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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
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.
/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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LGHL If This Were A Movie: How the Youngstown State game was actually ‘Legally Blonde’
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If This Were A Movie: How the Youngstown State game was actually ‘Legally Blonde’
JamiJurich 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
“What, like it’s hard?” Based on the inspiring true story of Ohio State vs. Youngstown State
Each week, we’ll analyze the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games as well) through the lens of cinema. If this game were the next “Remember the Titans,” “Space Jam” or “The Notebook,” what storylines would keep us talking? What would make us laugh, reach for the box of tissues, or have us on the edge of our seats? Grab your popcorn and get ready for pop culture references, a hint of snark, and a trip back in time to the Blockbuster Video days.
While the Buckeyes came away with the win last week in their season opener at Indiana, many OSU fans left Bloomington with their share of doubts, particularly about our starting quarterback Kyle McCord.
The NCAA Committee seemed to agree with the doubters, dropping OSU two spots from No. 3 to No. 5.
McCord (and his backup Devin Brown who stepped in for a single three-and-out drive) struggled, the offensive line looked shaky, and the play calling? Oh my gosh, the playcalling was horrid. Jim Knowles’ defense was a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster win.
But this weekend, our young padawan McCord channeled the great Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde” in the Buckeyes’ 35-7 victory over the Youngstown State Penguins.
The Indiana game could be likened to Elle Woods getting off to a shaky start in her first law school class, leading many to underestimate her.
But then, she goes on to prove people wrong.
This weekend so did McCord, who went 14 for 20 for 258 yards and 3 touchdowns (with no interceptions). As they say in the “Legally Blonde” musical, he was “so much better than before.”
*This is not the point of the article, but I did promise my editor I would plug “Legally Blonde: The Musical” because it is perfect, so if you haven’t seen it, find a production near you. But I digress.
Back to McCord, all that’s missing is a signature move like the Bend and Snap, and we could have ourselves the football equivalent of a Harvard Law grad.
When we first meet Ms. Woods, she is the perfect stereotype of a “dumb blonde” hoping for a proposal from her boyfriend Warner. Instead, she is blindsided when Warner dumps her, claiming she’s “not serious.”
Elle doesn’t let her breakup break her down. She sets out on a journey to prove Warner wrong by spending her summer very seriously getting into Harvard Law School in an attempt to win Warner back. And as I mentioned before, even getting into Harvard Law didn’t squash the doubters. She had to deal with the low expectations and ridicule of her peers and professors until she showed them her unique outlook was a fresh take that could be useful.
Be honest with yourself. Based on my Twitter (X?) feed and the many, many, many think pieces I read last week, how many of us watched last week’s game against Indiana and thought, “McCord just isn’t a serious enough quarterback to cut it at Ohio State” (*sheepishly raises hand*)?
It might seem silly to compare McCord’s journey at Ohio State to Elle Woods’ time at Harvard Law, but there are actually a lot of parallels (with the understanding that it’s still Week 2 and there is a lot of football yet to be played).
With her can-do attitude and deep confidence in herself, Elle is able to not just get into Harvard Law but thrive there. Her friends had her back and believed in her, but those on the outside didn’t quite see her vision. She didn’t fit the mold.
Neither does McCord. He’s not the versatile quarterback OSU is used to having as a weapon. It might take a few weeks for us to figure out his true skill. But his coaches and teammates seem to trust him at the helm, and he seems to believe in his ability to lead them.
Elle also has a knack for seeing the best in people and helping them to showcase it. Whether she is befriending the local beautician or helping her nerdy classmates get dates, Elle is great at helping other people shine.
Similarly, McCord allowed his teammates to do that today, evidenced by Marvin Harrison Jr.’s sensational game. They connected on the third play of the game for a 71-yard touchdown and again later in the 1st for a 39-yard touchdown. McCord’s arm was a tool for Harrison to be the star, something truly reminiscent of Elle’s generous spirit.
The rest of the team seemed to find its groove too (as did Elle’s classmates at Harvard with her help). While McCord and Harrison found their stride in the air, running back TreVeyon Henderson had two touchdowns on five rushes, and as a group, OSU ran for 123 yards on 27 carries.
Defensively, the Buckeyes held Youngstown State to a lone touchdown on the opening drive. Cornerback Denzel Burke added a little icing on the cake with an interception.
Now let’s be clear, Youngstown State was a seemingly small potatoes game, I know that. Then again, Indiana should have been as well.
