Thad Matta and the Ohio State Buckeyes are optimistic about the future
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


At Big Ten Media Day, the Buckeyes struck a positive tone.

The last season was a discordant and difficult one for Ohio State basketball. A very young roster full of highly regarded freshman failed to gel, and the Buckeyes struggled through the gauntlet of Big Ten play.

When the dust settled, the Buckeyes missed the NCAA Tournament, and perhaps even worse, four members of Ohio State’s heralded 2015 recruiting classes decided to transfer. Suddenly, the Buckeyes had gaping roster holes to fill, especially at backup point guard, but little time in a recruiting cycle to fill them.

To top it off, longtime top assistant coach Jeff Boals took the head coaching job at Stony Brook.

But nobody was brooding at Big Ten Media Day. Coach Thad Matta, along with team leaders Jae’Sean Tate and Keita Bates-Diop, were optimistic. And there’s still plenty of reason to be. “I think that we've got a pretty good vibe right now in our program, just in terms of the mindset, the energy in practice, the cohesiveness that we're competing every day”, Matta said from his podium remarks.

“Last year, whenever you lose five seniors and you lose the best guard in college basketball, that's a hard adjustment when you go into practice. We were more along the lines of trying to feel our guys out, get an understanding of what they can do and how they can do it and who plays well together, where this year the mindset is just a heck of a lot different in terms of just do it or you won't play.” This is a much more experienced squad, and now, the expectations and mindset will be totally different.

Here’s some of the highlights we took away from the event:

• I asked Matta if he was planning on redshirting any of the four players in the 2016 recruiting class, but he said it’s too early to make that decision. “In my mind today I think all of them can contribute in one way or another”, he said, adding that he “ I really, really like what the new guys have brought.”
• The player that I thought might have the best chance of redshirting is Andre Wesson, a three-star wing. Matta added that he’s working to get himself in better shape, but praised his floor stretching ability, as well as his high basketball IQ, noting that Wesson took three charges in his high school championship game.
• One under-the-radar player that drew a lot of praise from the players, along with Thad Matta, is JUCO transfer PG C.J. Jackson. Jackson’s ability to hit open shots, play within Ohio State’s offense, and share the basketball were noted by all three. Tate also noted that he’s the best NBA2K player on the team. Don’t be surprised if Jackson ends up being an important rotational player this season.
• I also asked Matta if the program had reevaluated their recruiting after the 2015 transfers. Matta said that while they are always analyzing recruiting, “One thing that I've found in recruiting, however long I've been recruiting, 20, 25 years, whatever it is, I've never had two recruits go the same way in terms of the process of the recruiting”, which might limit the ability to draw sweeping conclusions from what happened.
• Matta also added that “You look at the top 50 greatest NBA players of all time. One guy transferred out of the top 50. And I think that there's a commitment level. You know who that was?” (I guessed Larry Bird, which he said was the correct answer). I’m not 100% sure I buy his justification here, but there you go.
• Many fans, including myself, criticized the Big Ten for moving Media Day and future basketball tournaments to East Coast cities like D.C. and New York. After all, both cities are far away from most schools, and are much more expensive to travel to, especially if you’re young. And to be fair, this event was less attended than other media events I have been to in Chicago. But don’t look for this to change in the future, as Jim Delany added that 20% of the Big Ten’s alumni base lives in this area, and they expect that future events, including, I assume, future basketball tournaments, will be held along the East Coast.
• I asked Jim Delany if the Big Ten would consider protecting certain rivalry games (like say, Ohio State-Michigan), so they would occur twice every year. He said that those conversations have happened, but there hasn’t been a “groundswell” to support changing the rules. There are competitive reasons, after all, to not want to play Michigan or Indiana twice a year. Don’t expect that, or the number of Big Ten conference games, to change in the near future.
• Jae’Sean Tate has a very cute puppy. You all need to know this.

