be a non-issue. I believe newly minted offensive coordinator Ed Warinner and his co-coordinator Tim Beck should spend months devising a passing version of the triple option in which all three are in the backfield simultaneously. It would be literally indefensible. Short of that? As absurd as this statement would have been just two months ago, 12-Gauge may have the inside track at the moment. He is still the least proven of the three and his numbers are actually not as good in terms of QBR as either Braxton or J.T. That said, he went up against three top 15 teams (which accounts for his lower QBR rating) and still beat them all. Further, Miller and J.T. will both still be rehabbing during spring ball which means Cardale gets another month of first-team reps to continue to get acclimated and improve.
Assuming all three are in the scarlet and gray, healthy for summer ball and it is a truly "open" competition, I have to give the edge to Cardale. My gut, however, tells me that Urban has a soft spot for Braxton and the job will still be his come opening day if he is healthy and performs well enough during the summer. In either case, I believe the opposite guy will be #2 (Braxton under Cardale or vice versa). J.T. Barrett and his B1G record for TDs responsible for in a season? Third-stringer. I know it's cliche, but it really is a pretty nice problem to have.
Question 2: What Should Braxton Miller Do?
Draper: I didn't mention my thoughts above, but the second Cardale said he was returning to play school, I tweeted #byeBraxton. There's only one reason to stay and that is that his style of football matches Urban's philosophy to a T. Even though OSU is the best fit for Braxton, I don't think the best fit for OSU is Braxton. If he transfers, he can take over the reins of another program in which he can flourish rather than being mired in a QB battle. He has served the university well and should be lauded for what he has done, but JT and Cardale seem to have a better future in college and the pros in my opinion. The injury issue with Braxton cannot be overlooked with the glut of talent. You need to have faith that your guy can stand in and take a hit. I don't think he can do that. Earlier in the season, there was chatter about him taking over the RB duties...but no way that's happening with Zeke exploding on the scene. I wish him well, but I think he'd be best served taking his talents elsewhere. FSU is a possibility, but I don't know if he fits Jimbo's pro style system. It would be good for him to refine his skills in an attempt to make the NFL but would the Noles want him? Oregon is a nice fit, but little room to grow. To step into a ready made position, Houston seems like a perfect fit with Tom Herman, but clearly, the chance for a title is essentially zero. I'm guessing he goes to Eugene or Tallahassee...who knows? Maybe we'll meet again.
Hoying: As I said above, I don't see a compelling reason for Urban to start Braxton over JT Barrett. One could make a case for him at #2 ahead of Cardale, but should a QB of Braxton's caliber be content to ride the pine his senior season? No. Braxton's still not NFL ready (and he missed the deadline), so he needs to transfer. He won't find a program that's a better fit than Urban's spread, but he may be able to develop some new skills that can impress NFL scouts and maybe even chase a title along the way. Oregon would be a good option if he doesn't want to be touched by opposing defenses. Baylor might be a good choice if he really wants to develop his passing game (though I don't think it's really his style). Anyone who saw Sean Maguire stumble his way to a victory against Clemson knows that FSU would love a good QB to replace Jameis Winston, and playing under the coaches who trained the overall #1 draft pick is very tempting. But FSU doesn't really run their QBs either. Perhaps Auburn could use a replacement for Nick Marshall. Perhaps (vomit) Nebraska needs a better version of Tommy Armstrong to start Mike Riley's tenure with a bang. Wisconsin (projectile vomit) is sitting on zero QBs, as always. The possibilities are endless for Braxton if he leaves, very limited if he returns to Columbus.
Seeberg: The rumors swirling around Braxton Miller's final campaign started well before this season was in the books and they are likely to intensify in the coming weeks. More often than not, however, the signs have pointed to him returning to Columbus. Why, you may ask? It can be pretty successfully argued that both J.T. and Cardale are better passers than Braxton. All three have capable arms, but J.T. seems to be a bit more accurate on short-to-intermediate throws while Cardale and his I-can-throw-it-through-the-uprights-from-midfield-while-kneeling arm has phenomenal touch on the deep passes, a skill Braxton has yet to master as he often overshoots them. Despite these observations, Braxton is the incumbent, and, I believe, the favorite of the head man, Saint Urban of Ashtabula. If he is to return to the 614, it is not without reason as he would be virtually guaranteed the starting job at FSU or Oregon a la Russell Wilson being borrowed by Wiscy for one season. Publicly, an open competition has been spoken of, but something tells me Braxton has the inside track, and if that's the case, he should return to the 'Shoe.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)