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LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Storming the Hill... Toppers, not that other one. And preparing for a track meet in The Shoe.
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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: Storming the Hill... Toppers, not that other one. And preparing for a track meet in The Shoe.
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
Josh and Chuck look ahead to Ohio State’s game against Western Kentucky, a team known for their prolific offense. Expect points in bunches, as well as a few more growing pains for the ‘maturing’ Buckeyes.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they discuss Ohio State football, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
On this episode of “Hangout in the Holy Land,” Josh and Chuck look ahead to a potential shootout in The Shoe, as Ohio State hosts Western Kentucky and their high octane offense in Week 3.
The Buckeyes are once again favored to win by multiple scores, as they should be when hosting a Conference USA opponent. But the WKU Hilltoppers should be taken very seriously. Powered by a potent air raid style offense, this team atop the hill also causes plenty of turnovers on defense and has a recent history of playing Big Ten teams closely.
Will OSU’s official QB1, Kyle McCord, and the Buckeyes’ offense be able to keep up in a gridiron track meet? Will the Scarlet and Gray secondary step up and earn back their BIA moniker? And will Western Kentucky be Ryan Day and company’s sole focus?
The Hangout Boys are are cautiously optimistic and eager to see if Ohio State can settle into a rhythm - and win convincingly - before the team’s big trip to South Bend.
Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
Josh and Chuck look ahead to Ohio State’s game against Western Kentucky, a team known for their prolific offense. Expect points in bunches, as well as a few more growing pains for the ‘maturing’ Buckeyes.
The latest episode of Land-Grant Holy Land’s flagship podcast is here! Join LGHL’s Josh Dooley and Chuck Holmes as they discuss Ohio State football, recruiting, and much, much more! Come for the hot takes, stay for the warm ones.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On this episode of “Hangout in the Holy Land,” Josh and Chuck look ahead to a potential shootout in The Shoe, as Ohio State hosts Western Kentucky and their high octane offense in Week 3.
The Buckeyes are once again favored to win by multiple scores, as they should be when hosting a Conference USA opponent. But the WKU Hilltoppers should be taken very seriously. Powered by a potent air raid style offense, this team atop the hill also causes plenty of turnovers on defense and has a recent history of playing Big Ten teams closely.
Will OSU’s official QB1, Kyle McCord, and the Buckeyes’ offense be able to keep up in a gridiron track meet? Will the Scarlet and Gray secondary step up and earn back their BIA moniker? And will Western Kentucky be Ryan Day and company’s sole focus?
The Hangout Boys are are cautiously optimistic and eager to see if Ohio State can settle into a rhythm - and win convincingly - before the team’s big trip to South Bend.
Please make sure to like, rate, review, and subscribe to the podcast! And as always, Go Bucks!
Connect with the pod
Twitter: @HolyLandPod
Connect with Josh Dooley
Twitter: @jdooleybuckeye
Connect with Chuck Holmes
Twitter: @ctholmes3
Continue reading...
LGHL Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for September 13, 2023
- News
- 0 Replies
Why is this News? All the articles and tweets Buckeye fans need for September 13, 2023
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Ryan Day names Kyle McCord Ohio State football’s starting quarterback
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Takeaways from Ryan Day’s pre-Western Kentucky press conference
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Presser Bullets: Ohio State’s Offensive Line “Not Nearly Consistent Enough,” Kyle McCord’s “Consistency” Won Him the Quarterback Job
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
5 things we learned from OSU’s Western Kentucky week press conference
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Not a surprise, but something that I think is the right move right now:
What Kyle McCord becoming full-time starter means for Buckeyes
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Analyzing what starting quarterback decision means for Buckeyes now
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
Naming Kyle McCord Ohio State’s full-time starter is the right call at the right time
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com
‘He knows that he’s one play away’: Devin Brown to work on consistency, poise as backup (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Listen to Ryan Day and Jim Knowles’ full press conference:
Ohio State told touchdown called back by penalty should have stood for second straight week
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles Hoping Adjustment in Philosophy Pays Dividends in 2023
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State Rewatch: A second look at the win vs. Youngstown State
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Andy’s Analytics: Breaking down the numbers from Ohio State-Youngstown State (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
He should be targeted every other play, imo:
B1G Thoughts: Kyle McCord is Ohio State’s QB1, Iowa still can’t hit 25
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land
First Look: Ohio State’s pass defense to be tested by Western Kentucky offense
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Which Buckeye has most impressed you through two games?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
One smart cookie: Former Ohio State receiver Reggie Germany takes on a new chapter
Lori Schmidt, The Columbus Dispatch
Golf: Shipley Headed to the Summer 2024 Master and U.S. Open
Lauryn Luderman, The Lantern
Women’s Tennis: Cantos Siemers Named Women’s Tennis Captain
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Golf: Buckeyes Tie for 10th at Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational
Ohio State Athletics
I am neither a Swiftie, nor an NSYNC obsessive, but this is very pure:
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
All the Buckeye news thats fit to re-print.
Look, we get it. Your days are busy and you don’t have time to read all of the stories and tweets from the three dozen websites dedicated to covering Ohio State athletics, or the 237 Buckeye beat writers churning out hot takes and #content on a daily basis. But that’s ok, that’s what your friends at Land-Grant Holy Land are here for.
Monday through Friday, we’ll be collecting all of the articles, tweets, features, interviews, videos, podcasts, memes, photos, and whatever else we stumble across on the interwebz and putting them in our daily “Why is this News?” article. That way, you’ll have a one-stop shop for all of the most important Buckeye news, jokes, and analysis.
You’re welcome!
For your Earholes...