You can watch our interviews below, where we discuss Marc Loving, the best places to get pizza on campus, which freshman are looking strong, and more:


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Introducing the Ohio State secondary, which really needs a nickname - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Introducing the Ohio State secondary, which really needs a nickname
ESPN
It serves many purposes for the Buckeyes: A challenge to their teammates. a personal motivator, a mantra to recite during rough patches. But perhaps the most important benefit was unintended when a group of young defenders started the routine on the ...


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tBBC Fans Interact: Gary, Teresa, Ian and Eric Lynch; a Buckeye Family
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


One of my favorite families of all time are all Buckeye fans(not the reason) and have graciously agreed to be this weeks guests for Fans Interact. The father and I go quite a ways back through mutual friends and then officiating together for some time. I knew Gary and Teresa as a youth in Belpre, Ohio and they are the family to be friends with.



I got to know the sons, Ian and Eric through officiating too as they came up through high school and they were always respectful and fun to be around. They know their Buckeye football so let’s see what their thoughts are on last weeks game!







What are your thoughts around Ohio State keeping the ball in JT Barrett’s hands so much and why do you think that’s what happened?


Gary – I do not like so many carries for JT . Play calling and JT decision to keep the ball.

Teresa – Way to many carries, coaches are going to get him hurt. Play calling

Ian – It makes me nervous for JT to have so many carries, we’re going to need him as healthy as possible coming down the stretch. I think it’s happening because the coaches feel so comfortable with the ball in his hands. They trust in him and his abilities 100%, so when the going gets tough, they fall back to what they are most comfortable with.

Eric – I don’t like JT getting a lot of carries because I obviously worry about injuries. I think it happens, especially in closer games, because the offensive coaching staff feels comfortable with the ball in his hands. With all the youth on offense they are confident that JT will make the right decision.

The Silver Bullets were thought to have had an “average” day but still didn’t allow a rushing touchdown and had another pick six that was called back. Tell us why you think it was an above average day or don’t.


Gary – Love the fact the silver bullets have not gave up a rushing touchdown, but would like to see more pressure on the QB.

Teresa – Above average, The Silver Bullets are the best damn defense in the land.

Ian – I’d say it was an above average day. We held Indiana to their lowest scoring total of the year and Devine Redding to 3.5 yards/carry. There’s always room for improvement but the defense was solid last week.

Eric – I think the Silver Bullets had an above average day. Had a pick six called back & forced 2 turnovers against a team in Indiana that I think played extremely conservative. I was content with the the way the defense played, especially against the run. It just wasn’t as explosive game as we’ve been seeing this year but I also think it is because Indiana was trying to control the clock & play field position.

Offensive play calling seems to be the whopping post by the fans right now. Tell us why you agree or disagree with that.


Gary – I agree, we need to open it more, No screen, quick slants or curl routes.

Teresa – I agree, no long passes. Not sure what they are waiting on.

Ian – I agree when it comes to last week. I thought the play calling was very good up until the Indiana game. It comes back to their comfort-ability with the ball in JT’s hands when things get a little tighter. I’d like to see Curtis Samuel with the ball in his hands as much as possible this week, he has too much speed/quickness for Wisconsin to contain him all night.

Eric – I think the play calling has been conservative against the teams OSU is supposed to blow out, so every team OSU has faced this year besides Oklahoma. I don’t completely agree that the play calling has been bad. I just think OSU doesn’t show much against teams like BG & Tulsa. Not sure what the problem was last week but I’m confident the coaches will have a good offensive game-plan this week. Have been doing a good job of getting the ball to Curtis Samuel, with the exception of last week. I think he touches it a lot more this week.

Bonus) – With the pulse of THE Rivalry right now and the belief that TTUN is back, what are your thoughts on how they are playing right now?


Gary – TTUN still SUCKS!!!

Teresa – No comment.

Ian – They’ve had one tough game on their schedule that ended in a 14-7 win at home. Speight is still very unproven by my judgement. They’re much better than they were under Hoke, but that isn’t saying much.

Eric – it’s 12:45pm on Wednesday October, 12 & Michigan still sucks!
But seriously, Michigan is an improved football team but I think they’re a little over-hyped, but my opinion may be a little biased.

Bonus 2) – What is your prediction for this weeks trip to Madison?


