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LGHL Biggest Concerns Week: Ohio State fans have major concerns following Spring Game
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Biggest Concerns Week: Ohio State fans have major concerns following Spring Game
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
Ohio State fans are not exactly known for being level-headed, so it’s no surprise that following last month’s spring game, some folks have some intense emotions about the team based on what they saw in the 15th and final practice of the spring.
Last week, we asked Buckeye fans to share their thoughts on what they saw from Ryan Day’s team before heading into the offseason and unsurprisingly, there were some points of concern. While I agree with some of the responses to our LGHL Asks and SB Nation Reacts survey, I am a little bit surprised by the intensity of some of the results.
Check out the results below and make sure to sign up for the email surveys at the bottom of this article.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24626931/OhioState_1_042823.png)
Obviously, the wide receiver position at Ohio State is always going to be one of the best on the team, but it is arguably the best in the country this year with three incredible true freshmen coming in to complement the returning studs. But, at this point — not to under-appreciate how special what Brian Hartline has done is — it’s almost to be expected, so the fact that the Buckeyes might have the two best wide receivers in the country... again ... isn’t a surprise.
So, I would have gone with the defensive line, because it feels like that group has finally turned the corner. After about five years of being good, but not great, it feels like they are ready to turn the corner. If J.T. Tuimoloau can take another step forward after a super solid sophomore season and Jack Sawyer can reach his potential when he’s finally moved back to his natural position at defensive end, there is a lot of havoc to be wreaked. Then, when you throw in Mike Hall Jr., Ty Hamilton, and Tyleik Williams in the middle, that has the potential to be unbelievably problematic for opposing offensive lines.
I am always a bit wary about how Larry Johnson rotates his guys (rotating is fine, but, LJ, in crucial situations, let’s get the No. 1s on the field), so if he can just keep his top players out there for the majority of the most important snaps, this line could make a huge difference for the team.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24626932/OhioState_2_042823.png)
I mean, is there really any other option? The offensive line is in trouble, and unfortunately, it didn’t have to be. To see Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler fall as they did in the NFL Draft last weekend has to give fans a few extra pangs of regret. With those guys back, the offensive line would have been in much better shape than it is now and — while it still would have been a bit thin in terms of depth — could have been a source of comfort given that whoever starts at quarterback next season will be essentially new to the responsibility.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I think that there is talent in that room and that position coach Justin Frye is capable of getting them into shape by the time September rolls around, but there really is no other position group on the team that even rivals my level of concern for the offensive line.
Adding San Diego State transfer Josh Simmons should help the depth, and he has starting experience, but I’m not sure that’s enough to alleviate any of doubt that I feel about that group right now.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24626933/OhioState_3_042823.png)
This is the result that I am most surprised about, but perhaps it has more to do with general concern, rather than stuff learned from the Spring Game. I think the concerns coming into the game were pretty clear and the results of the game itself didn’t really change that for me, but maybe for folks who hadn’t been completely dialed into spring practice reports, the offensive line and quarterback situations hadn’t been completely clear.
We’ve discussed the offensive line already, but one thing that I want to say about the QB competition is that we shouldn’t worry. Neither Justin Fields nor C.J. Stroud had lights-out performances in their first OSU spring games and things worked out pretty well for them. While I am not yet ready to say that Kyle McCord is at their levels (though I will be happy to see him get there), he is clearly talented and has four months of work to go before he takes his first snaps as OSU’s starter — unless Devin Brown has an unbelievable offseason.
He’s a former five-star prospect and has worked with Day and Corey Denis for two years and has probably thrown more balls to Marvin Harrison Jr. than any other quarterback in the world, so that’s got to count for something right?
In Day’s time at Ohio State, he’s never not had an incredible QB behind center, so I feel pretty confident that whether it’s McCord or Brown, whoever is the starting quarterback will be fantastic... now we just have to hope that the offensive line can give them time to do their thing.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
Ohio State fans are not exactly known for being level-headed, so it’s no surprise that following last month’s spring game, some folks have some intense emotions about the team based on what they saw in the 15th and final practice of the spring.
