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MotS&G MOTSAG Conference Rankings: Week Five
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MOTSAG Conference Rankings: Week Five
Richard Tongohan 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
After five weeks of action, our Big Ten rankings have shifted slightly and the contests will be more competitive with the bulk of the conference schedule being the only thing left on the docket for each team. Week five answered a ton of questions for some and the rest, there are more questions left than answers. Let’s take a stab at how the conference represented itself.
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Richard Tongohan 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
After five weeks of action, our Big Ten rankings have shifted slightly and the contests will be more competitive with the bulk of the conference schedule being the only thing left on the docket for each team. Week five answered a ton of questions for some and the rest, there are more questions left than answers. Let’s take a stab at how the conference represented itself.
- Ohio State: The Buckeyes played on the road at Lincoln, which is usually a nightmare for opposing teams. The Buckeyes puffed out their chests and dominated the home team and did so by showing their prowess in every phase of the game. The offense dazzled and the defense shut down the offense and the performance broke the proverbial tie with Wisconsin to be the best team in the conference and possibly one of the best in the nation. [Next Game: Michigan State at home]
- Wisconsin: Wisconsin’s defense scored twice against a scrappy Evanston crowd before pulling away. Northwestern is normally a great team at home, but the offense is virtually broken right now, but hats off to them for giving the Badgers a contest. Either way, the Badgers fall one spot, but they have a tune-up match with Kent State before traveling to the Shoe, so they can gain a head of steam for the eventual clash for conference supremacy [Next game: Kent State at home]
- Penn State: Penn State looked dangerous once again after they traveled to Maryland to throttle them 59-0. Their quarterback nearly had 400 yards passing, but he was pulled to give the second unit some time. The defense looked fresh after the bye and the Terrapins stood no chance to compete in this game. [Next game: Purdue at home]
- Iowa: Iowa was their normal self as they handled a mismatched Middle Tennessee State team 48-3 at home. A tune-up game that is used to work out the kinks before traveling to Ann Arbor where it pits two conference heavyweights against each other in a knock-out bout. Iowa has yet to be tested, but this could be it. [Next game: Michigan at Ann Arbor]
- Michigan: Speaking of the Wolverines, they handed Rutgers a beatdown to get back on track with a 52-0 throttling against a struggling team. A tune-up before Iowa, the Wolverines looked bad before this display of what they can be. Was it another mirage? Either way, they have some momentum coming into the next game. Are they legit or pretenders? [Next game: Iowa at home]
- Michigan State: The Spartans fought a tightly contested game against an upset-minded Indiana team at home. The final score showed that their offense is average, but it also proved their defense is legit. The 40-31 score does not change my mind, but if they want to be successful, their offense must be as consistent as their defense. [Next game: Ohio State at Columbus]
- Minnesota: They look dangerous after they escaped West Lafayette with a single-digit win against Purdue. Their offense looks crazy good with two game-changing receivers that this young quarterback relies heavily on upon. Their defense played well and they need to keep the momentum in order to climb the charts. [Next game: Illinois at home]
- Indiana: They took Michigan State to the limit and gave it all in the upset bid. This is what I was talking about because they are a 50/50 type of team. You never know what team will suit up and if they will punch you in the mouth with their offense. They showed fight up until the end and they can always surprise teams. [Next game: Bye week]
- Northwestern: They also put up a fight at home against a good Wisconsin team that relied on its defense to put points on the board. The only issue is their offense needs to be better. Their defense is always disciplined and good, but consistency is what bites them. [Next game: Nebraska at Lincoln]
- Nebraska: They were throttled at home against a great Ohio State team, but they showed enough fight to not plummet in the rankings. They negated the shutout with a great drive against the second-team defense, but they need to rebound at home against another team that suffered a loss in week five. Turnover have killed the momentum, but another home game in front of their home crowd will help in what could be another sloppy game. [Next game: Northwestern at home]
- Illinois: They were on a bye week, but they needed it after collapsing at home against Nebraska. They had a double-digit lead that disappeared before the Cornhuskers stole the game from them. Their offense looked good early on, but they got too cute with the playcalling opting to pass more instead of running out the clock. They had two weeks to prepare for their next game, hope it works out. [Next game: Minnesota at Minneapolis]
- Maryland: The hype train has been derailed five weeks into the season. They were demolished at home at the hands of Penn State and they need to search for their identity. 59-0 was another bad omen to humble the Terrapins that were in the top 2 in scoring in the nation after two weeks. This week they can regain their footing to right the ship. [Next game: Rutgers at Piscataway]
- Purdue: Purdue fought, but in a close loss, they lost two of their best playmakers in Sindelar and Moore. Their best quarterback along with the best playmaker went down on a single play and it was a bad time to be a Boilermaker fan. It’ll get worse this week before it gets better because they will travel to Happy Valley to go against a peaking Penn State team. [Next game: Penn State at Happy Valley]
- Rutgers: They lost big to a rejuvenated Michigan squad that found their offense again and they lost 52-0. Their head coach Chris Ash and their offensive coordinator got the pink slip and they have an interim head coach in place to pick up the pieces. Good thing they have a struggling Maryland team to play at home, but bad news, none of them scored points in week five. Who will be able to score enough and who will play inspired football? [Next game: Maryland at home]
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MotS&G The Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0, Big Ten 2-0) defeated The Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-2, Big Ten 1-1)
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The Ohio State Buckeyes (5-0, Big Ten 2-0) defeated The Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-2, Big Ten 1-1)
Richard Tongohan 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
Justin Fields takes his team away from the confines of Columbus and journeys to Lincoln, Nebraska for just their second road game of the season and on paper, the Cornhuskers looked to make it a contest, but it was not meant to be. The Buckeyes began with electing to receive the ball in the second half and during Nebraska’s first drive, Jeffrey Okudah set the tone by picking off Martinez during their first drive of the game. Wan’dale Robinson, the talent equivalent to Rondale Moore was the intended target but the ultra-athletic Okudah lunged in front of his blanketed assignment and made a momentum-swinging play.
Prior to last week, Okudah has not had an interception but last week against Miami (OH) he got the first of his career. Flash forward into week five, he added two more with the aforementioned pick on the first drive of the game and the last one on the third Nebraska possession of the game, where Robinson was targeted once again, but his outstretched hands tipped the pass to a lying Okudah, who was on his back waiting for another gift from Martinez. Okudah had two of the three picks of the game and the third pick came because of the pressure from Chase Young and Jonathan Cooper, who forced an errant pass that ended up in Jordan Fuller’s hands.
The Rushmen played well and generated a lot of pressure that forced Frost to travel back in time to use a few of his mid-90’s power running plays to mix it up. It was successful at first, but once the Buckeyes buckled down, there was no chance for them to get rid of the constant pressure. This was by far the worst O-Line that they’ve gone against and the Silver Bullets wreaked havoc all game long. Chase Young notched another sack to his season and it was another strip-sack that nearly resulted in another turnover, but the writing was on the wall from an opening couple of drives.
Justin Fields and his playmakers looked like a well-oiled machine and they accounted for six total touchdowns, three through the air and another three on the ground and it was another display of great preparation. Fields starting the onslaught with a 15-yard rushing touchdown he hit K.J. Hill for a short passing touchdown on two drives later after one of two Blake Haubiel field goals. Master Teague churned out some scores as he scored on the next two possessions. Fields ended his night when he engineered three scoring drives where he hit Mack in traffic, a second Haubiel field goal, and another corner catch from Garrett Wilson before his night ended.
Although Dobbins failed to score, he had another impactful game as he racked up 24 carries for 177 yards and a healthy 7.4 average and a long of 26. Teague spelled Dobbins and had 12 carries for 77 yards and a 6.4 average and a long of 26. Not to be outdone, Fields finished 15/21 for 212 yards and three scores and he had 12 rushes for 72 yards and another score with a long of 41 yards. This offense can put up video game numbers, but they have not been tested yet through five weeks, but that could change against a stout and stingy Spartan defense next week. Actually, the next four weeks have the Buckeyes at home against Sparty, a bye week before traveling to Evanston in a conference championship rematch with Northwestern, before clashing with a potent Wisconsin team in Columbus.
The road ahead will surely be prove-it games, but let’s take it a week at a time. So far the Buckeyes have exceeded expectations and so far they have been nearly unstoppable. The defense has been stellar as well, but Nebraska and Indiana are fringe offenses that are not as consistent. The same thing can be said for Michigan State, but their defense is legit and they could give the Slobs issues. They are physical and aggressive, but next week will be used to make another statement to the conference and the nation.
Continue reading...
Richard Tongohan 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
Justin Fields takes his team away from the confines of Columbus and journeys to Lincoln, Nebraska for just their second road game of the season and on paper, the Cornhuskers looked to make it a contest, but it was not meant to be. The Buckeyes began with electing to receive the ball in the second half and during Nebraska’s first drive, Jeffrey Okudah set the tone by picking off Martinez during their first drive of the game. Wan’dale Robinson, the talent equivalent to Rondale Moore was the intended target but the ultra-athletic Okudah lunged in front of his blanketed assignment and made a momentum-swinging play.
Prior to last week, Okudah has not had an interception but last week against Miami (OH) he got the first of his career. Flash forward into week five, he added two more with the aforementioned pick on the first drive of the game and the last one on the third Nebraska possession of the game, where Robinson was targeted once again, but his outstretched hands tipped the pass to a lying Okudah, who was on his back waiting for another gift from Martinez. Okudah had two of the three picks of the game and the third pick came because of the pressure from Chase Young and Jonathan Cooper, who forced an errant pass that ended up in Jordan Fuller’s hands.
The Rushmen played well and generated a lot of pressure that forced Frost to travel back in time to use a few of his mid-90’s power running plays to mix it up. It was successful at first, but once the Buckeyes buckled down, there was no chance for them to get rid of the constant pressure. This was by far the worst O-Line that they’ve gone against and the Silver Bullets wreaked havoc all game long. Chase Young notched another sack to his season and it was another strip-sack that nearly resulted in another turnover, but the writing was on the wall from an opening couple of drives.
Justin Fields and his playmakers looked like a well-oiled machine and they accounted for six total touchdowns, three through the air and another three on the ground and it was another display of great preparation. Fields starting the onslaught with a 15-yard rushing touchdown he hit K.J. Hill for a short passing touchdown on two drives later after one of two Blake Haubiel field goals. Master Teague churned out some scores as he scored on the next two possessions. Fields ended his night when he engineered three scoring drives where he hit Mack in traffic, a second Haubiel field goal, and another corner catch from Garrett Wilson before his night ended.
