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LGHL Ohio State could solidify case as DBU with 3 defensive backs at the combine
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Ohio State could solidify case as DBU with 3 defensive backs at the combine
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Conley, Hooker, and Lattimore are all potential first-rounders.
“The Buckeyes have emerged as the league's current kings of the combine looking back over the last four seasons overall. And while rival Michigan actually has more overall attendees this year, once again Ohio State's loaded draft class in the secondary is in line to steal the show.”
- Austin Ward, ESPN.com
With Eli Apple and Vonn Bell taken in the first two rounds of last year’s NFL draft, this year, Ohio State’s trio of draftable DBs; Gareon Conley, Malik Hooker, and Marshon Lattimore; are looking to continue to cement their legacy as the B.I.A. (“Best In America”).
All three are considered potential first-round selections, with SBNation’s Dan Kadar projecting Hooker to go fifth to the Tennessee Titans (via the L.A. Rams) and Lattimore to move up I-71 to Cleveland with the 12th pick (via the Philadelphia Eagles).
Through the combine, pro-days, and individual workouts, if Conley is able to work himself into a late first-rounder, Ohio State will have a very strong argument for being the country’s DBU.
“With two games left and both against teams sporting identical 6-10 conference records, Ohio State has to win tonight at Penn State and at home Saturday against Indiana if it wants to avoid playing the opening day of the tournament.”
- Adam Jardy, Columbus Dispatch
Let’s be honest, the chances of the Ohio State men’s basketball team making the NCAA Tournament this season are slim to none, and slim is getting closer to none by the day. However, if the basketball Buckeyes have any hope of making the Dance, they more than likely will need to win out through the Big Ten Tournament next weekend in Washington D.C., including their final regular season games against Penn State (14-15, 6-10) and Indiana (16-13, 6-10).
Ohio State currently sits at 11th in the Big Ten standings, with Penn State at 12th and Indiana at 10th. Places 11-14 play an additional opening round game in the B1G Tourney, adding to the already arduous task of winning the tournament.
However, despite their 16-13, 6-10 record, there is the slightest sliver of optimism, as Ohio State has played well against some of the best opponents on their schedule, including Virginia, UCLA, Purdue, Maryland, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. OSU’s balanced attack has four players averaging in double-figures, with Kam Williams just on the outside at 9.9 ppg. So, the ability for the Buckeyes to find points from anywhere in the lineup will force the conference’s better defensive teams to pick a scorer to focus on, potentially opening up opportunities for others.
And, with Jae’Sean Tate, Trevor Thompson, and Marc Loving, the team’s three best players on the season, now getting consistent efforts from Williams, C.J. Jackson, and a still recovering JaQuan Lyle, they might be hitting their stride at the exact right time to pull off one of the biggest David vs. Goliath stories in program history.
The converse, of course, is that Thad Matta’s crew has also been known to play down to their level of competition this season, sometimes with disastrous results; i.e. losing to Florida Atlantic, who is currently 10-17 overall and 6-10 in Conference USA. So, they very well could drop both games against PSU and IU and finish the conference slate 6-12, ahead of only lowly Rutgers.
So while I wouldn’t hold my breath that the Buckeyes will be dancing come March, stranger things have happened. I mean, did you watch the end of the Oscars on Sunday?
“They’re going to be fine, very competitive, if they stay healthy, and on track. I’m talking about with the eight position players now, because pitching is always the unknown, relative to health and experience.”
- Sonny Fulks, Press Pros Magazine
Despite going 1-3 in the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge last weekend, former OSU pitcher Sonny Fulks believes that there is reason to be optimistic about the Baseball Buckeyes this season. Even though OSU lost long-ball threat Ronnie Dawson to the MLB Draft, the lineup appears to far more balanced this season as the opportunities to produce runs are well-distributed 1 through 9.
While the Bucks were held to just 11 runs in four games against top-notch West Coast talent, their bullpen did show signs of life, as relievers Seth Kinker and Kyle Michalik looked sharp. However, Fulks believes that a fundamental change in approach is needed for the starting rotation to be effective. While the ability to throw 90 miles per hour is always preferred over not, nowadays, that is a speed that even average hitters are very comfortable hitting against, especially when it is pumped down the middle.
To avoid 90 mph, dead-red fastballs turning into 400 foot homeruns, Fulks says that Ohio State’s starters need to learn how to trust their off-speed and breaking pitches more, and how to work around the outside edges of the strikezone, especially when they are ahead in the count.
The Buckeyes return to the diamond on Friday for a three-game series against Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C.
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Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Conley, Hooker, and Lattimore are all potential first-rounders.
“The Buckeyes have emerged as the league's current kings of the combine looking back over the last four seasons overall. And while rival Michigan actually has more overall attendees this year, once again Ohio State's loaded draft class in the secondary is in line to steal the show.”
- Austin Ward, ESPN.com
With Eli Apple and Vonn Bell taken in the first two rounds of last year’s NFL draft, this year, Ohio State’s trio of draftable DBs; Gareon Conley, Malik Hooker, and Marshon Lattimore; are looking to continue to cement their legacy as the B.I.A. (“Best In America”).
All three are considered potential first-round selections, with SBNation’s Dan Kadar projecting Hooker to go fifth to the Tennessee Titans (via the L.A. Rams) and Lattimore to move up I-71 to Cleveland with the 12th pick (via the Philadelphia Eagles).
Through the combine, pro-days, and individual workouts, if Conley is able to work himself into a late first-rounder, Ohio State will have a very strong argument for being the country’s DBU.
“With two games left and both against teams sporting identical 6-10 conference records, Ohio State has to win tonight at Penn State and at home Saturday against Indiana if it wants to avoid playing the opening day of the tournament.”
- Adam Jardy, Columbus Dispatch
Let’s be honest, the chances of the Ohio State men’s basketball team making the NCAA Tournament this season are slim to none, and slim is getting closer to none by the day. However, if the basketball Buckeyes have any hope of making the Dance, they more than likely will need to win out through the Big Ten Tournament next weekend in Washington D.C., including their final regular season games against Penn State (14-15, 6-10) and Indiana (16-13, 6-10).
Ohio State currently sits at 11th in the Big Ten standings, with Penn State at 12th and Indiana at 10th. Places 11-14 play an additional opening round game in the B1G Tourney, adding to the already arduous task of winning the tournament.
However, despite their 16-13, 6-10 record, there is the slightest sliver of optimism, as Ohio State has played well against some of the best opponents on their schedule, including Virginia, UCLA, Purdue, Maryland, Michigan State, and Wisconsin. OSU’s balanced attack has four players averaging in double-figures, with Kam Williams just on the outside at 9.9 ppg. So, the ability for the Buckeyes to find points from anywhere in the lineup will force the conference’s better defensive teams to pick a scorer to focus on, potentially opening up opportunities for others.
And, with Jae’Sean Tate, Trevor Thompson, and Marc Loving, the team’s three best players on the season, now getting consistent efforts from Williams, C.J. Jackson, and a still recovering JaQuan Lyle, they might be hitting their stride at the exact right time to pull off one of the biggest David vs. Goliath stories in program history.
The converse, of course, is that Thad Matta’s crew has also been known to play down to their level of competition this season, sometimes with disastrous results; i.e. losing to Florida Atlantic, who is currently 10-17 overall and 6-10 in Conference USA. So, they very well could drop both games against PSU and IU and finish the conference slate 6-12, ahead of only lowly Rutgers.
So while I wouldn’t hold my breath that the Buckeyes will be dancing come March, stranger things have happened. I mean, did you watch the end of the Oscars on Sunday?
“They’re going to be fine, very competitive, if they stay healthy, and on track. I’m talking about with the eight position players now, because pitching is always the unknown, relative to health and experience.”
- Sonny Fulks, Press Pros Magazine
Despite going 1-3 in the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge last weekend, former OSU pitcher Sonny Fulks believes that there is reason to be optimistic about the Baseball Buckeyes this season. Even though OSU lost long-ball threat Ronnie Dawson to the MLB Draft, the lineup appears to far more balanced this season as the opportunities to produce runs are well-distributed 1 through 9.
While the Bucks were held to just 11 runs in four games against top-notch West Coast talent, their bullpen did show signs of life, as relievers Seth Kinker and Kyle Michalik looked sharp. However, Fulks believes that a fundamental change in approach is needed for the starting rotation to be effective. While the ability to throw 90 miles per hour is always preferred over not, nowadays, that is a speed that even average hitters are very comfortable hitting against, especially when it is pumped down the middle.