But McCord really stepped up as a surprising on-the-field presence this week. We saw Devin Brown come in during the 2nd Quarter (going 7 for 13 for 101 yards and no touchdowns), but by the end of the quarter, McCord was back.
And as Elle Woods famously said, “I don’t need backups! I’m going to Harvard!” Maybe McCord proved he is ready to be The Guy.
Perhaps the trait McCord shares most with Elle is the ability to break the mold. Elle’s greatest strength is her ability to be herself, which allows her to see things others don’t always see. She is playing by her own rules and reinventing the playbook.
McCord isn’t the type of quarterback we’re used to having at Ohio State (some might call us the Harvard Law of football programs). But he seems to be finding his way as a team leader, albeit differently than the quarterbacks before him.
And maybe that’s OK. There can be power in bringing your own value to the table, the things you do differently. Not all quarterbacks have to be Heisman-caliber to lead their team to victory. There’s more than one path, and on Saturday, McCord found his.
As the season continues to unfold, let’s hope McCord continues to show us “just how valuable Elle Woods can be.”
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
Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images
“What, like it’s hard?” Based on the inspiring true story of Ohio State vs. Youngstown State
Each week, we’ll analyze the Ohio State game (and occasionally other games as well) through the lens of cinema. If this game were the next “Remember the Titans,” “Space Jam” or “The Notebook,” what storylines would keep us talking? What would make us laugh, reach for the box of tissues, or have us on the edge of our seats? Grab your popcorn and get ready for pop culture references, a hint of snark, and a trip back in time to the Blockbuster Video days.
While the Buckeyes came away with the win last week in their season opener at Indiana, many OSU fans left Bloomington with their share of doubts, particularly about our starting quarterback Kyle McCord.
The NCAA Committee seemed to agree with the doubters, dropping OSU two spots from No. 3 to No. 5.
McCord (and his backup Devin Brown who stepped in for a single three-and-out drive) struggled, the offensive line looked shaky, and the play calling? Oh my gosh, the playcalling was horrid. Jim Knowles’ defense was a bright spot in an otherwise lackluster win.
But this weekend, our young padawan McCord channeled the great Elle Woods from “Legally Blonde” in the Buckeyes’ 35-7 victory over the Youngstown State Penguins.
The Indiana game could be likened to Elle Woods getting off to a shaky start in her first law school class, leading many to underestimate her.
But then, she goes on to prove people wrong.
This weekend so did McCord, who went 14 for 20 for 258 yards and 3 touchdowns (with no interceptions). As they say in the “Legally Blonde” musical, he was “so much better than before.”
*This is not the point of the article, but I did promise my editor I would plug “Legally Blonde: The Musical” because it is perfect, so if you haven’t seen it, find a production near you. But I digress.
Back to McCord, all that’s missing is a signature move like the Bend and Snap, and we could have ourselves the football equivalent of a Harvard Law grad.
When we first meet Ms. Woods, she is the perfect stereotype of a “dumb blonde” hoping for a proposal from her boyfriend Warner. Instead, she is blindsided when Warner dumps her, claiming she’s “not serious.”
Elle doesn’t let her breakup break her down. She sets out on a journey to prove Warner wrong by spending her summer very seriously getting into Harvard Law School in an attempt to win Warner back. And as I mentioned before, even getting into Harvard Law didn’t squash the doubters. She had to deal with the low expectations and ridicule of her peers and professors until she showed them her unique outlook was a fresh take that could be useful.
Be honest with yourself. Based on my Twitter (X?) feed and the many, many, many think pieces I read last week, how many of us watched last week’s game against Indiana and thought, “McCord just isn’t a serious enough quarterback to cut it at Ohio State” (*sheepishly raises hand*)?
It might seem silly to compare McCord’s journey at Ohio State to Elle Woods’ time at Harvard Law, but there are actually a lot of parallels (with the understanding that it’s still Week 2 and there is a lot of football yet to be played).
With her can-do attitude and deep confidence in herself, Elle is able to not just get into Harvard Law but thrive there. Her friends had her back and believed in her, but those on the outside didn’t quite see her vision. She didn’t fit the mold.
Neither does McCord. He’s not the versatile quarterback OSU is used to having as a weapon. It might take a few weeks for us to figure out his true skill. But his coaches and teammates seem to trust him at the helm, and he seems to believe in his ability to lead them.
