Ohio State vs. Oklahoma Highlights
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

The post Ohio State vs. Oklahoma Highlights appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Buckeyes in the NFL – Week 4
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

Week four is in the books, and boy did the Buckeye alums get it done this weekend. From the kicking game, to pass catching to rushing touchdowns, former Buckeyes did it all. Let’s take a look at what everyone did this past weekend in the NFL.

#Shhhhh


Buckeye wideouts had huge games this past weekend, with Terrelle Pryor, Michael Thomas and Corey Brown all catching touchdowns.

Michael Thomas had his second career receiving touchdown in the Saints 35-34 comeback win over the Chargers. Thomas had four receptions for 44 yards in the game, and his touchdown brought the Saints to within one score in the 4th quarter. Thomas leads all rookie receivers with 21 catches through four weeks.



Terrelle Pryor had a tough match-up on Sunday going against the Redskins and Josh Norman, but he came away with five receptions for 46 yards and this touchdown. On the celebration after the touchdown, Pryor received another 15 yard penalty to go along with his controversial one earlier in the year.



Corey “Philly” Brown had a 4th down touchdown reception from backup Derek Anderson, as the Panthers fell to the Falcons 48-33. Anderson came in to replace an injured Cam Newton and found Brown to cut the score to 41-33 at the time.



Carlos Hyde vs Ezekiel Elliott


The Cowboys and the 49ers faced off on Sunday, and brought together Ohio State’s last two 1,000 yard rushing running backs in Carlos Hyde and Ezekiel Elliott. Elliott’s Cowboys came out on top 24-17, but both guys had good games. Hyde went for 74 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown and Elliott had 23 carries for 138 and a touchdown and a 19 yard reception. Elliott is in good company as you can see from the graphic below as he ranks 5th in most rushing yards by a rookie through four games since 1966.





Silver Bullets in the NFL:


Kurt Coleman and Cameron Heyward were your big time performers on defense this past weekend, with Coleman getting a pick-six and Heyward racking up 3 sacks against the Chiefs. Heyward also had a tipped ball at the line of scrimmage that was intercepted.



Kickers are People Too:

Mike Nugent was a cult hero in Ohio State history, and he is quietly becoming one of the NFL’s best kickers. He connected on 5 field goals on Thursday to help the Bengals take down the Dolphins 22-7. It was the third five field goal game for Nugent in his career. Nugent is 10/11 on field goals this season for the Bengals.

Week 4 Stats –


Cardale Jones – DNP

Adolphus Washington – Played, No Stats

Corey Brown – 5 catches for 48 yards and a touchdown

Kurt Coleman – 6 tackles, 1 interception return for a touchdown

Ted Ginn Jr. – 2 catches for 14 yards

Andrew Norwell – Started on O-Line

Mike Adams – DNP

Mike Nugent – 5/5 on Field Goals, 1/1 XP’s

Terrelle Pryor – 5 catches for 46 yards and a touchdown

Ezekiel Elliott – 23 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown, 1 reception for 19 yards

Rod Smith – Played, No Stats

Jeff Heuerman – 1 catch for 19 yards

Bradley Roby – 2 total tackles

Taylor Decker – Started on O-Line

Corey Linsley – DNP (Injured)

Braxton Miller – DNP

John Simon – 3 total tackles

Jack Mewhort – Started on O-Line

Michael Bennett – DNP (Injured)

Jake McQuaide – Starting long snapper

Alex Boone –

Nate Ebner – 1 total tackle

Vonn Bell – 6 total tackles

James Laurinaitis – DNP

Michael Thomas – 4 catches for 44 yards and a touchdown

Eli Apple – DNP

Johnathan Hankins – 2 total tackles

Darron Lee – 7 total tackles

Nick Mangold – Started on O-Line

Jalin Marshall – DNP

Devin Smith – DNP (Injured)

Malcolm Jenkins – Bye Week

Cameron Heyward – 6 total tackles, 3 sacks

Ryan Shazier – DNP

Joey Bosa – DNP

Joshua Perry – 3 total tackles

Carlos Hyde – 15 rushes for 74 yards and a touchdown, 1 reception for 5 yards

Tyvis Powell – Played, no stats

Nick Vannett – DNP

The post Buckeyes in the NFL – Week 4 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

5-star DT schedules visit with Ohio State
Austin Kemp via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes host the nation’s top DT when the Wolverines come to visit.

Wilson to visit OSU


According to reports, five-star defensive tackle Marvin Wilson (Bellaire, TX / Episcopal) will be making a visit to Columbus, Ohio on Nov. 26 when the Buckeyes take on Michigan. Wilson is the No. 3 overall player in the class of 2017 and the No. 1 defensive tackle. Though Ohio State still seems like a long shot in this race, this comes as big news.


Ohio State had a zero percent likelihood to land Wilson coming into today, but now that there's an official visit scheduled, this bumps Ohio State's chances up – albeit not too much. Still, when Urban Meyer lays out the red carpet for a prospect, there's always a chance of the Buckeyes sneaking up into a contender. Wilson would be a huge addition to this year's already excellent recruiting class, but most of all, Wilson would be an excellent addition to the current Ohio State roster when he arrives on campus.

At 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, Wilson is a true run-stopper who can eat up multiple blockers on each play. Though the Buckeyes have made a living converting defensive ends to the inside in recent years, Wilson would be a welcomed addition. Texas seems like the favorite at this point and, depending on who LSU hires, the Tigers should be a force down the stretch as well.