Gary – 34 – 17 OSU GO BUCKS!!!

Teresa – 34 – 10 OSU O-H

Ian – 27-17, Buckeyes win

Eric – 21-13 Buckeyes

The post tBBC Fans Interact: Gary, Teresa, Ian and Eric Lynch; a Buckeye Family appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Based off the tape, Ohio State should have no problem with Wisconsin’s offense
Christopher Jason via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Wisconsin did not show the ability to execute against Michigan.

If there was one word to describe Wisconsin’s offense, it would be... unimpressive. When watching Wisconsin play Michigan — albeit one of the best defenses in the country -- the offense as a whole was underwhelming, inefficient, lacked explosiveness and were unable to execute. The offensive line does not play at a typical Wisconsin-level, the quarterback misses throws on the regular, and although they have a solid running back in Corey Clement, their running game is not well-executed.

Just looking at the statistics, quarterback Alex Hornibrook threw for 88 yards on the day and they rushed for 100 yards on the ground. Hornibrook turned the ball over three times and looked uncomfortable against Don Brown’s Wolverine defense.

Let’s look at the tape:

Alex Hornibrook vs Michigan


Talk about an extremely poor display by both the quarterback and offensive line. On Hornibrook’s 31 dropbacks, he was pressured an astounding 14 times, was hit eight times and sacked three times. The majority of the pressure came through the interior of the Wisconsin offensive line, where the two guards and the center lost numerous one-on-one battles. Michigan did a good job blitzing off the edge to create pressure, but their interior defensive line was able to whoop Wisconsin inside.

Here’s an example of the right guard, the right tackle and the running back all failing on 3rd down. They got manhandled even though they had a three-on-two personnel advantage on the play.


When looking closer at Hornibrook, his mechanics, arm strength and pocket presence are all pretty underwhelming.

From a throwing standpoint, he has a long, slow throwing motion, which results in limited arm strength. Here’s a throw where Hornibrook tries to complete a 12-yard out to the opposite hash, which easily gets picked off by the defensive back.


There weren’t many bright spots in the quarterback’s 9-of-25 passing effort on the day, but his best play came on a pre-snap recognition, where he dissected Michigan’s safety blitz and took advantage of a switch. Wisconsin had a wheel-route dialed up, which would have been covered by the Wolverine strong safety. Don Brown sent the strong safety on a blitz off the edge, creating a massive mismatch between running back Taiwan Deal and a Michigan middle linebacker. Hornibrook quickly saw the mismatch and lobbed a nice ball over the linebacker and right into his running back’s hands for a score. Nice play.





In regards to the skill positions, Buckeye and Big Ten fans should be very familiar with running back Corey Clement. In the past, he was used as a change-of-pace back. In 2013, he was used sparingly behind Melvin Gordon and James White. In 2014, he was paired with Gordon, and last season, his season was cut short due to injury. He’s a dynamic speedster who like Gordon, tends to bounce runs outside and does most of his damage on the edge.

Even though the interior of the line is a weakness, they continue to dial-up plays in the A-gap. They called three fullback dives (#B1G) and constantly used Clement on dives and power. They do not call many plays to his strength. Because Clement is their only true playmaker at running back, they do not use him like they used Melvin Gordon. In 2014, they were able to put Clement at tailback and Gordon at a flex position, and run jet sweeps. In 2016, Clement is the opposing defense’s main key, so it’s tough to be creative with him and find a way to get him into space. When they do run end-around, it is typically with wide receiver Jazz Peavy (No. 11), who has pretty good speed.

Overall, Ohio State’s defense should completely dominate this offense. Ohio State’s talented defensive line should live in the Wisconsin backfield. Michael Hill and Nick Bosa have been excellent since they have been inserted into the rotation and expect them to make a few plays behind the line of scrimmage.


What will benefit the Buckeye defense is that they won’t have to bring extra pressure to get to the quarterback, and they don’t have to worry about Hornibrook getting out of trouble with his legs. He did not scramble, even though he was pressured 14 times against Michigan. Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley will be able to lock-up their wideouts in man-coverage and not worry about having their back to the quarterback.

