Mac said:

Let me know what you think of Madden after you play it for a while

Click to expand...

It's fun seeing the new players, and some of the presentation is better, but I'm struggling to believe I'll play it long term.

Buckeyes offer 2017 Georgia defensive back - 247Sports
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Buckeyes offer 2017 Georgia defensive back
247Sports
What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! The 6-foot-1 and 192-pound McKinney has a list of offers than in addition to Ohio State includes Georgia, Alabama, Clemson, ...


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Ohio State to Wear Chic Harley Era Uniforms Nov. 5 Against ... - Eleven Warriors
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Ohio State to Wear Chic Harley Era Uniforms Nov. 5 Against ...
Eleven Warriors
Ohio State is set to wear its 1916 Chic Harley era uniforms for its Nov. 5 night game against Nebraska, as confirmed via season tickets that began arriving to ...

and more »

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The Football Fever: Buckeyes 6th in AP preseason poll - ABC6OnYourSide.com
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The Football Fever: Buckeyes 6th in AP preseason poll
ABC6OnYourSide.com
COLUMBUS -- in a way, the 2016 season will pick up where 2015 left off: Alabama is No. 1, and Clemson is No. 2. The Buckeyes are 6th with Michigan 7th. Michigan State now a perennial top 15 team at no. 12 and Iowa 17th. The defending national ...
Buckeyes make AP top 25WDTN
Ohio State Buckeyes ranked sixth in AP Top 25 preseason pollMyDaytonDailyNews
Preseason AP Top 25 poll: Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma top first 2016 rankingsCBS sports.com (blog)
NCAA College Football - Associated Press
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College Football Rankings: No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes - - Campus Insiders
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College Football Rankings: No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes -
Campus Insiders
The college football rankings countdown from Campus Insiders slates the Ohio State Buckeyes at No. 6. Here are five things that matter heading into Buckeyes' ...
Meyer has big holes to fill as Buckeyes begin 2016 campaign ...Defiance Crescent News (subscription)
Bucknuts 90: Ten-star week ahead? - Ohio State Football - 247Sports247Sports
The Hurry Up: Underrated Columbus Running Back Sets Official ...Eleven Warriors

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I'll be getting this by way of a friend getting it. There's a feature on Xbox One called "Home Xbox". Basically, if you have a relative or a good friend who plays Xbox, you can share each other's Xbox, and you'll get all of their games that are digitally downloaded, and they'll get all of yours. Now, my buddy and I split the cost of games 50/50, instead of paying $65.

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Ohio State paces four Big Ten teams ranked in preseason AP Poll
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Ohio State and Michigan are the popular pick to take the Big Ten in 2016, and the preseason AP poll voters agree. The Buckeyes and the Wolverines pace the Big Ten in the publication’s preseason poll, released Sunday, coming in at No. 6 and No. 7, respectively. Reigning Big Ten champ Michigan State checks in at No. 12 and Iowa at No. 17, giving the conference four teams in the poll, the same number it has in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll. Nebraska, Northwestern and Wisconsin all are receiving votes, with the latter garnering the most (42). Check out the

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Future Ohio State football assistant coach?

Buckeyes make AP top 25 - WDTN
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Buckeyes make AP top 25
WDTN
ASSOCIATED PRESS- Defending national champion Alabama is No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 as the Crimson Tide attempts to win a fifth title in eight seasons. Coach Nick Saban's Tide received 33 of 61 first-place votes from the media ...
Ohio State Buckeyes ranked sixth in AP Top 25 preseason pollMyDaytonDailyNews
Ohio State ranked No. 6 in first AP Poll of 2016Land-Grant Holy Land

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Buckeyes Past and Present React to Ohio State Wrestler Kyle Snyder Winning Gold Medal at Rio Olympics - Eleven Warriors
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Buckeyes Past and Present React to Ohio State Wrestler Kyle Snyder Winning Gold Medal at Rio Olympics
Eleven Warriors
The 20-year-old and current Ohio State Buckeye became the youngest American wrestler to win a gold medal Sunday, defeating Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan 2-1 in a closely contested match. Snyder's victory puts a cap on an amazing year — he won the ...
Olympics | Ohio State's Kyle Snyder wins wrestling gold for USColumbus Dispatch
Ohio State wrestler wins Olympic goldWHIO
Kyle Snyder achieves his Olympic dreams in RioOSU - The Lantern
College Spun -247Sports
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Kyle Snyder: Olympic Champion
Garth via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

In September, 2015, Steve Snyder was pensive as he headed to a celebratory dinner with family. Still a little stunned by what his 19 year old son had just accomplished, he could not help but fret for the future.