Wide Receiver gets offer


The Buckeyes sent an offer to wide receiver Jadon Haselwood (Ellenwood, GA / Cedar Grove) on Tuesday morning. Haselwood now holds seven total offers and is likely going to end up as one of Georgia's best prospects when rankings for 2019 kids come out.


Haselwood is already a huge mismatch at 6-foot-3, but he also has the speed to take it the distance when in the open field. Being from Georgia, it's no surprise that the Bulldogs are the early favorite at this point.

That doesn't matter, though.

His recruiting process is just getting started and Urban Meyer's staff have done a great job recruiting the Peach State during his time in Columbus. Haselwood was in Columbus over the weekend so there is legitimate mutual interest. The Buckeyes are on Haselwood early and will have to recruit him hard over the next few years in order to have a chance to grab a potential future star at wide receiver.

Haselwood has a highlight reel on Hudl. By looking at his freshman highlights, it’s not a surprise that the big-time college football offers are coming this soon.



QUICK HITS


2018 defensive end Tyreke Smith (Cleveland, OH / Cleveland Heights) will be in Columbus on Saturday for Ohio State's game against Indiana. Smith is a four-star prospect and the Buckeyes are among one of his favorite schools. He does not yet hold an offer from Ohio State. Smith is a top 250 player according to 247Sports.

Continue reading...

Ohio State football is paying Indiana's former defensive coordinator $500 a month: Doug Lesmerises - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football is paying Indiana's former defensive coordinator $500 a month: Doug Lesmerises
cleveland.com
This year, Knorr is making $500 per month as a quality control coach for Ohio State and might have a few tips for the Buckeyes as they take on the Hoosiers on Saturday. This is another bonus for the moneyed powerhouses of college football, the ability ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Ohio State vs. Indiana | Kevin Wilson has Hoosiers believing in themselves - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State vs. Indiana | Kevin Wilson has Hoosiers believing in themselves
Columbus Dispatch
8-ranked Buckeyes close to their first loss. Ohio State's average margin of victory over Indiana under Meyer is 13.3 points, not bad for a Hoosiers team that hasn't been ranked since 1994. And fresh off a confidence-building win over the Spartans ...
First Look: Sky-high Hoosiers headed to the Horseshoe247Sports
Ohio State opens as 32.5-point favorites over IndianaLand-Grant Holy Land
'Ohio State vs. Indiana - 10/8/16 College Football Pick, Odds, and Prediction'Sports Chat Place (blog)
News Sentinel
all 404 news articles »

Continue reading...

Buckeyes in the NFL: Week 4 - Ohio State Football - 247Sports - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes in the NFL: Week 4 - Ohio State Football - 247Sports
247Sports
How did former Ohio State stars perform in week 4 of the 2016 NFL season?

and more »

Continue reading...

Ohio State football is paying Indiana's former defensive coordinator $500 a month: Doug Lesmerises - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football is paying Indiana's former defensive coordinator $500 a month: Doug Lesmerises
cleveland.com
This year, Knorr is making $500 per month as a quality control coach for Ohio State and might have a few tips for the Buckeyes as they take on the Hoosiers on Saturday. This is another bonus for the moneyed powerhouses of college football, the ability ...

and more »

Continue reading...

LeBron James reps Buckeyes from Cavs weight room - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


LeBron James reps Buckeyes from Cavs weight room
247Sports
LeBron James' love for Ohio State is well documented and the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar was repping the Buckeyes on Monday at training camp. James posted an Instagram photo Monday featuring himself in the Cavs' weight room wearing an Ohio State ...


Continue reading...

Buckeyes offer country's No. 10 overall prospect - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes offer country's No. 10 overall prospect
247Sports
What's next for the Buckeyes? Make sure you're in the loop -- take five seconds to sign up for our FREE Buckeyes newsletter now! The 6-foot-3 and 190-pound Haselwood has a list of offers that in addition to Ohio State includes Georgia, Michigan, LSU, ...

and more »

Continue reading...

Preview: Indiana 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



For the fifth game of the season, our Ohio State Buckeyes face off against a 3-1 Indiana Hoosier team fresh off of an overtime upset of the Michigan State Spartans at home. The Hoosiers travel to Columbus for a date against the undefeated Buckeyes, in what could possibly turn out to be an exciting game in BIG 10 play. Obviously, the Buckeyes are 4-0 and playing at home after a homecoming game that saw them take on a Rutgers team that was ill-prepared for them. They won that game 58-0 and they had 8 different offensive players score touchdowns during that game. This could either be the final home game tuneup or another exciting BIG 10 Conference game. Let’s take a look at the playmakers on both squads.



Last season, the Quarterback controversy hit the Buckeyes squad hard and with the indecision at the most critical position the Buckeyes struggled mightily against the Hoosiers. Now, J.T. Barrett anointed as the clear-cut starter at Quarterback, the Buckeyes have stability at the helm to combat against the new-look Hoosiers Defense that has retained 9 of the 11 defenders from last years team. J.T. Barrett will lead the charge against an experienced defense and I know he will be up to the task. He has proved to be the leader in the locker room and he and the Buckeye coaches will get the team ready to as the great Bobby Boucher would say,”Open up a can of…”. You know what I am implying and it’ll be interesting to see how he leads and what he is capable of doing to this experienced set of defenders. Tegray Scales and company will attempt to stop J.T. Barrett from putting up points and putting the game out of hand. That is a tall task and with the surplus amount of weapons on this Buckeyes squad, we will just have to wait and find out. Speaking of weapons, Curtis Samuel is also hoping to make an impact during the game. Last season Samuel was not utilized as frequently as he is being used this season. He will look to put up huge numbers against the opposing defense to make up for last season’s near letdown.

