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- Thread starter bukIpower
- Start date
Hodgepodge
Meh
I hope Day is looking at grad transfer for depth, if not to start. The top two on the market currently appear to be RJ Proctor from UVA and Ean Pfeifer from Vandy, both of whom have starting experience. UCLA's Justin Murphy would be in the conversation as well, but his knees are shot.
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1926Buckeyes
Head Coach
Yeah, OL depth is a huge issue. Need a big jump by Myers and NPF. I assume Stud is part of the reason the depth is so lacking.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Early Look: The 2019 Ohio State Offensive Line
The Buckeyes got some bad news Friday as center Michael Jordan announced that he would skip his senior year and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
Jordan would have been one of only two full-time starters to return on the line, and his loss leaves a lot of questions up front.
Malcolm Pridgeon, who started at left guard this season, Demetrius Knox (right guard), and Isaiah Prince (right tackle) all played their final seasons as Buckeyes in 2018, along with backup center Brady Taylor.
First, the good news: The Buckeyes will return four players with at least some starting experience. Thayer Munford was solid as the starting left tackle all year. If he returns healthy from an injury that kept him out of the Rose Bowl, he should be a good building block for the line.
Josh Alabi started the Rose Bowl in Munford’s place, and played pretty well, especially given the circumstances.
Similarly, Wyatt Davis stepped in for an injured Knox and started the Big Ten Championship Game as well as in Pasadena. The month of practice reps that he got with the first-team should go a long way toward making him a solid starter in the fall.
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.
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First team (LT-LG-C-RG-RT): Thayer Munford, Branden Bowen, Josh Myers, Wyatt Davis, Nick Petit-Frere
Second team (LT-LG-C-RG-RT): Josh Alabi, Gavin Cupp, Harry Miller, Matthew Jones, Max Wray
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continued
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/01/2019-ohio-state-buckeyes-offensive-line/
The Buckeyes got some bad news Friday as center Michael Jordan announced that he would skip his senior year and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
Jordan would have been one of only two full-time starters to return on the line, and his loss leaves a lot of questions up front.
Malcolm Pridgeon, who started at left guard this season, Demetrius Knox (right guard), and Isaiah Prince (right tackle) all played their final seasons as Buckeyes in 2018, along with backup center Brady Taylor.
First, the good news: The Buckeyes will return four players with at least some starting experience. Thayer Munford was solid as the starting left tackle all year. If he returns healthy from an injury that kept him out of the Rose Bowl, he should be a good building block for the line.
Josh Alabi started the Rose Bowl in Munford’s place, and played pretty well, especially given the circumstances.
Similarly, Wyatt Davis stepped in for an injured Knox and started the Big Ten Championship Game as well as in Pasadena. The month of practice reps that he got with the first-team should go a long way toward making him a solid starter in the fall.
.
.
.
First team (LT-LG-C-RG-RT): Thayer Munford, Branden Bowen, Josh Myers, Wyatt Davis, Nick Petit-Frere
Second team (LT-LG-C-RG-RT): Josh Alabi, Gavin Cupp, Harry Miller, Matthew Jones, Max Wray
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.
continued
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/01/2019-ohio-state-buckeyes-offensive-line/
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
SKULL SESSION: TERRELLE PRYOR APPROVES OF JUSTIN FIELDS, FIVE-STAR CORNER SEEKS BUCKEYE ATTENTION, AND OHIO STATE TAKES ON MICHIGAN STATE
SPRING IS GOING TO BE WILD. I officially cannot wait for Ohio State's spring game in a few months.
The Buckeyes just brought in the highest-rated player in program history to follow the most prolific passer in program history, and he's approved by the former highest-rated player in program history.
But we all know Tate Martell ain't going out without a fight, so one way or another the next few months are going to be downright fascinating.
#QBGeddon was insane, but it was pretty quiet. Something tells me this one ain't going to be that way.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...e-attention-recruit-michigan-state-basketball
SPRING IS GOING TO BE WILD. I officially cannot wait for Ohio State's spring game in a few months.
The Buckeyes just brought in the highest-rated player in program history to follow the most prolific passer in program history, and he's approved by the former highest-rated player in program history.
