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LGHL Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: The sky is not falling, but we at least know where the umbrella is...
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Hangout in the Holy Land Podcast: The sky is not falling, but we at least know where the umbrella is...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Lori Schmidt / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
We discuss a second consecutive “meh” performance by the Buckeyes which should lead to questions and concerns.
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 go back and forth on a divisive Ohio State victory over FCS Youngstown State. Sure, a win is a win, but there are admittedly some questions and concerns emanating from The Shoe.
The Buckeyes defeated the Youngstown StateFighting Tressels Penguins in Week 2, however, OSU’s run game looked shaky, and their defense failed to create pressure — both for a second consecutive week. Is this Ryan Day’s team working out some kinks and/or playing tight? Or is it something a bit more troubling?
On a much more positive note, Kyle McCord seems to have taken ownership of the QB position, which could go a long way in solving some of the Buckeyes’ early season issues. The hosts discuss McCord’s Week 2 improvements, while also celebrating the return of Marvin the Martian (Harrison Jr.) and giving kudos to a stingy defense.
Overall, the guys are cautiously optimistic and eager to see what Day and company cook up in the next few weeks.
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
Lori Schmidt / Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
We discuss a second consecutive “meh” performance by the Buckeyes which should lead to questions and concerns.
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 go back and forth on a divisive Ohio State victory over FCS Youngstown State. Sure, a win is a win, but there are admittedly some questions and concerns emanating from The Shoe.
The Buckeyes defeated the Youngstown State
On a much more positive note, Kyle McCord seems to have taken ownership of the QB position, which could go a long way in solving some of the Buckeyes’ early season issues. The hosts discuss McCord’s Week 2 improvements, while also celebrating the return of Marvin the Martian (Harrison Jr.) and giving kudos to a stingy defense.
Overall, the guys are cautiously optimistic and eager to see what Day and company cook up in the next few weeks.
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 Chris Olave shows out, Denzel Wards shuts down Ja’Marr Chase
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Chris Olave shows out, Denzel Wards shuts down Ja’Marr Chase
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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images
A look at how the former Buckeyes fared in the first weekend of NFL action.
With the NFL season finally getting underway this past weekend, we once again got a chance to see a large group of former Buckeyes dominating at the next level. On both offense and defense, Ohio State players can be found on nearly every team across the league. Let’s check out how the guys did in Week 1 of the new campaign.
Olave had the biggest performance of the day by former Buckeyes, hauling in eight catches for a team-high 112 yards in the New Orleans Saints’ 16-15 win over the Titans.
A finally healthy Michael Thomas got a chance to catch passes from new Saints quarterback Derek Carr alongside Olave, snagging five passes for 65 yards, including this impressive grab down the sideline.
On the defensive side of the ball, Marshon Lattimore added to a strong showing of former Buckeyes in New Orleans with an interception. The Lattimore-led Saints secondary picked off Titans QB Ryan Tannehill three times.
Matched up against one of the best wide receivers in the league in Ja’Marr Chase, Denzel Ward locked up the star pass-catcher. The two-time Pro Bowl corner held Chase to just 39 yards on five catches as his primary defender, as the Browns beat up on the Bengals, 24-3. Joe Burrow passed for only 82 yards against Ward and the Cinci defense.
Coming in to replace an injured Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones performed admirably at tackle. Jones had somewhat of an advantage going up against Sam Hubbard in his first NFL action, as he knows a thing or two about Larry Johnson’s bag of tricks that Hubbard brought with him from Ohio State.
Speaking of Hubbard, the former Buckeye defensive lineman had a strong showing despite the Bengals’ big loss. Hubbard finished the afternoon tied for second on the team with eight total tackles, including three solo stops. Hubbard was named one of Cincinnati’s captains prior to the season.
Even with Aaron Rodgers gone, the Packers continue to own the Bears, with Jordan Love leading Green Bay to a 38-20 win in Chicago. It was not for lack of trying from Justin Fields, who threw 216 yards with a touchdown and an interception while also rushing for another 59 yards (a team-high) as he ran for his left for much of the afternoon behind some shoddy blocking. It wasn’t his best performance by any means, but the Bears defense really let him down.