On the other side of the equation, you have Richard Lagow and Devine Redding. Lagow, a Junior from Plano, Texas has put up some eye-popping numbers so far this season. He is 79 of 127 for 1278 yards, with 9 touchdown passes against 6 interceptions. He completes 62% of his passes and has been sacked a total of 8 times so far. He threw 5 of his 6 picks against a scrappy Wake Forrest Defense that forced him to make errant throws en route to a 33-28 win on Indiana’s own home turf. If the Silver Bullets can force turnovers for the entirety of the game, they will be in good shape. The Buckeyes possess a stout defense that can turn offenses away and get to the Quarterback. It might take a little bit, but they will get what they want. At Running Backs Devine Redding returns and last season, he ground out 45 tough yards on 30 attempts for two scores and he will look for better results against a Buckeye Defense that made him earn every single yard from last year’s scrimmage. With just as many defensive weapons donning the Scarlet and Gray, we will see if the depth at every position prevents Redding from having a great game. The Buckeyes are a force to be reckoned with and they will impose their will against Indiana.

Results:

Last games prediction was close to being halfway correct. The only thing I didn’t predict was the shutout. I was close to the amount of points that the Buckeyes put up (55-12) and I was off by 3 points. This week, I think the Silver Bullets get the turnovers that continue to make them one of the best defenses in the nation. Ohio State will look to make and impact on defense and to score. I have a feeling that the Rushmen will put the pressure on the Indiana Offense, early and often and suffocate them against the run and pass. The Secondary will also give no breathing room to the Hoosiers Wide Receiving corps. I say the Buckeyes get to Lagow and sack him 4 times and add 3 interceptions and a fumble during the game. J.T. Barrett goes off again and firmly places himself into Buckeyes lore with 242 passing yards with 3 total touchdowns, 2 passing touchdowns and a rushing score. Weber goes bananas with another 100+ yards for the game and a score. Samuel is used throughout the game and will rack up nearly 160+ total yards with a pair of scores. The defense turned the ball over and scores once.

Final Score: 49-3 Ohio State




Continue reading...

Thoughts on the Buckeyes chances with five-star Marvin Wilson - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Thoughts on the Buckeyes chances with five-star Marvin Wilson
247Sports
With Ohio State paying a visit to Norman to take on Oklahoma a few weeks back, the college football world didn't know what to expect out of the Buckeyes. As it turned out, OSU exceeded everyone's expectations, beating the Sooners 45-24 in Memorial ...
Five-star Marvin Wilson sets Ohio State visitBuckeyeGrove.com (subscription)

all 8 news articles »

Continue reading...

Ohio State football: Buckeyes clicking on all cylinders - UPI.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football: Buckeyes clicking on all cylinders
UPI.com
Four games into the season, second-ranked Ohio State is 4-0 and has looked absolutely dominant. The Buckeyes (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) are averaging 57.0 points per game (third in the nation). Their 228 points are a school record for the first four games in a ...
Ohio State football | Jack Looks Back: Buckeyes vs. Hoosiers? Think hammer vs. nailColumbus Dispatch
B1G awards race tracker: Buckeyes continue to lead the wayESPN (blog)
Ohio State has been the best team in the country. Let's try to spot Buckeye weaknesses.SB Nation
MyDaytonDailyNews -OSU - The Lantern
all 452 news articles »

Continue reading...

Urban Meyer: JT Barrett, Curtis Samuel both deserve Heisman consideration - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Urban Meyer: JT Barrett, Curtis Samuel both deserve Heisman consideration
ESPN
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Make room for more than one Ohio State player in the Heisman Trophy conversation. After offering an endorsement for quarterback J.T. Barrett as a candidate over the weekend, Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer added a second to the mix ...
Buckeyes offer country's No. 10 overall prospect247Sports
Ohio State's Curtis Samuel deserves Heisman praise as wellLand-Grant Holy Land

all 7 news articles »

Continue reading...

Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Heard Around the Shoe, AYNE? Non-Voters Top Ten
WVaBuckeye via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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






Scott wraps up the results from WDYWTS . . ,



Ben van Ooyen latest recruiting round-up



Ben van Ooyen gives his two cents worth in this poll . . ,



The post Scarlet and Gray Drive Time Re-Wind: Heard Around the Shoe, AYNE? Non-Voters Top Ten appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Ohio State’s Curtis Samuel deserves Heisman praise as well
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


J.T. Barrett isn’t the only Heisman Trophy candidate on Ohio State, according to Urban Meyer.

“I think it's a little harder at that position to get it, the H-back. But he certainly is having that kind of year that he should be in the conversation.”

