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Is this the last season for Jeremy Ruckert with Buckeyes?
The numbers obviously don’t leap off the page to point out Jeremy Ruckert as a no-brainer to leave early for the NFL Draft, but his athleticism and natural ball skills have put him on the radar of scouts since the moment he arrived in Columbus. With another year of physical development and another step forward as a blocker, Ruckert is likely going to be facing a tough choice when it comes to his future after this season — and it won’t be a surprise to see him move on to the next level.

Losing Ruckert wouldn’t be ideal for the unit at this time next year since both Farrell and Hausmann will also be gone, and it’s possible that he might embrace the opportunity to be the clear-cut leader in that room for the Buckeyes as a senior. But his draft stock probably isn’t going to change all that much either way since it’s no secret what he could become at the next level, and that will make his decision a key one to follow this season.
 
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In 2-deep: Ohio State's projected depth chart on offense

QUARTERBACKS
Starter: Justin Fields. Backup: Gunnar Hoak

Comment: If Stroud and Miller were able to go through the full 15 practices of spring football -- instead of just three -- they would have had a shot at unseating Hoak for the backup job. However, the fifth-year senior knows the offense well and will likely fend off the two true freshmen. Fields was a Heisman finalist last season and the sky is the limit for him in his second year as a starter and the second year in head coach Ryan Day's offense. Fields could end up going down as the best quarterback in Ohio State history if he is able to top his excellent sophomore season of 2019. I give Stroud the edge over Miller just based on their high school films, and I want to be clear that I really like Miller's high school film. I just think Stroud is the future starter in the program and has stardom written all over him. But for now, Stroud will have to watch an established star in Fields lead the way for the Buckeyes, then perhaps take over as the starter in 2021.

RUNNING BACKS
Starter: Trey Sermon. Backup: Master Teague

Comment: The word out of the WHAC is Sermon looks like a beast and is ready to roll. Teague is coming off a partially-torn Achilles tendon, but looked good as the backup last year as a redshirt freshman. Crowley is coming off a torn ACL, but the staff was very impressed with how he played as a true freshman last year. Chambers is a healthy redshirt freshman and might get overlooked too much by fans. It's now or never for McCall as a fifth-year senior and he is needed more at running back than receiver (and he's naturally a RB not a WR). Williams is in fantastic shape and could have been a steal in the 2020 class. But it's difficult to see him playing a lot as a true freshman.

WIDE RECEIVERS
WR (Z): Starter: Chris Olave. Backups: Jameson Williams OR Julian Fleming.
WR (X): Starter: Jaylen Harris. Backups: Gee Scott Jr. OR Jaxon Smith-Njigba OR Kamryn Babb.
WR (SLOT): Starter: Garrett Wilson. Backup: C.J. Saunders.

OFFENSIVE LINE
Left tackle: Starter: Thayer Munford. Backup: Dawand Jones.
Left guard: Starter: Harry Miller. Backup: Matthew Jones OR Gavin Cupp. .
Center: Starter: Josh Myers. Backup: Luke Wypler.
Right guard: Starter: Wyatt Davis: Backup: Enokk Vimahi OR Ryan Jacoby.
Right tackle: Starter: Nicholas Petit-Frere. Backup: Paris Johnson.

TIGHT END

Starter: Luke Farrell. Backup: Jeremy Ruckert.

Entire article: https://247sports.com/college/ohio-...Wyatt-Davis-Josh-Myers-148647081/#148647081_5
 
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Why can’t Jameson Williams start at X? Harris has shown absolutely nothing in 3 years thus far and Williams has shown the ability to embarrass defenders — albeit he needs to dispel some concerns with his concentration, I don’t understand why it’s assumed Harris starts. Size? Skill set? I just feel like he and Olave on the boundary is more effective given what we know. That’s just me though.
 
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Austin Ward: Jeremy Ruckert nabs 10 touchdowns for Ohio State
The reception total probably isn’t going to increase dramatically for the Buckeyes, though it’s absolutely not because this unit doesn’t have the ability to produce for the passing attack. It’s just a product of the system Ohio State runs that there aren’t a ton of targets for guys like Jeremy Ruckert, no matter how much potential he has as a tall, versatile athlete. Those skills might lead to an uptick in the red-zone, though, and that’s where Ruckert could really shine for the Buckeyes this season. Expect more looks like the play-call that led to his one-handed touchdown in the Big Ten title game — and a double-digit scoring season for the junior before declaring for the NFL Draft.

Birm: Luke Farrell will be first-team All-Big Ten pick
Though Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth is the odds-on favorite to lead the league balloting at the position, Luke Farrell’s steady development through the years and Justin Fields growing confidence and comfort in the Buckeyes offense should provide a dynamic addition to the potent Ohio State attack. The Buckeyes have not had a first-team all league selection since Ben Hartsock landed the honor in 2003. With a number of young, unproven receivers on the 2020 roster, the tight end position should get ample opportunity to step up and make big plays — and Farrell will make the most of those chances.