Although Dobbins failed to score, he had another impactful game as he racked up 24 carries for 177 yards and a healthy 7.4 average and a long of 26. Teague spelled Dobbins and had 12 carries for 77 yards and a 6.4 average and a long of 26. Not to be outdone, Fields finished 15/21 for 212 yards and three scores and he had 12 rushes for 72 yards and another score with a long of 41 yards. This offense can put up video game numbers, but they have not been tested yet through five weeks, but that could change against a stout and stingy Spartan defense next week. Actually, the next four weeks have the Buckeyes at home against Sparty, a bye week before traveling to Evanston in a conference championship rematch with Northwestern, before clashing with a potent Wisconsin team in Columbus.
The road ahead will surely be prove-it games, but let’s take it a week at a time. So far the Buckeyes have exceeded expectations and so far they have been nearly unstoppable. The defense has been stellar as well, but Nebraska and Indiana are fringe offenses that are not as consistent. The same thing can be said for Michigan State, but their defense is legit and they could give the Slobs issues. They are physical and aggressive, but next week will be used to make another statement to the conference and the nation.
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MotS&G The Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0, Big Ten 1-0) VS The Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1, Big Ten 1-0)
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The Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0, Big Ten 1-0) VS The Nebraska Cornhuskers (3-1, Big Ten 1-0)
Richard Tongohan 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
This Saturday, in prime time, the Buckeyes will travel to Lincoln to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in what could become a high scoring affair. Both teams are more than capable of lighting up the scoreboard and tomorrow night they will square off under the lights in a conference matchup. A dominant Ohio State team that has played at home in three out of the four past games and they are playing lights out with few, if any weaknesses. Nebraska has split home and away games, winning two of the three contests, with the lone loss coming at Colorado in an overtime heartbreaker.
Prime Time: Day vs Frost
Two up-and-comers in the coaching realm that plunged into a leadership role as their respective teams Head Coach. Scott Frost is in his second season in Lincoln after rebuilding UCF to a fringe competitor and potential Playoff Darkhorse. In two seasons he holds a 7-9 record. In 2018 he finished 4-8 and in 2019 he claims a 3-1 with the lone loss coming on the road against the Colorado Buffaloes in a hard-fought overtime thriller.
On the other side of the field, Ryan Day is the heir to the Ohio State throne and in his first four games, he has his team motivated and they look dangerous early on. He is 4-0 and he is looking to forward to a big-time night road game against Nebraska. Up to this point, he has his team looking unbeatable, but this feels like another statement-making type of game in primetime with the nation watching.
This is the first contest between these young coaches but Ohio State holds a 6-1 series lead and they have won four straight against Nebraska. The lone loss to Nebraska was in 2011 against Taylor Martinez in a 34-27 loss. This should be an easy game, but with a target on Ohio State’s and in a hostile environment, it might get interesting.
Kentucky Curse 2.0
For whoever follows recruiting closely, there are two types of players have always come back to hurt the Buckeyes in the past two. Ohio kids that could not get that coveted home team offer and the ones that could not fit into a crowded and talent-laden recruiting class. Two out of the three bad losses to Big Ten West teams have been painful and the only knock against the Buckeyes that have kept them out of the College Football Playoffs, at least for the last two years against less-than-stellar teams with one of these players.
Against Iowa, it was a night game at Iowa with emotion running high and they handled Ohio State in front of the whole crowd and the nation. At Purdue, a combination of an Ohio kid who never got that coveted offer and an electric playmaker from Kentucky in Rondale Moore that could not secure a spot in the 2018 class. Flash forward to the 2019 class, where another kid from Kentucky couldn’t get in the class either and goes to a Big Ten West school and gets to play against the Buckeyes at home.
In last weeks come from behind victory against Illinois, he racked up 186 all-purpose yards and scored three times. He looks electric and he showed that he can be that Rondale Moore type of gadget player that could explode at any moment to shift the momentum. The Buckeyes can put this curse to rest by bottling up Robinson and staying disciplined. They need to come out strong and if needed, weather the storm keep him in check.
Dual-Threat Quarterback With Weapons
Nothing scares Ohio State fans like a quarterback that can do it all. Whether it is with his arm or his leg, the dual-threat signal-callers have been able to squeak by the defense. Adrian Martinez was recruited by Day and the Buckeyes but was never offered. He joins Nebraska in his second year as the starter and he has the weapons to give the new-look defense fits while they are on the field.
Martinez is joined by JD Spielman and a dinged-up Maurice Washington and together they will look to test the improved Buckeye defense. Shifty playmakers and speedy quarterbacks have always been trouble, but in the game at Illinois, they have an obvious weakness that the Buckeyes defense could exploit, the trenches. The offense has been explosive, but they have to perfect against the Buckeyes to be competitive. Martinez never got that offer from the Buckeyes out of high school due to an injury, so could this slight be a chip on his shoulder to will his team into a victory or to be competitive in this contest?
Silver Bullet Trench Warfare
There is no doubt that the 2019 defense has vastly improved and they have been playing lights out. They are 4th in the nation in 3rd down defense with a stout front led by Chase Young. They are holding opponents to a measly .231% conversion rate on 3rd downs. They are 3rd in the nation in redzone defense allowing .545%. The overall defense has also improved where they are 7th in the nation in rushing defense and 18th in the nation in passing defense.
They have also racked up the sack count and they have 20 total through four games and they are averaging 5 per game. The younger Rushmen have also contributed and shined during mop-up duty showing their depth. This Cornhusker O-Line looked average against Illinois so they could expose them early and often. Ohio State ranks 2nd in the nation in total defense allowing 3.42 yards per play while giving up 222 yards per game. Special Teams have also been a factor for this team, they are 1st in the nation in blocked kicks and 2nd blocked punts. The game-changing plays have come from both the defense and the Special Teams units and they will continue to swing the momentum in their favor.
Fields’ Second Road Test
Balance has been at the forefront in this offensive attack and it seems to be working in their favor. Justin Fields has had one of the most meteoric rises as a starter and he has compiled one heck of a season so far, but he can still improve as the season ages. He has a combined 19 touchdowns with 13 through the air and 6 with his legs and he has looked good so far with a few things to fix.
He has leaned on his coaches and he has led his team with a killer instinct that could still be improved. He has a few things to clean up, one would be his ability to read defenses under duress or pressure. We saw against FAU and Indiana, when he was pressured, he overthrew his intended receivers. He certainly could have a day, but he cannot forget about his workhorse, JK Dobbins.
Dobbins has had a heck of a season with 68 carries and 477 yards and 5 scores. He has also chipped in for 5 receptions and 42 yards and another score. He cannot be underutilized and I think the combination of the two, along with the playmakers at receiver and tight end can give the once feared Blackshirt defense fits and grind them down or wear them out. The O-Line might get tested, but if they could hold up, the game may get out of hand fast.
PREDICTION
5 Match-Ups To Watch:
49-17 Ohio State defeats Nebraska.
Continue reading...
Richard Tongohan 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
This Saturday, in prime time, the Buckeyes will travel to Lincoln to take on the Nebraska Cornhuskers in what could become a high scoring affair. Both teams are more than capable of lighting up the scoreboard and tomorrow night they will square off under the lights in a conference matchup. A dominant Ohio State team that has played at home in three out of the four past games and they are playing lights out with few, if any weaknesses. Nebraska has split home and away games, winning two of the three contests, with the lone loss coming at Colorado in an overtime heartbreaker.
Two up-and-comers in the coaching realm that plunged into a leadership role as their respective teams Head Coach. Scott Frost is in his second season in Lincoln after rebuilding UCF to a fringe competitor and potential Playoff Darkhorse. In two seasons he holds a 7-9 record. In 2018 he finished 4-8 and in 2019 he claims a 3-1 with the lone loss coming on the road against the Colorado Buffaloes in a hard-fought overtime thriller.
On the other side of the field, Ryan Day is the heir to the Ohio State throne and in his first four games, he has his team motivated and they look dangerous early on. He is 4-0 and he is looking to forward to a big-time night road game against Nebraska. Up to this point, he has his team looking unbeatable, but this feels like another statement-making type of game in primetime with the nation watching.
This is the first contest between these young coaches but Ohio State holds a 6-1 series lead and they have won four straight against Nebraska. The lone loss to Nebraska was in 2011 against Taylor Martinez in a 34-27 loss. This should be an easy game, but with a target on Ohio State’s and in a hostile environment, it might get interesting.
For whoever follows recruiting closely, there are two types of players have always come back to hurt the Buckeyes in the past two. Ohio kids that could not get that coveted home team offer and the ones that could not fit into a crowded and talent-laden recruiting class. Two out of the three bad losses to Big Ten West teams have been painful and the only knock against the Buckeyes that have kept them out of the College Football Playoffs, at least for the last two years against less-than-stellar teams with one of these players.
Against Iowa, it was a night game at Iowa with emotion running high and they handled Ohio State in front of the whole crowd and the nation. At Purdue, a combination of an Ohio kid who never got that coveted offer and an electric playmaker from Kentucky in Rondale Moore that could not secure a spot in the 2018 class. Flash forward to the 2019 class, where another kid from Kentucky couldn’t get in the class either and goes to a Big Ten West school and gets to play against the Buckeyes at home.
In last weeks come from behind victory against Illinois, he racked up 186 all-purpose yards and scored three times. He looks electric and he showed that he can be that Rondale Moore type of gadget player that could explode at any moment to shift the momentum. The Buckeyes can put this curse to rest by bottling up Robinson and staying disciplined. They need to come out strong and if needed, weather the storm keep him in check.
Nothing scares Ohio State fans like a quarterback that can do it all. Whether it is with his arm or his leg, the dual-threat signal-callers have been able to squeak by the defense. Adrian Martinez was recruited by Day and the Buckeyes but was never offered. He joins Nebraska in his second year as the starter and he has the weapons to give the new-look defense fits while they are on the field.
Martinez is joined by JD Spielman and a dinged-up Maurice Washington and together they will look to test the improved Buckeye defense. Shifty playmakers and speedy quarterbacks have always been trouble, but in the game at Illinois, they have an obvious weakness that the Buckeyes defense could exploit, the trenches. The offense has been explosive, but they have to perfect against the Buckeyes to be competitive. Martinez never got that offer from the Buckeyes out of high school due to an injury, so could this slight be a chip on his shoulder to will his team into a victory or to be competitive in this contest?
