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LGHL Uncut Podcast: Ryan Day said Ohio State played ‘fast’ and ‘violent’ against Western Kentucky
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Uncut Podcast: Ryan Day said Ohio State played ‘fast’ and ‘violent’ against Western Kentucky
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The head coach and his quarterback recap the game while also turning their attention to South Bend.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from Ohio State’s postgame press conference following the Buckeyes’ 63-10 victory over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday, Sept. 16. Up first, we hear from head football coach Ryan Day who discusses the trajectory of his team and why he was so confident that they would step up their performance level against WKU. Day discusses the performance of his new starting quarterback, how his defense was able to perform so well against a prolific passing offense, and individual plays like Tyleik Williams’ touchdown and McCord’s strip-sack.
McCord also talks about his first start as the Buckeyes’ unquestioned QB1. He talked about how the game was a major confidence boost and what he thinks is his primary job as the OSU QB. Both Day and McCord also talk a little about the upcoming game against Notre Dame.
Watch the complete press conference on Ohio State Athletic’s official Facebook page: Login to view embedded media
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
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
The head coach and his quarterback recap the game while also turning their attention to South Bend.
Throughout the year, the Land-Grant Podcast Network will be bringing you uncut audio primarily from Ohio State press conferences, but also from individual interview sessions.
Listen to the episode and subscribe:
Subscribe: RSS | Apple | Spotify | Google Podcasts | iHeart Radio
On today’s episode of “Land-Grant Uncut,” we are bringing you unedited audio from Ohio State’s postgame press conference following the Buckeyes’ 63-10 victory over the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers on Saturday, Sept. 16. Up first, we hear from head football coach Ryan Day who discusses the trajectory of his team and why he was so confident that they would step up their performance level against WKU. Day discusses the performance of his new starting quarterback, how his defense was able to perform so well against a prolific passing offense, and individual plays like Tyleik Williams’ touchdown and McCord’s strip-sack.
McCord also talks about his first start as the Buckeyes’ unquestioned QB1. He talked about how the game was a major confidence boost and what he thinks is his primary job as the OSU QB. Both Day and McCord also talk a little about the upcoming game against Notre Dame.
Watch the complete press conference on Ohio State Athletic’s official Facebook page: Login to view embedded media
Contact Matt Tamanini
Twitter: @BWWMatt
Music by: www.bensound.com
Continue reading...
LGHL You’re Nuts: Bold predictions for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
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You’re Nuts: Bold predictions for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
Josh Dooley 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
The Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish battle it out in Week 4.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Bold predictions for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
The 2023 college football season begins in earnest this weekend, especially for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Because September has been a bit of a snoozefest thus far for both OSU and most top-tier CFB teams in general.
Outside of Texas-Alabama and a few other matchups, Saturdays have gravitated toward mundane, and the games have not packed a whole lot of punch. Sure, you’ve probably been able to find a game or two each weekend that had its moments and/or a wild ending, but Week 4 should be when and where business really starts to pick up. Seriously, the slate is incredible.
And of course one of the marquee matchups this weekend involves our beloved Buckeyes. The Scarlet and Gray will travel to South Bend (IN) for the first time since 1996, to take on former Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman and his Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Both teams are undefeated, both teams are in the top-10, and both teams really, really want to win. I am not sure which team needs it more, but I think it might be the Irish. Seems like they need a major victory to hang their hat on... Although, if Ryan Day loses another big-time game, I’m sure we’ll hear plenty about him and his ‘overrated’ OSU squad.
Historically speaking, the Buckeyes have dominated this quasi-rivalry... At least I think it’s a bit of a rivalry. Ohio State has won the last five meetings, including last year’s 21-10 victory in Columbus. But playing in South Bend is an entirely different animal, and probably unlike anything OSU quarterback Kyle McCord has ever experienced. Which is why I think the playing field is level this time around, if not tilted slightly in favor of the Irish.
So what should we expect from McCord and the Buckeyes? I am not entirely sure... Sorry if I gave you that impression. But I do have a few predictions for the game, which is what Gene and I decided to roll out for today’s version of You’re Nuts. See how I transitioned seamlessly there?
With a game of this magnitude, it is often hard to predict how things will unfold. There are just so many questions. Such as: Will McCord rise to the occasion against better competition? Will Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman? After all, the Irish have not exactly played a murderer’s row of opponents. Will Ryan Day outcoach the younger and less experienced Freeman? Or will he take the conservative approach that drives Ohio State fans mad?
I could go on and on, but I risk burying the lead. Gene and I owe you predictions. My point with the questions above was to drive home the fact that I am wildly unsure of how this game will go. For that reason, I decided to make a bold prediction about just one individual participating in said game. He does not play quarterback — or any skill position for that matter. And he has been extremely quiet through three weeks for the team in Scarlet and Gray. But I’ve got a feeling that he shows up and shows out in another big moment.
Without further ado, I boldly predict that J.T. Tuimoloau will ‘rise from the dead’ on Saturday night, have at least one sack, one (other) TFL, and generally speaking, make a significant impact on the game. And the Buckeyes will likely need him to, if they are going to go on the road and beat the Golden Domers.
Tuimoloau has not been great thus far in 2023. And honestly, he was hit or miss in 2022 as well. I think that is just sort of what OSU fans should expect from Tuimoloau at this point in his career. We certainly know that he is capable of disrupting and dominating a game, but he hasn’t quite figured out the consistency part. And that can be frustrating for Buckeye Nation. However, the magical, mythical Penn State game (‘22) will always keep us intrigued.
But my bold prediction goes beyond intrigue. I have belief. I have confidence. That Tuimoloau will play a great game on Saturday, while likely going up against one of the best left tackles in the country in ND’s Joe Alt. Crazy? Perhaps. But I like to think of this prediction as reasonably bold.
Tuimoloau has shown or proven in the past that he is capable of single-handedly taking over a game. That was against Penn State, a team with a stud LT and a stout offensive line — a la Notre Dame. Alt is about as good as they come at the college level, but he is only one man. And I just have a feeling that Tuimoloau is going to be wildly motivated on/for Saturday night. To battle ND’s All-American and also show the CFB world what he is capable of... Or at least remind them.
The Buckeyes’ defensive end has likely heard some of the criticism about his up-and-down play. If he has not, well then good for him. Seriously. But Tuimoloau is a talented player. Opponents plan for him. They double him, they scheme away from him, and sometimes they just refuse to give him any opportunities. There is an argument to be made that the latter has been true in 2023. Ohio State encountered two teams who essentially refused to throw the ball, and another that got rid of it in .5 seconds. Notre Dame, on the other hand, will not be afraid. Which means that Tuimoloau should at least get some chances.
I am not predicting another Penn State performance from Tuimoloau, although I would gladly take it. Instead, I predict that No. 44 will play well and make a tangible difference for OSU. And if he does, then I will feel really, really good about the Buckeyes’ chances. Go Bucks.
After two meh performances and an impressive outing against Western Kentucky, Ohio State will now truly be tested with a road game at Notre Dame. This is the Buckeyes’ first true road contest in a hostile environment this season, as the Indiana game, while on the road, was probably a greater percentage of OSU fans than those in favor of the Hoosiers. It will be interesting to see how a raucous enemy crowd impacts Ryan Day’s largely veteran group — albeit one with a first-year starting quarterback.
With Josh making a bold prediction on the defensive side of things, I wanted to make one for the offense, but with the way Ohio State’s offense plays when its at its best, nothing really feels all that bold. While I do think Notre Dame’s defense is far and away the best the Buckeyes have seen to this point, is it really all that bold to predict that Marvin Harrison Jr. will go for 150 yards and three touchdowns? Would it be crazy to see Kyle McCord throw for 400-plus yards? I dont think it’s out of the question, but I also think Day will look to have a balanced attack against the Irish much like he did against Western Kentucky.
So instead, I will also predict something from the defense, and I am going to drink the Silver Bullets Kool-aid with a very bold prediction: I think the Ohio State defense will hold Sam Hartman under 200 yards passing.
Hartman has been nothing short of fantastic for Notre Dame through its first four games this season. The Wake Forest transfer has already thrown for over 1,000 yards with 13 touchdowns and an even more impressive zero interceptions. He has far and away his best passer efficiency rating of his career at 217.8, having previously passed for nearly 13,000 yards in his time with the Demon Deacons. Hartman has virtually seen it all, now playing in his sixth year of college football, but he definitely hasn’t yet faced a defense so far this season that is anything close to what Ohio State has been trotting out there.
From the start of the 2021 season to present day, Hartman has started 30 games between Wake Forest and Notre Dame. In that span, he has failed to hit 200 passing yards just two times. Once was the season opener in 2021 against Old Dominion, where Hartman wasn’t asked to do a whole lot in a 42-10 victory wherein Wake Forest ran the ball 41 times and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. The other was this season against Tennessee State, where Notre Dame ran for 221 yards and Hartman only played in the first half of a 56-3 blowout.
Over that same span, Hartman has passed for more than 300 yards on 16 occasions, including twice against Clemson and once against UNC. As previously mentioned, this is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the entire country, having completed over 1,000 passes and throwing for more than 14,000 yards in his collegiate career. Holding him under 200 yards is no easy feat, but I think this Ohio State secondary is one of the program’s best in several years, and they could very well be up to the task.