Luke-Farrell-2-by-Birm-Lettermen-Row_us5cg9.jpg


Luke Farrell can be a weapon for Ohio State at tight end.
 
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Austin Ward: Jeremy Ruckert nabs 10 touchdowns for Ohio State
The reception total probably isn’t going to increase dramatically for the Buckeyes, though it’s absolutely not because this unit doesn’t have the ability to produce for the passing attack. It’s just a product of the system Ohio State runs that there aren’t a ton of targets for guys like Jeremy Ruckert, no matter how much potential he has as a tall, versatile athlete. Those skills might lead to an uptick in the red-zone, though, and that’s where Ruckert could really shine for the Buckeyes this season. Expect more looks like the play-call that led to his one-handed touchdown in the Big Ten title game — and a double-digit scoring season for the junior before declaring for the NFL Draft.

Birm: Luke Farrell will be first-team All-Big Ten pick
Though Penn State’s Pat Freiermuth is the odds-on favorite to lead the league balloting at the position, Luke Farrell’s steady development through the years and Justin Fields growing confidence and comfort in the Buckeyes offense should provide a dynamic addition to the potent Ohio State attack. The Buckeyes have not had a first-team all league selection since Ben Hartsock landed the honor in 2003. With a number of young, unproven receivers on the 2020 roster, the tight end position should get ample opportunity to step up and make big plays — and Farrell will make the most of those chances.

Luke-Farrell-2-by-Birm-Lettermen-Row_us5cg9.jpg


Luke Farrell can be a weapon for Ohio State at tight end.

Farrell AND Ruckert can be big weapons this season! Both complement one another well. Farrell is more well rounded and can be better utilized in the run game. But Ruckert is so damn dynamic as a pass catcher and is a walking mismatch for most LBs and DBs.

Why can’t Jameson Williams start at X? Harris has shown absolutely nothing in 3 years thus far and Williams has shown the ability to embarrass defenders — albeit he needs to dispel some concerns with his concentration, I don’t understand why it’s assumed Harris starts. Size? Skill set? I just feel like he and Olave on the boundary is more effective given what we know. That’s just me though.
I think Harris is predicted as the starter due to unknown in the off season and just being a default selection due to seniority. I just don't see Harris as a starter, he's honestly going to have a hard time with Fleming, Scott and Williams. And depending on if Wilson is playing in the slot or outside, he needs to worry about Wilson as well. I could easily see the starters at the beginning of the season being different by the end of the season, and the staff finding a way for Fleming to start. But the WR rotation makes starting not matter as much, except in the case of Olave and Wilson who will both be on the field the most of all WRs
 
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Agree with the above. The upper classperson gets the nod until the newbie proves they have the playbook down, etc. The best person will play has always been the Buckeye mantra, and while a coach may/will have his favorite, his large paycheck depends on winning games, and ultimately they will go with whomever gives them the best opportunity to achieve the almighty "win". Remember Bobby Knight saying, 'it doesn't matter who starts the game, but who finishes it'. Believe that to be true. It may just be me, but believe that Hartline will not only rotate receivers liberally, but will also plug them into different positions just to confuse the defenses. Just a no reason SWAG on my part, but these WRs are multi-talented, and Hartline is nothing if not original. Anyway, hope that the seniors/upperclassmen rise to the occasion, as it seems many Buckeyes do. Go Bucks!
 
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Agree with the above. The upper classperson gets the nod until the newbie proves they have the playbook down, etc. The best person will play has always been the Buckeye mantra, and while a coach may/will have his favorite, his large paycheck depends on winning games, and ultimately they will go with whomever gives them the best opportunity to achieve the almighty "win". Remember Bobby Knight saying, 'it doesn't matter who starts the game, but who finishes it'. Believe that to be true. It may just be me, but believe that Hartline will not only rotate receivers liberally, but will also plug them into different positions just to confuse the defenses. Just a no reason SWAG on my part, but these WRs are multi-talented, and Hartline is nothing if not original. Anyway, hope that the seniors/upperclassmen rise to the occasion, as it seems many Buckeyes do. Go Bucks!
I think it also helps that most of the WRs are of similar size and stature, so it makes subbing them even easier. The only WRs above 6'2' are Jaylen Harris(hard uphill battle for PT), Elijah Gardner(at this point in year 4 he's a special teams and depth player, and that's really it) and Gee Scott(true frosh who was highly touted, and will certainly see PT). All the rest of the corps is between 5'10- 6'2, and many have already played outside and inside whether in HS and/or college. Imagine Hartline giving Olave a rest, and inserting (hopefully healthy) Babb, or Williams needing a rest and JSN coming in for him, etc. And it also helps that for the 2021 class you have 2 guys committed that fit into the mold and another possible commit who does as well. The roster no longer has the predictable big possession WR and small WR for in space, most of our WRs can do it all
 
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The Ohio State offense simply wouldn’t function the same without its tight ends.

