The Ohio State offense should find big plays against the Rutgers defense
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Ohio State receivers should get plenty of work against Rutgers.

In the overall S&P+, Rutgers is ranked 95th, which puts them between Bowling Green and Tulsa in terms of opponent difficulty:

Avg team talent Turnover margin Net explosiveness (10+) Net explosiveness (20+) Off IsoPPP
Ohio State 91.43 (2nd) +9 (1st) +21 +8 86th
Rutgers 82.97 (54th) -2 (84th) -7 -3 72nd


Rutgers has struggled with the two areas that Tom Herman emphasizes -- turnover margin and explosiveness, as they've been less explosive than their opponents and have a negative turnover margin.

When Ohio State has the ball

S&P+ Rush success rate Rush IsoPPP Pass success rate Pass IsoPPP Avg FP Finishing drives
Ohio State 6 64.4% (2nd) 85 45.5% (41st) 26 34.8 (15th) 7.08 (1st)
Rutgers 70 39.5% (51st) 105 39.2% (56th) 98 30.9 (94th) 4.73 (69th)

• The Rutgers defense is fairly break-don't-bend: they're ranked in the 50s in success rates, but 98th and 105th in passing and rushing IsoPPP. So they're fairly mediocre, but certainly not terrible, on a per-play efficiency basis, but the successful plays they allow tend to be very explosive. The Ohio State offense should be fairly balanced between running and throwing as a result, with successful plays often going for big yards. Because Rutgers is fairly overmatched talent-wise, it'd be easy to imagine the Buckeye offense playing open early -- throwing early, using play action, and distributing the ball to a number of receivers (maybe getting guys like Dontre Wilson, Johnnie Dixon, Terry McLaurin, and Parris Campbell a lot of targets), then going fairly conservative with efficiency running in the second half.
• There aren't very many reasons for optimism for the Rutgers defense, but one might be defensive lineman Julian Pinnix-Odrick, who has four sacks so far this season. The Rutgers defensive line is 42nd in havoc rate, but 15th in standard downs sack rate, so it will be interesting to watch how the offensive line -- which has only allowed two sacks this season -- responds to pressure.
• I'll be interested in seeing how efficient J.T. can be against a fairly mediocre pass defense. While efficient against Oklahoma, he wasn't asked to win the game either. It's highly unlikely he'll have to against Rutgers either, but I expect the offensive coaching staff to try and get him passing work (in the first half, at least) nonetheless. This has more to do with the receivers. Despite Noah Brown's emergence against Oklahoma, it's still a green unit that is extremely top-heavy at the moment.
• For instance, Curtis Samuel, Noah Brown, and Dontre Wilson have been extremely reliable, with 94.1%, 75%, and 80% catch rates respectively. But behind those three it gets pretty slim -- those three account for 33 catches, but the 9 other players behind them who have at least one reception combine for just 22 total catches. Further, they've been less efficient with their limited targets: Baugh and Dixon have 44.4% and 42.9% catch rates, while Hill, Campbell, and Clark have caught only half of their limited targets. We're still just three games in so these are far from trends, but it emphasizes that the offensive staff will likely want to get these young receivers some more work.

When Rutgers has the ball

S&P+ Rush success rate Rush IsoPPP Pass success rate Pass IsoPPP Avg FP Finishing drives
Ohio State 10 35.7% (34th) 47 34.9% (27th) 29 23.2 (3rd) 3.36 (20th)
Rutgers 108 43.5% (61st) 32 31.1% (125th) 88 29.8 (71st) 4.19 (98th)

• Through three games, the Ohio State defense has currently scored more touchdowns than its allowed. That alone is incredible. But what's interesting is that the Buckeyes have only been really good on a per-play basis (with rushing and passing success rate ranks in the high 20s and 30s) -- but they've been incredible on a per-drive basis. FEI -- a stat which measures opponent-adjusted drive efficiency -- has Ohio State fourth overall in current total drive efficiency. Three things have contributed to the Buckeye defense's outstanding drive efficiency: turnovers (the Buckeyes lead the country in turnover margin), average field position (where they are third, and which is obviously tied to creating turnovers), and in finishing drives defense (where they are 20th).
• When it comes to Rutgers' offense, it doesn't really matter what numbers you look at -- they're not positive for the Scarlet Knights. The glaring weakness is in passing success rate, where Rutgers quarterback Chris Laviano leads the 125th-ranked passing unit, but the run game is also inconsistent.
• Things unfortunately got much worse for the Rutgers offense when leading receiver Janarion Grant went down with a season-ending injury last week. Grant had roughly a third of Laviano's targets so far this year, so they'll be looking for new weapons in an already inefficient passing offense. I actually think they might be OK, because freshman receiver Jawaun Harris has been more explosive on a per-play basis anyway (20.1 yards per catch to Grant's 10.5, 50% to 67% catch rates). But either way, I don't see the Ohio State defense allowing much of a consistent passing game for Rutgers.
• Rutgers ranks 72nd and 103rd in standard and passing downs sack rates. Ohio State isn't much better, ranking 87th and 76th, after facing three quick-strike, run-pass option offenses. This could be a good tell for whether the pass rush is actually a concern or not. The Buckeyes rank 43rd in defensive line havoc rate, but that could be more of a function of the offenses they've faced rather than the quality of the personnel. So watch for how much pressure the Buckeyes' front can get on the Rutgers offensive line, because they should be fairly effective.
• I'd expect Ohio State to really focus on containing the Rutgers run game -- not because they've been massively successful, but because it should be the clear strength of the offense. The run game is actually fairly explosive, ranking 32nd in rushing IsoPPP and with lead running back Robert Martin averaging 6.4 highlight yards per opportunity. Martin didn't even play against Washington in the season opener, but he ran for over 100 yards last week against Iowa. His two backup running backs are less explosive, but more efficient (again, this data isn't opponent-adjusted).

The 3 most important stats

• J.T.'s passing efficiency and the receivers' catch rates. This isn't purely about the Rutgers matchup, but more about the team developing young receiving depth behind Noah Brown and Curtis Samuel.
• The defensive line's havoc rate. Can the Buckeyes get pressure on a team that has been fairly susceptible to it?
• Defensive rushing opportunity rate/explosive plays. Can the Rutgers' trio of running backs find any explosive plays against the Ohio State defense?