There is no doubt that the 2019 defense has vastly improved and they have been playing lights out. They are 4th in the nation in 3rd down defense with a stout front led by Chase Young. They are holding opponents to a measly .231% conversion rate on 3rd downs. They are 3rd in the nation in redzone defense allowing .545%. The overall defense has also improved where they are 7th in the nation in rushing defense and 18th in the nation in passing defense.
They have also racked up the sack count and they have 20 total through four games and they are averaging 5 per game. The younger Rushmen have also contributed and shined during mop-up duty showing their depth. This Cornhusker O-Line looked average against Illinois so they could expose them early and often. Ohio State ranks 2nd in the nation in total defense allowing 3.42 yards per play while giving up 222 yards per game. Special Teams have also been a factor for this team, they are 1st in the nation in blocked kicks and 2nd blocked punts. The game-changing plays have come from both the defense and the Special Teams units and they will continue to swing the momentum in their favor.
Balance has been at the forefront in this offensive attack and it seems to be working in their favor. Justin Fields has had one of the most meteoric rises as a starter and he has compiled one heck of a season so far, but he can still improve as the season ages. He has a combined 19 touchdowns with 13 through the air and 6 with his legs and he has looked good so far with a few things to fix.
He has leaned on his coaches and he has led his team with a killer instinct that could still be improved. He has a few things to clean up, one would be his ability to read defenses under duress or pressure. We saw against FAU and Indiana, when he was pressured, he overthrew his intended receivers. He certainly could have a day, but he cannot forget about his workhorse, JK Dobbins.
Dobbins has had a heck of a season with 68 carries and 477 yards and 5 scores. He has also chipped in for 5 receptions and 42 yards and another score. He cannot be underutilized and I think the combination of the two, along with the playmakers at receiver and tight end can give the once feared Blackshirt defense fits and grind them down or wear them out. The O-Line might get tested, but if they could hold up, the game may get out of hand fast.
PREDICTION
5 Match-Ups To Watch:
- Fields vs The Secondary
- Slobs vs The Blackshirts
- Rushmen vs The Cornhusker O-Line
- BIA/Linebackers vs Spielman/Robinson/TE’s In The Seams
- Dobbins/Teague vs Blackshirts
49-17 Ohio State defeats Nebraska.
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MotS&G The Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) Defeated The Miami (OH) Redhawks (1-3)
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The Ohio State Buckeyes (4-0) Defeated The Miami (OH) Redhawks (1-3)
Richard Tongohan 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
The Ohio State Buckeyes have been on a tear as of late, but early on it looked bleak as they fell behind early 5-0. A strip-sack that resulted in a safety and on the ensuing possession, the Redhawks drove into the red zone before kicking a field goal to give them the lead and their last points of the contest. It certainly looked ugly and they started off slow, but they picked up steam after that wakeup call and they rattled off 76 straight points.
The Redhawks came into Columbus juiced and they played hard for nearly the entirety of the first quarter, but when the Buckeyes found their stride, there was no stopping the offensive onslaught. Slow starts have bitten the Buckeyes on the road and to start this slow, they need to clean that up with a trip to Lincoln on the horizon and it is also their first night game of the season and their first prime time game to boot. With road losses at night to Iowa in 2017 and to Purdue in 2018, they cannot afford to have an off start.
This game was lost after the 5-0 start and it was utter dominance at every phase of the game. This contest was like an audition for the young and inexperienced, but the future looks pretty bright, even against a team like Miami (OH). The starters made sure that this team will not be denied, especially at home and they dominated the rest of the first half.
Chase Young and the defense struggled for the first two drives, occasionally giving up some yardage, but they eventually shut the door on the opposing team. He finished the game with two key strip-sack fumbles that resulted in turnovers. Okudah also benefitted from the constant pressure and he came away with an easy first interception of the season. After regaining the momentum, the offensive attack was relentless. The defense played relentlessly as well and they shut out the Redhawks for the rest of the game.
The starters eventually were pulled out of the game at halftime and the reserves lit it up. At halftime, it remained 49-5. By the end of the contest, after the game was called, the Buckeyes finished the game 76-5, a 25-point addition courtesy of the second and third stringers. Chugunov and Hoak combined for three passing scores and Steele Chambers had his first touchdown as a Buckeye. Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams lit it up at wide receiver and Marcus Crowley got into the action with his first receiving score in his young career.
The depth showed that there is no drop-off between the starting and the reserve units, and even a few of the offensive walk-ons got into the action and made a difference. The back-up defenders also showed out as they continued to shut down the opposing offense. Zaid Hamadan, a reserve defensive tackle along with Jarron Cage gutted the interior and stopped the run. Dallas Gant shot through and got himself on the board with the first sack of his Buckeye career, joining Zach Harrison, Javonte Jean-Baptiste, and the aforementioned Gant.
The back-ups had their shot and they didn’t disappoint. The momentum by the starters and with the reserve players keeping it for the rest of the game was what we all wanted to see. There will be a battle next week and a night game, on the road, hasn’t been kind to the Buckeyes, but will this bring the juice to prevent another mid-season letdown? After an undefeated non-conference slate, the conference slate remains. They cannot afford to start slow once again, but this 70-burger can help with the confidence coming into the game.
For the time being, let us enjoy the game and the eventual turnaround. We all know that it wasn’t perfect, but it was a dominating performance. There are some things that Coach Day needs to address, but it’ll get there. Go Bucks.
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Richard Tongohan 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
The Ohio State Buckeyes have been on a tear as of late, but early on it looked bleak as they fell behind early 5-0. A strip-sack that resulted in a safety and on the ensuing possession, the Redhawks drove into the red zone before kicking a field goal to give them the lead and their last points of the contest. It certainly looked ugly and they started off slow, but they picked up steam after that wakeup call and they rattled off 76 straight points.
The Redhawks came into Columbus juiced and they played hard for nearly the entirety of the first quarter, but when the Buckeyes found their stride, there was no stopping the offensive onslaught. Slow starts have bitten the Buckeyes on the road and to start this slow, they need to clean that up with a trip to Lincoln on the horizon and it is also their first night game of the season and their first prime time game to boot. With road losses at night to Iowa in 2017 and to Purdue in 2018, they cannot afford to have an off start.
This game was lost after the 5-0 start and it was utter dominance at every phase of the game. This contest was like an audition for the young and inexperienced, but the future looks pretty bright, even against a team like Miami (OH). The starters made sure that this team will not be denied, especially at home and they dominated the rest of the first half.
Chase Young and the defense struggled for the first two drives, occasionally giving up some yardage, but they eventually shut the door on the opposing team. He finished the game with two key strip-sack fumbles that resulted in turnovers. Okudah also benefitted from the constant pressure and he came away with an easy first interception of the season. After regaining the momentum, the offensive attack was relentless. The defense played relentlessly as well and they shut out the Redhawks for the rest of the game.
The starters eventually were pulled out of the game at halftime and the reserves lit it up. At halftime, it remained 49-5. By the end of the contest, after the game was called, the Buckeyes finished the game 76-5, a 25-point addition courtesy of the second and third stringers. Chugunov and Hoak combined for three passing scores and Steele Chambers had his first touchdown as a Buckeye. Garrett Wilson and Jameson Williams lit it up at wide receiver and Marcus Crowley got into the action with his first receiving score in his young career.
The depth showed that there is no drop-off between the starting and the reserve units, and even a few of the offensive walk-ons got into the action and made a difference. The back-up defenders also showed out as they continued to shut down the opposing offense. Zaid Hamadan, a reserve defensive tackle along with Jarron Cage gutted the interior and stopped the run. Dallas Gant shot through and got himself on the board with the first sack of his Buckeye career, joining Zach Harrison, Javonte Jean-Baptiste, and the aforementioned Gant.
The back-ups had their shot and they didn’t disappoint. The momentum by the starters and with the reserve players keeping it for the rest of the game was what we all wanted to see. There will be a battle next week and a night game, on the road, hasn’t been kind to the Buckeyes, but will this bring the juice to prevent another mid-season letdown? After an undefeated non-conference slate, the conference slate remains. They cannot afford to start slow once again, but this 70-burger can help with the confidence coming into the game.
For the time being, let us enjoy the game and the eventual turnaround. We all know that it wasn’t perfect, but it was a dominating performance. There are some things that Coach Day needs to address, but it’ll get there. Go Bucks.
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MotS&G Miami (OH) Redhawks (1-2) VS Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0)
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Miami (OH) Redhawks (1-2) VS Ohio State Buckeyes (3-0)
Richard Tongohan 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
With another week to hone their skills, the Buckeyes square off against a wounded Redhawk team that has lost two out of the last three games early in the young 2019 season. On the other side of the field, the Buckeyes have won three straight, in convincing fashion with one road game to open up the Big Ten season and two games against inferior competition from the Group of Five conferences. Two teams with different situations, but its looking like another tune-up for the home team against a team that is struggling to stay afloat.
Road Woes
Life on the road hasn’t been kind to the Miami (OH) Redhawks. This season, have not been able to break through and secure a road win in three games, going 0-2 with losses against Iowa and Cincinnati. They have been outscored by a lot and so far it has been a whopping 73-17 scoring margin. In 2018, they split the difference and finished 6-6, with a 101-75 margin on the road while losing to Minnesota, Army, and Buffalo. It hasn’t been too bad on the road because the three that they managed to win came against Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, and Akron and they outscored them 92-47. It hasn’t been easy, but going into Columbus will be hard and so far a 6-8 road record isn’t going to make things easier.
At home, the Redhawks are alright. In 2018 they finished 3-3 and in 2019 they started 1-0. They beat an out-manned FCS team, but the Buckeyes will be a stiff test to beat at home. The odds aren’t in favor of the away team and I don’t think they stand a chance. Brett Gabbert will have a stifling defense to contend with and we will see if he is ready for the big lights.
Dobbins and His Running Back Stable
J.K. Dobbins has been on a tear lately and why shouldn’t he continue his dominant streak? Against FAU, he toted the ball 21 times and ran for 91 total yards and a TD. Against Cincinnati, he carried the ball 17 times for 141 yards with a long of 60 and two more scores. In the most recent game on the road against Indiana, Dobbins has 22 and he nearly went for 200 yards, but he finished with 193 yards and a healthy 8.8 average, he displayed his physical prowess while dashing for 56 yards before bowling over and bouncing his way for one of his two scores of the game. Dobbins also had two catches for 14 yards and a score, but it should’ve been two, he will get some work with the JUGs machine, but he is doing damage on the ground and is currently sitting at 4th in the nation in rushing yards.
