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RB Michael Weber (New Jersey Generals)

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Football: Mike Weber re-emerges as major threat in Ohio State victory over Oregon State

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Last season, the emergence of then-freshman running back J.K. Dobbins took all the headlines of the Ohio State running game.

Dobbins, coming into the starting lineup as a true freshman because of a hamstring injury to then-redshirt sophomore and starting running back Mike Weber, came out of the gates in 2017 firing. In the opening game against Indiana, Dobbins rushed for 181 yards on 29 carries, breaking the school record for most yards by a freshman in their debut.

On the season, Dobbins broke the program record for rushing yards by a freshman, ending the year with 1,403 yards on the ground and second team All-Big Ten honors.

Weber ended his 2017 campaign with 640 rushing yards in 12 games played, often taking a back seat while Dobbins emerged as the consistent starter.

However, in the 2018 season opener against Oregon State, it was Weber who reminded everyone of his ability.

Weber ended the 77-31 victory against the Beavers with 20 carries for 186 yards and three rushing touchdowns, both career highs, as well as a reception touchdown, the first of his career.

“It feels good, because I know my expectations of myself so I know what I can do,” Weber said. “I just have to go out there and just do it for the team and actually show people what I can do, and it’s starting to show a little.”

Weber had five more carries than Dobbins, who ended the day with 74 yards on 15 rushes.

Splitting carries may sound like an issue to some, but for Weber, it’s much more of a positive than a negative.

“There’s a reason why I came back, because we knew that we was going to split carries, but splitting carries is actually good on the body for both of us,” Weber said. “We’re both gonna eat for the rest of the season, and I can’t wait for it to happen.”

Against Oregon State, Weber had three rushes of 20 yards or more, including a 49-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

Though Dobbins has been seen as the running back with more speed to Weber’s power, it was the latter who broke to open space on a handful of occasions in Ohio State’s opener.

Acting head coach Ryan Day had plenty of praise for Weber’s performance, not just on Saturday, but in his offseason work.

“Really proud of the way Mike has practiced. We’ve been talking about that for a while now,” Day said. “That was really good to see him play well today.”

Entire article: https://www.thelantern.com/2018/09/...reat-in-ohio-state-victory-over-oregon-state/
 
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This kid was and is phenomenal.

From on the field to off the field, Mike really is one of the best stories in years.

The improvement he showed already was eye opening.....I don't know how, but his burst and breakaway speed is better and his foot work is noticeably better. He is playing confident and it shows, super impressive day! This guy put in work this summer, he wants it.
 
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bigdog3300 said:
This kid was and is phenomenal.

From on the field to off the field, Mike really is one of the best stories in years.

The improvement he showed already was eye opening.....I don't know how, but his burst and breakaway speed is better and his foot work is noticeably better. He is playing confident and it shows, super impressive day! This guy put in work this summer, he wants it.
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I think we can partly thank JK for pushing Weber to be great. He was awesome out there today
 
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billmac91 said:
Personally, I believe Mike Weber is the best “all around” RB on this team. His return is huge.....much bigger than most realize.

We don’t have a JK Dobbins level recruit coming in this year (no offense to Snead) and Antonio Williams just isn’t the same caliber as Mike. When Weber is healthy, he’s as reliable as can be, and a chain mover. I think Mike has a great season next year, and plays a much more significant role than what most would otherwise expect.
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Don’t mind me, just reaching really long to pat myself on back.

Weber is a stud. Period.
 
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Mike Weber Was Everything Buckeyes Needed Against Beavers

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As a freshman running back, it was J.K. Dobbins who led the Buckeyes in rushing last year with 1,403 yards. He also won the Big Ten Championship Game MVP award for his 174 yards rushing on 17 carries against Wisconsin.

Dobbins’ name has since popped up in Heisman talk, and he was expected to once again be an offensive weapon for the Buckeyes this season.

Junior running back Mike Weber was a good second option to split carries with Dobbins last season, but it was almost always Dobbins who stole the show.

Weber had just two games with over 100 yards rushing last season, but on Saturday against Oregon State, he reached that mark before halftime of OSU’s 77-31 win over the Beavers.

Dobbins put up solid numbers as well (15 rushes, 74 yards), but it was Weber who shined in the backfield for Ohio State and stole the show this time around instead.

The talented duo of running backs was praised all throughout the offseason by acting head coach Ryan Day and teammates, and for Day, this kind of performance was to be expected by Weber.

“Really proud of the way Mike has practiced,” Day said after the game. “We’ve been talking about that for a while now. He’s had a really good preseason. He’s practiced hard, been taking care of the football. And so that was really good to see him play well today.”