Picks


S&P+: Ohio State 50, Rutgers 12, 98.6% win probability

F/+: Ohio State by 36.6

My pick: Ohio State 52, Rutgers 10

Continue reading...

Ohio State OL Demetrius Knox out several months, per report
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The guard will be sidelined for awhile with a broken foot.

Ohio State just lost an offensive lineman for the foreseeable future after redshirt sophomore guard Demetrius Knox broke his foot in practice, according to ElevenWarriors.com. Knox underwent surgery on Friday and is expected to miss several months.

This is the second time the guard broke his foot, the first being in February 2015, which resulted in him missing all of spring practice. Knox has earned playing time this season on both special teams and on the line — though mostly late in games against Bowling Green and Tulsa.

The 6’4, 308-pound guard out of Fort Worth, Texas was listed as the backup to Billy Price at right guard ahead of his injury, despite competing for a starting role with Michael Jordan and Matthew Burrell. Knox’s injury marks the second blow to the offensive line this season, following transfer Malcolm Pridgeon’s knee injury in August, that could keep him out until mid-to-late November.

Continue reading...

Watch: Buckeyes make pitch for "Running Back U" title - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Watch: Buckeyes make pitch for "Running Back U" title
247Sports
Over the history of Ohio State football there have been some great running backs to come through Columbus, and the Buckeyes certainly feel they have a strong case to the title of "Running Back U". What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the ...
Ohio State men's basketball | Matta focuses on players' characterColumbus Dispatch
Why was Thad Matta modeling Ohio State basketball's new uniforms?cleveland.com

all 21 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State can still prove its worth against a bad Rutgers team
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


“Ohio State begins conference play versus Rutgers” still sounds weird.

With it’s non-conference slate finished, and the bye week in the rear view, Ohio State football is back in your life every Saturday until (hopefully) December 3. That begins this weekend, as the Buckeyes take on former co-defensive coordinator, and now Rutgers head coach, Chris Ash, and New York’s One True Team™.

Ohio State hasn’t played since their big win at Oklahoma two weeks ago, and finally gets an opportunity to build on that showing, starting B1G play against possibly the worst team in the conference. This game is what noon kickoffs on Big Ten Network were made for.

Rutgers limps into Columbus after a hard-luck, 14-7 loss to Iowa, and are now without their best playmaker for the rest of the year. Ash is working from behind, trying to fit players into a system they weren’t recruited for, while bringing over the culture he was a part of at Ohio State with him. While he’ll have Rutgers pointed in the right direction eventually, that won’t begin tomorrow.

Here are five things to watch as Ohio State opens conference play against Rutgers:

Follow up


It’d be hard to look better than Ohio State did the last time they took the field two weeks ago in Norman. The offense was dominant, the defense flew around the field making big plays, and the Buckeyes completely overwhelmed Oklahoma in a big-time matchup.

Given how young the team is, I think it’s important to put into perspective how impressive their performance was, regardless of how good (or bad) Oklahoma turns out to be. It was indicative of what Ohio State’s ceiling can be, but how will they respond in a game with considerably less on the line?

There’s no reason Ohio State shouldn’t destroy Rutgers tomorrow. The talent level isn’t close, and the season-ending injury to wide receiver/kick returner Janarion Grant leaves Rutgers with no one who truly presents a problem for the Buckeyes.

The offense will get what they want, running over Rutgers’ over-matched front seven, and taking advantage of a secondary susceptible to big plays. The Buckeyes have averaged 52.5 points in the two games since Rutgers joined the conference, and another 50-point performance isn’t out of the question. The defense may have even more success.

The Scarlet Knights haven’t run the ball well against the two power-5 teams they’ve played, and passing has been worse. That’s not an ideal combination when you’re going up against the 10th ranked S&P+ defense.

That’s all in theory though, and as we’ve learned before, games aren’t played on paper. To be clear, Ohio State isn’t going to lose this game, but I do think there’s more at stake than there appears to be at first glance.

It’s the first time most of this group of players are coming off a big win, and a comfortable victory would further confirm that what we saw in Norman wasn’t a one night showing. This isn’t a “big game,” in the way that Oklahoma, Michigan State, and Michigan are, but in a weird way, Ohio State can prove a lot by soundly beating a team they’re much better than, the way championship-level teams tend to do.

Looking familiar


On this week’s podcast, I referred to Rutgers as, “an extremely poor man’s 2012 Ohio State,” because —like those Buckeyes— Ash and his staff are trying to fit a lot of square pegs into round holes. Of course, he doesn’t have the talent of that Ohio State team, but it’s clear that they’re trying to establish an identity, even if the pieces aren’t there yet. That’s especially true on offense.

Offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer is a Tom Herman disciple, Rutgers’ offense will be very familiar. It’ll be like looking at yourself in a mirror, only if the reflection was distorted and ranked 117th nationally in yards per attempt.

This might be a hot take, but Ohio State’s defense probably won’t have much trouble recognizing what the Scarlet Knights are doing, so I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the stingiest they play all season.

Face time


Not really, but you know what I mean

“Former Rutgers Head Coach Greg Schiano”- The Big Ten Network, many, many times tomorrow.

Switch it up


While Ohio State’s defense play against an offense they’ve faced many times in practice —but with way less talent— I’m more curious to see the battle between Ash’s defense and the Buckeye offense, especially on standard downs.

Being in Columbus for two seasons, Ash not only knows the offense, but its tendencies. The Buckeyes were one of the most run-heavy teams in the country on standard downs last season, and that hasn’t changed much in 2016.

Despite opposing offenses running on standard downs at a high rate against the Scarlet Knights this season, it’ll be interesting to see how much the Buckeyes decide to switch it up when Ash inevitably loads the box on standard downs and forces J.T. Barrett and his wide receivers to beat them deep.

The Buckeyes’ ground game probably won’t have trouble churning out yards anyway, but be on the lookout for Ed Warinner and Tim Beck switching it up, and making Ash pay for selling out against the run.

Stretching it out


Regardless of how much Rutgers sells out, big plays should still be available on the ground. They’ve not only given up the 8th most runs of 10-plus yards in the country, but also rank 105th nationally in Rushing IsoPPP. If Ohio State’s runners can find an extra gear, they’ll make those numbers even worse.