Elle also has a knack for seeing the best in people and helping them to showcase it. Whether she is befriending the local beautician or helping her nerdy classmates get dates, Elle is great at helping other people shine.
Similarly, McCord allowed his teammates to do that today, evidenced by Marvin Harrison Jr.’s sensational game. They connected on the third play of the game for a 71-yard touchdown and again later in the 1st for a 39-yard touchdown. McCord’s arm was a tool for Harrison to be the star, something truly reminiscent of Elle’s generous spirit.
The rest of the team seemed to find its groove too (as did Elle’s classmates at Harvard with her help). While McCord and Harrison found their stride in the air, running back TreVeyon Henderson had two touchdowns on five rushes, and as a group, OSU ran for 123 yards on 27 carries.
Defensively, the Buckeyes held Youngstown State to a lone touchdown on the opening drive. Cornerback Denzel Burke added a little icing on the cake with an interception.
Now let’s be clear, Youngstown State was a seemingly small potatoes game, I know that. Then again, Indiana should have been as well.
But McCord really stepped up as a surprising on-the-field presence this week. We saw Devin Brown come in during the 2nd Quarter (going 7 for 13 for 101 yards and no touchdowns), but by the end of the quarter, McCord was back.
And as Elle Woods famously said, “I don’t need backups! I’m going to Harvard!” Maybe McCord proved he is ready to be The Guy.
Perhaps the trait McCord shares most with Elle is the ability to break the mold. Elle’s greatest strength is her ability to be herself, which allows her to see things others don’t always see. She is playing by her own rules and reinventing the playbook.
McCord isn’t the type of quarterback we’re used to having at Ohio State (some might call us the Harvard Law of football programs). But he seems to be finding his way as a team leader, albeit differently than the quarterbacks before him.
And maybe that’s OK. There can be power in bringing your own value to the table, the things you do differently. Not all quarterbacks have to be Heisman-caliber to lead their team to victory. There’s more than one path, and on Saturday, McCord found his.
As the season continues to unfold, let’s hope McCord continues to show us “just how valuable Elle Woods can be.”
Continue reading...
2023 Ohio State vs Youngstown State
- By BUCKDUBBS007
- 2023 Football Torrents
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Just for fun, here is a visual representation of your life that is wasted by commercials, timeouts, breaks and halftime.
LGHL Ohio State vs. Youngstown State: 2023 game preview and prediction
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Ohio State vs. Youngstown State: 2023 game preview and prediction
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
Ohio State’s 102nd season at Ohio Stadium kicks off on Saturday against Youngstown State.
Ohio State opens their 102nd season at Ohio Stadium on Saturday when they host the Youngstown Penguins. The Buckeyes are 90-9-2 all-time in openers at The Horseshoe, but they haven’t been quite as dominant over the last decade, posting a 7-3 record in their last 10 home openers. The losses during that span have come against Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, and Oregon.
Saturday’s tilt with Youngstown State is one of 41 games on the schedule this week that’ll see a FBS team take on a team from the FCS. In the first week of the season, FBS teams were perfect against FCS schools, posting a 42-0 record. While schools from other conferences have made it a habit of annually playing an FCS school, the Buckeyes have largely phased out contests against schools from the FCS.
Over the last 83 years, the Buckeyes have played just three games against current FCS schools. The last FCS school Ohio State played was back in 2013, when they obliterated Florida A&M 76-0. The other two games were both against Youngstown State. In 2007, the Buckeyes beat the Penguins 38-6, and followed it up the next year with a 43-0 victory in Columbus. Ohio State is 8-3-1 against current FCS schools, with their last loss being a 21-7 setback to Cornell in 1940.
In Week 1, Ohio State won their 23rd straight season-opening game and notched their 28th straight win over Indiana, beating the Hoosiers 23-3 in Bloomington. Despite the 20-point margin over victory, the win was pretty underwhelming. The Buckeye offense had a hard time finding much traction against Indiana, totaling 380 yards of offense, marking just the fourth time under head coach Ryan Day that Ohio State failed to crack 400 yards of offense.
Not many questions were answered about the quarterback position in the opener. Starter Kyle McCord got the majority of snaps in the game, completing 20 of 33 passes for 239 yards, tossing no touchdowns and an interception. Devin Brown took the field for one drive in each half, but we didn’t see much from him, as when he entered the game in the first half Ohio State went three-and-out and he didn’t throw the ball on any of those three plays. Brown re-entered the game late in the second half in mop-up duty with the result already decided.