Without bias, it will be tough for the Wisconsin offense to rack up 225-plus yards of total offense and/or 17-plus points. The Ohio State defense is too fast and too talented to let Wisconsin beat them through the air or on the ground.

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Buckeyes eyeing National Championship - The Daily Cardinal
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes eyeing National Championship
The Daily Cardinal
For the Badgers, though, the schedule only gets harder, as after a one-week hiatus from game action, they prepare for what will likely be their toughest test of the season: Urban Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes. This will be Wisconsin's first matchup with ...

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Wisconsin's very loud secret weapon against Ohio State? Camp Randall Stadium - ESPN
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Wisconsin's very loud secret weapon against Ohio State? Camp Randall Stadium
ESPN
It's more than a football game that gets people there." There's something about a night game at Camp Randall Stadium that makes strange things happen. Last time the Buckeyes visited Wisconsin at night in 2010, the Badgers shocked then No. 1 Ohio State.

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Ohio State football | Q&A with former Buckeyes kicker Aaron Pettrey - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Q&A with former Buckeyes kicker Aaron Pettrey
Columbus Dispatch
Some would say, given Aaron Pettrey's role as a kicker under Jim Tressel, that the Kentucky native held down the second most important job -- behind punter -- for the Buckeyes. Pettrey's 15 consecutive field goals over five games ranks second in school ...


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BM5: Cam Akers running away from Buckeyes? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Cam Akers running away from Buckeyes?
247Sports
What have the No. 2 Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) done to improve the passing game going into the matchup at No. 8 Wisconsin (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday? That was one of the many questions quarterbacks coach Tim Beck answered after Wednesday's practice.
5-star RB Cam Akers still 'very interested' in Ohio StateLand-Grant Holy Land
The Hurry Up: Father of Cornerback Commit Talks Trip to Alabama, Five-Star Target to Schedule Official Visit and ...Eleven Warriors

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How will they finish? Tom Dienhart offers his Big Ten men’s hoops predictions
Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer via Big Ten Network

The Big Ten officially kicked off the 2016-17 basketball season with media day in Washington, D.C., today. Talent like Denzel Valentine, Caris LeVert, A.J. Hammons, Yogi Ferrell and Jarrod Uthoff is gone. Still, there is a lot to like about the conference, writes BTN.com's Tom Dienhart.

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Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: Buckeyes football heads to Madison for Badgers showdown - UPI.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: Buckeyes football heads to Madison for Badgers showdown
UPI.com
One measure of a successful college football program is the nitpicking from fans and media after a 21-point victory. Such was the case after second-ranked Ohio State's 38-17 win over Indiana on Saturday in Ohio Stadium. The Buckeyes were good, but not ...


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Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2016 odds: Buckeyes face Week 7 test as big favorites at the Badgers - SB Nation
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. Wisconsin 2016 odds: Buckeyes face Week 7 test as big favorites at the Badgers
SB Nation
The Buckeyes failed to cover the spread for the first time in their last seven games last Saturday against Indiana, winning 38-17 as a 28-point favorite. But it was yet another dominant win for Ohio State, bringing the team's record to 5-0 SU and 4-1 ...
Measuring Stick: Badgers' battles with Buckeyes often memorableUniversity of Wisconsin Badgers
New faces, same results for BuckeyesQuad City Times
Buckeyes following their routinesBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
MyDaytonDailyNews
all 204 news articles »

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It will take some heavy lifting to win the Big Ten - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


It will take some heavy lifting to win the Big Ten
ESPN
The season that just started is pretty much half over. The teams that can still smell a championship no longer can feast on rent-a-victims, which is how we know that No. 2 Ohio State finally must play a Big Ten road game. Say this much for Urban Meyer ...

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Ohio State football | Stats mean little to Raekwon McMillan | Buckeye ... - Columbus Dispatch
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Ohio State football | Stats mean little to Raekwon McMillan | Buckeye ...
Columbus Dispatch
Before the season, Raekwon McMillan was the biggest name on the Ohio State defense. A five-star recruit now in his third season at middle linebacker for the ...
Ohio State Football: Can Wide Receivers Be the Difference?Scarlet and Game

all 7 news articles »

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i have 2 tix in the OSU section NJU row 89.