Despite only playing three games, Ohio State is 12th nationally in runs of 10-plus yards, and are currently on pace to shatter the meager 97 such runs they put up last season. Where they’ve lacked so far, though, is turning those gains into something much larger. The Buckeyes have only 5 runs over 20 yards this season, and are currently 85th in Rushing IsoPPP.

The good news is that Mike Weber and Curtis Samuel each broke a long run against Oklahoma, and the continued emergence of the pass game, as well as the young offensive line will give them even more opportunities to shine going forward. It just so happens that Rutgers’ defense provides an excellent chance to continue to progress in that area.

Starting tomorrow, if Weber and Samuel can turn a few of their usual 10-15 yard runs into 20-25, Ohio State will rediscover the element that made them such a dangerous rushing attack the last three seasons.

Continue reading...

Gameday+ | Rutgers spotlight player: WR Jawuan Harris - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gameday+ | Rutgers spotlight player: WR Jawuan Harris
Columbus Dispatch
That puts Jawuan Harris in the spotlight against the Buckeyes. He might even steal the spotlight, just as he led the Big Ten in stolen bases (37) for the baseball team in the spring. Now the redshirt freshman from Pembroke Pines, Florida, will be ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Midterm Reports: How are future Buckeyes faring so far in 2016? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Midterm Reports: How are future Buckeyes faring so far in 2016?
247Sports
Midway through the high school football season, we have a look at how the 17 OSU commitments for 2017 and the two for 2018 have fared so far this year. Check out the slideshow for updated records, rankings and statistics for these future Buckeyes.

and more »

Continue reading...

Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/30/2016
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Welcome to your tri-weekly look at all things Ohio State recruiting. Let’s get started!

Official Visit Set for Texas Linebacker:


One of the most highly sought after players in the class of 2017 is 4-star linebacker Anthony Hines out of Plano, Texas. Hines reports 90 offers on his 247 page, and has recently been making his official visits. He first visited Texas A&M on September 2nd, and then two weeks ago he visited Penn State. Hines announced that he will be on hand on October 29th as the Buckeyes take on the Northwestern Wildcats.

Hines is the #2 overall inside linebacker in the class of 2017 and the 85th best player in the nation per 247 Sports. The Buckeyes currently only have one linebacker committed in Antjuan Simmons, and are going hard after another Texas prospect in Baron Browning. Both Hines and Browning will be making their college decisions on November 29th, and it is a possibility that they both end up in Columbus, although I feel the chances of that are small.


Jones to Make Visit This Weekend:


The last time Emory Jones was on campus at Ohio State was at Friday Night Lights, and a week later he ended up committing to the Buckeyes. This weekend he will be visiting as a member of the 2018 Ohio State recruiting class as the Buckeyes take on Rutgers. Jones spoke with Landof10 about his trip north.

“I’ve been talking to Ohio State every day,” Jones said. “I’m visiting there this weekend. Some of my teammates are going up with me.”


Jones has his recruiting hat on as he looks to bring in top level talent from all over the nation to join him to try and make the 2018 class better than the already remarkable 2017 class.

“Jeremy Ruckert, Brian Hightower and Jamaree Salyer,” Jones said. “Those are the three guys I’m recruiting the hardest right now. It’s pretty cool.”

5-Star LB Pushes Back Decision Date:


After the recent news of the firing of Les Miles from LSU, the fallout on the recruiting trail has been quiet until now. Dylan Moses, a 5-star linebacker and #4 overall player in the class of 2017 was scheduled to make his announcement on December 16th, but has decided to push the date back to January 1st of 2017 In speaking with 247Sports ($) he talked about the loss of Miles from LSU.

“As far as everything that went on, it was shocking to me. I wasn’t expecting that. As far as my recruiting process goes, me and my parents are going to think things over, take more time and do what’s best for me.”

He also talked about his visit plans going forward.

“Being that I moved my decision date back, I might (visit LSU) before I commit. But as of now, I plan on taking an official visit to Houston on December 9th.”

“I’m taking my official to Bama this weekend,” Moses said. “It’s about the relationships I have with the coaches and how they develop … Ohio State, Texas, Houston, Miami, all the schools I’m visiting have been recruiting me.”

While LSU has been the long favorite for a while, things might get interesting here with the shakeup in the coaching staff. While I don’t think Moses will be a Buckeye, if he gets on campus for a visit then things could change. There really is no way to get Hines, Browning and Moses into the class together, but if somehow that were to happen, pray for the Big Ten. While I still think LSU has a good shot at him, watch out for their rivals Alabama and the longshot would be the Houston Cougars. Tom Herman reeled in one 5-star last year in Ed Oliver, whose to say he can’t do it again this year with Moses?


List of Official Visitors for This Weekend:


Emory Jones – 2018 – QB – Franklin, Georgia – 5-Star (Committed to Ohio State)

Aeneas Hawkins – 2018 – DT – Cincinnati, Ohio – 3-Star (100% Crystal Ball to Ohio State)

Alex Reigelsperger – 2018 – DE – Wayne, Ohio – 3-Star (100% Crystal Ball to Kentucky, No Ohio State Offer)

Moses Douglass – 2019 – CB – Springfield, Ohio – NR (50% Crystal Ball to Kentucky, 50% to Ohio State, No Ohio State Offer)

Leonard Taylor – 2018 -DE/TE – Springfield, Ohio – 4-Star (88% Crystal Ball to Ohio State, 12% to Michigan)

Cameron Hoelscher – 2018 – LB – Springfield, Ohio – 3-Star (No Crystal Ball, No Ohio State Offer)

Check back as this list gets updated with more names as we hear them.










The post Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/30/2016 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

BM5: Buckeyes too conservative about playing true freshmen? - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


BM5: Buckeyes too conservative about playing true freshmen?
247Sports
This on the heels of the Buckeyes only playing a total of four true freshmen all of last season. So, this begs a question: Is Ohio State too conservative when it comes to playing true freshmen? And the question is an odd one to ask considering Meyer ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast: Return of the Ash
Shannon Sommers via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The bye week is over which means Shannon and Chip talk about some key Buckeye stats so far from this season. The surprise that is the Buckeye defense especially the secondary.