To avoid 90 mph, dead-red fastballs turning into 400 foot homeruns, Fulks says that Ohio State’s starters need to learn how to trust their off-speed and breaking pitches more, and how to work around the outside edges of the strikezone, especially when they are ahead in the count.
The Buckeyes return to the diamond on Friday for a three-game series against Campbell in Buies Creek, N.C.
STICK TO SPORTS
- Searching the Rocky Mountains for Forrest Feen’s hidden treasure.
- You might be more productive if you start going to bed at 2:30 a.m.
- Rumors suggest that Apple is going to swap out the Lightning port for a USB-C on their next phone.
- If you ever need calming down, there’s a 24/7 livestream of cats playing called “Keeping Up with the Catdashians.”
- Watch a preview of Nintendo Switch ‘Nindies’ (stream begins at 29:54).
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Google Where do Buckeyes stand heading into NFL Combine? Ohio State football mock draft roundup...
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Where do Buckeyes stand heading into NFL Combine? Ohio State football mock draft roundup 3.0 - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Where do Buckeyes stand heading into NFL Combine? Ohio State football mock draft roundup 3.0
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Marshon Lattimore and Malik Hooker are Ohio State Buckeyes going to this week's NFL Combine as consensus first-round draft picks. Are there any teammates who could join them? The combine officially begins Tuesday with player ...
Buckeyes set to host big time target this spring247Sports
Meyer's bouncebacks are worthwhile, McGuff leads Ohio State to conference title, Buckeyes volleyball continues runLandof10.com
Penn State Basketball: Lions Face the BuckeyesVictory Bell Rings
CBS sports.com (blog) -Waiting For Next Year -Scout
all 123 news articles »
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Where do Buckeyes stand heading into NFL Combine? Ohio State football mock draft roundup 3.0
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Marshon Lattimore and Malik Hooker are Ohio State Buckeyes going to this week's NFL Combine as consensus first-round draft picks. Are there any teammates who could join them? The combine officially begins Tuesday with player ...
Buckeyes set to host big time target this spring247Sports
Meyer's bouncebacks are worthwhile, McGuff leads Ohio State to conference title, Buckeyes volleyball continues runLandof10.com
Penn State Basketball: Lions Face the BuckeyesVictory Bell Rings
CBS sports.com (blog) -Waiting For Next Year -Scout
all 123 news articles »
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2016 tOSU Offense Discussion
- By ScriptOhio
- Buckeye Football
- 615 Replies
FILM STUDY: WHY OHIO STATE'S PASSING GAME STRUGGLED TO TAKE FLIGHT IN 2016
Throughout its 126 years of playing football, Ohio State has never been known for its ability to throw the ball.
Though the program has produced eight national championship seasons, seven Heisman winners, and 83 consensus All-Americans, only one quarterback has earned a tree in the Buckeye Grove since 1979. Since the timing patterns and route concepts that now make up the 'modern' passing game were widely adopted in the late 1980s and early 90s, Ohio State has rarely featured a premier passing game.
While Troy Smith's 2006 Heisman season re-wrote many of the school's record books, the Buckeyes were still only the 45th-best aerial attack in the nation that fall. Since then, the best showing was the 2014 team that only ranked 52nd in passing yards-per-game, just barely cracking the top half of FBS teams in the category. Despite regularly contending for national championships throughout this period, the Buckeyes have relied far more heavily on a physical ground game under both Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer than dazzling passing displays.
Yet, many believe this lack of success through the air was the reason the most recent Buckeye squad was unable to fulfill their championship potential. Not only did the offense fail to consistently move the ball through the air against when facing their toughest competition (Penn State, Michigan, and Clemson), they struggled mightily against lesser opponents like Indiana and Michigan State as well.
Though there were some bright spots along the way, the unit's inconsistency was a regular point of discussion, even as the team marched along to a spot in the College Football Playoff. After consecutive seasons with a lackluster passing game, though, the heat was turned up on coordinators Ed Warinner and Tim Beck.
To place blame solely on the play-calling is unfair, as there were consistent issues across the entire unit that led the Buckeyes to this point. Most notably, it became clear right away that only one wide receiver, Curtis Samuel, seemed capable of filling the void left by the departures of Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall, and Braxton Miller after the previous season.
By midseason, it had become clear to both the fans and opposing coaches that Samuel had become the focal point of every Buckeye game plan. To get him the ball, Warinner and Beck actually did a good job of incorporating wrinkles to free him up on core passing concepts such as 'H-Option' and the deep 'Flood' routes like the one below.
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Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...tates-passing-game-rarely-took-flight-in-2016
Throughout its 126 years of playing football, Ohio State has never been known for its ability to throw the ball.
Though the program has produced eight national championship seasons, seven Heisman winners, and 83 consensus All-Americans, only one quarterback has earned a tree in the Buckeye Grove since 1979. Since the timing patterns and route concepts that now make up the 'modern' passing game were widely adopted in the late 1980s and early 90s, Ohio State has rarely featured a premier passing game.
While Troy Smith's 2006 Heisman season re-wrote many of the school's record books, the Buckeyes were still only the 45th-best aerial attack in the nation that fall. Since then, the best showing was the 2014 team that only ranked 52nd in passing yards-per-game, just barely cracking the top half of FBS teams in the category. Despite regularly contending for national championships throughout this period, the Buckeyes have relied far more heavily on a physical ground game under both Jim Tressel and Urban Meyer than dazzling passing displays.
Yet, many believe this lack of success through the air was the reason the most recent Buckeye squad was unable to fulfill their championship potential. Not only did the offense fail to consistently move the ball through the air against when facing their toughest competition (Penn State, Michigan, and Clemson), they struggled mightily against lesser opponents like Indiana and Michigan State as well.
Though there were some bright spots along the way, the unit's inconsistency was a regular point of discussion, even as the team marched along to a spot in the College Football Playoff. After consecutive seasons with a lackluster passing game, though, the heat was turned up on coordinators Ed Warinner and Tim Beck.
To place blame solely on the play-calling is unfair, as there were consistent issues across the entire unit that led the Buckeyes to this point. Most notably, it became clear right away that only one wide receiver, Curtis Samuel, seemed capable of filling the void left by the departures of Michael Thomas, Jalin Marshall, and Braxton Miller after the previous season.
By midseason, it had become clear to both the fans and opposing coaches that Samuel had become the focal point of every Buckeye game plan. To get him the ball, Warinner and Beck actually did a good job of incorporating wrinkles to free him up on core passing concepts such as 'H-Option' and the deep 'Flood' routes like the one below.
Login to view embedded media
Entire article: http://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-...tates-passing-game-rarely-took-flight-in-2016
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Google Buckeyes set to host big time target this spring - 247Sports
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Buckeyes set to host big time target this spring - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Buckeyes set to host big time target this spring
247Sports
Last year the Buckeyes had three players drafted in the first 10 picks, five in the first 20 and 12 taken overall. While the numbers may not be as high this year, it should still be another good few days for OSU come late April. According to one draft ...
Meyer's bouncebacks are worthwhile, McGuff leads Ohio State to conference title, Buckeyes volleyball continues runLandof10.com
Which redshirt freshmen Buckeyes are ready to break out? Ohio State spring football burning questionscleveland.com
Buckeyes looking to put another Potter in Scarlet and Gray?CBS sports.com (blog)
Waiting For Next Year -Columbus Dispatch -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 178 news articles »
Continue reading...
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Buckeyes set to host big time target this spring
247Sports
Last year the Buckeyes had three players drafted in the first 10 picks, five in the first 20 and 12 taken overall. While the numbers may not be as high this year, it should still be another good few days for OSU come late April. According to one draft ...
Meyer's bouncebacks are worthwhile, McGuff leads Ohio State to conference title, Buckeyes volleyball continues runLandof10.com
Which redshirt freshmen Buckeyes are ready to break out? Ohio State spring football burning questionscleveland.com
Buckeyes looking to put another Potter in Scarlet and Gray?CBS sports.com (blog)
Waiting For Next Year -Columbus Dispatch -Land-Grant Holy Land
all 178 news articles »
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tBBC Senators Trade Jonathan Dahlen for Alex Burrows
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Senators Trade Jonathan Dahlen for Alex Burrows
T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
CALGARY, AB – DECEMBER 23: Alex Burrows #14 of the Vancouver Canucks in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on December 23, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
I’m not angry, I’m despondent.