Dobbins eventually gave way to Master Teague and Crowley got some reps to put out minds at ease regarding the future of that position. Teague is a bigger Dobbins, but he loves contact as he finished with 10 carries with 106 yards and a score. He capitalized it with another physical 40 yarder–and he had a healthier 10.6 average. Crowley and McCall eventually spelled the two and combined for 4 carries and 11 yards before the game ended. This game will get out of hand quick and eventually they will get valuable reps to gain more game time experience.
The Return of BIA, The Rushmen and The Silver Bullets
So far in three games, Buckeyes have been playing with a huge chip on their shoulder. Senior and 2019 captain Damon Arnette took the advice of Buckeye Great Chris Carter and stayed for his last ride in the scarlet and gray. He, along with Okudah and Wade at his position has been a nuisance for opposing offensive players. Behind them, fellow Senior Jordan Fuller and Brendon White have held it down so far this season, but the little dump offs in the seams sometimes get the best of them, but they have improved so far early on in the season and Arnette made a statement with the first pick-six of the season in a dazzling display of patience and athleticism.
The Rushmen have also been a nuisance and their depth is one of the strengths of this team. With BB Landers, Tyreke Smith, and Jonathan Cooper missing the game, the reserve unit will grab some reps before continuing their conference slate. They are averaging 4.67 sacks per game and through four games they have 14 sacks for the season which is good for being tied for 2nd in the nation.
The Linebackers have also improved in their play and this season, they are tearing it up. Improved tackling and a more aggressive approach, the Silver Bullets are back! Tackling was a sore subject and they would give up splash plays consistently. The penalties were also a weakness, but the 2019 team has cleaned a lot of that up. They currently sit 8th in the nation in third-down stops allowing a conversion in 0.229% per game. The zone scheme with man-to-man sprinkled in seems to work right now, but we will see how far they’ve come when they get to the meaty part of their schedule.
Fields Day and His Zone 6 Weapons
Fields had an off game in his first true road test at Ohio State, but he was still lethal. He missed his receivers while being pressured, he often threw too high or away from his targets frame or catch radius, but he finished with 199 yards and four total TD’s. It was a more inconsistent day of his young Buckeye career, but he still put the points on the board and he executed to keep this team humming.
Zone 6 has benefited from the play of Fields, but they lean on each other. The Legend of Olave is alive and well–he even managed to make key catches, he caught a TD, and he also blocked a punt that resulted in a safety. He surely has helped swing the momentum in each game and he continues to amaze me. K.J. Hill finally got on the board with the receiving score and Dobbins also had a one too.
The Tight Ends, although they haven’t been utilized still play hard and they certainly are a key cog in the offensive attack. We saw it against FAU, but it sort of fizzled as of late. They certainly can be used at any moment, but they play hard even though they are used in the blocking game. Either way, they all play for their brothers, but we will see how they’ll be used later during the season.
PREDICTION
56-6, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Miami(OH) Redhawks.
Yes, I am predicting a 50-burger, but the Redhawk offense is bad this year. They can possibly get some pity points, but it is doubtful and this defense is preparing for a clash with a Big Ten West foe, Nebraska. Without looking ahead, the Buckeyes will have their focus solely on Miami (OH). In another routine throttling, look for the game to get out of hand by the winding minutes of the 3rd quarter before the reserves come in to get some playing time once again. The goal would be to flex their muscle, get a win, and give your starters a well-deserved rest before traveling to Lincoln.
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Richard Tongohan 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
With another week to hone their skills, the Buckeyes square off against a wounded Redhawk team that has lost two out of the last three games early in the young 2019 season. On the other side of the field, the Buckeyes have won three straight, in convincing fashion with one road game to open up the Big Ten season and two games against inferior competition from the Group of Five conferences. Two teams with different situations, but its looking like another tune-up for the home team against a team that is struggling to stay afloat.
Road Woes
Life on the road hasn’t been kind to the Miami (OH) Redhawks. This season, have not been able to break through and secure a road win in three games, going 0-2 with losses against Iowa and Cincinnati. They have been outscored by a lot and so far it has been a whopping 73-17 scoring margin. In 2018, they split the difference and finished 6-6, with a 101-75 margin on the road while losing to Minnesota, Army, and Buffalo. It hasn’t been too bad on the road because the three that they managed to win came against Bowling Green, Northern Illinois, and Akron and they outscored them 92-47. It hasn’t been easy, but going into Columbus will be hard and so far a 6-8 road record isn’t going to make things easier.
At home, the Redhawks are alright. In 2018 they finished 3-3 and in 2019 they started 1-0. They beat an out-manned FCS team, but the Buckeyes will be a stiff test to beat at home. The odds aren’t in favor of the away team and I don’t think they stand a chance. Brett Gabbert will have a stifling defense to contend with and we will see if he is ready for the big lights.
J.K. Dobbins has been on a tear lately and why shouldn’t he continue his dominant streak? Against FAU, he toted the ball 21 times and ran for 91 total yards and a TD. Against Cincinnati, he carried the ball 17 times for 141 yards with a long of 60 and two more scores. In the most recent game on the road against Indiana, Dobbins has 22 and he nearly went for 200 yards, but he finished with 193 yards and a healthy 8.8 average, he displayed his physical prowess while dashing for 56 yards before bowling over and bouncing his way for one of his two scores of the game. Dobbins also had two catches for 14 yards and a score, but it should’ve been two, he will get some work with the JUGs machine, but he is doing damage on the ground and is currently sitting at 4th in the nation in rushing yards.
Dobbins eventually gave way to Master Teague and Crowley got some reps to put out minds at ease regarding the future of that position. Teague is a bigger Dobbins, but he loves contact as he finished with 10 carries with 106 yards and a score. He capitalized it with another physical 40 yarder–and he had a healthier 10.6 average. Crowley and McCall eventually spelled the two and combined for 4 carries and 11 yards before the game ended. This game will get out of hand quick and eventually they will get valuable reps to gain more game time experience.
So far in three games, Buckeyes have been playing with a huge chip on their shoulder. Senior and 2019 captain Damon Arnette took the advice of Buckeye Great Chris Carter and stayed for his last ride in the scarlet and gray. He, along with Okudah and Wade at his position has been a nuisance for opposing offensive players. Behind them, fellow Senior Jordan Fuller and Brendon White have held it down so far this season, but the little dump offs in the seams sometimes get the best of them, but they have improved so far early on in the season and Arnette made a statement with the first pick-six of the season in a dazzling display of patience and athleticism.
The Rushmen have also been a nuisance and their depth is one of the strengths of this team. With BB Landers, Tyreke Smith, and Jonathan Cooper missing the game, the reserve unit will grab some reps before continuing their conference slate. They are averaging 4.67 sacks per game and through four games they have 14 sacks for the season which is good for being tied for 2nd in the nation.
The Linebackers have also improved in their play and this season, they are tearing it up. Improved tackling and a more aggressive approach, the Silver Bullets are back! Tackling was a sore subject and they would give up splash plays consistently. The penalties were also a weakness, but the 2019 team has cleaned a lot of that up. They currently sit 8th in the nation in third-down stops allowing a conversion in 0.229% per game. The zone scheme with man-to-man sprinkled in seems to work right now, but we will see how far they’ve come when they get to the meaty part of their schedule.
Fields had an off game in his first true road test at Ohio State, but he was still lethal. He missed his receivers while being pressured, he often threw too high or away from his targets frame or catch radius, but he finished with 199 yards and four total TD’s. It was a more inconsistent day of his young Buckeye career, but he still put the points on the board and he executed to keep this team humming.
Zone 6 has benefited from the play of Fields, but they lean on each other. The Legend of Olave is alive and well–he even managed to make key catches, he caught a TD, and he also blocked a punt that resulted in a safety. He surely has helped swing the momentum in each game and he continues to amaze me. K.J. Hill finally got on the board with the receiving score and Dobbins also had a one too.
The Tight Ends, although they haven’t been utilized still play hard and they certainly are a key cog in the offensive attack. We saw it against FAU, but it sort of fizzled as of late. They certainly can be used at any moment, but they play hard even though they are used in the blocking game. Either way, they all play for their brothers, but we will see how they’ll be used later during the season.
PREDICTION
56-6, the Ohio State Buckeyes defeat the Miami(OH) Redhawks.
Yes, I am predicting a 50-burger, but the Redhawk offense is bad this year. They can possibly get some pity points, but it is doubtful and this defense is preparing for a clash with a Big Ten West foe, Nebraska. Without looking ahead, the Buckeyes will have their focus solely on Miami (OH). In another routine throttling, look for the game to get out of hand by the winding minutes of the 3rd quarter before the reserves come in to get some playing time once again. The goal would be to flex their muscle, get a win, and give your starters a well-deserved rest before traveling to Lincoln.
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LGHL Podcast: Who’s the toughest opponent left on Ohio State’s schedule?
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Podcast: Who’s the toughest opponent left on Ohio State’s schedule?
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
We answer your questions, and more on a bye week edition of the Hangout in the Holy Land.
With the Ohio State Buckeyes on their (first) bye week, now’s a good time to evaluate how they’ve looked through the first six games of 2019. (Spoiler: Pretty damn good!)
On this episode of the Hangout in the Holy Land, we asked you to send in your questions and comments about what we’ve seen so far, including:
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Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
We answer your questions, and more on a bye week edition of the Hangout in the Holy Land.
With the Ohio State Buckeyes on their (first) bye week, now’s a good time to evaluate how they’ve looked through the first six games of 2019. (Spoiler: Pretty damn good!)
On this episode of the Hangout in the Holy Land, we asked you to send in your questions and comments about what we’ve seen so far, including:
- What’s most surprising about the Buckeyes this year (Not surprisingly, a lot of defense and offensive line talk here)
- How the run game became one of the best in the country
- Justin Fields’ rapid development
- Is Wisconsin or Penn State a tougher opponent for Ohio State?
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LGHL Looking at what prospects could fill out Ohio State’s 2020 recruiting class
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Looking at what prospects could fill out Ohio State’s 2020 recruiting class
Jake Collar via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports
Running back, quarterback, defensive end, and corner back are all in the mix for the Buckeyes.
Last Saturday night, the Ohio State Buckeyes hosted a massive group of prospects for their showdown against Michigan State. By some accounts as many as 55 commits and targets visited Ohio Stadium, most on unofficial visits. There are only a few spots left that need to be filled in OSU’s 2020 recruiting class, and with the early signing period starting on Dec 18, let’s take a look at the most likely candidates to join the class.