Last week, we asked Buckeye fans to share their thoughts on what they saw from Ryan Day’s team before heading into the offseason and unsurprisingly, there were some points of concern. While I agree with some of the responses to our LGHL Asks and SB Nation Reacts survey, I am a little bit surprised by the intensity of some of the results.
Check out the results below and make sure to sign up for the email surveys at the bottom of this article.
Question 1: Following the spring game, what position group are you most excited about?
Obviously, the wide receiver position at Ohio State is always going to be one of the best on the team, but it is arguably the best in the country this year with three incredible true freshmen coming in to complement the returning studs. But, at this point — not to under-appreciate how special what Brian Hartline has done is — it’s almost to be expected, so the fact that the Buckeyes might have the two best wide receivers in the country... again ... isn’t a surprise.
So, I would have gone with the defensive line, because it feels like that group has finally turned the corner. After about five years of being good, but not great, it feels like they are ready to turn the corner. If J.T. Tuimoloau can take another step forward after a super solid sophomore season and Jack Sawyer can reach his potential when he’s finally moved back to his natural position at defensive end, there is a lot of havoc to be wreaked. Then, when you throw in Mike Hall Jr., Ty Hamilton, and Tyleik Williams in the middle, that has the potential to be unbelievably problematic for opposing offensive lines.
I am always a bit wary about how Larry Johnson rotates his guys (rotating is fine, but, LJ, in crucial situations, let’s get the No. 1s on the field), so if he can just keep his top players out there for the majority of the most important snaps, this line could make a huge difference for the team.
Question 2: Following the spring game, what position group are you most concerned about?
I mean, is there really any other option? The offensive line is in trouble, and unfortunately, it didn’t have to be. To see Dawand Jones and Luke Wypler fall as they did in the NFL Draft last weekend has to give fans a few extra pangs of regret. With those guys back, the offensive line would have been in much better shape than it is now and — while it still would have been a bit thin in terms of depth — could have been a source of comfort given that whoever starts at quarterback next season will be essentially new to the responsibility.
Now, don’t get me wrong, I think that there is talent in that room and that position coach Justin Frye is capable of getting them into shape by the time September rolls around, but there really is no other position group on the team that even rivals my level of concern for the offensive line.
Adding San Diego State transfer Josh Simmons should help the depth, and he has starting experience, but I’m not sure that’s enough to alleviate any of doubt that I feel about that group right now.
Question 3: Did the spring game change how you feel about the 2023 team?
This is the result that I am most surprised about, but perhaps it has more to do with general concern, rather than stuff learned from the Spring Game. I think the concerns coming into the game were pretty clear and the results of the game itself didn’t really change that for me, but maybe for folks who hadn’t been completely dialed into spring practice reports, the offensive line and quarterback situations hadn’t been completely clear.
We’ve discussed the offensive line already, but one thing that I want to say about the QB competition is that we shouldn’t worry. Neither Justin Fields nor C.J. Stroud had lights-out performances in their first OSU spring games and things worked out pretty well for them. While I am not yet ready to say that Kyle McCord is at their levels (though I will be happy to see him get there), he is clearly talented and has four months of work to go before he takes his first snaps as OSU’s starter — unless Devin Brown has an unbelievable offseason.
He’s a former five-star prospect and has worked with Day and Corey Denis for two years and has probably thrown more balls to Marvin Harrison Jr. than any other quarterback in the world, so that’s got to count for something right?
In Day’s time at Ohio State, he’s never not had an incredible QB behind center, so I feel pretty confident that whether it’s McCord or Brown, whoever is the starting quarterback will be fantastic... now we just have to hope that the offensive line can give them time to do their thing.
Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NCAA. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
LGHL The biggest concern holding back Ohio State women’s basketball from the next level
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- 0 Replies
The biggest concern holding back Ohio State women’s basketball from the next level
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
It’s not a new issue but if its addressed it could push the Buckeyes to an even higher level
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
This week, Land-Grant Holy Land begins a series of theme weeks, running through August. Kicking things off for week one is identifying the biggest concerns for the Scarlet & Gray. Now sure, this whole theme week idea is focused around football but I’m historically somebody who doesn’t like being told what to do. Let’s talk Ohio State women’s basketball and a continuing lack of strength in the post.