In three games this season, the Silver Bullets have allowed just 421 passing yards total. Now, this is skewed because of Indiana running the triple option for a majority of that game, but the Buckeyes held Youngstown State to 135 yards passing and the dynamic passing attack of Western Kentucky to 204 yards. Notre Dame is far more talented than either of those teams, but the Hilltoppers are likely more prone to explosive plays. Being able to limit those big plays against WKU has me extremely confident in what they can do against the Irish.
I don’t think it’s at all a shot at Notre Dame to say that Ohio State’s secondary is going up against better wide receivers in practice each week than they are on Saturdays. That kind of thing sort of comes with the territory of having Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka on the roster in addition to the rest of Brian Hartline's band of five-stars. Hartman is a really good quarterback, but the Fighting Irish receivers leave a bit to be desired. There are some talented players in that room, but nobody jumps off the page in a way like the Buckeye pass-catchers do.
Im confident that Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock with a talented group of safeties behind them can shut down the ND passing attack on Saturday — especially if Josh’s prediction comes through and the Buckeyes can finally get a pass rush going.
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
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
The Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish battle it out in Week 4.
Everybody knows that one of the best parts of being a sports fan is debating and dissecting the most (and least) important questions in the sporting world with your friends. So, we’re bringing that to the pages of LGHL with our favorite head-to-head column: You’re Nuts.
In You’re Nuts, two LGHL staff members will take differing sides of one question and argue their opinions passionately. Then, in the end, it’s up to you to determine who’s right and who’s nuts.
This week’s topic: Bold predictions for Ohio State vs. Notre Dame
Josh’s Take
The 2023 college football season begins in earnest this weekend, especially for the Ohio State Buckeyes. Because September has been a bit of a snoozefest thus far for both OSU and most top-tier CFB teams in general.
Outside of Texas-Alabama and a few other matchups, Saturdays have gravitated toward mundane, and the games have not packed a whole lot of punch. Sure, you’ve probably been able to find a game or two each weekend that had its moments and/or a wild ending, but Week 4 should be when and where business really starts to pick up. Seriously, the slate is incredible.
And of course one of the marquee matchups this weekend involves our beloved Buckeyes. The Scarlet and Gray will travel to South Bend (IN) for the first time since 1996, to take on former Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman and his Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Both teams are undefeated, both teams are in the top-10, and both teams really, really want to win. I am not sure which team needs it more, but I think it might be the Irish. Seems like they need a major victory to hang their hat on... Although, if Ryan Day loses another big-time game, I’m sure we’ll hear plenty about him and his ‘overrated’ OSU squad.
Historically speaking, the Buckeyes have dominated this quasi-rivalry... At least I think it’s a bit of a rivalry. Ohio State has won the last five meetings, including last year’s 21-10 victory in Columbus. But playing in South Bend is an entirely different animal, and probably unlike anything OSU quarterback Kyle McCord has ever experienced. Which is why I think the playing field is level this time around, if not tilted slightly in favor of the Irish.
So what should we expect from McCord and the Buckeyes? I am not entirely sure... Sorry if I gave you that impression. But I do have a few predictions for the game, which is what Gene and I decided to roll out for today’s version of You’re Nuts. See how I transitioned seamlessly there?
With a game of this magnitude, it is often hard to predict how things will unfold. There are just so many questions. Such as: Will McCord rise to the occasion against better competition? Will Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman? After all, the Irish have not exactly played a murderer’s row of opponents. Will Ryan Day outcoach the younger and less experienced Freeman? Or will he take the conservative approach that drives Ohio State fans mad?
I could go on and on, but I risk burying the lead. Gene and I owe you predictions. My point with the questions above was to drive home the fact that I am wildly unsure of how this game will go. For that reason, I decided to make a bold prediction about just one individual participating in said game. He does not play quarterback — or any skill position for that matter. And he has been extremely quiet through three weeks for the team in Scarlet and Gray. But I’ve got a feeling that he shows up and shows out in another big moment.
Without further ado, I boldly predict that J.T. Tuimoloau will ‘rise from the dead’ on Saturday night, have at least one sack, one (other) TFL, and generally speaking, make a significant impact on the game. And the Buckeyes will likely need him to, if they are going to go on the road and beat the Golden Domers.
Tuimoloau has not been great thus far in 2023. And honestly, he was hit or miss in 2022 as well. I think that is just sort of what OSU fans should expect from Tuimoloau at this point in his career. We certainly know that he is capable of disrupting and dominating a game, but he hasn’t quite figured out the consistency part. And that can be frustrating for Buckeye Nation. However, the magical, mythical Penn State game (‘22) will always keep us intrigued.
But my bold prediction goes beyond intrigue. I have belief. I have confidence. That Tuimoloau will play a great game on Saturday, while likely going up against one of the best left tackles in the country in ND’s Joe Alt. Crazy? Perhaps. But I like to think of this prediction as reasonably bold.
Tuimoloau has shown or proven in the past that he is capable of single-handedly taking over a game. That was against Penn State, a team with a stud LT and a stout offensive line — a la Notre Dame. Alt is about as good as they come at the college level, but he is only one man. And I just have a feeling that Tuimoloau is going to be wildly motivated on/for Saturday night. To battle ND’s All-American and also show the CFB world what he is capable of... Or at least remind them.
The Buckeyes’ defensive end has likely heard some of the criticism about his up-and-down play. If he has not, well then good for him. Seriously. But Tuimoloau is a talented player. Opponents plan for him. They double him, they scheme away from him, and sometimes they just refuse to give him any opportunities. There is an argument to be made that the latter has been true in 2023. Ohio State encountered two teams who essentially refused to throw the ball, and another that got rid of it in .5 seconds. Notre Dame, on the other hand, will not be afraid. Which means that Tuimoloau should at least get some chances.
I am not predicting another Penn State performance from Tuimoloau, although I would gladly take it. Instead, I predict that No. 44 will play well and make a tangible difference for OSU. And if he does, then I will feel really, really good about the Buckeyes’ chances. Go Bucks.
Gene’s Take
After two meh performances and an impressive outing against Western Kentucky, Ohio State will now truly be tested with a road game at Notre Dame. This is the Buckeyes’ first true road contest in a hostile environment this season, as the Indiana game, while on the road, was probably a greater percentage of OSU fans than those in favor of the Hoosiers. It will be interesting to see how a raucous enemy crowd impacts Ryan Day’s largely veteran group — albeit one with a first-year starting quarterback.
With Josh making a bold prediction on the defensive side of things, I wanted to make one for the offense, but with the way Ohio State’s offense plays when its at its best, nothing really feels all that bold. While I do think Notre Dame’s defense is far and away the best the Buckeyes have seen to this point, is it really all that bold to predict that Marvin Harrison Jr. will go for 150 yards and three touchdowns? Would it be crazy to see Kyle McCord throw for 400-plus yards? I dont think it’s out of the question, but I also think Day will look to have a balanced attack against the Irish much like he did against Western Kentucky.
So instead, I will also predict something from the defense, and I am going to drink the Silver Bullets Kool-aid with a very bold prediction: I think the Ohio State defense will hold Sam Hartman under 200 yards passing.
Hartman has been nothing short of fantastic for Notre Dame through its first four games this season. The Wake Forest transfer has already thrown for over 1,000 yards with 13 touchdowns and an even more impressive zero interceptions. He has far and away his best passer efficiency rating of his career at 217.8, having previously passed for nearly 13,000 yards in his time with the Demon Deacons. Hartman has virtually seen it all, now playing in his sixth year of college football, but he definitely hasn’t yet faced a defense so far this season that is anything close to what Ohio State has been trotting out there.
From the start of the 2021 season to present day, Hartman has started 30 games between Wake Forest and Notre Dame. In that span, he has failed to hit 200 passing yards just two times. Once was the season opener in 2021 against Old Dominion, where Hartman wasn’t asked to do a whole lot in a 42-10 victory wherein Wake Forest ran the ball 41 times and also returned a kickoff for a touchdown. The other was this season against Tennessee State, where Notre Dame ran for 221 yards and Hartman only played in the first half of a 56-3 blowout.
Over that same span, Hartman has passed for more than 300 yards on 16 occasions, including twice against Clemson and once against UNC. As previously mentioned, this is one of the most experienced quarterbacks in the entire country, having completed over 1,000 passes and throwing for more than 14,000 yards in his collegiate career. Holding him under 200 yards is no easy feat, but I think this Ohio State secondary is one of the program’s best in several years, and they could very well be up to the task.
In three games this season, the Silver Bullets have allowed just 421 passing yards total. Now, this is skewed because of Indiana running the triple option for a majority of that game, but the Buckeyes held Youngstown State to 135 yards passing and the dynamic passing attack of Western Kentucky to 204 yards. Notre Dame is far more talented than either of those teams, but the Hilltoppers are likely more prone to explosive plays. Being able to limit those big plays against WKU has me extremely confident in what they can do against the Irish.