But we all know Tate Martell ain't going out without a fight, so one way or another the next few months are going to be downright fascinating.
#QBGeddon was insane, but it was pretty quiet. Something tells me this one ain't going to be that way.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/skul...e-attention-recruit-michigan-state-basketball
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
OHIO STATE'S OFFENSIVE LINE COULD BE THE BIGGEST QUESTION MARK ENTERING THE 2019 SEASON
In the weeks leading up to Ohio State’s final game of the 2018 season, new Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day appeared to be attempting to recruit Michael Jordan to stay in Columbus for his senior season.
During his early signing period press conference on Dec. 19, Day said that the Buckeyes were “hoping Mike stays,” saying “that would be a huge part of this next year” as Ohio State evaluated its offensive line depth chart for the 2019 season.
Then, on Dec. 29 in an interview session days before the Rose Bowl, Day said that he had discussions with Jordan and his family about his future, saying at the time that the plan would be to move Jordan back to his natural position of guard and slide Josh Myers into the starting role at center if Jordan returned for his senior year.
“That would be a nice move for us, to move Josh to center and then Mike over to guard,” Day said.
Unlike his recruiting pitches that lured Zach Harrison and Justin Fields to Ohio State in his first month as the Buckeyes’ coach, Day’s recruiting pitch to Jordan fell short. Jordan announced Friday that he would forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility and enter the 2019 NFL draft.
As a result, Ohio State’s offensive line looks to be the team’s most glaring area of concern entering the 2019 season.
With Jordan’s departure, the Buckeyes are losing four of their starting offensive linemen from this past season’s lineup, including left guard Malcolm Pridgeon, right guard Demetrius Knox and right tackle Isaiah Prince.
That leaves the Buckeyes with many question marks up front.
The only returning starter on Ohio State’s offensive line next season will be left tackle Thayer Munford, who had a solid first season in the starting lineup, but will now become the Buckeyes’ most experienced offensive lineman with just one year as a starter under his belt.
Every other starting spot could be open for competition this summer, as none of the Buckeyes’ other offensive linemen have made more than six career starts.
Myers will get the first shot to lock down the starting center job, while Wyatt Davis – who started the final two games of this season at right guard with Knox injured – should be the frontrunner to start at one guard spot. Both of them were highly touted prospects who, entering their third seasons, have the potential to emerge as breakout stars.
Davis has a great combination of power and quickness and has shown glimpses of his ability to be dominant, but now he needs to show he can be consistent. Myers is also physically gifted, but he’s entirely unproven at this point, having yet to start a game for the Buckeyes.
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.
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As of now, it’s unclear whether Greg Studrawa will be retained as Ohio State’s offensive line coach or whether he will be replaced (Studrawa said at last week’s Rose Bowl media day that he expected to be back for the 2019 season, but Day has not commented on whether he will retain Studrawa). Whoever holds that job, though, will have his work cut out for him next season, as the Buckeyes need both unproven players to establish themselves as quality starters and players with no experience to be ready to play on the two-deep.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...iggest-question-mark-entering-the-2019-season
In the weeks leading up to Ohio State’s final game of the 2018 season, new Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day appeared to be attempting to recruit Michael Jordan to stay in Columbus for his senior season.
During his early signing period press conference on Dec. 19, Day said that the Buckeyes were “hoping Mike stays,” saying “that would be a huge part of this next year” as Ohio State evaluated its offensive line depth chart for the 2019 season.
Then, on Dec. 29 in an interview session days before the Rose Bowl, Day said that he had discussions with Jordan and his family about his future, saying at the time that the plan would be to move Jordan back to his natural position of guard and slide Josh Myers into the starting role at center if Jordan returned for his senior year.
“That would be a nice move for us, to move Josh to center and then Mike over to guard,” Day said.
Unlike his recruiting pitches that lured Zach Harrison and Justin Fields to Ohio State in his first month as the Buckeyes’ coach, Day’s recruiting pitch to Jordan fell short. Jordan announced Friday that he would forgo his final season of collegiate eligibility and enter the 2019 NFL draft.