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On the Gridiron
Ryan Day names Kyle McCord Ohio State football’s starting quarterback
Bill Rabinowitz, The Columbus Dispatch
Takeaways from Ryan Day’s pre-Western Kentucky press conference
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Presser Bullets: Ohio State’s Offensive Line “Not Nearly Consistent Enough,” Kyle McCord’s “Consistency” Won Him the Quarterback Job
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
5 things we learned from OSU’s Western Kentucky week press conference
Joey Kaufman, The Columbus Dispatch
Not a surprise, but something that I think is the right move right now:
What Kyle McCord becoming full-time starter means for Buckeyes
Spencer Holbrook, Lettermen Row
Analyzing what starting quarterback decision means for Buckeyes now
Austin Ward, Dotting the Eyes
Naming Kyle McCord Ohio State’s full-time starter is the right call at the right time
Nathan Baird, cleveland.com
‘He knows that he’s one play away’: Devin Brown to work on consistency, poise as backup (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
Listen to Ryan Day and Jim Knowles’ full press conference:
Ohio State told touchdown called back by penalty should have stood for second straight week
Patrick Murphy, Bucknuts
Ohio State Defensive Coordinator Jim Knowles Hoping Adjustment in Philosophy Pays Dividends in 2023
Andy Anders, Eleven Warriors
Ohio State Rewatch: A second look at the win vs. Youngstown State
Bill Landis, Dotting the Eyes
Andy’s Analytics: Breaking down the numbers from Ohio State-Youngstown State (paywall)
Andy Backstrom, Lettermen Row
He should be targeted every other play, imo:
B1G Thoughts: Kyle McCord is Ohio State’s QB1, Iowa still can’t hit 25
Jordan Williams, Land-Grant Holy Land
First Look: Ohio State’s pass defense to be tested by Western Kentucky offense
Steve Helwagen, Bucknuts
Which Buckeye has most impressed you through two games?
Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
One smart cookie: Former Ohio State receiver Reggie Germany takes on a new chapter
Lori Schmidt, The Columbus Dispatch
Outside the Shoe and Schott
Golf: Shipley Headed to the Summer 2024 Master and U.S. Open
Lauryn Luderman, The Lantern
Women’s Tennis: Cantos Siemers Named Women’s Tennis Captain
Ohio State Athletics
Women’s Golf: Buckeyes Tie for 10th at Branch Law Firm/Dick McGuire Invitational
Ohio State Athletics
And now for something completely different...
I am neither a Swiftie, nor an NSYNC obsessive, but this is very pure:
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State has a talent advantage over every team it plays; it’s time Ryan Day coaches like it
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- 0 Replies
Ohio State has a talent advantage over every team it plays; it’s time Ryan Day coaches like it
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
It’s time for the Buckeyes’ head coach to stop trying to re-invent the wheel, especially on third down.
In terms of pure talent on the field, Ohio State is far and away the best team in the Big Ten. Per the 247Sports Talent Composite, the Buckeyes have the third-most talented roster in the country, trailing only Alabama and Georgia. The next-best program in the B1G is Penn State at No. 13, followed by Michigan at No. 14. Ohio State has double the number of five-star prospects on its roster (10) as the Nittany Lions (3) and Wolverines (2) combined.
Of course, recruiting rankings aren’t everything, and not every five-star player coming out of high school pans out at the next level. That being said, compiling some of the nation’s best talent certainly doesn’t hurt your cause, and the more four and five-stars you can add to the depth chart gives you a higher chance of hitting on more upper-echelon players, which in turn should give you a better chance to win games.
It hasn’t helped Ohio State in big games in either of the previous two seasons. With the Buckeyes holding steady as the No. 3 team on the Talent Composite from 2021 to the present day, Ohio State suffered losses to Oregon (No. 9 in 2021), Michigan (No. 15 in 2021), and Michigan again (No. 13 in 2022). The only loss over the past two seasons to a more talented team was Georgia in the Peach Bowl, with the Bulldogs ranking No. 2 on the Talent Composite last year. As the better team on paper in three of four losses, the question becomes the coaching.
The defense was the clear and obvious reason for the shortcomings in 2021. While Kerry Coombs was a spectacular defensive backs coach during his time in Columbus, he was largely in over his head as a defensive coordinator. That was never more apparent than against the Ducks when Oregon ran the exact same run play three times for three of its touchdowns. In 2022, the defensive scheme under Jim Knowles was much better, but some poor personnel decisions cost them against Michigan, while injuries and poor late-game play-calling ultimately lost them a hard-fought game against Georgia.
Ohio State’s recruiting hasn’t been perfect, but this year’s team is once again stacked top to bottom with some of the best players from all across the country. The personnel on the field appear to be the correct ones, and other than wasting a full-time assistant coaching spot on a bad special teams coordinator, this seems like a pretty good coaching staff. So, what is going wrong this time around? Why haven’t the Buckeyes looked particularly impressive against two largely overmatched opponents to start the 2023 campaign?
The big issue thus far has been the play-calling on offense. A poorly managed quarterback competition hasn’t particularly helped matters, but Ryan Day’s decision-making has been baffling at times, especially on third down.
On the year, Ohio State has converted on third down only seven times on 23 attempts; a 30% conversion rate which ranks 113th in all of FBS. There are just three worse Power Five programs at moving the chains on third down, with only Virginia (29%), Arizona (27.8%), and Louisville (22.7%) failing more frequently. The Buckeyes have been particularly awful on third-and-short, converting just 3-of-11 attempts (27.2%) when needing four yards or less to the line of gain. Need I remind you that these two games were against Indiana and Youngstown State, an FCS opponent?
The most frustrating part of these third-down struggles has been the self-inflicted nature of why these attempts have failed. Time and time again the play calls on these third downs have been either wildly predictable or flat-out bad. Against Indiana, Day was obsessed with stretch runs into the boundary and continued to call them over and over with the same bad result each and every time. The plays were more varied against Youngstown State, but again Day strayed from the obvious answers and instead looked to pick up yardage in the most complicated and unnecessary ways possible.
One of the biggest complaints throughout Day’s tenure in Columbus has been the frequency with which he goes away from using his best players in the biggest spots. Despite Ohio State having two of the best wide receivers in the country on the roster, Day would rather target literally anyone else on third downs — whether that be a tight end or a third-string running back. Sometimes these plays wind up working out, but why are you making your life intentionally harder by not just getting the ball in the hands of Marvin Harrison Jr. or Emeka Egbuka?