Despite not getting much help from his offensive line or the skill talent around him, Stroud put together a strong performance in his first career NFL start. The former Ohio State quarterback passed for 242 yards while also rushing for 20 yards on four carries. He was sacked five times, but did not throw an interception in his debut. Of the top three QBs selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud passed for more yards than both Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson, and was also the only one of the trio to not throw a pick.
New Washington quarterback Sam Howell has the benefit of tossing to a pair of former Ohio State receivers — and good ones at that in Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. Samuel led the way through the air for the Commanders with five catches for 54 yards, while McLaurin caught two balls for 31 yards as the home team secured a 20-16 win over the Cardinals. McLaurin being out there already is a great sign, as the star wideout was thought to miss some time with a foot injury.
It was a quiet debut for the first-round draft pick, as Jaxon Smith-Njigba totaled three catches for 13 yards in his season debut. However, like McLaurin, it was good just to see JSN back on the field. Smith-Njigba had wrist surgery two weeks ago, and was back on the field for the Seahawk’s first game of the year. His first career catch moved the sticks.
It wasn’t a huge performance for Zeke in his first game as a Patriot, but he would wind up leading the Patriots on the ground with 29 yards despite receiving only seven carries. Of note, he did also fumble the football. Elliott will continue to split carries with Rhamondre Stevenson, but with the way the Pats use their running backs, there will definitely be opportunities for Zeke to make an impact.
Of course, we can’t discuss former Buckeyes in the league without mentioning the sad news of the day. After scoring the Ravens’ first touchdown of the season on a great dive into the end zone, J.K. Dobbins got his ankle rolled up on later in the game and was helped to the locker room. It was later announced that he suffered a torn Achilles, and will now miss the entire 2023 season. In the last year of his rookie deal, Dobbins has struggled to stay healthy, and this injury is brutal for a guy who was looking for a breakout season.
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 Patrick Smith/Getty Images
A look at how the former Buckeyes fared in the first weekend of NFL action.
With the NFL season finally getting underway this past weekend, we once again got a chance to see a large group of former Buckeyes dominating at the next level. On both offense and defense, Ohio State players can be found on nearly every team across the league. Let’s check out how the guys did in Week 1 of the new campaign.
Saints — Chris Olave, Michael Thomas, Marshon Lattimore
Olave had the biggest performance of the day by former Buckeyes, hauling in eight catches for a team-high 112 yards in the New Orleans Saints’ 16-15 win over the Titans.
A finally healthy Michael Thomas got a chance to catch passes from new Saints quarterback Derek Carr alongside Olave, snagging five passes for 65 yards, including this impressive grab down the sideline.
On the defensive side of the ball, Marshon Lattimore added to a strong showing of former Buckeyes in New Orleans with an interception. The Lattimore-led Saints secondary picked off Titans QB Ryan Tannehill three times.
Browns — Denzel Ward, Dawand Jones
Matched up against one of the best wide receivers in the league in Ja’Marr Chase, Denzel Ward locked up the star pass-catcher. The two-time Pro Bowl corner held Chase to just 39 yards on five catches as his primary defender, as the Browns beat up on the Bengals, 24-3. Joe Burrow passed for only 82 yards against Ward and the Cinci defense.
Coming in to replace an injured Jack Conklin, Dawand Jones performed admirably at tackle. Jones had somewhat of an advantage going up against Sam Hubbard in his first NFL action, as he knows a thing or two about Larry Johnson’s bag of tricks that Hubbard brought with him from Ohio State.
Bengals — Sam Hubbard
Speaking of Hubbard, the former Buckeye defensive lineman had a strong showing despite the Bengals’ big loss. Hubbard finished the afternoon tied for second on the team with eight total tackles, including three solo stops. Hubbard was named one of Cincinnati’s captains prior to the season.
Bears — Justin Fields
Even with Aaron Rodgers gone, the Packers continue to own the Bears, with Jordan Love leading Green Bay to a 38-20 win in Chicago. It was not for lack of trying from Justin Fields, who threw 216 yards with a touchdown and an interception while also rushing for another 59 yards (a team-high) as he ran for his left for much of the afternoon behind some shoddy blocking. It wasn’t his best performance by any means, but the Bears defense really let him down.
Texans — CJ Stroud
Despite not getting much help from his offensive line or the skill talent around him, Stroud put together a strong performance in his first career NFL start. The former Ohio State quarterback passed for 242 yards while also rushing for 20 yards on four carries. He was sacked five times, but did not throw an interception in his debut. Of the top three QBs selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, Stroud passed for more yards than both Bryce Young and Anthony Richardson, and was also the only one of the trio to not throw a pick.