As a result, Ohio State’s offensive line looks to be the team’s most glaring area of concern entering the 2019 season.
With Jordan’s departure, the Buckeyes are losing four of their starting offensive linemen from this past season’s lineup, including left guard Malcolm Pridgeon, right guard Demetrius Knox and right tackle Isaiah Prince.
That leaves the Buckeyes with many question marks up front.
The only returning starter on Ohio State’s offensive line next season will be left tackle Thayer Munford, who had a solid first season in the starting lineup, but will now become the Buckeyes’ most experienced offensive lineman with just one year as a starter under his belt.
Every other starting spot could be open for competition this summer, as none of the Buckeyes’ other offensive linemen have made more than six career starts.
Myers will get the first shot to lock down the starting center job, while Wyatt Davis – who started the final two games of this season at right guard with Knox injured – should be the frontrunner to start at one guard spot. Both of them were highly touted prospects who, entering their third seasons, have the potential to emerge as breakout stars.
Davis has a great combination of power and quickness and has shown glimpses of his ability to be dominant, but now he needs to show he can be consistent. Myers is also physically gifted, but he’s entirely unproven at this point, having yet to start a game for the Buckeyes.
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As of now, it’s unclear whether Greg Studrawa will be retained as Ohio State’s offensive line coach or whether he will be replaced (Studrawa said at last week’s Rose Bowl media day that he expected to be back for the 2019 season, but Day has not commented on whether he will retain Studrawa). Whoever holds that job, though, will have his work cut out for him next season, as the Buckeyes need both unproven players to establish themselves as quality starters and players with no experience to be ready to play on the two-deep.
Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...iggest-question-mark-entering-the-2019-season
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WITH DWAYNE HASKINS GONE, OHIO STATE QUARTERBACK COMPETITION THAT WILL DEFINE BEGINNING OF RYAN DAY'S TENURE COMMENCES
Colin Hass-Hill on January 8, 2019 at 9:41 am @chasshill
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Ryan Day knows exactly what he did by adding Justin Fields to a what suddenly seems like a possibly combustible quarterback room.
With Dwayne Haskins officially announcing the decision that everyone knew was coming and heading to the NFL after one year as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, the Buckeyes were left with only three quarterbacks – Tate Martell, Matthew Baldwin and Chris Chugunov – on next season’s roster. On Dec. 19, Day said he prefers to always have four quarterbacks, intimating that the team, which had just lost Dwan Mathis to a decommitment, might look at the transfer market if Haskins left for the NFL.
So, understanding Haskins, the likely top quarterback prospect in the draft, would probably depart, he hit the transfer market and landed a quarterback most talented than any in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Rumors of Ohio State’s interest in Fields swirled for nearly a month before he announced his transfer on Friday.
Not everyone has to like it. Just five days before Fields posted a message on Twitter to say he would attend Ohio State, Martell said he doesn’t understand why Fields “would think that the grass is greener on the other side” and that “this dude hasn’t put a single second into Ohio State football.”
Day went out and got Fields anyway, for he believes Fields is a talent worth making people unhappy. His job is one that requires him to do what’s best for the program, and sometimes that means doing something that will upset someone who has put in years of time and effort into the program.
Whichever quarterback wins the starting spot in the offseason will define at least the first two years of Day’s tenure as head coach. He can’t afford to get this decision wrong.
Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports.
Ohio State, under Urban Meyer, went through a quarterback competition last spring, but the consequences were not as dire, and the situation wasn’t a surprise to those involved.
Joe Burrow knew Dwayne Haskins would be his competition when J.T. Barrett’s time as quarterback eventually ended, and Burrow was already on the roster when Haskins committed. Both Burrow and Haskins were Barrett’s backups and possible Barrett replacement when Martell inked his National Letter of Intent.
RELATED Urban Meyer, Justin Fields and Dwayne Haskins Attend Ohio State vs. Michigan State Basketball Game
When Haskins, Burrow and Martell went at it last spring, there was always the understanding that certain outcomes – including the one that happened – could satisfy most parties. Haskins became Ohio State’s starter. Burrow transferred to LSU, where he immediately played and will be a two-year starter. Martell backed up Haskins and now has a chance to win the starting job again after just one season.
