Ohio State hockey is second in preseason Big Ten poll
Matt Torino via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


And they’re getting votes in the USCHO preseason poll too.

In a bit of a surprise, the Ohio State mens hockey team was picked to finish second in the Big Ten conference for the upcoming 2016-17 season, ahead of powerhouse rival Michigan, upcoming Penn State and Tony Granato-infused Wisconsin.


Ohio State returns nearly all of its contributors from last season, aside from captain and defenseman Craig Dalrymple, so many must see the team as an upcoming and improving squad, with contributions last season from young players like Mason Jobst expected to increase as they gain more maturity.

And it doesn’t hurt that the Bucks return a First Team All-Big Ten defenseman in Josh Healey and a Second Team All-Big Ten forward in Nick Schilkey. David Gust will hope to build on his breakout season while Tanner Laczynski hopes to provide even more scoring depth to a team already deep in it.

I may be burying the lead here, but the Buckeyes also received 33 votes in the preseason USCHO Top 25 poll. Unlike in the conference coaches' rankings, the Buckeyes trail No. 11 Michigan and Penn State in addition to No. 13 Minnesota. Wisconsin also received ten votes themselves, likely all due to the Tony Granato hiring.

I’m not sure I’d as optimistic as to put the Buckeyes among the top 25 teams going into the upcoming season, but if the young scoring talent keeps progressing and the defense can find a suitable replacement for Dalrymple, anything’s possible.

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Ohio State Buckeyes podcast - Ohio State Football - 247Sports - 247Sports
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes podcast - Ohio State Football - 247Sports
247Sports
We apologize, but the BM5 is not available on YouTube today. You can listen as an MP3 file or via iTunes.] * Click here to listen to the show via iTunes * Click ...

and more »

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Minnesota highlights preseason hockey poll & watch list
Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor via Big Ten Network

Three-time Big Ten Champion Minnesota was tabbed the favorite in the 2016-17 Big Ten hockey preseason coaches’ poll, the conference announced on Monday. Minnesota completed the 2015-16 campaign with a conference record of 14-6-0-0 (20-17-0 overall) and reached the championship game of the 2016 Big Ten Tournament. Ohio State was selected second in the preseason poll, with defending Big Ten Tournament Champion Michigan capturing third, Penn State taking fourth, Wisconsin placing fifth and Michigan State rounding out the poll in sixth. The coaches also selected a 13-member Preseason Watch list, including four unanimous selections in Minnesota’s Justin Kloos and Eric

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Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Indiana Hoosiers football game on Oct. 8 to kick off at 3:30 p.m. - cleveland.com
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Indiana Hoosiers football game on Oct. 8 to kick off at 3:30 p.m.
cleveland.com
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's home game against Indiana on Oct. 8 with kick off at 3:30 p.m., the program announced Monday afternoon. The game, which will be televised on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN 2, is the second of a two-game homestand for the ...
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Ohio State sweating the small stuff heading into Big Ten openerESPN (blog)
Dayton Daily News -Land-Grant Holy Land
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The Buckeye battle Cry Weekly Power Poll: Week 4
Shannon Sommers via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Most of the teams opened up Big Ten play this past week. Some teams are positioning themselves in a race to the bottom of the conference. Let’s take a look and see how it all shook out.



1. The Ohio State University Buckeyes (3-0, 0-0)


140 pts.

No surprise here, the Buckeyes have another week at the top spot with a unanimous vote. It’s not a homer thing but seriously even with a bye, they are the strongest in the conference right now.

Last Week: BYE

This Week: Rutgers 12 PM EST



2. Michigan Wolverines (4-0, 1-0)


126 Pts.

I know our Maize and Blue fans are beating their chest like they are the ones you have to go through for the Big Ten East title.

Tell me folks who have you played? Beat Bucky this next week we can chat.

Last Week: Defeated Penn State 49-10

This Week: Wisconsin 3:30 PM EST



3. Wisconsin Badgers (4-0, 1-0)


123 Pts.



Bucky and crew have made it interesting. They finished three points behind UM for the third spot after the stomping they gave Sparty. Badgers have the toughest schedule so we will see if they are for real.

Last Week: Defeated Michigan State 30-6

This Week: @Michigan 3:30 PM EST



4. Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-0, 1-0)


110 Pts.

Players are looking like they are buying into Mike Riley’s system. The team looks improved from last season even if they have a 10-year vet like Tommy Armstrong under center for them. Their defense still needs work.

Last Week: Defeated Northwestern 24-13

This Week: Illinois 3:30 PM EST



5. Michigan State Spartans (2-1, 0-1)


96 Pts.

Sparty takes a tumble down the Power Poll as we witnessed them getting beat by Wisconsin and Notre Dame isn’t as good as some thought. The young Spartan team made to many costly mistakes, showed us the concerns preseason were valid.

Last Week: Defeated by Wisconsin 20-6

This Week: @Indiana 8:00 PM EST



6. Iowa Hawkeyes (3-1, 0-0)


83 Pts.

After that loss to North Dakota State, the Hawkeyes came out fired up and soundly beat Rutgers. I’m sorry I couldn’t even type that with a straight face. It’s OK Iowa fans you have Kirk Ferentz for another 10 years.



Last Week: Defeated Rutgers 14-7

This Week: Northwestern 12 pm est



7. Minnesota Golden Gophers (3-0, 0-0)


78 Pts

Them there dilly bar eating Gophers need to work on their defense. They already knew that going into the season, but seriously with a lack-luster offense it looks to be a long season.

Last Week: Defeated Colorado State 31-24

This Week: @Penn State 3:30 PM EST



8. Maryland Terrapins (3-0, 0-0)


69 Pts.

Who here had the Turtles possibly starting the season off at 4-o? Put your hand down because I know you didn’t. DJ Durkin has a chance to take out the team that should be looking for a new head coach soon.

