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
Wednesday, September 02, 2015
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.
Friday, January 16, 2015
Grading the Bucks--CFP Championship: Oregon
Offense: B+
What a run (and we saw a lot of that in the championship game). Ezekiel Elliot proved he was a grown a$$ man and took care of the completely overmatched Oregon defense. While I think Zeke was the absolute key, it's hard to say he was the only key. The O-line was fantastic, Cardale was a bulldozer and made a few key throws (great pass to Marshall over the middle), the WR did their job (nice hockey stop Thomas)...it was a complete domination of the offense....but.... I said before the game, turnovers will be key. Luckily, they weren't because the Bucks couldn't hang on the ball. That's really the only negative. Beastly performance in which the buzzword of 'physicality' is actually apropos.
Defense: A-
With all those turnovers, the defense stepped up in a BIG way. There was some nervousness after the first drive that seemed exceedingly easy for the Heisman winner. After that, they did NOTHING. The biggest detractor to the defense was the Buckeye offense who continually challenged the defense with giving the ball back. They stepped up each and every time. The biggest moment was after the invisible defender caused the Cardale fumble in the redzone. Backed up with a four point lead, the Bucks became Bullets. Eli Apple made (arguably) the play of the game to push the TE out of the endzone on 3rd and goal. If Oregon takes the lead, momentum is huge, but this defense answered the Bell (see what I did there) time and time again. Big 4th and goal stop, holding the Ducks to an atrocious 3rd down percentage by forcing them into 3rd and long; what a transition we've seen on this side of the ball since September.
Special Teams: B+
Eh....didn't really need these guys. They did their job. I love that we kicked it into the endzone on kick offs most of the time. Can't really say much with the limited amount of kicks, but overall solid.
Coaching: A
Masterful. This team was fired up and wasn't to be denied. The decision to go for it on 4th and short on our side of the field was great. I love the call in that situation. Urban had his finger on the pulse of his team and went for the gold. After the first drive or two, the gameplan was simplified to what worked...give it to Zeke. They can't stop it. I would have preferred the Buckeyes have gone for it on 4th late in the game, but the coaches pretty much knew the game was over at that point. Let's be clear: the decision to go in the 3rd was the right decision regardless of the outcome. I applaud the coaches for making the 'tough' decision. You play to win the game.
Also, some are knocking Urban for scoring another TD at the end...come on. This is Oregon, not the Little Sisters of the Poor. Stop us or shut up. If he ran a double pass, that's one thing. Simple dive plays, that's football.
Overall: A+
National Champions. Feels good. Win this and it's an auto A+. Fantastic year Bucks. What a ride! Let's do it again next year!
What a run (and we saw a lot of that in the championship game). Ezekiel Elliot proved he was a grown a$$ man and took care of the completely overmatched Oregon defense. While I think Zeke was the absolute key, it's hard to say he was the only key. The O-line was fantastic, Cardale was a bulldozer and made a few key throws (great pass to Marshall over the middle), the WR did their job (nice hockey stop Thomas)...it was a complete domination of the offense....but.... I said before the game, turnovers will be key. Luckily, they weren't because the Bucks couldn't hang on the ball. That's really the only negative. Beastly performance in which the buzzword of 'physicality' is actually apropos.
Defense: A-
With all those turnovers, the defense stepped up in a BIG way. There was some nervousness after the first drive that seemed exceedingly easy for the Heisman winner. After that, they did NOTHING. The biggest detractor to the defense was the Buckeye offense who continually challenged the defense with giving the ball back. They stepped up each and every time. The biggest moment was after the invisible defender caused the Cardale fumble in the redzone. Backed up with a four point lead, the Bucks became Bullets. Eli Apple made (arguably) the play of the game to push the TE out of the endzone on 3rd and goal. If Oregon takes the lead, momentum is huge, but this defense answered the Bell (see what I did there) time and time again. Big 4th and goal stop, holding the Ducks to an atrocious 3rd down percentage by forcing them into 3rd and long; what a transition we've seen on this side of the ball since September.
Special Teams: B+
Eh....didn't really need these guys. They did their job. I love that we kicked it into the endzone on kick offs most of the time. Can't really say much with the limited amount of kicks, but overall solid.
Coaching: A
Masterful. This team was fired up and wasn't to be denied. The decision to go for it on 4th and short on our side of the field was great. I love the call in that situation. Urban had his finger on the pulse of his team and went for the gold. After the first drive or two, the gameplan was simplified to what worked...give it to Zeke. They can't stop it. I would have preferred the Buckeyes have gone for it on 4th late in the game, but the coaches pretty much knew the game was over at that point. Let's be clear: the decision to go in the 3rd was the right decision regardless of the outcome. I applaud the coaches for making the 'tough' decision. You play to win the game.
Also, some are knocking Urban for scoring another TD at the end...come on. This is Oregon, not the Little Sisters of the Poor. Stop us or shut up. If he ran a double pass, that's one thing. Simple dive plays, that's football.
Overall: A+
National Champions. Feels good. Win this and it's an auto A+. Fantastic year Bucks. What a ride! Let's do it again next year!