I am asking $100 each which is cost and I will throw in parking pass.

PM me.

Thanks

Jason

Spartans prepare for Buckeyes - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Spartans prepare for Buckeyes
Athens Messenger (registration)
“What coach Richards has brought to the Nelsonville program is really bringing the Buckeyes back to what we know about and that's just a smash-mouthed football team and get after it defensively,” Penrod said. “That's why I think he was really the ...

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Buckeyes aim to continue winning streak - Athens Messenger (registration)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes aim to continue winning streak
Athens Messenger (registration)
NELSONVILLE — Back in the spring — when football teams were earnestly working in the weight room for the upcoming season — it was a common site at Nelsonville-York to see assistant coach Thomas Taggart leading a group of Buckeye linemen to the ...

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5-star RB Cam Akers still ‘very interested’ in Ohio State
Bret Favachio via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes aren’t alone in their pursuit of the Magnolia State star.

Akers hoping to see OSU


As we all know, when it comes to Ohio State’s 2017 recruiting class, running back J.K. Dobbins (La Grange, TX / La Grange) is the lone piece in the backfield for the Buckeyes. However, there was a time not long ago when RB Cam Akers (Clinton, MS / Clinton) also looked to be trending to Columbus.

Make no mistake, things from both parties have seemingly calmed down and many pegged Akers to wind up in Tallahassee as a Florida State Seminole. With that being said, in an interview with 247Sports’ Barton Simmons, Akers did open up about Ohio State and where things stand with him and the Buckeyes.

“I’m definitely very interested in Ohio State,” Akers told Simmons. The 5-foot-11, 213-pounder added that he is trying to set up a visit to Columbus to check out the campus. “I’ve got a good relationship with Coach Meyer and Coach Alford,” Akers concluded.

Simmons did mention something interesting in the piece: Ohio State is still listed as the 247Sports Crystal Ball favorite for the five-star prospect. Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, three schools have all received predictions since Ohio State’s last and those three are FSU, LSU, and Ole Miss.

Obviously, the good news here is that Akers openly stated that he is still eyeing Ohio State and even hopes to visit soon. With that being said, it definitely seems like it will be an uphill battle for the Buckeyes if they hope to pair Akers with Dobbins in an effort to put together one of the more talented recruiting classes we have ever seen.

Jones receives rankings boost


On Wednesday, 247Sports.com revealed their midseason 2018 updated recruiting rankings and quarterback Emory Jones — a current Ohio State pledge — made a 22 spot jump from his previous ranking. The 6-foot-1, 193-pounder from Heard County (GA) now sits as No. 21 in the class, the second highest graded dual-threat QB, and the fourth best prospect from the Peach State. Despite the big leap for Jones, he is still rated as a four-star prospect, which is something that could certainly motivate him throughout the remainder of his high school career.

The Buckeyes other pledge in the class comes from RB Brian Snead of Armwood (FL). The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder can be spotted No. 68 overall in the newly update rankings. Snead, also a four-star player, is also slotted as the fourth best running back in the class and the ninth highest ranked prospect from the uber-talented state of Florida.

As for the ones that Ohio State is hoping to reel in to join the two aforementioned prospects, here are some notables (with their overall ranking): DE Xavier Thomas (2), RB Zamir White (3), LB Palaie Gaoteote (5), CB Patrick Surtain Jr. (11), OT Jackson Carman (14), TE Zack Kuntz (17), DT Taron Vincent (19), RB Jaelen Gill (32), DT Matthew Jones (35), DT PJ Mustipher (36), TE Jeremy Ruckert (39), TE Leonard Taylor (46), Dallas Gant (58), ATH L’Christian Smith (152), OLB Christopher Oats (193), DT Aeneas Hawkins (223).