As a newly crowned World Wrestling Champion in Las Vegas, Kyle Snyder now faced the pressure that comes with a title in a year long run up to the Olympics, and dad Steve knew it. With more dread than joy in his voice, Steve concluded, “we all have to process what this is about.”


Kyle Snyder. Courtesy, wrestlingisbest.com


The year that followed was eventful: a convincing loss to menacing Russian Anzor Boltukaev in January preceded a joyous NCAA triumph in Madison Square Garden. Then a comeback win against reigning Olympic champ Jake Varner in the Olympic Trials preceded a close loss in Germany to Khetag Gazyumov, the man Snyder has just vanquished in the biggest match of Snyder’s young life.

2-1.

In becoming the youngest Olympic champ in American history (besting Henry Cejudo by a few months), Snyder showed the same things that has propelled his success: the ability to experiment and learn from defeat, the ability to out process an opponent’s thinking in the heat of battle and a motor that just never stops as those of opponents sputter.

The bout with Gazyumov was tense, power packed and strategic. No takedown was earned, yet Snyder struck when he could, resulting in a first point pushout, and backed out of danger when the single leg was not there. Kyle took heed of a warning, avoided the shot clock and earned the Olympic winner by putting his opponent on the clock.

The action was furious and maddening as the seconds ticked away. Everyone panicked except a 20 year old from Woodbine, MD.

It has been a wild year for Kyle Snyder–the highs were epically high. The lows were few and far between, almost like whispers of doubt and dread. But while hey caused anxiety among critics and those close to Kyle, the champ himself never let them factor into his focus on the mission.

Steve, the wait and weight are done and gone. Rest easy. Lightly lies the crown.




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AP Poll: Buckeyes start 2016 season at No. 6 - 10TV
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AP Poll: Buckeyes start 2016 season at No. 6
10TV
The Associated Press has released its preseason and the Buckeyes are starting out at No. 6 going into 2016. Earlier this month, the Amway Coaches Poll placed Ohio State at No. 5. Much like the coaches poll, the AP Poll has Alabama and Clemson starting ...
Ohio State Buckeyes No. 6 in AP preseason pollDayton Daily News
Buckeyes make AP top 25WDTN
Ohio State football | Buckeyes ranked No. 6 in AP pollColumbus Dispatch
MyDaytonDailyNews -247Sports -Eleven Warriors
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Ohio State will only see a few strong rushing attacks in 2016
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Defensive line is one of Ohio State's biggest areas of concern for 2016, but at least they won't see too many elite run games.

A few weeks ago we identified the three most important statistics that would determine the Buckeyes' 2016 season. Those were defensive adjusted line yards (the defensive line's ability to stop the run), passing PPP+ (the passing game's ability to create explosive plays and be efficient per-snap), and defensive passing PPP+ (the secondary's ability to limit explosive plays in particular).

Those three statistics tie back to three position groups that experienced a great deal of personnel turnover -- and the receivers and secondary in particular are where experience seems to be the most important.

Last week we looked at the pass defenses the Buckeyes will face this season — half of their opponents had statistically elite secondaries last year — but this week we’ll look at the opposing rushing attacks that the defensive line will have to prepare for.


The Buckeyes face five top-40 rushing attacks this season: Bowling Green (?!), Oklahoma, Indiana, Nebraska, and Maryland. Let's break these down a little further:

Bowling Green's third-ranked rushing attack


Bowling Green surprisingly had the third-best rushing attack in the country last season, so the Buckeyes will be tested right out of the gate. The caveat here is that they also lost a lot of personnel over the offseason, including head coach Dino Babers.