This year, Martell was supposed to get his reward for waiting. Rumors of him transferring – often completely unfounded – have swirled since he stepped foot on campus. He could have left after failing to beat out Haskins last year, but he didn’t. He stuck around, thinking his competition would include Baldwin and a true freshman.
Instead, in came Fields to alter the field. Baldwin remains a competitor, as well.
Before the Fields transfer became official, Martell guaranteed he will start for Ohio State and said he will not transfer.
“There's no reason I should,” Martell said on Dec. 30. “I know what kind of quarterback I am. I'm an elite quarterback. I know that after two years of being here, I run our offense at a very efficient level, and I know once we put the zone read back in, it will be very fun for me.”
The situation became quite a bit dicier when Fields made his decision official.
There’s no doubt that Martell waited his time and earned a chance to be starter. But things look more uncertain than ever before. Given his comments about Fields, it’s unlikely he’d be willing to stick around to back him up. He’s also talented enough to play elsewhere, which he understands.
RELATED Ryan Day Makes Huge First Impression on Recruiting Trail By Landing Zach Harrison, Justin Fields
“I love my boys,” Martell said on Dec. 30. “All my guys in my class, I'd do anything for them. They know that, too. My whole team knows that. That's why I'm still here at this point. Because there's probably a ton of other schools that I could be starting for right now.”
If Fields wins the job, Martell could consider a transfer, but he would have to sit out a year, unlike Burrow who played immediately. If Martell wins the job, Fields likely wouldn’t be thrilled that he transferred and now might have to back someone up for at least two years. If Baldwin wins the job, likely neither Martell nor Fields will be thrilled.
Every scenario has a not-to-great outcome for at least one competitor.
Unlike last year’s battle to replace Barrett, the national spotlight on this spring’s competition will shine bright. Haskins, Burrow and Martell fought for the job while Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts competed to become Alabama’s quarterback, stealing most of the country’s attention. Plus, Kelly Bryant was trying to hold off Trevor Lawrence at Clemson and Jake Fromm was doing battle with Fields at Georgia.
RELATED How Justin Fields' Transfer Impacts Tate Martell, Ohio State's Quarterback Situation
With Fields, the No. 2 overall prospect in last year’s recruiting cycle, transferring to try to win that job that many thought would go to Martell, who had publicly warned Fields not to transfer, the country will have its eyes on Ohio State.
Further complicating matters, neither Day nor Fields are even sure whether Fields will be eligible to play. He must apply for a hardship waiver from the NCAA in order to gain immediate eligibility in the fall, but that’s not a certainty. Thomas Mars, an attorney that Shea Patterson used to play for Michigan last fall without sitting out, reportedly will be helping Fields attempt to gain eligibility to play in the fall.
Many people are optimistic that Fields will be able to play, but the waiver process takes substantial time. Jim Harbaugh’s staff didn’t know Patterson would be eligible until the end of April, long after spring practices had concluded. Day might not even know whether the winner of his quarterback competition can play in the fall until after the spring game.
In order to maximize the first couple years of his tenure as Ohio State head coach, Day must masterfully navigate all the uncertainty and emotions, despite never serving in the capacity full-time before.
The first spring practice ever for Day certainly won't come and go without hiccups, but by making a move that complicated the quarterback situation, he ensured the Buckeyes trot out both a talented and deserving quarterback, whether it be Fields, Martell or Baldwin.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...QP_0uj-hpddbLZrbxLNz-R0ascc3_4mS79S6eRFYGiaks
Colin Hass-Hill on January 8, 2019 at 9:41 am @chasshill
Email this ArticleShare on RedditShare on TwitterShare on Facebook296
71 COMMENTS
Ryan Day knows exactly what he did by adding Justin Fields to a what suddenly seems like a possibly combustible quarterback room.
