Josh Dooley
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Bold Predictions: Josh Simmons will be an All-Big Ten performer
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Simmons experienced a B1G baptism by fire last season but played better down the stretch. If he cuts down on penalties and continues to protect the Buckeyes’ QB, I expect him to earn all-conference honors.
As preseason camp begins this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final theme every week of the off-season. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
This week is all about Bold Predictions here at LGHL, which means that I get to once again daydream about being featured on Freezing Cold Takes someday.
That’s right, I would wear it as a badge of honor. Because many of the most prominent and influential (loudest) figures in sports media have been roasted on FCT at one point or another. Hell, some even seem to be regular, almost-intentional contributors. I won’t name names, but a certain network with two letters and a number at the end basically provides half the damn content for FCT.
Now that I’ve given a free plug to multiple other sports-driven sites/platforms – sorry, LGHL – I should probably admit and point out that I’ve had plenty of my own freezing cold takes. Just last year I predicted that J.T. Tuimoloau would reach double-digit sacks and possibly even set the Ohio State single-season sack record. The year before that, in 2022, I predicted that Julian Fleming would finish second on the team in receiving yards... Almost, right?
But you know what they say: Fortune favors the bold. So I am going to keep on swinging, keep on making bold predictions. Then maybe one of these days/years, I’ll finally be celebrated for my incredible, uncanny foresight and intuition.
This time around, I am predicting that OSU’s Josh Simmons will make an All-Big Ten Team in 2024/for the ‘24 season. That’s right, baby! The Buckeyes’ much and often-maligned left tackle will be an all-conference performer this season, continuing his ascent that began in earnest after a rough first month or two of “big boy” football.
Simmons was a late addition to Ohio State’s roster last season, coming aboard after spring practice(s). He played right tackle exclusively at San Diego State, and most just assumed that he would do the same in Columbus. Especially since he joined the program as late as he did.
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Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
However, due to the Buckeyes’ lack of other (better) options, Simmons was eventually named OSU’s starting left tackle after beating out the likes of... umm... some guys? I mean, I guess one could say that Josh Fryar was also in the running for the starting LT gig, however, the decision to keep the latter on the right side was made shortly after Simmons arrived.
So once last season began, few were – or should have been – surprised when Simmons struggled. Ohio State wasn’t facing a murderer’s row of opponents, but Indiana and Notre Dame still presented a big step from the Mountain West teams that Simmons was used to playing against. And it certainly showed. Because for the first month or so of the season, there were times when he looked borderline unplayable.
Part of that was penalties. Early on, it looked like Simmons had never heard of a snap count. And his holding penalties seemed to come at the worst possible time(s). Another issue with or for the former Aztec was his “bad” reps. When Simmons got beat, he got B-E-A-T. Although, miscommunication and missed assignments by others certainly contributed to some of those ugly reps.
But as the season progressed, so did Simmons. He earned an 88.4 pass block grade at Wisconsin, followed by an 83.1 run block grade at Rutgers (the following week). Two weeks after that, he earned an 80.3 overall grade against Minnesota, his best overall grade of the season.
There were still ups and downs throughout the second half of the season for Simmons, but generally speaking, he played fairly well against Big Ten opponents. His regular season pass block grade ended up at 74.0, best on the team. And prior to the Cotton Bowl, which I don’t hold against anyone other than Ohio State coaches, Simmons allowed only 12 pressures... With 0 sacks! That’s a big, fat goose egg during the regular season, folks.
If Simmons can clean up his penalties and play with a bit more consistency, then I absolutely believe that he can and will earn a spot on one of the All-Big Ten teams. I mean, Josh Fryar was named to the First Team last season, and he didn’t exactly light the world on fire (no offense).
So do not be surprised if or when Simmons is named an all-conference performer. He has all the tools to be successful in Columbus, it’s just a matter of using those tools correctly and consistently.
Continue reading...