Last Week: BYE

This Week: Purdue 3:30 PM EST



9. Indiana Hoosiers (2-1, 0-0)


63 Pts.

Hoosiers have a defensive problem as we have heard over and over. Their offense isn’t looking as explosive as the past few years. It’s OK Indiana, Tom Crean will be cutting nets for you guys here in a couple of months.

Last Week: Defeated by Wake Forest 33-28

This Week: Michigan State 8 PM EST



10. Penn State Nittany Lions (2-2, 0-1)


50 Pts.

I will stick with “If you have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”



Les Miles anyone?

Last Week: Defeated by Michigan 49-10

This Week: Minnesota 3:30 PM EST



11. Rutgers Scarlet Knights (2-2. 0-1)


34 Pts.

Like I have been saying Chris Ash is the right man for Rutgers. He doesn’t have his players but he is recruiting well. It will turn around for you, i promise.



Last Week: Defeated by Iowa 14-7

This Week: @Ohio State 12 PM EST



12. Illinois Fighting Illini (1-2, 0-0)


29 Pts.

Lovie Smith is a really good coach but he isn’t a miracle worker. Rome wasn’t built in a day.



Last Week: Bye

This Week: @Nebraska 3:30 PM EST



13. Purdue Boilermakers (2-1, 0-0)


25 Pts.

Thank God for Northwestern stinking up the joint!

Am I right Purdue fans?

P.J. Fleck

Last Week: Defeated Nevada 24-14

This Week: @Maryland 3:30 PM EST



14. Northwestern Wildcats (1-3, 0-1)


24 Pts.

I have no clue what’s going on in Evanston Illinois but I do know it’s not good.





Last Week: Defeated by Nebraska 24-13

This Week: @Iowa 12 PM EST



Points are awarded as follows:

1st place equals 14 points

14th place equals 1 point

10 secret ballots this week



The post The Buckeye battle Cry Weekly Power Poll: Week 4 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Ohio State football's game against Indiana will kick off at 3:30 ET
Harry Lyles Jr. via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


With either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2 televising.

Ohio State football is coming off of a bye week after a 3-0 start to the season. They face Rutgers this week in Columbus, but we’ve got some news on their matchup the following week against the Indiana Hoosiers.

The Buckeyes and the Hoosiers game is slated to start at 3:30 p.m. ET, and will air on either ABC, ESPN or ESPN2, the school announced Monday afternoon. The Buckeyes and the Hoosiers played a close one last season, with the Buckeyes edging out the Hoosiers in Bloomington, 34-27. That game was also broadcast on the ESPN family of networks, on ABC/ESPN2.

The Hoosiers are 2-1 on the young season, and will welcome the Michigan State Spartans to Bloomington this upcoming Saturday before taking on the Buckeyes October 8.

Hopefully this time around, the Buckeyes don’t give us such a scare.

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Buckeyes remain No. 2 in both AP, Coaches polls - Waiting For Next Year
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes remain No. 2 in both AP, Coaches polls
Waiting For Next Year
The Ohio State Buckeyes were able to sit back, relax, and watch the rest of the college football world during their lone bye week of the season. After the weekend, the Buckeyes remained in the No. 2 spot in both the Associated Press and Coaches polls ...
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Ohio State LB Hilliard out for season (biceps) - ESPN
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State LB Hilliard out for season (biceps)
ESPN
2 Buckeyes and has 2 receptions for 58 yards, had surgery for a high-ankle injury that will put him on the shelf for approximately a month. "Justin Hilliard tore his biceps -- the other one," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. "That's when where you ...


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Women’s Volleyball Falls To 0-2 In Big 10 Play
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


On September 23 in Madison, Wisconsin the Women’s Volleyball Team opened up Big Ten play against the Nations #3 Badgers of Wisconsin with a loss. The Buckeyes would be dropped in three sets: 25-16, 25-19, 25-17.

OSU fell to a dominating 15-block via the Badgers. But even in such turmoil the Buckeyes out-killed the opposition (39-37) – though in this valiant attempt they fell short in attacking efficiency .115 to .333.

Valeria León pursued her nonstop mission to crowning the all-time Ohio State career digs rankings. With 17 more digs added to her tally, León now owns 1,450. The school record belongs to 2004 National Player of the Year, Stacey Gordon, who owns 1,572 in total.

Taylor Hughes, the Buckeyes setter, assisted on 28 kills, while also putting away 6 of her own on only 13 swings. Luisa Schirmer posted a match-high 13 kills while Audra Appold joined her in the double-digit kills club with 10.
The night ended with the digit being added to the loss column. Making the Buckeyes 0-1 to start the 2016 Big Ten season.

Now ….

To the most recent …. Of times,

The Buckeyes squared up against the 2nd-ranked Minnesota Golden-Gophers. It would be the second straight brawl with a top-3 foe.

The No. 17 Buckeyes did stand strong against several haymakers from the second-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers (10-2, 2-0 B1G) to extend Saturday’s match before ultimately falling in four sets (25-16, 25-18, 18-25, 25-22).

Valeria León followed her inspiring recital from the previous battle against Wisconsin with yet another astrophysical effort vs. Minnesota, digging up 22 balls. Ohio State’s senior libero averaged 5.57 digs per set for the weekend. Freshman Madison Smeathers was quite effective from the middle, crushing eight kills on 14 errorless swings for a .571 hitting percentage against the Golden-Gophers.

I have decided to not detail each set, not to accept what ultimately wasn’t a positive night, yet another digit in the loss column, but it simply serves no purpose.

OSU’s All-American, Taylor Sandbothe would maintain her power play in both matches, but to no avail. We will see our Buckeyes at St. John’s on Wednesday (Sept., 28th) at 6:30 p.m. for their home opener.
See you there!