Commanders — Terry McLaurin, Curtis Samuel
New Washington quarterback Sam Howell has the benefit of tossing to a pair of former Ohio State receivers — and good ones at that in Terry McLaurin and Curtis Samuel. Samuel led the way through the air for the Commanders with five catches for 54 yards, while McLaurin caught two balls for 31 yards as the home team secured a 20-16 win over the Cardinals. McLaurin being out there already is a great sign, as the star wideout was thought to miss some time with a foot injury.
Seahawks — Jaxon Smith-Njigba
It was a quiet debut for the first-round draft pick, as Jaxon Smith-Njigba totaled three catches for 13 yards in his season debut. However, like McLaurin, it was good just to see JSN back on the field. Smith-Njigba had wrist surgery two weeks ago, and was back on the field for the Seahawk’s first game of the year. His first career catch moved the sticks.
Patriots — Ezekiel Elliott
It wasn’t a huge performance for Zeke in his first game as a Patriot, but he would wind up leading the Patriots on the ground with 29 yards despite receiving only seven carries. Of note, he did also fumble the football. Elliott will continue to split carries with Rhamondre Stevenson, but with the way the Pats use their running backs, there will definitely be opportunities for Zeke to make an impact.
Ravens — J.K. Dobbins
Of course, we can’t discuss former Buckeyes in the league without mentioning the sad news of the day. After scoring the Ravens’ first touchdown of the season on a great dive into the end zone, J.K. Dobbins got his ankle rolled up on later in the game and was helped to the locker room. It was later announced that he suffered a torn Achilles, and will now miss the entire 2023 season. In the last year of his rookie deal, Dobbins has struggled to stay healthy, and this injury is brutal for a guy who was looking for a breakout season.
JK Dobbins Touchdownpic.twitter.com/MznMIB45s0
— Barstool Ohio State (@BarstoolOSU) September 10, 2023
Still to play on Monday —
- Garrett Wilson (Jets)
- Jeremy Ruckert (Jets)
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LGHL McCord looks ready to lead; other aspects of Ohio State haven’t inspired much confidence
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McCord looks ready to lead; other aspects of Ohio State haven’t inspired much confidence
Brett Ludwiczak via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
There are a couple obvious culprits for the sluggish start for the Buckeyes.
We are incredibly spoiled as Ohio State fans. Most fan bases would kill to have the run of success over the past couple of decades that the Buckeyes have had. While other fan bases would have been celebrating a Rose Bowl victory, or numerous playoff appearances, Ohio State fans are thinking about what could have been. What if the Buckeyes hadn’t lost to Michigan State in 2015? Had Marvin Harrison Jr. not gotten concussed last year against Georgia, Ohio State would have cruised to a national title. And let’s not forget about all the shenanigans that happened in the 2019 playoff game against Clemson or COVID cases against Alabama in 2020.
This year already feels like one of those seasons where we end up asking what could have been. Even though Ohio State has won both of its games by at least 20 points, they haven’t exactly been impressive. With this collection of talent, the Buckeyes shouldn’t be struggling as much as they have against Indiana and Youngstown State. The lackluster performances haven’t inspired much confidence for a trip to Notre Dame later this month, and games against Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan later in the season.
Before diving into what has been irking me so far about this season, I will give some credit to a few players who did step up this week. Kyle McCord was a lot better in his third career start. Obviously, good things happen when you throw the football in the direction of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. The two receivers combined for 12 catches for 254 yards and three scores in the 35-7 victory.
Even though he only carried the football five times, TreVeyon Henderson looks a lot healthier than he did last season. Sharing the workload with Miyan Williams and Chip Trayanum helps take some of the wear and tear off of Henderson, leaving him fresher to break some of the big runs as we saw from him as a freshman. It will be interesting to see if Ohio State continues to split carries like they have in the first two games, or if they lean more on one running back as the season moves along.
Now that we have all the warm fuzzies out of the way, it’s time to look at what’s wrong with the Buckeyes. Right now it feels like the biggest problem is head coach Ryan Day. I wrote during the offseason that I thought Day had peaked as Ohio State head coach and everyone thought I was crazy. It unfortunately is starting to feel like Day’s program is trending toward the downhill slide of late-stage Urban Meyer teamsat Florida and Ohio State. Sure, his teams were winning, but at what cost?