First, starting running back Travis Greene, a nearly 1,300-yard rusher, is gone. But his replacement, senior backup Fred Coppet had nearly identical per-play effectiveness last year, averaging the same highlight yards per opportunity (5.3) and just 1% lower opportunity rate (42%). So personnel-wise, the Bowling Green attack shouldn't see much of a drop-off, and should be at least decently efficient, if not the most explosive rushing attack possible. Further, sophomore Matt Domer only had eight touches last year, but was incredibly explosive, averaging 14.6 highlight yards per opportunity. With personnel losses at quarerback and the top two wide receivers, it's possible that the Falcons rely more on the run at least early on.

The Oklahoma offensive jugernaut


The Buckeye defense will obviously have a lot to worry about in week three. Once you get past Heisman candidate Baker Mayfield at quarterback, there's the running back duo of Samaje Perine (the current record holder for rushing yards in a game), and the higher-rated recruit Joe Mixon.

While the duo combines for one of the best backfields in the country talent-wise, they had a few distinct weaknesses. First, they were "only" 28th in rushing S&P+ last year. This was primarily due to relatively poor efficiency, ranking 58th in rushing success rate. As Bill mentions,


It also doesn't help that the Sooners lose their top two offensive linemen, both All-Big 12 picks.

However, their danger comes from explosiveness. Perine and Mixon average 6.3 and 7 highlight yards per opportunity, so if they do reach the five yard marker, they often turn that run in to an explosive play. That's the big concern for Ohio State -- keeping the pair from hitting big running plays.

Nebraska loses its line


Nebraska should be set at skill positions -- both quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. and senior running back Terrell Newby are decent options for last year's 32nd-ranked rushing unit. Neither is particularly efficient nor explosive, but they got the job done enough.

That was mostly due to a great offensive line that was 29th in adjusted line yards and 12th in adjusted sack rate -- but unfortunately for Huskers fans, they lose three starters along that line. The Buckeye defensive line, on the other hand, will likely have its rotation down by the time they face the Huskers in the last third of the season.

Maryland had a top-15 rushing attack?


Even using regular old dummy stats -- rushing yards per game -- the Terrapins were 31st in rushing last season, so it shouldn't be that much of a surprise. In fact, they were 12th in average yards per rush. You may not have thought of Brandon Ross as a superstar back, but he nevertheless averaged 9.5 highlight yards per opportunity. What the Terrapins lacked in consistency and efficiency (they were just 43rd in rushing success rate), they more than made up for in explosiveness.

Ross is now gone, but there are options. The veteran is senior Wes Brown, but he had Ross's efficiency (just 38%), but not his explosiveness (just 3.4 highlight yards per opportunity). Without efficiency or explosiveness, the Terrapins might need a spark from sophomore Ty Johnson (averaged nine highlight yards per opportunity in limited action last year) and their quarterbacks, Perry Hills and Caleb Rowe, who were statistically among the most efficient and explosive runners on the team. Much like Oklahoma -- albeit with a distinct talent difference -- the concern for the Buckeyes will be the quarterback run game and the backs' explosiveness.

Overall, the schedule looks much more manageable when it comes to opposing running backs. There aren't many household names outside of the Oklahoma game, but there are a few sneaky-good rushing attacks in Indiana, Maryland, Bowling Green, and Nebraska.

Finally, they didn't make my arbitrary cut at the top-40 rushing S&P+ programs, but Penn State has both Saquon Barkley and top running back recruit Miles Sanders in Joe Morehead's new offense. If I had to guess, I'd put the Nittany Lions second to Oklahoma for best rushing attacks on the Buckeyes' 2016 schedule.