I understand that you can’t target these guys on every single play, but how often would a slant to Harrison Jr. on third-and-short not result in a first down? Why not mix that in? Why not give yourself the best chance to succeed by using the best players on your roster? It seems like that would have a much higher success rate than trying to run a shotgun toss to the short side of the field or coming out in a zero wide receiver set. The plays Ryan Day tries to run in big spots are the types of plays that teams with severe talent disadvantages use in an attempt to catch people off guard. You do not need to be doing these things at Ohio State.
It is only a two-game sample size thus far, but this is not an issue that is only specific to the 2023 campaign. Day has done this consistently during his time in Columbus. The 2022 Penn State game comes to mind as a specific anecdote, as the Buckeyes kept going away from Harrison Jr. on important downs — especially in the first half of the game — despite the star receiver literally averaging 18.5 yards per catch in the game. Ohio State was ultimately bailed out by a ridiculous performance from J.T. Tuimoloau, but there is no reason to make life harder on yourself by not just going to the best players on the field.
Day is addicted to trying to look like the smartest man in the room. He has been doing it for several seasons now, and he hasn’t shown that he’s learned a single thing from prior mistakes. He is trying to account for opposing defenses to make adjustments despite them never actually showing they are going to make such adjustments. Even if they did, almost every secondary in the country would have trouble covering Harrison Jr. and Egbuka on any given play. You are hamstringing yourself by going away from what everyone knows would work, and it makes Ohio State’s struggles on offense that much more frustrating.
It is clear at this point that Day is not going to give up the play sheet, at least until something goes catastrophically wrong — which it very well could in less than two weeks if the Buckeyes don’t figure things out ahead of the trip to South Bend. It shouldn’t take losing a football game to realize that what you are doing is not working. You have one of the most talented rosters in the entire sport. There is no reason it should look this hard to put points on the board, which has been the case on most occasions even when drives have resulted in scores to start the year.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel on every third down. It is time to stop crying to the media about the new clock rules that none of the other top teams in college football are having an issue with and start coaching your incredibly talented football team better.
Continue reading...
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images
It’s time for the Buckeyes’ head coach to stop trying to re-invent the wheel, especially on third down.
In terms of pure talent on the field, Ohio State is far and away the best team in the Big Ten. Per the 247Sports Talent Composite, the Buckeyes have the third-most talented roster in the country, trailing only Alabama and Georgia. The next-best program in the B1G is Penn State at No. 13, followed by Michigan at No. 14. Ohio State has double the number of five-star prospects on its roster (10) as the Nittany Lions (3) and Wolverines (2) combined.
Of course, recruiting rankings aren’t everything, and not every five-star player coming out of high school pans out at the next level. That being said, compiling some of the nation’s best talent certainly doesn’t hurt your cause, and the more four and five-stars you can add to the depth chart gives you a higher chance of hitting on more upper-echelon players, which in turn should give you a better chance to win games.
It hasn’t helped Ohio State in big games in either of the previous two seasons. With the Buckeyes holding steady as the No. 3 team on the Talent Composite from 2021 to the present day, Ohio State suffered losses to Oregon (No. 9 in 2021), Michigan (No. 15 in 2021), and Michigan again (No. 13 in 2022). The only loss over the past two seasons to a more talented team was Georgia in the Peach Bowl, with the Bulldogs ranking No. 2 on the Talent Composite last year. As the better team on paper in three of four losses, the question becomes the coaching.
The defense was the clear and obvious reason for the shortcomings in 2021. While Kerry Coombs was a spectacular defensive backs coach during his time in Columbus, he was largely in over his head as a defensive coordinator. That was never more apparent than against the Ducks when Oregon ran the exact same run play three times for three of its touchdowns. In 2022, the defensive scheme under Jim Knowles was much better, but some poor personnel decisions cost them against Michigan, while injuries and poor late-game play-calling ultimately lost them a hard-fought game against Georgia.
Ohio State’s recruiting hasn’t been perfect, but this year’s team is once again stacked top to bottom with some of the best players from all across the country. The personnel on the field appear to be the correct ones, and other than wasting a full-time assistant coaching spot on a bad special teams coordinator, this seems like a pretty good coaching staff. So, what is going wrong this time around? Why haven’t the Buckeyes looked particularly impressive against two largely overmatched opponents to start the 2023 campaign?
The big issue thus far has been the play-calling on offense. A poorly managed quarterback competition hasn’t particularly helped matters, but Ryan Day’s decision-making has been baffling at times, especially on third down.
On the year, Ohio State has converted on third down only seven times on 23 attempts; a 30% conversion rate which ranks 113th in all of FBS. There are just three worse Power Five programs at moving the chains on third down, with only Virginia (29%), Arizona (27.8%), and Louisville (22.7%) failing more frequently. The Buckeyes have been particularly awful on third-and-short, converting just 3-of-11 attempts (27.2%) when needing four yards or less to the line of gain. Need I remind you that these two games were against Indiana and Youngstown State, an FCS opponent?
The most frustrating part of these third-down struggles has been the self-inflicted nature of why these attempts have failed. Time and time again the play calls on these third downs have been either wildly predictable or flat-out bad. Against Indiana, Day was obsessed with stretch runs into the boundary and continued to call them over and over with the same bad result each and every time. The plays were more varied against Youngstown State, but again Day strayed from the obvious answers and instead looked to pick up yardage in the most complicated and unnecessary ways possible.
One of the biggest complaints throughout Day’s tenure in Columbus has been the frequency with which he goes away from using his best players in the biggest spots. Despite Ohio State having two of the best wide receivers in the country on the roster, Day would rather target literally anyone else on third downs — whether that be a tight end or a third-string running back. Sometimes these plays wind up working out, but why are you making your life intentionally harder by not just getting the ball in the hands of Marvin Harrison Jr. or Emeka Egbuka?
I understand that you can’t target these guys on every single play, but how often would a slant to Harrison Jr. on third-and-short not result in a first down? Why not mix that in? Why not give yourself the best chance to succeed by using the best players on your roster? It seems like that would have a much higher success rate than trying to run a shotgun toss to the short side of the field or coming out in a zero wide receiver set. The plays Ryan Day tries to run in big spots are the types of plays that teams with severe talent disadvantages use in an attempt to catch people off guard. You do not need to be doing these things at Ohio State.