Remember when Day promoted Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator and said the former Buckeye wide receiver was going to take over some of the play-calling duties? I can’t imagine any of that has happened so far. Day undoubtedly let all the praise from the great game he called against Georgia in the CFP go to his head, and just told everyone what they wanted to hear about Hartline getting more responsibilities this year. You can tell it’s all Day, especially when you see running plays towards the boundary on the short side of the field on 3rd and 1.
Also, can Day quit crying about the new clock rules? We know they suck. So far, Indiana and Youngstown State have done the equivalent of parking the bus in soccer. The goal of the Hoosiers and Penguins wasn’t to win the game, but just to not get embarrassed. It’s not like the new clock rules are only enforced in Buckeye games, though. It didn’t stop Oregon from putting up 81 on an FCS opponent last week. Deal with it.
I know it’s hard to find fault in a defense that has allowed 10 points in two games this year, however, the defensive line should be playing better. With so many great players on the line, they should be generating more pressure. We all know how great J.T. Tuimolaou was last year against Penn State. But what has he done since then? He has been largely invisible. I keep waiting to see more consistency from the junior defensive end, it just hasn’t happened yet.
Is the lack of consistent pressure due to teams getting rid of the ball quickly? Is it a fall-off in coaching from Larry Johnson? Is it getting near the time for the legendary defensive line coach to hang it up?
Or is it because of the defensive scheme of Jim Knowles? Do the coordinator and line coaches’ philosophies not mesh well? Tommy Eichenberg and some of the other linebackers didn’t look to be having too much trouble generating pressure.
The defensive line hasn’t had a true difference-maker since Chase Young left for the NFL. Sure, there have been some good defensive linemen since then, but nobody NFL teams are looking at and saying they need to have that guy on their team.
Who knows, maybe this team is just sandbagging for Notre Dame, or perhaps they put things together and turn into the title contender that we all think they can be. Even with me whining about how the first couple of games have gone, the Buckeyes are still 2-0. Even a loss to the Fighting Irish wouldn’t totally bury Ohio State when it comes to the College Football Playoff, but it certainly would give them no margin for error.
We all saw what happened in 2014 when everyone was declaring the Buckeyes dead after the loss to Virginia Tech; let’s hope that they don’t lose early (or at all) and can figure out how to reach their potential sooner rather than later.
Like I said at the beginning of my rambling, we are an incredibly spoiled fan base. While these first two games have been wins, they haven’t been fun watches. Then again, all that matters in the end is getting the win. Go Bucks.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
There are a couple obvious culprits for the sluggish start for the Buckeyes.
We are incredibly spoiled as Ohio State fans. Most fan bases would kill to have the run of success over the past couple of decades that the Buckeyes have had. While other fan bases would have been celebrating a Rose Bowl victory, or numerous playoff appearances, Ohio State fans are thinking about what could have been. What if the Buckeyes hadn’t lost to Michigan State in 2015? Had Marvin Harrison Jr. not gotten concussed last year against Georgia, Ohio State would have cruised to a national title. And let’s not forget about all the shenanigans that happened in the 2019 playoff game against Clemson or COVID cases against Alabama in 2020.
This year already feels like one of those seasons where we end up asking what could have been. Even though Ohio State has won both of its games by at least 20 points, they haven’t exactly been impressive. With this collection of talent, the Buckeyes shouldn’t be struggling as much as they have against Indiana and Youngstown State. The lackluster performances haven’t inspired much confidence for a trip to Notre Dame later this month, and games against Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan later in the season.
Kyle McCord & the Ohio State offense
Before diving into what has been irking me so far about this season, I will give some credit to a few players who did step up this week. Kyle McCord was a lot better in his third career start. Obviously, good things happen when you throw the football in the direction of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka. The two receivers combined for 12 catches for 254 yards and three scores in the 35-7 victory.
Even though he only carried the football five times, TreVeyon Henderson looks a lot healthier than he did last season. Sharing the workload with Miyan Williams and Chip Trayanum helps take some of the wear and tear off of Henderson, leaving him fresher to break some of the big runs as we saw from him as a freshman. It will be interesting to see if Ohio State continues to split carries like they have in the first two games, or if they lean more on one running back as the season moves along.