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Ohio State football: Watch Buckeyes assistant Zach Smith mic'd up at practice - cleveland.com
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Ohio State football: Watch Buckeyes assistant Zach Smith mic'd up at practice
cleveland.com
... 2016 season. The Buckeyes have a deep receiver room, but it's without any returning starters. Get an idea for how Smith is working with that group in the video below. Ohio State on Sunday released a video of Smith mic'd up during Buckeyes training ...
Buckeyes are all about championshipsGrand Island Independent
Ohio State football | Noah Brown raring to go after long layoffColumbus Dispatch
Four-star Smith likes practice tempo, impressed with Ohio State247Sports
Eleven Warriors -247Sports.com -College Spun
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Ohio State Buckeyes No. 6 in AP preseason poll - Dayton Daily News
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Ohio State Buckeyes No. 6 in AP preseason poll
Dayton Daily News
The Ohio State Buckeyes rank sixth in the Associated Press preseason poll, which was released Sunday. Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Florida State and LSU make up the top five. Michigan ranks seventh. Michigan State is 12th. Iowa is 17th. Ohio State ...
Ohio State football | Buckeyes ranked No. 6 in AP pollColumbus Dispatch
Buckeyes make AP top 25WDTN
Ohio State Buckeyes ranked sixth in AP Top 25 preseason pollMyDaytonDailyNews
247Sports -Land-Grant Holy Land -Eleven Warriors
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Buckeye Kyle Snyder Wrestles for Gold
Garth via our good friends at Men of the Scarlet and Gray
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Accomplishing what no other American male has done at these 2016 Rio Olympics Games 20 year old Ohio State Junior Kyle Snyder will wrestle for gold.


Kyle Snyder. Photo by Josephine Gartrell


Snyder overcame an early four point throw against sixth ranked Elizbar Okidaze of Georgia to earn the right to face Azerbaijani Khetag Gazyumov, ranked third in the world. Gazyumov, himself former world champ, narrowly beat Snyder in July in the German Grand Prix semifinals.

Snyder started his day with convincing wins, first 10-3 over 19th ranked Javier Cortina of Cuba, then 7 zip over Albert Saritov, the 15th ranked 2011 Silver medalist from Romania.

Those wins set up a semi encounter with Okidaze. Snyder needed a last second takedown in June to beat Okidaze by tiebreaks at the World Cup in Los Angeles.

Snyder has had to fend off repeated upper body throw attempts all day. Finally Okidaze connected, barely exposing Snyder’s back to the mat. Snyder trailed by 4 at the break. But then the 20 year old motor of the Ohio Regional Training Center prodigy took over. After three successive push out points it was obviously Snyder was taking control. Before I could tweet that observtion, Snyder had accomplished the go ahead takedown. Fighting off a dangerous scramble, Snyder nearly put Okidaze on his back, walking away with nine straight points to win 9-4 in a three minute pillaging of the defenseless Georgian.

As was true in the 2015 World Championships, Snyder truthfully has not had to contend with the toughest of brackets, though Okidaze is obviously a serious contender. But unlike the World Championships, there is some minimal seeding in 2016, and Snyder obviously earned his top seed. In Gazyumov he faces one of only two wrestlers to beat Snyder since the 2015 World Championships. It was widely thought Anzor Boltukaev, the other victor over Snyder would advance to face Snyder in the gold medal match. However, 30 year old Boltukaev of the doping plagued Russian Federation, was upset 8-5 in the round of 16 by eighth ranked Valeri Andriitsev of Ukraine.


Imposing Khetag Gazyumov of Azerbaijan awaits Kyle Snyder in the Olympic Gold medal match. Courtesy, Gettyimages


In Saturday’s action, Ohio Regional Training Center’s other medal contender Tervel Dlagnev gave a heroic effort but his chronically bad back stood in his way. After toying with his first two opponents and looking sharp, it was obvious he had been badly hurt in his semi-final match, giving up a quick takedown and four match ending gut wrenches. Really unable to go in the bronze match, he settled for an honorable fifth when the same fate awaited him in that bronze match.