Tara Sullivan a columnist from the Bergen Report discusses Chris Ash and the Rutgers football team with Shannon. They talk about the Rutgers fan base, some miss-steps Rutgers had when joining the Big Ten conference. They also talked about the former Buckeyes that are in New York playing for the Jets and the Giants.

Chip and Shannon answer the #AskMotSaG questions then they do their weekly pick’em segment.

http://traffic.libsyn.com/menofthes...and_Gray_Podcast_Return_of_the_Ash.output.mp3

The post Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast: Return of the Ash appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

The Big Ten is rich, but money can’t buy everything
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Plus, it might not be so rich forever.

Over the last few years, this is around the time of year when we either write Big Ten apologetics columns, or try to figure out what’s wrong with the conference after some high-profile, embarrassing early season defeats. Failing that, if we, the bloggers of the internet, felt the need to stick up for the conference, we could always fall back to, “well, yeah, but at least the Big Ten is rich.”

This year is different. The Big Ten might be good. Ohio State and Michigan both sit in the AP Poll’s top five teams. Wisconsin, who has beaten LSU and Michigan State, is 8th. Nebraska, who has a win over Oregon, is 15th. Michigan State (who beat Notre Dame) is 17th. Northwestern is bad, but at least they beat Duke. Maryland is undefeated and getting votes.

And Rutgers? Well, Rutgers is at least getting plenty of fresh air and exercise.

But the Big Ten is still rich. And thanks to that new TV deal they signed over the summer, they’re about to become even richer, perhaps dramatically so, when compared to their peers. Big Ten institutions, including Ohio State, will soon be clearing well over $40 million a year, just in TV money.

TV network news flooded the college football offseason, especially within the Big 12, but the disparity in television financial growth may be most clear when looking at the Pac-12. While the Big Ten is already clearing tens of millions of dollars a year, and much more in the near future, Pac-12 schools are getting about $2.5 million a year from the Pac-12 Network, and struggle to get their product distributed.

It’s gotten so bad, that I, a person who writes about college football for a living, could barely get the Pac-12 network until a few weeks ago, because I live in Maryland.

Steven Godfrey recently took a closer look at the Pac-12 Network’s situation. It’s worth a look in it’s entirety, but the basic gist here is that because the network is completely owned by the conference (instead of with ESPN or Fox), they remained untethered and have the opportunity to be more flexible with other distribution channels, and internationally.

If the way we watch college sports continues to change dramatically, the Pac-12 network could, theoretically, become as profitable, if not more so, than the Big Ten or SEC, not to mention anybody else.

Whether that will happen or not is an interesting question, especially for those who are a bit more plugged into the technology world than I, but it’s also a very May or June question.

But another look at these television deals does bring up a question perhaps more germane to current season.

Who cares? At some point, does money even matter?

I don’t mean to get all existential here or anything. Of course money matters. I can’t pay my rent with RTs and Favs. But when we’re talking about college sports, at some point, we may run out of things to spend it on.

What do you do with a boatload of money, if you’re an athletic department looking to better your football team?

You’d try to go out and grab a quality head coach, for sure. But salary is just one factor that determines what kind of coach you can get. After all, even if say, UConn, decided to spend $15 million on a head coach, they may not be able to pry a top name from an elite program.

The SEC and upper half of the Big Ten dominate the list of highest paid head coaches, but that hasn’t prevented the Pac-12, or other power leagues, from hiring quality leaders. Would you rather have Utah’s Kyle Whitingham at $2.6 million, or Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz at $4 million? If you aren’t Gary Barta, that answer is clear.

You might spend it on assistant coaches, and that would probably be wise. But an institution may decide not to break the bank on assistants, even if they have the money to do so. Ohio State almost certainly has the money to pay an assistant a million dollars a year, or more, like LSU, Michigan and others have done, but have made the administrative decision not to. Wisconsin has done the same. Would dumping another $15 million into the checking account change an administrator’s mind? Maybe, maybe not.

You could pay the players. You should pay the players. Buuuuuut, nobody is going to pay the players. At least, not until somebody makes them.

You can build fancy training facilities and locker rooms with waterfalls and lasers and PlayStations and unlimited snacks and quality control assistants that do nothing but swipe on Tinder on behalf of the players, and yeah, lots of teams are already doing that. But if you expect those palaces to be recruiting advantages, they need to be better than other school’s. And at some point, just about everybody is going to have a dang palace.

There are a few other things you can spend the money on, like paying big guarantees to make your scheduling easier, or hiring a gazillion quality control assistants, but at some point, you reach a point of budget diminishing returns.

In four years, maybe Iowa and Minnesota will have $20-25 million dollars more than say, Arizona, or Texas Tech, for their football program. But if they’re recruiting the same player, and that player is from say, Dallas, how many times will they win that recruiting battle? Maybe one, two more times than they do now?

At the end of the day, you can’t quite buy a championship. Lord knows Texas will have tried by now. It hasn’t saved USC. It hasn’t saved Notre Dame. And Ohio State didn’t win two championships in the last 15 years simply because they have a massive budget.

You win lots of football games because you hire a good coaching staff, supported by a good administration, that is able to recruit lots of good players, and then develop them into better players. That’s a product of budget, sure, but also of history, geography, talent, and more.

Money is important. North Texas isn’t going to win squat, no matter how great their AD is, without enough money. But at the end of the day, whether the Big Ten, or the SEC, or the Pac-12, has the most money won’t determine who makes the college football playoff, or who wins a title.

Already, it’s entirely possible that a Louisville, or a Houston, makes the college football playoff. They’re already outplaying dozens of programs with better TV deals and bigger budgets.

Money can buy a lot of things, including a lot of important, and totally awesome things.

But it can’t buy everything.

Sorry, Rutgers.

Continue reading...

Ohio State vs Rutgers Game Day Trailer
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

As the Buckeyes get set to host the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Saturday, the Buckeye media team put together a hype trailer to get you ready to go for game day.


The post Ohio State vs Rutgers Game Day Trailer appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Ohio State vs. Rutgers 2016: Game preview, prediction, and 5 things to know
Chuck McKeever via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes get the Scarlet Knights at home in Chris Ash’s return to Columbus.

Since joining the Big Ten in 2014, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights have had a tough time finding the kind of sustained success that they enjoyed during the volatile yet productive tenure of coach Greg Schiano. After a promising 8-5 inaugural season (in which they were shellacked by Ohio State, 56-17), the team foundered in 2015, going just 4-8, a record poor enough to get Kyle Flood fired as head coach.