Ryan Day
Now that we have all the warm fuzzies out of the way, it’s time to look at what’s wrong with the Buckeyes. Right now it feels like the biggest problem is head coach Ryan Day. I wrote during the offseason that I thought Day had peaked as Ohio State head coach and everyone thought I was crazy. It unfortunately is starting to feel like Day’s program is trending toward the downhill slide of late-stage Urban Meyer teamsat Florida and Ohio State. Sure, his teams were winning, but at what cost?
Remember when Day promoted Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator and said the former Buckeye wide receiver was going to take over some of the play-calling duties? I can’t imagine any of that has happened so far. Day undoubtedly let all the praise from the great game he called against Georgia in the CFP go to his head, and just told everyone what they wanted to hear about Hartline getting more responsibilities this year. You can tell it’s all Day, especially when you see running plays towards the boundary on the short side of the field on 3rd and 1.
Also, can Day quit crying about the new clock rules? We know they suck. So far, Indiana and Youngstown State have done the equivalent of parking the bus in soccer. The goal of the Hoosiers and Penguins wasn’t to win the game, but just to not get embarrassed. It’s not like the new clock rules are only enforced in Buckeye games, though. It didn’t stop Oregon from putting up 81 on an FCS opponent last week. Deal with it.
Defensive line/Larry Johnson
I know it’s hard to find fault in a defense that has allowed 10 points in two games this year, however, the defensive line should be playing better. With so many great players on the line, they should be generating more pressure. We all know how great J.T. Tuimolaou was last year against Penn State. But what has he done since then? He has been largely invisible. I keep waiting to see more consistency from the junior defensive end, it just hasn’t happened yet.
Is the lack of consistent pressure due to teams getting rid of the ball quickly? Is it a fall-off in coaching from Larry Johnson? Is it getting near the time for the legendary defensive line coach to hang it up?
Or is it because of the defensive scheme of Jim Knowles? Do the coordinator and line coaches’ philosophies not mesh well? Tommy Eichenberg and some of the other linebackers didn’t look to be having too much trouble generating pressure.
The defensive line hasn’t had a true difference-maker since Chase Young left for the NFL. Sure, there have been some good defensive linemen since then, but nobody NFL teams are looking at and saying they need to have that guy on their team.
Who knows, maybe this team is just sandbagging for Notre Dame, or perhaps they put things together and turn into the title contender that we all think they can be. Even with me whining about how the first couple of games have gone, the Buckeyes are still 2-0. Even a loss to the Fighting Irish wouldn’t totally bury Ohio State when it comes to the College Football Playoff, but it certainly would give them no margin for error.
We all saw what happened in 2014 when everyone was declaring the Buckeyes dead after the loss to Virginia Tech; let’s hope that they don’t lose early (or at all) and can figure out how to reach their potential sooner rather than later.
Like I said at the beginning of my rambling, we are an incredibly spoiled fan base. While these first two games have been wins, they haven’t been fun watches. Then again, all that matters in the end is getting the win. Go Bucks.
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LGHL Ohio State opens as 27.5-point favorites over Western Kentucky
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Ohio State opens as 27.5-point favorites over Western Kentucky
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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
The Buckeyes host the Hilltoppers in Week 3.
After two-straight wins of 20 points or more to open the season, Ohio State will once again be heavy favorites in Week 3 when they host Western Kentucky. Despite coming in as underdogs, the Hilltoppers will provide a unique challenge to the Buckeye defense, as WKU has led all of college football in passing yards each of the last two seasons. It won’t be a cakewalk by any means, but this will be Ohio State’s final chance to get things right before traveling to Notre Dame in Week 4.
All lines courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Ohio State’s offense has been subpar to begin the year. The 58 total points scored against Indiana and Youngstown State are the fewest in a two-game stretch to start a season since Ryan Day took over as head coach. Still, the Buckeyes have a ton of talent on that side of the ball, and it appears that Kyle McCord has unofficially won the job as QB1. Of course, that Marvin Harrison Jr. guy is pretty good, and he racked up seven grabs for 160 yards and two TDs against the Penguins. Emeka Egbuka was great as well, tallying five catches for 94 yards and a TD.