It is only a two-game sample size thus far, but this is not an issue that is only specific to the 2023 campaign. Day has done this consistently during his time in Columbus. The 2022 Penn State game comes to mind as a specific anecdote, as the Buckeyes kept going away from Harrison Jr. on important downs — especially in the first half of the game — despite the star receiver literally averaging 18.5 yards per catch in the game. Ohio State was ultimately bailed out by a ridiculous performance from J.T. Tuimoloau, but there is no reason to make life harder on yourself by not just going to the best players on the field.
Day is addicted to trying to look like the smartest man in the room. He has been doing it for several seasons now, and he hasn’t shown that he’s learned a single thing from prior mistakes. He is trying to account for opposing defenses to make adjustments despite them never actually showing they are going to make such adjustments. Even if they did, almost every secondary in the country would have trouble covering Harrison Jr. and Egbuka on any given play. You are hamstringing yourself by going away from what everyone knows would work, and it makes Ohio State’s struggles on offense that much more frustrating.
It is clear at this point that Day is not going to give up the play sheet, at least until something goes catastrophically wrong — which it very well could in less than two weeks if the Buckeyes don’t figure things out ahead of the trip to South Bend. It shouldn’t take losing a football game to realize that what you are doing is not working. You have one of the most talented rosters in the entire sport. There is no reason it should look this hard to put points on the board, which has been the case on most occasions even when drives have resulted in scores to start the year.
You don’t need to reinvent the wheel on every third down. It is time to stop crying to the media about the new clock rules that none of the other top teams in college football are having an issue with and start coaching your incredibly talented football team better.
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: What former Ohio State player suffered an injury in the NFL that hit you hardest?
- News
- 0 Replies
You’re Nuts: What former Ohio State player suffered an injury in the NFL that hit you hardest?
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Injuries are unfortunately a part of football. Sometimes we see injuries from hard contact because players have gotten bigger, faster, and stronger over the years. Other times contact isn’t needed for an injury to occur. Whether an injury happens from contact or not, it doesn’t make it any less devastating for an injured player, especially if it ends up being an injury that sidelines a player for an extended amount of time.
On Sunday afternoon, news broke that former Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins was feared to have suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the first half against the Houston Texans. The injury speculation was later confirmed, and Dobbins will miss the rest of the 2023 NFL season, which will mark the second time in three seasons that he has suffered a significant injury. Gone is the hope that Dobbins could earn a lucrative second contract in the NFL since now he is going to be deemed as an injury risk.
As much as it hurts to think back on this topic, today we are looking at former Ohio State players who have suffered injuries in the NFL. We want to know which injury or series of injuries that a Buckeye has suffered at the professional level that hit you the hardest. Maybe your favorite NFL team drafted a Buckeye and that player suffered an injury, derailing what they could have been. Or it could be a player who just had some terrible injury luck in the league.
I still find it wild that Urban Meyer had Michael Thomas at wide receiver and it felt like he didn’t know how to use the future NFL star. Not that it hurt the Buckeyes since they went on to win the 2014 national title with Thomas starting, it just felt like the nephew of Keyshawn Johnson should have caught more than 110 passes in 2014 and 2015 before moving on to the NFL. Had Thomas been able to showcase his skills a little more, he likely would have been a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Even though he wasn’t a first-rounder, Thomas did land in a perfect situation in New Orleans, as he had future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees throwing him the football. Thomas caught 92 balls in his rookie season and would catch at least 100 passes in each of the next three seasons. The 2019 season for Thomas was legendary. Not only did he sign a 5-year, $100 million contract prior to the season, he caught an NFL record 149 passes, and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Since the end of the 2019 season, Thomas has played in 11 games, catching 61 passes. The injury issues started in the first week of the 2020 season when he suffered a high-ankle sprain and snowballed from there. Thomas missed the whole 2021 season and only played in the first three games of the 2022 season. Had Thomas not missed so much time due to his ankle injuries, it would have been interesting to see what kind of stats he could have amassed, and where he would sit on the NFL’s all-time stat lists when his career comes to a close.
I think for many Buckeye fans, the injury that jumps to mind is that of former Ohio State and Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker Ryan Shazier. In nearly four full seasons as an NFL player, Shazier made two Pro Bowls and wracked up 299 tackles, before his career was tragically cut short when Pittsburgh was playing the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4. 2017. Following a brutal head-on tackle, Shazier was left motionless on the turf.
In the coming days, he underwent spinal stabilization surgery and after two seasons of being on Pittsburgh’s Physically Unable to Perform list, he retired in 2020.
There are all of the on-field reasons that you can be disappointed by the end of Shazier’s career. He was one of the best linebackers in the game and was selected as a top-50 player in the NFL for the 2018 season. He seemed to be in the perfect franchise for his style of play and appeared to be well on his way to a long and successful NFL career.
But the impact from the football side of Shazier’s injury pales in comparison to the real-life effects. At the time of his injury, Buckeye fans, myself included, were rightly terrified about what this meant for Ryan’s life moving forward. Initially unable to move his legs, the prognosis was terrifying for fans who had come to love Shazier as not only a menacing football player but also a fun, loveable addition to whichever team he was on.
To see any athlete at the peak of their powers rendered motionless on the field is horrible. Knowing that in a moment, someone who trained and sacrificed and thrived could have it all taken away is difficult enough, but when it is an athlete that you have grown to care about from afar, as both a player and a person, it hits differently. Ryan Shazier was — and still is — a member of our Buckeye family, and while that sounds strange and borderline unhealthily parasocial, it’s true.
Not all Buckeyes become beloved, but those that do are so fully embraced by the fandom that we feel joy at their successes and pain for their failures. But Shazier’s injury was something so much more emotional than a thrown interception in the Super Bowl or a missed three-pointer in the NBA Finals.
That is why it has been so rewarding and heartening to see Shazier’s slow, but steady, rehabilitation from his appearance at the 2018 NFL Draft to his serving as an honorary captain at Ohio State’s Spring Game, just five months after the injury.