Making sense of yesterday’s swap that featured the Ottawa Senators acquiring Alex Burrows in exchange for 2016 second round pick (42nd overall) Jonathan Dahlen is easy when you view it through the prism that this is simply extension of the same team-building philosophy that has plagued this organization since Bryan Murray inherited the general manager’s role in 2007.
The Senators have spun their tires over the past 10 years; repeatedly electing to pursue its short-term interests at the expense of its future.
The organization’s decision to help push Bryan Murray out the door and replace him with assistant general manager Pierre Dorion was met with optimism because it was seen as a move to facilitate change and help modernize the hockey operations department.
For many, it didn’t matter that Dorion has been part of the organization since 2007 when he was their chief amateur scout or that he was complicit in a lot of the decision-making as a director of player personnel and as an assistant general manager in the years that followed, fans clung to the idea this represented much-needed change.
At the time of the hire, Dorion said all of the right things and deserved time to prove that the new boss was different from the old boss.
Driven by the pursuit of gate revenues, Eugene Melnyk’s toxic playoff mandate has enabled this team’s general managers to make glaring and easily avoidable transactions that never necessitated the benefit of hindsight to assess as terribly short-sighted mistakes. The Senators repeatedly ignore league-wide trends and evidence-based approaches that could help refine their process and work in concert with what the eyes of the smallest hockey operations department in the NHL tell them. (As an aside, I’m sure there are good, competent people working within the Senators’ front office, but they appear to have no sway in the decision-making process.)
So here we are.
Ignore the fact that the Senators moved one of their few coveted prospects for a 35-year old winger, who will turn 36 years old this April, and signed him to a two-year extension carrying an average annual value of $2.5-million.
Ignore the fact that the Senators organization is praising Burrows’ character.
He also mocked an opposing player for being abused as a child, taunted a recovering alcoholic, pulled two players’ hair, and bit someone. https://t.co/qrkbaoCjDb
— Sammy Hudes (@SammyHudes) February 28, 2017
And while you’re at it, ignore the fact that writers in Vancouver are referring to an inept Jim Benning “(swinging) what is arguably his most impressive deal in his time as Canucks GM.”
*Groan*
All of yesterday’s complaints and consternation about this deal are wrapped up in the fact that this trade is a microcosm of the real problem facing the Senators: this organization’s philosophy of irresponsibly living in the present and hoping for the best down the road isn’t working.
This organization repeatedly sells assets for diminished returns and it’s mitigating the positives that come from the development and performance of players like Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson.
Sure, proponents of the deal will look at the Senators’ second place standing in the Atlantic Division, but it’s not like they are sitting comfortably in that position either. If anything, they’re there in part because of the fact that they play within the weakest division in the NHL.
To this point, they’ve been incredibly fortunate to avoid a significant losing streak, but if that lull comes down the stretch, the Senators could easily find themselves in a wild card position or on the outside looking in.
It’s not that far-fetched of a reality.
The Senators’ underlying numbers aren’t particularly flattering.
Their offensive numbers rank among the worst in the NHL and their possession, scoring chance and expected goal percentages aren’t much better.
It’s probably not a wise decision for this team to be “going for it” by throwing more future assets at a band-aid solution, especially when other and probably better alternatives could have been acquired for less. It certainly isn’t a good idea to extend Burrows for another two years and justify it by stating that the move was necessary because the Senators have to meet the expansion draft’s exposure criteria. (As it currently stands, the Senators can expose Curtis Lazar and Bobby Ryan up front.)
Sure, there’s no guarantee that Dahlen fulfills his projected ceiling as a prospect and other prospects like Nick Paul have seen their development stagnate as professionals after having good World Juniors tournaments as well, but a few writers have rationalize this trade by saying, if you’re looking at how teams like Florida, Buffalo, Toronto are built for the future, this may be Ottawa’s best chance to do some damage, especially with only two guaranteed seasons left on Erik Karlsson’s contract.
First, I hate this motivation out of fear because of Karlsson’s uncertain future. As of now, there’s nothing to suggest that he’s going anywhere and the Senators have a track record of re-signing their own. Maybe Karlsson doesn’t re-sign, but that’s a bridge to cross on another day.
Secondly, saying teams like Florida, Buffalo and Toronto were built for the future kind of ignores the fact that Ottawa’s vaunted 2011 rebuild preceded each of these respective teams’. Impatience and shortcut solutions put the Senators on this path. That was the time for Ottawa to invest in its new direction, fill their front office with qualified personnel who can keep up with the best demonstrated practices of the team’s competitors. Right now, it’s like the Senators are back in 2009, desperately trying to cling to a window of contention that closed years ago. Only this time, the Senators’ window of contention hasn’t arrived. It’s not even real.
Finally, if the Senators are going to go for it, overpaying and giving term to soon-to-be 36-year old winger who has depended heavily on Bo Horvat to drive his performance this season probably isn’t the best use of desirable assets. If you are going to flip these kinds of commodities, dream bigger than a “character guy” who’s going to be featured prominently in a third or fourth line role.
The Burrows deal does not reflect a “go for it” moment. It’s a massive overpay a player who fills a role that could have been addressed at a cheaper cost. It is just the latest example of the Senators thinning an already depleted farm system to feed Melnyk’s cyclic machine.
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T6S via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
CALGARY, AB – DECEMBER 23: Alex Burrows #14 of the Vancouver Canucks in action against the Calgary Flames during an NHL game at Scotiabank Saddledome on December 23, 2016 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. (Photo by Derek Leung/Getty Images)
I’m not angry, I’m despondent.
Making sense of yesterday’s swap that featured the Ottawa Senators acquiring Alex Burrows in exchange for 2016 second round pick (42nd overall) Jonathan Dahlen is easy when you view it through the prism that this is simply extension of the same team-building philosophy that has plagued this organization since Bryan Murray inherited the general manager’s role in 2007.
The Senators have spun their tires over the past 10 years; repeatedly electing to pursue its short-term interests at the expense of its future.
The organization’s decision to help push Bryan Murray out the door and replace him with assistant general manager Pierre Dorion was met with optimism because it was seen as a move to facilitate change and help modernize the hockey operations department.
For many, it didn’t matter that Dorion has been part of the organization since 2007 when he was their chief amateur scout or that he was complicit in a lot of the decision-making as a director of player personnel and as an assistant general manager in the years that followed, fans clung to the idea this represented much-needed change.
At the time of the hire, Dorion said all of the right things and deserved time to prove that the new boss was different from the old boss.
Driven by the pursuit of gate revenues, Eugene Melnyk’s toxic playoff mandate has enabled this team’s general managers to make glaring and easily avoidable transactions that never necessitated the benefit of hindsight to assess as terribly short-sighted mistakes. The Senators repeatedly ignore league-wide trends and evidence-based approaches that could help refine their process and work in concert with what the eyes of the smallest hockey operations department in the NHL tell them. (As an aside, I’m sure there are good, competent people working within the Senators’ front office, but they appear to have no sway in the decision-making process.)
So here we are.
Ignore the fact that the Senators moved one of their few coveted prospects for a 35-year old winger, who will turn 36 years old this April, and signed him to a two-year extension carrying an average annual value of $2.5-million.
Ignore the fact that the Senators organization is praising Burrows’ character.
He also mocked an opposing player for being abused as a child, taunted a recovering alcoholic, pulled two players’ hair, and bit someone. https://t.co/qrkbaoCjDb
— Sammy Hudes (@SammyHudes) February 28, 2017
And while you’re at it, ignore the fact that writers in Vancouver are referring to an inept Jim Benning “(swinging) what is arguably his most impressive deal in his time as Canucks GM.”
*Groan*
All of yesterday’s complaints and consternation about this deal are wrapped up in the fact that this trade is a microcosm of the real problem facing the Senators: this organization’s philosophy of irresponsibly living in the present and hoping for the best down the road isn’t working.
This organization repeatedly sells assets for diminished returns and it’s mitigating the positives that come from the development and performance of players like Mike Hoffman, Mark Stone and Erik Karlsson.