Defensively, the Buckeyes have looked strong through two weeks. Ohio State allowed Youngstown State to score on its opening drive but locked in to allow 159 total yards and zero points the rest of the way. The Silver Bullets got their first takeaway of the year on Denzel Burke’s interception in the third quarter and allowed just one play that went for more than 20 yards in the game. The defensive line, while strong against the run, continues to struggle to rush the passer. Starting defensive ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau have yet to register a sack, or even make much of an impact pressuring the opposing QB.
Western Kentucky, meanwhile, is coming off a 52-22 win over Houston Christian. After throwing for an FBS-high 4,749 yards and 40 TDs in 2022, quarterback Austin Reed is off to another strong start in the high-flying Hilltopper offense. Passing for 336 yards and two TDs in the opener against South Florida, Reed followed it up with 253 yards and four TDs against the Huskies. Malachi Corley is the star of the show in this receiver core, but WKU has a ton of guys that can hurt you through the air. Easton Messer led the way against Houston Christian, hauling in nine passes for 116 yards and a TD.
The Hilltoppers gave up 368 yards to Houston Christian, allowing the Huskies to convert 7-of-11 on third down, but they did also force three turnovers, including a pick-six. JacQues Evans is the man to look out for on this unit. The stud linebacker led Western Kentucky a year ago with 106 tackles to go along with a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He already has 11 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery TD through two games this season. Defensive back Talique Allen is another player to watch, tying for the team lead with Evans with 11 total tackles with 0.5 TFLs and a forced fumble.
This will be the first real test for Ohio State’s secondary, as this Western Kentucky passing attack is legit. The pass rush will have to do a better job of getting home in Week 3, or else the Buckeye defensive backs could get left on an island. On the other side of the ball, Ryan Day should name Kyle McCord the starter and max out his reps before Ohio State has to travel to Notre Dame. This offense needs to find some sort of consistency this week, and it will be tough to do that if you continue to rotate the QBs. This is Day’s last chance to tune things up, and the opponent is no pushover despite the spread.
Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
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 Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
The Buckeyes host the Hilltoppers in Week 3.
After two-straight wins of 20 points or more to open the season, Ohio State will once again be heavy favorites in Week 3 when they host Western Kentucky. Despite coming in as underdogs, the Hilltoppers will provide a unique challenge to the Buckeye defense, as WKU has led all of college football in passing yards each of the last two seasons. It won’t be a cakewalk by any means, but this will be Ohio State’s final chance to get things right before traveling to Notre Dame in Week 4.
All lines courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.
Spread: Ohio State -27.5
Ohio State’s offense has been subpar to begin the year. The 58 total points scored against Indiana and Youngstown State are the fewest in a two-game stretch to start a season since Ryan Day took over as head coach. Still, the Buckeyes have a ton of talent on that side of the ball, and it appears that Kyle McCord has unofficially won the job as QB1. Of course, that Marvin Harrison Jr. guy is pretty good, and he racked up seven grabs for 160 yards and two TDs against the Penguins. Emeka Egbuka was great as well, tallying five catches for 94 yards and a TD.
Defensively, the Buckeyes have looked strong through two weeks. Ohio State allowed Youngstown State to score on its opening drive but locked in to allow 159 total yards and zero points the rest of the way. The Silver Bullets got their first takeaway of the year on Denzel Burke’s interception in the third quarter and allowed just one play that went for more than 20 yards in the game. The defensive line, while strong against the run, continues to struggle to rush the passer. Starting defensive ends Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau have yet to register a sack, or even make much of an impact pressuring the opposing QB.
Western Kentucky, meanwhile, is coming off a 52-22 win over Houston Christian. After throwing for an FBS-high 4,749 yards and 40 TDs in 2022, quarterback Austin Reed is off to another strong start in the high-flying Hilltopper offense. Passing for 336 yards and two TDs in the opener against South Florida, Reed followed it up with 253 yards and four TDs against the Huskies. Malachi Corley is the star of the show in this receiver core, but WKU has a ton of guys that can hurt you through the air. Easton Messer led the way against Houston Christian, hauling in nine passes for 116 yards and a TD.