The post Women’s Volleyball Falls To 0-2 In Big 10 Play appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Urban Meyer says Ohio State WR K.J. Hill is out for 3-4 weeks
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The Buckeyes lost two players in the bye week due to injuries

After stomping over Oklahoma in Week 3, the Buckeyes had a much deserved week off, where players spent time doing things other than football and coaches were back on the recruiting trail. Urban Meyer was back in front of the media Monday, just a few days ahead of their first conference matchup.

Big Ten play kicks off with a home game against Rutgers, which will bring former Ohio State assistant coach Chris Ash back to The ‘Shoe. Meyer spoke about what it’ll be like to face off against a friend, and what he expects from his team now that they’ve made it over their first big hurdle of the season.

• J.T. Barrett is the “best we’ve ever had” at scrambling said Meyer. It might look like a quarterback sweep or run, but he’s had more than it looks like on paper. On how much control Barrett has on the offense, Meyer quipped, “he’s got the keys”.
• Players haven’t come to the coaches in terms of participating in a National Anthem protest, but the coaching staff has discussed it with the team.
• On where the team is after the bye week, Meyer stated “I like our team”. He’s hoping for high-energy, uptempo practice this week. His main concern is with all the added publicity, press conferences, ego boosting; he just wants to get players back to practice and they’ll be fine.
• Meyer was asked if he’s ever offered a scholarship to a high school recruit who he had no intention of signing; he said that he’s sure some of his coaches have done that, but he is not a fan. College football is pushing for earlier recruiting events and visits, but Meyer wishes it were later — stating several times, these are just 17 year old kids at the end of the day.

On Rutgers

• This marks the 8th time Meyer has faced former personnel, and the coaching staff has “to be sharp”. Meyer noted that signals on defense have been changed ahead of the bye week, but they did work on the signal calling for offensive and special teams ahead of facing Chris Ash.
• Meyer was asked about how they prepare to face Ash and the Rutgers defense, to which he replied, “it’s our defense”. He went on to tout the defensive line that is bigger and stronger, which is partially because “they stole one of our strength coaches” too.

Injury update

• K.J. Hill will be out for 3-4 weeks after surgery and Justin Hilliard is out after tearing his (other) bicep.

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Earle Bruce to dot Script Ohio 'i' before Rutgers game - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Earle Bruce to dot Script Ohio 'i' before Rutgers game
Columbus Dispatch
Bruce coached the Buckeyes from 1979-87. His own playing career at Ohio State ended prematurely because of a knee injury. Discouraged, Bruce returned to his hometown of Cumberland, Md., before Hayes persuaded him to return. He eventually became a ...
Ohio State sweating the small stuff heading into Big Ten openerESPN (blog)
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all 19 news articles »

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Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/26/2016
Ben van Ooyen via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


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

Top DT Target Releases Top 7:




One of the highest ranking players left on Ohio States 2017 recruiting Big Board would have to be Jay Tufele, a 4-star defensive tackle out of South Jordan, Utah. He released his top 7 last week and it included the Buckeyes as well as arch-rival Michigan along with five west-coast teams. Tufele is the #1 player from the state of Utah, and is the #3 overall defensive tackle in the class of 2017 and would be a nice pickup for Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes if her were to commit.

The Buckeyes currently have Jerron Cage and Haskell Garrett committed at the position, but adding an elite tackle like Tufele would be icing on the cake. The Buckeyes have limited spots left in this class, but I think if Tufele wanted to hop on board, the staff would be more than happy to find a way to get him in this class.

Tufele was recently selected as a U.S. Army All-American Bowl participant and will play in that game on January 7th, 2017 in San Antonio, Texas. Tufele has not set a commitment date, and the Buckeyes would love to get him on campus for an official visit to try and seal the deal.


#1 RB in 2018 gets a visitor:


The top rated running back in the class of 2018 lives a bit down the road from me in Laurinburg, North Carolina in Zamir White. I plan on getting down there to see a game sometime this season to see how dynamic a player he is. Tony Alford beat me down there as he made the trek from Ohio to see White play last Friday night. White did not disappoint as he went for 201 yards on ten carries and four touchdowns leading his Scotland County team past Glenn.



White currently holds 24 offers and his crystal ball projections are split between Georgia, Clemson and North Carolina at the moment. He recently has visited South Carolina for the East Carolina game, and has made other unofficials to Notre Dame, NC State, and UNC. The Buckeyes have their work cut out for them if they want to land this 5-star back out of ACC/SEC country as almost every team from the area would love to add the talent of Zamir White to their backfield.


2017 to be a One Quarterback Class?


When Tate Martell jumped on board in May the Buckeyes had an interesting problem, the Quarterback room was overflowing with talent. With J.T. Barrett possibly returning next season, along with Stephen Collier, Joe Burrow, Dwayne Haskins and then Tate Martell and long-time commitment Danny Clark would all be trying to secure the starting spot when camp opens in 2017. A lot has been made of Clark’s commitment as he made the pledge back in December of 2013, and has not backed off since. It has been rumored that the Buckeyes have talked to Clark about possibly grey-shirting, but that has not been confirmed and Clark has said that is not the case.

Why do we bring up Danny Clark today? Yesterday three crystal ball projections came in for Clark, and they were for the Kentucky Wildcats. Clark made an interesting visit to Alabama back in April, and a lot was speculated then about his commitment. He then came to Friday Night Lights in July and seemed to perform better than Martell did, trying to prove a point that he was the better quarterback. Danny has not backed down from the competition aspect of it saying that he is willing to come in and battle for playing time at Ohio State, but to me it seems that the writing is on the wall on this one. The kid who has a Block O tattooed on his arm might be headed elsewhere when all is said and done. Will Clark stick it out and try and become a Buckeye or will he defect and try and get a better chance at playing time at another big time school?