With Dwayne Haskins officially announcing the decision that everyone knew was coming and heading to the NFL after one year as Ohio State’s starting quarterback, the Buckeyes were left with only three quarterbacks – Tate Martell, Matthew Baldwin and Chris Chugunov – on next season’s roster. On Dec. 19, Day said he prefers to always have four quarterbacks, intimating that the team, which had just lost Dwan Mathis to a decommitment, might look at the transfer market if Haskins left for the NFL.
So, understanding Haskins, the likely top quarterback prospect in the draft, would probably depart, he hit the transfer market and landed a quarterback most talented than any in the 2019 recruiting cycle. Rumors of Ohio State’s interest in Fields swirled for nearly a month before he announced his transfer on Friday.
Not everyone has to like it. Just five days before Fields posted a message on Twitter to say he would attend Ohio State, Martell said he doesn’t understand why Fields “would think that the grass is greener on the other side” and that “this dude hasn’t put a single second into Ohio State football.”
Day went out and got Fields anyway, for he believes Fields is a talent worth making people unhappy. His job is one that requires him to do what’s best for the program, and sometimes that means doing something that will upset someone who has put in years of time and effort into the program.
Whichever quarterback wins the starting spot in the offseason will define at least the first two years of Day’s tenure as head coach. He can’t afford to get this decision wrong.
Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports.
Ohio State, under Urban Meyer, went through a quarterback competition last spring, but the consequences were not as dire, and the situation wasn’t a surprise to those involved.
Joe Burrow knew Dwayne Haskins would be his competition when J.T. Barrett’s time as quarterback eventually ended, and Burrow was already on the roster when Haskins committed. Both Burrow and Haskins were Barrett’s backups and possible Barrett replacement when Martell inked his National Letter of Intent.
RELATED Urban Meyer, Justin Fields and Dwayne Haskins Attend Ohio State vs. Michigan State Basketball Game
When Haskins, Burrow and Martell went at it last spring, there was always the understanding that certain outcomes – including the one that happened – could satisfy most parties. Haskins became Ohio State’s starter. Burrow transferred to LSU, where he immediately played and will be a two-year starter. Martell backed up Haskins and now has a chance to win the starting job again after just one season.
This year, Martell was supposed to get his reward for waiting. Rumors of him transferring – often completely unfounded – have swirled since he stepped foot on campus. He could have left after failing to beat out Haskins last year, but he didn’t. He stuck around, thinking his competition would include Baldwin and a true freshman.
Instead, in came Fields to alter the field. Baldwin remains a competitor, as well.
Before the Fields transfer became official, Martell guaranteed he will start for Ohio State and said he will not transfer.
“There's no reason I should,” Martell said on Dec. 30. “I know what kind of quarterback I am. I'm an elite quarterback. I know that after two years of being here, I run our offense at a very efficient level, and I know once we put the zone read back in, it will be very fun for me.”
The situation became quite a bit dicier when Fields made his decision official.
There’s no doubt that Martell waited his time and earned a chance to be starter. But things look more uncertain than ever before. Given his comments about Fields, it’s unlikely he’d be willing to stick around to back him up. He’s also talented enough to play elsewhere, which he understands.
RELATED Ryan Day Makes Huge First Impression on Recruiting Trail By Landing Zach Harrison, Justin Fields
“I love my boys,” Martell said on Dec. 30. “All my guys in my class, I'd do anything for them. They know that, too. My whole team knows that. That's why I'm still here at this point. Because there's probably a ton of other schools that I could be starting for right now.”
If Fields wins the job, Martell could consider a transfer, but he would have to sit out a year, unlike Burrow who played immediately. If Martell wins the job, Fields likely wouldn’t be thrilled that he transferred and now might have to back someone up for at least two years. If Baldwin wins the job, likely neither Martell nor Fields will be thrilled.
Every scenario has a not-to-great outcome for at least one competitor.
Unlike last year’s battle to replace Barrett, the national spotlight on this spring’s competition will shine bright. Haskins, Burrow and Martell fought for the job while Tua Tagovailoa and Jalen Hurts competed to become Alabama’s quarterback, stealing most of the country’s attention. Plus, Kelly Bryant was trying to hold off Trevor Lawrence at Clemson and Jake Fromm was doing battle with Fields at Georgia.