Josh Dooley via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Simmons experienced a B1G baptism by fire last season but played better down the stretch. If he cuts down on penalties and continues to protect the Buckeyes’ QB, I expect him to earn all-conference honors.
As preseason camp begins this week, Land-Grant Holy Land is diving into its final theme every week of the off-season. This week is all about making predictions that may or may not be reasonable, in fact, some might say they are bold. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Bold Predictions” articles here.
This week is all about Bold Predictions here at LGHL, which means that I get to once again daydream about being featured on Freezing Cold Takes someday.
That’s right, I would wear it as a badge of honor. Because many of the most prominent and influential (loudest) figures in sports media have been roasted on FCT at one point or another. Hell, some even seem to be regular, almost-intentional contributors. I won’t name names, but a certain network with two letters and a number at the end basically provides half the damn content for FCT.
Now that I’ve given a free plug to multiple other sports-driven sites/platforms – sorry, LGHL – I should probably admit and point out that I’ve had plenty of my own freezing cold takes. Just last year I predicted that J.T. Tuimoloau would reach double-digit sacks and possibly even set the Ohio State single-season sack record. The year before that, in 2022, I predicted that Julian Fleming would finish second on the team in receiving yards... Almost, right?
But you know what they say: Fortune favors the bold. So I am going to keep on swinging, keep on making bold predictions. Then maybe one of these days/years, I’ll finally be celebrated for my incredible, uncanny foresight and intuition.
This time around, I am predicting that OSU’s Josh Simmons will make an All-Big Ten Team in 2024/for the ‘24 season. That’s right, baby! The Buckeyes’ much and often-maligned left tackle will be an all-conference performer this season, continuing his ascent that began in earnest after a rough first month or two of “big boy” football.
Simmons was a late addition to Ohio State’s roster last season, coming aboard after spring practice(s). He played right tackle exclusively at San Diego State, and most just assumed that he would do the same in Columbus. Especially since he joined the program as late as he did.
However, due to the Buckeyes’ lack of other (better) options, Simmons was eventually named OSU’s starting left tackle after beating out the likes of... umm... some guys? I mean, I guess one could say that Josh Fryar was also in the running for the starting LT gig, however, the decision to keep the latter on the right side was made shortly after Simmons arrived.
So once last season began, few were – or should have been – surprised when Simmons struggled. Ohio State wasn’t facing a murderer’s row of opponents, but Indiana and Notre Dame still presented a big step from the Mountain West teams that Simmons was used to playing against. And it certainly showed. Because for the first month or so of the season, there were times when he looked borderline unplayable.
Part of that was penalties. Early on, it looked like Simmons had never heard of a snap count. And his holding penalties seemed to come at the worst possible time(s). Another issue with or for the former Aztec was his “bad” reps. When Simmons got beat, he got B-E-A-T. Although, miscommunication and missed assignments by others certainly contributed to some of those ugly reps.
But as the season progressed, so did Simmons. He earned an 88.4 pass block grade at Wisconsin, followed by an 83.1 run block grade at Rutgers (the following week). Two weeks after that, he earned an 80.3 overall grade against Minnesota, his best overall grade of the season.
There were still ups and downs throughout the second half of the season for Simmons, but generally speaking, he played fairly well against Big Ten opponents. His regular season pass block grade ended up at 74.0, best on the team. And prior to the Cotton Bowl, which I don’t hold against anyone other than Ohio State coaches, Simmons allowed only 12 pressures... With 0 sacks! That’s a big, fat goose egg during the regular season, folks.
If Simmons can clean up his penalties and play with a bit more consistency, then I absolutely believe that he can and will earn a spot on one of the All-Big Ten teams. I mean, Josh Fryar was named to the First Team last season, and he didn’t exactly light the world on fire (no offense).
So do not be surprised if or when Simmons is named an all-conference performer. He has all the tools to be successful in Columbus, it’s just a matter of using those tools correctly and consistently.
Continue reading...