Sure, proponents of the deal will look at the Senators’ second place standing in the Atlantic Division, but it’s not like they are sitting comfortably in that position either. If anything, they’re there in part because of the fact that they play within the weakest division in the NHL.
To this point, they’ve been incredibly fortunate to avoid a significant losing streak, but if that lull comes down the stretch, the Senators could easily find themselves in a wild card position or on the outside looking in.
It’s not that far-fetched of a reality.
The Senators’ underlying numbers aren’t particularly flattering.
Their offensive numbers rank among the worst in the NHL and their possession, scoring chance and expected goal percentages aren’t much better.
It’s probably not a wise decision for this team to be “going for it” by throwing more future assets at a band-aid solution, especially when other and probably better alternatives could have been acquired for less. It certainly isn’t a good idea to extend Burrows for another two years and justify it by stating that the move was necessary because the Senators have to meet the expansion draft’s exposure criteria. (As it currently stands, the Senators can expose Curtis Lazar and Bobby Ryan up front.)
Sure, there’s no guarantee that Dahlen fulfills his projected ceiling as a prospect and other prospects like Nick Paul have seen their development stagnate as professionals after having good World Juniors tournaments as well, but a few writers have rationalize this trade by saying, if you’re looking at how teams like Florida, Buffalo, Toronto are built for the future, this may be Ottawa’s best chance to do some damage, especially with only two guaranteed seasons left on Erik Karlsson’s contract.
First, I hate this motivation out of fear because of Karlsson’s uncertain future. As of now, there’s nothing to suggest that he’s going anywhere and the Senators have a track record of re-signing their own. Maybe Karlsson doesn’t re-sign, but that’s a bridge to cross on another day.
Secondly, saying teams like Florida, Buffalo and Toronto were built for the future kind of ignores the fact that Ottawa’s vaunted 2011 rebuild preceded each of these respective teams’. Impatience and shortcut solutions put the Senators on this path. That was the time for Ottawa to invest in its new direction, fill their front office with qualified personnel who can keep up with the best demonstrated practices of the team’s competitors. Right now, it’s like the Senators are back in 2009, desperately trying to cling to a window of contention that closed years ago. Only this time, the Senators’ window of contention hasn’t arrived. It’s not even real.
Finally, if the Senators are going to go for it, overpaying and giving term to soon-to-be 36-year old winger who has depended heavily on Bo Horvat to drive his performance this season probably isn’t the best use of desirable assets. If you are going to flip these kinds of commodities, dream bigger than a “character guy” who’s going to be featured prominently in a third or fourth line role.
The Burrows deal does not reflect a “go for it” moment. It’s a massive overpay a player who fills a role that could have been addressed at a cheaper cost. It is just the latest example of the Senators thinning an already depleted farm system to feed Melnyk’s cyclic machine.
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Google Country's No. 2 DE talking to Buckeyes about third OSU visit - 247Sports
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Country's No. 2 DE talking to Buckeyes about third OSU visit - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Country's No. 2 DE talking to Buckeyes about third OSU visit
247Sports
He could be the hold-the-point DT the Buckeyes need (despite having a nice young group at DT that did well this past year). As I understand it, he got away from IMG Academy this weekend and went up to Florida State for a junior day event. He's also ...
LOOK: Urban Meyer hangs out with ex-Ohio State stars on 2017 Buckeye Cruise for CancerLandof10.com
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Country's No. 2 DE talking to Buckeyes about third OSU visit
247Sports
He could be the hold-the-point DT the Buckeyes need (despite having a nice young group at DT that did well this past year). As I understand it, he got away from IMG Academy this weekend and went up to Florida State for a junior day event. He's also ...
LOOK: Urban Meyer hangs out with ex-Ohio State stars on 2017 Buckeye Cruise for CancerLandof10.com
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LGHL How to watch Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017: Preview, game time, live streaming online
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How to watch Ohio State vs. Penn State 2017: Preview, game time, live streaming online
Chuck McKeever via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
After a huge upset win, the Buckeyes head to State College to take on the Nittany Lions.
Where did that come from?
It’s a question plenty of Ohio State basketball fans are asking themselves in the wake of the Buckeyes’ convincing win over No. 16 Wisconsin on Thursday night. Leading by as much as 20 at one point in the second half, Thad Matta’s team eventually closed out a 10-point victory over a Badger squad that shellacked them the first time they met this season.
The win broke a three-game skid for the Buckeyes, who have struggled to muster a consistent offense all year. (In their last loss, to Nebraska, Ohio State managed just 57 total points. They had 44 by halftime against Wisconsin.) The outburst was all the more surprising given the quality of the opponent: Wisconsin is far from a perfect team, but they came into the game with the No. 4 defense in the country; the Buckeyes were just the second team to crack 80 points against the Badgers all season.
It doesn’t erase the shortcomings of the program up to this point, but the resounding win does raise an important question: is this a blip, or a sign of things to come?
Tuesday’s showdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions (14-15, 11th in the Big Ten) will be our first indicator of which direction the program is leaning. It’s a game that the Buckeyes should absolutely win, even if it won’t save their season. The Nittany Lions have dropped three straight games, most recently on the road against Minnesota.
In their last four contests, Ohio State is a clean 4-0 against Penn State. Two of those wins were by 20 points. It’s safe to say that Thad Matta has Pat Chambers’ number. Let’s hope his team doesn’t take their foot off the gas just yet.
Numbers to know
3.4
That’s how many fouls Trevor Thompson averages per game, but that total accounts for Thad having to pull him once he starts getting whistled. Per 40 minutes, that number jumps all the way up to 6.0. Given that Thompson is the most efficient offensive player on the roster, it’s worth paying attention to the very short leash given to him by the referees.
58.5
Jae’Sean Tate, who has injected some serious life into an otherwise lackluster Buckeye season, also happens to be the worst free throw shooter in the starting lineup. As Ohio State’s premier offensive player, he goes to the line more than anyone else on the team (4.5 attempts/game). If this game is tight late, hope that the Nittany Lions foul someone else.
38
One of the only things the Buckeyes have done consistently well this season is rebound. They’re pulling down 38 of them a game, led by Trevor Thompson’s 9.1 average. That puts him less than one board away from averaging a double-double, if you want an indicator of just how much he contributes to the team.
Cast of characters
Ohio State
C.J. Jackson
Jackson is coming off of his best game as a Buckeye, notching 18 points (including 4-4 from 3-point range) against Wisconsin. His transformation from a reliable bench player to a much-needed starter has been a fun one to watch, and while his shooting performance on Thursday was well beyond what his average would predict, it could be a sign of things to come for the sophomore guard.
Trevor Thompson
The Buckeye big man is having the best season of his college career. He’s become an integral piece of the Ohio State offense, as well as a huge contributor in the rebounding department. They’ll need Thompson to have another big game against Penn State, who get a lot of key minutes from 6’9 power forward Mike Watkins, the team’s most efficient shooter and no slouch at rebounding himself.
Penn State
Tony Carr
Carr, a 6’3 freshman guard, is the Nittany Lions’ leading scorer this year. He’s coming off of back-to-back 20+ point performances, and if Penn State is going to generate any kind of offense against Ohio State’s stingy defense, it’ll be on Carr’s shoulders.
Mike Watkins
Penn State is leaning heavily on their freshmen this year. Watkins, in his first season of college basketball, has seized the role of the Nittany Lions’ most important big man. The team keeps him in a rotation—he averages just shy of 23 minutes a game—but he’s carved out an important niche nevertheless. Look for a good matchup between Watkins and Trevor Thompson in this one.
How to watch
Game time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Radio: 97.1 FM
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming: BTN2Go
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Chuck McKeever via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
After a huge upset win, the Buckeyes head to State College to take on the Nittany Lions.
Where did that come from?
It’s a question plenty of Ohio State basketball fans are asking themselves in the wake of the Buckeyes’ convincing win over No. 16 Wisconsin on Thursday night. Leading by as much as 20 at one point in the second half, Thad Matta’s team eventually closed out a 10-point victory over a Badger squad that shellacked them the first time they met this season.
The win broke a three-game skid for the Buckeyes, who have struggled to muster a consistent offense all year. (In their last loss, to Nebraska, Ohio State managed just 57 total points. They had 44 by halftime against Wisconsin.) The outburst was all the more surprising given the quality of the opponent: Wisconsin is far from a perfect team, but they came into the game with the No. 4 defense in the country; the Buckeyes were just the second team to crack 80 points against the Badgers all season.