Les Miles and the LSU Fallout:


The major news to hit yesterday in the college football world was that long-time LSU head coach Les Miles had been fired after 12 seasons at the helm. Miles avoided getting fired last year by winning late and having hardly anyone leave for the NFL off a talented roster. It was thought that the Tigers would be competing with Alabama for the SEC title this season, and after four games it just didn’t look like it was in the cards. An early stunning loss to Wisconsin and then Saturday the loss to Auburn by less than a second of game play led to Miles outing. What does this mean for Ohio State? I am going to guess not much, but it will have an effect on LSU’s recruiting as I expect to see some decommitments from the #4 overall ranked class. SEC Country reached out to recruits and some of them said they would stay committed to LSU, but others weren’t so sure.

Patrick Queen, 4-star LB: “It’s crazy. He did a lot for us. Much love and respect to him. Best of luck to him wherever he goes. They could have let him finish the year out. It won’t be the same.”

Mannie Netherly, 4-star WR: “Les is LSU.”



The Buckeyes had offers to JaCoby Stevens, a 5-star Safety out of Tennessee who committed to LSU in August. If he were to reopen his recruitment, it would be likely that Georgia and Alabama would be tops for his services with Tennessee possibly on the outside looking in. Kary Vincent is another current LSU commitment that had a Buckeye offer. He committed to LSU back in July and although the Buckeyes got an unofficial visit in June, they were never really in the mix.

While the Buckeyes may not benefit from the turmoil in Baton Rouge, it is likely that unless LSU makes a home run hire, that this recruiting class might fall apart with most of the kids probably heading to rival schools in the SEC.

The post Heard Around the ‘Shoe – 9/26/2016 appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Here's where Ohio State stands after non-conference play
Chad Peltier via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


What do the advanced stats say about Ohio State's progress since the season's start?

It’s hard to believe, but the Buckeyes are through a quarter of the regular season already. After a bye week to regroup and get healthier for upcoming games against Rutgers and Indiana, we have time to take stock of Ohio State’s performance through three games.

Adjusted expectations


Ohio State opened the season with two projected losses according to the S&P+ preseason projections. Early in the season, the S&P+ has a declining weekly weight given to preseason projections relative to in-season performance – there simply haven’t been enough games played for a reliable opponent adjustment yet. After three weeks the ratio of projections to current season data is roughly 50:50.

Ohio State has risen to the top spot in the S&P+ ratings this week because of both their play and because of the projections being slowly phased out. Projections were fairly low because of the negative adjustment from low returning experience across the board, especially at key positions like wide receiver and in the secondary.

As a result of these adjustments, the Buckeyes have risen to first in the S&P+ and now have projected wins in each of their remaining games. The S&P+ also includes win probabilities and expected margins for the schedule. From that information it’s easy to see the five most difficult remaining games on the schedule: Wisconsin (74% win probability, 11.1 projected margin), Penn State (86%, 19), Nebraska (85%, 18), Michigan State (87%, 19.1), and Michigan (60%, 4.4).

According to the current S&P+ ratings, the Buckeyes only have one game with a win likelihood under 74%, and that's The Game. As a result of their upward rise in the advanced metrics, the Buckeyes now have a 22% chance of going undefeated during the regular season.

Where are the Buckeyes' weak spots?


In his review of the Oklahoma game, Bill C identified three potential weak spots for the Buckeyes: 1) A somewhat underwhelming pass rush, 2) Passing downs success rate and standard downs explosiveness, and 3) Injuries and inexperience still causing some chaos.

1. The pass rush

Standard downs sack rate Passing downs sack rate Defensive line havoc rate
2.9% (87th) 6.4% (76th) 6% (43rd)

• Ohio State’s rebuilt defensive line has been a pleasant surprise so far, particularly against the run, but it hasn’t replicated last season’s pass rush, recording sacks on just 2.9% of standard downs and 6.4% of passing downs for a 43rd-ranked defensive line havoc rate.
• But the defensive line also hasn’t necessarily needed to get to the quarterback because of excellent defensive back play so far, ranking fifthin defensive back havoc rate and leading the country in interceptions. The opportunistic scoring defense has been incredible, but it’s at least possible that their ball-hawking success has hidden a relatively poor pass rush too.
• This year’s team hasn’t had a single unstoppable pass rusher emerge yet – it’s been much more of a by-committee approach to replacing Joey Bosa. Jerome Baker and Sam Hubbard lead the team with 1.5 sacks each, but Baker is currently just filling in for the injured Dante Booker and Hubbard hasn’t yet lit up the defensive stat sheet.
• The concern is if the defensive backs’ production declines: what happens if a defensive back gets injured (like Gareon Conley against Oklahoma), a better quarterback is able to find holes in the secondary, or inexperience randomly catches up with the unit? Without turnovers and elite defensive back play then the relative lack of a pass rush could become an issue. The Buckeyes’ passing success rate is currently 27th in the country, though they have also faced three-straight Air Raid teams who should be highly rated in passing S&P+ this year.
• The lack of numbers for the defensive line doesn’t necessarily mean that they haven’t been effective, however. Quarterback hurries are often inconsistently recorded, and there were several instances where pressure forced Baker Mayfield into poor decision making and throws.