- Urban Meyer via Austin Ward, ESPN


When discussing Heisman Trophy candidates, the name that comes immediately to mind for Ohio State is quarterback J.T. Barrett. And for good reason, considering the junior signal-caller has led the Buckeyes to a 4-0 record and doing so in record-breaking fashion. But head coach Urban Meyer says there’s another candidate that should be considered: Curtis Samuel. The Buckeyes H-back has been phenomenal this season and has proven his versatility in his ‘Percy Harvin’ role. This season alone, Samuel has rushed for 328 yards and two touchdowns on 41 carries and has 23 receptions for 345 yards and three touchdowns.

Meyer admits it would be hard for Samuel to win the award simply because he’s not just dominating a single statistic but his overall effort is certainly noteworthy at this point in the season. Ohio State would surely be an entirely different team without him. While Samuel probably won’t win, it’s never a bad thing to get this sort of recognition from your head coach. After spending two seasons as Ezekiel Elliott’s backup and dabbling in some receiving duties, Samuel’s role in the offense has finally blossomed and he’s seeing the immediate returns.

“He came to me one day and said, 'Since we're always the guys picking up the running backs, how about you pick me up?’”

- Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland.com


With all of the scoring that Ohio State had against Rutgers in the 58-0 blowout win, it might have been easy to miss. But when Mike Weber took a handoff and sprinted past the defense for a 46-yard touchdown run, Weber flipped the script for the usual endzone celebration with his teammates. In previous visits to the endzone, an Ohio State running back will normally get lifted up high by the first offensive lineman to meet him at the finish line. Instead, on his touchdown run, Weber tried to return the favor and it didn’t quite go as planned.

There was a clear miscommunication as Weber tried to lift Pat Elflein off the ground and Elflein only got about four inches in the air before coming back to the ground. Weber explains that Elflein forgot to jump in the air and didn’t help him out much, but takes the blame for not remembering against Tulsa, when Weber scored his first touchdown of the season. It’s a funny story that’s worth taking a look at the video provided by Cleveland.com.

“It’s so rare we get to see returning NCAA champions hit at any time during the season and we’ve got two great ones set to tangle the very first weekend of the season. It’s surely going to be memorable.”

- NWCA Executive Director Mike Moyer via Jason Bryant, NWCA Online


Gabe Dean of Cornell, a two-time NCAA champion, and Ohio State’s Myles Martin, the returning NCAA champion, have officially confirmed their participation at 51st annual NWCA All-Star Classic on November 5 at Cleveland State University’s Wolstein Center. The event has served as the major kickoff event since its inception in 2012. Dean is weighed at 184 pounds while Martin wrestles at 174 but will make a jump up in the weight class for the match.

This particular match is the first matchup of returning NCAA champions at the All-Star Classic since another Buckeye, Logan Stieber, defeated Oklahoma’s Kendric Maple in 2014. Dean will likely enter the favorite as he’s been one of the most dominant wrestlers since he stepped into the college ranks while Martin won a national championship last season as a No. 11 seed.

STICK TO SPORTS:

• Why Google finally made a phone.
• What’s the right way for humans to contaminate Mars with life?
• The first teaser of Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events is as grim as you would expect.

Continue reading...

Will Dontre Wilson continue to be an offensive priority against Indiana?
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


How many ways can the coaches find to get the senior the ball?

When Dontre Wilson announced that he had decided to attend The Ohio State University on Signing Day 2013, after having previously been committed to Oregon, Buckeye fans were giddy thinking of what Urban Meyer could do with the skilled speedster from DeSoto, TX.

However, after a promising freshman season in Columbus, his next two years were hampered with foot injuries after breaking it against Michigan State in 2014. Since then, he has seen his productivity ebb and flow, and last year caught only seven balls for 63 yards, missing all or most of nine of Ohio State’s 13 games.

However, with a mass exodus for the Buckeyes after last season, the expectation was that, if healthy, Wilson would see an increased role at H-back and/or wide receiver in 2016, and the season’s first two games certainly bore that out. Against Bowling Green and Tulsa, Wilson combined for 141 yards from scrimmage and two touchdowns in the air and one on the ground. However, in the biggest game of the non-conference slate, he had only two receptions for 19 yards against Oklahoma in week three.

After the game, Wilson tweeted his disappointment in his lack of offensive involvement, before deleting the post. While head coach Urban Meyer has said that he wants to lead the league in social media, this is likely not what he had in mind.

So, it was a little surprising that, following the season’s only open week, against Rutgers Wilson seemed to be a focal point for the offensive play-calling beginning with the team’s second drive of the day. The senior lined up in multiple spots all game and quarterback J.T. Barrett got him the ball in a number of creative ways.

In all, Wilson accounted for 98 all-purpose yards and a touchdown against the Scarlet Knights. So with this renewed attention from the coaching staff, Dontre Wilson is the offensive player to watch against the surprisingly stout Indiana Hoosiers this Saturday.

The stats


Name: Dontre Wilson
Number: 2
Position: Wide Receiver
Year: Senior
Height: 5’10
Weight: 195 lbs.

With the sky-high expectations that Wilson brought with him to Columbus, it is not a stretch to say that his injury-hampered career has been a bit of a disappointment to this point, at least from a productivity perspective. Through his first three seasons, he accounted for just 923 yards from scrimmage, however, he did show flashes of what he was capable of accumulating 1,218 kickoff return yards, fifth most in Ohio State history.

However, with his frustrating first three years behind him, throughout the off-season, Wilson repeatedly told himself to stay positive and to make the most of his last chance in Columbus.