Witnessing horrible injuries like Ryan Shazier’s can shake you to your core, I know it did mine. Fortunately, through the skill of his medical professionals and Ryan’s strength of body and spirit, not only has he had a tremendous recovery, but he is also doing what he can to help others who have been through experiences similar to his.
I am proud to consider myself a Ryan Shazier fan, not only for what he did on the field before his injury but also for what he has done off of it after.
Continue reading...
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images
Your (almost) daily dose of good-natured, Ohio State banter.
Injuries are unfortunately a part of football. Sometimes we see injuries from hard contact because players have gotten bigger, faster, and stronger over the years. Other times contact isn’t needed for an injury to occur. Whether an injury happens from contact or not, it doesn’t make it any less devastating for an injured player, especially if it ends up being an injury that sidelines a player for an extended amount of time.
On Sunday afternoon, news broke that former Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins was feared to have suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the first half against the Houston Texans. The injury speculation was later confirmed, and Dobbins will miss the rest of the 2023 NFL season, which will mark the second time in three seasons that he has suffered a significant injury. Gone is the hope that Dobbins could earn a lucrative second contract in the NFL since now he is going to be deemed as an injury risk.
As much as it hurts to think back on this topic, today we are looking at former Ohio State players who have suffered injuries in the NFL. We want to know which injury or series of injuries that a Buckeye has suffered at the professional level that hit you the hardest. Maybe your favorite NFL team drafted a Buckeye and that player suffered an injury, derailing what they could have been. Or it could be a player who just had some terrible injury luck in the league.
Today’s question: What former Ohio State player suffered an injury in the NFL that hit you hardest?
We’d love to hear your choices. Either respond to us on Twitter at @Landgrant33 or leave your choice in the comments.
Brett’s answer: Michael Thomas
I still find it wild that Urban Meyer had Michael Thomas at wide receiver and it felt like he didn’t know how to use the future NFL star. Not that it hurt the Buckeyes since they went on to win the 2014 national title with Thomas starting, it just felt like the nephew of Keyshawn Johnson should have caught more than 110 passes in 2014 and 2015 before moving on to the NFL. Had Thomas been able to showcase his skills a little more, he likely would have been a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Even though he wasn’t a first-rounder, Thomas did land in a perfect situation in New Orleans, as he had future Hall of Fame quarterback Drew Brees throwing him the football. Thomas caught 92 balls in his rookie season and would catch at least 100 passes in each of the next three seasons. The 2019 season for Thomas was legendary. Not only did he sign a 5-year, $100 million contract prior to the season, he caught an NFL record 149 passes, and was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Since the end of the 2019 season, Thomas has played in 11 games, catching 61 passes. The injury issues started in the first week of the 2020 season when he suffered a high-ankle sprain and snowballed from there. Thomas missed the whole 2021 season and only played in the first three games of the 2022 season. Had Thomas not missed so much time due to his ankle injuries, it would have been interesting to see what kind of stats he could have amassed, and where he would sit on the NFL’s all-time stat lists when his career comes to a close.
Matt’s answer: Ryan Shazier
I think for many Buckeye fans, the injury that jumps to mind is that of former Ohio State and Pittsburgh Steeler linebacker Ryan Shazier. In nearly four full seasons as an NFL player, Shazier made two Pro Bowls and wracked up 299 tackles, before his career was tragically cut short when Pittsburgh was playing the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 4. 2017. Following a brutal head-on tackle, Shazier was left motionless on the turf.
In the coming days, he underwent spinal stabilization surgery and after two seasons of being on Pittsburgh’s Physically Unable to Perform list, he retired in 2020.
There are all of the on-field reasons that you can be disappointed by the end of Shazier’s career. He was one of the best linebackers in the game and was selected as a top-50 player in the NFL for the 2018 season. He seemed to be in the perfect franchise for his style of play and appeared to be well on his way to a long and successful NFL career.
But the impact from the football side of Shazier’s injury pales in comparison to the real-life effects. At the time of his injury, Buckeye fans, myself included, were rightly terrified about what this meant for Ryan’s life moving forward. Initially unable to move his legs, the prognosis was terrifying for fans who had come to love Shazier as not only a menacing football player but also a fun, loveable addition to whichever team he was on.
To see any athlete at the peak of their powers rendered motionless on the field is horrible. Knowing that in a moment, someone who trained and sacrificed and thrived could have it all taken away is difficult enough, but when it is an athlete that you have grown to care about from afar, as both a player and a person, it hits differently. Ryan Shazier was — and still is — a member of our Buckeye family, and while that sounds strange and borderline unhealthily parasocial, it’s true.
Not all Buckeyes become beloved, but those that do are so fully embraced by the fandom that we feel joy at their successes and pain for their failures. But Shazier’s injury was something so much more emotional than a thrown interception in the Super Bowl or a missed three-pointer in the NBA Finals.
That is why it has been so rewarding and heartening to see Shazier’s slow, but steady, rehabilitation from his appearance at the 2018 NFL Draft to his serving as an honorary captain at Ohio State’s Spring Game, just five months after the injury.
Witnessing horrible injuries like Ryan Shazier’s can shake you to your core, I know it did mine. Fortunately, through the skill of his medical professionals and Ryan’s strength of body and spirit, not only has he had a tremendous recovery, but he is also doing what he can to help others who have been through experiences similar to his.
I am proud to consider myself a Ryan Shazier fan, not only for what he did on the field before his injury but also for what he has done off of it after.
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LGHL Ohio State commit lands in top 5 of 2026 recruiting class
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Ohio State commit lands in top 5 of 2026 recruiting class
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mick Walker | 247Sports
Tony Alford pushing for in-state running back to commit
Six weeks ago when Chris Henry Jr. committed to the Buckeyes, everyone knew that he was an elite wide receiver. While rankings weren’t available for the 2026 class just yet, it was widely expected that the son of the late Wester Virginia and Cincinnati Bengal wide receiver would be one of the top players in his class.
Since then, he has been slotted in as the No. 8 player in 247Sports’ rankings, and on Tuesday, Rivals announced that he was the No. 4 player in the country on their initial 2026 list.