Enter Chris Ash. The former Bret Bielema understudy and Urban Meyer disciple was named head coach at Rutgers earlier this year, and has looked to bring to New Jersey the kind of creative, disciplined defense that helped him make his name as one of the best assistant coaches in the game over the last decade.

It’s been a mixed bag for Ash in his first year at the helm of The New York TV Market’s Favorite Team. The Scarlet Knights sit at 2-2, with two non-conference wins against FCS school Howard and bottom-tier New Mexico to go with a drubbing at the hands of trendy playoff pick Washington and a 14-7 loss in a barnburner against Iowa. And hey, it’s no crime to win the games you’re supposed to win and lose the ones you’re supposed to lose. (If you’re Kirk Ferentz, you can even lose the ones you’re supposed to win and end up with a fat contract extension.)

But the team lining up across from Rutgers this weekend isn’t Howard or New Mexico. Ohio State has steamrolled its way to a 3-0 record, and they’ll be fresh off a bye week when the Knights come to town. You may recall the Buckeyes putting a hurt on preseason playoff darling Oklahoma the last time they took the field, on the back of four Noah Brown touchdown catches and a defense unafraid to hit the Sooner offense right in the mouth.

The Scarlet Knights daren’t have much hope heading into Saturday’s tilt. Here’s how the teams stack up:

Ohio State advantages


Ground assault. By just about every advanced statistical measure, the Buckeyes are a top-3 team running the ball. Urban Meyer’s recruiting prowess and player development have left Ohio State loaded when they go to the ground game, getting reliable contributions from Curtis Samuel, Mike Weber, and J.T. Barrett. The read-option run game looked pretty vanilla in the first six quarters of football they played this season, but as the passing game has found its tempo, so has the run opened up for the Buckeyes.

By contrast, Rutgers’ rush defense has been middling at best in 2016. Chris Ash is a phenomenal defensive coach, but he didn’t inherit nearly the level of talent that he got to work with in Columbus; the loss of star linebacker Quanzell Lambert for the season during last week’s loss to Iowa isn’t going to improve the unit’s prospects.

The No-Fly Zone. Ohio State’s defense was supposed to take a few steps back this season for a whole host of reasons, not least of which was the loss of several members of its all-star secondary. Eli Apple, Vonn Bell, and Tyvis Powell are all cashing checks in the NFL now, but you wouldn’t know the Buckeyes had lost a thing. The pass defense under Greg Schiano (hey, him again!) has looked as staunch as ever, and guys like Malik Hooker are doing their damnedest to become household names in 2016. Rutgers has an experienced, if uninspiring, quarterback in Chris Laviano, but he’s struggled mightily against Buckeye defenses past. Given that he lost his best offensive weapon, wide receiver Janarion Grant, during the Iowa game, it’s hard to like Laviano’s chances against this secondary.

Air raid. If you have an older sibling, you’re probably familiar with the sequence of events from childhood in which said sibling would dominate you in a game by just doing the same thing, over and over and over again, because they knew you couldn’t stop it. (For me, it was getting racked by my older brother in chess and NFL Blitz 2000.) That’s the kind of sonnin’ that J.T. Barrett and Noah Brown gave to the Oklahoma Sooners two weeks ago. Brown’s first four catches went for touchdowns, all on plays designed to get him in one-on-one coverage on the left side of the end zone. Michiah Quick caught the worst of it when Brown put him on a poster for the year’s most sensational catch—Spencer Hall’s trolling be damned—but the whole Sooner secondary probably needed a hug after what Barrett and Brown pulled off.

It’s not just No. 80 that gets the love from Barrett, either. The Buckeyes have so many weapons that they have no trouble spreading the ball around; Barrett’s top three targets (Curtis Samuel, Brown, and Dontre Wilson) boast catch rates of 94.1%, 75%, and 80% so far this season, a testament both to the quarterback’s efficiency and the stud-caliber talent that Urban Meyer has put together at receiver. Barrett’s thrown 39 passes to those three receivers, and nine of them have gone for touchdowns.

Rutgers advantages


Ash is on Meyer’s coaching tree. Several former Urban Meyer assistants are now coaches at the FBS level, and while Chris Ash inherited a much tougher situation than, say, Tom Herman at Houston, he does have the advantage of knowing Meyer’s process, and has gotten a chance to try putting his own spin on what he learned at Ohio State (not to mention at Wisconsin and Arkansas). Per our own Chris Jason:


Of course, having Meyer’s playbook doesn’t mean that Ash has the personnel to stop it or take advantage of it. Still, Ash isn’t likely to get bamboozled by Meyer the way other coaches have been in the past.

Bye week speed bump? Look, no one should brag about being the team that won a game because a far superior team got caught snoozing or looking past them. But the Buckeyes are coming off of a bye week, and are so heavily favored against the Scarlet Knights—Vegas likes the Buckeyes by 38.5—that it’s not unfathomable that they could come out flat and play some disappointing football, at least in the first half. That seems like the best chance the Scarlet Knights have to put some points on the board early and hope to contain the Ohio State stable of playmakers in the second half.

The Buckeyes get Indiana next week, a team ranked 50 places higher than Rutgers in the S&P+, and one which looks to have a more dynamic offense than the Scarlet Knights do. Looking ahead? Sleeping on the job? They’re not out of the question for Ohio State, though that’s a slim hope to hang your hat on if you live in New Jersey.

Summary


F/+ Projection: Ohio State 49.7, Rutgers 11.5

Win Probability: Ohio State 99%

After the inject-it-into-my-veins excitement of the last Buckeye game, here’s hoping this one is a bit of a snoozer, one well in hand for Urban Meyer and co. by halftime. The Buckeyes will have done everything right if we see Joe Burrow getting a lot of work late in the game and a margin of victory that surpasses the advanced stats prediction for this one. Without a huge blowout here, the Buckeyes could very well lose their No. 2 ranking to the winner of the Louisville-Clemson game, the winner of which will boast an undefeated record and a win over a fellow top-five team.