Two Ohio State receivers had a strong game against the Hoosiers, but it wasn’t the two that most would have expected. Tight end Cade Stover led the Buckeyes with five catches for a career-high 98 yards. Julian Fleming added six grabs for 58 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka combined to catch five passes for just 34 yards. The total could have been higher had Harrison not had a touchdown in the second half nullified because he stepped out of bounds prior to catching the pass.
With their passing attack struggling, Ohio State decided to share the love on the ground, with three running backs carrying the football at least seven times. TreVeyon Henderson saw the most carries, toting the rock 12 times in the game, finishing with 47 yards. Chip Trayanum carried the football eight times for a team-high 57 yards, while Miyan Williams scored Ohio State’s two touchdowns in the victory. Overall, the Buckeyes finished with 146 yards rushing on 31 carries.
One reason for Ohio State’s struggles on offense on Saturday could be because of the play of the offensive line. With three new starters on the offensive line, there are going to be some growing pains as the new starters adjust to their roles and responsibilities. The Buckeyes have designs on winning the Big Ten title and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. Those goals won’t be realized if the offensive line doesn’t make improvements from what they showed in the opener on Saturday.
There wasn’t much to worry about on the defensive side of the football for Ohio State, as they gave up just 153 yards and a field goal to Indiana. The 153 yards were the fewest the Buckeyes have given up since they allowed just 114 to the Hoosiers in 2021. The three points Ohio State allowed were the least they have given up since the 2019 contest against Northwestern when they beat the Wildcats 52-3 in Evanston.
Leading Ohio State in tackles in the opener was Steele Chambers, who finished the game with six stops. The linebacker has made tremendous strides since moving over to the defensive side of the football from running back, and has formed quite a pairing with Tommy Eichenberg, who hit triple digits in tackles last season. Eichenberg registered four tackles on Saturday.
The standout player on the defense against the Hoosiers was safety Sonny Styles, who was credited with four tackles in the victory, and a team-high 1.5 tackles for loss. Styles was all over the field against Indiana, laying the lumber anytime he was near the football. Even more incredible about Styles’ performance is he really should be entering his freshman year of football at Ohio State, but he was able to join the team prior to last season after reclassifying. It feels like very soon that Styles is going to be in the conversation as one of the best safeties in the country.
Along with Styles, another player in the secondary who had a great game was Denzel Burke, who broke up two passes. Indiana wasn’t particularly interested in throwing the football much with two new quarterbacks, so the numbers for Burke aren’t going to jump off the page. Still, it was obvious that Burke has regained some of the strong form he showed as a freshman,
Since Indiana only attempted 20 passes in the game, the defensive line didn’t have much of an opportunity to get after the Hoosier quarterbacks. The only sack for the Buckeyes came late in the game from Hero Kanu. Although they didn’t have many pass rushing attempts, the defensive line still was able to create some pressure. Michael Hall Jr. was just a tick off on a couple plays, while J.T. Tuimoloau showcased some of the speed that caused him to be such a problem for Penn State last season. Expect to see a lot more from the Ohio State defensive line next week against a pass-happy Western Kentucky offense.
Saturday’s game against Youngstown State might not provide much competition for Ohio State, but there certainly are a few storylines when it comes to past Buckeyes that will be fun to relive. The most notable connection between the two schools is former Youngstown State and Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. After coaching the Penguins to 153 wins and four national titles, Tressel was hired by the Buckeyes to replace John Cooper. Tressel would go on to lead the Buckeyes to 94 wins, six Big Ten titles, and a national title.
Since Tressel left Youngstown State following the 2000 season, the Penguins have only made the FCS playoffs twice. The last of those playoff appearances came in 2016 when they were coached by former Ohio State safety Bo Pelini, who led Youngstown State to the title game where they were defeated 28-14 by James Madison. In five years coaching in his hometown, Pelini was 33-28.
The current head coach of Youngstown State is Doug Phillips, who also has an Ohio State connection. Phillips was a defensive quality control assistant on Jim Tressel’s staff in 2006. Now entering his fourth season with the Penguins, Phillips is 12-17 but his team is coming off a 7-4 season, which was his first winning season with the school. Prior to taking the job at Youngstown State, Phillips was also an assistant at Bowling Green and Cincinnati.