Just a sophomore at Cincinnati’s Withrow High School, Henry already stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 185 pounds. After the passing of his father, Henry was adopted by his dad’s WVU teammate and best friend Adam “Pacman” Jones. While Jones and the elder Henry never played together for the Bengals, since Pacman played the bulk of his career in Cincinnati, Henry Jr. has grown up in the backyard of the Buckeyes; which might just be what helps Brian Hartline continue his WR-recruiting dominance.
“The Cincinnati (Ohio) Withrow standout has length, speed, athleticism, body control and great hands to go up and high point the football,” Rival’s recruiting director Adam Gorney wrote of Henry. “He makes catching a football look easy.”
From one top in-state player hailing from the southwest corner of Ohio to one in the northeast portion of the state, on Tuesday, Rival’s Jeremy Birmingham shared some insight into the recruitment of 2025 Cleveland Heights running back Marquise Davis.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior attended OSU’s home opener against Youngstown State and reportedly spent most of his time with RB coach Tony Alford, who made it very clear that he believes that Davis should make being on campus a far more frequent — even permanent — thing.
“He told me that hopefully I’ll become a Buckeye soon,” Davis told Birm. “And that I should come around more often.”
Davis is the No. 142 player in the 2025 cycle according to 247Sports Composite Ratings, he is the No. 14 running back and No. 5 player from Ohio.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Mick Walker | 247Sports
Tony Alford pushing for in-state running back to commit
Ohio State commit Chris Henry Jr. Lands in Rivals’ Top 5
Six weeks ago when Chris Henry Jr. committed to the Buckeyes, everyone knew that he was an elite wide receiver. While rankings weren’t available for the 2026 class just yet, it was widely expected that the son of the late Wester Virginia and Cincinnati Bengal wide receiver would be one of the top players in his class.
Since then, he has been slotted in as the No. 8 player in 247Sports’ rankings, and on Tuesday, Rivals announced that he was the No. 4 player in the country on their initial 2026 list.
Just a sophomore at Cincinnati’s Withrow High School, Henry already stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 185 pounds. After the passing of his father, Henry was adopted by his dad’s WVU teammate and best friend Adam “Pacman” Jones. While Jones and the elder Henry never played together for the Bengals, since Pacman played the bulk of his career in Cincinnati, Henry Jr. has grown up in the backyard of the Buckeyes; which might just be what helps Brian Hartline continue his WR-recruiting dominance.
“The Cincinnati (Ohio) Withrow standout has length, speed, athleticism, body control and great hands to go up and high point the football,” Rival’s recruiting director Adam Gorney wrote of Henry. “He makes catching a football look easy.”
Tony Alford Tells Marquise Davis He Should Commit Soon
From one top in-state player hailing from the southwest corner of Ohio to one in the northeast portion of the state, on Tuesday, Rival’s Jeremy Birmingham shared some insight into the recruitment of 2025 Cleveland Heights running back Marquise Davis.
The 6-foot-1, 205-pound junior attended OSU’s home opener against Youngstown State and reportedly spent most of his time with RB coach Tony Alford, who made it very clear that he believes that Davis should make being on campus a far more frequent — even permanent — thing.
“He told me that hopefully I’ll become a Buckeye soon,” Davis told Birm. “And that I should come around more often.”
Davis is the No. 142 player in the 2025 cycle according to 247Sports Composite Ratings, he is the No. 14 running back and No. 5 player from Ohio.
Quick Hits
- 247Sports recruiting analyst Allen Trieu reported on Tuesday that 2025 athlete Cody Haddad will be on campus to watch the Buckeyes take on Western Kentucky this weekend. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Cleveland St. Ignatius junior will attend this weekend’s Ohio State game in Columbus before watching the Buckeyes take on Notre Dame in South Bend. Haddad who is likely to play safety in college, is rated as the No. 12 player in Ohio for his cycle.
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LGHL Cover Six: Is Denzel Burke back to All-American status?
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Cover Six: Is Denzel Burke back to All-American status?
JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ohio State easily beat Youngstown State as their defense continues to show improvement.
In football terms, Cover Six is a zone coverage that combines Cover Four and Cover Two. While on the field it is designed to negate the deep pass while offering extra support underneath to protect against the run, in this case, Cover Six is a weekly column focused on Ohio State’s defense under coordinator Jim Knowles. Every week, it will cover six aspects of the defense’s performance, including big moments, key stats, film analysis, and areas in need of improvement. Join me as I follow the defense as it tries to bring back the Silver Bullets swagger that we know and love!
One of the biggest questions for this defense coming into 2023 was the performance of the secondary. All spring and summer we’ve heard reports that the secondary was playing better, getting more hands-on passes, and making it tough for the wide receivers. Denzel Burke’s name was brought up the most.
Burke is the leader of the room and the corners go as he goes. Burke burst on the scene having a borderline dominant year, but last season he dealt with injuries and struggled early. Despite getting better, it was hard to get the taste of the first few games out of our mouths as fans.
So far this season, Denzel has been excellent. Against Youngstown State Burke was targeted five times and didn’t allow a catch, plus added a pass breakup and had the first interception by an Ohio State corner since 2021. If Burke keeps playing like this he could end up on a few All-American teams and hear his name called in the NFL Draft. Before we go there though, let’s see how he performs against the Western Kentucky passing attack.
To be aggressive or not to be, that is the question that Jim Knowles is asking himself when he creates the game plan for the Ohio State defense. In his first season, Knowles was aggressive choosing to blitz and try to create havoc for the opposing offense. It worked at times, but against Michigan and Georgia, it hurt the Buckeyes and ultimately contributed to losses. When asked about his defenses recording three tackles for loss against Youngstown State, Knowles had this to say;
“I’ve adjusted. When you’re at places where you need to live in that world, feast or famine type of world where you’re trying to make sure you take a lot of chances, do a lot of different things to somehow gain the advantage – I think I’ve adjusted my philosophy here. We have different players, and my job is to make sure we win the game, not get the TFLs. And a lot of times, I think the best philosophy here is to let the guys play.”