“You can’t get down on yourself, you still have time. With the guys by your side you can get through it and keep pushing,” Wilson said.

Before the season, Wilson said that he felt like after suffering through a rocky three years, his senior season would be the one to make it all worthwhile.

“It feels like everything is finally falling into place this year, after all I have gone through,” he said.

Opposition research

Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

In his five-plus seasons as the head coach of the Hoosiers, Kevin Wilson (no relation) has turned the Indiana offense into one of the Big Ten’s most prolific scoring units, averaging 30.45 points per game. The only problem with that stat is that IU’s opponents have averaged 35.49 ppg over that same period.

However, this season, Wilson has something slightly different brewing in Bloomington as his team is currently ranked 22nd in total offense and a much-improved 51st in total defense.

The IU defense has seen nearly immediate improvements from new defensive coordinator Tom Allen’s 4-2-5 scheme. The goal of the defense is to essentially run a nickel package on the majority of plays to keep pace with up-tempo offenses, like Ohio State’s. With only two linebackers on the field at a time, they are expected to be aggressive run stoppers, aided by the safeties, which leaves cornerbacks alone on the outside; the LBs will also be called upon to generate an additional pass-rush.

The heart of the Hoosier defense is Cincinnati native Tegray Scales. The junior linebacker leads the team in tackles with 35, tackles for loss with 5.5, and sacks with two. The Colerain High School grad also has an interception return for a touchdown this season. Along with fellow LB Marcus Oliver, Wilson said that Scales has grown into a leader as an upperclassman. With increased maturity, he has found the confidence in his teammates to focus on his specific responsibilities, and to not try to take too much on himself.

That confidence led to him being selected as the team’s Defensive Player of the Game in the overtime upset of Michigan State last Saturday.



While it is unlikely that any defense will dissuade the Ohio State coaching staff from running the ball, if receivers like Wilson, Noah Brown, or Parris Campbell (or any of the other nine Buckeyes that caught passes against Rutgers) can beat their one-on-one coverage on the outside, it could be a big day for the passing game as well.

Indiana will be looking for Scales and Oliver to create pressure on Barrett in hopes of mitigating the talent advantage that Ohio State possesses.

What to watch for


On a team with as many playmakers as Ohio State, targets can be fickle (no pun intended), but if the game-plan against Rutgers is any indication as to how Ed Warinner and Tim Beck want to use Wilson moving forward, you should expect to see him get the ball in a multitude of different ways this week.

Last Saturday, in addition to handling the punt return duties, Wilson was all over the Ohio State offense, lining up in the slot, on the outside, and in the backfield. Barrett got him the ball on traditional WR routes, on a shuffle pass, from the zone-read, on an end-around, and on a wheel-route. Barrett overthrew Wilson on a fade to the end-zone as well.

While Wilson didn’t necessarily have any huge, explosive plays against the Scarlet Knights, it was interesting to see just how many different ways that the Ohio State coaches found to get the ball in his hands.

After returning a punt 16 yards to set up Ohio State’s second drive, on first down Wilson took the ball on an end-around, picking up seven.



Then later in the drive, he settled into a hole in the Rutgers zone until a scrambling Barrett could find him for the game’s first score.


After halftime, two of the first three plays from scrimmage were zone-reads to Wilson up the middle.



While certainly Wilson and the coaches would have liked for one of these creative play-calls to result in a major gain, in terms of getting the senior involved in all aspects of the offense, last Saturday was a success, and is hopefully predictive of things to come throughout the season.

Continue reading...

Audio: Listen to your Big Ten coach’s Week 6 teleconference
BTN.com staff via Big Ten Network

Each Tuesday morning during the Big Ten football season, the 14 Big Ten football coaches hold a Big Ten teleconference with reporters from around the country. We post the audio for each segment of the call here. Filed under: Audio Tagged: Teleconferences

Continue reading...

DaddyBigBucks said:

I speak Gobbledygook, which is structurally similar to Gibberish, so I'll give it a shot.

Gene Smith said that Jim Harbaugh was rebuilding the program at TSUN. Harbaugh took umbrage, claiming that TSUN is the top program ever and was never anything less, or hyperbole to that effect.

Harbaugh recently said that Ash is building the Rutgers program. The post above seems to imply that Ash remains unaffected by his New Jersey surroundings and is insufficiently douchetastic to take umbrage at an obvious compliment the way that Harbaugh once did.

But that is a rather a broad inference and is only a guess at the meaning of the post in question.

Click to expand...

Solid work Big Bucks. :cheers:

I also just call Harbaugh Dear Leader b/c it creeps me out how deeply tsun fans inhale his farts.

The View From Beyond The Shoe: Salty UM Fans
Mike Meals via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We’ve now crossed over the five-week mark in the 2016 college football season. Both the AP and Coaches poll have the same top four teams, with only Houston and Washington switching spots based on which poll you look at. In fact, they have the exact same ten teams, with only the final locations differing from poll to poll.

What does this mean to the average fan, five weeks into the season? That means, for the most part, the ten best teams have started to separate themselves from the rest of the college football world. This means that, at this time, these ten teams are good. Is number ten as good as number two? No, not at this time. But is number ten better than number 24? Damn right they are.

We can all agree that these teams are good. Is Alabama the best team in the country? Probably. They are the kings of college football right now. Do I think Ohio State would beat them? I think we’d have a really good chance, but I won’t bet the mortgage on it. Do I think Michigan would beat Houston? Depends on when the game is played and how long Herman has to game plan, but yeah, Michigan probably wins that game.

