Matt Tamanini
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Ohio State fans remain optimistic about season despite loss to Oregon
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
Ohio State’s second and final bye week of the season is now behind us, and it is time to look forward to next Saturday’s matchup with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. With that forward-looking eye in mind, we asked two questions about the Buckeye roster and the second half of the regular season in this week’s fan survey, but we also took the temperature of Buckeye Nation coming out of the 32-31 loss to Oregon.
So, check out the results and see what your fellow Buckeye fans are thinking about the Buckeyes and the rest of the season.
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If ever you hear anyone saying that all Ohio State football fans overreact or that we all think the same thing about the team (often something negative), point them to these results, because the results ran the gamut. Half of the respondents were essentially calling for calm following the one-point road loss to the new No. 1 team in the country.
I think that is a very fair way to feel coming out of OSU’s first defeat of the season, but, to be honest, I think that you could convincingly argue for any of these answers. One thing that we know now though is that there are no perfect teams in college football this season, so even with weaknesses and shortcomings, Ohio State is still certainly able of winning the national championship.
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Another fairly close vote, which I think bodes well for how fans feel about the potential of the season. Going with the two passing game veterans seem like solid choices, and honestly, I wouldn’t argue with any of the top-five vote-getters. However, I am a bit concerned about the impact that the loss of Isaiah Simmons will have on the running game. Obviously, it will also play into the pass protection as well, but that has felt sturdier for the Buckeyes the last few years.
I would probably go with the quarterback as well, because I think that there is still room for him to get comfortable with the offense and with his teammates, and more that he can do in the running game. So, hopefully, if Chip Kelly pulls out all the stops from now until the end of the season, we will see more from Will over the next six games.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25689677/OhioState_3_101624.png)
A few weeks ago, Jim Knowles said that he was unleashing Caleb Downs and we’ve seen his production increase a bit in terms of the big play/counting stat categories. But there certainly seems to be room for him to continue to improve. However, I do think that part of the reason that the Alabama transfer hasn’t been a more front-and-center part of the Buckeye defense this year is because of the scheme.
Ohio State continues to run a very vanilla front four where the four defensive linemen just simply run straight forward into the offensive line. Not only is that not productive when it comes to generating pressure on the opposing quarterback, but it also puts the defensive backs in nearly impossible situations when it comes to keeping guys locked in coverage for abnormally long periods of time.
So, if Knowles and Larry Johnson can finally figure out a way to do something... anything... creative with the pass rush, that should also help Downs, Lathan Ransom, Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, and the rest of the secondary.
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...
Matt Tamanini via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
You ask, we answer. Sometimes we ask, others answer. And then other times, we ask, we answer.
Throughout the Ohio State football season, we will be asking and answering questions about the team, college football, and anything else on our collective minds of varying degrees of importance. If you have a question that you would like to ask, you can tweet us @LandGrant33 or if you need more than 280 characters, send an email HERE.
Ohio State’s second and final bye week of the season is now behind us, and it is time to look forward to next Saturday’s matchup with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. With that forward-looking eye in mind, we asked two questions about the Buckeye roster and the second half of the regular season in this week’s fan survey, but we also took the temperature of Buckeye Nation coming out of the 32-31 loss to Oregon.
So, check out the results and see what your fellow Buckeye fans are thinking about the Buckeyes and the rest of the season.
Question 1: What is your general feeling about the season following Ohio State’s 32-31 loss to Oregon?
If ever you hear anyone saying that all Ohio State football fans overreact or that we all think the same thing about the team (often something negative), point them to these results, because the results ran the gamut. Half of the respondents were essentially calling for calm following the one-point road loss to the new No. 1 team in the country.
I think that is a very fair way to feel coming out of OSU’s first defeat of the season, but, to be honest, I think that you could convincingly argue for any of these answers. One thing that we know now though is that there are no perfect teams in college football this season, so even with weaknesses and shortcomings, Ohio State is still certainly able of winning the national championship.
Question 2: Which offensive Buckeye will have the biggest second half of the season?
Another fairly close vote, which I think bodes well for how fans feel about the potential of the season. Going with the two passing game veterans seem like solid choices, and honestly, I wouldn’t argue with any of the top-five vote-getters. However, I am a bit concerned about the impact that the loss of Isaiah Simmons will have on the running game. Obviously, it will also play into the pass protection as well, but that has felt sturdier for the Buckeyes the last few years.
I would probably go with the quarterback as well, because I think that there is still room for him to get comfortable with the offense and with his teammates, and more that he can do in the running game. So, hopefully, if Chip Kelly pulls out all the stops from now until the end of the season, we will see more from Will over the next six games.
Question 3: Which offensive Buckeye will have the biggest second half of the season?
A few weeks ago, Jim Knowles said that he was unleashing Caleb Downs and we’ve seen his production increase a bit in terms of the big play/counting stat categories. But there certainly seems to be room for him to continue to improve. However, I do think that part of the reason that the Alabama transfer hasn’t been a more front-and-center part of the Buckeye defense this year is because of the scheme.
Ohio State continues to run a very vanilla front four where the four defensive linemen just simply run straight forward into the offensive line. Not only is that not productive when it comes to generating pressure on the opposing quarterback, but it also puts the defensive backs in nearly impossible situations when it comes to keeping guys locked in coverage for abnormally long periods of time.
So, if Knowles and Larry Johnson can finally figure out a way to do something... anything... creative with the pass rush, that should also help Downs, Lathan Ransom, Denzel Burke, Davison Igbinosun, and the rest of the secondary.
Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Ohio State fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Continue reading...