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Ohio State football | Buckeyes ranked No. 6 in AP poll - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Buckeyes ranked No. 6 in AP poll
Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State is ranked No. 6 in the preseason Associated Press media poll (http://collegefootball.ap.org/poll) released this morning. The Buckeyes, coming off a 12-1 season but having to replace 16 starters, are the highest-ranked Big Ten team. Michigan ...
Ohio State Buckeyes No. 6 in AP preseason pollDayton Daily News
Ohio State Buckeyes ranked sixth in AP Top 25 preseason pollMyDaytonDailyNews
Ohio State Football Ranked No. 6 In Preseason AP Top 25Scout
cleveland.com -Land-Grant Holy Land -CBS sports.com (blog)
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Ohio State ranked No. 6 in first AP Poll of 2016
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Let’s get this season started.

Sunday afternoon, we took another step closer to the college football season when the AP released their initial poll for the 2016 season. In the poll, the Ohio State Buckeyes start at No. 6, and received one first-place vote.

Ohio State made history last season as the first unanimous preseason number one team in both major polls. So while polls are fun to look at and are accepted as a measure of who the best teams in the nation are, don’t necessarily let it help or hurt your expectations of this year’s squad.

Arguably the biggest non-conference game of the season for the Buckeyes comes against Oklahoma, who is ranked No. 3 in the poll. That game will be played September 17 in Norman, and will be crucial for the Buckeyes’ College Football Playoff hopes.

Alabama came in at No. 1 in the poll, followed by Clemson at No. 2, the aforementioned Oklahoma Sooners at No. 3, Florida State at No. 4, and LSU to round out the top five. Michigan came in right behind Ohio State at No. 7. Big Ten foes Michigan State and Iowa came in at No. 12 and No. 17 respectively.

The season starts September 3 against Bowling Green, and we can hardly wait to get Buckeye football started back up. It’s been too long.

Here are the full results of the AP Poll:

1. Alabama

2. Clemson

3. Oklahoma

4. Florida State

5. LSU

6. Ohio State

7. Michigan

8. Stanford

9. Tennessee

10. Notre Dame

11. Ole Miss

12. Michigan State

13. TCU

14. Washington

15. Houston

16. UCLA

17. Iowa

18. Georgia

19. Louisville

20. USC

21. Oklahoma State

22. North Carolina

23. Baylor

24. Oregon

25. Florida

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Ohio State Buckeyes ranked sixth in AP Top 25 preseason poll - WHIO
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Ohio State Buckeyes ranked sixth in AP Top 25 preseason poll
WHIO
The Ohio State Buckeyes are ranked sixth in the AP Top 25 preseason poll. The Buckeyes, 12-1 last season, received one first-place vote and 1,224 voting points. The poll was released Sunday . Reigning national champion Alabama is the preseason No. 1.
Ohio State Buckeyes No. 6 in AP preseason pollDayton Daily News
Ohio State football ranked No. 6 in preseason AP pollcleveland.com
Ohio State ranked No. 6 in first AP Poll of 2016Land-Grant Holy Land
Eleven Warriors -247Sports
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The 10 most important Ohio State Buckeyes heading into 2016, Pt. 1 - Land-Grant Holy Land
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The 10 most important Ohio State Buckeyes heading into 2016, Pt. 1
Land-Grant Holy Land
He has only started 13 games in his career, so although he will be the most experienced player in the young Buckeye secondary, he still does not have a great amount of experience as a starting cornerback. Also, he was helped greatly by two ballhawking, ...


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Meyer has big holes to fill as Buckeyes begin 2016 campaign - Defiance Crescent News (subscription)
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Meyer has big holes to fill as Buckeyes begin 2016 campaign
Defiance Crescent News (subscription)
Ezekiel Elliot, one of the best running backs in Buckeyes history, departed early for the NFL, as did defensive end Joey Bosa. Both were stalwarts in the 2014 national championship run and right on through last season. Just six starters from last year ...
Buckeyes counting on WeberHighlands Today
Ohio State football | Mike Weber improves his mind, bodyColumbus Dispatch
Weber keys OSU's running back corpMartins Ferry Times Leader

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Buckeyes to wear 'Chic Harley throwbacks' for Nebraska game - 247Sports
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Buckeyes to wear 'Chic Harley throwbacks' for Nebraska game
247Sports
What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! The rankings are based on a number of factors and are my projections for the impact each prospect is likely to have on the ...
Report: Ohio State Will Wear 1916 Throwbacks Against NebraskaCollege Spun
Ohio State to Wear Chic Harley Era Uniforms Nov. 5 Against Nebraska During Military Appreciation GameEleven Warriors

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The 10 most important Ohio State Buckeyes heading into 2016, Pt. 1
Christopher Jason via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Taking a look at the most important Buckeyes, beginning with numbers 10 through seven.