Of course, only one ranking really matters now that the College Football Playoff exists, so there’s little reason to think Coach Meyer will be wringing his hands about the AP poll after five weeks of play. The Buckeyes are going to cruise in this one, and our best hope is for a few more plays to add to the highlight reel and a game devoid of injuries to the Buckeyes’ top contributors.

Continue reading...

No Matter The Winner Of Rutgers/OSU, Scarlet Will Reign In The Horseshoe
Chip Minnich via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

Embed from Getty Images​

56-17 in 2014. 49-7 in 2015. Both Ohio State victories over Rutgers. Both by at least 39 points. The Las Vegas oddsmakers certainly remember those victories, as the Buckeyes have been installed as 38.5 point favorites over the visiting Scarlet Knights.

Want to know who else remembers those victories?

Former Ohio State assistant coach and current Rutgers head coach Chris Ash.

Ash makes his first return to Ohio Stadium since becoming the head coach of the Scarlet Knights back in January 2016. Largely and deservedly credited with helping Ohio State’s defense become more physical and aggressive in 2014, Ash is not the only member of the Rutgers coaching staff who has extensive ties to Ohio State. Offensive coordinator Drew Mehringer, special teams coordinator/tight ends coach Vince Okruch, defensive backs coach Bill Busch, running backs coach Zach Kuhr, strength coach Kenny Parker, defensive quality control assistant Adam Weber, and director of recruiting Adam Caltury all have spent time at Ohio State during the Urban Meyer era.

Another reunion takes place as it relates to this game, as this game marks the first time former Rutgers head coach and current associate head coach/co-defensive coordinator/safeties coach Greg Schiano will take on his former team. There are four players on Rutgers’ roster who were spurned by Schiano years ago, only days before National Signing Day in 2012.

Below are three areas I will be keeping an eye on as the game kicks off from Ohio Stadium on The Big Ten Network at 12pm EST on October 1, 2016…

1. How Will Rutgers Respond Without Janarion Grant and Quanzell Lambert? Both Grant and Lambert were lost for the season in the Scarlet Knights’ close 14-7 loss to Iowa last week. Grant accounted for over 35% of Rutgers’ all-purpose offensive yards as a receiving, rushing, and return threat. Lambert was one of the best defensive linemen for Rutgers. Will the Scarlet Knights be able to adequately compensate for their absences?

2. How Well Will Ohio State Adjust Its Schemes? Up above in this article are several people who know Ohio State’s offensive and defensive tendencies quite well. Urban Meyer stated on his call-in show on September 29th that Ohio State has changed its signals, so this looks to be an interesting chess match between two staffs that know each other quite well.

3. Last Call For Freshmen Involvement: Several true freshmen have played in Ohio State’s first three games this season. As such an overwhelming favorite, it will not be surprising if the Buckeyes have a substantial lead heading into the second half. If a true freshman has not yet played this season, and does not get into the Rutgers game this weekend, chances are that the coaching staff has determined a redshirt season is in the respective player’s best interests.

Prediction: Urban Meyer has immense respect for Chris Ash and the other members of the Rutgers coaching staff, and does not want to embarrass them. The difficulty will be in the aforementioned backup time, as these players want to increase their playing time, and will play hard if given an opportunity. Throw in Rutgers’ injury issues, and I see the Buckeyes blowing out Rutgers with minimal effort. I am calling it Ohio State 63, Rutgers 10.

The post No Matter The Winner Of Rutgers/OSU, Scarlet Will Reign In The Horseshoe appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Big Ten play brings big visit weekend at Ohio State
Caleb Houser via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Some highly touted recruits will be in attendance for the Buckeyes-Scarlet Knights.

The Buckeyes finally return home this Saturday to the Horseshoe after three long weeks. Thanks to a business trip to Norman, Okla. ending in a huge win over the Sooners and the early bye week, the Buckeyes will be anxious to get back in front of a home crowd on homecoming when former co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash and his Rutgers Scarlet Knights come to town. Ohio State will not only host the Scarlet Knights, but also many top recruits Urban Meyer and staff are targeting aggressively.

Jones makes return trip to Columbus


This past July, Georgia five-star quarterback, Emory Jones visited Ohio State for the ever so popular, Friday Night Lights camp in The Shoe. Days later, the five-star was committed to Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes. Now, the 2018 signal-caller and class leader, Jones will be making his first return trip to Columbus this coming weekend since his commitment.

During the bye last week, Jones was treated by Ohio State, as Urban Meyer made a stop at Heard County High School in Franklin, Ga. to visit the incredible talent. In an interview with Jeremy Birmingham of landof10.com, Jones told Birm that he's been talking to Ohio State everyday. Also, some of Jones' teammates will be making the trip north with him. As for who Jones is recruiting personally for the 2018 class, he mentioned Jeremy Ruckert, Brian Hightower, and Jamaree Salyer.

Taylor heading to OSU for visit


Springfield, Ohio tight end Leonard Taylor, once committed to arch-rival Michigan, has been linked to Ohio State more times than not since rescinding his commitment to the Wolverines. This weekend, Taylor will once again make the short trip east to Columbus to be in attendance for homecoming versus Rutgers. The 6-foot-6, 260-pound four-star is the eighth best tight-end in the country and the fifth best product in all of Ohio for the class of 2018.

Not just coming by himself, Taylor will also be bringing Springfield Wildcat teammates Cameron Hoelscher, a three-star linebacker, and not yet ranked cornerback Moses Douglass. While Taylor is the only one of the three with an Ohio State offer, it never hurts to bring a pair of talented prospects to an Ohio State contest in order to create relationships between the two parties. As for Taylor, things are continuing to trend heavily toward the Buckeyes for his final college destination.

2017 OSU commits ready to square off


When it comes to prep football, two of the nation's best programs are none other than Nevada's Bishop Gorman and Florida's St. Thomas Aquinas. Not ironically, both of these top teams are sending multiple kids to Ohio State. Between the two, four players are set to head to Columbus after their senior seasons and suit up for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes – with a chance for maybe one or two more.


With Tate Martell, Tyjon Lindsey, and Haskell Garrett suiting up for Gorman and Trevon Grimes for St. Thomas Aquinas, the future teammates will remain foes this weekend as the two perennial powers will collide. A national top 10 match-up, the country will get to see just what kind of talent the Buckeyes are going to be receiving. Certainly, one of the more exciting prep kickoffs for Ohio State fans this season, recruiting fans will be able to see the future of Buckeye football.