Sunday, January 11, 2015
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF CHAMPIONSHIP - BUCKS VS. DUCKS
Final Post-Bowl Standings
1) Hoying 52-24 (4-11 upset)
2) Draper 50-26 (7-8 upset)
2) Schweinfurth 50-26 (6-9 upset)
4) Seeberg 49-27 (2-13 upset)
Oregon Ducks vs. THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: This Buckeye team has improved since day one. One thing I know is that they are unafraid of anything. They fought the big, bad SEC and took care of business behind the stellar running of Ezekiel Elliot. The Ducks took care of FSU in what appeared to be stunning fashion, but the scoreboard lies. The game was close until FSU threw in the towel late. Mariota has the tools to be a college superstar...but so does Elliot, Smith, Thomas, Marshall, and (maybe) even Jones. The Buckeyes are facing a mirror of themselves with a key difference...the Bucks have the superior defense (something that hasn't been said about the Urban Meyer Buckeyes very often). Darron Lee has matured as the season has progressed into a defensive star and that D-line is something of beauty. The Ducks have been so close in the recent past that I'm sure they will throw caution to the wind but the Buckeyes simply match up better. Expect a shootout like every sane person, but the OSU defense will get the key stop that will swing the course of the game. Here's the key for the Buckeye offense: Step 1) minimize/eliminate turnovers, then step 2).... then Step 3) Profit. This is what we've waited for. Make it count. Last game of the year, Brent. GO BUCKS! BEAT THE DUCKS! Ore: 41--OSU: 48
Hoying: Before bowl season began, I wasn't sure who would win either of the playoff semifinals, but I was pretty sure that whoever won the Sugar Bowl would walk away with the title. After watching the games on New Year's, nothing's changed in my estimation. Ohio State is a nightmare matchup for the Ducks. Not only can our beloved Bucks score just as fast and efficiently if need be (hello, Devin Smith and Ezekiel Elliott), but we bring a power element on both sides of the ball that the Ducks just don't have. Perhaps it's unfair to say the Ducks are still a finesse team, but after seeing the way Cardale was bulldozing Alabama defenders and dragging them out of the endzone three at a time, I think even Wisconsin and Minnesota would start to look a little dainty in comparison. Bosa, Bennett, & Co. should be able to make a big play or two when needed. Even if they can't take Mariota Kart down, they might be able to force a catastrophic decision. Florida State's pedestrian secondary came up with a pick against this guy; maybe he is human after all. We can't afford any late-game breakdowns like we've seen in...virtually every game from Penn State onward, but this is the last game of the year, Brent. Can't hold anything back now. Bucks over Ducks for the 9th time in a row, and the glorious golden lipstick makes its first stop in the STATE OF OHIO! Ore: 31--OSU: 42
Schweinfurth: This Buckeye team has been so much fun to watch this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Zeke pound the ball and the development of the defense lead by Bosa and Lee. The underdog role just fits this team perfectly. Everyone says that Ohio State is a mirror of Oregon, but that isn't the case. Ohio State pounds the ball first and throws later right now. There is no reason to think that formula can't work this week. The two suspensions the last few games show that Oregon has a lack of focus and to me, are taking the Bucks lightly. This defense is built to stop an attack like Oregon, and they will. This Ohio State team is loose and ready to go. Urban does not lose at Ohio State as an underdog. Finish the Chase young men! Everyone knows the best way to hunt Ducks is with a 12 Gauge. The Chase for 8 is complete! Ore: 34--OSU: 52
Seeberg: Alright people, we know what we've gotten ourselves into here. This game is likely to be a shootout. In a game where stops will be at a premium, I don't know whose D to trust more. The Silver Bullets have been roundly praised for their effort against Alabama- except there was still a "35" on the opponents' scoreboard. Tressel would have had heart failure seeing that number of TOTAL points. Granted two of those TDs came on short fields as the result of turnovers, but Mariota and Co. are even more likely to capitalize on such mistakes should they occur. Speaking of those mistakes, neither team is particularly turnover prone, but both are in the top 10 in turnovers forced (Oregon with 30 is number ten, OSU with 32 is number six). The Ducks, however, lead the country in turnover margin thanks to Mariota throwing a pick about once every other year. Then again, in somewhat of a reprieve for our secondary, two of the Ducks' top three wideouts are gone due to injury and the ganja, meaning it will be tougher for Mariota to exploit any weaknesses. Basically, it is very easy to make a very solid case for either team to win this game. At the midseason point, I took Oregon to win the title because I felt they were about a head above everybody else. Our beloved Buckeyes have closed that gap to just a few hairs with one of most phenomenally improved football teams I can remember seeing. I trust Urban Meyer far more than I trust Helfrich, but unfortunately for the Buckeyes it ain't the x's and o's it's the Jimmys and the Joes. Marcus Mariota is the best JimmyJoe on the field and a marvelous season for the Bucks falls just short. Ore: 44--OSU: 38
1) Hoying 52-24 (4-11 upset)
2) Draper 50-26 (7-8 upset)
2) Schweinfurth 50-26 (6-9 upset)
4) Seeberg 49-27 (2-13 upset)
