2018 tOSU Offense Discussion

[ScriptOhio]

WHICH OHIO STATE WIDEOUT WILL BE THE GO-TO GUY FOR DWAYNE HASKINS IN HIS FIRST SEASON AS STARTER?

A new starting quarterback in Columbus is expected to bring a major upgrade to the Ohio State passing game. We've spent the offseason talking about Dwayne Haskins, Joe Burrow, and what the offense could look like come Sept. 1 against Oregon State. There are bound to be some hiccups, but there's plenty of reason for excitement.

The spring game offered a sneak peak, but it's never wise to put too much stock into the annual scrimmage. Still, with Haskins now taking the reins, the expectation is for more NFL-type throws, a more aggressive passing game, and significantly fewer designed quarterback runs.

Urban Meyer addressed the quarterback situation – including Joe Burrow's transfer and the start of the Haskins Era – a few weeks back at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Luncheon Club. Other highlights included mention of Haskins' "great release" and his performance in Ann Arbor last November (via Joe Scalzo of the Canton Repository).

One thing working in Haskins' favor is the return of a talented wide receiver room. While Zone6 has been the recipient of some criticism, a new signal-caller and plenty of experience at wideout should only enhance the passing game.

Some quarterbacks spread the ball around beautifully while others tend to hone in on a reliable target or two. Last season it was K.J. Hill who led the Buckeyes in receptions with 56. In 2016 Curtis Samuel hauled in a whopping 74 while manning the hybrid role. Michael Thomas led the way in 2014 and 2015 with 54 and 56 receptions respectively.

Who should we expect to be the go-to wideout as the Haskins regime takes off?

K.J. HILL • JUNIOR (RS) • 6-FOOT, 198 POUNDS • 2017 STATS: 56 REC, 549 YARDS, 3 TD
Hill may be the safest bet considering his production last season, but a rapport with J.T. Barrett doesn't really matter in 2018. In what could be his final season in Columbus, Hill is likely the most balanced of the Buckeye wideouts. He's not a burner by any means, but he finds ways to get open and seems to have more than reliable hands.

Haskins took over midway through the third quarter against Michigan. He would go on to connect with Hill twice for a total of 53 yards. He may very well be the most reliable option in 2018.

PARRIS CAMPBELL • SENIOR (RS) • 6-FOOT-1, 208 POUNDS • 2017 STATS: 40 REC, 584 YARDS, 3 TD
Parris Campbell may be the opposite of a guy like K.J. Hill. He's certainly one of Ohio State's fastest players and is a threat to take it to the house every time he has the ball in his possession. The problem has been an egregious number of drops. He's never going to be a possession receiver, but the big-play ability is off the charts.

Campbell was utilized on crossing routes quite regularly in 2017, so it will be interesting to see if that remains a big part of the passing game this season. He's almost sure to be used on screens and designed runs as well.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-develop-into-go-to-target-for-dwayne-haskins

 

[ScriptOhio]

OHIO STATE'S STRENGTHS AT THE RECEIVER POSITION SEEM TO BE SHIFTING WITH RECENT RECRUITING CLASSES

Most of Ohio State's receivers signed before the 2016 class seemed to fit a particular mold

Every receiver the Buckeyes signed between 2013 and 2016, with the exception of Noah Brown in 2014 and Alex Stump, who soon transferred, were between 5-10 and 6-0 in height, and between 170 and 190 lbs. in weight. Nine of 10 receivers were under six feet tall, and under 190 pounds.

It wasn't just their size they had in common, but their skillsets. All nine players were speedy, shifty, athletic receivers. They were all the sort of players who could hypothetically fill that famed Percy Harvin role that was discussed so much during that time.

Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson, James Clark, Curtis Samuel, Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell, Terry McLaurin – they all seemed like prototypical athletes for an Urban Meyer offense, but there hasn't been much variety in their playmaking abilities.

For three years, in three separate recruiting classes, the Buckeyes nearly exclusively signed receivers with almost the exact same skillset, and it seemed to have an impact on the offense when those players developed and reached maturity.