2. Consistency on passing downs and explosiveness on standard downs

Standard downs success rate Standard downs IsoPPP Passing downs success rate Passing downs IsoPPP
65% (1st) 88th 29% (85th) 2nd

• J.T. Barrett has been excellent so far this season, doing what he has to do to distribute the ball to his playmakers. And due to how successful the offense has been on standard downs (successful on 65% of standard downs, easily top in the country), J.T. hasn’t been put in very many must-convert third down passing situations. But the offense also hasn’t been consistent in passing situations, either.
• On passing downs the offense has just a 29% success rate. If an opposing defense figures out the keys to limiting Ohio State’s standard downs run game and increases the number of passing downs the Buckeyes face (i.e., the Michigan State game last year), then that could lead to three-and-outs. The worry here is if the offense falls behind schedule, there hasn’t been much evidence that they can dig themselves back out quickly. There also haven’t been many situations where they’ve had to, but it’s a potential concern nonetheless. (See: Tulsa.) The passing offense must still demonstrate that it’s able to consistently convert in obvious passing situations. So the concern is whether Ohio State can win a slug fest after sloppy performances.
• The flip side of the offense’s standard down success and passing downs explosiveness is the relative lack of explosiveness on standard downs. This is less of a concern at this point than the passing downs success rate. While the offense hasn’t ripped off many breakaway runs or explosive passes on standard downs, they are consistently creating small explosive plays between 11-19 yards that don’t move the needle very much in IsoPPP. As evidence for that, Ohio State is 12th in the country in run plays of 10+ yards (31), but just 62nd in plays of 20+ yards. The Buckeyes haven't had a run of 40+ yards yet.
• Finally, it’s important to note that the majority of these metrics (anything without a "+" next to it) aren’t opponent-adjusted yet due to data availability. The Buckeyes’ rankings can drastically change as we get a better sense of how good their opponents have actually been.

Some other notes

• I thought it’d be interesting to compare Mike Weber through three games with Ezekiel Elliott from last season:

• As you can see, Weber is on pace for fewer rushing attempts, but is nearly as efficient and explosive as Zeke was last season. The team over at Pro Football Focus College has Weber with a similar elusiveness rating as Zeke as well. Simply put, Weber has been an admirable replacement already for Zeke, though it’s certain he’ll face some more intimidating run defenses than he’s seen so far as well.
• The receivers were a major question mark entering the season: lots of talent, but almost no experience. Curtis Samuel and Noah Brown have emerged as two reliable playmakers (with 94.1% and 75% catch rates) who have accounted for a combined 36.3% of passes so far this season. But I expect the receiver rotation to tighten throughout the year as the team enters Big Ten play and potentially more competitive games. Will any other receivers step up as well? Dontre Wilson could use more touches based on his numbers so far (80% catch rate, 11.8 yards per catch, but just a 12.5% target rate). K.J. Hill also showed flashes in the first two games – it’s just a matter of consistency and need, since the passing offense has mainly been an explosive counterpart to the efficient run game.
• The offensive line has been extremely good, ranking first in standard downs line yards per carry (4.58), third in opportunity rate (with 54.8% of runs going for five or more yards), and only allowing tackles for loss on 8.1% of runs (top overall). In short yardage situations – an area that Zeke and the line excelled at last season – Weber and the new line have been excellent, getting a successful run on 93.3% of attempts (third). All of that contributes to the second-ranked rushing success rate in the country at 64.4%.
• Finally, one of the best formulas for winning a lot of games is simple: bring in a lot of interceptions, force a lot of fumbles, and don’t turn the ball over on offense. Turnover margin can be fairly random year-to-year (especially fumble recovery rates), but the difference between expected turnover margin and actual turnover margin helps differentiate between lucky turnover teams (like Tennessee this year) and ball-hawking defenses. Here the Buckeyes are first in the country in actual turnover margin (+9), and still 13th in expected turnover margin. Combine that with excellent field position (15th and 3rd in average starting field position for the offense and defense) and you’re going to win a lot of games. About the only thing from the Five Factors that you’d like to see improve over the next two games are explosive plays – particularly the explosive downfield passing game.

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Earle Bruce to dot the i at Ohio State-Rutgers
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


What an honor.

Joining an exclusive list that includes legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus, Columbus native Buster Douglas, aka the only man to knock out Mike Tyson, and the great Woody Hayes, former Ohio State head coach (and Urban Meyer mentor) Earle Bruce will dot the i before Saturday’s homecoming game against Rutgers. 610 WTVN, who Bruce has done work for, first reported the news.

The distinguished list of non-The Best Damn Band in the Land sousaphone players to receive the honor includes the aforementioned along with Bob Hope, former OSU presidents Novice Fawcett and E. Gordon Gee, composer Dick Heine, Ann Drose, the wife of former TBDBITL director Paul Droste, former Ohio State ticket director Robert Ries, and astronaut John Glenn and his wife Annie. Long time Ohio State band director Jon Woods as well as booster Les Wexner also received the honor.

If you can’t make it to Ohio Stadium to see Bruce honored, there’s a decent chance the Big Ten Network will have you covered. The game airs Saturday at noon on BTN. According to WTVN, it’s expected Bruce will perform the dotting pre-game.

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Ohio State sweating the small stuff heading into Big Ten opener - ESPN (blog)
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Ohio State sweating the small stuff heading into Big Ten opener
ESPN (blog)
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Tuesday film review could have easily been a feel-good session for Ohio State. The Buckeyes had just dismantled a ranked opponent on the road. They had set an offensive record in the first half against Oklahoma, the defense had ...
BM5: Anything to Clark to UK rumors? Buckeyes back from bye247Sports
Skull Session: Ohio State Opens as 37-Point Favorites, Terrelle Pryor the Jack-of-All-Trades, and Rutgers Loses Two ...Eleven Warriors
Former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce will dot the "I" in Script Ohio on Saturdaycleveland.com
Sports Chat Place -Land-Grant Holy Land
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Are You Not Entertained? Idle Week
Scott via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here

So much for our idle week.
No, not Idol.
Idle. Like, not playing. Some call it a bye week. Or what the Cleveland Browns do every Sunday. Not play.
Anyway, since OSU didn’t play, this won’t be a traditional AYNE since most of the things or crack staff wanted to see have to do with OSU.
We won’t know until Saturday if those wish-list items can be checked off.
But as for the other items, most had to do with other teams and some upsets.