Oregon Ducks vs. THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: This Buckeye team has improved since day one. One thing I know is that they are unafraid of anything. They fought the big, bad SEC and took care of business behind the stellar running of Ezekiel Elliot. The Ducks took care of FSU in what appeared to be stunning fashion, but the scoreboard lies. The game was close until FSU threw in the towel late. Mariota has the tools to be a college superstar...but so does Elliot, Smith, Thomas, Marshall, and (maybe) even Jones. The Buckeyes are facing a mirror of themselves with a key difference...the Bucks have the superior defense (something that hasn't been said about the Urban Meyer Buckeyes very often). Darron Lee has matured as the season has progressed into a defensive star and that D-line is something of beauty. The Ducks have been so close in the recent past that I'm sure they will throw caution to the wind but the Buckeyes simply match up better. Expect a shootout like every sane person, but the OSU defense will get the key stop that will swing the course of the game. Here's the key for the Buckeye offense: Step 1) minimize/eliminate turnovers, then step 2).... then Step 3) Profit. This is what we've waited for. Make it count. Last game of the year, Brent. GO BUCKS! BEAT THE DUCKS! Ore: 41--OSU: 48
Hoying: Before bowl season began, I wasn't sure who would win either of the playoff semifinals, but I was pretty sure that whoever won the Sugar Bowl would walk away with the title. After watching the games on New Year's, nothing's changed in my estimation. Ohio State is a nightmare matchup for the Ducks. Not only can our beloved Bucks score just as fast and efficiently if need be (hello, Devin Smith and Ezekiel Elliott), but we bring a power element on both sides of the ball that the Ducks just don't have. Perhaps it's unfair to say the Ducks are still a finesse team, but after seeing the way Cardale was bulldozing Alabama defenders and dragging them out of the endzone three at a time, I think even Wisconsin and Minnesota would start to look a little dainty in comparison. Bosa, Bennett, & Co. should be able to make a big play or two when needed. Even if they can't take Mariota Kart down, they might be able to force a catastrophic decision. Florida State's pedestrian secondary came up with a pick against this guy; maybe he is human after all. We can't afford any late-game breakdowns like we've seen in...virtually every game from Penn State onward, but this is the last game of the year, Brent. Can't hold anything back now. Bucks over Ducks for the 9th time in a row, and the glorious golden lipstick makes its first stop in the STATE OF OHIO! Ore: 31--OSU: 42
Schweinfurth: This Buckeye team has been so much fun to watch this year. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching Zeke pound the ball and the development of the defense lead by Bosa and Lee. The underdog role just fits this team perfectly. Everyone says that Ohio State is a mirror of Oregon, but that isn't the case. Ohio State pounds the ball first and throws later right now. There is no reason to think that formula can't work this week. The two suspensions the last few games show that Oregon has a lack of focus and to me, are taking the Bucks lightly. This defense is built to stop an attack like Oregon, and they will. This Ohio State team is loose and ready to go. Urban does not lose at Ohio State as an underdog. Finish the Chase young men! Everyone knows the best way to hunt Ducks is with a 12 Gauge. The Chase for 8 is complete! Ore: 34--OSU: 52
Seeberg: Alright people, we know what we've gotten ourselves into here. This game is likely to be a shootout. In a game where stops will be at a premium, I don't know whose D to trust more. The Silver Bullets have been roundly praised for their effort against Alabama- except there was still a "35" on the opponents' scoreboard. Tressel would have had heart failure seeing that number of TOTAL points. Granted two of those TDs came on short fields as the result of turnovers, but Mariota and Co. are even more likely to capitalize on such mistakes should they occur. Speaking of those mistakes, neither team is particularly turnover prone, but both are in the top 10 in turnovers forced (Oregon with 30 is number ten, OSU with 32 is number six). The Ducks, however, lead the country in turnover margin thanks to Mariota throwing a pick about once every other year. Then again, in somewhat of a reprieve for our secondary, two of the Ducks' top three wideouts are gone due to injury and the ganja, meaning it will be tougher for Mariota to exploit any weaknesses. Basically, it is very easy to make a very solid case for either team to win this game. At the midseason point, I took Oregon to win the title because I felt they were about a head above everybody else. Our beloved Buckeyes have closed that gap to just a few hairs with one of most phenomenally improved football teams I can remember seeing. I trust Urban Meyer far more than I trust Helfrich, but unfortunately for the Buckeyes it ain't the x's and o's it's the Jimmys and the Joes. Marcus Mariota is the best JimmyJoe on the field and a marvelous season for the Bucks falls just short. Ore: 44--OSU: 38
10 Reasons Why Ohio State Beats Oregon
1. Unlimited...POWER!
The Braxton Miller/Carlos Hyde combo might have been the best Buckeye rush attack since Cornelius Green and Archie Griffin. However, even after losing them both, the OSU rush attack hasn't suffered, racking up over 260 yards per game. And they've done it against such sledgehammer fronts as:
#1 Michigan State (88 YPG)
#3 Penn State (100 YPG)
#4 Alabama (102 YPG)
#15 Michigan (118 YPG)
#23 Wisconsin (126 YPG)
This isn't all on Jalin Marshall end-around sweeps, either. Ezekiel Elliott has the power to blow through the line and the speed to put defenders behind him once he dashes into the secondary. And he's been at his best since JT Barrett went down, going for 220 against Wisconsin and 230 against Alabama. Meanwhile, Cardale Jones decided to jump-start Ohio State's fading second quarter offense by seeking out Alabama linebackers to run over, sending a few of them off the field with injuries. Oregon's run defense isn't terrible (156 YPG, #51 in D1-A), but does anyone expect those spindly LBs and DBs to be a physical match for the bash brothers?