There is always a balance of need and talent that comes into a school when filling out a recruiting class. Ohio State currently sits at No. 3 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings with 23 recruits that have an average star ranking of 92.12.
As most people could probably guess, the two teams ahead of the Buckeyes would be Clemson at No. 1, with 20 commits and an average star rating of 94.12, and Alabama at No. 2 with 22 recruits, and an average star ranking of 93.56. No team is going to be able to pass Clemson for the top spot, since they already have six of the top 30 players overall committed to their class.
After a 2019 cycle that only included 17 players, Ohio State has the room for a larger class in 2020. Given the 23 current commits, there would be spots for about four more players, given the assumptions that players like Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, and J.K. Dobbins could be heading to the NFL a year early.
Running Back
Many fans believe that the biggest need at this point is at the running back position. On Saturday night, four-star RB Kevontre Bradford from Lancaster (TX) took his official visit, but while expectations were that Bradford would eventually be a Buckeye — perhaps as early as last Saturday night — that is looking less and less likely.
Coming out of the major recruiting weekend, the only 247 crystal ball that Bradford picked up was from 11 Warriors’ Andrew Ellis, and it was forecasting that Bradford would be playing his college football in Madison, Wisc., not Columbus, Ohio.
With rumors that local target Michael Drennen II is starting a lean toward Kentucky, it is becoming more of a legitimate question for discussion whether Ryan Day and Tony Alford will end up with any running backs in the class at all. If that does end up being the case, it is almost certainly by choice. With the performances thus far in the season by red-shirt freshman Master Teague III and true freshman Marcus Crowley and Steele Chambers, the need to stock up on running backs might not be as high as many assumed that it would be in the preseason.
However, if Ohio State does end up grabbing a back for the class, I think that Bradford is exactly what they need.
Quarterback
Another guy who came to see the show in the Shoe on Saturday was quarterback Target CJ Stroud. The 6-foot-2, 194 pound prospect came all the way from Rancho Cucamonga, Cali. and carries a .938 composite ranking.
By all accounts, things went very well during his visit while being shown around by possible future teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba. All crystal ball predictions have turned to Ohio State, which would give the Buckeyes two highly touted QBs in the 2020 class, along with Jack Miller the four-star out of Chaparral in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Both of these QBs are considered pro-style, but shouldn’t be too closely compared Dwayne Haskins just because of their label. This is something that I am very interested to watch develop with the way that the transfer portal has already affected Ohio State in the quarterback room. This could be another Dwayne Haskins vs. Joe Burrow situation after Justin Fields (in all probability) leaves for the NFL following next season
Defensive End
Next up, Ohio State would love to pick up a commitment from Tyler Baron. A four-star, .949 rated SDE from Knoxsville Catholic (TN). He currently sits with about a 70 percent crystal ball to Tennessee, which makes sense considering that his father, Patrick Abernathy, is a member of Jeremy Pruitt’s staff.
However, Baron fits the mold of a Larry Johnson-style player, coming in at 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds. This would be the guy that I believe could be the final piece to join the class as he is still trying to figure out if he wants to stay home, or come play at a place that litters the NFL with defensive lineman.
I would place about a 50/50 shot that Ohio State ends up with Barron at this point, making him the least likely of the four guys that I am predicting to fill out the 2020 class.
Cornerback
Finally is the player that I think is the most obvious and that I believe will be the next to commit to Ohio State, and that is Ryan Watts.
The 6-foot-2, 187 cornerback had been committed to the Oklahoma Sooners until last week when he announced that he was re opening his recruitment. For a few days after his announcement, Oklahoma still believed to have a chance to retain Watts, but that feeling has decayed over the last few days and the predictions now heavily lean towards Ohio State.
Watts comes out of Little Elam, Texas, and has earned a .910 star ranking and is probably encouraged by what is happening with another 6’2 corner out of Texas, Jeff Okudah. The Ohio State corner is likely to forgo his remaining year of eligibility and become an early pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and could provide the perfect road map for what a guy like Watts wants to do.
So there it is, the final four players that I predict will join Ohio State’s 2020 recruiting class. If you agree or disagree please comment and tell us why. That way we can have some fun as we will find out in the next few weeks and months who it will be
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Jake Collar via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Running back, quarterback, defensive end, and corner back are all in the mix for the Buckeyes.
Last Saturday night, the Ohio State Buckeyes hosted a massive group of prospects for their showdown against Michigan State. By some accounts as many as 55 commits and targets visited Ohio Stadium, most on unofficial visits. There are only a few spots left that need to be filled in OSU’s 2020 recruiting class, and with the early signing period starting on Dec 18, let’s take a look at the most likely candidates to join the class.
There is always a balance of need and talent that comes into a school when filling out a recruiting class. Ohio State currently sits at No. 3 in the 247Sports Composite Rankings with 23 recruits that have an average star ranking of 92.12.
As most people could probably guess, the two teams ahead of the Buckeyes would be Clemson at No. 1, with 20 commits and an average star rating of 94.12, and Alabama at No. 2 with 22 recruits, and an average star ranking of 93.56. No team is going to be able to pass Clemson for the top spot, since they already have six of the top 30 players overall committed to their class.
After a 2019 cycle that only included 17 players, Ohio State has the room for a larger class in 2020. Given the 23 current commits, there would be spots for about four more players, given the assumptions that players like Chase Young, Jeff Okudah, and J.K. Dobbins could be heading to the NFL a year early.
Running Back
Many fans believe that the biggest need at this point is at the running back position. On Saturday night, four-star RB Kevontre Bradford from Lancaster (TX) took his official visit, but while expectations were that Bradford would eventually be a Buckeye — perhaps as early as last Saturday night — that is looking less and less likely.
Coming out of the major recruiting weekend, the only 247 crystal ball that Bradford picked up was from 11 Warriors’ Andrew Ellis, and it was forecasting that Bradford would be playing his college football in Madison, Wisc., not Columbus, Ohio.
With rumors that local target Michael Drennen II is starting a lean toward Kentucky, it is becoming more of a legitimate question for discussion whether Ryan Day and Tony Alford will end up with any running backs in the class at all. If that does end up being the case, it is almost certainly by choice. With the performances thus far in the season by red-shirt freshman Master Teague III and true freshman Marcus Crowley and Steele Chambers, the need to stock up on running backs might not be as high as many assumed that it would be in the preseason.
However, if Ohio State does end up grabbing a back for the class, I think that Bradford is exactly what they need.
Quarterback
Another guy who came to see the show in the Shoe on Saturday was quarterback Target CJ Stroud. The 6-foot-2, 194 pound prospect came all the way from Rancho Cucamonga, Cali. and carries a .938 composite ranking.
By all accounts, things went very well during his visit while being shown around by possible future teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba. All crystal ball predictions have turned to Ohio State, which would give the Buckeyes two highly touted QBs in the 2020 class, along with Jack Miller the four-star out of Chaparral in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Both of these QBs are considered pro-style, but shouldn’t be too closely compared Dwayne Haskins just because of their label. This is something that I am very interested to watch develop with the way that the transfer portal has already affected Ohio State in the quarterback room. This could be another Dwayne Haskins vs. Joe Burrow situation after Justin Fields (in all probability) leaves for the NFL following next season
Defensive End
Next up, Ohio State would love to pick up a commitment from Tyler Baron. A four-star, .949 rated SDE from Knoxsville Catholic (TN). He currently sits with about a 70 percent crystal ball to Tennessee, which makes sense considering that his father, Patrick Abernathy, is a member of Jeremy Pruitt’s staff.
However, Baron fits the mold of a Larry Johnson-style player, coming in at 6-foot-4 and 252 pounds. This would be the guy that I believe could be the final piece to join the class as he is still trying to figure out if he wants to stay home, or come play at a place that litters the NFL with defensive lineman.
I would place about a 50/50 shot that Ohio State ends up with Barron at this point, making him the least likely of the four guys that I am predicting to fill out the 2020 class.
Cornerback
Finally is the player that I think is the most obvious and that I believe will be the next to commit to Ohio State, and that is Ryan Watts.
The 6-foot-2, 187 cornerback had been committed to the Oklahoma Sooners until last week when he announced that he was re opening his recruitment. For a few days after his announcement, Oklahoma still believed to have a chance to retain Watts, but that feeling has decayed over the last few days and the predictions now heavily lean towards Ohio State.
Watts comes out of Little Elam, Texas, and has earned a .910 star ranking and is probably encouraged by what is happening with another 6’2 corner out of Texas, Jeff Okudah. The Ohio State corner is likely to forgo his remaining year of eligibility and become an early pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, and could provide the perfect road map for what a guy like Watts wants to do.
So there it is, the final four players that I predict will join Ohio State’s 2020 recruiting class. If you agree or disagree please comment and tell us why. That way we can have some fun as we will find out in the next few weeks and months who it will be
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LGHL Ohio State’s Terry McLaurin is impressing fans, media alike with his hot start in the NFL
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Ohio State’s Terry McLaurin is impressing fans, media alike with his hot start in the NFL
Patrick Yen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Ocho Cinco had high praise for the former Buckeye on Twitter!
To be this polished this early has to be so relieving for the QB & whoever calls the plays
https://t.co/bV6n0e4CwY
— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) October 7, 2019
He was extremely impressed with Scary Terry’s route running, with McLaurin exhibiting smooth and clean routes far beyond his years. He had another strong performance against yet another top defensive unit in against the Patriots Sunday, who are currently the top passing defense in just about every metric. McLaurin only had the 3 catches for 51 yards, but that sounds a whole lot better when you realize he was almost literally half the Redskins passing offense (McCoy only threw for 119 yards and no other Washington receiver had more than 20).
The Professional Team from Washington has had their fair share of struggles this season. They are 0-5 and have just fired their head coach of 5 years in Jay Gruden. The lone bright spot on the team has been Terry McLaurin, which Chad Johnson agrees with.
Johnson responded to Bruce Allen’s comment that “the pieces are here for a winning team” by tweeting “Translation: we have Terry McLaurin & will build around him.” It’s not often you see a team build around a wide receiver, but Johnson certainly believes Terry is just that special.
With Jay Gruden gone, who reportedly did not want Haskins, and the team going nowhere fast, it should not be too long before Dwayne Haskins and Terry McLaurin can finally play together again. Haskins didn’t look good in his first NFL action earlier this year, but he was also without the Redskins best player in McLaurin. I think it’s about time to see these guys connecting and adding to the already strong Buckeye footprint in the NFL.