I don’t think it’s at all a shot at Notre Dame to say that Ohio State’s secondary is going up against better wide receivers in practice each week than they are on Saturdays. That kind of thing sort of comes with the territory of having Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka on the roster in addition to the rest of Brian Hartline's band of five-stars. Hartman is a really good quarterback, but the Fighting Irish receivers leave a bit to be desired. There are some talented players in that room, but nobody jumps off the page in a way like the Buckeye pass-catchers do.
Im confident that Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun and Jordan Hancock with a talented group of safeties behind them can shut down the ND passing attack on Saturday — especially if Josh’s prediction comes through and the Buckeyes can finally get a pass rush going.
Continue reading...
LGHL Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky
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Grumpy Old Buckeye: Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Somehow, none of these players shown will recover this football. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Get-off-my-lawn grumblings from a comprehensive 53-point Buckeye home win.
For the first time this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes looked like themselves. A 63-10 home win over Western Kentucky is hardly a barometer for the rest of the season, but it’s encouraging that the Buckeyes finally handled an opponent in expected fashion after a pair of less-than-convincing wins over Indiana and Youngstown State to start the 2023 campaign.
It might be disingenuous (or a matter of being spoiled) to nitpick a 53-point win over a team with a prolific passing attack, but that’s why this column exists. Here are the things that caused my acid reflux to act up on Saturday against Western Kentucky.
While Kyle McCord has been solid on downfield throws and short passes in this young season, his intermediate game has sometimes been iffy. That was evident again on the first drive of the game.
After the Buckeyes picked up a quick first down at the Western Kentucky 33-yard line, TreVeyon Henderson ran for six yards on first down and a throw to Cade Stover went for a loss of one, setting up third down. Julian Fleming got ridiculously wide open on third, but McCord’s pass was absolutely awful, missing badly and putting the opening drive in jeopardy.
Ryan Day opted not to try a long field goal and left his offense on the field. McCord threw high again on 4th-and-5, but Emeka Egbuka went up in traffic and pulled it down to extend the drive. Henderson went 21 yards for the opening touchdown on the next play. McCord’s medium game needs a little more work in terms of consistency.
Ohio State’s offense was set up nicely at the OSU 48-yard line to start its second drive of the game after the Buckeye defense stopped the Hilltoppers on fourth down. Marvin Harrison Jr. caught a 9-yard pass on first down to set up short yardage. However, once again, the Buckeye struggled to convert a short-yardage run.
Although the line could have done a better job, Henderson was too tentative on the run. The speedy back hesitated and tiptoed when he approached the line of scrimmage, waiting for a hole to appear, rather than simply slamming forward with power and getting his first down. As a result, he was tackled short of the line to gain, and Ohio State took an early timeout to set up a run-of-the-mill, third-and-short situation.
Sometimes the hole isn’t there and you’ve got to make your own. That’s the running back’s job. Henderson otherwise had a fine afternoon, rushing for 88 yards and a pair of scores on 13 carries.
One play after Henderson picked up two yards to extend the second OSU drive, the Buckeyes’ QB1 made a big mistake. In the face of pressure, McCord was loose with the ball and suffered a strip sack, allowing Western Kentucky to jump on the football and take it away. Hosea Wheeler made the hit and McCord had the ball away from his body, losing the handle. Deante McCray fell on the loose pumpkin and the Hilltoppers took over in good field position at their own 41-yard line. Inspired by the turnover, the Western Kentucky offense dove down the field and got points on the ensuing drive.
It’s hard to find many flaws in McCord’s game, aside from the bad miss to Fleming early and the fumble. He otherwise completed 19-of-23 for 318 yards and three touchdowns without tossing an interception.
The ‘T’ in JT Tuimoloau did not exactly stand for “tackling” on the Western Kentucky drive after McCord’s fumble. Down the field in coverage, he failed to wrap up sophomore tight end River Helms and gave up a critical first down to the Hilltoppers.
Here’s where I get to sound old by saying that today’s players don’t tackle properly and it’s an epidemic. In every game I see across the country, there are way too many instances of defenders running into ball carriers as hard as they can but failing to wrap up. Tuimoloau simply lowered his shoulder and expected his opponent to fall down after contact. That might happen sometimes, but it’s not good form and is exactly what your opponent wants you to do.
Had it not been for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on former Buckeye Blue Smith, that drive might have ended in a touchdown instead of a field goal.
The officials were seemingly fine allowing Western Kentucky to commit egregious holds at the point of attack all afternoon. On different occasions, quite evident infractions perpetrated against Tyleik Williams and Tommy Eichenberg helped the Hilltoppers earn important yards, and Western Kentucky’s lone touchdown on the day was assisted by uncalled infractions on the edge as Steele Chambers and Davison Igbinosun were both grabbed to prevent them from stopping the scoring play out on the edge.
Egbuka was given no such leniency on a nice, 29-yard jet sweep by Harrison on the third OSU drive. The receiver absolutely held (probably unnecessarily), and that’s on him, but that infraction was less egregious than the four mentioned above. Whatever level the officials want to use to call (or not) holding is fine with me, but some consistency would be nice. It shouldn’t be arbitrarily applied.
Ohio State was poised to stop Western Kentucky’s third drive with a forced fumble by Lathan Ransom deep in OSU territory. However, both Josh Proctor and Denzel Burke whiffed on recovery attempts, allowing the Hilltoppers to cover the ball even further downfield and continue their drive. Burke, in particular, looked to have plenty of time to set himself up for the recovery and still somehow failed to pull it in.
Western Kentucky took advantage of Ohio State’s recovery failures — and the aforementioned pair of holds on the edge — and scored a touchdown to cut the Buckeye lead to 14-10 at the time. The Buckeyes again struggled to come up with a fumble later in the game when Chambers failed to scoop and score at the WKU goal line. Williams was the last man into the ensuing dog pile and somehow made the recovery for the touchdown.
Although they didn’t hurt Ohio State overall on the day, pre-snap infractions by Josh Simmons and Carson Hinzman showed the developing offensive line still has some work to do. Simmons’ false start in the third quarter put the brakes on the first OSU drive of the second half, ultimately forcing a punt. The Buckeyes also punted after Hinzman’s illegal snap, although they picked up a first down after the penalty before having to do so.
False starts happen, even at home, but they will wreck drives against better opposition, and after last week’s penalties along the offensive line, it’s time to clean things up.
That second drive of the third quarter was extended after the Hinzman penalty when McCord found Stover for 28 yards into Western Kentucky territory. It’s honestly glorious to see the tight end rumbling through the opposition’s secondary with the ball. However, Stover made a basic mistake by being too loose with the ball.
Defensive players nearly always try to go for the strip in the middle of a big play when they draw a bead on a receiver downfield, and it’s on the offensive player to brace for that and protect the football. Linebacker Bryson Washington dislodged it from Stover’s possession. Freshman Carnell Tate managed to jump on it to preserve the drive. The Buckeyes punted anyway a few plays later, after a couple of those odd short tight end passes (three yards to Stover and one to Gee Scott, Jr.) that I wish Day would rip out of his playbook and an incomplete downfield shot intended for Tate.
Obviously, there was far more good than bad on Saturday, and Ohio State played its best game of the season so far. The Buckeyes seemed more adept, cohesive, and creative on offense. The secondary held up well against a good passing attack. The front four didn’t rack up big numbers but did collapse the pocket and pressured Austin Reed into throwing earlier than he wanted. The defense produced takeaways. The wide receivers and Henderson had nice games. But the schedule is about to get more difficult.
Next up is a big one, as the Buckeyes travel to South Bend, Indiana to take on Notre Dame on Saturday.
Continue reading...
Michael Citro via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Somehow, none of these players shown will recover this football. | Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Get-off-my-lawn grumblings from a comprehensive 53-point Buckeye home win.
For the first time this season, the Ohio State Buckeyes looked like themselves. A 63-10 home win over Western Kentucky is hardly a barometer for the rest of the season, but it’s encouraging that the Buckeyes finally handled an opponent in expected fashion after a pair of less-than-convincing wins over Indiana and Youngstown State to start the 2023 campaign.
It might be disingenuous (or a matter of being spoiled) to nitpick a 53-point win over a team with a prolific passing attack, but that’s why this column exists. Here are the things that caused my acid reflux to act up on Saturday against Western Kentucky.
Mid-Range Trouble
While Kyle McCord has been solid on downfield throws and short passes in this young season, his intermediate game has sometimes been iffy. That was evident again on the first drive of the game.
After the Buckeyes picked up a quick first down at the Western Kentucky 33-yard line, TreVeyon Henderson ran for six yards on first down and a throw to Cade Stover went for a loss of one, setting up third down. Julian Fleming got ridiculously wide open on third, but McCord’s pass was absolutely awful, missing badly and putting the opening drive in jeopardy.
Ryan Day opted not to try a long field goal and left his offense on the field. McCord threw high again on 4th-and-5, but Emeka Egbuka went up in traffic and pulled it down to extend the drive. Henderson went 21 yards for the opening touchdown on the next play. McCord’s medium game needs a little more work in terms of consistency.
Tentative TreVeyon
Ohio State’s offense was set up nicely at the OSU 48-yard line to start its second drive of the game after the Buckeye defense stopped the Hilltoppers on fourth down. Marvin Harrison Jr. caught a 9-yard pass on first down to set up short yardage. However, once again, the Buckeye struggled to convert a short-yardage run.