The past two seasons, we've seen a receiving corps anchored by those shorter, smaller and shiftier receivers, and Ohio State's offense has seemed to reflect that. The Buckeyes have attacked the middle of the field with crossing routes, drag routes and slants, and got the ball to the perimeter quickly with wide receiver screens.

Those plays have been Ohio State's bread and butter, and it's given them the ability to get the ball to their receivers in space and let them create after the catch.

What hasn't seemed to be the offensive emphasis is attacking the deeper, outside portions of the field, but with a shift in personnel at the quarterback and receiver positions, that could be coming.

While Ohio State signed shorter and smaller receivers before 2015, since then it has been the exact opposite. Every single receiver signed after 2015 has been over six feet tall with an average weight of over 190 lbs.

Those players, such as 6-6, 205 lb. L'Christian "Blue" Smith or 6-5, or 210 lb. Jaylen Harris are prototypical big, target receivers at the X receiver position. While Ohio State has lacked depth and talent at those positions in the past, they won't for the foreseeable future.

Another recent change is strong-armed Dwayne Haskins taking over at quarterback. Those bigger receivers, combined with Haskins arm strength could allow Ohio State to attack areas of the field they've seemed not to emphasize in previous seasons.

This isn't to say Ohio State completely lacked the personnel in the past. The Buckeyes did have Noah Brown during the 2016 season – the lone exception to the three-year recruiting trend – and got Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor involved early in their careers, and J.T. Barrett was certainly capable of making those throws – he did it many times throughout his career.

RELATED Ohio State Trending Toward Taller Receivers in Recent Recruiting Classes

 

[ScriptOhio]

OHIO STATE COULD ROTATE MORE THAN SIX WIDE RECEIVERS IN 2018, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT SHOULD

Of all the positions where Ohio State has to decide how to balance playing time between deep groups of talented players this season, one of the most fascinating to watch could be the wide receiver rotation.

At a position where the Buckeyes typically have three players on the field at once, Ohio State has six wide receivers who played enough last season to be considered co-starters – and all of them are back on this season’s roster, along with several other receivers who have also made a strong case to earn playing time.

Theoretically, Ohio State could play as many as seven, eight or even nine wide receivers in its regular rotation this season.

Whether the Buckeyes should do that, however, is a question with no easy answer.

Because Ohio State likes to rotate its receivers regularly over the course of a game, the Buckeyes had six wide receivers who played more than 300 snaps last season: Terry McLaurin and Johnnie Dixon at the "Z" receiver position, Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor at the "X" and Parris Campbell and K.J. Hill in the slot.

Campbell and McLaurin are both returning captains, and Dixon could also be a captain this year as a fellow fifth-year senior. Hill was the Buckeyes’ leader in receptions last season. Mack is arguably the best downfield receiver on the team, and while Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has said that Victor needs to "keep getting better," Meyer has also described Victor as "one of the most talented receivers" he has ever had.

The Buckeyes also have at least three other receivers, though, who have a real case to see more playing time this season. Jaylen Harris, a 6-foot-5 sophomore with the size and athleticism to be a big-time weapon on the outside, was "very close to being in the rotation" after the spring game, Meyer said. Demario McCall, an explosive H-back who perhaps offers as much big-play potential as anyone in the receiver room, is another player the Buckeyes want to get on the field more. And C.J. Saunders, a former walk-on who impressed in limited playing time last season, is also a candidate to earn more playing time after being placed on scholarship last month.

Hypothetically, that means Buckeyes could go three-deep with their rotation at every receiver position if they want to. Ultimately, however, the Buckeyes need to do what’s best for their offense – and that might not be.

Ohio State is likely to do something to mix things up at the wide receiver position, because it isn’t satisfied with the status quo. Meyer said this spring that the Buckeyes "have been good" but "have not been elite" at the position over the past few seasons, challenging wide receivers coach Zach Smith to take his position group’s play to another level in 2018.

Playing more wide receivers on a regular basis won’t necessarily make that happen, though, as Smith said this spring that for his receivers to go from good to elite, they "just need to be more consistent."