Youngstown State opened up their 2023 season with a 52-10 win over Valparaiso, outscoring the Beacons 35-0 in the second half. The 28 points the Penguins scored in the third quarter were a school record. With the victory, Youngstown State moved into the FCS top-25 for the first time since the 2019 season. The 52 points they scored last week was their highest total since scoring 54 points against Howard in 2019.
Quarterbacking the Penguins will be Mitch Davidson, who was 11-of-19 for 130 yards, throwing for a touchdown and adding another one on the ground in the victory. Davidson started the final seven games of the 2022 season for Youngstown State, with the team posting a 5-2 record in those games. One thing Davidson has done a great job at is protecting the football, not throwing an interception in his last 125 passing attempts.
Catching passes from Davidson will be Bryce Oliver, who hauled in 59 passes for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. Lining up with Oliver is C.J. Charleston, who played in his first game last week since November 2021 after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in camp prior to the 2022 season. Charleston caught four passes for 47 yards in the win over Valparaiso.
On the ground, Tyshon King led Youngstown State with 111 yards and two scores on 11 carries in his first game with the school after the senior running back transferred into the program. It will be interesting to see how the Penguins choose to use King and Dra Rushton, who ran for 319 and two scores in 2022. Rushton didn’t play last win against the Beacons. King and Rushton should benefit from an experienced offensive line that brings back four starters from last season.
Even though the Youngstown State defense will have their hands full with the Ohio State offensive attack, the Penguins will have plenty of experience to lean on, as they return 12 of their top 14 tacklers from last year’s squad. Alex Howard led the charge for the defense of the Penguins, finishing the season opener with a team-high nine tackles. Youngstown State did a great job at punching the football out in the blowout of Valparaiso, forcing three fumbles.
Last week was supposed to be a blowout against an overmatched Indiana team, but that didn’t materialize as planned. This week should be a different story. If not, there are problems within the team that are a lot deeper than anyone imagined. Youngstown State is a fun story because of their past Ohio State connections, but there’s no reason they should stay within at least five touchdowns of the Buckeyes.
This game might not be entertaining to watch from a competition standpoint. Where it will be important because it will allow Ohio State to work on some things ahead of the battle later in the month against Notre Dame. A few touchdown passes will give Kyle McCord some confidence, while also allowing Devin Brown to get on the field more than he did against the Hoosiers. Opening up some big holes for the running backs to run through could be just what the doctor ordered for the offensive line as they look to improve on what we saw from them last week.
Saturday would also be a good time for Ryan Day to let Brian Hartline handle the offense a little more and see what the former Buckeye receiver is capable of coming up with when it comes to a game plan. Even though what we saw Day call for the offense against Georgia was great, lately it has been the exception and not the norm. Maybe handing off more of the responsibilities when it comes to play-calling is what could spark the offense.
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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
Ohio State’s 102nd season at Ohio Stadium kicks off on Saturday against Youngstown State.
Ohio State opens their 102nd season at Ohio Stadium on Saturday when they host the Youngstown Penguins. The Buckeyes are 90-9-2 all-time in openers at The Horseshoe, but they haven’t been quite as dominant over the last decade, posting a 7-3 record in their last 10 home openers. The losses during that span have come against Virginia Tech, Oklahoma, and Oregon.
History against Youngstown State & the FCS
Saturday’s tilt with Youngstown State is one of 41 games on the schedule this week that’ll see a FBS team take on a team from the FCS. In the first week of the season, FBS teams were perfect against FCS schools, posting a 42-0 record. While schools from other conferences have made it a habit of annually playing an FCS school, the Buckeyes have largely phased out contests against schools from the FCS.
Over the last 83 years, the Buckeyes have played just three games against current FCS schools. The last FCS school Ohio State played was back in 2013, when they obliterated Florida A&M 76-0. The other two games were both against Youngstown State. In 2007, the Buckeyes beat the Penguins 38-6, and followed it up the next year with a 43-0 victory in Columbus. Ohio State is 8-3-1 against current FCS schools, with their last loss being a 21-7 setback to Cornell in 1940.
In Week 1, Ohio State won their 23rd straight season-opening game and notched their 28th straight win over Indiana, beating the Hoosiers 23-3 in Bloomington. Despite the 20-point margin over victory, the win was pretty underwhelming. The Buckeye offense had a hard time finding much traction against Indiana, totaling 380 yards of offense, marking just the fourth time under head coach Ryan Day that Ohio State failed to crack 400 yards of offense.