Although the line could have done a better job, Henderson was too tentative on the run. The speedy back hesitated and tiptoed when he approached the line of scrimmage, waiting for a hole to appear, rather than simply slamming forward with power and getting his first down. As a result, he was tackled short of the line to gain, and Ohio State took an early timeout to set up a run-of-the-mill, third-and-short situation.
Sometimes the hole isn’t there and you’ve got to make your own. That’s the running back’s job. Henderson otherwise had a fine afternoon, rushing for 88 yards and a pair of scores on 13 carries.
Come On, Kyle!
One play after Henderson picked up two yards to extend the second OSU drive, the Buckeyes’ QB1 made a big mistake. In the face of pressure, McCord was loose with the ball and suffered a strip sack, allowing Western Kentucky to jump on the football and take it away. Hosea Wheeler made the hit and McCord had the ball away from his body, losing the handle. Deante McCray fell on the loose pumpkin and the Hilltoppers took over in good field position at their own 41-yard line. Inspired by the turnover, the Western Kentucky offense dove down the field and got points on the ensuing drive.
It’s hard to find many flaws in McCord’s game, aside from the bad miss to Fleming early and the fumble. He otherwise completed 19-of-23 for 318 yards and three touchdowns without tossing an interception.
Wrap Up!
The ‘T’ in JT Tuimoloau did not exactly stand for “tackling” on the Western Kentucky drive after McCord’s fumble. Down the field in coverage, he failed to wrap up sophomore tight end River Helms and gave up a critical first down to the Hilltoppers.
Here’s where I get to sound old by saying that today’s players don’t tackle properly and it’s an epidemic. In every game I see across the country, there are way too many instances of defenders running into ball carriers as hard as they can but failing to wrap up. Tuimoloau simply lowered his shoulder and expected his opponent to fall down after contact. That might happen sometimes, but it’s not good form and is exactly what your opponent wants you to do.
Had it not been for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on former Buckeye Blue Smith, that drive might have ended in a touchdown instead of a field goal.
Holding: One of Life’s Great Mysteries
The officials were seemingly fine allowing Western Kentucky to commit egregious holds at the point of attack all afternoon. On different occasions, quite evident infractions perpetrated against Tyleik Williams and Tommy Eichenberg helped the Hilltoppers earn important yards, and Western Kentucky’s lone touchdown on the day was assisted by uncalled infractions on the edge as Steele Chambers and Davison Igbinosun were both grabbed to prevent them from stopping the scoring play out on the edge.
Egbuka was given no such leniency on a nice, 29-yard jet sweep by Harrison on the third OSU drive. The receiver absolutely held (probably unnecessarily), and that’s on him, but that infraction was less egregious than the four mentioned above. Whatever level the officials want to use to call (or not) holding is fine with me, but some consistency would be nice. It shouldn’t be arbitrarily applied.
See Ball, Get Ball
Ohio State was poised to stop Western Kentucky’s third drive with a forced fumble by Lathan Ransom deep in OSU territory. However, both Josh Proctor and Denzel Burke whiffed on recovery attempts, allowing the Hilltoppers to cover the ball even further downfield and continue their drive. Burke, in particular, looked to have plenty of time to set himself up for the recovery and still somehow failed to pull it in.
Western Kentucky took advantage of Ohio State’s recovery failures — and the aforementioned pair of holds on the edge — and scored a touchdown to cut the Buckeye lead to 14-10 at the time. The Buckeyes again struggled to come up with a fumble later in the game when Chambers failed to scoop and score at the WKU goal line. Williams was the last man into the ensuing dog pile and somehow made the recovery for the touchdown.
Stay True
Although they didn’t hurt Ohio State overall on the day, pre-snap infractions by Josh Simmons and Carson Hinzman showed the developing offensive line still has some work to do. Simmons’ false start in the third quarter put the brakes on the first OSU drive of the second half, ultimately forcing a punt. The Buckeyes also punted after Hinzman’s illegal snap, although they picked up a first down after the penalty before having to do so.
False starts happen, even at home, but they will wreck drives against better opposition, and after last week’s penalties along the offensive line, it’s time to clean things up.
Come On, Cade!
That second drive of the third quarter was extended after the Hinzman penalty when McCord found Stover for 28 yards into Western Kentucky territory. It’s honestly glorious to see the tight end rumbling through the opposition’s secondary with the ball. However, Stover made a basic mistake by being too loose with the ball.
Defensive players nearly always try to go for the strip in the middle of a big play when they draw a bead on a receiver downfield, and it’s on the offensive player to brace for that and protect the football. Linebacker Bryson Washington dislodged it from Stover’s possession. Freshman Carnell Tate managed to jump on it to preserve the drive. The Buckeyes punted anyway a few plays later, after a couple of those odd short tight end passes (three yards to Stover and one to Gee Scott, Jr.) that I wish Day would rip out of his playbook and an incomplete downfield shot intended for Tate.
Obviously, there was far more good than bad on Saturday, and Ohio State played its best game of the season so far. The Buckeyes seemed more adept, cohesive, and creative on offense. The secondary held up well against a good passing attack. The front four didn’t rack up big numbers but did collapse the pocket and pressured Austin Reed into throwing earlier than he wanted. The defense produced takeaways. The wide receivers and Henderson had nice games. But the schedule is about to get more difficult.
Next up is a big one, as the Buckeyes travel to South Bend, Indiana to take on Notre Dame on Saturday.
Continue reading...
LGHL Stock Market Report: Ohio State won by a million, the secondary is on fire, and the game was at 4 p.m.?
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Stock Market Report: Ohio State won by a million, the secondary is on fire, and the game was at 4 p.m.?
justingolba 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
Some might argue the season begins now, as a trip to South Bend is next.
As 100% of the people in the world predicted in July, the Ohio State Buckeyes are 3-0. Really, no matter how the Buckeyes played, outside of possibly the Indiana game, Ohio State was always going to win the first three games of the season. Now, a date with Notre Dame is looming, and the team finally look ready.
Ohio State destroyed Western Kentucky 63-10 to move to 3-0 and advance one step closer to an undefeated season — and yes, I am already thinking about that. Kyle McCord (who I mentioned as a solid investment last week, just saying) looked the part in his first start since head coach Ryan Day named him the full-time starter, going 19-of-23 for 318 yards and three touchdowns. He did lose one fumble, but he was pretty much perfect after that.
Now, as the Buckeyes head to South Bend next week, the schedule becomes no joke.
Over the next five games, Ohio State will play Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Penn State. Those five teams are a combined 14-1, and all will provide unique and challenging tests. But those games are in the future, so let’s take a look at the previous game and who you should buy into after three games.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24930741/usa_today_21435508.jpg "NCAA Football: Western Kentucky at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
The Secondary
I am fully bought in on the secondary, and there is no chance this will come back to bite me next weekend. Zero chance.
Jokes aside, this looks like the most complete that unit has been since 2019-20. Denzel Burke looks like a locked-in All-American, Davison Igbinosun has fit in nicely, Jordan Hancock is getting better with each snap he plays and Sonny Styles is fast approaching generational talent status.
Obviously, the next challenge may be the toughest of the season, with Sam Hartman ready to test the defense and Taulia Tagovailoa, Drew Allar, and J.J. McCarthy waiting on deck. But truly for the first time in three years, I am confident this secondary unit can hang with the best of them.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24930744/usa_today_21441244.jpg "Syndication: The Columbus Dispatch")
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Davison Igbinosun
I realize I already talked about the defensive backfield above, but I think Igbinosun deserves a special mention.
Igbinosun talked a lot in the offseason about how much he has wanted to go to Ohio State since he was a little boy and felt underappreciated when he wasn’t offered by the Buckeyes in high school. He has a chip on his shoulder from that, and he plays like it. He is physical, he is fast, and he complements Burke perfectly.
Carnell Tate
There is a lot of talk about the wide receiver room, and rightfully so. They have the two best players at the position in the country. However, every game that true freshman Carnell Tate plays, he does something that reminds you that his future is as bright as anyone’s.
This week, he scored his first touchdown, jumped on a fumble to save a possession, and recorded two catches for 40 yards. Every time he touches the field, you can see he is getting more comfortable. And once he gets fully comfortable? Watch out.
Marquee non-conference games
This one is simple. I, as is everyone that is an Ohio State, Notre Dame fan, or college football fan, am so excited for the upcoming showdown. These games are so much fun to watch before conference play hits and help teams recognize weaknesses and vulnerabilities early on. Ohio State should play one top 10-15 non-conference opponent every season.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24930750/usa_today_21435511.jpg "NCAA Football: Western Kentucky at Ohio State")
Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
TreVeyon Henderson hurdling
I am the biggest supporter of Henderson that there is, and I think he is the key to this team’s success. So, I would like him to be on the field. Hurdling is a weird thing in football because it is an amazing athletic feat, but it doesn’t lead to much additional yardage most of the time. This week’s Henderson’s hurdle did lead to more production because he added about three yards and made a possible third-and-kind-of-long to third-and-short.