When looking at the 2016 depth chart compared to the 2015 depth chart, there are noticeable holes and questions regarding inexperience, due to the mass exodus of NFL departures and graduation. Using key departures, spotlighting players at important positions, leadership qualities and players switching positions, we came up with the 10 most important players on the team. They may not be the most heralded players, or even the best players, but they will be vital to this team’s on-field success.

This is the first of three installments, be sure to check back.

10. Sean Nuernberger


Why? In 2015, Ohio State scored 58 offensive touchdowns. Entering the 2016 season, Ohio State returns J.T. Barrett and Curtis Samuel, who scored only 14 of those 58 offensive touchdowns. So why is the kicker vital for this team’s success? Because even though they have a boatload of talent rising up the offensive depth chart, they won’t score as many touchdowns as they did in 2014 or 2015. They will have to settle for more field goals than the 15 they attempted last season, and they’re going to need to make more of them.

2015 performance: Sean Nuernberger didn’t have a great 2015. He lost out on kickoff, extra point and field goal duties to Jack Willoughby, a graduate transfer from Duke, after being the favorite heading into the season. When he did get a chance to see the field later in the season, Nuernberger connected on 17-of-17 extra points and 3-of-4 field goals.

Question marks: With kickers in general, one would have to always be concerned with their mental state. As a freshman on the National Championship team, the highly touted kicker was 13-for-20 kicking field goals and 89-of-89 on extra points, before losing his job to Willoughby in the preseason. Will Nuernberger have his confidence restored for 2016, or was his confidence shattered from losing his job?

Conclusion: The Kentucky native is a career 67-percent field goal kicker and has yet to miss an extra point. He won’t be looking over his shoulder this season and he should bounce-back from his tough 2015 campaign. The highly touted kicker will be counted on to be consistent and put points on the board for this young offense.

9. Gareon Conley


Why? Last year we ranked Eli Apple on this list. Apple started the 2014 season as a field corner across from Doran Grant, and although he impressed, no one had him pinned as a future NFL first rounder. If you go back through the list of boundary corners that Meyer has had at Ohio State, you’ll find two first round selections and a fourth rounder. Make no mistake about it, Conley will also be a future NFL draft pick. The boundary position is tougher and much more physical than the field position that Conley played last season. Ohio State typically rolls coverage to the field side, which will give more help to the corner playing across from Conley, and Conley will have to be more of a force player against the run game when the ball is ran into the boundary. It’s a key position in that defense and big names have started there in the past few seasons.

2015 performance: According to the guys at CFB Filmroom, Conley was the most targeted player on the team last year, with 58 targets (Apple was second with 54). Out of those 58 targets, he allowed only 21 completions, which was one less than Apple on four more targets. Conley was tied for the third most passes defended (five), picked off two passes and allowed 12 first downs through the air. As a tackler, Conley finished with 42 on the year, with only five missed tackles (Apple had 11 missed tackles).

Question marks: It seems that every season there is a new leader of the secondary, and it is now Conley’s turn. He has only started 13 games in his career, so although he will be the most experienced player in the young Buckeye secondary, he still does not have a great amount of experience as a starting cornerback. Also, he was helped greatly by two ballhawking, veteran safeties in Tyvis Powell and Vonn Bell, and will not get that same amount of help by the two first year safeties in 2016.