Big Ten women’s basketball, historically known as a type of basketball that’s methodical and wears opponents down has changed dramatically. Now it’s a conference of high scoring with three sides, the Buckeyes, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Indiana Hoosiers, all in the top 10 in the NCAA in scoring offense.
Each team arrived at that buzzsaw-like offense in different ways. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, there’s an underrated guard named Caitlin Clark who you may or may not have heard of. Clark was second this season in scoring and led all college basketball (men and women) with five triple-doubles.
Part of that dominance is Clark’s country-leading 8.6 assists per game. Who are those assists going to the most? Forward Monika Czinano famously scored 20 points against the Georgia Bulldogs in the NCAA tournament without dribbling the ball once.
Below the Hawkeyes in scoring was the Indiana Hoosiers. While Czinano’s scoring figures benefit heavily from the play of Clark and the Hawkeyes, forward Mackenzie Holmes is the backbone of Indiana’s offense.
If it wasn’t for Clark, Holmes would be the player crowned Big Ten Player of the Year season after season.
Ohio State is still in that top 10, at one point leading the country in points per game. The Buckeyes do it their own way though, scoring off forced turnovers and relying on a group of skilled players like now WNBA guard Taylor Mikesell and 22-23 B1G Freshman of the Year, forward Cotie McMahon.
This season, the Buckeyes struggled defensively against both Czinano and Holmes. In two games against the Hawkeyes, Czinano put up 22 and 26 points in a regular season game and Big Ten Tournament final respectively. With Holmes, the Hoosier scored 33 and 26 against Ohio State in two regular season games.
To put it simply, there was no answer for their movement and scoring in the paint. In one game, the Buckeyes had more success against Holmes, holding the forward to 12 points in the conference tournament semifinal.
In the historic 24-point comeback, McMahon clogged passing lanes and made Holmes ineffective, but later it came out that Holmes was injured in the game, not returning to action until the second round of the NCAA Tournament, in an upset defeat to the Miami Hurricanes.
Now, the Buckeyes don’t need to have someone like Holmes or Czinano to compete. It’s clear that those players are at a different level and the Scarlet & Gray doesn’t have to change how they play, which earned them a spot in the Elite Eight. Ohio State needs someone who can slow dominant bigs down.
During the 22-23 season, that job went to forwards Rebeka Mikulasikova and Eboni Walker. Each had moments of success like Mikulasikova getting Tennessee Volunteers’ center Tamari Key in foul trouble early and effectively taking her out of the first game of the season.
In the NCAA Tournament, Walker put up a strong performance against the North Carolina Tar Heels to earn the Buckeyes a trip to Seattle.
Also, guard Taylor Thierry, who slides into the five position frequently throughout the season, was a rebounding presence and consistent scorer on second-chance buckets and passes into the paint.
However, the size, leaping ability, and speed of players like Holmes and Illinois’ Kendall Bostic need consistent defensive attention. Through recruiting, Ohio State’s landed one forward/center: Graduating high school senior Faith Carson.
Carson, a 6-foot-4 center, averaged 20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game in her senior season with Division III Buchanan High School, winning D3 Player of the Year honors.
With Carson finishing her senior season, and not enrolling early at Ohio State, it’s hard to tell how the center adjusts to the college game. Also, outside of someone like McMahon who came in with Team USA experience, head coach Kevin McGuff hasn’t leveraged as many underclassmen in their freshman seasons.
It feels more likely that Carson takes a route like Thierry. The Cleveland, Ohio guard/forward joined the Buckeyes last season, played limited minutes, but worked in the gym and made the most of limited time on the court to earn a starting spot she never relinquished in the 22-23 season.
Transfer portal-wise, Ohio State hasn’t added any forwards to fill the hole. All the top-ranked centers/forwards, outside of Aneesah Morrow who’s already shared her top three schools that don’t include the Buckeyes, are out of the portal. It’s feeling more likely that a starting-caliber forward, ready to compete in a Power Five conference, isn’t happening in Columbus.
The answer might be in the roster already.
The three likeliest names to step into that more dominant defensive role in the paint are Walker and Thierry. Last season, Walker came into the Buckeyes’ program after almost two years of not playing or practicing consistently and towards the end of the season stepped in to start and had moments of energy and intensity in the paint.