Knowles adjusted because he was burnt after becoming too aggressive in their biggest games last season. So the question is, can Ohio State reach its goals without being a disruptive defense that is at the top of the country in sacks and tackles for loss? Knowles seems to believe so, but here’s hoping he hasn’t overcorrected.
Let me start by saying this: Larry Johnson is a legend. For much of his career, he has been one of, if not the best defensive line coach in the country. All that being said, I’m not sure Johnson is a top-10 defensive line coach in the country at this point.
He hasn’t produced a top defensive line since Chase Young left despite still maintaining a high level of talent. While he has landed five-star talents like Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, he has yet to develop them into top-tier players. They’re talented and sometimes that talent shows up, but they haven’t been consistent nor have they shown an ability to generate pressure or sack the quarterback.
All of this is bad enough on its own, but when you include the fact that Johnson is openly feuding with his defensive coordinator’s scheme and he has used a questionable defensive line rotation for the past few years, it may be time for Johnson to hang up his whistle.
Against Youngstown State, Johnson decided not to start Mike Hall Jr., who easily has the most talent at defensive tackle. Also despite the lack of sack production from Jack and JT, he has barely played Kenyatta Jackson and has only used Caden Curry sparingly. Johnson may have lost his fastball.
It happens to the best coaches, but with all of the young talent in the room the defensive line room needs to be much better and it just hasn’t been. Johnson hasn’t learned from the mistakes of the last few seasons, and he still refuses to play young talent even if they show more than their older players in front of them. I’m not sure what else Johnson is looking for from players, but I know that this room needs to perform better or Ohio State will continue to be behind the top programs and will risk losing big games.
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Jack Sawyer entered Ohio State with HUGE expectations. He was a local five-star product from Pickerington who many thought was going to be the next Nick or Joey Bosa-level talent on the defensive line. Sawyer has not lived up to that hype, and it’s not clear why.
Depending on who you ask, some may blame strength and conditioning coordinator Mick Marotti for putting too much weight on Sawyer. Others will say it’s defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ fault for asking him to play the Jack position and stunting his development. His own position coach has all but said that publicly. Regardless of the reason, Sawyer has not lived up to the hype, and Saturday against Youngstown State showed that over and over again.
While re-watching the game, I couldn’t help but notice one thing — Sawyer is super slow off the ball. There are multiple occasions when Sawyer has barely left his stance while the rest of the defensive line is already engaged. Sawyer needs to play better, and it would help if he got involved in the action on time.
Earlier we discussed how Knowles has decided to tone down his aggressiveness and let his players play. When you have the talent that Ohio State does, it makes sense to let your talented players make plays, but that doesn’t mean you let them just sit there and cover blades of grass.
One way to confuse offenses without putting yourself into bad positions is to run simulated pressures. Simulated pressures are plays where the defense threatens with blitzes, but still only sends four pass rushers. A well-run simulated pressure confuses the offense because players who expect to rush the passer end up dropping into coverage, and other players engage in pass rushing from various spots on the field. This allows you to still keep seven players to defend the pass, but also get free rushers.
In this play below, Ohio State runs a great simulated pressure. They line up with six players at the line of scrimmage, showing blitz, At the snap they blitz both linebackers Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg up the middle. Instead of blitzing straight up, they cross the linebackers, which messes with the interior offensive line blocking rules. Defensive ends Jack and JT both fake a pass rush and ultimately drop into coverage, while the defensive tackles slant outside to keep the quarterback in the pocket.
This pressure confuses the offensive line, and the announcers claim Ohio State sent more than four rushers, which is the purpose of this call. Eichenberg and Chambers immediately get into the quarterback’s face, forcing him to bail out of the pocket. Ohio State ran these types of pressure multiple times this game, including on Burke’s interception.
Ohio State allowed one touchdown against Western Kentucky. This touchdown was scored after safety Cam Martinez got beat deep on a slot fade for 36 yards that gave Youngstown State the ball on the Ohio State 20-yard line. Six plays later, quarterback Mitch Davidson ran into the end zone for the Penguins’ first and only touchdown.
Throughout the game, Knowles mixed up who played in the slot between more traditional safeties and cornerback Jordan Hancock. Martinez has given up big plays in two of the last three games he’s played and is a liability in man coverage. Ohio State believes that they have three starting-level corners in Burke, Davison Igbinosun, and Hancock. If you’re only going to play two corners at a time, Hancock should be playing in the slot instead of Martinez, Ja’Had Carter, or any of the other Ohio State safeties not named Sonny Styles.
Western Kentucky is going to spread out Ohio State and pass the ball. Hancock needs to get all of those snaps if the Buckeyes want to continue limiting big plays in the passing game.
Follow The I-80 Football Show on YouTube: @JordanW330 or @LandGrantPods
Subscribe to the podcast: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Connect with me on Twitter: @JordanW330
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JordanW330 via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Ohio State easily beat Youngstown State as their defense continues to show improvement.
In football terms, Cover Six is a zone coverage that combines Cover Four and Cover Two. While on the field it is designed to negate the deep pass while offering extra support underneath to protect against the run, in this case, Cover Six is a weekly column focused on Ohio State’s defense under coordinator Jim Knowles. Every week, it will cover six aspects of the defense’s performance, including big moments, key stats, film analysis, and areas in need of improvement. Join me as I follow the defense as it tries to bring back the Silver Bullets swagger that we know and love!
Cover 1: Denzel Burke, All American?
One of the biggest questions for this defense coming into 2023 was the performance of the secondary. All spring and summer we’ve heard reports that the secondary was playing better, getting more hands-on passes, and making it tough for the wide receivers. Denzel Burke’s name was brought up the most.
Burke is the leader of the room and the corners go as he goes. Burke burst on the scene having a borderline dominant year, but last season he dealt with injuries and struggled early. Despite getting better, it was hard to get the taste of the first few games out of our mouths as fans.
So far this season, Denzel has been excellent. Against Youngstown State Burke was targeted five times and didn’t allow a catch, plus added a pass breakup and had the first interception by an Ohio State corner since 2021. If Burke keeps playing like this he could end up on a few All-American teams and hear his name called in the NFL Draft. Before we go there though, let’s see how he performs against the Western Kentucky passing attack.