“(ABC)’s broadcast of a game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Ohio State Buckeyes brought in an average rating of 1.6 in adults 18-49, drawing 6.49 million viewers.”
-Joseph Rejent, TV By the Numbers
The nation considered Ohio State vs. Michigan State as appointment viewing, and OSU answered the call. They were the highest viewed non-NFL game all week, crushing the other night game on ESPN by nearly 3 million viewers, and just beat out Auburn at Florida, a 7 vs 10 matchup.
Even though OSU was favored by 20 points, which they covered, millions still had to tune in to see exactly what this Buckeye team is about. They got to see a Buckeye team that is very real and very scary (for the non-Buckeye fans out there). They saw a run game that couldn’t be stopped (over 300 total yards), an explosive passing attack, and what was most impressive, a stifling defense that hounded Lewerke and company all night.
In a night where the future of OSU was in attendance with thirty 2020 and 2021 recruits in the building to watch the dominating performance, the number of TV views should insure the next-next-next Buckeyes are starting to fall in love. Thousands of young kids see the dashing helmets and uniforms, see the roaring crowd and the powerful on-field performance, and then their dream becomes “I want to play for that team.” These prime-time games are recruiting tools for the near and distant futures, and OSU certainly did what they had to do.
“I think being in a place like Ohio State, any time there’s success, things like this are going to come up, I don’t really ever want to talk about any of that stuff. I love it here. This is where I want to be.”
-Ryan Day via Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
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Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
Ryan Day has a history in the NFL, and many are wondering if that history could be calling him after the Buckeyes magnificent start to the season. Day served as the QB’s coach at Philadelphia and San Francisco before becoming the offensive coordinator at OSU in 2017, and he could easily find a job in the professional league as the next young offensive genius to take the NFL by storm. Jobs are beginning to open up, with Jay Gruden the first casualty, and we all know what Day can do with Dwayne Haskins. Besides Lincoln Reilly, Day is becoming the hottest name in the coaching carousel, but at least in lip service Day is here to stay.
There are a lot of reasons why the NFL is interested in Day. He has this OSU squad looking as dangerous as any in what was supposed to be a down year for the Buckeyes, having just rolled a good Michigan State team to hit 5-0. And the prestige and possibly the money of the NFL is hard to match, as well as the feeling that the NFL is another level of challenge compared to college ball. But Day has business still just started at the Ohio State. Maybe once he has a national championship under his belt the NFL may seem more attractive, but for now, he wants to be here.
Day for his part is saying all the right things. He doesn’t appreciate the questions already, and is hoping to build a legacy at OSU, saying “Whether it’s good, bad or indifferent, even for the next five, 10, hopefully 20 years while I’m here, I really don’t want to comment on any of that. Because I don’t think it’s good for anybody.” Coaches can say things like this all the time and jump the next day, but for a final reason to be secure for at least a couple more years, Day has referenced his family’s stability as just another reason to stay. “When we had to move our family three times in three years — that was not good, and that’s the thing that I don’t know if people realize. You have to move your family, and we have a young family. When you’re moving them all over the place, it is the worst thing to go home to your family and tell them we’ve got to move again. They’ve got to be the new kid again and your wife has to figure out a new set of friends again. It’s just not good.”
He went on to say that he and his wife said the constant moving was “hard times” and they decided “never again.” If there’s anything to take solace in, it’s a man’s dedication to his family, so I think Day is here to stay.
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Patrick Yen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Ocho Cinco had high praise for the former Buckeye on Twitter!
To be this polished this early has to be so relieving for the QB & whoever calls the plays
https://t.co/bV6n0e4CwY— Chad Johnson (@ochocinco) October 7, 2019
He was extremely impressed with Scary Terry’s route running, with McLaurin exhibiting smooth and clean routes far beyond his years. He had another strong performance against yet another top defensive unit in against the Patriots Sunday, who are currently the top passing defense in just about every metric. McLaurin only had the 3 catches for 51 yards, but that sounds a whole lot better when you realize he was almost literally half the Redskins passing offense (McCoy only threw for 119 yards and no other Washington receiver had more than 20).
The Professional Team from Washington has had their fair share of struggles this season. They are 0-5 and have just fired their head coach of 5 years in Jay Gruden. The lone bright spot on the team has been Terry McLaurin, which Chad Johnson agrees with.
Johnson responded to Bruce Allen’s comment that “the pieces are here for a winning team” by tweeting “Translation: we have Terry McLaurin & will build around him.” It’s not often you see a team build around a wide receiver, but Johnson certainly believes Terry is just that special.
With Jay Gruden gone, who reportedly did not want Haskins, and the team going nowhere fast, it should not be too long before Dwayne Haskins and Terry McLaurin can finally play together again. Haskins didn’t look good in his first NFL action earlier this year, but he was also without the Redskins best player in McLaurin. I think it’s about time to see these guys connecting and adding to the already strong Buckeye footprint in the NFL.
“(ABC)’s broadcast of a game between the Michigan State Spartans and the Ohio State Buckeyes brought in an average rating of 1.6 in adults 18-49, drawing 6.49 million viewers.”
-Joseph Rejent, TV By the Numbers
The nation considered Ohio State vs. Michigan State as appointment viewing, and OSU answered the call. They were the highest viewed non-NFL game all week, crushing the other night game on ESPN by nearly 3 million viewers, and just beat out Auburn at Florida, a 7 vs 10 matchup.
Even though OSU was favored by 20 points, which they covered, millions still had to tune in to see exactly what this Buckeye team is about. They got to see a Buckeye team that is very real and very scary (for the non-Buckeye fans out there). They saw a run game that couldn’t be stopped (over 300 total yards), an explosive passing attack, and what was most impressive, a stifling defense that hounded Lewerke and company all night.
In a night where the future of OSU was in attendance with thirty 2020 and 2021 recruits in the building to watch the dominating performance, the number of TV views should insure the next-next-next Buckeyes are starting to fall in love. Thousands of young kids see the dashing helmets and uniforms, see the roaring crowd and the powerful on-field performance, and then their dream becomes “I want to play for that team.” These prime-time games are recruiting tools for the near and distant futures, and OSU certainly did what they had to do.
“I think being in a place like Ohio State, any time there’s success, things like this are going to come up, I don’t really ever want to talk about any of that stuff. I love it here. This is where I want to be.”
-Ryan Day via Matt Tamanini, Land-Grant Holy Land
Ryan Day has a history in the NFL, and many are wondering if that history could be calling him after the Buckeyes magnificent start to the season. Day served as the QB’s coach at Philadelphia and San Francisco before becoming the offensive coordinator at OSU in 2017, and he could easily find a job in the professional league as the next young offensive genius to take the NFL by storm. Jobs are beginning to open up, with Jay Gruden the first casualty, and we all know what Day can do with Dwayne Haskins. Besides Lincoln Reilly, Day is becoming the hottest name in the coaching carousel, but at least in lip service Day is here to stay.
There are a lot of reasons why the NFL is interested in Day. He has this OSU squad looking as dangerous as any in what was supposed to be a down year for the Buckeyes, having just rolled a good Michigan State team to hit 5-0. And the prestige and possibly the money of the NFL is hard to match, as well as the feeling that the NFL is another level of challenge compared to college ball. But Day has business still just started at the Ohio State. Maybe once he has a national championship under his belt the NFL may seem more attractive, but for now, he wants to be here.
Day for his part is saying all the right things. He doesn’t appreciate the questions already, and is hoping to build a legacy at OSU, saying “Whether it’s good, bad or indifferent, even for the next five, 10, hopefully 20 years while I’m here, I really don’t want to comment on any of that. Because I don’t think it’s good for anybody.” Coaches can say things like this all the time and jump the next day, but for a final reason to be secure for at least a couple more years, Day has referenced his family’s stability as just another reason to stay. “When we had to move our family three times in three years — that was not good, and that’s the thing that I don’t know if people realize. You have to move your family, and we have a young family. When you’re moving them all over the place, it is the worst thing to go home to your family and tell them we’ve got to move again. They’ve got to be the new kid again and your wife has to figure out a new set of friends again. It’s just not good.”
He went on to say that he and his wife said the constant moving was “hard times” and they decided “never again.” If there’s anything to take solace in, it’s a man’s dedication to his family, so I think Day is here to stay.
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LGHL In honor of Nick Bosa, here’s some of Ohio State’s best recent payback moments, celebrations
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In honor of Nick Bosa, here’s some of Ohio State’s best recent payback moments, celebrations
Tia Williams via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Anyone remember our “basic defense?”
I don’t know about you guys, but I woke up this morning feeling refreshed, motivated, and... avenged. Nick Bosa spent the majority of his time during Monday Night Football getting revenge on former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and I’ve replayed it no less than 15 times already.
In case you missed it:
Baker planted the flag on Ohio State’s field a few years ago.
Former Buckeye, Nick Bosa, got some revenge last night. pic.twitter.com/EMvkVRzKYW
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) October 8, 2019
The 49ers rookie defensive end had five quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two sacks. Mayfield turned the ball over a total of three times and finished with a season-worst 13.4 passer rating.
Bosa gave us the closure Buckeye fans have been craving since 2016, and I am a better person because of it.
Now, since one can never get enough of current and former Buckeyes’ clever celebrations and revenge on those who deserve it, here’s a list of some of the best of those moments in Ohio State history.
BEST PLAYER CELEBRATIONS
While it wasn’t exactly a “celebration,” former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith’s bull stampede on senior day is remembered by all and set the stage for The Game in 2006. Ohio State beat Michigan 42-39 and Smith won his Heisman Trophy a few weeks later.
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Photo by David Dermer/Diamond Images/Getty Images
Ah yes, the infamous Zach Boren sack against Michigan in 2012. Is there anyone who doesn’t have this picture hanging up in their basement? Here it is in motion:
Boren’s dominant posture and Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner in the fetal position truly never gets old. Final score: Michigan 21 Ohio State 26. Insert Bosa Shrug here.
SPEAKING OF....
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/13281231/456641098.jpg.jpg)
Photo by Jonathan Ernst/Getty Images
I’m sure you don’t need reminded of the Bosa Shrug. It’s one of the subtlest, yet most iconic player celebrations in Buckeye history. Former Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa often—if not always— threw up the shrug after a sack, as if to say “I don’t know, it’s just what I do!”