For Thierry, the forward made a leap that’s as impressive as her own leaping ability last season. Should that growth continue into Thierry’s junior season, the 6-foot forward could slide into that role when needed to make an impact.
However, the portal hasn’t been completely silent. As of publishing, Ohio State hasn’t lost any starters to transfer and added National Defensive Player of the Year finalist in guard Celeste Taylor. That boost of defense in a team already heralded for scary full-court pressure will make it harder for those dominant post presences to get the ball in the first place.
In addition, McMahon's success against Holmes was practiced for the first time on the day of the game against Indiana. If Coach McGuff explores that set more, could athleticism be the key to matching a player like-for-like?
It’ll be six months before anyone knows for sure.
Continue reading...
1ThomasCostello via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
It’s not a new issue but if its addressed it could push the Buckeyes to an even higher level
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
This week, Land-Grant Holy Land begins a series of theme weeks, running through August. Kicking things off for week one is identifying the biggest concerns for the Scarlet & Gray. Now sure, this whole theme week idea is focused around football but I’m historically somebody who doesn’t like being told what to do. Let’s talk Ohio State women’s basketball and a continuing lack of strength in the post.
Big Ten women’s basketball, historically known as a type of basketball that’s methodical and wears opponents down has changed dramatically. Now it’s a conference of high scoring with three sides, the Buckeyes, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Indiana Hoosiers, all in the top 10 in the NCAA in scoring offense.
Each team arrived at that buzzsaw-like offense in different ways. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, there’s an underrated guard named Caitlin Clark who you may or may not have heard of. Clark was second this season in scoring and led all college basketball (men and women) with five triple-doubles.
Part of that dominance is Clark’s country-leading 8.6 assists per game. Who are those assists going to the most? Forward Monika Czinano famously scored 20 points against the Georgia Bulldogs in the NCAA tournament without dribbling the ball once.
Below the Hawkeyes in scoring was the Indiana Hoosiers. While Czinano’s scoring figures benefit heavily from the play of Clark and the Hawkeyes, forward Mackenzie Holmes is the backbone of Indiana’s offense.
If it wasn’t for Clark, Holmes would be the player crowned Big Ten Player of the Year season after season.
Ohio State is still in that top 10, at one point leading the country in points per game. The Buckeyes do it their own way though, scoring off forced turnovers and relying on a group of skilled players like now WNBA guard Taylor Mikesell and 22-23 B1G Freshman of the Year, forward Cotie McMahon.
This season, the Buckeyes struggled defensively against both Czinano and Holmes. In two games against the Hawkeyes, Czinano put up 22 and 26 points in a regular season game and Big Ten Tournament final respectively. With Holmes, the Hoosier scored 33 and 26 against Ohio State in two regular season games.
To put it simply, there was no answer for their movement and scoring in the paint. In one game, the Buckeyes had more success against Holmes, holding the forward to 12 points in the conference tournament semifinal.
In the historic 24-point comeback, McMahon clogged passing lanes and made Holmes ineffective, but later it came out that Holmes was injured in the game, not returning to action until the second round of the NCAA Tournament, in an upset defeat to the Miami Hurricanes.
Now, the Buckeyes don’t need to have someone like Holmes or Czinano to compete. It’s clear that those players are at a different level and the Scarlet & Gray doesn’t have to change how they play, which earned them a spot in the Elite Eight. Ohio State needs someone who can slow dominant bigs down.
During the 22-23 season, that job went to forwards Rebeka Mikulasikova and Eboni Walker. Each had moments of success like Mikulasikova getting Tennessee Volunteers’ center Tamari Key in foul trouble early and effectively taking her out of the first game of the season.
In the NCAA Tournament, Walker put up a strong performance against the North Carolina Tar Heels to earn the Buckeyes a trip to Seattle.
Also, guard Taylor Thierry, who slides into the five position frequently throughout the season, was a rebounding presence and consistent scorer on second-chance buckets and passes into the paint.
However, the size, leaping ability, and speed of players like Holmes and Illinois’ Kendall Bostic need consistent defensive attention. Through recruiting, Ohio State’s landed one forward/center: Graduating high school senior Faith Carson.