Entire artilce: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...eivers-in-2018-but-that-doesnt-mean-it-should

 

[pnuts34]

I was at the gym, and the resident MSU(little brother) fan there loves to poke his chest out and throw shots at me during the off season and before OSU plays MSU. He was trying to tell me that OSU only plays 2 teams this season because they always have a “weak” schedule, and that in those 2 games we will miss JTthe most because this “unknown kid” at QB won’t be able to handle the pressure ... I just told him that OSU will be ready and if he’s so confident we can place a bet on the finest adult beverage of our choice(max value $150), and he can put the money where his mouth is, because I see Haskins lighting MSU up like a pin ball machine

 

[ScriptOhio]

 

[ScriptOhio]

Ohio State's senior wide receivers leading team as a group

At Ohio State, Urban Meyer pitches recruits on condensed careers: play as a true freshman, become a star and, after your junior year, move on to the NFL. Few players get to grow old in Meyer's program.

Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon are the rarest of Buckeyes. All three passed on the NFL to spend another season catching passes at Ohio State. They're back to lead a receiving corps that returns all seven letter-winners from 2017. It's a group that lacks an obvious superstar but, because of its talent, experience and leadership, has become the nerve center of the 2018 Buckeyes.

The roster includes only eight fifth-year players: three play offensive line, which isn't uncommon. But the three seasoned wide receivers?

"I've never seen it," receivers coach Zach Smith said.

As the wideouts go, McLaurin said, so does the team. And know this about them: They go everywhere together. They even insist on doing media interviews together. After a practice in early April, Ohio State's not-so-grumpy old men -- McLaurin, Dixon and Campbell -- gathered next to Ohio State's indoor practice field with junior receiver Austin Mack. The discussion quickly turned to some of the old-man activities they enjoy.

Like bowling.

"I'm the best bowler," Dixon proclaimed, before turning to Mack. "Saturday, what did I beat you by?

"It wasn't like I was bowling bad, either," Mack countered. "You dropped like a 160 on me. I had like a 139, 140."

On free weekend afternoons, the group usually heads to HPL Bowling Center a few miles northeast of campus. They play for two hours, sometimes individually, sometimes in teams. No one has bowled a 200, although Dixon and McLaurin have come close. Dixon is considered the best bowler, although Smith points out that he has never beaten his position coach.

"We've turned into a old-head group, we call it," Dixon said.

Sometimes, they'll bring along a non-receiver. Dwayne Haskins, the likely starter at quarterback who lives with Mack, apparently throws a football a lot better than he rolls a bowling ball.

When not bowling, the receivers usually hang out at one of their houses.

Entire article: http://www.espn.com/college-footbal...r-wide-receivers-rare-group-unselfish-leaders

 

[ScriptOhio]

ISAIAH PRINCE AND MICHAEL JORDAN MUST LEAD THE OHIO STATE OFFENSIVE LINE IN 2018

Every season since Urban Meyer's arrival in Columbus, a Buckeye offensive lineman has emerged as one of the key leaders and anchors of not only the offensive line, but the entire team.

First it was Jack Mewhort – a captain, All-American and eventual second-round draft pick. After his departure, his replacement at left tackle, Taylor Decker, picked up the slack. Like Mewhort, Decker was a captain and All-American, then went on to be selected in the first round by the Detroit Lions.

The next two were interior linemen. Pat Elflein captained the team and led the slobs during his senior season in 2016, when he was a consensus All-American and Rimington Trophy winner before being selected in the third round of the NFL Draft. Then last season, Billy Price was the definite leader, captaining the team while becoming a unanimous All-American, Rimington Trophy winner and a first-round pick.

There's a noticeable trend here – every season, Ohio State has a dominant, veteran leader anchoring the offensive line and helping lead the team. For that to happen once again this season, it will have to be from Isaiah Prince or Michael Jordan – the two most veteran, experienced slobs on the roster.