Conclusion: The 6’0”, 195 lb corner has the size and possesses the physicality to flip over and play the boundary position in Greg Schiano’s defense. After a tough outing in 2014 when he replaced an injured Eli Apple for a series against Michigan State, fans were questioning his ability as a future starting corner. He responded by putting together a solid first season and he earned the opportunity to play on the tougher side of the field. If Conley puts up a solid season, he should be a household name by the end of the season and could make an Apple-like jump to the NFL.

8. Chris Worley


Why? Darron Lee came in as our No. 2 most important player last season, as he was observed to be the defense’s biggest playmaker prior to the season. Lee manned the SAM linebacker position, which is where the Swiss-Army knife is positioned on the Ohio State defense. The SAM linebacker spot needs to be athletic enough to cover tight ends, running backs and receivers, strong enough to be stout against the run and possess the ability to play in space against spread offenses. Remember Lee’s impact versus Oregon? Worley is replacing the biggest athletic freak on the 2015 Ohio State defense and will be asked to do a ton in his first year as a starter.

2015 performance: Worley played in 12-of-13 games for the Buckeyes in 2015. He registered 17 total tackles, 1 sack and 1.5 tackles for loss. He played mostly special teams and mop up duty, and didn’t see much time on the starting defense.

Question marks: People forget that Chris Worley actually started over Darron Lee as a freshman in the first game of the 2014 season versus Navy. He finished that game with 52 snaps on the starting defense and registered five tackles. Unfortunately for Worley, he has yet to start another game since that day, as Lee took the job and ran with it all the way to the first round of the NFL Draft. Worley is a physical clone of Darron Lee and will need to put it all together like his predecessor to have an impactful and playmaking 2016.

Conclusion: Worley has the size (6’2”, 228 lbs) and athleticism to succeed at the SAM linebacker position. He was neck-and-neck with Lee before Lee broke out as a player and later became a first rounder.

7. Marcus Baugh


Why? We put Marcus Baugh on this list last season, but for a completely different reason. Last season, Baugh was the backup tight end behind Nick Vannett, where he was featured in the always key 12 personnel (2 TE, 2 WR, 1 RB) grouping. If you think back to some of Ezekiel Elliott’s biggest runs of his career, they came out of a two tight end set. Flash forward to this season, there might not be a reliable backup tight end (maybe freshman Jake Hausmann) to run as many two tight end sets, so it might be up to Baugh to play almost every tight end snap. If you look back throughout Meyer’s career, he has always had a legit TE1 who has gone onto the NFL and Baugh will be next.

2015 performance: Per the team’s website, Baugh averaged 38 plays per game over the final eight games of the season. He only registered two receptions for 32 yards, but he was excellent as a blocker and came up huge on Elliott’s biggest runs.

Question marks: The Riverside, CA native is well-known for his off-field mishaps. It is now his turn to be a leader on the team and especially for his young positional group. He’s been able to hide behind Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett, but that is not the case anymore. If he stays in line, he arguably has more natural talent than those two guys who are currently in the NFL.

Conclusion: Baugh came to Ohio State highly touted and he now has the chance to put it all together. With the lack of known depth behind him, it looks like he will shoulder the majority of the load and if the spring game tells us anything, he will be highly involved in the passing game. Expect big things from Baugh in ‘16.

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Sunday Morning Coffee: October 26, 1919
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Sunday morning breeze was brisk. A settling of coldness had dropped anchor on the region – hovering just a degree or two above the freezing mark. Quietness had descended in the early morning hours, only a distant rumbling of nature, a whisking wind, or a car not so near, managed to eke any semblance of noise.

Chic Harley stepped from The Edward Campbell House on Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor and onto the porch. Half of the Buckeyes Football team was staying here, while the other half was on the other side of town at the Paul C. Freer House on Hill Street. It was a head game approach that the University of Michigan liked playing with their opponents when they came into town to play. “Split ‘em up!” The Wolverines Head Coach Fielding Yost would bark to the papers whenever the question arose as to why they did this to the teams that came to play. “Confuses ‘em!”

Chic smiled – almost laughing. He held a steaming hot cup of coffee as he looked out at the perfectly manicured lawn and hedges – wondering if the frost would kill them. “Michigan’s problem!” he whispered to himself as he put the cup of coffee to his lips.