My non-OSU wish was a Notre Dame win. Whoops.

Others wished for some upsets so OSU could vault to No. 1. Not happening this week.

There was a call Jim Harbaugh to admit that he ate his booger. Yuck.

It was actually a pitiful week of games. Wisconsin blew out an over-rated Michigan State team. Michigan sent Penn State to an early shower. Uh, well, um.

Nationally, Auburn upset LSU which reportedly cost Les Miles his job. Otherwise, it was a yawner. Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and Louisville rolled. Stanford used a game-ending defensive score to make its win over UCLA look more impressive.

OSU opens up B1G play Saturday so check back next Monday for a regular version of Are You Not Entertained?

The post Are You Not Entertained? Idle Week appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.

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Standout defensive tackle has Ohio State among leaders
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


There is some potential that another Army All-American could be heading the Buckeyes way.

Just like the last few years, the Ohio State class of 2017 is stacked. Currently holding pledges from Jerron Cage (Cincinnati/Winton Woods), and Haskell Garrett (Las Vegas, NV/Bishop Gorman), defensive tackle is one of the positions the Buckeyes are looking to stockpile talent.

On Saturday Urban Meyer and the rest of the Buckeye coaching staff learned they are still firmly in the mix for another one of the top senior lineman in the country.

Announcing his current leaders via his Twitter page on Saturday, Jay Tufele (South Jordan, UT / Bingham) named Ohio State, Michigan, Utah, USC, BYU, UCLA and Washington as the seven programs fighting for his commitment.


The 6-foot-3, 297-pound U.S. Army All-American, is considered the third defensive tackle, and 56th overall prospect in the class of 2017, according to the 247Sports Composite. Receiving over 20 full ride scholarship offers throughout the recruiting process, Notre Dame, Ole Miss and Oregon are among some of the other schools that gave Tufele a chance to suit up for their program.

So far this season, Tufele and his teammates are sitting undefeated at 6-0. Last year as a junior, he finished his campaign off with nearly 60 total tackles and 10.5 sacks for the 12-2 Bingham Miners.

Quick Hits

• Numerous Ohio State commits dominated on the field over the weekend. Which future Buckeye is your MVP of the week? The Poll is open. Let your voice be heard.
• Per Adam Zagoria, Ohio State and Louisville have both told class of 2018 point guard Jahvon Quinerly (Jersey City, NJ / Hudson Catholic) that they will make him a priority going forward. The 6-foot Quinerly reportedly holds scholarship offers from Ohio State, Kansas, UConn and many other top notch programs across the country.

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Terrelle Pryor takes snaps at quarterback in Week 3 of the NFL
Alexis Chassen via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The quarterback-turned-wide receiver did a little bit of everything Sunday.

Almost half of the NFL rookie class out of Ohio State were inactive in Week 3, most due to injury but others due to the depth chart. Some former Buckeyes are really starting to make a name for themselves at the next level, and not just rookies, with a second year player making his career debut and Terrelle Pryor taking snaps at quarterback.

This is the time of year players start going down, but fortunately, most of the former Buckeyes who are sidelined this week are expected to be back relatively soon. In the meantime, there were plenty of playmakers out of Ohio State in Week 3.

Terrelle Pryor goes off


If people weren’t already convinced that the former Buckeye quarterback was going to find success at his new position, Pryor went off against the Dolphins Sunday. Not only did he take snaps in his regular role, but he took five snaps at his old position, and even one on defense as a safety. He finished the day with 144 receiving yards, 21 rushing yards — including a rushing touchdown from the shotgun -- and 35 passing yards.


Pryor became the first player since the 1980s to have 2 receptions, 2 rushing attempts, and 2 completions in a game. In only the third week of the season, the Buckeye has found his spot with the Browns, and — now that rookie receiver Corey Coleman is out — will see a much bigger role for the coming weeks.

Carlos Hyde breaks out


The running back has returned for the 49ers after a concussion earlier in the season, and went on to rush for 103 yards and two touchdowns Sunday. This made him the first person to rush for over 100 yards against the Seahawks’ defense since Jamaal Charles in 2014. Hyde was expected to have a bigger workload with Chip Kelly as the team’s new head coach, and this certainly proved it.

Jeff Heuerman makes debut


After missing his rookie season with an ACL injury that kept him out the entire year and then some, the former Buckeye tight end finally made his NFL career debut back in his home state. Despite playing for the visiting Broncos, Heuerman got a roar of cheers after his first career catch in Cincinnati, for 29 yards.

Darron Lee stays winning


The Jets may have lost mightily to the Chiefs on Sunday, but rookie linebacker Darron Lee looks better each week. The Buckeye earned the starting role in Week 3 with Erin Henderson sidelined and didn’t waste the extra snaps. In the opening 30 minutes of the game, Lee had already recorded 3 solo tackles — 2 for loss — and half a sack.

Plays of the week


Ezekiel Elliott

Zeke’s early season has been a mixed bag, with a pair of touchdown runs to go with a pair of fumbles heading into Sunday night’s tilt with the Chicago Bears. The former No. 4 draft pick got in the action early and often against the Bears, rushing for 140 yards on 30 carries, his first time hitting the century mark in the league. He added a few pro-level pass blocks, too. Oh, and then there was this:


Malcolm Jenkins

The veteran has always been a leader on and off the field, and he showed up big for the Eagles against one of the league’s biggest offensive weapons — Antonio Brown. He was able to shut down the receiver early in the game, almost coming up with the interception, his first of two almost-picks on the day.