RELATED How Justin Fields' Transfer Impacts Tate Martell, Ohio State's Quarterback Situation
With Fields, the No. 2 overall prospect in last year’s recruiting cycle, transferring to try to win that job that many thought would go to Martell, who had publicly warned Fields not to transfer, the country will have its eyes on Ohio State.
Further complicating matters, neither Day nor Fields are even sure whether Fields will be eligible to play. He must apply for a hardship waiver from the NCAA in order to gain immediate eligibility in the fall, but that’s not a certainty. Thomas Mars, an attorney that Shea Patterson used to play for Michigan last fall without sitting out, reportedly will be helping Fields attempt to gain eligibility to play in the fall.
Many people are optimistic that Fields will be able to play, but the waiver process takes substantial time. Jim Harbaugh’s staff didn’t know Patterson would be eligible until the end of April, long after spring practices had concluded. Day might not even know whether the winner of his quarterback competition can play in the fall until after the spring game.
In order to maximize the first couple years of his tenure as Ohio State head coach, Day must masterfully navigate all the uncertainty and emotions, despite never serving in the capacity full-time before.
The first spring practice ever for Day certainly won't come and go without hiccups, but by making a move that complicated the quarterback situation, he ensured the Buckeyes trot out both a talented and deserving quarterback, whether it be Fields, Martell or Baldwin.
https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...QP_0uj-hpddbLZrbxLNz-R0ascc3_4mS79S6eRFYGiaks
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1926Buckeyes
Head Coach
With Hill coming back, the skill positions will be loaded for whoever wins the Qb competition. Need to shore up the OL.
LT: Munford
LG: Bowen
C: ??? (Myers)
RG: Davis
RT: ??? (Alabi/NPF)
TE: Farrell/Berry
WR: Mack/Victor
WR: Olave
H: Hill
RB: Dobbins/McCall
LT: Munford
LG: Bowen
C: ??? (Myers)
RG: Davis
RT: ??? (Alabi/NPF)
TE: Farrell/Berry
WR: Mack/Victor
WR: Olave
H: Hill
RB: Dobbins/McCall
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UpNorth_Buckeye
Assistant Coach
If Jordan had come back i think this team is 100% on par with bama/Clemson in 2019. But if 1) Bowen is 100% recovered, 2) Alibi/NPF are able to be good at RT, and 3) no injuries I think they're still able to compete with those teams.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Morning Constitutional: What Does KJ Hill’s Return Mean for the H-Backs?
Today’s Topic: What Does KJ Hill’s Return Mean for the Ohio State H-Backs?
In a bit of a surprise move on Tuesday, Ohio State fourth-year junior H-back KJ Hill announced that he is returning for his fifth-and-final season with the Buckeyes.
Many times, players are graduated and simply ready to move on by the time a fifth season rolls around. Hill, however, is following the path that was also chosen by receivers Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell, and Terry McLaurin a year ago when they all decided to return for their respective fifth seasons.
The Buckeyes have lost the three receivers mentioned above, but returning Hill is significant. His 68 receptions this past season is the sixth-most in school history, and his 142 career receptions are seventh-most in school history. His next catch will tie him with Parris Campbell for sixth place.
When you look at who was in the rotation this season, the Buckeyes will return four members of the “starting” six. Both ‘X’ receivers return in Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor, Hill returns at ‘H’, and Chris Olave returns at ‘Z’ after finishing strong down the stretch in Big Ten play as a true freshman.
Hill’s return is great for a Buckeye offense that will be breaking in a new starting quarterback, but it moves each of the other H-backs down a peg in the depth chart.
When talking to fellow H-backs Demario McCall and Jaelen Gill after the Big Ten Championship Game and the Rose Bowl, they both were well aware of the increased opportunities that were going to come with Parris Campbell’s departure. They may have also expected Hill to leave as well, which would have made touches even more prevalent.
Considering that Campbell caught 90 passes this past season while sharing time with Hill, there will still be plenty of touches to go around.
KJ Hill is 50 receptions away from being Ohio State’s all-time leading receiver, and barring anything unforeseen, he should better that number by about 20 or 30.