Here’s how it started:
In true Bosa fashion, “it just happened” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Ever since, the shrug has appeared on a number of different stages.
In 2014, after beating Oregon in the National Championship, the Buckeyes were invited to the White House where President Obama and Bosa exchanged shrugs.
Zeke Elliott does Joey Bosa’s signature shrug after his fourth touchdown of the day, leading Ohio State to a 44-28 victory in the Fiesta Bowl over Notre Dame! 44 days until Buckeye football returns pic.twitter.com/EFSq0s2zMb
— Barstool OSU (@BarstoolOSU) July 19, 2018
After Bosa was thrown out of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame for targeting, running back Ezekiel Elliott threw up the shrug after his fourth touchdown to honor his teammate. He wasn’t letting Bosa’s last game as a Buckeye go shrug-less.
Love it RT @ChargersLegion: Everyone loves the Bosa Shrug
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/4q1G4vwIr6
— Mekka Don (@MekkaDonMusic) November 7, 2016
Nick Bosa with the shoulder shrug after his first career sack @nbsmallerbear pic.twitter.com/J1c0B0Tpxa
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 8, 2019
And last but not least, the shrug lives on. Not only through Bosa and his own teammates on the San Diego Chargers, but also through his little brother, Nick. When he’s not planting flags in disrespectful quarterbacks’ fields, he’s taking after his brother. Baby Bosa did the shrug during his time at Ohio State and again after his first career sack in the league. It is called the Bosa Shrug, after all.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19269781/904962614.jpg.jpg)
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas has a Bosa Shrug of his own, if you will. The former Ohio State receiver often puts a finger to his mouth after a catch or touchdown as if to say “Shhhh” or “silence the doubters.” For awhile, even the hashtag #shhhh was popular among Buckeye Twitter.
Sorry for the disrespect. They don't like me I don't like them #shhhh #GoBucks https://t.co/ISipso5uSp
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) November 22, 2016
Thomas’ victory dancing and O-H-ing toward the end of Ohio State vs. Michigan in 2015 is one of my personal favorites. It might have been disrespectful, but they don’t like us and we don’t like them.
So many Michigan victory celebrations, so little time.
Curtis Samuel’s arms spread wide as he ran into the end zone to beat Michigan in double overtime in 2016 is an image I want stored in my frontal lobe until my last day on earth. And Chris Fowler’s “Ohio State wins” exclamation is the icing on the cake.
Man, the ball just stuck right to K.J. Hill's hand. pic.twitter.com/UeQLoWbR05
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) October 13, 2018
K.J. Hill’s sticky-hand celebration after a jaw-dropping one handed catch against Minnesota in 2018 could not have been executed more perfectly.
Parris Campbell runs in a 78 yard touchdown against the #1 ranked defense in #CollegeFootball. Several suspect calls by the refs have kept Michigan alive. Score now 48-32 in the 4th quarter. #MICHvsOSU #CFB @CFBPlayoff #Big10 #Buckeyes #OhioState #Wolverines pic.twitter.com/8YxuzOLoPB
— Swapty Sports (@SwaptySports) November 24, 2018
Bosa Shrug, Michael Thomas #Shhhh, and the Parris Campbell PEACE sign. My favorite thing about each of these celebrations is that they all seem to say: “Yeah, we’re used to this.”
TROLLING THE OPPOSITION
One day—I don’t know when—but one day opposing teams will learn their lesson when it comes to trash talking Ohio State. It never ends well. The consequence for Baker Mayfield’s flag-plant in the ‘Shoe came two years later at the hands of Nick Bosa. However, it usually doesn’t take that long for teams/players to receive their wake up call. The Sooners would know.
In 2016, Oklahoma backup quarterback Austin Kendall gave an interview, days before his team faced Ohio State, in which he described Ohio State as having a “really basic defense” and QB1 Mayfield would “light them up.”
Here is the video. Have fun with the Buckeyes "Basic D" pic.twitter.com/Ci1WhFFxFP
— B. Zimmerman (@bzimmerman9) September 14, 2016
Oh Austin...
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9188417/usa_today_9551084.jpg)
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Three days later, Ohio State beat the Sooners 45-24. Mayfield did not light up Ohio State. He was 17-of-32 passing for 226 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Buckeyes had their post-game sign ready for the cameras. They had to let Kendall and the Sooners know their motivation behind that win.
Karan Higdon just guaranteed a Michigan win over Ohio State pic.twitter.com/5rBCtwe3ed
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) November 19, 2018
While throwing shade at Ohio State’s defense is great bulletin board material, Michigan running back Karan Higdon “guaranteeing” a win over Ohio State is more like wallpaper material. Keep in mind, this guy said this on the MONDAY before The Game, meaning Urban Meyer would have plastered this quote around the Woody, playing it over and over for his team to hear all. week. long.
Ohio State running back Mike Weber responded on Twitter before the Buckeyes responded on the field, beating TTUN 62-39. The Wolverine’s loss was pretty much “guaranteed” from the start of the game.
Was it just a mirage? pic.twitter.com/BqnwmOPTdl
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 11, 2018
You’d think Michigan players would have kept their mouths shut following the loss. Alas, they continued to provide Ohio State football fans, players, and social media team with more material.
Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich, who was also the unofficial leader of the Wolverine’s “revenge tour,” said that their loss against Ohio State was simply “a mirage,” and that recruits “should be not fooled” by what they saw (which was Michigan getting their butts kicked).
So, naturally, the brains behind the exceptional Ohio State football Twitter account mocked Winovich using a clip from a Saturday Night Live sketch. The Buckeyes inserted the 62-39 score as a mirage in the desert, which was followed by a TV clip of Fox college football analyst Joel Klatt after Ohio State secured their second straight Big Ten title a few days prior.
Michigan, isn’t it time to wave the white flag?
oh no he didn't pic.twitter.com/Tai2we6czQ
— Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) September 21, 2019
Sometimes, players provide bulletin board material during the game, right smack in front of the likes of Chase Young & Co. Just a few weeks ago, Miami University defensive lineman Doug Costin threw up an O-H after sacking Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields early in the game. At the time, the Redhawks were only down by two points (5-7). After his mockery of Ohio State’s cheer, the Buckeyes went on to score 69 unanswered points. So, Doug, I see your O-H and raise you an I-O!
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Tia Williams via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Anyone remember our “basic defense?”
I don’t know about you guys, but I woke up this morning feeling refreshed, motivated, and... avenged. Nick Bosa spent the majority of his time during Monday Night Football getting revenge on former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield and I’ve replayed it no less than 15 times already.
In case you missed it:
Baker planted the flag on Ohio State’s field a few years ago.
Former Buckeye, Nick Bosa, got some revenge last night. pic.twitter.com/EMvkVRzKYW
— CFB Home (@CFBHome) October 8, 2019
The 49ers rookie defensive end had five quarterback hits, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and two sacks. Mayfield turned the ball over a total of three times and finished with a season-worst 13.4 passer rating.
Bosa gave us the closure Buckeye fans have been craving since 2016, and I am a better person because of it.
Now, since one can never get enough of current and former Buckeyes’ clever celebrations and revenge on those who deserve it, here’s a list of some of the best of those moments in Ohio State history.
BEST PLAYER CELEBRATIONS
While it wasn’t exactly a “celebration,” former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith’s bull stampede on senior day is remembered by all and set the stage for The Game in 2006. Ohio State beat Michigan 42-39 and Smith won his Heisman Trophy a few weeks later.
Ah yes, the infamous Zach Boren sack against Michigan in 2012. Is there anyone who doesn’t have this picture hanging up in their basement? Here it is in motion:
Boren’s dominant posture and Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner in the fetal position truly never gets old. Final score: Michigan 21 Ohio State 26. Insert Bosa Shrug here.
SPEAKING OF....
I’m sure you don’t need reminded of the Bosa Shrug. It’s one of the subtlest, yet most iconic player celebrations in Buckeye history. Former Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa often—if not always— threw up the shrug after a sack, as if to say “I don’t know, it’s just what I do!”
Here’s how it started:
In true Bosa fashion, “it just happened” ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Ever since, the shrug has appeared on a number of different stages.
In 2014, after beating Oregon in the National Championship, the Buckeyes were invited to the White House where President Obama and Bosa exchanged shrugs.
Zeke Elliott does Joey Bosa’s signature shrug after his fourth touchdown of the day, leading Ohio State to a 44-28 victory in the Fiesta Bowl over Notre Dame! 44 days until Buckeye football returns pic.twitter.com/EFSq0s2zMb
— Barstool OSU (@BarstoolOSU) July 19, 2018
After Bosa was thrown out of the 2016 Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame for targeting, running back Ezekiel Elliott threw up the shrug after his fourth touchdown to honor his teammate. He wasn’t letting Bosa’s last game as a Buckeye go shrug-less.
Love it RT @ChargersLegion: Everyone loves the Bosa Shrug
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/4q1G4vwIr6
— Mekka Don (@MekkaDonMusic) November 7, 2016
Nick Bosa with the shoulder shrug after his first career sack @nbsmallerbear pic.twitter.com/J1c0B0Tpxa
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) September 8, 2019
And last but not least, the shrug lives on. Not only through Bosa and his own teammates on the San Diego Chargers, but also through his little brother, Nick. When he’s not planting flags in disrespectful quarterbacks’ fields, he’s taking after his brother. Baby Bosa did the shrug during his time at Ohio State and again after his first career sack in the league. It is called the Bosa Shrug, after all.
Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas has a Bosa Shrug of his own, if you will. The former Ohio State receiver often puts a finger to his mouth after a catch or touchdown as if to say “Shhhh” or “silence the doubters.” For awhile, even the hashtag #shhhh was popular among Buckeye Twitter.
Sorry for the disrespect. They don't like me I don't like them #shhhh #GoBucks https://t.co/ISipso5uSp
— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) November 22, 2016
Thomas’ victory dancing and O-H-ing toward the end of Ohio State vs. Michigan in 2015 is one of my personal favorites. It might have been disrespectful, but they don’t like us and we don’t like them.
So many Michigan victory celebrations, so little time.
Curtis Samuel’s arms spread wide as he ran into the end zone to beat Michigan in double overtime in 2016 is an image I want stored in my frontal lobe until my last day on earth. And Chris Fowler’s “Ohio State wins” exclamation is the icing on the cake.
Man, the ball just stuck right to K.J. Hill's hand. pic.twitter.com/UeQLoWbR05
— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) October 13, 2018
K.J. Hill’s sticky-hand celebration after a jaw-dropping one handed catch against Minnesota in 2018 could not have been executed more perfectly.