2. Upset City
Shortly after the conclusion of the Sugar Bowl, Vegas opened the championship game betting, giving 7 points to the Buckeyes. The line has come down to about -5 Oregon by this point, but seeing as how the favorite hasn't flipped, Duck fans should be nervous. Why? Since Urban Meyer came to Ohio State, his Buckeyes have been underdogs 5 times: this year against Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Alabama; and two years ago against Michigan State and Wisconsin (again). None of those predicted Buckeye losses came to fruition. No one motivates his team like Urban does, and this is just the extra fuel on the fire Oregon doesn't need.
3. Addition and Subtraction
In East Lansing, during what was then the climax of the Buckeye season, Dontre Wilson broke his foot. It didn't stop him from scoring a terrific touchdown, but the do-it-all wunderkind hasn't gained a yard for the Bucks since. Jalin Marshall has been a more than adequate replacement, single-handedly delivering the Buckeyes from a potentially devastating home loss against Indiana and playing a crucial role in extending several drives against Alabama. But now, Oregon will have to prepare for BOTH of them, including the possibility that both could see the field at the same time. On the other sideline, Oregon's WR corps is becoming more depleted by the day. Their leading Rose Bowl receiver, Darren Carrington, was gonna play, but then he got high; and their leading TD receiver on the season, Devon Allen, was injured early in the Rose Bowl and won't see the field. The Ducks are no stranger to injury on the season, but they can ill afford the loss of key personnel against their toughest opponent on the year.
4. Tradition
Nothing excites the college football fan base like a matchup of two of the sport's blue bloods pitting centuries of tradition against each other. This...is not one of those games. Ohio State is one of 8 programs with with a 70+ winning percentage and has won 7 national championships dating from WWII to the BCS era. Oregon has won less than 60% of its games and has NO national titles to its name. The Ducks have only sniffed a championship once in their 120 year history, falling to Auburn on a last second field goal in 2011. The Ducks run a gimmick offense and wear gimmick uniforms; particularly egregious are their upcoming abominations that feature NEITHER of their school colors. Ohio State is Script Ohio, Gold Pants, an ancient concrete stadium that looks like the Roman Colosseum, and the 10-Year-War. Oregon is...brought to you by Phil Knight. Of course, the most important tradition is winning, and the Ducks have put together 7 consecutive 10+ win seasons, but Ohio State has been in the title hunt year after year after year, and they've shown they can handle success on the highest level. Oh, and these teams have met often enough to establish a tradition of their own: once in Eugene, five times in Columbus, and twice in the Rose Bowl. Eight games, eight Buckeye victories.
5. Flip the Field
In the unthinkable event that one of these offenses is actually forced into fourth down and leaves the field, who has the advantage? Both teams have freshman placekickers, and while Neurnberger has been a bit inconsistent, the Ducks haven't even attempted a field goal past 42 yards. What if the offense stalls on its own side of the field? Oregon P Ian Wheeler is averaging 39 yards/punt, placing 10/41 punts inside the 20, but Ohio State's Cameron Johnston averages 45 yards, while still putting 24/73 punts inside the 20, including a few that appeared to scrape the goal line paint and jump backwards. If, somehow, the projected shootout turns out to be a Tresselesque defensive struggle, you can bet The Vest will be smiling at the booming punts flipping the field for the Scarlet and Gray.
6. Weathering the Storm
The Buckeyes are quite intimate with adversity this season, from the preseason injury to practical Heisman finalist lock Braxton Miller to the late season injury to practical Heisman finalist lock JT Barrett. After a series of embarrassing losses on September 6th, various idiots around the nation read the eulogy not just for the Bucks' 2014 season, but the entire B1G's. On a micro scale, OSU has found itself behind the 8-ball in a number of games this season, from trailing in their season-opening half against Navy, to dropping behind early by 14 against Virginia Tech, to struggling all first half long in a nightmare East Lansing environment, to trailing their hapless rival even into the 2nd half, to finding themselves behind 21-6 to the #1 team in the country. But on each of these occasions, this team found a way to fight back, folding only once to a team with a brilliant game plan designed to take advantage of this team's considerable youth. September feels like a long time ago, and though this team continues to make mistake after mistake and dig hole after hole, they don't have an ounce of quit in them. Florida State showed that mistakes can doom a team against the Ducks, but the Noles were still in the game for 2 1/2 quarters, until they gave up. Don't expect this squad to do the same.
7. Under Pressure
The Pac-12 season didn't start off so rosy for the Ducks, as they squeaked out a 7 point win over terrible Washington State and then folded to Arizona at home. What was the secret of their lack of success? A horizontal quarterback. The Cougars managed to sack Mariota 7 times, and the Wildcats were able to add 5 more even from a 3-3-5 scheme. Oregon has since righted the ship after the return of LT Jake Fisher, allowing only 17 sacks in its other 12 games, but they haven't seen a D-line like Ohio State's. The Silver Cannonballs sit at 12th in the nation in sacks, led by Joey ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, who's sitting on 13.5 sacks and hungry to sit on a few more. A couple of these might put Oregon into yardage sufficiently long to end a drive or two.