Both Prince and Jordan are entering their third season as starters, with Prince as a senior and Jordan a junior. They are far and away the most experienced players of the group, as no other Buckeye offensive lineman even has a full season of experience as a starter.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...st-lead-the-ohio-state-offensive-line-in-2018

 

[Tanner]

Everyone talks about Haskins bringing the deep ball into the offense but I'm as excited as about hopefully bringing more quick release, accurate short passes into the game as well. For as the talk about JT's erratic deep passing his short passing could be just as erratic. He was slow to get rid of the ball at times when someone was open for an easy completion, he missed easy passes at times and even on completions his ball placement often precluded yards after the catch.

I think the criticism of his deep passing was somewhat unfair. Most college quarterbacks can't shred defenses with deep passes. Half of the quarterbacks in the NFL can't. Especially when you have a quarterback who was brought in to run the ball a lot and can get you 1,000 yards on the ground. It's unrealistic to expect a running QB to also be a really good deep passer.

I am hoping we see more of the pass Haskins made to KJ Hill in the tsun game. Easy crossing route, ball delivered on time and on the money and you have a 5 yard pass turn into a 30 yard gain. That is what we just didn't see enough of from Barrett.

 

[ScriptOhio]

BINJIMEN VICTOR, K.J. HILL SHOULD SERVE AS GO-TO WIDE RECEIVERS FOR OHIO STATE NEXT SEASON

A few weeks ago, our own Dan Hope discussed whether or not Ohio State should rotate as many receivers as they have in recent years.

Spoiler alert: They shouldn't.

Yes, it is more than ideal to have as many as six or even seven receivers that you trust to play meaningful reps in a game, but when you are entering a season with a new quarterback for the first time in four years, continuity is key. Reps on air during the summer at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center have their place, but they are not substitutes for game reps.

When Dwayne Haskins steps onto the field as Ohio State's starter against Oregon State, he will have two games to establish a rhythm with the receivers before the Buckeyes face their first true test against TCU. The debate surrounding which receivers those will be though, remains to be seen.

Veterans such as Terry McLaurin, Parris Campbell and Johnnie Dixon figure to once again get the first crack, but the trio could be on borrowed time with the plethora of not-so-young talent behind them.

Binjimen Victor and Austin Mack are entering their junior campaigns, but accounted for just 47 of Ohio State's 287 completions a season ago. Victor has been called "one of the most talented receivers" Urban Meyer has ever had, and Mack has established himself as one of the best perimeter blocking receivers on Ohio State's roster.

K.J. Hill led the team in receptions last season, but was consistently behind Campbell on the depth chart at the H-back spot. Not to mention Demario McCall, who could very well be the most explosive athlete on the team with the ball in his hands.

With such a loaded receiver unit, I give you my picks for who should be starting at each position, and who I would give the bulk of the reps at each position.

"Z" RECEIVER – AUSTIN MACK

As previously mentioned, Mack is Ohio State's best blocking receiver, but has also shown the ability to go up and make the big catch. He has proven to be a physical outside receiver, while also showing top-end speed at times.

The "Z" position was largely occupied by both Johnnie Dixon and Terry McLaurin last season. McLaurin ended up getting the bulk of the reps after Dixon continued to battle with knee injuries, and finished with 29 receptions. His value as a leader in Zach Smith's unit is invaluable, but McLaurin could be on the verge of getting passed up if Mack takes a step forward in 2018. Mack has proven he can make the big catch in crunch time, with less chances. McLaurin needs to prove he can do the same.

Dixon, on the other hand, has proven he can make the big play when healthy. His two touchdown catches against Penn State were key in Ohio State's victory. However, questions surrounding Dixon's health remain and if he cannot stay healthy, Mack could pass him up as well.

"X" RECEIVER – BINJIMEN VICTOR
I have long been an advocate that Victor should never come off the field because of his game-breaking ability on the outside.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...-to-wide-receivers-for-ohio-state-next-season

 

[ScriptOhio]

COMPARING OHIO STATE'S 2018 TIGHT END ROSTER TO URBAN MEYER'S PREVIOUS BUCKEYES TEAMS

Ohio State’s 2018 roster is loaded with talent, per usual, but how does it compare to the Buckeyes’ previous teams since Urban Meyer has arrived in Columbus?