Carson, a 6-foot-4 center, averaged 20.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.8 blocks per game in her senior season with Division III Buchanan High School, winning D3 Player of the Year honors.
With Carson finishing her senior season, and not enrolling early at Ohio State, it’s hard to tell how the center adjusts to the college game. Also, outside of someone like McMahon who came in with Team USA experience, head coach Kevin McGuff hasn’t leveraged as many underclassmen in their freshman seasons.
It feels more likely that Carson takes a route like Thierry. The Cleveland, Ohio guard/forward joined the Buckeyes last season, played limited minutes, but worked in the gym and made the most of limited time on the court to earn a starting spot she never relinquished in the 22-23 season.
Transfer portal-wise, Ohio State hasn’t added any forwards to fill the hole. All the top-ranked centers/forwards, outside of Aneesah Morrow who’s already shared her top three schools that don’t include the Buckeyes, are out of the portal. It’s feeling more likely that a starting-caliber forward, ready to compete in a Power Five conference, isn’t happening in Columbus.
The answer might be in the roster already.
The three likeliest names to step into that more dominant defensive role in the paint are Walker and Thierry. Last season, Walker came into the Buckeyes’ program after almost two years of not playing or practicing consistently and towards the end of the season stepped in to start and had moments of energy and intensity in the paint.
For Thierry, the forward made a leap that’s as impressive as her own leaping ability last season. Should that growth continue into Thierry’s junior season, the 6-foot forward could slide into that role when needed to make an impact.
However, the portal hasn’t been completely silent. As of publishing, Ohio State hasn’t lost any starters to transfer and added National Defensive Player of the Year finalist in guard Celeste Taylor. That boost of defense in a team already heralded for scary full-court pressure will make it harder for those dominant post presences to get the ball in the first place.
In addition, McMahon's success against Holmes was practiced for the first time on the day of the game against Indiana. If Coach McGuff explores that set more, could athleticism be the key to matching a player like-for-like?
It’ll be six months before anyone knows for sure.
Continue reading...
LGHL Biggest Concern: Will Ohio State suffer a significant drop-off at quarterback?
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Biggest Concern: Will Ohio State suffer a significant drop-off at quarterback?
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Can Kyle McCord or Devin Brown get the job done in a way that meets Ohio State’s tough standards?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
My biggest concern for this 2023 Buckeye football team is about the most important position on the field: quarterback. This is the first true quarterback battle that Ohio State has had in years, and while it seems like Kyle McCord is the frontrunner, there has been no true hint as to who will be named the starter. Whoever it is, can they maintain the precedent that Buckeye quarterbacks have set for the past decade?
The quarterback position has not been a problem in years, especially since Ryan Day took over as head coach. The last true QB battle was between Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett in 2015, following the 2014 National Championship. Both players ended up splitting reps during the season. However, after them, it has been a steady stream of superstars — Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. Now, it is time for a new star.
Obviously, it is hard to say right now, at the beginning of May, as to whether there will be a drop off at QB. The team has yet to start summer practices and the starter hasn’t even been named yet. While a battle hasn’t happened since 2015, the situation really hasn’t changed. A four or five-star recruit, highly touted, sitting behind the star quarterback for a year or two before getting his shot to take over the team.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24626658/503377692.jpg "Ohio State University vs University of Hawaii")
Set Number: X159934 TK1
Haskins was a four-star recruit who sat for two seasons before balling out for his single season as a starter. Fields was a five-star recruit who transferred from Georgia after a year. Stroud was a five-star recruit who sat behind Fields for a year. Now, McCord is a five-star recruit who sat behind Stroud for two years, and redshirt-freshman Devin Brown is a five-star recruit who sat behind Stroud for one year.
This guys aren’t nobodies. They were at the top of their draft classes and were recruited across the nation. Yet, they chose Ohio State. Has the QB pipeline into the NFL been the strongest? No. But has each of the last three quarterbacks been named a Heisman finalist and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year? Yep. Quarterbacks at Ohio State are successful.