Plenty of work to be done
Not many questions were answered about the quarterback position in the opener. Starter Kyle McCord got the majority of snaps in the game, completing 20 of 33 passes for 239 yards, tossing no touchdowns and an interception. Devin Brown took the field for one drive in each half, but we didn’t see much from him, as when he entered the game in the first half Ohio State went three-and-out and he didn’t throw the ball on any of those three plays. Brown re-entered the game late in the second half in mop-up duty with the result already decided.
Two Ohio State receivers had a strong game against the Hoosiers, but it wasn’t the two that most would have expected. Tight end Cade Stover led the Buckeyes with five catches for a career-high 98 yards. Julian Fleming added six grabs for 58 yards. Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka combined to catch five passes for just 34 yards. The total could have been higher had Harrison not had a touchdown in the second half nullified because he stepped out of bounds prior to catching the pass.
With their passing attack struggling, Ohio State decided to share the love on the ground, with three running backs carrying the football at least seven times. TreVeyon Henderson saw the most carries, toting the rock 12 times in the game, finishing with 47 yards. Chip Trayanum carried the football eight times for a team-high 57 yards, while Miyan Williams scored Ohio State’s two touchdowns in the victory. Overall, the Buckeyes finished with 146 yards rushing on 31 carries.
One reason for Ohio State’s struggles on offense on Saturday could be because of the play of the offensive line. With three new starters on the offensive line, there are going to be some growing pains as the new starters adjust to their roles and responsibilities. The Buckeyes have designs on winning the Big Ten title and earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. Those goals won’t be realized if the offensive line doesn’t make improvements from what they showed in the opener on Saturday.
A stingy Buckeye defense
There wasn’t much to worry about on the defensive side of the football for Ohio State, as they gave up just 153 yards and a field goal to Indiana. The 153 yards were the fewest the Buckeyes have given up since they allowed just 114 to the Hoosiers in 2021. The three points Ohio State allowed were the least they have given up since the 2019 contest against Northwestern when they beat the Wildcats 52-3 in Evanston.
Leading Ohio State in tackles in the opener was Steele Chambers, who finished the game with six stops. The linebacker has made tremendous strides since moving over to the defensive side of the football from running back, and has formed quite a pairing with Tommy Eichenberg, who hit triple digits in tackles last season. Eichenberg registered four tackles on Saturday.
The standout player on the defense against the Hoosiers was safety Sonny Styles, who was credited with four tackles in the victory, and a team-high 1.5 tackles for loss. Styles was all over the field against Indiana, laying the lumber anytime he was near the football. Even more incredible about Styles’ performance is he really should be entering his freshman year of football at Ohio State, but he was able to join the team prior to last season after reclassifying. It feels like very soon that Styles is going to be in the conversation as one of the best safeties in the country.
Along with Styles, another player in the secondary who had a great game was Denzel Burke, who broke up two passes. Indiana wasn’t particularly interested in throwing the football much with two new quarterbacks, so the numbers for Burke aren’t going to jump off the page. Still, it was obvious that Burke has regained some of the strong form he showed as a freshman,
Since Indiana only attempted 20 passes in the game, the defensive line didn’t have much of an opportunity to get after the Hoosier quarterbacks. The only sack for the Buckeyes came late in the game from Hero Kanu. Although they didn’t have many pass rushing attempts, the defensive line still was able to create some pressure. Michael Hall Jr. was just a tick off on a couple plays, while J.T. Tuimoloau showcased some of the speed that caused him to be such a problem for Penn State last season. Expect to see a lot more from the Ohio State defensive line next week against a pass-happy Western Kentucky offense.
Connections between the schools
Saturday’s game against Youngstown State might not provide much competition for Ohio State, but there certainly are a few storylines when it comes to past Buckeyes that will be fun to relive. The most notable connection between the two schools is former Youngstown State and Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. After coaching the Penguins to 153 wins and four national titles, Tressel was hired by the Buckeyes to replace John Cooper. Tressel would go on to lead the Buckeyes to 94 wins, six Big Ten titles, and a national title.
Since Tressel left Youngstown State following the 2000 season, the Penguins have only made the FCS playoffs twice. The last of those playoff appearances came in 2016 when they were coached by former Ohio State safety Bo Pelini, who led Youngstown State to the title game where they were defeated 28-14 by James Madison. In five years coaching in his hometown, Pelini was 33-28.