Here at Eleven Warriors, we’ve been taking a position-by-position look at how the Buckeyes’ current roster stacks up with Ohio State’s rosters from Meyer’s first six seasons as head coach.

Next, we take a look at the tight end position, where the Buckeyes haven’t had a ton of production in the Meyer era, but have nonetheless had plenty of talented players, including several who have gone on to play in the NFL.

Ohio State’s scholarship numbers at the tight end position are down from last season after Marcus Baugh exhausted his eligibility, A.J. Alexander’s career came to an end due to a knee injury and Kierre Hawkins transferred to Youngstown State. The Buckeyes’ 2018 recruiting class, meanwhile, includes only one tight end in Jeremy Ruckert.

But considering that Ruckert was a highly touted four-star recruit who Meyer has said "might be the best tight end" that he has ever recruited, this year’s Buckeyes’ tight end unit could still have enough talent to be one of Meyer’s best groups at the position yet in Columbus.

How do the seemingly low numbers on the Buckeyes’ tight end roster this year, as well as the talent of the tight ends they do have, compare to what Meyer has had in his first six years at Ohio State? We can evaluate by taking a look back at each of Ohio State’s tight end rosters since 2012.

Rosters for each season are listed below with each player’s year of eligibility, number of recruiting stars (based on 247Sports’ composite rankings) and how many games they had appeared in and started going into each respective season, with analysis to follow on how this year’s group stacks up with the rest.

Note: Players who made position switches are only listed for the years on which they were listed as tight ends on Ohio State’s roster.

2012
Jake Stoneburner, Redshirt Senior (★★★★) – 36 games, 15 starts

Jeff Heuerman, Sophomore (★★★) – 10 games

Nick Vannett, Redshirt Freshman (★★★★)

Blake Thomas, Freshman (★★★)

Ryan Carter, Freshman (Walk-on)

2013
Jeff Heuerman, Junior (★★★) – 22 games, 9 starts

J.T. Moore, Redshirt Junior (★★★) – 17 games, 6 starts (as DE)

Nick Vannett, Redshirt Sophomore (★★★★) – 12 games, 2 starts

Marcus Baugh, Freshman (★★★★)

Devin Hill, Junior (Walk-on)

Charles Kinzig, Junior (Walk-on)

2014
Jeff Heuerman, Senior (★★★) – 36 games, 23 starts

Nick Vannett, Redshirt Junior (★★★★) – 25 games, 2 starts

Marcus Baugh, Redshirt Freshman (★★★★)

Devin Hill, Senior (Walk-on) – 1 game

Chris Rock, Redshirt Junior (Walk-on) – 1 game (as DE)

Guy Ferrelli, Freshman (Walk-on)
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continued
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With that being said, three of Ohio State’s four scholarship tight ends were four-star recruits, and the other – Berry – might be one of the most physically gifted players on the entire team. Farrell made a big impression on Ohio State’s coaches this spring, enough to emerge as the starting tight end for the upcoming season, while Ruckert is hyped as a potential immediate-impact player.

To this point, the Buckeyes’ strongest tight end group of the Meyer era was the one that took the field during the 2014 national championship season, when Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett both played regularly and Marcus Baugh also saw playing time.

Considering that even those tight ends only combined for 37 catches for 429 yards and eight touchdowns that season, however, the bar still remains relatively low – at least compared to other positions on Ohio State’s roster in the Meyer era – for a new group at the position to come in and surpass its predecessors.

Given that this year’s Ohio State tight end roster is unproven, reasonable expectations for the group should probably be kept low. With all four scholarship tight ends on the roster still have at least two remaining seasons of eligibility, however, the group has real potential to make a big impact over the next two to four years.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...oster-to-urban-meyers-previous-buckeyes-teams

 

[jwinslow]

Pretty excited about this new segment:

 

[ScriptOhio]

TATE MARTELL “WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO COMPETE,” BUT DWAYNE HASKINS IS OHIO STATE'S STARTING QUARTERBACK

Dwayne Haskins is Ohio State’s starting quarterback, but Tate Martell will still have a chance to compete for the job in preseason camp.