Therefore, I don’t think it would be acceptable for the standard to be lowered for whoever the QB is this year. It doesn’t hurt that whoever the starter is, they’re walking into a situation where they are just absolutely surrounded by weapons. The best receiving room in the nation is at their disposal, and they have a handful of great running backs behind them.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24626659/1247874170.jpg "COLLEGE FOOTBALL: MAR 07 Ohio State Spring Practice")
Photo by Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The offensive line will be new and may impact them, but I just want to focus solely on the talent of whoever is under center. Truly, I think McCord or Brown will have the same success as previous year’s quarterbacks. I’m sure it will be a shaky start and take a couple games to adjust, but remember Stroud’s first game against Minnesota? He did not look great, but look at the resume he complied for himself, and now he just got drafted No. 2 overall. Not to be cliche, but it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish!
I’m guessing McCord is going to be the starter, and if he is, he is in a great position. He has two years of learning the system under his belt, sitting behind one of the best QB’s in the nation and has the country’s best receivers to throw to. While it may be his first time being the starter, he is not a newbie to this program. He’s played in front of 100,000 screaming fans at The Shoe. He is ready for this.
And if it’s Brown? The same can be said for him, except he has one less year in the system. Ryan Day will not be a QB on the field who is not prepared and is not ready to lead this team to a National Championship. Whoever the starter may be, I expect no drop off.
Continue reading...
meganhusslein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Barbara Perenic/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK
Can Kyle McCord or Devin Brown get the job done in a way that meets Ohio State’s tough standards?
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about our Biggest Concerns. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our Biggest Concerns here.
My biggest concern for this 2023 Buckeye football team is about the most important position on the field: quarterback. This is the first true quarterback battle that Ohio State has had in years, and while it seems like Kyle McCord is the frontrunner, there has been no true hint as to who will be named the starter. Whoever it is, can they maintain the precedent that Buckeye quarterbacks have set for the past decade?
The quarterback position has not been a problem in years, especially since Ryan Day took over as head coach. The last true QB battle was between Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett in 2015, following the 2014 National Championship. Both players ended up splitting reps during the season. However, after them, it has been a steady stream of superstars — Dwayne Haskins, Justin Fields and C.J. Stroud. Now, it is time for a new star.
Obviously, it is hard to say right now, at the beginning of May, as to whether there will be a drop off at QB. The team has yet to start summer practices and the starter hasn’t even been named yet. While a battle hasn’t happened since 2015, the situation really hasn’t changed. A four or five-star recruit, highly touted, sitting behind the star quarterback for a year or two before getting his shot to take over the team.
Haskins was a four-star recruit who sat for two seasons before balling out for his single season as a starter. Fields was a five-star recruit who transferred from Georgia after a year. Stroud was a five-star recruit who sat behind Fields for a year. Now, McCord is a five-star recruit who sat behind Stroud for two years, and redshirt-freshman Devin Brown is a five-star recruit who sat behind Stroud for one year.
This guys aren’t nobodies. They were at the top of their draft classes and were recruited across the nation. Yet, they chose Ohio State. Has the QB pipeline into the NFL been the strongest? No. But has each of the last three quarterbacks been named a Heisman finalist and Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year? Yep. Quarterbacks at Ohio State are successful.
Therefore, I don’t think it would be acceptable for the standard to be lowered for whoever the QB is this year. It doesn’t hurt that whoever the starter is, they’re walking into a situation where they are just absolutely surrounded by weapons. The best receiving room in the nation is at their disposal, and they have a handful of great running backs behind them.
The offensive line will be new and may impact them, but I just want to focus solely on the talent of whoever is under center. Truly, I think McCord or Brown will have the same success as previous year’s quarterbacks. I’m sure it will be a shaky start and take a couple games to adjust, but remember Stroud’s first game against Minnesota? He did not look great, but look at the resume he complied for himself, and now he just got drafted No. 2 overall. Not to be cliche, but it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish!
I’m guessing McCord is going to be the starter, and if he is, he is in a great position. He has two years of learning the system under his belt, sitting behind one of the best QB’s in the nation and has the country’s best receivers to throw to. While it may be his first time being the starter, he is not a newbie to this program. He’s played in front of 100,000 screaming fans at The Shoe. He is ready for this.
And if it’s Brown? The same can be said for him, except he has one less year in the system. Ryan Day will not be a QB on the field who is not prepared and is not ready to lead this team to a National Championship. Whoever the starter may be, I expect no drop off.
Continue reading...