But Henderson has dealt with injuries, and once you are in the air, you are no longer in control of what happens to your body. I am hoping that fans do not get used to Henderson’s hurdling, and I hope he keeps his feet on the ground so that he can play every minute he possibly can. Because even on two feet, he is incredible to watch.
Buy: Improvement
One thing you want to see from a team is improvement, no matter who the opponent is. It is safe to say the Buckeyes have shown improvement in multiple areas in all three games so far. Now, they get to show it against a top team in the country next week.
The offense and the defense have looked better each game, and really that’s all you can ask as the season progresses.
Sell: 4 p.m. ET games
All of this is in Eastern Time. Just to get ahead of that.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but the game time of this one felt weird. The 3:30 games had already started, but it was still the afternoon, but it was almost the evening, but it wasn’t.
I feel like this should not have affected me as much as it did, but it did. I didn’t like it, and I hope they stick to Noon, 3:30, and 7:30 game times. Call me a traditionalist.
Continue reading...
justingolba 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
Some might argue the season begins now, as a trip to South Bend is next.
As 100% of the people in the world predicted in July, the Ohio State Buckeyes are 3-0. Really, no matter how the Buckeyes played, outside of possibly the Indiana game, Ohio State was always going to win the first three games of the season. Now, a date with Notre Dame is looming, and the team finally look ready.
Ohio State destroyed Western Kentucky 63-10 to move to 3-0 and advance one step closer to an undefeated season — and yes, I am already thinking about that. Kyle McCord (who I mentioned as a solid investment last week, just saying) looked the part in his first start since head coach Ryan Day named him the full-time starter, going 19-of-23 for 318 yards and three touchdowns. He did lose one fumble, but he was pretty much perfect after that.
Now, as the Buckeyes head to South Bend next week, the schedule becomes no joke.
Over the next five games, Ohio State will play Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Maryland, and Penn State. Those five teams are a combined 14-1, and all will provide unique and challenging tests. But those games are in the future, so let’s take a look at the previous game and who you should buy into after three games.
Blue Chip Stocks
The Secondary
I am fully bought in on the secondary, and there is no chance this will come back to bite me next weekend. Zero chance.
Jokes aside, this looks like the most complete that unit has been since 2019-20. Denzel Burke looks like a locked-in All-American, Davison Igbinosun has fit in nicely, Jordan Hancock is getting better with each snap he plays and Sonny Styles is fast approaching generational talent status.
Obviously, the next challenge may be the toughest of the season, with Sam Hartman ready to test the defense and Taulia Tagovailoa, Drew Allar, and J.J. McCarthy waiting on deck. But truly for the first time in three years, I am confident this secondary unit can hang with the best of them.
Solid Investments
Davison Igbinosun
I realize I already talked about the defensive backfield above, but I think Igbinosun deserves a special mention.
Igbinosun talked a lot in the offseason about how much he has wanted to go to Ohio State since he was a little boy and felt underappreciated when he wasn’t offered by the Buckeyes in high school. He has a chip on his shoulder from that, and he plays like it. He is physical, he is fast, and he complements Burke perfectly.
Carnell Tate
There is a lot of talk about the wide receiver room, and rightfully so. They have the two best players at the position in the country. However, every game that true freshman Carnell Tate plays, he does something that reminds you that his future is as bright as anyone’s.
This week, he scored his first touchdown, jumped on a fumble to save a possession, and recorded two catches for 40 yards. Every time he touches the field, you can see he is getting more comfortable. And once he gets fully comfortable? Watch out.
Marquee non-conference games
This one is simple. I, as is everyone that is an Ohio State, Notre Dame fan, or college football fan, am so excited for the upcoming showdown. These games are so much fun to watch before conference play hits and help teams recognize weaknesses and vulnerabilities early on. Ohio State should play one top 10-15 non-conference opponent every season.
Junk Bonds
TreVeyon Henderson hurdling
I am the biggest supporter of Henderson that there is, and I think he is the key to this team’s success. So, I would like him to be on the field. Hurdling is a weird thing in football because it is an amazing athletic feat, but it doesn’t lead to much additional yardage most of the time. This week’s Henderson’s hurdle did lead to more production because he added about three yards and made a possible third-and-kind-of-long to third-and-short.
But Henderson has dealt with injuries, and once you are in the air, you are no longer in control of what happens to your body. I am hoping that fans do not get used to Henderson’s hurdling, and I hope he keeps his feet on the ground so that he can play every minute he possibly can. Because even on two feet, he is incredible to watch.
Buy/Sell
Buy: Improvement
One thing you want to see from a team is improvement, no matter who the opponent is. It is safe to say the Buckeyes have shown improvement in multiple areas in all three games so far. Now, they get to show it against a top team in the country next week.
The offense and the defense have looked better each game, and really that’s all you can ask as the season progresses.
Sell: 4 p.m. ET games
All of this is in Eastern Time. Just to get ahead of that.
This might be an unpopular opinion, but the game time of this one felt weird. The 3:30 games had already started, but it was still the afternoon, but it was almost the evening, but it wasn’t.
I feel like this should not have affected me as much as it did, but it did. I didn’t like it, and I hope they stick to Noon, 3:30, and 7:30 game times. Call me a traditionalist.
Continue reading...
LGHL If This Were a Movie: Alexa, play ‘Dig It’ by the D-Tent Boys
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If This Were a Movie: Alexa, play ‘Dig It’ by the D-Tent Boys
JamiJurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Based on the inspiring true story of Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky
Stanley Yelnats IV found himself the beneficiary of a familial curse of bad luck when he was wrongfully convicted for stealing some sneakers. It is this wrongful conviction that leads him to Camp Green Lake, where he is forced to dig holes in the desert day after day.
For Ohio State, the need to dig holes looked a little different — their need for holes wasn’t dictated by the sinister Warden of a juvenile detention center. Instead, it was dictated by next week’s opponent. If they couldn’t figure out how to dig some holes this week against Western Kentucky, how would they manage against a top-10 Notre Dame next week?
Both Stanley Yelnats IV and the Buckeyes did a lot of digging on Saturday.
Until the Western Kentucky game, the Buckeyes’ run game had been lacking a certain punch. They’ve managed to fly a bit under the radar while we were all watching the quarterbacks duke it out for the starting job, but a Notre Dame team that looks more legitimate than it has in a long time (under the watchful eye of head coach and former Buckeye Marcus Freeman) will be likely to force them to the forefront next Saturday.
So this week, while Kyle McCord secured the starting quarterback job and continued his Elle Woods-esque rise to the top, the rest of the offense grabbed their shovels.
It came on the heels of head coach Ryan Day calling for “violence” from the offensive line, a unit that struggled in the first two weeks against Indiana and Youngstown State.
This week, in their 63-10 routing of the Hilltoppers, the offensive line looked less like football players and more like Zero, Zig-Zag, Armpit, Squid, X-Ray, and Magnet. They were digging holes.
To be clear, Western Kentucky’s defensive front isn’t a good indication of what the Buckeyes will face at Notre Dame next week. But for an offensive line that struggled mightily the last two weeks (especially on third down—we’ll get to that in a minute), opening up holes for the run game was absolutely critical.
They had no choice if they want to win next week. Though they were playing Western Kentucky, their Warden is the Fighting Irish.
Driven by the fear of the warden, much like Stanley Yelnats IV, the Buckeyes offensive line put in the work. It was hard, sweaty, physical labor.
The backfield capitalized.
Junior running back TreVeyon Henderson looked more confident than he has the last two weeks, running for 88 yards on 13 carries and 2 touchdowns. Senior Chip Trayanum contributed 56 yards on 5 carries, with a 40-yard touchdown run of his own.
This run game is even more crucial on third down, where the Buckeyes have been abysmal. In fact, coming into Saturday’s matchup with the Hilltoppers, they were one of the worst third-down offenses in the country.
But they looked better Saturday, digging holes where it counted and going 4-for-4 on third-and-short scenarios.
The win against Western Kentucky was a primer for next week, where we’ll finally get a chance to see what both this Buckeye team and Notre Dame can really do.
But much like Stanley Yelnats IV, the hope is that now that the Buckeyes have started digging holes, they’ll uncover a buried treasure that will set them up for success in the future.
Continue reading...
JamiJurich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Based on the inspiring true story of Ohio State vs. Western Kentucky
Stanley Yelnats IV found himself the beneficiary of a familial curse of bad luck when he was wrongfully convicted for stealing some sneakers. It is this wrongful conviction that leads him to Camp Green Lake, where he is forced to dig holes in the desert day after day.
For Ohio State, the need to dig holes looked a little different — their need for holes wasn’t dictated by the sinister Warden of a juvenile detention center. Instead, it was dictated by next week’s opponent. If they couldn’t figure out how to dig some holes this week against Western Kentucky, how would they manage against a top-10 Notre Dame next week?
Both Stanley Yelnats IV and the Buckeyes did a lot of digging on Saturday.
Until the Western Kentucky game, the Buckeyes’ run game had been lacking a certain punch. They’ve managed to fly a bit under the radar while we were all watching the quarterbacks duke it out for the starting job, but a Notre Dame team that looks more legitimate than it has in a long time (under the watchful eye of head coach and former Buckeye Marcus Freeman) will be likely to force them to the forefront next Saturday.