8. Getting Better All the Time
For the last couple of months, I've struggled to analogize this team to past OSU greats. After the Virginia Tech debacle, I feared another 2011, where a brand new QB and unproven RB struggled and a so-so defense let us down when we needed them most. After a couple of impressive wins over subpar competition, I thought they could be like the 2000 squad, with a QB nobody wanted to start, a decent running back, and a defense that could get us close to a B1G title, but not quite there. Then the legend of JT Barrett continued to grow and I began to have visions of 2007, with a terrific QB no one saw coming, hampered by a subpar O-line. Then the line started to jell, the receivers started to make plays, and the secondary picked off everything thrown their way; the 2006 juggernaut seemed more like the appropriate comparison. Every time I think I have this team pegged, they go above and beyond expectations. How should I think of them after the 59-0 dismantling of Wisconsin and a win over #1? 1998? 1996? 2010? 2002? True, the dream of undefeated died a long time ago, but I've never seen a team improve so much over the course of one season. And I don't think we've seen their best performance yet.
9. Heisman Revenge Tour
Marcus Mariota, Marcus Mariota, Marcus Mariota. No one player dominates the conversation leading up to this game like this year's Heisman winner, and rightfully so. However, the Buckeyes have run into a few Heisman contenders so far this season, and these difference-makers didn't make much of a difference against the Silver Bullets. D1-A's leading rusher, Melvin Gordon, racked up all of 76 yards on 26 carries, well below his season averages of 184 YPG and 7.5 YPC. Alabama's Amari Cooper did catch 2 TDs against the Buckeye secondary, but neither was longer than 15 yards, and Cooper was limited to 9 catches for 71 yards overall. Mariota wasn't at his best in the Rose Bowl, but he was effective. It's time for the Heisman curse to finish him off, at the hands of the Scarlet and Gray.
10. Coaching
Mark Helfrich has done a terrific job in his first two years as head man at Oregon, compiling an absurd 24-3 record and masterminding one of the nation's top two offenses (alongside Baylor's). However, Urban just went head-to-head with the nation's leader in national titles, the Devil himself, and outschemed him for another huge victory. This is nothing new for Urban, of course. He crashed the big boy BCS party with his undefeated Utes (back when it was hard to do so) and later created the fiction of SEC dominance by destroying Tressel's Buckeyes in the desert on January 8, 2007, adding another national championship a mere 2 years later for good measure. Despite what some boneheaded Buckeye fans believe, Meyer hasn't slowed his pace since coming to Ohio State, immediately reshaping the personnel from a 6-7 disappointment into 12-0 perfection, even though they had nothing to play for, and elevating each subsequent team to a higher and higher level. Helfrich is a fine coach, but Urban is first-class. If I were Helfrich, I'd be having trouble sleeping this weekend, distraught by the thought of having Urban's full attention for 11 days.
The Braxton Miller/Carlos Hyde combo might have been the best Buckeye rush attack since Cornelius Green and Archie Griffin. However, even after losing them both, the OSU rush attack hasn't suffered, racking up over 260 yards per game. And they've done it against such sledgehammer fronts as:
#1 Michigan State (88 YPG)
#3 Penn State (100 YPG)
#4 Alabama (102 YPG)
#15 Michigan (118 YPG)
#23 Wisconsin (126 YPG)
This isn't all on Jalin Marshall end-around sweeps, either. Ezekiel Elliott has the power to blow through the line and the speed to put defenders behind him once he dashes into the secondary. And he's been at his best since JT Barrett went down, going for 220 against Wisconsin and 230 against Alabama. Meanwhile, Cardale Jones decided to jump-start Ohio State's fading second quarter offense by seeking out Alabama linebackers to run over, sending a few of them off the field with injuries. Oregon's run defense isn't terrible (156 YPG, #51 in D1-A), but does anyone expect those spindly LBs and DBs to be a physical match for the bash brothers?
2. Upset City
Shortly after the conclusion of the Sugar Bowl, Vegas opened the championship game betting, giving 7 points to the Buckeyes. The line has come down to about -5 Oregon by this point, but seeing as how the favorite hasn't flipped, Duck fans should be nervous. Why? Since Urban Meyer came to Ohio State, his Buckeyes have been underdogs 5 times: this year against Michigan State, Wisconsin, and Alabama; and two years ago against Michigan State and Wisconsin (again). None of those predicted Buckeye losses came to fruition. No one motivates his team like Urban does, and this is just the extra fuel on the fire Oregon doesn't need.
3. Addition and Subtraction
In East Lansing, during what was then the climax of the Buckeye season, Dontre Wilson broke his foot. It didn't stop him from scoring a terrific touchdown, but the do-it-all wunderkind hasn't gained a yard for the Bucks since. Jalin Marshall has been a more than adequate replacement, single-handedly delivering the Buckeyes from a potentially devastating home loss against Indiana and playing a crucial role in extending several drives against Alabama. But now, Oregon will have to prepare for BOTH of them, including the possibility that both could see the field at the same time. On the other sideline, Oregon's WR corps is becoming more depleted by the day. Their leading Rose Bowl receiver, Darren Carrington, was gonna play, but then he got high; and their leading TD receiver on the season, Devon Allen, was injured early in the Rose Bowl and won't see the field. The Ducks are no stranger to injury on the season, but they can ill afford the loss of key personnel against their toughest opponent on the year.