Could that position still give the Buckeyes even more work that could elevate the attack? Potentially, but there’s really nothing wrong with the system as it is, and the guys that make up arguably the most reliable unit on the team have no problems with their current roles.

So, the timeless question about whether Ohio State will throw the football more to that position probably won’t have a drastically different answer this season. But that shouldn’t overshadow the fact that the Buckeyes regularly trust two or even three tight ends to be on the field at the same time, shouldn’t diminish the value of their blocking — and definitely won’t keep those versatile athletes from developing into NFL-caliber players.

“Being known as a pass-catcher like everybody would say, but coming here where it’s technically more run-blocking stuff and perimeter blocking, I think it’s just going to help me in the long run,” junior Jeremy Ruckert Ruckert said. “The biggest thing for me when I was getting recruited was that not only do they produce NFL tight ends — the last three or four tight ends they’ve had are still in the league right now, and I think and that was important — but also the fact that they care about us off the field just as much as on the field.

“You know you’re going to be developed in a way to make it to the next level football-wise, but you also know you’re going to be able to have a career afterward and move on.”
 
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Really interested to hear about Stroud and Miller developing in summer workouts/if there is fall camp. Even if the season is played you'll need as many QBs as possible to sub in in-case of illness, and if it's not one of them will be the next starter.

Hoping to hear great things about Stroud as his film was fantastic and I think he could maintain a high-level offense.
 
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My earlier post about 3rd down passing ( 2020 tOSU Offense ) begged a few good questions, so I decided to go through every 3rd down on which the Buckeyes dropped back to pass in 2019. I didn’t just go through the play-by-play records this time; I watched every single play on YouTube. I watched the all-22 if it was available, the telecast if it wasn’t.

What follows is a series of posts that breaks down what I learned. It starts with a critique on the record-keeping in college football.
 
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Record keeping in college football is not the biggest issue facing the world. It isn’t now, it never has been, it never will be. It cannot create an existential crisis and it pales in comparison to anything that the world can truly call a problem. But record keeping in college football matters, and it falls short of what it should be. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it broken, but it needs to improve.

Some people who vote for major awards base their vote, in part, on statistics. The playoff selection committee were supposed to base their selections off of having watched the games, but they certainly justify their selections by using statistics, and they have given every appearance of having used statistics at least in part to make their decisions. Major awards are at stake, playoff appearances and thus people’s bonuses are at stake. Record keeping matters and those who do it should make every effort to get it right.

My original analysis (see link in previous post) led me to believe that Ohio State was missing on a lot of 3rd down opportunities, especially on 3rd and medium. This was based on this site (HERE) which shows 3rd down passing statistics including the number of first downs gained.

In going through and watching every play, I discovered that the site that was the source of my data was making a critical error in their record keeping. For as long as there has been football, teams have been credited with first downs on plays on which they scored a touchdown. It is the long-established standard, but more than that, it makes sense. Third down percentage should indicate the % of the time that you were successful on third down; counting touchdowns as first downs ensures that. When I discovered discrepancies in the data I went through play-by-play records to ensure that it is still done this way and found that it is.

However, in compiling data for this analysis I discovered that the site in question only counted a touchdown as a first down if it was NOT a goal-to-go situation. For example, when Fields hit Wilson in the left corner of the end-zone to go up 4 scores against Cincinnati the Buckeyes were credited with a first down because it was 3rd and 8 from the 9 yard line (it was not a goal-to-go situation). But when Fields later found Hill in the end zone on 3rd and goal from the 5, the Buckeyes were not credited with a first down. The result for the Buckeyes is obvious: numerous 3rd and mediums were 3rd and goals, and every time the Buckeyes dropped back to pass on one of those, the site-in-question’s record-keeping practices recorded the effort as unsuccessful (first-down-wise), whether the Buckeyes scored or not.

Nor is the flawed record keeping restricted to the site in question. Ohio State’s own records were flawed:
  • First downs gained in the first quarter vs Cincinnati were miscounted (may have been miscounted elsewhere, that’s the one I noticed)
  • Play-by-play records recorded defensive players that never played a snap of offense as having been the target for passes on at least 5 occasions
  • Play-by-play records recorded the pattern run by the receiver 3 times all season (the part of the field that was thrown to was recorded more often). All 3 times the pattern was called a post. All 3 times that was completely wrong.
  • The first play of the fourth quarter vs Northwestern was recorded as a sack. Go watch it for yourself. Tackle for loss? Sure. Sack? No way.
The primary issue here though is Justin Fields’ efficiency on 3rd down. The flawed record keeping mentioned previously isn’t the reason he looked so good on 3rd down. In fact, the flawed methodology affected Justin more than any other quarterback in the country last year and he was actually even better than the previous analysis made him look. More on that in the next post.
 
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