It doesn’t erase the shortcomings of the program up to this point, but the resounding win does raise an important question: is this a blip, or a sign of things to come?
Tuesday’s showdown against the Penn State Nittany Lions (14-15, 11th in the Big Ten) will be our first indicator of which direction the program is leaning. It’s a game that the Buckeyes should absolutely win, even if it won’t save their season. The Nittany Lions have dropped three straight games, most recently on the road against Minnesota.
In their last four contests, Ohio State is a clean 4-0 against Penn State. Two of those wins were by 20 points. It’s safe to say that Thad Matta has Pat Chambers’ number. Let’s hope his team doesn’t take their foot off the gas just yet.
Numbers to know
3.4
That’s how many fouls Trevor Thompson averages per game, but that total accounts for Thad having to pull him once he starts getting whistled. Per 40 minutes, that number jumps all the way up to 6.0. Given that Thompson is the most efficient offensive player on the roster, it’s worth paying attention to the very short leash given to him by the referees.
58.5
Jae’Sean Tate, who has injected some serious life into an otherwise lackluster Buckeye season, also happens to be the worst free throw shooter in the starting lineup. As Ohio State’s premier offensive player, he goes to the line more than anyone else on the team (4.5 attempts/game). If this game is tight late, hope that the Nittany Lions foul someone else.
38
One of the only things the Buckeyes have done consistently well this season is rebound. They’re pulling down 38 of them a game, led by Trevor Thompson’s 9.1 average. That puts him less than one board away from averaging a double-double, if you want an indicator of just how much he contributes to the team.
Cast of characters
Ohio State
C.J. Jackson
Jackson is coming off of his best game as a Buckeye, notching 18 points (including 4-4 from 3-point range) against Wisconsin. His transformation from a reliable bench player to a much-needed starter has been a fun one to watch, and while his shooting performance on Thursday was well beyond what his average would predict, it could be a sign of things to come for the sophomore guard.
Trevor Thompson
The Buckeye big man is having the best season of his college career. He’s become an integral piece of the Ohio State offense, as well as a huge contributor in the rebounding department. They’ll need Thompson to have another big game against Penn State, who get a lot of key minutes from 6’9 power forward Mike Watkins, the team’s most efficient shooter and no slouch at rebounding himself.
Penn State
Tony Carr
Carr, a 6’3 freshman guard, is the Nittany Lions’ leading scorer this year. He’s coming off of back-to-back 20+ point performances, and if Penn State is going to generate any kind of offense against Ohio State’s stingy defense, it’ll be on Carr’s shoulders.
Mike Watkins
Penn State is leaning heavily on their freshmen this year. Watkins, in his first season of college basketball, has seized the role of the Nittany Lions’ most important big man. The team keeps him in a rotation—he averages just shy of 23 minutes a game—but he’s carved out an important niche nevertheless. Look for a good matchup between Watkins and Trevor Thompson in this one.
How to watch
Game time: 8:30 p.m. ET
Radio: 97.1 FM
TV: Big Ten Network
Streaming: BTN2Go
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Google Greg Schiano is official, some crazy uniform ideas, a new rivalry forms and more Ohio State...
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Greg Schiano is official, some crazy uniform ideas, a new rivalry forms and more Ohio State news - Landof10.com
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Greg Schiano is official, some crazy uniform ideas, a new rivalry forms and more Ohio State news
Landof10.com
When Luke Fickell tried to poach Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs from the Buckeyes in December, many assumed that — as part of Urban Meyer's fight to keep the energetic Coombs on his staff — he'd offer up some defensive coordinator ...
Greg Schiano will be only Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinatorEndZoneScore
Greg Schiano will work as Ohio State's lone defensive coordinator in 2017cleveland.com
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Greg Schiano is official, some crazy uniform ideas, a new rivalry forms and more Ohio State news
Landof10.com
When Luke Fickell tried to poach Ohio State cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs from the Buckeyes in December, many assumed that — as part of Urban Meyer's fight to keep the energetic Coombs on his staff — he'd offer up some defensive coordinator ...
Greg Schiano will be only Ohio State Buckeyes defensive coordinatorEndZoneScore
Greg Schiano will work as Ohio State's lone defensive coordinator in 2017cleveland.com
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LGHL Top recruits list Ohio State as a favorite
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Top recruits list Ohio State as a favorite
Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes make the cut for an elite WR, and an in-state recruit thinks highly of OSU.
In just one week, spring practice will begin for the Ohio State football program. With this, nine new Buckeyes will take the field for the first time—as well as two new coaches. Despite the busy time period, the Ohio State coaching staff is still finding time to ensure that the 2018 recruiting class is as impressive as this years.
This past weekend their efforts resulted in a small reward, as one of the country’s best recruits included Ohio State in his final 10 schools.
Four-star wide receiver Brennan Eagles (Houston, TX / Alief Taylor) is not a new name for those who follow Buckeye recruiting. Eagles is the country’s No. 7 WR in next year’s class and is the No. 43 overall player in the class, according to 247sports.
I have now decided to shut down my recruiting process and focus more on these 10 schools #WRU pic.twitter.com/iRmk3NvqKy
— Brennan Eagles (@_BrennanEagles_) February 27, 2017
Ohio State is in good company in Eagles’ recruitment as TCU, Georgia, Texas, LSU, UCLA, USC, Oklahoma, Florida State and Florida were all included in his list. As it stands today, home-state school Texas is seen as the runaway favorite. However, it is early in his recruitment and the Buckeyes are obviously still in play.
The Buckeyes have already been able to secure three commits in next year’s class, including two on the offensive side of the ball in five-star quarterback Emory Jones and four-star running back Brian Sneed. If Eagles were to commit to the Buckeyes, the future of Ohio State’s offense would be very bright.
Update on Jaelen Gill’s recruitment
Jaelen Gill (Westerville, OH / Westerville South) will be announcing his collegiate decision on Wednesday. The four-star RB is currently the No. 32 overall recruit and is the second best recruit in the state of Ohio, according to 247sports.
Urban Meyer has made it known that he wants to up the program’s efforts in recruiting Ohio, partially because of the amount of highly-touted recruits in the state for next year’s class. Securing Gill would be a great start to this approach.
Late Monday night, Gill appeared on the Holy Buckeye Show and announced a top five of Ohio State, UCLA, USC, Tennessee and Texas.
The Buckeyes have been a favorite to land the the 6-foot-1 runner, however, Gill may have Tweeted a cryptic message late yesterday afternoon.
Home will always be home. I can always come back! This will help me grow As a person.
— Raaaaaad Chaaaaad (@jaelengill21) February 27, 2017
The overall tone of this message is not comforting for Buckeye Nation, but it isn’t the nail in the coffin. Meyer is the best at what he does when it comes to recruiting, so the Buckeyes can never be counted out until it is all said and done.
Ohio State recruits sitting well in Rivals Top 100
Rivals.com updated its Top 100 recruiting rankings for the 2018 recruiting class on Monday, and there were multiple Ohio State commits and targets included on the list.
Of the three commits in next year’s class, five-star QB Emory Jones was the highest ranked, landing at No. 14. Four-star RB Brian Sneed was listed at No. 23, while newest Buckeye commit Jaiden Woodbey landed at No. 61.
Arguably the top recruit on Ohio State’s big board, five-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman (Fairfield, OH / Fairfield), was given high praise. Carman was near the top of the list, coming in as the No. 4 overall recruit. The Buckeyes are the current favorite to land Carman.
Check out the rest of the list to see where other Buckeye targets landed.
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Dan Hessler via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes make the cut for an elite WR, and an in-state recruit thinks highly of OSU.
In just one week, spring practice will begin for the Ohio State football program. With this, nine new Buckeyes will take the field for the first time—as well as two new coaches. Despite the busy time period, the Ohio State coaching staff is still finding time to ensure that the 2018 recruiting class is as impressive as this years.
This past weekend their efforts resulted in a small reward, as one of the country’s best recruits included Ohio State in his final 10 schools.
Four-star wide receiver Brennan Eagles (Houston, TX / Alief Taylor) is not a new name for those who follow Buckeye recruiting. Eagles is the country’s No. 7 WR in next year’s class and is the No. 43 overall player in the class, according to 247sports.