Nate Ebner

Just weeks after finishing up living out his dream at the Rio Olympics, the former Buckeye is back to making special teams plays for the Patriots. With quarterbacks going down in New England at a jarring rate, the team can use all the help it can get from the other position groups.


Jalin Marshall

The rookie has shown glimpses of greatness is his short career thus far, but there have been a few moments that were eerily similar to those he had at Ohio State. He can be a very good return man. But Marshall can also have questionable ball security on those returns, resulting in points for the other team.

Other notes

• Braxton Miller (Texans) missed Week 3 with a hamstring injury, and Eli Apple (Giants) left early with the same issue. Joey Bosa (hamstring) and Nick Vannett (ankle) have yet to see playing time during the regular season. The Bills’ Cardale Jones, Chargers’ Joshua Perry, and Seahawks’ Tyvis Powell were listed as inactive in Week 3 as well.
• Mike Nugent left the Bengals game after injuring his shoulder trying to tackle a returner and Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier seemed to tweak his injured knee, but returned to action. Alex Boone had to be carted off the field during the Vikings game Sunday with a hip injury; he did return to the sideline, but never returned to the game. Jack Mewhort went down late in the Colts game against the Chargers when a player rolled over his knee, but he was able to walk off the field.
• Former Buckeyes Vonn Bell, James Laurinaitis, and Michael Thomas will all suit up for the Saints on ‘Monday Night Football’ against their division rival, the Falcons.
• He might not be as big a factor yet this season, but Carolina Panthers wide receiver Philly Brown finds ways to stay entertained before games:

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College football | Notre Dame sacks defensive coordinator after 1-3 start - Columbus Dispatch
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


College football | Notre Dame sacks defensive coordinator after 1-3 start
Columbus Dispatch
As the Ohio State Buckeyes get ready for training camp, Dispatch beat reporters Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz discuss which players might have an edge at various positions. Recruiting update. Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz talk about the highly rated 2016 ...

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What Les Miles' firing and the coaching carousel means for Ohio State
Matt Brown via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


The silly season is firing up early this year, and it might impact the Buckeyes.

We’re not even to October yet, and for most college football programs, this season is still in the early stages. But a few programs have already started to look to next year.

The biggest, of course, was LSU, who made the somewhat surprising decision to move on from the Les Miles era. Florida International also fired Ron Turner Sunday, so there are officially two open FBS head coaching positions (besides Baylor). More will likely open up in the coming weeks.

Ohio State isn’t scheduled to face either team in the near future, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t potential ramifications for the Buckeyes.

What LSU’s coaching search means for Ohio State’s coaching personnel


As far as personnel is concerned, LSU’s search doesn’t look like it will directly impact Ohio State. Urban Meyer isn’t going to leave for the Tigers, and while the Buckeyes have plenty of assistants that could potentially be hired as head coaches this offseason (Luke Fickell, Ed Warinner, and of course, Greg Schiano), the odds that any of them would be considered LSU coaching candidates is exceptionally low.

But Ohio State fans will probably still be following the outcome, as one of LSU’s top candidates will almost assuredly be former Ohio State assistant and current Houston head coach Tom Herman. Whether Herman will be interested remains to be seen, but coaching prowess coupled with LSU’s talent and recruiting advantages could be formidable. Ohio State doesn’t really recruit against Tom Herman now, but if he took the LSU job (or a few other high profile gigs), Meyer and Herman might be butting heads more regularly on the recruiting trail.

How LSU’s coaching search impacts 2017 recruiting


Ohio State’s 2017 recruiting class is somewhat close to being full, but there are a few prospects whose recruitment may be altered by this decision. The most prominent is Dylan Moses, the top rated linebacker and a top five prospect in the entire country.

Moses plays at IMG Academy, but he started high school on LSU’s campus, and was assumed to be a heavy LSU lean. Ohio State is not favored in this recruitment by any means, but he is currently scheduled to take an Ohio State visit, and anything that weakens LSU makes this a more open recruitment, which could help the Buckeyes.

Ohio State and LSU are also battling for top defensive tackle Marvin Wilson, of Bellaire, TX. Wilson was on hand for Ohio State’s thrashing of Oklahoma, and came away very impressed with the Buckeyes, but Ohio State is still swimming uphill in this recruited. Texas is currently the 247Sports Crystal Ball favorite, but Alabama, Florida State and others will be involved if LSU falters.

The other big mutual target is Clinton, MS running back Cam Akers. Once thought to be an Ohio State lean, the Buckeyes may have faded a bit, as Florida State has picked up some steam. LSU was also thought to be a contender here, along with Ole Miss.

It’s possible that a few players currently committed to LSU may decommit. Historically, Ohio State hasn’t had much success recruiting in Louisiana, and that probably won’t immediately change, even if the Tigers struggle more this season. If the Buckeyes stand to gain from a downturn in LSU’s recruiting fortunes, it will most likely be with prospects from other states.

How LSU’s coaching search impacts future Ohio State recruiting


We’re a long way from the 2018 National Signing Day, but instability with LSU could potentially be a bigger issue for Ohio State’s 2018 class, given how little room remains in 2017.

It’s still very early, but there are a few bigger targets where Ohio State may go head to head with LSU. Four-star TE Mustapha Muhammad of Missouri City, TX, five-star defensive back Anthony Cook of Houston, TX and five-star defensive back Patrick Surtain Jr. of Ft. Lauderdale all have Ohio State and LSU offers. There’s a long way to go here, but a shakeup might give Ohio State even a slight advantage in their recruitment.

What about the other new opening?


Ohio State obviously doesn’t recruit against FIU, but smaller Group of 5 programs could be potential landing spots for Ohio State assistants. At this point, it seems less likely a Buckeye ends up at FIU though.