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Measuring Stick: Badgers' battles with Buckeyes often memorable - University of Wisconsin Badgers
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Measuring Stick: Badgers' battles with Buckeyes often memorable
University of Wisconsin Badgers
"That was the start," Bollinger said, "of an interesting rivalry within the rivalry." On Saturday night, the Buckeyes and the Badgers will finally renew their rivalry at Camp Randall Stadium — what former UW tailback Montee Ball once called, "a ...
New faces, same results for BuckeyesQuad City Times
Buckeyes following their routinesBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
Ohio State Buckeyes expect motivated WisconsinMyDaytonDailyNews
Patch.com
all 167 news articles »

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So if I had a baseball signed by every member of that team........is that worth anything?

Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Awards, View From Beyond the Shoe, Wisco Depth, Rutgers Highlights
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Welcome to the daily rewind of the previous days or weekends articles here on the Buckeye Battle Cry with some commentary and links to the author’s twitter account!




@bzimmerman9 recaps this week in the B1G



@wvabuckeye pulls together the staff in this weeks awards



@BuckeyeBVO rounds up all the Buckeyes and their efforts in the NFL



@mmeals rolls a perfect 300 here. All strikes!



@mmeals rounds up @The_BBC votes to determine this seasons playoff



@bzimmerman9 puts together the depth chart for Wisconsin



@smsommers84 has the highlight video from Rutgers




Daily Funny



The post Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Awards, View From Beyond the Shoe, Wisco Depth, Rutgers Highlights appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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New faces, same results for Buckeyes - Quad City Times
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New faces, same results for Buckeyes
Quad City Times
Second-ranked Ohio State visits the eighth-ranked Badgers and Chryst said Wisconsin will have its hands full with a Buckeyes team that seemingly hasn't missed a beat since losing 12 players chosen in this year's NFL draft. Ohio State has dominated on ...
Ohio State Buckeyes expect motivated WisconsinDayton Daily News
No. 2 Buckeyes Travel to Wisconsin to Take On the No. 8 Badgers: Everything You Need To KnowPatch.com
Ohio State vs. Wisconsin | Buckeyes defense braces for bruising BadgersColumbus Dispatch
Comcast SportsNet Chicago -247Sports
all 163 news articles »

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Urban Meyer updates injuries, puts emphasis on team’s preparation
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


He’ll have his team ready to go at Camp Randall Stadium.

At his weekly Wednesday media availability, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer updated his team’s progress leading up to their game in Madison, WI on Saturday.

Meyer confirmed that wide receiver Corey Smith is dealing with a wrist injury and will not play this week against No. 8 Wisconsin. Smith sported a cast on the sideline against Oklahoma, and there is no timetable for his return.

Linebacker Dante Booker remains questionable for the Buckeyes, as Meyer admits that the injury is much worse than he had originally anticipated. He says that Booker is close to returning from a sprained PCL and MCL.

Turning to this week’s practices, Meyer said that it has been business as usual thus far, but the energy might change as gameday approaches. Meyer said that the reintroduction of the locker room sign reading “The most prepared team is going to win this game” is the theme for both players and coaches this week. Meyer added that everyone must "focus on your job description."

When asked if he has seen anything during practice this week that bodes well for an improved passing game, Meyer said that the only way to get better is for good players to work hard, and that’s what has happened this week.

He also pointed out that with the proliferation of spread offenses, defenses have countered, especially taking away the jet sweep, which is why the Buckeyes haven’t called many this year.

Meyer said that Camp Randall Stadium is one of the “top five or six” environments in college football because of how loud the students can be.

The Buckeyes take on the eighth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in Madison on Saturday at 8:00pm ET.

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Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett has proved there’s nothing he can’t overcome
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Including his own mistakes.

“J.T. Barrett has always made it look easy.”

- Ivan Maisel, ESPN


Maisel takes a look into the career of J.T. Barrett, which started faster than what he could have ever imagined, after Braxton Miller went down with an injury prior to the beginning of the 2014 season. But even before that, Barrett had torn his ACL in his senior year of high school. His career has hardly been a smooth path, but Maisel excellently documents the trials and tribulations that Barrett endured, and how he willfully overcame them. We know that Barrett went on to tear up the competition, before suffering an injury of his own against Michigan. This led to Cardale Jones leading the Buckeyes to the first College Football Playoff National Championship, and stealing the hearts of many.