I have now decided to shut down my recruiting process and focus more on these 10 schools #WRU pic.twitter.com/iRmk3NvqKy
— Brennan Eagles (@_BrennanEagles_) February 27, 2017
Ohio State is in good company in Eagles’ recruitment as TCU, Georgia, Texas, LSU, UCLA, USC, Oklahoma, Florida State and Florida were all included in his list. As it stands today, home-state school Texas is seen as the runaway favorite. However, it is early in his recruitment and the Buckeyes are obviously still in play.
The Buckeyes have already been able to secure three commits in next year’s class, including two on the offensive side of the ball in five-star quarterback Emory Jones and four-star running back Brian Sneed. If Eagles were to commit to the Buckeyes, the future of Ohio State’s offense would be very bright.
Update on Jaelen Gill’s recruitment
Jaelen Gill (Westerville, OH / Westerville South) will be announcing his collegiate decision on Wednesday. The four-star RB is currently the No. 32 overall recruit and is the second best recruit in the state of Ohio, according to 247sports.
Urban Meyer has made it known that he wants to up the program’s efforts in recruiting Ohio, partially because of the amount of highly-touted recruits in the state for next year’s class. Securing Gill would be a great start to this approach.
Late Monday night, Gill appeared on the Holy Buckeye Show and announced a top five of Ohio State, UCLA, USC, Tennessee and Texas.
The Buckeyes have been a favorite to land the the 6-foot-1 runner, however, Gill may have Tweeted a cryptic message late yesterday afternoon.
Home will always be home. I can always come back! This will help me grow As a person.
— Raaaaaad Chaaaaad (@jaelengill21) February 27, 2017
The overall tone of this message is not comforting for Buckeye Nation, but it isn’t the nail in the coffin. Meyer is the best at what he does when it comes to recruiting, so the Buckeyes can never be counted out until it is all said and done.
Ohio State recruits sitting well in Rivals Top 100
Rivals.com updated its Top 100 recruiting rankings for the 2018 recruiting class on Monday, and there were multiple Ohio State commits and targets included on the list.
Of the three commits in next year’s class, five-star QB Emory Jones was the highest ranked, landing at No. 14. Four-star RB Brian Sneed was listed at No. 23, while newest Buckeye commit Jaiden Woodbey landed at No. 61.
Arguably the top recruit on Ohio State’s big board, five-star offensive tackle Jackson Carman (Fairfield, OH / Fairfield), was given high praise. Carman was near the top of the list, coming in as the No. 4 overall recruit. The Buckeyes are the current favorite to land Carman.
Check out the rest of the list to see where other Buckeye targets landed.
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Google Hoops: Penn State favored over Buckeyes - 247Sports
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Hoops: Penn State favored over Buckeyes - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Hoops: Penn State favored over Buckeyes
247Sports
Ohio State and Penn State will face off for the only time during the regular season on Tuesday in State College, Pa., and the Nittany Lions are listed as 2.5-point favorites over the Buckeyes. Penn State (14-15, 6-10 Big Ten) is having a good season ...
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Hoops: Penn State favored over Buckeyes
247Sports
Ohio State and Penn State will face off for the only time during the regular season on Tuesday in State College, Pa., and the Nittany Lions are listed as 2.5-point favorites over the Buckeyes. Penn State (14-15, 6-10 Big Ten) is having a good season ...
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Google Kurelic: Buckeyes in great shape for stud O-tackles? Package duo - 247Sports
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Kurelic: Buckeyes in great shape for stud O-tackles? Package duo - 247Sports
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Kurelic: Buckeyes in great shape for stud O-tackles? Package duo
247Sports
1) Some Bucknuts members have worried a bit about Buckeye 2018 offensive tackle recruiting. But that could actually turn into a huge strength of this Ohio State class, and 2018 offensive line recruiting in general appears in very good shape at this ...
Meyer's bouncebacks are worthwhile, McGuff leads Ohio State to conference title, Buckeyes volleyball continues runLandof10.com
Which redshirt freshmen Buckeyes are ready to break out? Ohio State spring football burning questionscleveland.com
Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Big upset win over WisconsinWaiting For Next Year
Columbus Dispatch -Land-Grant Holy Land -Eleven Warriors
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Kurelic: Buckeyes in great shape for stud O-tackles? Package duo
247Sports
1) Some Bucknuts members have worried a bit about Buckeye 2018 offensive tackle recruiting. But that could actually turn into a huge strength of this Ohio State class, and 2018 offensive line recruiting in general appears in very good shape at this ...
Meyer's bouncebacks are worthwhile, McGuff leads Ohio State to conference title, Buckeyes volleyball continues runLandof10.com
Which redshirt freshmen Buckeyes are ready to break out? Ohio State spring football burning questionscleveland.com
Buckeyes Roundball Roundup: Big upset win over WisconsinWaiting For Next Year
Columbus Dispatch -Land-Grant Holy Land -Eleven Warriors
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Google Ohio State crystal football auctioned for $8K on Buckeye Cruise - 247Sports
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Ohio State crystal football auctioned for $8K on Buckeye Cruise - 247Sports
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Ohio State crystal football auctioned for $8K on Buckeye Cruise
247Sports
The official start of 2017 Ohio State football begins on Tuesday, March 7, as the Buckeyes take to the practice field for the first time to begin spring ball. OSU looks to replace three players on offense and four on defense from the 2016 team that ...
LOOK: Urban Meyer hangs out with ex-Ohio State stars on 2017 Buckeye Cruise for CancerLandof10.com
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Ohio State crystal football auctioned for $8K on Buckeye Cruise
247Sports
The official start of 2017 Ohio State football begins on Tuesday, March 7, as the Buckeyes take to the practice field for the first time to begin spring ball. OSU looks to replace three players on offense and four on defense from the 2016 team that ...
LOOK: Urban Meyer hangs out with ex-Ohio State stars on 2017 Buckeye Cruise for CancerLandof10.com
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Google BH: Camp Kendall a go | Hill continues to catch on - 247Sports
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BH: Camp Kendall a go | Hill continues to catch on - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
BH: Camp Kendall a go | Hill continues to catch on
247Sports
Spring practice is right around the corner and the Buckeyes got good news over the weekend. Junior college transfer Kendall Sheffield has enrolled in classes in time to participate. Want daily inside scoop on the Buckeyes? Become a VIP right now and ...
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
BH: Camp Kendall a go | Hill continues to catch on
247Sports
Spring practice is right around the corner and the Buckeyes got good news over the weekend. Junior college transfer Kendall Sheffield has enrolled in classes in time to participate. Want daily inside scoop on the Buckeyes? Become a VIP right now and ...
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LGHL Urban Meyer has the best recruiting pitch for Ohio State in college football
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Urban Meyer has the best recruiting pitch for Ohio State in college football
Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Success at Ohio State has led to success in the NFL for top talent under Meyer.
“There’s a variety of things that kids look for. The success we’ve had recently and the exposure that this program has had for the right reasons has been really beneficial.”
- Urban Meyer, via Ben Axelrod, Land of 10
The Ohio State Buckeyes have developed a dominance in the recruiting world that seems impossible to replicate. After winning the first College Football Playoff, Ohio State sent a dozen players to the pros last year and have signed top-five recruiting class after top-five recruiting class under Urban Meyer. The head coach compared the attention focused on the program following the national championship to a “positive advertisement for 30 days...That’s basically what it was.”
The success that former Buckeyes have had in the NFL, from running back Ezekiel Elliott’s NFL-leading 1,631 rushing yards to wide receiver Michael Thomas’s 1,137 receiving yards (the most of any rookie receiver), has been a crucial part of what makes Ohio State such an appealing prospect for recruits. It was certainly a factor in Ohio State earning the No. 2 recruiting class in the country this year.
Even without a national title the past two seasons, Meyer and company have kept up the positive PR surrounding the program, especially when it comes to the NFL. This week’s NFL Scouting Combine is no exception, as the Buckeyes send eight former players to Indianapolis for the NFL’s premiere pre-draft evaluation. Overall, Meyer’s teams over the past five seasons have earned 39 combine invites.
The program continues to highlight the connection of these former players to Ohio State. Last season, Meyer posed for a selfie with Elliott at the combine. Ohio State also kept up a “combine central” to keep track of how the 14 representatives from the program fared over the multi-day event. This year, the Buckeyes’ are tweeting out encouragement to players like linebacker Raekwon McMillan with the not-so-subtle #DevelopedHere hashtag.