Both of those things cannot be completely true, but Urban Meyer said both on Friday, when he met with reporters at Ohio State for the first time since April's spring game at the Buckeyes’ annual job fair.

When asked whether Martell would have a chance to earn playing time this summer, Meyer responded affirmatively.

"He will have a chance to compete for that spot," Meyer said.

When asked whether he still considered the quarterback competition to be an open competition, however, Ohio State’s coach said the job is Haskins’ to lose.

"Dwayne’s our starting quarterback," Meyer said. "Like any position; right now, Thayer Munford’s our left tackle, but they’re competing for that spot. The better you recruit, the more competition you have."

Meyer is a coach who constantly encourages and expects his players to compete regardless of their standing on the depth chart, and that’s how he’s continuing to approach the quarterback competition. Meyer wants Haskins to prove in fall camp that he deserves to be the starting quarterback, and he wants Martell to still have something to compete for.

Because Haskins still hasn’t started a game for the Buckeyes, while Martell hasn’t even played in a game for the Buckeyes, they’re in a very different position than they were the past two seasons, when Meyer never entertained the idea of a quarterback competition with J.T. Barrett.

What is clear now, though, is that the Buckeyes are proceeding forward with the idea that Haskins is their starting quarterback, and unlike in the spring – when Haskins, Martell and now-transferred Joe Burrow all split first-team reps in what really was an open competition – Haskins should get the majority of work with the first-team offense in fall camp.

Ohio State’s wide receivers believe that’s a good thing, not because they don’t believe Martell can do the job too, but because it enables them to build a rapport with Haskins.

"It’s hard when you have multiple quarterbacks, trying to get in a rhythm," Parris Campbell said. "So knowing that he’s the guy, it definitely makes it a lot easier."

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...e-haskins-is-ohio-states-starting-quarterback

 

[ScriptOhio]

DWAYNE HASKINS' CONNECTION WITH AUSTIN MACK AT MICHIGAN A SOURCE OF CONFIDENCE FOR OHIO STATE'S 2018 OFFENSE

It only takes one play to see why people are excited about the potential of Ohio State’s 2018 passing offense.

If you’re an Ohio State fan, it’s a play that will probably shine bright in your memory for many years to come.

With less than four minutes to play in the third quarter, starting quarterback J.T. Barrett sidelined by an injury and Ohio State trailing its rivals by six in Ann Arbor, backup quarterback Dwayne Haskins made the throw of the Buckeyes’ 2017 season. Facing 3rd-and-13, Haskins rifled a throw between two defensive backs up the right side of the field to Austin Mack for a 27-yard completion that proved to be the turning point of Ohio State’s eventual 31-20 win.

Haskins’ relief effort at Michigan was the only playing time with a game on the line that he saw last season, and for that matter, in his Ohio State career to date. But as Haskins prepares to take over as Ohio State’s starting quarterback for the 2018 season, his performance in that game – and even more specifically, that throw to Mack – is serving as a source of confidence for this year’s Buckeyes offense, particularly the receivers who will catch passes from Haskins.

"Dwayne, he got a little bit of action against The Team Up North, and I think where it all started was that connection between him and Austin, that big play, just because when Dwayne came in that position, he really wasn’t experienced," Ohio State wide receiver Parris Campbell said while meeting with reporters at last week’s team job fair. "And I think that was something that gave him confidence making a play in that game at that setting."

While Ohio State held a three-way quarterback competition between Haskins, Joe Burrow and Tate Martell this spring, and coaches contended that all three quarterbacks had a fair shot to win the job, the widespread expectation all along was that Haskins would win the job, with his performance in last year’s edition of The Game giving him a leg up on his peers.