The current head coach of Youngstown State is Doug Phillips, who also has an Ohio State connection. Phillips was a defensive quality control assistant on Jim Tressel’s staff in 2006. Now entering his fourth season with the Penguins, Phillips is 12-17 but his team is coming off a 7-4 season, which was his first winning season with the school. Prior to taking the job at Youngstown State, Phillips was also an assistant at Bowling Green and Cincinnati.
Youngstown State on the field
Youngstown State opened up their 2023 season with a 52-10 win over Valparaiso, outscoring the Beacons 35-0 in the second half. The 28 points the Penguins scored in the third quarter were a school record. With the victory, Youngstown State moved into the FCS top-25 for the first time since the 2019 season. The 52 points they scored last week was their highest total since scoring 54 points against Howard in 2019.
Quarterbacking the Penguins will be Mitch Davidson, who was 11-of-19 for 130 yards, throwing for a touchdown and adding another one on the ground in the victory. Davidson started the final seven games of the 2022 season for Youngstown State, with the team posting a 5-2 record in those games. One thing Davidson has done a great job at is protecting the football, not throwing an interception in his last 125 passing attempts.
Catching passes from Davidson will be Bryce Oliver, who hauled in 59 passes for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. Lining up with Oliver is C.J. Charleston, who played in his first game last week since November 2021 after suffering an Achilles tendon injury in camp prior to the 2022 season. Charleston caught four passes for 47 yards in the win over Valparaiso.
On the ground, Tyshon King led Youngstown State with 111 yards and two scores on 11 carries in his first game with the school after the senior running back transferred into the program. It will be interesting to see how the Penguins choose to use King and Dra Rushton, who ran for 319 and two scores in 2022. Rushton didn’t play last win against the Beacons. King and Rushton should benefit from an experienced offensive line that brings back four starters from last season.
Even though the Youngstown State defense will have their hands full with the Ohio State offensive attack, the Penguins will have plenty of experience to lean on, as they return 12 of their top 14 tacklers from last year’s squad. Alex Howard led the charge for the defense of the Penguins, finishing the season opener with a team-high nine tackles. Youngstown State did a great job at punching the football out in the blowout of Valparaiso, forcing three fumbles.
Summary
Last week was supposed to be a blowout against an overmatched Indiana team, but that didn’t materialize as planned. This week should be a different story. If not, there are problems within the team that are a lot deeper than anyone imagined. Youngstown State is a fun story because of their past Ohio State connections, but there’s no reason they should stay within at least five touchdowns of the Buckeyes.
This game might not be entertaining to watch from a competition standpoint. Where it will be important because it will allow Ohio State to work on some things ahead of the battle later in the month against Notre Dame. A few touchdown passes will give Kyle McCord some confidence, while also allowing Devin Brown to get on the field more than he did against the Hoosiers. Opening up some big holes for the running backs to run through could be just what the doctor ordered for the offensive line as they look to improve on what we saw from them last week.
Saturday would also be a good time for Ryan Day to let Brian Hartline handle the offense a little more and see what the former Buckeye receiver is capable of coming up with when it comes to a game plan. Even though what we saw Day call for the offense against Georgia was great, lately it has been the exception and not the norm. Maybe handing off more of the responsibilities when it comes to play-calling is what could spark the offense.
LGHL prediction: Ohio State 55, Youngstown State 3
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LGHL Five-star offensive tackle sets commitment date for later this month
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Five-star offensive tackle sets commitment date for later this month
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Greg Biggins, 247Sports
The blue chip California native is set to announce on Sept. 24.
If there’s one position the Ohio State coaching staff would love to add to this late in the game for their 2024 class, it’s offensive line. With some other spots out there still up for grabs, position coach Justin Frye has multiple commitments in his room already, but if another top player wanted in the fold, the Buckeyes would certainly entertain that notion.
Specifically speaking, a couple of names that are currently uncommitted would be no-brainer additions if they wanted in. On Thursday, the top remaining offensive line target for Ohio State and several other top suitors announced the latest news by setting a commitment date.
Five-star California native Brandon Baker is no stranger to Ohio State recruiting, as the Buckeyes have long been in the running, but now an end is in sight with his plans coming to a close. Setting a date for Sept. 24, later this month, the remaining schools in the mix will learn their fate as the No. 21 player nationally and nation’s top offensive tackle per the 247Sports Composite picks the school of his choice. With nearly 30 offers from the best programs in college football, Baker may already have his mind made up.