The Hilltoppers gave up 368 yards to Houston Christian, allowing the Huskies to convert 7-of-11 on third down, but they did also force three turnovers, including a pick-six. JacQues Evans is the man to look out for on this unit. The stud linebacker led Western Kentucky a year ago with 106 tackles to go along with a team-high 13.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He already has 11 tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery TD through two games this season. Defensive back Talique Allen is another player to watch, tying for the team lead with Evans with 11 total tackles with 0.5 TFLs and a forced fumble.
This will be the first real test for Ohio State’s secondary, as this Western Kentucky passing attack is legit. The pass rush will have to do a better job of getting home in Week 3, or else the Buckeye defensive backs could get left on an island. On the other side of the ball, Ryan Day should name Kyle McCord the starter and max out his reps before Ohio State has to travel to Notre Dame. This offense needs to find some sort of consistency this week, and it will be tough to do that if you continue to rotate the QBs. This is Day’s last chance to tune things up, and the opponent is no pushover despite the spread.
Odds/lines subject to change. T&Cs apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
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LGHL Stock Market Report: Denzel Burke is elite, Marvin Harrison is back, but things need to be cleaned up
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Stock Market Report: Denzel Burke is elite, Marvin Harrison is back, but things need to be cleaned up
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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The Buckeyes are 2-0 but an interesting matchup with Western Kentucky is looming.
Alright, folks, we are two weeks into the college football season, and Ohio State is 2-0. At the end of the day, that is the main goal, but it has not been perfect, and there are some things the Buckeyes need to clean up before heading to South Bend in two weeks and even before they host Western Kentucky next week.
Let’s take a look at some guys who improved their stock in Week 2, who did not, and which ones you should be buying and selling.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24910314/usa_today_21381431.jpg "NCAA Football: Youngstown State at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Denzel Burke: Burke was a solid investment last week, and after an interception and more lockdown coverage, Burke is getting a promotion. I am willing to say he is back in a big way. The next two weeks will be interesting, and he will be tested with Austin Reed and Sam Hartman next on the schedule, but I have all the faith that Burke is becoming one of the top corners in the country again.
Marvin Harrison Jr.: I am going to keep this one as simple as possible. The game against Indiana was a fluke. It doesn’t matter that it is a new quarterback, and it doesn’t matter that he is a surefire top 5 draft pick next April. Harrison Jr. is still him, and he will continue to be him. He recorded 160 yards and two touchdowns against Youngstown State, his third career game with 150 yards or more receiving.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24910313/usa_today_21381631.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Brooke LaValley/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
TreVeyon Henderson: Henderson may have only had five carries in this one, but he made them all count. He ran for 56 carries two touchdowns, and he had a touchdown called back. He hurdled a guy, too, and that’s always fun. He looks athletic and explosive, and with a young quarterback, they will need Henderson to be reliable in the running game, and so far, the returns have been positive.
Tommy Eichenberg: If there is any way to describe Eichenberg, it is solid. He is always in the right spot in the run defense and tackles when given the opportunity. He led the Big Ten in solo tackles last season and was second in total tackles with 122. He will continue to tackle at a high level and be the leader of the defense throughout the season.’
Against Youngstown State, Eichenberg had 6 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one TFL. He continues to impress.
Third down efficiency…. Still: Through two games, the Buckeyes are 7-for-24 on third down. That is not great against anyone, but it is really not great against Indiana and Youngstown State. Third-down efficiency is key to winning close games, and it has not come back to matter against anyone yet, but against Notre Dame, Penn State, and Michigan, that just is not going to be good enough. the Buckeyes are 114th in the FBS on third down conversion rate. That is about 100 spots to low for an offense like the Buckeyes.
On the bright side, the Buckeyes are 4-for-6 on fourth down this season, so that is good.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24910311/usa_today_21381434.jpg "NCAA Football: Youngstown State at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Buy: Sonny Styles. Just buy it. Buy it all. He is the most talented player on the defense, he is all over the ball when he needs to be and in the right position at all times. He is so young and only getting better. Buy all the stock you can.
Buy: Tony Alford. There has been a lot of discourse about coaching and play-calling this season thus far. However, let’s give a shoutout to Tony Alford. Some possible offensive line issues aside, all the running backs that have come in look solid and ready to play. Chip Trayanum stole the show in week one, Miyan Williams had two touchdowns in week one, and TreVeyon Henderson had two touchdowns in week two. The running game is only going to get better. Alford has always been a great coach for the Buckeyes
Sell: The Big Ten West. This is not completely Ohio State-specific, but after two weeks, I do think it is safe to say that whoever wins the Big Ten East will win the Big Ten. Iowa looks like Iowa (bad offense, good defense), Nebraska is bad, Illinois lost to Kansas, and Wisconsin lost to Washington State. The West is the weaker Division of the two, but it is very bad this year so far.