Why do I say this? Because while I love a good trolling. If I say something, I usually believe it to be true. I think Ohio State would be able to beat Alabama. I think Michigan is one of the four best teams in the country right now, but would get beat soundly in a matchup with Ohio State. I think with a month to prepare, Tom Herman’s Coogs are one of the scariest teams in the country.

But there are people in this world who are so sensitive, they can’t even take a compliment about their team without wanting to argue. If you say Michigan is a better team overall than Houston, you’d think Houston fans would be the ones to be offended. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Instead, you get Michigan fans who want to argue that they’ve played a tougher schedule than Ohio State. They haven’t. They also are not as good on the field as the Buckeyes have been.

Ohio State has had more rushing yards this season, in one less game (OSU – 1308, UM – 919). OSU has more passing yards (977-952), more interceptions (9-3), and even a better punter (50.6 yard average vs. 41.5 yards). Statistically speaking, Ohio State has the edge. But even more than that, when you put both teams under the microscope, Ohio State has passed the eye test too.

When I say Ohio State is a better team right now, people think I am looking through Scarlet-tinted glasses. But that’s not the case. They just are a better team at this point. And the proof is in the pudding. But even with stacks on stacks of information, there are a lot of Michigan fans who fail to look at their team objectively, fans who are unable to admit that the 4th best team in the country isn’t as good as the first or second.

Will Michigan beat Ohio State? Not this year, not the way these two teams are currently playing. Will it be a good game between two really good teams? Damn right it will. Will any Michigan fans admit they are not as good as Ohio State? Damn right they will not.

It’s a shame too. Instead of enjoying what will be a good season for them, the Walmart Wolverines of the world are too worried about the “disrespect” their team is getting.

It’s okay to settle for second best, Ann Arbor. You should get used to it too, you’re not moving up any time soon, at least while Urban is in Columbus.

The post The View From Beyond The Shoe: Salty UM Fans appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Depth Chart: Indiana Week
Brandon Zimmerman via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Once again, there were no major changes to the Ohio State depth chart as they prepare for Indiana. The only change was at right guard where the injured Demetrius Know was replaced with Evan Lisle.

OFFENSE

POS NAME HT WT CLASS
QB J.T. BARRETT 6’2” 225 JR (R)
JOE BURROW 6’3” 208 FR (R)
RB MIKE WEBER OR 5’10” 215 FR (R)
CURTIS SAMUEL 5’11” 200 JR
WR1 NOAH BROWN OR 6’2” 222 SO (R)
PARIS CAMPBELL 6’0” 205 SO (R)
WR2 COREY SMITH OR 6’1” 195 SR (R)
JOHNNIE DIXON 5’11” 198 SO
H-BACK CURTIS SAMUEL OR 5’11” 200 JR
DONTRE WILSON 5’10” 195 SR
TE MARCUS BAUGH 6’5” 255 JR
AJ ALEXANDER 6’2” 254 FR (R)
LT JAMARCO JONES 6’5” 310 JR (R)
EVAN LISLE 6’7” 308 JR (R)
LG MICHAEL JORDAN 6’7” 310 FR
MATT BURRELL 6’4” 305 FR (R)
C PAT ELFLEIN 6’3” 300 SR (R)
BRADY TAYLOR 6’5” 300 SO (R)
RG BILLY PRICE 6’4” 315 JR (R)
EVAN LISLE 6’6” 308 JR (R)
RT ISAIAH PRINCE 6’7” 310 SO
BRANDEN BOWEN 6’7” 315 FR (R)
WR-Z TERRY MCLAURIN OR 6’0” 204 SO (R)
JAMES CLARK 5’10” 186 JR (R)





DEFENSE

POS NAME HT WT CLASS
DE TYQUAN LEWIS 6’4” 266 JR
RASHOD BERRY 6’4” 252 FR (R)
DT DRE’MONT JONES OR 6’3” 280 FR (R)
DAVON HAMILTON 6’4” 297 FR (R)
DT MICHAEL HILL 6’3” 295 JR (R)
ROBERT LANDERS 6’1” 285 FR (R)
DE SAM HUBBARD OR 6’5” 266 SO (R)
JALYN HOLMES 6’5” 274 JR
SLB CHRIS WORLEY 6’2” 228 JR (R)
JEROME BAKER 6’1” 225 SO
MLB RAEKWON MCMILLAN 6’2” 243 JR
CRAIG FADA 6’1” 225 SR
WLB DANTE BOOKER OR 6’3” 236 JR
JEROME BAKER 6’2” 230 SR
CB GAREON CONLEY 6’0” 195 JR (R)
DAMON ARNETTE 6’0” 195 FR
CB MARSHON LATTIMORE OR 6’0” 195 SO (R)
DENZEL WARD 5’10” 185 SO
S MALIK HOOKER 6’2” 205 SO (R)
ERICK SMITH 6’0” 202 JR
S DAMON WEBB 5’11” 193 JR
JORDAN FULLER 6’2” 205 FR





SPECIAL TEAMS

POS NAME HT WT CLASS
P CAMERON JOHNSTON 5’11” 195 SR
K TYLER DURBIN 6’3” 210 SR
LS LIAM MCCULLOUGH 6’2” 210 FR (R)
PR DONTRE WILSON OR 5’10” 195 SR
COREY SMITH OR 6’1” 190 FR
CURTIS SAMUEL OR 5’11” 200 JR
KR DONTRE WILSON OR 5’10” 195 SR
JAMES CLARK OR 5’10” 186 JR (R)
JOHNNIE DIXON 5’11” 198 SO







The post Depth Chart: Indiana Week appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

Continue reading...