Continue reading...

Elliot and Hyde, former Buckeyes, to face off Sunday (Sep 29, 2016) - FOXSports.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Elliot and Hyde, former Buckeyes, to face off Sunday (Sep 29, 2016)
FOXSports.com
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) Even as a senior, Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde learned a few things from talented freshman Ezekiel Elliott before entering the 2014 draft. Elliott taught Hyde the value of being an asset without the ball in his hands ...
Buckeyes backs do battle in 49ers-Cowboys clashThe Mercury News

all 6 news articles »

Continue reading...

Gameday+ | Ohio State vs. Rutgers: On the edge - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gameday+ | Ohio State vs. Rutgers: On the edge
Columbus Dispatch
Rutgers' run defense has been decent, but the Scarlet Knights haven't faced anything like Ohio State's playmakers. When Buckeyes pass. Edge: OHIO STATE. Noah Brown caught four touchdown passes against Oklahoma. What can he do for an encore?


Continue reading...

Ohio State football | Buckeyes succeed at spreading the ball around - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Buckeyes succeed at spreading the ball around
Columbus Dispatch
First-year Rutgers coach Chris Ash is only 10 months removed from his role as a defensive assistant at Ohio State, and much has been made about how that familiarity should help the Scarlet Knights against the Buckeyes on Saturday. In 2016, however, a ...
Ohio State football: Multi-skilled Curtis Samuel a glitch Buckeyes opponents are struggling to solveAkron Beacon Journal
Ohio State football: Buckeyes, Rutgers know each other wellUPI.com
Rutgers' defense needs to contain big-play BuckeyesAsbury Park Press
247Sports -AthlonSports.com
all 331 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State football | Former team visits at unusual time for Schiano - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Former team visits at unusual time for Schiano
Columbus Dispatch
Under Schiano, Rutgers went from laughingstock to national prominence. The man Schiano replaced on Ohio State's staff, Chris Ash, left to become Rutgers' coach. Just as Ash transformed the Buckeyes' defense with his rugby-style tackling and emphasis on ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Crystal Ball outlook for Buckeyes' top 2018 targets - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Crystal Ball outlook for Buckeyes' top 2018 targets
247Sports
That means there is plenty of more work to be done and Meyer and company will certainly be doing plenty of that. Meyer and his staff are going after the country's top prospects from coast-to-coast. What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the ...
Heat Check: Another Bishop Gorman Star Emerges While a Pair of Longtime Targets Fall From the BoardEleven Warriors

all 3 news articles »

Continue reading...

Gameday+ | Ohio State vs. Rutgers: Keys to the game - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Gameday+ | Ohio State vs. Rutgers: Keys to the game
Columbus Dispatch
Ohio State had the big win at Oklahoma and then had the week off. The Buckeyes must make sure they return with the same verve that they showed in Norman. Other than the return of former assistant coach Chris Ash, this Big Ten opener doesn't have a lot ...
Rutgers' defense needs to contain big-play BuckeyesAsbury Park Press
Watch: Barrett believes Buckeyes better after bye week247Sports
Rutgers Scarlet Knights vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Preview and PredictionAthlonSports.com
UPI.com -BuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)
all 322 news articles »

Continue reading...

Elliot and Hyde, former Buckeyes, to face off Sunday - Yahoo Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Elliot and Hyde, former Buckeyes, to face off Sunday
Yahoo Sports
SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -- Even as a senior, Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde learned a few things from talented freshman Ezekiel Elliott before entering the 2014 draft. Elliott taught Hyde the value of being an asset without the ball in his hands.
Battle of Buckeyes backs a compelling 49ers-Cowboys subplotThe Mercury News

all 6 news articles »

Continue reading...

Buckeye great gushes about Terrelle Pryor - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeye great gushes about Terrelle Pryor
247Sports
Today on his radio show on 97.1 The Fan, former Ohio State and NFL running back Beanie Wells talked about former Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor who is now a wide receiver and part-time quarterback for the Cleveland Browns. Wells compared Pryor ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Preview: Rutgers vs Ohio State
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 weekend will mark the first time the Buckeyes Head Coach Urban Meyer goes toe to toe with one of his former coaches, Chris Ash who was the Buckeyes Co-Defensive Coordinator/Secondary Coach for the last two seasons. Ash took a Head Coaching job within the BIG 10 and he is the newly minted coach at Rutgers. This will be one of those games that could get out of hand quickly, but I look for Urban Meyer to show “some” mercy for his first clash or encounter with a former member of the Urban Meyer coaching tree.

Chris Ash spent two years at Ohio State coaching up the Defensive Backs. During his tenure, he helped develop players such as Doran Grant, Eli Apple, Tyvis Powell and Vonn Bell. He helped secure the commitments of some notable players like current players, Defensive End Jashon Cornell, Running Back Antonio Williams and Wideout K.J. Hill. He brought in Safeties Isaiah Pryor and Brendon White for the 2017 Class. He has proven that he was one of Ohio State’s best recruiters during his tenure and now that he is the head man at Rutgers, it is just a waiting game until he can stop the TTUN’s pipeline in the talent-rich state of New Jersey. You can expect to see a lot of rugby-style tackles from the Scarlet Knights’ defense. A lot of man to man defense. A lot of press coverage. I am not going to discredit Ash’s ability to turn a team around and I don’t plan on starting.

What if I had told you that sure, we lost Chris Ash to Rutgers, but we gained a former Rutgers Head Coach of 11 years and a former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Head Coach in Greg Schiano? Well, it happened as quickly as Ash left for the Rutgers job. Greg Schiano basically built his career up from the dust during his tenure in Piscataway, New Jersey. He wasn’t known for flashy offenses, but he had a reputation for coaching high-caliber, highly effective defenses. He mirrors the defensive scheme that Coach Ash left behind. They both play man coverage and place their corners on islands. They both preach hard-nosed defense that covers opposing Wideouts for the duration of the play, so the front seven can put additional pressure on the Quarterback. The only difference? Coach Ash wanted to minimize big plays by shutting down the opposing offense, forcing punts. Coach Schiano craves and wants takeaways. Now seeing how Ohio State’s defense is leading the nation in takeaways and scoring defense, I think they responded accordingly without any dropoff in production.