Campbell’s departure still leaves a wealth of reps and opportunities for both McCall and Gill, and as receivers coach Brian Hartline told me at the Rose Bowl, stop neglecting CJ Saunders in this conversation as well.
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/01/morning-constitutional-kj-hill/
Today’s Topic: What Does KJ Hill’s Return Mean for the Ohio State H-Backs?
In a bit of a surprise move on Tuesday, Ohio State fourth-year junior H-back KJ Hill announced that he is returning for his fifth-and-final season with the Buckeyes.
Many times, players are graduated and simply ready to move on by the time a fifth season rolls around. Hill, however, is following the path that was also chosen by receivers Johnnie Dixon, Parris Campbell, and Terry McLaurin a year ago when they all decided to return for their respective fifth seasons.
The Buckeyes have lost the three receivers mentioned above, but returning Hill is significant. His 68 receptions this past season is the sixth-most in school history, and his 142 career receptions are seventh-most in school history. His next catch will tie him with Parris Campbell for sixth place.
When you look at who was in the rotation this season, the Buckeyes will return four members of the “starting” six. Both ‘X’ receivers return in Austin Mack and Binjimen Victor, Hill returns at ‘H’, and Chris Olave returns at ‘Z’ after finishing strong down the stretch in Big Ten play as a true freshman.
Hill’s return is great for a Buckeye offense that will be breaking in a new starting quarterback, but it moves each of the other H-backs down a peg in the depth chart.
When talking to fellow H-backs Demario McCall and Jaelen Gill after the Big Ten Championship Game and the Rose Bowl, they both were well aware of the increased opportunities that were going to come with Parris Campbell’s departure. They may have also expected Hill to leave as well, which would have made touches even more prevalent.
Considering that Campbell caught 90 passes this past season while sharing time with Hill, there will still be plenty of touches to go around.
KJ Hill is 50 receptions away from being Ohio State’s all-time leading receiver, and barring anything unforeseen, he should better that number by about 20 or 30.
Campbell’s departure still leaves a wealth of reps and opportunities for both McCall and Gill, and as receivers coach Brian Hartline told me at the Rose Bowl, stop neglecting CJ Saunders in this conversation as well.
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/01/morning-constitutional-kj-hill/
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
How Will Ohio State Replace… Dwayne Haskins
Welcome to the first foray into our annual look at the candidates who will be competing to replace Ohio State’s departed starters. Today we start where everything starts in sports — at quarterback.
Replacing Dwayne Haskins won’t be difficult because it’s going to happen regardless, but living up to the standard that he set last season is where the difficulty comes in.
Haskins led the nation with 4,831 yards passing and 50 touchdown last season, and was fourth in the nation in completion percentage (70.0%). If you put that kind of expectation on the next guy to come along, you may as well also put an expectation for flight and psychic ability on him as well, because the latter two are almost as likely to happen.
It wasn’t just the numbers that Haskins put up that will be difficult to replace. The numbers were merely a byproduct of Haskins’ ability to put the football precisely where it needed to be. Tight windows were wide open for Haskins, and he put the ball in a position for receivers to do something with it after the catch.
That kind of precision is going to be demanded of the next starting quarterback, but there is no telling how close to the mark they’ll be in 2019.
The Candidates
With last month’s transfer of Tate Martell to Miami and the decommitment of Dwan Mathis in the days leading up to the early signing period, Ohio State will enter spring with two candidates to win the starting job and replace Dwayne Haskins.
The person who caused the move of both Martell and Mathis is Justin Fields, who transferred to OSU from Georgia last month.
Fields was the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2018 class and the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation. He played in most games last season for the Bulldogs, throwing for 328 yards and rushing for 266 yards, accounting for eight touchdowns along the way.
Potentially, Fields is some kind of combination of OSU’s last four starting quarterbacks — Braxton Miller, JT Barrett, Cardale Jones, and Dwayne Haskins. He is athletic, has a huge arm, and is a uniquely talented thrower.
What he is lacking, however, is the experience in Ryan Day’s offense that the other candidate — Matthew Baldwin — possesses.