Ohio State-Indiana 2016 depth chart: No changes heading into Big Ten matchup
Ian Cuevas via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The fifth depth chart of the season has no changes as the Buckeyes host the Hoosiers.



After a slow start, Ohio State thumped Rutgers in its first Big Ten game of the season to a tune of 58-0. The Buckeyes made up for a quiet first quarter and simply shut down any offense that the Scarlet Knights had. This week Ohio State hosts Indiana, who just upset Michigan State. The Buckeyes will have to be wary of an upset-minded Hoosiers team. Here’s a look at the depth chart this week.

J.T. Barrett is the starting quarterback and will be for the entirety of the season, barring injury. Barrett and the offense took off following the first quarter, throwing 21-of-29 for 238 yards and four touchdowns as he continues his Heisman campaign. He only played about half of the third quarter before backups were brought in, but still managed to break the all-time school record for career passing touchdowns. Joe Burrow got some action as well and remains the backup.

At running back, Mike Weber had his best game of the season. Weber remains the starter with OR in between he and Samuel. Weber rushed for 144 yards on 14 carries and added a touchdown as well. The highlight of Weber’s afternoon was a 46-yard touchdown run near the start of the third quarter.

The starters are the same as in previous weeks, as the receiving core continues its growth. Noah Brown OR Parris Campbell starts at X, Corey Smith OR Johnnie Dixon, and Terry McLaurin OR James Clark at Z. Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor are the third-string options. 12 different players caught passes on Saturday, including everyone listed here except for Corey Smith. Parris Campbell was the standout among the receivers with four catches for 36 yards. McLaurin was the only receiver to catch a touchdown.

The H-back spot remains with Curtis Samuel OR Dontre Wilson. Samuel continues to be one of the more electrifying players in the country, rushing for 68 yards on nine carries and hauling in seven receptions for 86 yards and a touchdown. Wilson got involved early with a touchdown reception and had four catches for 53 yards.

The tight end spot is firmly locked down by Marcus Baugh with A.J. Alexander listed as the backup. Baugh hauled in his only catch of the afternoon for 16 yards for a touchdown and also played a key role in some blocking schemes to free up the running backs.

The offensive line starters are listed as Jamarco Jones, Michael Jordan, Pat Elflein, Billy Price, and Isaiah Prince (from left to right). The offensive line had no issue with Rutgers’ pass rush as Barrett had plenty of time to throw and the running backs had wide open lanes to run through.

On the defensive side of the ball, Sam Hubbard OR Jayln Holmes and Tyquan Lewis remain listed as the defensive end starters. The backups at defensive end are Nick Bosa OR Jonathon Cooper. In the middle, Michael Hill anchors the defensive line alongside Dre’Mont Jones who replaced Tracy Sprinkle and Davon Hamilton is listed as the co-starter with Jones.

The linebacking core continued to be a strong unit against Oklahoma. Raekwon McMillan is still slotted in at middle linebacker. Surrounding him are outside linebackers Chris Worley and Dante Booker OR Jerome Baker. Booker suffered a slight MCL sprain early on against Bowling Green and a combination of Joe Burger and Jerome Baker have stepped in very well in his place. Rashod Berry, Joe Burger, and Craig Fada are your backups. Baker has been the one to fill in for Booker as of late, and has played well.

At cornerback, Gareon Conley is the starter on one end and Marshon Lattimore OR Denzel Ward on the other for the second corner spot. For safeties, Damon Webb slides over this season with Malik Hooker getting the other safety spot. Erick Smith is listed as the backup to Hooker, while Jordan Fuller is the backup to Webb. This was the first week the defensive backs didn’t get an interception, surprisingly, but still made it a nightmare for Rutgers’ passing attack.

For special teams, sophomore walk-on Tyler Durbin continues to be the starter at kicker for both kickoffs and field goals as Sean Nuernberger recovers from a groin injury that forced him to miss most of camp. Durbin hit seven of his eight extra points against Rutgers, his first extra point miss of the season, but did knock in a field goal from 33 yards out.

Senior Cameron Johnston remains as the punter, and that’s no surprise considering he’s been a mainstay since his freshman season and has done a tremendous job. He wasn’t needed against Rutgers as the Buckeyes did not punt a single time.

At punt return, Dontre Wilson OR Corey Smith OR Curtis Samuel are all in play. Handling kickoff returns will be Dontre Wilson OR James Clark OR Johnnie Dixon. The long-snapping duties are given to Liam McCollough, and holding for kicks is Cameron Johnston.

Continue reading...

J.T. Barrett put on a masterful display against Rutgers
Christopher Jason via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The signal caller put on a quarterback clinic vs. Ohio State's former defensive coordinator.

J.T. Barrett has mastered Urban Meyer’s offensive scheme, and it’s a beautiful thing to watch.

It’s been reiterated in three of the four games, but this offense is truly unstoppable when the play calling has been diverse. They got the running game rolling early, which then set up play-action and the passing game. Barrett’s comfort and confidence has grown every week, which should get him an invite to New York City.