J.T. Barrett will go up against a Rutgers defense that is giving up 362 yards per game, 180 through the air and 181 on the ground. J.T. Barrett and his offense average about 545 yards in total offense, 239 through the air and 306 on the ground. That is well over the averages that the Rutgers have been giving up after three weeks into the young College Football Season. Barrett is completing 67% of his passes, averaging 8.90 yards per attempt. He has 650 passing yards with 10 touchdowns against one interception. Barrett, being the Dual-Threat that he is, has 159 rushing yards for three scores. The Slobs are also gelling together and they have given up two sacks in the season. The Slobs are young, but minus the penalties, they will grow into their roles as the season advances. They will be prepared to grind out the meaty, more difficult portion of their schedule during the last half of the season.

Chirs Laviano will be the starting Quarterback, opposite of Barrett. He has an almost identical numbers compared to Barrett. He has 647 passing yards with 5 touchdowns against two interceptions. The only difference is Laviano isn’t a Dual-Threat Quarterback. Laviano comes into the game with a 52% completion rating which isn’t good by any Head Coaches standards. Add that to the fact that he has been sacked 8 times, let’s just say that he might not like what the Silver Bullets have in store for him once he visits during Homecoming. He will look to take care of the ball and feed Robert Martin the rock to soften up the Buckeye Defense. It is easier said than done, but you never know in College Football. Things don’t always go according to plan and they MIGHT come in with a massive chip on their shoulders after they opened up as 38 point underdogs to start the new week.

The “Basic” Defense comes into the game after a convincing and satisfying win in Norman against a Sooners team that began the season as the #3 team in the nation. The Silver Bullets are back and they are feeding off of the mindset of Greg Schiano. They are looking for the takeaways and they sit at +11 and the #1 in the Nation In Takeaways. They will be going against a Rutgers offense that has struggled, so the results will vary, but I am feeling like since it is Homecoming at Ohio State, all bets are off. The Silver Bullets will look to put the pressure on early and often, forcing Laviano and his offense to struggle mightily. With no dependable Offensive Lineman on the roster, the Scarlet Knights might endure another long game. For what it’s worth, the Buckeyes are giving up 278 yards per game, 176 through the air and 102 on the ground so we will see if the Rutgers can get something going against a stout and loaded Ohio State Defense.

The Rutgers Defense is the polar opposite of the Ohio State Defense. They were lit up at Washington to open up the season and they currently are sitting at 2-2 coming into the game. The defense surrendered a total of 42 points combined to Howard University and New Mexico which doesn’t bode well for the Scarlet Knights because Ohio State is averaging 56.7 points per game through 3 games. They have a few sacks and interceptions, but they came during garbage time and against sub-par teams. The Rutgers will be tested early and often. I expect J.T. Barrett and company to run in down their throats until they find passing lanes, then before you know it the Buckeye reserves will gain some valuable playing after the game gets out of hand.

Prediction:

J.T. Barrett: 245 yards with 3 touchdowns, 7 rushes for 1 touchdown

Mike Weber: 104 yards with 1 touchdown

Curtis Samuel: 120 yards receiving with 1 touchdown, 10 rushes for 70 yards and 1 touchdown

Noah Brown: 4 catches for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns

Buckeyes Defense: 4 QB Sacks, 1 Forced Fumble, 2 Interceptions with 1 going for six

Although this will be a game early, the Buckeyes will blow the doors off and at least approach their season average for points per game. J.T. Barrett lights up the Rutgers Secondary, Mike Weber grinds out the clock and gets his second score of the season, Curtis Samuel acts as the Swiss Army Knife once again and Noah Brown puts another helpless Defensive Back on a poster. The Silver Bullets swarm and engulf Laviano forcing pressure from start to beginning. Forcing him to make costly turnovers early and often. The Defensive Unit surrendered two offensive touchdowns last week to the Sooners and they will be looking for redemption against the Rutgers. The Rutgers line flounders once again and Baby Bosa garners another sack to make big brother proud. The knockout blow will be a near deathblow and let’s just say Coach Meyer’s Special Teams Unit makes a play this week. I don’t know who it’ll be, but I am calling for a blocked kick or punt or even a kickoff or punt return. Maybe I am expecting too much, but it has been a while.

Final: Ohio State over Rutgers 55-12



Recruiting Tidbit:

Mr. Ohio State Danny Clark has just decommitted from the Buckeyes after finally accepting the fact that he was no longer the future at Ohio State. Clark had been committed for quite some time and it is truly sad to see him go, but I wish him luck with whichever team he chooses to play for. Crystal Balls have been in Kentucky’s favor, but we will see. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up in the BIG 10.. Maybe playing for Coach Ash in Piscataway. That would be crazy, but for now he will re-open it up. His spot is now up for grabs and there are still a lot of fish in the recruiting ocean for Ohio State to catch. Maybe Ohio State uses it to add another Playmaking Wideout or another Linebacker or Defensive Lineman. Who knows and the recruiting world is unpredictable. It is another interesting thing to follow as the path to National Signing Day appraoches.






Continue reading...

Battle of Buckeyes backs a compelling 49ers-Cowboys subplot - The Mercury News
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Battle of Buckeyes backs a compelling 49ers-Cowboys subplot
The Mercury News
The fact that he isn't facing off directly against his old Buckeyes teammate was part of his rationale. “I knew there was going to be this day, and it's coming up now,” Hyde said Thursday. “But I wasn't really paying too much attention to it. I don't ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Ohio State’s official Rutgers hype video will have you ready for Saturday
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


It’s coming!


We’ve all survived the bye week! The Ohio State Buckeyes are coming in this week fresh, after a huge win on the road in Norman against Oklahoma, and combined with a bye week, that’s a great way to head into Big Ten play.

So in case you weren’t already on the edge of your seat waiting for another week of Buckeye football, this hype video should do the trick. We’re really getting into the meat of the season, and while this shouldn’t be much of a game for the Buckeyes, to see how they react coming off of the break will still be interesting to watch.

Of course, we’d be crazy to not mention that the Buckeyes are facing off against former defensive coordinator Chris Ash. If this one gets out of hand early, don’t be surprised to see Urban Meyer take his foot off the gas sooner than he might have in any other game.

Go Bucks.

Continue reading...