So this week, while Kyle McCord secured the starting quarterback job and continued his Elle Woods-esque rise to the top, the rest of the offense grabbed their shovels.
It came on the heels of head coach Ryan Day calling for “violence” from the offensive line, a unit that struggled in the first two weeks against Indiana and Youngstown State.
This week, in their 63-10 routing of the Hilltoppers, the offensive line looked less like football players and more like Zero, Zig-Zag, Armpit, Squid, X-Ray, and Magnet. They were digging holes.
To be clear, Western Kentucky’s defensive front isn’t a good indication of what the Buckeyes will face at Notre Dame next week. But for an offensive line that struggled mightily the last two weeks (especially on third down—we’ll get to that in a minute), opening up holes for the run game was absolutely critical.
They had no choice if they want to win next week. Though they were playing Western Kentucky, their Warden is the Fighting Irish.
Driven by the fear of the warden, much like Stanley Yelnats IV, the Buckeyes offensive line put in the work. It was hard, sweaty, physical labor.
The backfield capitalized.
Junior running back TreVeyon Henderson looked more confident than he has the last two weeks, running for 88 yards on 13 carries and 2 touchdowns. Senior Chip Trayanum contributed 56 yards on 5 carries, with a 40-yard touchdown run of his own.
This run game is even more crucial on third down, where the Buckeyes have been abysmal. In fact, coming into Saturday’s matchup with the Hilltoppers, they were one of the worst third-down offenses in the country.
But they looked better Saturday, digging holes where it counted and going 4-for-4 on third-and-short scenarios.
The win against Western Kentucky was a primer for next week, where we’ll finally get a chance to see what both this Buckeye team and Notre Dame can really do.
But much like Stanley Yelnats IV, the hope is that now that the Buckeyes have started digging holes, they’ll uncover a buried treasure that will set them up for success in the future.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State women’s basketball takes big leap in Brazil
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Ohio State women’s basketball takes big leap in Brazil
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State women’s basketball on Twitter | @OhioStateWBB
The Buckeyes took 10 days of August to do it all, and even a little basketball.
Until the Ohio State women’s basketball season tips off in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 6, Land-Grant Holy Land has coverage from all angles. Follow along for player previews, schedule release information and stories from the coaches and players themselves — all getting you ready for the start of the season when the Buckeyes take on the USC Trojans in Sin City.
A summer trip for the Ohio State women’s basketball team included a secret. A secret known by a select few. The coaching staff, school administrators, a post office worker and a transfer sophomore.
“I knew before all of them actually,” said sophomore Kentucky transfer guard Kennedy Cambridge about knowing the location of Ohio State’s summer trip: Brazil. “I found out on my team visit in May.”
“Oh, must be nice!” responded senior guard Rikki Harris, a leader on and off the court for the Buckeyes.
Harris knew that they were destined to leave Central Ohio this summer to bond as a team overseas. Being part of team leadership meant Harris and fellow tenured Buckeyes had inside knowledge of the team’s plans. At first though, Brazil wasn’t the desired landing spot.
Although still a nice consolation prize, when Harris first learned of the Brazilian destination in July, it was a vastly shorter trip to get mail that caught her off-guard.
“We chose Greece but that didn’t work,” said Harris. “I found out from the post office. He knows JP (assistant coach Jalen Powell) and I guess she goes there too. He was like ‘yeah, you’re supposed to come in and do your passports for Brazil,’ and I was like ‘no, we’re not going to Brazil, we’re going to Greece!’ ‘No, I’m pretty sure she said Brazil.’”
The Buckeyes’ leader let everyone on the team know a trip to South America was imminent. The coaching staff denied it until they didn’t, and on Aug. 5, Ohio State was on its way south.
It was a trip that didn’t include much in terms of basketball. Ohio State practiced only once of the 10 days in South America. That light 45-minute practice was followed by a heavily rotated Buckeyes team facing Sodiê Mesquita, a Brazilian professional side, in a 61-41 Ohio State exhibition victory.
There wasn’t much to the game, seen more as a chance to get players on the same side against real opponents, although sophomore guard Kaia Henderson impressed with 21 points. After all, the Buckeyes brought in three transfers and two freshmen into the squad this offseason.
The journey was an opportunity to acclimate those new players, build relationships and possibly even a reward for an outstanding Elite Eight run in the 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament. On the ground in Brazil though, there weren’t discussions about going for a national championship or about squad rotation during the Big Ten schedule. Instead, the trip featured the players focusing on life outside of basketball.
“Some of us got to go surfing, a lot of hiking, bike rides. A lot of walking, exploring,” said new Buckeyes guard Celeste Taylor. “Learning about a whole nother country and their culture.”
For Taylor especially, after missing part of summer practice with the Buckeyes with a trip to France with Team USA 3x3, the lengthy time with new teammates was invaluable. Even though Taylor is new to the team, the 2022-23 ACC Defensive Player of the Year with Duke isn’t new to being a team leader.
“My favorite part, or the best part about it, was how close and how much I got to learn about my teammates,” said Taylor. “Just from everyone, what they like, what they don’t like, what they’re good at. Everybody is their own person, so going on the trip and learning a lot about them, being there for them when its needed.”
The team took biking trips, visited the famous Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro and even putting together a makeshift graduation ceremony for teammates. Senior Madison Greene and graduate senior Eboni Walker each received a paper “diploma” on the bus in Brazil with teammates and coaches cheering on their accomplishments.
They also tried things like Brazilian Gatorade, which didn’t feel anywhere near the same to the people who have had their fair share in years of playing competitive basketball. There’s also coconut water, a popular drink in the coastal country; A refreshing drink in an area of the country known for producing its own fair share of the fruit.
“It was worth the experience, but I wouldn’t say it was good,” said Cambridge.
However, it wasn’t all electrolyte drinks and supervised team activities. The trip to Brazil allowed players the opportunity to loosen up and take a break from the year-round job of a student-athlete.
“As long as we were safe and kept out of trouble, we could do what we wanted to do,” said Harris. “That part was nice.”
When players were on their own, they could explore the culture and have fun of their own variety. That’s also when relationships can build the most: When players are one-on-one with each other or in groups away from those in charge of the team.
It was time when players could be more open with each other, not under the eyes of the coaching staff. For the new names who are still learning their coaches and what they can and cannot do, it allowed for guards to go down and the real person to show. Those small group trips to the beach or around town go a long way in building a team that was three wins away from the first NCAA tournament win in program history.
Throughout the journey, members of the Buckeyes, led by sophomore star forward Cotie McMahon, shared their own travel vlog of their journey. Including a coach Kevin McGuff fit check, standing at the foot of Christ the Redeemer and a team boat trip, with a challenging twist.
While some players were taking a nap away from the team or catching the sun’s rays on the boat, a select few, including Harris and McGuff made the leap into the water.
“I can swim. I’m not going to say I can’t, because I can but I don’t like to be in the ocean where I can’t touch the ground, because that terrifies me,” said Harris. “From the boat it looked closer, it looked really close. I thought it would be a 2-minute swim but it took 10 minutes to get there. It was far and tiring. It was worth it but I would not do it again.”
It wasn’t only far, but the return swim from the shore back to the boat had an added bonus, making the challengers swim against the current.
The only thing left of the trip now are the videos, pictures and memories. On the surface, its games of silent Marco Polo, beach volleyball and team excursions. Below that are relationship-building moments that won’t only be evident on the court but build friendships that transcend the couple of hours fans and media see the students.
“It was a really good experience to be able to bond with our teammates, especially with how many new kids we have,” said Taylor. “Form that relationship that will last a lifetime.”
Continue reading...
ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ohio State women’s basketball on Twitter | @OhioStateWBB
The Buckeyes took 10 days of August to do it all, and even a little basketball.
Until the Ohio State women’s basketball season tips off in Las Vegas, Nevada on Nov. 6, Land-Grant Holy Land has coverage from all angles. Follow along for player previews, schedule release information and stories from the coaches and players themselves — all getting you ready for the start of the season when the Buckeyes take on the USC Trojans in Sin City.
A summer trip for the Ohio State women’s basketball team included a secret. A secret known by a select few. The coaching staff, school administrators, a post office worker and a transfer sophomore.
“I knew before all of them actually,” said sophomore Kentucky transfer guard Kennedy Cambridge about knowing the location of Ohio State’s summer trip: Brazil. “I found out on my team visit in May.”
“Oh, must be nice!” responded senior guard Rikki Harris, a leader on and off the court for the Buckeyes.
Harris knew that they were destined to leave Central Ohio this summer to bond as a team overseas. Being part of team leadership meant Harris and fellow tenured Buckeyes had inside knowledge of the team’s plans. At first though, Brazil wasn’t the desired landing spot.
Although still a nice consolation prize, when Harris first learned of the Brazilian destination in July, it was a vastly shorter trip to get mail that caught her off-guard.
“We chose Greece but that didn’t work,” said Harris. “I found out from the post office. He knows JP (assistant coach Jalen Powell) and I guess she goes there too. He was like ‘yeah, you’re supposed to come in and do your passports for Brazil,’ and I was like ‘no, we’re not going to Brazil, we’re going to Greece!’ ‘No, I’m pretty sure she said Brazil.’”