Through the first three quarters, Weber racked up 181 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He finished with 186 yards, three rushing touchdowns, and his first career touchdown reception.

In his 2017 season, Weber totaled 626 yards and 10 touchdowns. In the last four games a year ago, Weber rushed for a total of 189 yards, which was just three more yards than he managed in Saturday’s game alone.

His performance was arguably the best he’s played as a Buckeye. Previously, his career high rushing game was against Michigan State last year when he totaled 162 yards. On Saturday, Weber set a new personal high at Ohio State with his 186 rushing yards on 20 carries.

Weber recognized a lot of similarities between the long runs from Michigan State and Oregon State, and he believes that what he showed in those two games is the new normal.

“Yeah that’s me healthy,” Weber said. “When the line’s blocking good, like they normally always do and I’m doing my job, everyone doing their job, I feel like anybody can get off.”

Day believes that in any given week it could be either player coming out as the star at that position — or both.

“Both guys are talented,” he said. “And some days one guy is going to be hot. Sometimes it’s the luck of the draw based on the way that the guys block up front.”

Entire article: https://theozone.net/2018/09/mike-weber-everything/
 
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bigfrankfoota1 said:
Weber balled! His field awareness and speed are much improved.
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His vision has always been one of his strengths. Saturday was no exception, as we was finding the right gaps, and making all of the right cuts to get him into a position to break big runs off. Having Weber and Dobbins pushing each other is a GREAT problem to have.
 
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He showed some improvement last year when he came back healthy and got even better and it showed Saturday. Surprised Dobbins didn’t have his normal production but I imagine he will hit stride later on. Thinking we can have the best backfield in the country by the end of the season if Dobbins gets back to himself and Snead or Teague get some more PT throughout the year.
 
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AFTER ALMOST OPTING TO LEAVE OHIO STATE, MIKE WEBER IS REAPING THE BENEFITS OF CHOOSING TO STAY

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He could've cashed a check, shook hands with Roger Goodell on a national stage and said goodbye to Columbus. But that's not where life decided to take Mike Weber.

With the option to enter the 2018 NFL Draft on the table this past spring, Weber decided against going pro. Instead, the junior running back chose to stay at Ohio State and he's now reaping the benefits of that choice.

Weber said he weighed the pros and cons of the decision extensively and that the cons revolved around not getting the carries he expected and not getting the opportunities he felt he deserved to be the game changer he's showed he can be.

"It was really 50-50," he said. "I was thinking of the reasons why I should stay and why I should leave. I just feel like me staying ... there was more reasons to stay than to leave."

With both options weighing heavy on his mind, Weber had a heart-to-heart with Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.

"I feel like the conversation I had with coach Meyer made me feel comfortable to make my decision to come back," Weber said. "So far, it's been a good decision."

That's probably an understatement.

In his first game since making that decision, this past Saturday's 77-31 win over Oregon State, Weber ran for a career-high 186 yards on 20 carries. He also found the end zone on three occasions alongside a three-yard touchdown catch — the first touchdown reception of his career.

"I was doing a lot of that stuff in practice since I've been here," he said. "I just haven't had a chance to really ... I've had chances during a game (to have a breakout performance). I just hadn't yet."

After being named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Year, Weber suffered an early season hamstring injury in 2017; one that nagged him throughout the year. That paved the way for true freshman J.K. Dobbins to have a big year.

Dobbins ran for 1,403 yards and seven touchdowns while Weber's numbers dipped. After posting 1,096 rushing yards as a freshman, he racked up just 626 as a sophomore. He also got the ball less, seeing his number of carries go from 182 to 101.

"It took me almost the whole season to get to how I felt before I got injured. I think, a few games, I had like three or four carries. I really just ... I wasn't myself. I eventually got going by the end of the year but by that time, the season was over with."

Those numbers certainly played a role in the conversation with Meyer.

"(Meyer) told me I had to come in and compete. Anywhere I go, I'm going to have to compete," Weber said. "If I go to the NFL, I'm going to have to compete. And that's what I want. I just want a chance to compete. He told me that with (former quarterback J.T. Barrett) not being here, there was going to be a bigger load on the running backs. That's all what I wanted to hear. If I get the chance to compete and the opportunity to get the ball, that's all I need."

He got that opportunity against Oregon State and it's certainly all he needed.

Speaking of Meyer, Weber said he stopped by the head coach's office when he returned to practice Monday.



Entire article: https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio...r-is-reaping-the-benefits-of-choosing-to-stay
 
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