The benefits of the Ohio State program are on full display starting with the combine, moving through Pro Day and the NFL Draft and leading to the NFL season itself. Meyer has successfully managed to elevate the program’s visibility to the nation’s top prospects on the biggest stages in football to create the ultimate recruiting pitch.
“All of those players had chances to make leaps in bowl practice. The spring will show how ready they are for increased roles.”
- Bill Landis, Cleveland.com
This time last year, a significant number of redshirt freshman at Ohio State found themselves in positions to earn major roles for the 2016 football season. Given the loss of 16 starters from the previous season, Urban Meyer had a lot of talent to replace, and naturally turned to the pool of 21 freshman who had redshirted in 2015. As a result, players like running back Mike Weber, cornerback Damon Arnette and defensive tackle Robert Landers earned significant playing time last season. And while Meyer is evaluating these redshirts for their new roles in spring practice, his assessment truly started during bowl preparation back in December, even calling out freshmen who he did not feel were practicing up to their potential prior to a game in which they would not participate. Last season, Dre’Mont Jones wound up earning a starting job at defensive tackle after being recognized as a standout in the previous season’s bowl preparation.
This past season, 12 of 23 freshmen played as true freshmen, compared to just four in 2015. Opportunities for those 11 freshmen who were redshirted are also much more slim heading into this season, with 15 returning starters on both sides of the ball, and most of them unlikely to lose their starting jobs. With so much depth returning at key positions, these redshirt freshmen will be competing mainly for backup roles in 2017.
Drue Chrisman will replace Cameron Johnston at punter, but beyond that, the outlook is somewhat murky. At the tight end position alone, Jake Hausmann, Luke Farrell and Kierre Hawkins all redshirted last season and will compete for time behind returning starter Marcus Baugh. Other positions, namely quarterback, linebacker and safety, are two-deep as it is, and redshirts like quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr., safety Jahsen Wint and linebacker Tuf Borland will have a tough road ahead of them in spring practice to earn their backup roles.
“We just want to do our job. Make plays when plays present themselves. Whoever is in the game, we’re going to be accountable that they’re going to get it done.”
- Ohio State wide receiver coach Zach Smith, via Eric Seger, Eleven Warriors
The deficiencies of the Ohio State passing game became painfully apparent in Ohio State’s Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson in December. Then-freshman wide receiver Binjimen Victor reeled in the longest play of the game--a 21-yard reception from J.T. Barrett--but production from the passing game was limited to just 127 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns.
Combined with the loss of Curtis Samuel, who led the team with 74 receptions on the season, Noah Brown, who was second on the team with 32, and Dontre Wilson, who finished his career with 27 catches on the season, the remaining receivers on the Ohio State roster accounted for just 122 receptions last year. Tight end Marcus Baugh had 24 receptions last season for 269 yards, leading returning pass catchers in both categories, and recorded a pair of touchdowns. The remaining receivers, 12 in all, accounted for five touchdowns on the season.
Behind a new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the outlook looks somewhat more promising, however. While production at receiver was a problem last season, there is a wealth of talent, especially among the younger classes, that could make an impact on the field next season. Fifth-year James Clark is the only senior at the position, and played in every game last season. Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell, Johnnie Dixon and Eric Glover-Williams are all entering their junior season with the Buckeyes. Campbell in particular garnered some attention by the end of the year after locking down kickoff return duties (Glover-Williams also shined on special teams last season). McLaurin himself recorded two touchdowns in blowout wins over Rutgers and Nebraska. Dixon, meanwhile, battled injuries last season, but managed a rushing touchdown against Rutgers nonetheless. K.J. Hill is the highlight of the rising sophomore class, having reeled in 18 catches for 262 yards last season, and is balanced by Victor, who lost his redshirt when called for duty against Rutgers. Austin Mack and Alex Stump combined for three catches last season, and will have to catch up to their fellow receivers in terms of production next season.
Given issues the past two seasons at receiver, the incoming freshman class brings the length that has been lacking in other classes. The four freshman all measure 6-foot-3 or taller, with four-star recruit Trevon Grimes expected to figure immediately into the rotation. Jaylen Harris, Elijah Gardiner and Brendan White could also see playing time come the fall.
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Meredith Hein via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Success at Ohio State has led to success in the NFL for top talent under Meyer.
“There’s a variety of things that kids look for. The success we’ve had recently and the exposure that this program has had for the right reasons has been really beneficial.”
- Urban Meyer, via Ben Axelrod, Land of 10
The Ohio State Buckeyes have developed a dominance in the recruiting world that seems impossible to replicate. After winning the first College Football Playoff, Ohio State sent a dozen players to the pros last year and have signed top-five recruiting class after top-five recruiting class under Urban Meyer. The head coach compared the attention focused on the program following the national championship to a “positive advertisement for 30 days...That’s basically what it was.”
The success that former Buckeyes have had in the NFL, from running back Ezekiel Elliott’s NFL-leading 1,631 rushing yards to wide receiver Michael Thomas’s 1,137 receiving yards (the most of any rookie receiver), has been a crucial part of what makes Ohio State such an appealing prospect for recruits. It was certainly a factor in Ohio State earning the No. 2 recruiting class in the country this year.
Even without a national title the past two seasons, Meyer and company have kept up the positive PR surrounding the program, especially when it comes to the NFL. This week’s NFL Scouting Combine is no exception, as the Buckeyes send eight former players to Indianapolis for the NFL’s premiere pre-draft evaluation. Overall, Meyer’s teams over the past five seasons have earned 39 combine invites.
The program continues to highlight the connection of these former players to Ohio State. Last season, Meyer posed for a selfie with Elliott at the combine. Ohio State also kept up a “combine central” to keep track of how the 14 representatives from the program fared over the multi-day event. This year, the Buckeyes’ are tweeting out encouragement to players like linebacker Raekwon McMillan with the not-so-subtle #DevelopedHere hashtag.
The benefits of the Ohio State program are on full display starting with the combine, moving through Pro Day and the NFL Draft and leading to the NFL season itself. Meyer has successfully managed to elevate the program’s visibility to the nation’s top prospects on the biggest stages in football to create the ultimate recruiting pitch.
“All of those players had chances to make leaps in bowl practice. The spring will show how ready they are for increased roles.”
- Bill Landis, Cleveland.com
This time last year, a significant number of redshirt freshman at Ohio State found themselves in positions to earn major roles for the 2016 football season. Given the loss of 16 starters from the previous season, Urban Meyer had a lot of talent to replace, and naturally turned to the pool of 21 freshman who had redshirted in 2015. As a result, players like running back Mike Weber, cornerback Damon Arnette and defensive tackle Robert Landers earned significant playing time last season. And while Meyer is evaluating these redshirts for their new roles in spring practice, his assessment truly started during bowl preparation back in December, even calling out freshmen who he did not feel were practicing up to their potential prior to a game in which they would not participate. Last season, Dre’Mont Jones wound up earning a starting job at defensive tackle after being recognized as a standout in the previous season’s bowl preparation.
This past season, 12 of 23 freshmen played as true freshmen, compared to just four in 2015. Opportunities for those 11 freshmen who were redshirted are also much more slim heading into this season, with 15 returning starters on both sides of the ball, and most of them unlikely to lose their starting jobs. With so much depth returning at key positions, these redshirt freshmen will be competing mainly for backup roles in 2017.
Drue Chrisman will replace Cameron Johnston at punter, but beyond that, the outlook is somewhat murky. At the tight end position alone, Jake Hausmann, Luke Farrell and Kierre Hawkins all redshirted last season and will compete for time behind returning starter Marcus Baugh. Other positions, namely quarterback, linebacker and safety, are two-deep as it is, and redshirts like quarterback Dwayne Haskins Jr., safety Jahsen Wint and linebacker Tuf Borland will have a tough road ahead of them in spring practice to earn their backup roles.
“We just want to do our job. Make plays when plays present themselves. Whoever is in the game, we’re going to be accountable that they’re going to get it done.”
- Ohio State wide receiver coach Zach Smith, via Eric Seger, Eleven Warriors
The deficiencies of the Ohio State passing game became painfully apparent in Ohio State’s Fiesta Bowl loss to Clemson in December. Then-freshman wide receiver Binjimen Victor reeled in the longest play of the game--a 21-yard reception from J.T. Barrett--but production from the passing game was limited to just 127 yards, two interceptions and no touchdowns.