2015 continued a tough stretch for Barrett, who lost his job to Jones going into the year. But he got it back, only to follow it up with driving drunk, and being suspended for a game. But Barrett quickly learned from that. It was without a doubt a big and stupid mistake. Barrett took the lessons he learned in doing it, and presented them to his teammates. They now all have Uber accounts, thanks to the influence of Barrett, who says he’s glad for the experience and how it worked out. It could have been much worse, but thankfully it wasn’t, and he was able to take the knowledge, and spread it.

That doesn’t make what he did right, but others aren’t as sharp in making things right and learning from errors. Things haven’t been totally simple for Barrett the past few years, but he’s made it look easy.

“The task of stopping all that talent will fall on [Wisconsin] cornerbacks and safeties.”

- Jesse Temple, ESPN


The Wisconsin defense is in for a full day on Saturday when the welcome Ohio State to Madison. The Buckeyes have won all of their games by at least three scores, but the Badgers will definitely be their greatest test yet. A big responsibility will fall on the shoulders of the cornerbacks and safeties, who are being coached up by Jim Leonhard, a former safety at Wisconsin and recently retired NFL player. Luckily for them, the OHio State passing game has been pretty hot and cold through the first five games of this season. Leonhard told Temple that college defenses aren’t nearly as complex as the ones in the NFL are, and that they’re easier to prepare for.

Leonhard’s been making sure he’s found a way to connect to the players, and it would certainly seem that he would be able to do just that. But he’s been experimenting, as he told Temple, "Some guys can't handle it. If you try to give too much, sometimes that gets you in trouble. That has been my struggle -- just trying to figure out what's enough and what's too much because ultimately, you just want guys to play fast and go compete.” Leonhard’s knowledge and experience of the game should serve them well heading into Saturday. If they’re fortunate, it will be windy again, making Barrett less effective as he as against Indiana.

“Then, half an hour before midnight, as happens with wrenching regularity in the city that care famously forgot, violence introduced a jarring note.”

- Richard O’Brien, Sports Illustrated


It’s been six months since former Ohio State and New Orleans Saints defensive end Will Smith was shot in New Orleans. Sports Illustrated’s Richard O’Brien goes into details of what happened that night, the events that led up to it, and the aftermath in how both sides’ lawyers are positioning their cases. He also notes that Smith was New Orleans’s 32nd homicide of this year. Since Smith’s death, there have been 100 more homicides in New Orleans alone. His wife Racquel is still recovering from the gunshot wounds she suffered from the tragic incident.

The Buckeyes are remembering Smith the entire season with a “91” decal on their helmets. The person who shot and killed Smith, Cardell Hayes, is incarcerated in Orleans Parish Prison, and is being held on $1.75 million bond. He was indicted for second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and other charges. The person who was with Hayes, Kevin O’Neal, insists that Hayes was protecting themselves. The trial is expected to start December 1.

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Who deserves to be No. 1: Alabama or Ohio State? - Sports Illustrated
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Who deserves to be No. 1: Alabama or Ohio State?
Sports Illustrated
However, despite a marquee nonconference win at Oklahoma and four other victories that have been decided by no fewer than 21 points, the Buckeyes have been unable to surpass the Crimson Tide. In fact, Alabama still dominates in the polls, collecting 56 ...
COLLEGE PICKS: Big games, but not must-wins for 'Bama, OSUThe News Tribune

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Ohio State’s Jerome Baker just might beat Wisconsin by himself if he has to
Chuck McKeever via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
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Wisconsin’s high rank disguises an offense that can’t withstand a player like Baker.

Ohio State will get one of its stiffest tests of the season’s first half when the Buckeyes travel to Madison’s Camp Randall Stadium to take on the No. 8 Wisconsin Badgers. The Badgers, owners of a 4-1 record, are coming off of a bye week after dismantling Michigan State in early October.