Parris Campbell runs in a 78 yard touchdown against the #1 ranked defense in #CollegeFootball. Several suspect calls by the refs have kept Michigan alive. Score now 48-32 in the 4th quarter. #MICHvsOSU #CFB @CFBPlayoff #Big10 #Buckeyes #OhioState #Wolverines pic.twitter.com/8YxuzOLoPB
— Swapty Sports (@SwaptySports) November 24, 2018
Bosa Shrug, Michael Thomas #Shhhh, and the Parris Campbell PEACE sign. My favorite thing about each of these celebrations is that they all seem to say: “Yeah, we’re used to this.”
TROLLING THE OPPOSITION
One day—I don’t know when—but one day opposing teams will learn their lesson when it comes to trash talking Ohio State. It never ends well. The consequence for Baker Mayfield’s flag-plant in the ‘Shoe came two years later at the hands of Nick Bosa. However, it usually doesn’t take that long for teams/players to receive their wake up call. The Sooners would know.
In 2016, Oklahoma backup quarterback Austin Kendall gave an interview, days before his team faced Ohio State, in which he described Ohio State as having a “really basic defense” and QB1 Mayfield would “light them up.”
Here is the video. Have fun with the Buckeyes "Basic D" pic.twitter.com/Ci1WhFFxFP
— B. Zimmerman (@bzimmerman9) September 14, 2016
Oh Austin...
Three days later, Ohio State beat the Sooners 45-24. Mayfield did not light up Ohio State. He was 17-of-32 passing for 226 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Buckeyes had their post-game sign ready for the cameras. They had to let Kendall and the Sooners know their motivation behind that win.
Karan Higdon just guaranteed a Michigan win over Ohio State pic.twitter.com/5rBCtwe3ed
— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner) November 19, 2018
While throwing shade at Ohio State’s defense is great bulletin board material, Michigan running back Karan Higdon “guaranteeing” a win over Ohio State is more like wallpaper material. Keep in mind, this guy said this on the MONDAY before The Game, meaning Urban Meyer would have plastered this quote around the Woody, playing it over and over for his team to hear all. week. long.
Ohio State running back Mike Weber responded on Twitter before the Buckeyes responded on the field, beating TTUN 62-39. The Wolverine’s loss was pretty much “guaranteed” from the start of the game.
Was it just a mirage? pic.twitter.com/BqnwmOPTdl
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) December 11, 2018
You’d think Michigan players would have kept their mouths shut following the loss. Alas, they continued to provide Ohio State football fans, players, and social media team with more material.
Michigan defensive end Chase Winovich, who was also the unofficial leader of the Wolverine’s “revenge tour,” said that their loss against Ohio State was simply “a mirage,” and that recruits “should be not fooled” by what they saw (which was Michigan getting their butts kicked).
So, naturally, the brains behind the exceptional Ohio State football Twitter account mocked Winovich using a clip from a Saturday Night Live sketch. The Buckeyes inserted the 62-39 score as a mirage in the desert, which was followed by a TV clip of Fox college football analyst Joel Klatt after Ohio State secured their second straight Big Ten title a few days prior.
Michigan, isn’t it time to wave the white flag?
oh no he didn't pic.twitter.com/Tai2we6czQ
— Land-Grant Holy Land (@Landgrant33) September 21, 2019
Sometimes, players provide bulletin board material during the game, right smack in front of the likes of Chase Young & Co. Just a few weeks ago, Miami University defensive lineman Doug Costin threw up an O-H after sacking Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields early in the game. At the time, the Redhawks were only down by two points (5-7). After his mockery of Ohio State’s cheer, the Buckeyes went on to score 69 unanswered points. So, Doug, I see your O-H and raise you an I-O!
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LGHL Ryan Day answers questions as Ohio State heads into bye week
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Ryan Day answers questions as Ohio State heads into bye week
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 Adam Lacy/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
The coach said he hopes to be at OSU for “five, 10, hopefully 20 years.”
Following a hard-fought Big Ten East showdown with the always dangerous Michigan State Spartans, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes are settling into their first bye week of the season. On Tuesday, head coach Ryan Day addressed the media to put a bow on the 34-10 victory over MSU and to look forward to the second half of the regular season.
Check out the video of the press conference here:
Ryan Day Press Conference: on a bye, the Buckeyes start preparing for the second half of the season, presented by OSUCCC-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute #GoBucks
Posted by Ohio State Buckeyes on Tuesday, October 8, 2019Champions of the Game
Offensive Champions: Master Teague, Luke Farrell, Austin Mack, Jonah Jackson, Josh Myers
Players of the Game: J.K. Dobbins, Thayer Munford
Defensive Champions: Chase Young, Davon Hamilton, Robert Landers, Tyreke Smith, Zach Harrison, Tuf Borland, Baron Browning, Malik Harrison, Jordan Fuller
Players of the Game: Jashon Cornell, Shaun Wade
Special Teams Player of the Game: Chris Olave, Drue Chrisman
Scout Team Players of the Week: Alex Williams, Ryan Batsch, Xavier Johnson, Enokk Vimahi
Reviewing Michigan State
Following their bye week, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes will return to the field on Friday, Oct. 18 against the Northwestern Wildcats. The game will be broadcast on FS1.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The coach said he hopes to be at OSU for “five, 10, hopefully 20 years.”
Following a hard-fought Big Ten East showdown with the always dangerous Michigan State Spartans, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes are settling into their first bye week of the season. On Tuesday, head coach Ryan Day addressed the media to put a bow on the 34-10 victory over MSU and to look forward to the second half of the regular season.
Check out the video of the press conference here:
Ryan Day Press Conference: on a bye, the Buckeyes start preparing for the second half of the season, presented by OSUCCC-James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute #GoBucks
Posted by Ohio State Buckeyes on Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Offensive Champions: Master Teague, Luke Farrell, Austin Mack, Jonah Jackson, Josh Myers
Players of the Game: J.K. Dobbins, Thayer Munford
Defensive Champions: Chase Young, Davon Hamilton, Robert Landers, Tyreke Smith, Zach Harrison, Tuf Borland, Baron Browning, Malik Harrison, Jordan Fuller
Players of the Game: Jashon Cornell, Shaun Wade
Special Teams Player of the Game: Chris Olave, Drue Chrisman
Scout Team Players of the Week: Alex Williams, Ryan Batsch, Xavier Johnson, Enokk Vimahi
Reviewing Michigan State
- Day said that they need the bye week following a physical game against Sparty. “We’re a little battered, but that’s what happens six weeks in.”
- The coach noted that they learned a lot about the offensive line. He said that they didn’t give in when they got punched in the mouth, and they ended up playing great against an elite defensive line. “To run for over 300 yards on that outfit is saying something.”
- Day said that during the bye week, the focus in on self-evaluation and self-improvement, both on and off the field.
- Coaches are working with each player to give them tangible things to improve upon for the rest of the season.
- When asked, Day said that they do look at advanced analytics, especially for opponents. However, he said that it is just a part of the formula, since teams will often change tendencies from week to week.
- Day said that his preseason plan to stay out of the defensive gameplan. He obviously stays involved in the planning, but he lets the defensive coaches run their side of the ball. He said that “too many cooks in the kitchen” can make things worse.
- Day said, “The first goal was to get 6-0... It doesn’t mean anything if you don’t win the next one.”
- Discussing Dobbins’ long run, Day praises the entire offense, “To hit a big play like that, all 11 have to do great.”
- When asked, Day said that the team’s chemistry and toughness has been incredibly important in the season’s first six games. He specifically praised “the quarterback” for how he took hits. Day said that that mentality translates to the rest of the team.
- Of Justin Fields, he said, “He’s a talent. He’s a load. It’s not like he’s skinny or going to take too many shots. He actually delivers the blow on some guys.”
- He said that he didn’t really know what to expect from Fields in terms of leadership and toughness, because he didn’t see him play in high school, and they don’t hit during practice. However, especially against MSU, Day said that those qualities are evident, “To be able to take a shot like that and then come right back, there’s a grittiness there.”
- Day added of Fields, “When you’re preaching toughness and your quarterback takes a shot in the face… that just goes to show you what this kid is made of.”
- Day talked about the unusual situation of Brendon White adapting to the bullet position. He says that he is improving and getting more comfortable in the position, and he is definitely part of the defensive plans.
- The coach said that along with White, Jashen Wint, Pete Werner, and Justin Hilliard are all essentially playing the same position.
- Day said that Luke Farrell has done a lot for the team, not only this year, but in 2018 as well. He said that the tight end does everything well that the team needs from the position. He said that the touchdown he had against Michigan State was well deserved.
- He said, “He’s not a guy who takes a lot of maintenance. You tell him something once and he gets it.”
- Day praised Shaun Wade as being incredibly valuable covering slot receivers, coming up in run support, protecting against screens and more.
- In reference to Rutgers transfer Jonah Jackson, Day said, “Jonah is as close to a man and a pro as I’ve been around in quite some time.”
- He praised how the graduate transfer has adjusted to the locker room.
- Day said that he thinks that the special teams have been solid, but there is room for improvement in the return game.
- Day said that having great recruiting talent in Ohio is “huge for us.” He said that their plan is for the state of Ohio to be the base for the program, then to move out to the rest of the midwest, and supplement national players as well.
- In terms of the percentage of players in each recruiting class from the state of Ohio, Day said that it depends on the year and the talent available, but it is about finding the players that fit at Ohio State, and players from Ohio have a leg up, because they understand what the program is all about.
- He said, “Ideally, you’d have as many Ohio guys as you can have.”
- Day said that he loves it at Ohio State, he hopes to be here for five, 10, or 20 years, so he isn’t interested in commenting on NFL opportunities. He said, “I love it here... I don’t want to ever talk about that stuff. I love it here and this is where I want to be.”
- When asked, Day said that he hasn’t spoken to Dwayne Haskins since the preseason, but that he’s going to be fine.
- Day said that he knew that the life of an NFL coach hasn’t for him when he had to move three times in three years. He said that’s not what he and his wife want for their family, and that he said, “Never again.”
Following their bye week, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes will return to the field on Friday, Oct. 18 against the Northwestern Wildcats. The game will be broadcast on FS1.
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Best place to watch the wolverines lose on game day in CBus
- By Jaxbuck
- College Football
- 13 Replies
Just shut up
You had me at "crush the hopes and dreams of wolverines"
/sniffle
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