The Buckeyes’ leader let everyone on the team know a trip to South America was imminent. The coaching staff denied it until they didn’t, and on Aug. 5, Ohio State was on its way south.
It was a trip that didn’t include much in terms of basketball. Ohio State practiced only once of the 10 days in South America. That light 45-minute practice was followed by a heavily rotated Buckeyes team facing Sodiê Mesquita, a Brazilian professional side, in a 61-41 Ohio State exhibition victory.
There wasn’t much to the game, seen more as a chance to get players on the same side against real opponents, although sophomore guard Kaia Henderson impressed with 21 points. After all, the Buckeyes brought in three transfers and two freshmen into the squad this offseason.
The journey was an opportunity to acclimate those new players, build relationships and possibly even a reward for an outstanding Elite Eight run in the 2023 NCAA March Madness tournament. On the ground in Brazil though, there weren’t discussions about going for a national championship or about squad rotation during the Big Ten schedule. Instead, the trip featured the players focusing on life outside of basketball.
“Some of us got to go surfing, a lot of hiking, bike rides. A lot of walking, exploring,” said new Buckeyes guard Celeste Taylor. “Learning about a whole nother country and their culture.”
For Taylor especially, after missing part of summer practice with the Buckeyes with a trip to France with Team USA 3x3, the lengthy time with new teammates was invaluable. Even though Taylor is new to the team, the 2022-23 ACC Defensive Player of the Year with Duke isn’t new to being a team leader.
“My favorite part, or the best part about it, was how close and how much I got to learn about my teammates,” said Taylor. “Just from everyone, what they like, what they don’t like, what they’re good at. Everybody is their own person, so going on the trip and learning a lot about them, being there for them when its needed.”
The team took biking trips, visited the famous Christ the Redeemer statue overlooking Rio de Janeiro and even putting together a makeshift graduation ceremony for teammates. Senior Madison Greene and graduate senior Eboni Walker each received a paper “diploma” on the bus in Brazil with teammates and coaches cheering on their accomplishments.
They also tried things like Brazilian Gatorade, which didn’t feel anywhere near the same to the people who have had their fair share in years of playing competitive basketball. There’s also coconut water, a popular drink in the coastal country; A refreshing drink in an area of the country known for producing its own fair share of the fruit.
“It was worth the experience, but I wouldn’t say it was good,” said Cambridge.
However, it wasn’t all electrolyte drinks and supervised team activities. The trip to Brazil allowed players the opportunity to loosen up and take a break from the year-round job of a student-athlete.
“As long as we were safe and kept out of trouble, we could do what we wanted to do,” said Harris. “That part was nice.”
When players were on their own, they could explore the culture and have fun of their own variety. That’s also when relationships can build the most: When players are one-on-one with each other or in groups away from those in charge of the team.
It was time when players could be more open with each other, not under the eyes of the coaching staff. For the new names who are still learning their coaches and what they can and cannot do, it allowed for guards to go down and the real person to show. Those small group trips to the beach or around town go a long way in building a team that was three wins away from the first NCAA tournament win in program history.
Throughout the journey, members of the Buckeyes, led by sophomore star forward Cotie McMahon, shared their own travel vlog of their journey. Including a coach Kevin McGuff fit check, standing at the foot of Christ the Redeemer and a team boat trip, with a challenging twist.
While some players were taking a nap away from the team or catching the sun’s rays on the boat, a select few, including Harris and McGuff made the leap into the water.
“I can swim. I’m not going to say I can’t, because I can but I don’t like to be in the ocean where I can’t touch the ground, because that terrifies me,” said Harris. “From the boat it looked closer, it looked really close. I thought it would be a 2-minute swim but it took 10 minutes to get there. It was far and tiring. It was worth it but I would not do it again.”
It wasn’t only far, but the return swim from the shore back to the boat had an added bonus, making the challengers swim against the current.
The only thing left of the trip now are the videos, pictures and memories. On the surface, its games of silent Marco Polo, beach volleyball and team excursions. Below that are relationship-building moments that won’t only be evident on the court but build friendships that transcend the couple of hours fans and media see the students.
“It was a really good experience to be able to bond with our teammates, especially with how many new kids we have,” said Taylor. “Form that relationship that will last a lifetime.”
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LGHL Ohio State hosts No. 2 TE in 2025 class, four-star RB puts Buckeyes in top 10
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Ohio State hosts No. 2 TE in 2025 class, four-star RB puts Buckeyes in top 10
Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 TE Nate Roberts | James D. Jackson, 247Sports
While Ohio State was winning big on the field, they were also putting in work on the recruiting trail.
There was lots of positivity coming out of Columbus on Saturday afternoon following Ohio State’s 63-10 win over Western Kentucky. While the product on the field was generating a lot of buzz, the coaching staff was making sure to use the impressive showing to their advantage on the recruiting trail as well, with a handful of key prospects on hand to watch the Buckeyes beat up on the Hilltoppers.
Perhaps the biggest name in attendance this weekend was 2025 four-star tight end Nate Roberts. Making the trip from Washington, Oklahoma on his own dime, the nation’s No. 2 TE and the No. 61 overall prospect in the 2025 class arrived in Columbus with his family on Friday morning, and he got a chance to connect with Cade Stover and the rest of the Ohio State tight ends room.
“It was great to be able to hang out and see how the guys were the night before the game,” Roberts told Rivals. “I felt like I fit in perfectly with that tight end room. Me and the players have very similar personalities. The same goes for me and Coach [Keenan] Bailey.”
Roberts went on to say that he was happy with the way the Buckeyes utilized the tight end position in the game against Western Kentucky, which makes sense given that Stover finished the afternoon as Ohio State’s second-leading receiver with five catches for 90 yards.
“The trip went great,” Roberts finished. “I saw everything we wanted to see. My biggest thing that stood out for me to Ohio State was that I got the opportunity to be a Buckeye for the weekend.”
Having de-commit from Notre Dame this past summer, Roberts is in no rush to make a decision, but Bailey and the rest of the Buckeyes’ staff have to feel good about how this weekend went in their pursuit of the blue chip tight end.
One of the most intriguing guys on campus over the weekend was Miami wide receiver commit Chance Robinson. Ohio State has not been exactly hiding the fact that they are looking to flip the St. Thomas Aquinas pass-catcher from the Hurricanes, and if there is anyone capable of stealing a talented wideout from another program, it would be position coach Brian Hartline.
The Buckeyes got into the game late for Robinson, only offering the 6-foot-2 Florida product this past July, but Hartline has been going hard after the No. 25 WR and No. 140 player nationally in the 2024 class. This unofficial visit was a big step in the right direction, and reports are that all went well, but there is still a lot of work to be done here. The next step will be getting Robinson back on campus for an official visit.
In addition to Roberts and Robinson, Ohio State had a handful of other targets in the building for the matchup against the Hilltoppers, including a trio of 2026 prospects in Florida athlete Devon St. Clair, Lakota West athlete Cam Thomas, and the Buckeyes’ lone commit in the class in five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., to name a few.
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Gene Ross via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
2025 TE Nate Roberts | James D. Jackson, 247Sports
While Ohio State was winning big on the field, they were also putting in work on the recruiting trail.
There was lots of positivity coming out of Columbus on Saturday afternoon following Ohio State’s 63-10 win over Western Kentucky. While the product on the field was generating a lot of buzz, the coaching staff was making sure to use the impressive showing to their advantage on the recruiting trail as well, with a handful of key prospects on hand to watch the Buckeyes beat up on the Hilltoppers.
Perhaps the biggest name in attendance this weekend was 2025 four-star tight end Nate Roberts. Making the trip from Washington, Oklahoma on his own dime, the nation’s No. 2 TE and the No. 61 overall prospect in the 2025 class arrived in Columbus with his family on Friday morning, and he got a chance to connect with Cade Stover and the rest of the Ohio State tight ends room.
“It was great to be able to hang out and see how the guys were the night before the game,” Roberts told Rivals. “I felt like I fit in perfectly with that tight end room. Me and the players have very similar personalities. The same goes for me and Coach [Keenan] Bailey.”
Roberts went on to say that he was happy with the way the Buckeyes utilized the tight end position in the game against Western Kentucky, which makes sense given that Stover finished the afternoon as Ohio State’s second-leading receiver with five catches for 90 yards.
“The trip went great,” Roberts finished. “I saw everything we wanted to see. My biggest thing that stood out for me to Ohio State was that I got the opportunity to be a Buckeye for the weekend.”
Having de-commit from Notre Dame this past summer, Roberts is in no rush to make a decision, but Bailey and the rest of the Buckeyes’ staff have to feel good about how this weekend went in their pursuit of the blue chip tight end.
One of the most intriguing guys on campus over the weekend was Miami wide receiver commit Chance Robinson. Ohio State has not been exactly hiding the fact that they are looking to flip the St. Thomas Aquinas pass-catcher from the Hurricanes, and if there is anyone capable of stealing a talented wideout from another program, it would be position coach Brian Hartline.