Sell: The QB “competition”. Anyone with eyes can see this isn’t and likely never was a quarterback competition. That is no shade to Devin Brown, but Kyle McCord has taken every meaningful snap the Buckeyes have had. That means he is the starter. Let’s move on.
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justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Buckeyes are 2-0 but an interesting matchup with Western Kentucky is looming.
Alright, folks, we are two weeks into the college football season, and Ohio State is 2-0. At the end of the day, that is the main goal, but it has not been perfect, and there are some things the Buckeyes need to clean up before heading to South Bend in two weeks and even before they host Western Kentucky next week.
Let’s take a look at some guys who improved their stock in Week 2, who did not, and which ones you should be buying and selling.
Blue Chip Stocks
Denzel Burke: Burke was a solid investment last week, and after an interception and more lockdown coverage, Burke is getting a promotion. I am willing to say he is back in a big way. The next two weeks will be interesting, and he will be tested with Austin Reed and Sam Hartman next on the schedule, but I have all the faith that Burke is becoming one of the top corners in the country again.
Marvin Harrison Jr.: I am going to keep this one as simple as possible. The game against Indiana was a fluke. It doesn’t matter that it is a new quarterback, and it doesn’t matter that he is a surefire top 5 draft pick next April. Harrison Jr. is still him, and he will continue to be him. He recorded 160 yards and two touchdowns against Youngstown State, his third career game with 150 yards or more receiving.
Solid Investments
TreVeyon Henderson: Henderson may have only had five carries in this one, but he made them all count. He ran for 56 carries two touchdowns, and he had a touchdown called back. He hurdled a guy, too, and that’s always fun. He looks athletic and explosive, and with a young quarterback, they will need Henderson to be reliable in the running game, and so far, the returns have been positive.
Tommy Eichenberg: If there is any way to describe Eichenberg, it is solid. He is always in the right spot in the run defense and tackles when given the opportunity. He led the Big Ten in solo tackles last season and was second in total tackles with 122. He will continue to tackle at a high level and be the leader of the defense throughout the season.’
Against Youngstown State, Eichenberg had 6 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one TFL. He continues to impress.
Junk Bonds
Third down efficiency…. Still: Through two games, the Buckeyes are 7-for-24 on third down. That is not great against anyone, but it is really not great against Indiana and Youngstown State. Third-down efficiency is key to winning close games, and it has not come back to matter against anyone yet, but against Notre Dame, Penn State, and Michigan, that just is not going to be good enough. the Buckeyes are 114th in the FBS on third down conversion rate. That is about 100 spots to low for an offense like the Buckeyes.
On the bright side, the Buckeyes are 4-for-6 on fourth down this season, so that is good.
Buy/Sell
Buy: Sonny Styles. Just buy it. Buy it all. He is the most talented player on the defense, he is all over the ball when he needs to be and in the right position at all times. He is so young and only getting better. Buy all the stock you can.
Buy: Tony Alford. There has been a lot of discourse about coaching and play-calling this season thus far. However, let’s give a shoutout to Tony Alford. Some possible offensive line issues aside, all the running backs that have come in look solid and ready to play. Chip Trayanum stole the show in week one, Miyan Williams had two touchdowns in week one, and TreVeyon Henderson had two touchdowns in week two. The running game is only going to get better. Alford has always been a great coach for the Buckeyes
Sell: The Big Ten West. This is not completely Ohio State-specific, but after two weeks, I do think it is safe to say that whoever wins the Big Ten East will win the Big Ten. Iowa looks like Iowa (bad offense, good defense), Nebraska is bad, Illinois lost to Kansas, and Wisconsin lost to Washington State. The West is the weaker Division of the two, but it is very bad this year so far.
Sell: The QB “competition”. Anyone with eyes can see this isn’t and likely never was a quarterback competition. That is no shade to Devin Brown, but Kyle McCord has taken every meaningful snap the Buckeyes have had. That means he is the starter. Let’s move on.
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