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Stock Market Report: Ohio State dominates the third quarter to blow past Iowa
justingolba 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
It was only a 7-0 game at the half, but the offense woke up in the third quarter, leading the Buckeyes to a 35-7 win.
In a week of upsets, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 35-7 to move to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten heading into a showdown against the Oregon Ducks.
Ohio State wasn’t perfect, but a win is a win, and they are now the No. 2 team in the country in the latest AP Poll halfway through October.
Let’s take a look at who and what we are high and low on after the Iowa win.
Run defense
The Ohio State run defense so far has been as good as advertised, and they came through in the first real test of the season. Kaleb Johnson entered the game averaging 171 yards per game — second in the country in that respect, only behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
On Saturday, he had 15 carries for 86 yards, and 26 of those yards came on one carry against the backup defense. Last week, they held Michigan State to only 60 yards on the ground. They will get tested again next week against Jordan James and then against Penn State, but so far, so good in that department.
Offensive line
Every week, the competition has gotten better, and the offensive line has gotten better. Whether it has been Chip Kelly, Justin Frye or the line meshing better together each week, they have continued to improve as the season has progressed. They will be tested heavily over the next three weeks, and I feel good about them as those tests get closer.
Emeka Egbuka
Egbuka had nine catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa. JJ Smith is amazing and is a generational talent who will have a long, likely Hall of Fame NFL career. However, Egbuka is the straw that stirs the drink, and is ready to play any role that the Buckeyes need him to. He is one of the best receivers in the country, and might be the most valuable player for Ohio State — at least on offense.
Loose coverage
Of course, I am not going to act like I know more than Jim Knowles, but if the corners play 10-15 yards off the receivers against Orgon and Penn State, Dillon Gabriel and Drew Allar could have a field day.
It has not come back to bite the Buckeyes yet, but the competition and, particularly, the quarterback play is going to get better. It will be interesting to see how the Buckeyes and the coaching staff respond to that.
Buy: All-Gray uniforms
I do believe the all-gray uniforms are my favorite alternate. They looked great in primetime last year against Michigan State and this Saturday in the sun. I love the all-black as well, but the gray keeps to the Scarlet and Gray of Ohio State and looks great.
Just don’t do the alternates for the Michigan game.
Buy: Winning
I know we like to see Ohio State beat every team 76-0, look perfect, and make no mistakes, but at the end of the day, the Buckeyes won 35-7 over a solid Iowa team. Alabama, Tennessee, Miami, USC, and Michigan all lost their matchups, and proved that any given week, anyone can lose in college football.
We can be critical, but we also have to acknowledge that any easy win is a good win.
Sell: Gary Danielson
I said this last week about Colt McCoy, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt since he is new on the job and can learn as time goes on. Gary Danielson does not get that grace. He has been on the job for a long time, and it is astonishing to see him mispronounce names, get reviews wrong, and just simply be bad at the job. It really is tough to watch and listen to, in my opinion.
Continue reading...
justingolba 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
It was only a 7-0 game at the half, but the offense woke up in the third quarter, leading the Buckeyes to a 35-7 win.
In a week of upsets, the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the Iowa Hawkeyes 35-7 to move to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the Big Ten heading into a showdown against the Oregon Ducks.
Ohio State wasn’t perfect, but a win is a win, and they are now the No. 2 team in the country in the latest AP Poll halfway through October.
Let’s take a look at who and what we are high and low on after the Iowa win.
Blue Chip
Run defense
The Ohio State run defense so far has been as good as advertised, and they came through in the first real test of the season. Kaleb Johnson entered the game averaging 171 yards per game — second in the country in that respect, only behind Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty.
On Saturday, he had 15 carries for 86 yards, and 26 of those yards came on one carry against the backup defense. Last week, they held Michigan State to only 60 yards on the ground. They will get tested again next week against Jordan James and then against Penn State, but so far, so good in that department.
Solid Investments
Offensive line
Every week, the competition has gotten better, and the offensive line has gotten better. Whether it has been Chip Kelly, Justin Frye or the line meshing better together each week, they have continued to improve as the season has progressed. They will be tested heavily over the next three weeks, and I feel good about them as those tests get closer.
Emeka Egbuka
Egbuka had nine catches for 71 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa. JJ Smith is amazing and is a generational talent who will have a long, likely Hall of Fame NFL career. However, Egbuka is the straw that stirs the drink, and is ready to play any role that the Buckeyes need him to. He is one of the best receivers in the country, and might be the most valuable player for Ohio State — at least on offense.
Junk Bond
Loose coverage
Of course, I am not going to act like I know more than Jim Knowles, but if the corners play 10-15 yards off the receivers against Orgon and Penn State, Dillon Gabriel and Drew Allar could have a field day.
It has not come back to bite the Buckeyes yet, but the competition and, particularly, the quarterback play is going to get better. It will be interesting to see how the Buckeyes and the coaching staff respond to that.
Buy/Sell
Buy: All-Gray uniforms
I do believe the all-gray uniforms are my favorite alternate. They looked great in primetime last year against Michigan State and this Saturday in the sun. I love the all-black as well, but the gray keeps to the Scarlet and Gray of Ohio State and looks great.
Just don’t do the alternates for the Michigan game.
Buy: Winning
I know we like to see Ohio State beat every team 76-0, look perfect, and make no mistakes, but at the end of the day, the Buckeyes won 35-7 over a solid Iowa team. Alabama, Tennessee, Miami, USC, and Michigan all lost their matchups, and proved that any given week, anyone can lose in college football.
We can be critical, but we also have to acknowledge that any easy win is a good win.
Sell: Gary Danielson
I said this last week about Colt McCoy, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt since he is new on the job and can learn as time goes on. Gary Danielson does not get that grace. He has been on the job for a long time, and it is astonishing to see him mispronounce names, get reviews wrong, and just simply be bad at the job. It really is tough to watch and listen to, in my opinion.
Continue reading...