The Buckeyes got into the game late for Robinson, only offering the 6-foot-2 Florida product this past July, but Hartline has been going hard after the No. 25 WR and No. 140 player nationally in the 2024 class. This unofficial visit was a big step in the right direction, and reports are that all went well, but there is still a lot of work to be done here. The next step will be getting Robinson back on campus for an official visit.
In addition to Roberts and Robinson, Ohio State had a handful of other targets in the building for the matchup against the Hilltoppers, including a trio of 2026 prospects in Florida athlete Devon St. Clair, Lakota West athlete Cam Thomas, and the Buckeyes’ lone commit in the class in five-star wide receiver Chris Henry Jr., to name a few.
Quick Hits
- Ohio State made the short list for a 2025 four-star running back on Sunday, as Florida native Byron Louis dropped his top 10 schools. A 5-foot-10 ballcarrier out of American Heritage, Louis holds over two dozen offers as the No. 16 RB in the class and a top-200 prospect overall. Joining the Buckeyes on his list are Alabama, Georgia, Penn State, USC and others.
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LGHL Three Things To Watch from Western Kentucky
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Three Things To Watch from Western Kentucky
Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
The Ohio State secondary will be tested by the Hilltoppers
Two weeks into the 2023 season, and Ohio State fans are feeling frustrated. In Week 1, Ohio State did not throw the ball downfield enough. In Week 2, Ohio State won unimpressively over a FCS opponent.
Now we are into Week 3, and here come the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, a team most preseason prognosticators have predicted to win the Conference USA in 2023. This will mark the first ever meeting between the Buckeyes and the Hilltoppers. Western Kentucky WR Blue Smith, a former Ohio State player, will be making his return to Ohio Stadium, trying to show up his former team.
Here is where Ohio State fans need to take a deep breath, before they read the next part: be prepared for frustration with the Ohio State defense, specifically the secondary, during this game. It is not a question of whether Western Kentucky will pass, it is more a question of how effective they will be against the Ohio State secondary.
In case you are wondering where I am coming from, here are some statistics to back up my point. After the first two games, Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed has completed 56-of-83 passes for 589 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. In 2022, Austin Reed led the nation with 4,746 yards passing. Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley had 101 receptions for 1,295 yards and 11 touchdowns, and led the nation in yards after the catch in 2022 with 975 yards, and Corley also led the nation in missed tackles forced with 40.
Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Drew Hollingshead formerly coached under the late Mike Leach at Washington State and Mississippi State, and anyone who remembers a Mike Leach coached team will agree that those teams were always heavily focused upon the pass.
Now that I have given you some background, below are Three Things To Watch From Western Kentucky when this game kicks off on FOX at 4pm ET...
I usually begin with the Ohio State offense against their opponent, but I have placed such a strong emphasis upon Western Kentucky’s passing game that I felt I should start with the Ohio State defense. It will be the Ohio State defense that will be heavily scrutinized by their fans in this contest.
In the 2022 season, Ohio State gave up big plays versus Michigan and Georgia that caused Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to reflect and reevaluate his defensive schemes this offseason. Considering that Western Kentucky will throw continually, here is an opportunity for Knowles to demonstrate that he truly did learn from the mistakes of 2022.
As I wrote up above, it is not a question of ‘if’, but ‘how much’ will Western Kentucky pass against Ohio State. A key defensive strategy that I will be watching for is if Ohio State plays their safeties back, keeping all of the Western Kentucky receivers in front of them. Western Kentucky may be able to keep completing passes, but those yards will be more difficult to gain as the field gets smaller and smaller, especially in the red zone.
2. How effective will Ohio State’s offense be against Western Kentucky?
Western Kentucky has given up 24 points to South Florida and 22 to Houston Christian in their first two games of the season. No disrespect to either of those teams, but neither of those teams have the type of offensive firepower that the Buckeyes have on their roster.
Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord was named as the starter by Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, and McCord should be able to flourish in a home game, knowing that he is “the guy” and will be playing the entire game. McCord has a strong rapport with his high school teammate Marvin Harrison Jr., and it will not be surprising if McCord continues to target Harrison in the passing game, as he did last week versus Youngstown State.
3. Western Kentucky’s Kendrick Simpkins
Western Kentucky’s leading sacker is defensive back Kendrick Simpkins. That should give you an idea about the prowess of the Western Kentucky defense. Considering the challenges the Ohio State offensive line has had in the first two games of the season, and how Western Kentucky’s defense has not demonstrated an ability to shut down their opponents, it will not be surprising if Simpkins is sent on blitzes to try and disrupt the Ohio State offense.
Keep an eye on if Ohio State can make Western Kentucky pay dearly if they blitz Simpkins and someone is left completely wide open for a big play by the Buckeyes.
As I wrote up above, be prepared for frustration on the Ohio State defensive side of the ball. Nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong, but Western Kentucky has been able to put points on the board in 2022 versus Indiana (33-30 OT loss) and Auburn (41-17 loss), and the Ohio State secondary has not yet truly been tested this season. Look for Ohio State to put up points, but the Hilltoppers are going to cause some angst.
I have it Ohio State 42, Western Kentucky 20.
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Chip.Minnich via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
The Ohio State secondary will be tested by the Hilltoppers
Two weeks into the 2023 season, and Ohio State fans are feeling frustrated. In Week 1, Ohio State did not throw the ball downfield enough. In Week 2, Ohio State won unimpressively over a FCS opponent.
Now we are into Week 3, and here come the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers, a team most preseason prognosticators have predicted to win the Conference USA in 2023. This will mark the first ever meeting between the Buckeyes and the Hilltoppers. Western Kentucky WR Blue Smith, a former Ohio State player, will be making his return to Ohio Stadium, trying to show up his former team.
Here is where Ohio State fans need to take a deep breath, before they read the next part: be prepared for frustration with the Ohio State defense, specifically the secondary, during this game. It is not a question of whether Western Kentucky will pass, it is more a question of how effective they will be against the Ohio State secondary.
In case you are wondering where I am coming from, here are some statistics to back up my point. After the first two games, Western Kentucky quarterback Austin Reed has completed 56-of-83 passes for 589 yards, six touchdowns, and zero interceptions. In 2022, Austin Reed led the nation with 4,746 yards passing. Western Kentucky WR Malachi Corley had 101 receptions for 1,295 yards and 11 touchdowns, and led the nation in yards after the catch in 2022 with 975 yards, and Corley also led the nation in missed tackles forced with 40.
Western Kentucky offensive coordinator Drew Hollingshead formerly coached under the late Mike Leach at Washington State and Mississippi State, and anyone who remembers a Mike Leach coached team will agree that those teams were always heavily focused upon the pass.
Now that I have given you some background, below are Three Things To Watch From Western Kentucky when this game kicks off on FOX at 4pm ET...
- Will Jim Knowles adjust his scheme for Western Kentucky?
I usually begin with the Ohio State offense against their opponent, but I have placed such a strong emphasis upon Western Kentucky’s passing game that I felt I should start with the Ohio State defense. It will be the Ohio State defense that will be heavily scrutinized by their fans in this contest.
In the 2022 season, Ohio State gave up big plays versus Michigan and Georgia that caused Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Knowles to reflect and reevaluate his defensive schemes this offseason. Considering that Western Kentucky will throw continually, here is an opportunity for Knowles to demonstrate that he truly did learn from the mistakes of 2022.
As I wrote up above, it is not a question of ‘if’, but ‘how much’ will Western Kentucky pass against Ohio State. A key defensive strategy that I will be watching for is if Ohio State plays their safeties back, keeping all of the Western Kentucky receivers in front of them. Western Kentucky may be able to keep completing passes, but those yards will be more difficult to gain as the field gets smaller and smaller, especially in the red zone.
2. How effective will Ohio State’s offense be against Western Kentucky?
Western Kentucky has given up 24 points to South Florida and 22 to Houston Christian in their first two games of the season. No disrespect to either of those teams, but neither of those teams have the type of offensive firepower that the Buckeyes have on their roster.
Ohio State quarterback Kyle McCord was named as the starter by Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, and McCord should be able to flourish in a home game, knowing that he is “the guy” and will be playing the entire game. McCord has a strong rapport with his high school teammate Marvin Harrison Jr., and it will not be surprising if McCord continues to target Harrison in the passing game, as he did last week versus Youngstown State.
3. Western Kentucky’s Kendrick Simpkins
Western Kentucky’s leading sacker is defensive back Kendrick Simpkins. That should give you an idea about the prowess of the Western Kentucky defense. Considering the challenges the Ohio State offensive line has had in the first two games of the season, and how Western Kentucky’s defense has not demonstrated an ability to shut down their opponents, it will not be surprising if Simpkins is sent on blitzes to try and disrupt the Ohio State offense.
Keep an eye on if Ohio State can make Western Kentucky pay dearly if they blitz Simpkins and someone is left completely wide open for a big play by the Buckeyes.
As I wrote up above, be prepared for frustration on the Ohio State defensive side of the ball. Nothing would make me happier than to be proven wrong, but Western Kentucky has been able to put points on the board in 2022 versus Indiana (33-30 OT loss) and Auburn (41-17 loss), and the Ohio State secondary has not yet truly been tested this season. Look for Ohio State to put up points, but the Hilltoppers are going to cause some angst.
I have it Ohio State 42, Western Kentucky 20.
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