Cover 2: To be or not to be, that is the question…
To be aggressive or not to be, that is the question that Jim Knowles is asking himself when he creates the game plan for the Ohio State defense. In his first season, Knowles was aggressive choosing to blitz and try to create havoc for the opposing offense. It worked at times, but against Michigan and Georgia, it hurt the Buckeyes and ultimately contributed to losses. When asked about his defenses recording three tackles for loss against Youngstown State, Knowles had this to say;
“I’ve adjusted. When you’re at places where you need to live in that world, feast or famine type of world where you’re trying to make sure you take a lot of chances, do a lot of different things to somehow gain the advantage – I think I’ve adjusted my philosophy here. We have different players, and my job is to make sure we win the game, not get the TFLs. And a lot of times, I think the best philosophy here is to let the guys play.”
Knowles adjusted because he was burnt after becoming too aggressive in their biggest games last season. So the question is, can Ohio State reach its goals without being a disruptive defense that is at the top of the country in sacks and tackles for loss? Knowles seems to believe so, but here’s hoping he hasn’t overcorrected.
Cover 3: How many times do I have to teach you this lesson, old man
Let me start by saying this: Larry Johnson is a legend. For much of his career, he has been one of, if not the best defensive line coach in the country. All that being said, I’m not sure Johnson is a top-10 defensive line coach in the country at this point.
He hasn’t produced a top defensive line since Chase Young left despite still maintaining a high level of talent. While he has landed five-star talents like Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau, he has yet to develop them into top-tier players. They’re talented and sometimes that talent shows up, but they haven’t been consistent nor have they shown an ability to generate pressure or sack the quarterback.
All of this is bad enough on its own, but when you include the fact that Johnson is openly feuding with his defensive coordinator’s scheme and he has used a questionable defensive line rotation for the past few years, it may be time for Johnson to hang up his whistle.
Against Youngstown State, Johnson decided not to start Mike Hall Jr., who easily has the most talent at defensive tackle. Also despite the lack of sack production from Jack and JT, he has barely played Kenyatta Jackson and has only used Caden Curry sparingly. Johnson may have lost his fastball.
It happens to the best coaches, but with all of the young talent in the room the defensive line room needs to be much better and it just hasn’t been. Johnson hasn’t learned from the mistakes of the last few seasons, and he still refuses to play young talent even if they show more than their older players in front of them. I’m not sure what else Johnson is looking for from players, but I know that this room needs to perform better or Ohio State will continue to be behind the top programs and will risk losing big games.
Cover 4: Jack Sawyer, you gotta be quicker than that
Jack Sawyer entered Ohio State with HUGE expectations. He was a local five-star product from Pickerington who many thought was going to be the next Nick or Joey Bosa-level talent on the defensive line. Sawyer has not lived up to that hype, and it’s not clear why.
Depending on who you ask, some may blame strength and conditioning coordinator Mick Marotti for putting too much weight on Sawyer. Others will say it’s defensive coordinator Jim Knowles’ fault for asking him to play the Jack position and stunting his development. His own position coach has all but said that publicly. Regardless of the reason, Sawyer has not lived up to the hype, and Saturday against Youngstown State showed that over and over again.
While re-watching the game, I couldn’t help but notice one thing — Sawyer is super slow off the ball. There are multiple occasions when Sawyer has barely left his stance while the rest of the defensive line is already engaged. Sawyer needs to play better, and it would help if he got involved in the action on time.
Cover 5: The Importance of Simulated Pressures
Earlier we discussed how Knowles has decided to tone down his aggressiveness and let his players play. When you have the talent that Ohio State does, it makes sense to let your talented players make plays, but that doesn’t mean you let them just sit there and cover blades of grass.
One way to confuse offenses without putting yourself into bad positions is to run simulated pressures. Simulated pressures are plays where the defense threatens with blitzes, but still only sends four pass rushers. A well-run simulated pressure confuses the offense because players who expect to rush the passer end up dropping into coverage, and other players engage in pass rushing from various spots on the field. This allows you to still keep seven players to defend the pass, but also get free rushers.
In this play below, Ohio State runs a great simulated pressure. They line up with six players at the line of scrimmage, showing blitz, At the snap they blitz both linebackers Steele Chambers and Tommy Eichenberg up the middle. Instead of blitzing straight up, they cross the linebackers, which messes with the interior offensive line blocking rules. Defensive ends Jack and JT both fake a pass rush and ultimately drop into coverage, while the defensive tackles slant outside to keep the quarterback in the pocket.
This pressure confuses the offensive line, and the announcers claim Ohio State sent more than four rushers, which is the purpose of this call. Eichenberg and Chambers immediately get into the quarterback’s face, forcing him to bail out of the pocket. Ohio State ran these types of pressure multiple times this game, including on Burke’s interception.
Cover 6: Knowles, No More Safeties in the Slot
Ohio State allowed one touchdown against Western Kentucky. This touchdown was scored after safety Cam Martinez got beat deep on a slot fade for 36 yards that gave Youngstown State the ball on the Ohio State 20-yard line. Six plays later, quarterback Mitch Davidson ran into the end zone for the Penguins’ first and only touchdown.
Throughout the game, Knowles mixed up who played in the slot between more traditional safeties and cornerback Jordan Hancock. Martinez has given up big plays in two of the last three games he’s played and is a liability in man coverage. Ohio State believes that they have three starting-level corners in Burke, Davison Igbinosun, and Hancock. If you’re only going to play two corners at a time, Hancock should be playing in the slot instead of Martinez, Ja’Had Carter, or any of the other Ohio State safeties not named Sonny Styles.
Western Kentucky is going to spread out Ohio State and pass the ball. Hancock needs to get all of those snaps if the Buckeyes want to continue limiting big plays in the passing game.
Follow The I-80 Football Show on YouTube: @JordanW330 or @LandGrantPods
Subscribe to the podcast: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
Connect with me on Twitter: @JordanW330
Follow I-80 Football Show on Instagram: @I80FootballShow
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