Let’s see how it went:

J.T. Barrett

• *Tap passes do not count as a pass attempt
• Barrett was so efficient on Saturday afternoon. Out of his 31 dropbacks, he completed 20 of those, and most were in the intermediate part of the field.
• What has made life easier for Barrett, has been his offensive line. He was only pressured four times on the day, which led to only two quarterback hits. The clean pocket has allowed Barrett to remain comfortable within the pocket and keep his eyes downfield at all times.
• The three designed quarterback runs has to be the lowest amount that he has had in a game in his career. This was mostly due to his ability to make the smart decision in the option game, and just taking what the Rutgers’ defense gave him.
• Here is a classic Barrett keeper on an inside zone read, on 4th-and-1. His patience to hold the ball at the mesh point, — basically waiting for Mike Weber to be tackled — pulling the ball and gaining the necessary yardage is textbook J.T. Barrett.

• The most important revelation in this blowout though, came in the final 1:34 of the first half, where Barrett orchestrated a nine-play, 53-yard drive, that resulted in a Curtis Samuel touchdown reception.
• The key play of the drive occurred on 3rd-and-25, when Barrett hit Samuel for a 24-yard gain, setting up a 4th-and-1. The aggressive playcalling put the offense in a chance to succeed because typically any offense would kneel on the ball and go into halftime when facing a 3rd-and-25.
• On this throw, Barrett felt the rush, stepped up in the pocket — kept his eyes downfield — and threw a 24-yard dart to Samuel. This is one of the best passing plays from start-to-finish, that Barrett has made in his career.

• Barrett and Joe Burrow hit 12 different players for completions on Saturday, which shows the confidence that both quarterbacks have in their teammates. These guys are all highly touted and team-first guys. They seem to be about the offense putting points on the board in any way possible, rather than padding stats.

Mike Weber’s 46-yard touchdown run


In my breakdown last week, I mentioned that Weber was inches away from breaking the big one. Against Rutgers, he was caught from behind on one long run, but then made up for it by taking an outside zone read play and taking it to the house. Weber’s first long touchdown of the seas was a result of Barrett, Weber, Billy Price, Marcus Baugh and James Clark all executing on the play.


Barrett did a great job of using his patience to hold the defense end, while Baugh was able to kick out a defender and Price was able to pull around and cut the linebacker. Clark did a nice job on the cornerback, which effectively sprung the running back.




Weber possesses the power to gain the tough yardage, but he also has some quickness and acceleration, which has helped him gain 10-plus yards 15 times, and 20-plus yards, four times. He’s not going to hit the homerun once a game — like Ezekiel Elliott — but he’s consistent and will batter a defense. When the zone read is ran to perfection like this, it’s almost unstoppable.

The scary thing is, is that it’s only the fourth game of the season, and they’ll only get better as the season progresses.

Continue reading...

Will Rutgers ever beat Ohio State?
Colton Denning via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


We recap the Buckeyes’ latest blowout and more.

After four games, the Ohio State Buckeyes are undefeated, and have outscored opponents 228-37. In fact, the defense has scored more points (24) than it’s given up (23). Not bad for a team that returned the second least production among FBS schools heading into the season. This week, it was Rutgers’ turn to take a beating, as Ohio State kicked off Big Ten play with a 58-0 win in Columbus.

On this week’s podcast, Matt Brown and I briefly break down the game, and then go on our usual multiple tangents, including:

• How long we think it will take Rutgers — and the Buckeyes’ next opponent; Indiana — to beat the Buckeyes
• How going to an afternoon college football game wrecks your day
• Thoughts on just how good the Buckeyes’ running game is
• Debating the possibility of Ohio State covering the 32.5 point spread versus Indiana
• Recruiting news; Including 2017 commitment Trevon Grimes’ knee injury, and the country’s number one linebacker, Dylan Moses, committing to Alabama.
• Speculating on the head coaching landscape and which coaches may be fired mid-season.

You can find the podcast on our iTunes page, and we strongly encourage reviews, comments, criticisms, etc. to help us deliver the best possible audio product. The more we hear from you, the better we can make it. We’re also on Soundcloud, the SB Nation podcast page, and you can subscribe via RSS on your Android and Windows Phone devices here.You can find the podcast on our new iTunes page, and we strongly encourage reviews, comments, criticisms, etc. to help us deliver the best possible audio product. The more we hear from you, the better we can make it. We’re also on Soundcloud, the SB Nation podcast page, and you can subscribe via RSS on your Android and Windows Phone devices here.

Continue reading...

Ohio State football | Jack Looks Back: Buckeyes vs. Hoosiers? Think hammer vs. nail - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State football | Jack Looks Back: Buckeyes vs. Hoosiers? Think hammer vs. nail
Columbus Dispatch
Jack Park, a leading Ohio State football historian, checks in each week during the college football season with a retrospective about the Buckeyes. Ohio State will host Indiana on Saturday and attempt to move to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in the Big Ten.
B1G awards race tracker: Buckeyes continue to lead the wayESPN (blog)
Ohio State football: Buckeyes clicking on all cylindersUPI.com
Ohio State has been the best team in the country. Let's try to spot Buckeye weaknesses.SB Nation
MyDaytonDailyNews -OSU - The Lantern
all 427 news articles »

Continue reading...