Although Ohio State’s wide receivers said they believed they could be successful with any of the three quarterbacks – and still believe that with Martell, who is now the No. 2 quarterback with Burrow having transferred to LSU – Campbell said he believes Haskins’ comeback effort in Ann Arbor was a factor in the redshirt sophomore ultimately finishing the spring in front.

"I think it played a huge role, honestly," Campbell said. "Just because certain things that Dwayne had on his résumé, others didn’t. He played in a big-time game on a big-time stage and he came out and won the game. So I think that definitely played a role. I’m not saying that Dwayne was ultimately better than everyone else, but that definitely gave him a step up."

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...ce-of-confidence-for-ohio-states-2018-offense

 

[ScriptOhio]

SKULL SESSION: FOUR-STAR QB FLIPS FROM MICHIGAN STATE, ZONE-6 VERSATILITY, AND THE IMPORTANCE OF JONATHON COOPER

CHOOSE YOUR POKÉMON. My early forecast of Ohio State's 2018 offense: Good, extremely good.

You could start with the quarterback, the offensive line, or the thoroughbreds in the backfield. But don't sleep on the receivers.

They will be the most talented group of the Meyer era. And almost as importantly, they all offer unique skills.

From Tim May of The Columbus Dispatch:

The way the Buckeyes spread the ball around last season — five of the wide receivers had 23 or more catches — each had to make sure he made the most of an opportunity. It promises to be the same this year.

Of the 10 wide receivers or hybrid backs who caught a pass last year, nine are back (Trevon Grimes transferred to Florida). Hill, Campbell, McLaurin, Mack, Dixon, C.J. Saunders, Victor, Demario McCall and Jaylen Harris are an eclectic group, with McCall and Harris having made bids in the spring to become a bigger part of the rotation in the fall.

“I think it’s definitely to our advantage, just having so many weapons with guys who can do so much,” Campbell said. “I’m able to make short passes into big, explosive plays, and we have other guys who are able to take the top off the coverage and catch 80-yard bombs, touchdown passes.

I'm looking forward to the 80-yard bombs, my friends. I'm not sure why Meyer doesn't call that play every time, though I'll defer to him on the matter.

If the Buckeyes establish a consistent deep threat, there won't be a team capable of defending them for four quarters unless the play calling devolves back into 2015. And yes, I apologize for reminding you this early in the morning of that snafu.

Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...tate-zone-6-versatility-jonathon-cooper-depth

 

[ScriptOhio]

Pre-Fall Positional Projection: Ohio State Running Backs

Tapping into my inner Tony and without doing the research, I’d assume there are not many running back rooms around the country which consists of two former 1,000-yard rushers. I’d assume there are even less that had both of those guys rush for over 1,000 yards in their respective freshman seasons.

Going into last season, the Buckeyes had Mike Weber coming off of his freshman year where he ran for 1,096 yards and averaged 6 yards per carry. Weber looked to really explode onto the national scene in his second year as starter. Behind him was an abundance of extremely talented but unproven younger players.

Fast-forward to this year and you have a similar situation. You have two guys established as the starters and a room full of potential.

In my next stop on the pre-fall projection tour, we take a look at the running back room.

THE STARTERS

With Dwayne Haskins opening up the offense a little, the 2018 season is going to be the J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber show. The biggest question will be how many carries does each talented runner get?

There were few freshmen around the country who dominated as much as J.K. Dobbins did. Sure, Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor got all the accolades in the Big Ten, but anyone that watched the B1G championship game knows who the best freshman running back on the field was. The true freshman from Texas finished the season with over 1,400 yards rushing and averaged a whopping 7.2 yards per carry.

Weber went into last season as the unquestioned starter and was ready to run wild on the Big Ten, but things did not go as planned. After battling a groin injury all through fall camp and into the season, Weber was only able to manage 10 or more carries five times during the season. Even with being extremely limited, Weber was able to rack up 10 touchdowns on the season and average 6.2 yards per carry.

These two star running backs combined for over 2,000 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns last season. With J.T. Barrett and his carries now out the door, expect even more from these two.

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/06/projection-ohio-state-running-backs-2/