Give Wisconsin credit: it’s not their fault that Sparty and LSU have been exposed as paper tigers. What would have counted as two quality wins in most other years feels like so much smoke in this one. Either way, the Badgers went into both contests and did what they had to do, and while they looked wholly unimpressive against lowly Georgia State, their performance the rest of the season has made them look like contenders for a berth in the Big Ten championship game.

There’s only one problem. Wisconsin’s defense has been outrageously good this season—like Ohio State, they’ve got a little brother with a famous last name taking care of business—but that defensive stinginess has covered up for an offense that’s one of the least explosive and least efficient in the FBS. That’s bad news for the Badgers, who will be up against a Buckeye unit that has yet to allow a rushing touchdown and has smothered the life out of five straight opponents.

A player with the skill set to make sure the same happens this Saturday? Linebacker Jerome Baker.

The stats


Name: Jerome Baker

Number: 17

Position: Linebacker

Year: Sophomore

Height: 6’1

Weight: 225

Line: 20.5 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT, 1 TD

Baker, who plays outside linebacker, wasn’t supposed to be a starter on this year’s team. But after a knee injury to Dante Booker, who has now missed four straight games, it’s been Baker stepping up and shutting down opposing offenses next to Raekwon McMillan and Chris Worley.

Baker’s lateral speed and tackling ability are part of the reason why the Buckeyes still haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown in 2016, the only team in the FBS who can say so. There’s a decent chance they keep that streak alive this Saturday, given what Wisconsin has done—or hasn’t done—on offense this year.

Opposition research


Wisconsin ranks just 100th nationally in offensive S&P+. The Badgers have consistently failed to create explosive plays, aren’t efficient with the football, and struggle to finish drives once they get inside the opponent’s 40 yard-line.

They’re a little bit stronger on the ground than they are through the air. Looking at just rushing S&P+, the Badgers rank 43rd nationally; this is true despite coming in 106th in rushing success rate, the measure of how many runs go for five or more yards.

The Badgers just don’t have the kind of weapons that they’ve had in the past few seasons. There’s no Jared Abbrederis to get behind the secondary, no Russell Wilson to extend plays with his legs, no Melvin Gordon to run all over everything. Senior running back Corey Clement is averaging a pedestrian 3.9 yards per carry—less than half of what Curtis Samuel’s doing. Senior Robert Wheelwright is a talented receiver, but he’s been held without a touchdown grab this season playing in an offense that’s found passing TDs tough to come by. There aren’t an awful lot of options for this Badgers offense, even if it has looked a little more lifelike in Alex Hornibrook’s short tenure under center.

What to watch for


This game is going to be a defensive slugfest under the lights in Madison. Ohio State’s scoring offense will certainly be tempered, but Wisconsin’s offense might barely score at all.

Jerome Baker is going to have his opportunities to make a mark on this contest. The Buckeyes rank seventh nationally in havoc rate, the measure of how many plays go for a loss, forced fumble, interception, or pass breakup; Baker’s made no small contribution to those numbers in 2016. Watch how his lateral speed gets him past the lineman and into the backfield for a TFL on this run against Indiana:


It’s comical just how much quicker he is than the man tasked with getting out to block him. Baker’s fast laterally and downhill, and his instincts are good. You may recall that he also took an interception 68 yards back to the house against Oklahoma, putting his speed and vision on display:


In other words: Baker has the potential to be a world-wrecker. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s surrounded by other current and rising stars on the Buckeye defense, nor does it hurt that he’ll be lining up across from a redshirt freshman quarterback who’s thrown more picks than touchdowns so far this season.

The last time Ohio State played under the lights in Camp Randall with the College Gameday crew in town, the Badgers spoiled the season for the Buckeyes and knocked them from atop the rankings after just one week. That shouldn’t happen this time around. There is too much quality on the Ohio State defense, and too many question marks on the Wisconsin offense, to think that this one might get away from the Scarlet and Gray. Look for Jerome Baker to be a big reason why the Buckeyes walk away with a W on Saturday night.

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