Before he left, Martell was adamant that no quarterback could come into Day’s offense and learn it in one offseasonwell enough to win the starting job. Baldwin agreed that it is a very difficult offense to learn, but having now been in it for an entire year, he feels comfortable leading the (no)huddle.
If you are looking for a comparison for Baldwin, think JT Barrett but with a better arm. Buckeye receivers have mentioned Baldwin’s arm strength since he arrived last winter, and they believe the quarterback competition this spring is going to be anybody’s game.
The other quarterback in the mix will be fifth-year senior Chris Chugunov, who was a graduate transfer last season for the Buckeyes. Chugunov started a few games at West Virginia in his career, but he is viewed as an emergency quarterback. Ohio State will likely add a graduate transfer at some point, but it may or may not happen before spring football. Former walk-on Kory Curtis has transferred out, so the depth here is pretty thin.
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/02/ohio-state-replace-dwayne-haskins/
Welcome to the first foray into our annual look at the candidates who will be competing to replace Ohio State’s departed starters. Today we start where everything starts in sports — at quarterback.
Replacing Dwayne Haskins won’t be difficult because it’s going to happen regardless, but living up to the standard that he set last season is where the difficulty comes in.
Haskins led the nation with 4,831 yards passing and 50 touchdown last season, and was fourth in the nation in completion percentage (70.0%). If you put that kind of expectation on the next guy to come along, you may as well also put an expectation for flight and psychic ability on him as well, because the latter two are almost as likely to happen.
It wasn’t just the numbers that Haskins put up that will be difficult to replace. The numbers were merely a byproduct of Haskins’ ability to put the football precisely where it needed to be. Tight windows were wide open for Haskins, and he put the ball in a position for receivers to do something with it after the catch.
That kind of precision is going to be demanded of the next starting quarterback, but there is no telling how close to the mark they’ll be in 2019.
The Candidates
With last month’s transfer of Tate Martell to Miami and the decommitment of Dwan Mathis in the days leading up to the early signing period, Ohio State will enter spring with two candidates to win the starting job and replace Dwayne Haskins.
The person who caused the move of both Martell and Mathis is Justin Fields, who transferred to OSU from Georgia last month.
Fields was the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2018 class and the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation. He played in most games last season for the Bulldogs, throwing for 328 yards and rushing for 266 yards, accounting for eight touchdowns along the way.
Potentially, Fields is some kind of combination of OSU’s last four starting quarterbacks — Braxton Miller, JT Barrett, Cardale Jones, and Dwayne Haskins. He is athletic, has a huge arm, and is a uniquely talented thrower.
What he is lacking, however, is the experience in Ryan Day’s offense that the other candidate — Matthew Baldwin — possesses.
Before he left, Martell was adamant that no quarterback could come into Day’s offense and learn it in one offseasonwell enough to win the starting job. Baldwin agreed that it is a very difficult offense to learn, but having now been in it for an entire year, he feels comfortable leading the (no)huddle.
If you are looking for a comparison for Baldwin, think JT Barrett but with a better arm. Buckeye receivers have mentioned Baldwin’s arm strength since he arrived last winter, and they believe the quarterback competition this spring is going to be anybody’s game.
The other quarterback in the mix will be fifth-year senior Chris Chugunov, who was a graduate transfer last season for the Buckeyes. Chugunov started a few games at West Virginia in his career, but he is viewed as an emergency quarterback. Ohio State will likely add a graduate transfer at some point, but it may or may not happen before spring football. Former walk-on Kory Curtis has transferred out, so the depth here is pretty thin.
Entire article: https://theozone.net/2019/02/ohio-state-replace-dwayne-haskins/
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billmac91
Head Coach
My only critique/concern with Day, is less emphasis on the power run game. When Meyer came in, he flatlt stated he wanted to be a "power-spread" team. And that exactly what we were as we sledgehammered Carlos Hyde and Zeke Elliott into the line.
Last year, and in fairness Dobbins/Weber are not Zeke or Hyde, our power run game suffered a lot. Again, part of that is the make-up of our RB's, but I also think our style of play contributed to it.
I hope power-run remains a staple of this team, and we don't evolve into a finesse, perimeter oriented run team.
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