Combined with the loss of Curtis Samuel, who led the team with 74 receptions on the season, Noah Brown, who was second on the team with 32, and Dontre Wilson, who finished his career with 27 catches on the season, the remaining receivers on the Ohio State roster accounted for just 122 receptions last year. Tight end Marcus Baugh had 24 receptions last season for 269 yards, leading returning pass catchers in both categories, and recorded a pair of touchdowns. The remaining receivers, 12 in all, accounted for five touchdowns on the season.
Behind a new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the outlook looks somewhat more promising, however. While production at receiver was a problem last season, there is a wealth of talent, especially among the younger classes, that could make an impact on the field next season. Fifth-year James Clark is the only senior at the position, and played in every game last season. Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell, Johnnie Dixon and Eric Glover-Williams are all entering their junior season with the Buckeyes. Campbell in particular garnered some attention by the end of the year after locking down kickoff return duties (Glover-Williams also shined on special teams last season). McLaurin himself recorded two touchdowns in blowout wins over Rutgers and Nebraska. Dixon, meanwhile, battled injuries last season, but managed a rushing touchdown against Rutgers nonetheless. K.J. Hill is the highlight of the rising sophomore class, having reeled in 18 catches for 262 yards last season, and is balanced by Victor, who lost his redshirt when called for duty against Rutgers. Austin Mack and Alex Stump combined for three catches last season, and will have to catch up to their fellow receivers in terms of production next season.
Given issues the past two seasons at receiver, the incoming freshman class brings the length that has been lacking in other classes. The four freshman all measure 6-foot-3 or taller, with four-star recruit Trevon Grimes expected to figure immediately into the rotation. Jaylen Harris, Elijah Gardiner and Brendan White could also see playing time come the fall.
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Google Ohio State football announces Pro Day, other key Buckeyes' dates to know - cleveland.com
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Ohio State football announces Pro Day, other key Buckeyes' dates to know - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Ohio State football announces Pro Day, other key Buckeyes' dates to know
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The first major step for draft-eligible Ohio State Buckeyes comes this week with the start of the 2017 NFL Combine on Tuesday. It will be a quick turnaround after that to the next step in the draft process. Ohio State announced key ...
Spring Preview: Can Ohio State Find Another Malik Hooker at Safety?Eleven Warriors
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via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".
Ohio State football announces Pro Day, other key Buckeyes' dates to know
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The first major step for draft-eligible Ohio State Buckeyes comes this week with the start of the 2017 NFL Combine on Tuesday. It will be a quick turnaround after that to the next step in the draft process. Ohio State announced key ...
Spring Preview: Can Ohio State Find Another Malik Hooker at Safety?Eleven Warriors
all 4 news articles »
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BTN View 2017 All-Big Ten Women’s Basketball Team & award winners
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View 2017 All-Big Ten Women’s Basketball Team & award winners
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network
The Big Ten released its 2017 All-Big Ten Women's Basketball Team and individual award winners Monday night. See the full coaches and media teams inside.
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Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network
The Big Ten released its 2017 All-Big Ten Women's Basketball Team and individual award winners Monday night. See the full coaches and media teams inside.
Continue reading...
LGHL Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell named Big Ten women’s basketball Player of the Year
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Ohio State’s Kelsey Mitchell named Big Ten women’s basketball Player of the Year
Ben Martens via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes’ junior guard took home the hardware as the conference’s best player for the second time in her career.
The Ohio State women’s basketball just claimed a share of the Big Ten regular season title and the No. 1 seed in this week’s conference tournament in Indianapolis. Now the Buckeyes can add another accolade to their list of accomplishments: Big Ten Player of the Year.
Junior guard Kelsey Mitchell was announced as the winner of the award for the second time in her career on Tuesday afternoon during a broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Mitchell led the conference in scoring at 23.4 points per game, and also added three rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
Ohio State went 15-1 during the conference season, good enough to secure the 15th Big Ten title in program history and first since 2010. Overall, the Buckeyes went 25-5 during the regular season, and currently sit at No. 9 in the latest AP rankings.
This season, Mitchell became the fastest player in NCAA women’s basketball history to amass 2,000 career points. The Cincinnati native currently has 2,463 points, ranking third in Ohio State history, sixth in conference history, and sitting less than one thousand away from the NCAA’s all-time mark, which is now held by Washington’s Kelsey Plum, who broke the old record this past weekend.
A season ago, Mitchell also led the Big Ten in scoring en route to being named first-team All-Conference, and a consensus All-American. She lost out on Player of the Year honors to Minnesota’s Rachel Banham despite averaging 26.1 points, good for third in the country.
Mitchell previously won the award as a freshman in 2015, when she shared the honor with Amanda Zahui B. of the Golden Gophers. The first freshman to ever lead the nation in scoring, she averaged 24.9 points per game and set NCAA single-season records with 127 three-point field goals made and 35 consecutive games with a make from beyond the arc.
In addition to Player of the Year honors, Mitchell was also named first-team All-Conference for the third time. She was a unanimous selection.
Joining Mitchell in collecting postseason awards were Linnae Harper, named the conference’s 6th Player of the Year, and Tori McCoy, named to the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team.
Ohio State will play its first game of the Big Ten tournament on Friday at 12:00 p.m. ET against the winner of the 8/9 matchup between Iowa and Northwestern. The game will be broadcast live on BTN and be available for streaming on BTN2Go.
Continue reading...
Ben Martens via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
The Buckeyes’ junior guard took home the hardware as the conference’s best player for the second time in her career.
The Ohio State women’s basketball just claimed a share of the Big Ten regular season title and the No. 1 seed in this week’s conference tournament in Indianapolis. Now the Buckeyes can add another accolade to their list of accomplishments: Big Ten Player of the Year.
Junior guard Kelsey Mitchell was announced as the winner of the award for the second time in her career on Tuesday afternoon during a broadcast on the Big Ten Network. Mitchell led the conference in scoring at 23.4 points per game, and also added three rebounds, four assists, and a steal.
Ohio State went 15-1 during the conference season, good enough to secure the 15th Big Ten title in program history and first since 2010. Overall, the Buckeyes went 25-5 during the regular season, and currently sit at No. 9 in the latest AP rankings.
This season, Mitchell became the fastest player in NCAA women’s basketball history to amass 2,000 career points. The Cincinnati native currently has 2,463 points, ranking third in Ohio State history, sixth in conference history, and sitting less than one thousand away from the NCAA’s all-time mark, which is now held by Washington’s Kelsey Plum, who broke the old record this past weekend.
A season ago, Mitchell also led the Big Ten in scoring en route to being named first-team All-Conference, and a consensus All-American. She lost out on Player of the Year honors to Minnesota’s Rachel Banham despite averaging 26.1 points, good for third in the country.
Mitchell previously won the award as a freshman in 2015, when she shared the honor with Amanda Zahui B. of the Golden Gophers. The first freshman to ever lead the nation in scoring, she averaged 24.9 points per game and set NCAA single-season records with 127 three-point field goals made and 35 consecutive games with a make from beyond the arc.
In addition to Player of the Year honors, Mitchell was also named first-team All-Conference for the third time. She was a unanimous selection.
Joining Mitchell in collecting postseason awards were Linnae Harper, named the conference’s 6th Player of the Year, and Tori McCoy, named to the Big Ten’s All-Freshman team.
Ohio State will play its first game of the Big Ten tournament on Friday at 12:00 p.m. ET against the winner of the 8/9 matchup between Iowa and Northwestern. The game will be broadcast live on BTN and be available for streaming on BTN2Go.
Continue reading...
BTN Check out 2017 Big Ten Wrestling Championships preliminary seeds
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Check out 2017 Big Ten Wrestling Championships preliminary seeds
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network
The Big Ten Conference announced Monday the preliminary seeds for the 2017 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, which are set for March 4-5 at Iowa. Six schools boast at least one top-seeded wrestler, with Ohio State and Penn State leading the way with three apiece.
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Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network
The Big Ten Conference announced Monday the preliminary seeds for the 2017 Big Ten Wrestling Championships, which are set for March 4-5 at Iowa. Six schools boast at least one top-seeded wrestler, with Ohio State and Penn State leading the way with three apiece.
Continue reading...