4. Tradition
Nothing excites the college football fan base like a matchup of two of the sport's blue bloods pitting centuries of tradition against each other. This...is not one of those games. Ohio State is one of 8 programs with with a 70+ winning percentage and has won 7 national championships dating from WWII to the BCS era. Oregon has won less than 60% of its games and has NO national titles to its name. The Ducks have only sniffed a championship once in their 120 year history, falling to Auburn on a last second field goal in 2011. The Ducks run a gimmick offense and wear gimmick uniforms; particularly egregious are their upcoming abominations that feature NEITHER of their school colors. Ohio State is Script Ohio, Gold Pants, an ancient concrete stadium that looks like the Roman Colosseum, and the 10-Year-War. Oregon is...brought to you by Phil Knight. Of course, the most important tradition is winning, and the Ducks have put together 7 consecutive 10+ win seasons, but Ohio State has been in the title hunt year after year after year, and they've shown they can handle success on the highest level. Oh, and these teams have met often enough to establish a tradition of their own: once in Eugene, five times in Columbus, and twice in the Rose Bowl. Eight games, eight Buckeye victories.
5. Flip the Field
In the unthinkable event that one of these offenses is actually forced into fourth down and leaves the field, who has the advantage? Both teams have freshman placekickers, and while Neurnberger has been a bit inconsistent, the Ducks haven't even attempted a field goal past 42 yards. What if the offense stalls on its own side of the field? Oregon P Ian Wheeler is averaging 39 yards/punt, placing 10/41 punts inside the 20, but Ohio State's Cameron Johnston averages 45 yards, while still putting 24/73 punts inside the 20, including a few that appeared to scrape the goal line paint and jump backwards. If, somehow, the projected shootout turns out to be a Tresselesque defensive struggle, you can bet The Vest will be smiling at the booming punts flipping the field for the Scarlet and Gray.
6. Weathering the Storm
The Buckeyes are quite intimate with adversity this season, from the preseason injury to practical Heisman finalist lock Braxton Miller to the late season injury to practical Heisman finalist lock JT Barrett. After a series of embarrassing losses on September 6th, various idiots around the nation read the eulogy not just for the Bucks' 2014 season, but the entire B1G's. On a micro scale, OSU has found itself behind the 8-ball in a number of games this season, from trailing in their season-opening half against Navy, to dropping behind early by 14 against Virginia Tech, to struggling all first half long in a nightmare East Lansing environment, to trailing their hapless rival even into the 2nd half, to finding themselves behind 21-6 to the #1 team in the country. But on each of these occasions, this team found a way to fight back, folding only once to a team with a brilliant game plan designed to take advantage of this team's considerable youth. September feels like a long time ago, and though this team continues to make mistake after mistake and dig hole after hole, they don't have an ounce of quit in them. Florida State showed that mistakes can doom a team against the Ducks, but the Noles were still in the game for 2 1/2 quarters, until they gave up. Don't expect this squad to do the same.
7. Under Pressure
The Pac-12 season didn't start off so rosy for the Ducks, as they squeaked out a 7 point win over terrible Washington State and then folded to Arizona at home. What was the secret of their lack of success? A horizontal quarterback. The Cougars managed to sack Mariota 7 times, and the Wildcats were able to add 5 more even from a 3-3-5 scheme. Oregon has since righted the ship after the return of LT Jake Fisher, allowing only 17 sacks in its other 12 games, but they haven't seen a D-line like Ohio State's. The Silver Cannonballs sit at 12th in the nation in sacks, led by Joey ¯\_(ツ)_/¯, who's sitting on 13.5 sacks and hungry to sit on a few more. A couple of these might put Oregon into yardage sufficiently long to end a drive or two.
8. Getting Better All the Time
For the last couple of months, I've struggled to analogize this team to past OSU greats. After the Virginia Tech debacle, I feared another 2011, where a brand new QB and unproven RB struggled and a so-so defense let us down when we needed them most. After a couple of impressive wins over subpar competition, I thought they could be like the 2000 squad, with a QB nobody wanted to start, a decent running back, and a defense that could get us close to a B1G title, but not quite there. Then the legend of JT Barrett continued to grow and I began to have visions of 2007, with a terrific QB no one saw coming, hampered by a subpar O-line. Then the line started to jell, the receivers started to make plays, and the secondary picked off everything thrown their way; the 2006 juggernaut seemed more like the appropriate comparison. Every time I think I have this team pegged, they go above and beyond expectations. How should I think of them after the 59-0 dismantling of Wisconsin and a win over #1? 1998? 1996? 2010? 2002? True, the dream of undefeated died a long time ago, but I've never seen a team improve so much over the course of one season. And I don't think we've seen their best performance yet.