For Ohio State, the Buckeyes have had a serious shot here and remain a strong possibility. Though he’s a California native and many have wrote this one off, the staff has done all it can to be a realistic option. To those tied in, they know the Buckeyes are still in consideration. However, Texas insiders for On3 Sports logged predictions for Baker to end up choosing Texas in the end.
The Buckeyes need to stay after this one, and though Texas and the NIL front has been a theme lately, Ohio State shouldn’t be counted out. They’ve made it this long, so even if they’re not the pick in the end, the efforts are still being made to at least give them more than a puncher’s chance.
A 6-foot-2, 185 pound athlete, Brady is currently the No. 15 player nationally and the second ranked receiver in the 2026 cycle per the 247Sports Composite. Go figure, certainly the position and where Brady is from sounds familiar. Seemingly every year Brian Hartline is stealing the best receiver out of Florida, with 2024 being much of the same thanks to Jeremiah Smith, who will also be in attendance this weekend. The recruiting pitch to Jabari should be relatively easy.
A 5-foot-10, 155 pound athlete, Clemons does not yet have a ranking on his 247Sports profile, but early offers from the likes of Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, West Virginia and a couple of others show that his recruitment is really starting to take off.
The Buckeyes have yet to offer, but a trip this weekend is a step in the right direction as the two parties start to get to know each other a little better. With his position always of need, surely the coaches are already with a plan in mind.
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Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Greg Biggins, 247Sports
The blue chip California native is set to announce on Sept. 24.
If there’s one position the Ohio State coaching staff would love to add to this late in the game for their 2024 class, it’s offensive line. With some other spots out there still up for grabs, position coach Justin Frye has multiple commitments in his room already, but if another top player wanted in the fold, the Buckeyes would certainly entertain that notion.
Specifically speaking, a couple of names that are currently uncommitted would be no-brainer additions if they wanted in. On Thursday, the top remaining offensive line target for Ohio State and several other top suitors announced the latest news by setting a commitment date.
Five-star California native Brandon Baker is no stranger to Ohio State recruiting, as the Buckeyes have long been in the running, but now an end is in sight with his plans coming to a close. Setting a date for Sept. 24, later this month, the remaining schools in the mix will learn their fate as the No. 21 player nationally and nation’s top offensive tackle per the 247Sports Composite picks the school of his choice. With nearly 30 offers from the best programs in college football, Baker may already have his mind made up.
For Ohio State, the Buckeyes have had a serious shot here and remain a strong possibility. Though he’s a California native and many have wrote this one off, the staff has done all it can to be a realistic option. To those tied in, they know the Buckeyes are still in consideration. However, Texas insiders for On3 Sports logged predictions for Baker to end up choosing Texas in the end.
The Buckeyes need to stay after this one, and though Texas and the NIL front has been a theme lately, Ohio State shouldn’t be counted out. They’ve made it this long, so even if they’re not the pick in the end, the efforts are still being made to at least give them more than a puncher’s chance.
Quick Hits
- With more names being added to the list, Saturday’s home opener versus Youngstown State is shaping up to be a pretty impressive recruiting weekend in terms of visitors that will be on hand. One of the latest to share his visit plans, class of 2026 Florida native Jabari Brady will be making the trek to Columbus.
A 6-foot-2, 185 pound athlete, Brady is currently the No. 15 player nationally and the second ranked receiver in the 2026 cycle per the 247Sports Composite. Go figure, certainly the position and where Brady is from sounds familiar. Seemingly every year Brian Hartline is stealing the best receiver out of Florida, with 2024 being much of the same thanks to Jeremiah Smith, who will also be in attendance this weekend. The recruiting pitch to Jabari should be relatively easy.
- Another name worth mentioning that will be at Ohio State this weekend, 2026 defensive back Demari Clemons will head north from Georgia. The Buffalo, New York native is now playing his prep ball at Grayson High School — a well known national program — and it’s safe to say he’s fitting it quite well.
A 5-foot-10, 155 pound athlete, Clemons does not yet have a ranking on his 247Sports profile, but early offers from the likes of Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, West Virginia and a couple of others show that his recruitment is really starting to take off.
The Buckeyes have yet to offer, but a trip this weekend is a step in the right direction as the two parties start to get to know each other a little better. With his position always of need, surely the coaches are already with a plan in mind.
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