Per the USA TODAY Coaches Salary database, FIU coach Ron Turner made just $604,000. Somebody like Luke Fickell would potentially have to take a pay cut to move there as a head coach.

The first list of prospective FIU head coaching candidates from Bruce Feldman did not include any Buckeyes, and was heavy on names with more South Florida connections, but it is also very early in that process. A Buckeye being considered for this position would be a little surprising, but not unheard of. Still, there are other mid-major positions likely to open this offseason that are probably more likely to turn towards Ohio State for a possible candidate.

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Dryden said:

Nebraska has fumbled twice into the end zone for touchbacks in the half. Somebody check on @alexhortdog95

Click to expand...

Still alive, although I was thinking of driving to Evanston to start kicking some arse.

I made it through the game. Can't say the same for Les, though, LOL

Buckeyes drop Big Ten openers to Wisconsin and Nebraska - OSU - The Lantern
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


Buckeyes drop Big Ten openers to Wisconsin and Nebraska
OSU - The Lantern
17 Buckeyes first traveled to Madison, Wisconsin, to battle the No. 3 Badgers. OSU didn't have much time to recoup after the three-set loss before they took off for Minneapolis, where the team played the No. 2 Minnesota Golden Gophers in less than 24 ...


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Ohio State opens as a whopping 37-point favorite vs Rutgers
Luke Zimmermann via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Vegas likes the Buckeyes big on homecoming.

Ohio State’s homecoming this coming weekend isn’t just an invitation to former students (and fans) to make the pilgrimage back to the holy land.

Rutgers head coach Chris Ash, arguably the most important hire Urban Meyer’s ever made with the Buckeyes, returns to town as a head coach for the very first time.

His early tenure with the Scarlet Knights hasn’t exactly been short on drama. Rutgers was darn near blown out of the stadium in Week 1 against a top 10 team in Washington. The team needed a huge comeback to beat a bad FCS team in Howard the following week. The Knights needed another big come from behind win to take down a New Mexico team that lost the previous week to transient program New Mexico State.

About the best moment so far in Ash’s short tenure came this past weekend when they played Iowa, fresh off a loss to defending four-time FCS champions North Dakota State in their own right, to a tight 14-7 loss.

Given how mature for their age Ohio State, one of the youngest teams in college football, looked against a preseason Top 3 team in Oklahoma, bookmakers think the Buckeyes are going to follow in Washington’s footsteps and really take it to the State University of New Jersey.

With OSU slotted as 37-point opening favorites, Vegas projects to get a favorable amount of action on both sides of a massive six plus score spread. Even to the most fervent Buckeyes, given how well Ash knows the Buckeyes’ personnel and scheme, you’d almost have to think that 30 would’ve been a more sane starting point.

With such a large spread, you should expect to see plenty of action on Rutgers, which could bring the spread back to earth. Of course if the Bucks come out anywhere near the way they played against the Sooners, maybe 37 won’t be enough either.

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AP Top 25: Buckeyes Hold Down No.2 Spot; Louisville Closes Gap - Eleven Warriors
via Google News using key phrase "Buckeyes".


AP Top 25: Buckeyes Hold Down No.2 Spot; Louisville Closes Gap
Eleven Warriors
Alabama hangs onto the #1 spot in the AP Poll after blanking Nick Saban's alma mater. Louisville grabbed a few more votes to slightly narrow the distance between the Cardinals and the Buckeyes. The rest of the poll is below. Ohio State hosts Chris Ash ...


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2 touchdowns or 2 sacks? Who is your Ohio State commit of the week?
Charles Doss via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here


Which future Buckeye is your MVP?

For the second week in a row Ohio State class of 2017 verbal commit Tate Martell rolled past a few of his soon-to-be Buckeye teammates to walk away with the Land-Grant Holy Land MVP of the Week award.

Locking in 61% of your votes, the dual threat quarterback landed his second MVP of the season over Danny Clark (14%), Brian Snead (13%), Antjuan Simmons (7%), and Brendon White (5%).

Most of the Ohio State commits were back in action over the weekend. Which OSU pledge will be the Week 5 MVP? The poll is now open. Let your voice be heard:

Tyjon Lindsey


Back on the field after missing time due to injury, Lindsey sure didn’t disappoint during Bishop Gorman’s (NV) big 42-0 win over Bonanza (NV) on Friday evening.

Hauling in a pair of receptions from future Buckeye Tate Martell, the shifty wide out raced to pay dirt for Bishop Gorman touchdowns. To kickoff the scoring for the Gaels, Lindsey raced 40 yards to endzone, only to later to score from 30 yards out.

Emory Jones


Jones once again proved why is he considered one the top quarterback prospects in the entire junior class on Friday against Temple High (GA).

Leading his Heard County (GA) team to an easy 41-0 victory, the four-star standout completed 16 of his 21 passing attempts for 259 yards and two touchdowns.

Blake Haubeil


For the first time all season Haubeil is up for the MVP award and for good reason.

In the 55-13 Canisius (NY) win over St. Francis (NY), Haubeil booted all seven extra points and kicked seven touchbacks on Friday.

Brian Snead


The 2018 running back didn’t rack up the numbers like he did last Friday, but still had a pretty stellar game overall.

Al though Snead, and his Armwood (FL) squad took one of the chin from Plant High, 29-27, the four-star junior rushed for 60 yards, and three touchdowns for the Hawks.

Chase Young


In DeMatha Catholic’s (MD) 56-12 route of St. Mary’s Ryken (MD), Young and the Stags defense came to play.

Fighting double teams almost every play, Young finished with two quarterback sacks in the win.

Poll
Who is your Week 5 MVP?

• Tyjon Lindsey
• Emory Jones
• Blake Haubeil
• Brian Snead
• Chase Young

0 votes | Results

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