9. Heisman Revenge Tour
Marcus Mariota, Marcus Mariota, Marcus Mariota. No one player dominates the conversation leading up to this game like this year's Heisman winner, and rightfully so. However, the Buckeyes have run into a few Heisman contenders so far this season, and these difference-makers didn't make much of a difference against the Silver Bullets. D1-A's leading rusher, Melvin Gordon, racked up all of 76 yards on 26 carries, well below his season averages of 184 YPG and 7.5 YPC. Alabama's Amari Cooper did catch 2 TDs against the Buckeye secondary, but neither was longer than 15 yards, and Cooper was limited to 9 catches for 71 yards overall. Mariota wasn't at his best in the Rose Bowl, but he was effective. It's time for the Heisman curse to finish him off, at the hands of the Scarlet and Gray.
10. Coaching
Mark Helfrich has done a terrific job in his first two years as head man at Oregon, compiling an absurd 24-3 record and masterminding one of the nation's top two offenses (alongside Baylor's). However, Urban just went head-to-head with the nation's leader in national titles, the Devil himself, and outschemed him for another huge victory. This is nothing new for Urban, of course. He crashed the big boy BCS party with his undefeated Utes (back when it was hard to do so) and later created the fiction of SEC dominance by destroying Tressel's Buckeyes in the desert on January 8, 2007, adding another national championship a mere 2 years later for good measure. Despite what some boneheaded Buckeye fans believe, Meyer hasn't slowed his pace since coming to Ohio State, immediately reshaping the personnel from a 6-7 disappointment into 12-0 perfection, even though they had nothing to play for, and elevating each subsequent team to a higher and higher level. Helfrich is a fine coach, but Urban is first-class. If I were Helfrich, I'd be having trouble sleeping this weekend, distraught by the thought of having Urban's full attention for 11 days.
Friday, January 09, 2015
Grading the Bucks--The Sugar Bowl: Bama
I'll be honest with you, I should have done this earlier. I don't remember all the finer points of the game a week later but I'll give it a whirl.
Offense: A-
Can't say enough about Zeke and the O-line. Immediately postgame, Mr. Hoying and I talked about how we may have actually seen an upgrade at the running back position after losing Carlos--and this is nothing knocking El Guapo's ability. Zeke has been able to find, hit, and explode through holes while simply blowing by people. The fumble was no good but 2 huge runs set the tone and ended the game. The O-line has also matured in ways I never thought possible. And speaking of maturation...Car-Dale Jones. For a guy who looks like he's waiting for his mom to pick him up at the playground, he is playing like a man. Still not the polished passer that JT was, but he can sling it and bowl people over. The downgrade is for the 2 turnovers. Can't do that against the Ducks. Need to score with them.
I want to make one additional comment here: the double reverse pass for the TD before the half isn't getting nearly enough pub. I saw it rated as the 8th or so best play of the bowl season---um, no. This play was UNBELIEVABLE. Let's break it down. Evan Spencer, a WR, throws an absolutely perfect pass to the corner of the endzone over the outstretched fingertips of an Alabama DB. Pretty good...but that's not even the best part. The catch by Michael Thomas is an all-timer. He catches it with the fingertips and still manages to contort his foot to stay inbounds! Uncle Keyshawn couldn't have done it better. Odell Beckham Jr.'s catch was better, but that's about the only one this year (2014-now) that can top it. The body control was phenomenal.
Defense: A-
Read my posts from earlier this year, I was hyping up a Mr. Darron Lee as the next great OSU LB. Nailed it. The defense gave up some runs that could have broken the spirit but they kept coming. Steve Miller with the pick 6 (he's a picker, he's a grinner, he's a lover, he's a sinner) to seize momentum and the overall frustration of Blake Sims. Michael Bennett has been the unsung player the last 2 games for this defense. He's been eating up space on the interior line frustrating a downhill rushing attack. Amari Cooper struck efficiently, but couldn't get free to open the game for Bama. Credit the young secondary for holding up. And a final thought: Go down Tyvis. I know that may not be 'what Prime would do', but let's be serious. All he does is make game ending interceptions. The differences was holding Bama to 2-13 on 3rd down. Best defense gets off the field.
Special Teams: A-
No returns but another great kicking performance. It's not often that Cameron Johnston is upstaged by the opponent, but JK Scott was fantastic for Bama. Nuremburger made his 2 chip shots and Johnston was solid as usual. I believe it was Spencer who made a fantastic recovery of an onside kick at the end in what should have sealed it. The return game was fine but nothing special (although I seem to remember a big hit on Bama on a kickoff return...might be remembering wrong). After a week, if I don't remember the special teams, it was usually a good week.
Coaching: B
The playcalling was still avoiding the run a bit too much when Zeke was getting it done early. 10 yards a pop but Herman really wanted to get Cardale going (especially near the goalline). Sometimes, you need to ride your stud (give it to Hyde--still having PTSD from the B1G Championship vs. MSU). Defense was called very well and the halftime adjustments were strong. Then the final OSU drive came... Zeke was still chugging and a first down ends the game. Something tells me that with the emotion and momentum of the game, Zeke gets 10 yards on 3 carries even if we tell Bama the plan. But... Meyer/Herman/whatever (Bollman?) decides to 'go for the ballgame on a bomb on 1st down... I get the idea of shaking it up and being aggressive, but there's aggressive and just plain dumb. Sure the defense is stacked for the run, but that play has way too many bad outcomes. Cardale could have simply misthrown the deep ball even if Devin was wide open. 3 straight knees gives Bama the ball back at the 20 (at worst--just tell Cam to punt it through the uprights) with about 40 seconds. No way they get that shot they had at a Hail Mary. Now, I'm not advocating the kneel down, but I run Zeke on the safest play and tell him his first 10 priorities are not fumbling and the 11th is to get yards. Odds are pretty good that Bama doesn't even get the ball back. As it stands, the Bucks triumphed over this obstacle, but in my mind, it was an obstacle that was self imposed.