The day before over at Ferry Field a full house, 26,000 or so, were treated to the unexpected. The previous meetings between the Buckeyes and the Wolverines were anything other than ‘glamorous’ for OSU. The Wolverines had dominated the Buckeyes over the past. They commanded a 15-0-2 advantage. The Buckeyes had never won against the Maze and Blue.

Just then Quarterback Gaylord Stinchcomb stepped out onto the porch with a steaming cup of coffee as well. He and Chic looked at one another, nodding. Nothing else was said. It was just passing six in the morning, both early raisers, couldn’t sleep in, just so unnecessary – especially after their historic game the day before.

The game began in the late morning, right before noon. Time was given for the fans to get there and seated, as it had been scheduled to start at eleven. The matchup was pretty equal. Michigan was always tough, lining up some of the best in the nation. Quarterback Cliff Sparks was a ‘fancy’ passer and he had ran his mouth prior to this matchup of how he’d make Chic and the Buckeyes regret they travelled to Ann Arbor. It made all the papers. There was also Archie Weston, William Cruse, and the brute Frank Culver. But that was all right – the Buckeyes had weapons too.

It started slow, no scoring. Bruises were being created. The aim to injure was a clear goal on both sides. But everyone, even those slow to get up, took a deep breath and did precisely that – got up. The Buckeyes began to gel in the second quarter.

“Your run around the left in the second was really nice.” Gaylord looked over at Chic before taking a sip of his coffee.
“Thanks.” Chic nodded as he too sipped at his coffee.

Gaylord spoke of the lone touchdown of the game. Chic took a pitch out from Gaylord and ran to the left. The Buckeyes were on their own forty-four. Culver of Michigan sprang forward, arms outstretched, ready for a clinic on demolition. But Chic was way too fast for him. He turned the corner leaving a stumbling Frank Culver to fall face first without having any pleasure of touching any Buckeye, even a blocker. And off Chic went – scampering fifty-six yards untouched. The nearest Wolverine to him when he dropped the ball in the end zone was just passing the twenty.

Chic would drop kick the extra point, making it seven to nothing. That would be the score at the half. In the third Chic would continue running at will, but just could not get the ball back into the end zone. The Wolverines were completely focused on him. He would nail two field goals though – one in the third from fifteen yards out and one in the fourth from twenty-seven yards out. This would account for all of the points the Buckeyes would score that day. Michigan would manage a field goal in the fourth. The final 13-3.

What made it all the much better for Chic was the way he silenced Cliff Sparks and his overconfident mouth. On the defensive side, Chic – a safety – would intercept Sparks four times. Each time was on nice drives that clearly looked as if a score was destined. It had to be morally devastating for the entire Wolverine team – on each occasion.

“I can’t believe Yost there at the end.” Gaylord looked again towards Chic as he took another sip from his coffee mug.

“He only spoke the truth!” Chic solemnly responded, yet evidence of sarcasm shined. He winked at Gaylord.

They both laughed.

At the end of the game, with the Buckeyes winning for the first time ever against the Wolverines, now making their record against them 1-15-2 – Michigan’s Head Coach Fielding Yost spoke from a bull horn to the stadium, uncharacteristically congratulating OSU on their win. “You deserve your victory, you fought brilliantly,” Yost began. “You boys gave a grand exhibition of football strategy and while I am sorry, dreadfully sorry, that we lost, I want to congratulate you. And you, Mr. Harley, I believe, are one of the finest little machines I have ever seen.”

“Little machine?” Gaylord laughed.

“Probably meant oiled machine!” Chic offered.

“Let’s get more coffee before the others wake.” Gaylord headed back into the Edward Campbell House on Washtenaw Avenue in Ann Arbor.

Chic Harley looked out at the magnificently manicured lawn and hedges and smiled before turning and following Gaylord Stinchcomb into the large brick house serving as their quarters for only a few hours longer before they headed south to Columbus.

The post Sunday Morning Coffee: October 26, 1919 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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