Overall: A-
Week 2. A devastating loss at home to a mediocre team. We at Let's Go Bucks said: 'Win, and it will work out.' Now, the Bucks head to Jerry World for all the Dr. Peppers. Let's make it count. I expect a shootout but whatever happens, this has been a fun ride...and, one final thought, this Buckeye team is going to get better next year...Have fun 'OTHER CONFERENCES'.
GO BUCKS! BEAT THE DUCKS!!
Offense: A-
Can't say enough about Zeke and the O-line. Immediately postgame, Mr. Hoying and I talked about how we may have actually seen an upgrade at the running back position after losing Carlos--and this is nothing knocking El Guapo's ability. Zeke has been able to find, hit, and explode through holes while simply blowing by people. The fumble was no good but 2 huge runs set the tone and ended the game. The O-line has also matured in ways I never thought possible. And speaking of maturation...Car-Dale Jones. For a guy who looks like he's waiting for his mom to pick him up at the playground, he is playing like a man. Still not the polished passer that JT was, but he can sling it and bowl people over. The downgrade is for the 2 turnovers. Can't do that against the Ducks. Need to score with them.
I want to make one additional comment here: the double reverse pass for the TD before the half isn't getting nearly enough pub. I saw it rated as the 8th or so best play of the bowl season---um, no. This play was UNBELIEVABLE. Let's break it down. Evan Spencer, a WR, throws an absolutely perfect pass to the corner of the endzone over the outstretched fingertips of an Alabama DB. Pretty good...but that's not even the best part. The catch by Michael Thomas is an all-timer. He catches it with the fingertips and still manages to contort his foot to stay inbounds! Uncle Keyshawn couldn't have done it better. Odell Beckham Jr.'s catch was better, but that's about the only one this year (2014-now) that can top it. The body control was phenomenal.
Defense: A-
Read my posts from earlier this year, I was hyping up a Mr. Darron Lee as the next great OSU LB. Nailed it. The defense gave up some runs that could have broken the spirit but they kept coming. Steve Miller with the pick 6 (he's a picker, he's a grinner, he's a lover, he's a sinner) to seize momentum and the overall frustration of Blake Sims. Michael Bennett has been the unsung player the last 2 games for this defense. He's been eating up space on the interior line frustrating a downhill rushing attack. Amari Cooper struck efficiently, but couldn't get free to open the game for Bama. Credit the young secondary for holding up. And a final thought: Go down Tyvis. I know that may not be 'what Prime would do', but let's be serious. All he does is make game ending interceptions. The differences was holding Bama to 2-13 on 3rd down. Best defense gets off the field.
Special Teams: A-
No returns but another great kicking performance. It's not often that Cameron Johnston is upstaged by the opponent, but JK Scott was fantastic for Bama. Nuremburger made his 2 chip shots and Johnston was solid as usual. I believe it was Spencer who made a fantastic recovery of an onside kick at the end in what should have sealed it. The return game was fine but nothing special (although I seem to remember a big hit on Bama on a kickoff return...might be remembering wrong). After a week, if I don't remember the special teams, it was usually a good week.
Coaching: B
The playcalling was still avoiding the run a bit too much when Zeke was getting it done early. 10 yards a pop but Herman really wanted to get Cardale going (especially near the goalline). Sometimes, you need to ride your stud (give it to Hyde--still having PTSD from the B1G Championship vs. MSU). Defense was called very well and the halftime adjustments were strong. Then the final OSU drive came... Zeke was still chugging and a first down ends the game. Something tells me that with the emotion and momentum of the game, Zeke gets 10 yards on 3 carries even if we tell Bama the plan. But... Meyer/Herman/whatever (Bollman?) decides to 'go for the ballgame on a bomb on 1st down... I get the idea of shaking it up and being aggressive, but there's aggressive and just plain dumb. Sure the defense is stacked for the run, but that play has way too many bad outcomes. Cardale could have simply misthrown the deep ball even if Devin was wide open. 3 straight knees gives Bama the ball back at the 20 (at worst--just tell Cam to punt it through the uprights) with about 40 seconds. No way they get that shot they had at a Hail Mary. Now, I'm not advocating the kneel down, but I run Zeke on the safest play and tell him his first 10 priorities are not fumbling and the 11th is to get yards. Odds are pretty good that Bama doesn't even get the ball back. As it stands, the Bucks triumphed over this obstacle, but in my mind, it was an obstacle that was self imposed.
Overall: A-
Week 2. A devastating loss at home to a mediocre team. We at Let's Go Bucks said: 'Win, and it will work out.' Now, the Bucks head to Jerry World for all the Dr. Peppers. Let's make it count. I expect a shootout but whatever happens, this has been a fun ride...and, one final thought, this Buckeye team is going to get better next year...Have fun 'OTHER CONFERENCES'.
GO BUCKS! BEAT THE DUCKS!!
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