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Stock Market Report: Ohio State puts on cruise control, takes down Western Michigan 56-0
justingolba via our friends at Land-Grant Holy Land
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
The running back room ran for six touchdowns and the offense totaled almost 700 yards in the victory heading into the bye week.
Unlike last week against Akron, No. 2 ranked Ohio State got off to a fast start and never looked back, taking down another MAC foe in Western Michigan, 56-0.
The Buckeyes were basically perfect, totaling 683 yards on offense and only giving up 99 yards on defense. The Silver Bullets have only given up six points and no touchdowns in eight quarters as Ohio State prepares for a bye week and then Marshall in two weeks.
Here is who helped and hurt their stock in Week 2:
The running back duo
I call it the duo, referring to TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, but it is really just the whole running back room in general. This was one of the negative (kind of) takeaways from Week 1, but I went against the grain and said I am buying the running back room moving forward.
Even though Western Michigan isn’t Georgia, 273 yards on 39 carries and six touchdowns is tough against anyone. Henderson and Judkins looked more comfortable than they did in Week 1. I expect them to continue to get better and become the focal point of the offense.
Chip Kelly
There was some pushback on Kelly after his first game calling plays against Akron, and he himself said that he was unhappy with the way he called plays. However, in his second showing as the play-caller, he was much better, bringing diversity and creativity to the offense while helping get the playmakers open in space and letting them create with the football in their hands.
Will Howard and the run-pass option
Howard is a good thrower, and with weapons like Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, he will put up numbers that he hasn’t yet put up in his career. However, what makes Howard the most dangerous in this Chip Kelly offense is his ability to run.
The way they have used the RPO this season thus far is an example of that. All defenses have to respect Howard’s ability to take off and get yards using his legs, opening up options for Kelly and Ryan Day to implement more plays and get guys open using the run-pass option.
Slow starts
I will be the first person to say I did not care about the Buckeye’s slow start and shaky first half against Akron. Still, it is way more fun when you have a game like this one, where the Buckeyes jump ahead big early and bury the opponent immediately.
Way more fun.
Buy: MACTion
Anyone who follows college football closely knows the Mid-American Conference is awesome. The Halloween games on Tuesday night in the snow in front of 30 people on ESPN2 have a romantic feel to them that rivals almost nothing.
On Saturday, Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame, and Bowling Green made Penn State sweat until the final seconds of the game. At least Ohio State didn’t struggle.
Buy: Kyle McCord
Hand up: I told people last season to buy stock in McCord, and I was wrong. But I can’t quit this guy. He has had a great start to his second start at Syracuse, and with the current state of the ACC and their schedule, the Orange could be in store for a big season.
McCord was not the right quarterback for Ohio State, and the Buckeyes did upgrade the position with Will Howard, but he is still a good to even great college quarterback. A place like Syracuse is perfect for him to succeed, and I will be rooting for him.
Sell: Targeting
Targeting was created with good intentions, but it has morphed into something genuinely ridiculous. On top of that, the punishment simply does not match the crime anymore.
It should not be an immediate ejection. It is too subjective of a penalty at this point, and unless it is clearly malicious and the intent to injure is present, the penalty has to be level to make it fair.
Sell: Injuries
They are a fact of life in the game of football and sports, but Western Michigan had to play this one without star running back Jalen Buckley, and injuries ruin good things. It would have been fun to see Buckley against this Ohio State defense, and I hope he recovers quickly.
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
Photo by Jason Mowry/Getty Images
The running back room ran for six touchdowns and the offense totaled almost 700 yards in the victory heading into the bye week.
Unlike last week against Akron, No. 2 ranked Ohio State got off to a fast start and never looked back, taking down another MAC foe in Western Michigan, 56-0.
The Buckeyes were basically perfect, totaling 683 yards on offense and only giving up 99 yards on defense. The Silver Bullets have only given up six points and no touchdowns in eight quarters as Ohio State prepares for a bye week and then Marshall in two weeks.
Here is who helped and hurt their stock in Week 2:
Blue Chip
The running back duo
I call it the duo, referring to TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins, but it is really just the whole running back room in general. This was one of the negative (kind of) takeaways from Week 1, but I went against the grain and said I am buying the running back room moving forward.
Even though Western Michigan isn’t Georgia, 273 yards on 39 carries and six touchdowns is tough against anyone. Henderson and Judkins looked more comfortable than they did in Week 1. I expect them to continue to get better and become the focal point of the offense.
Solid Investments
Chip Kelly
There was some pushback on Kelly after his first game calling plays against Akron, and he himself said that he was unhappy with the way he called plays. However, in his second showing as the play-caller, he was much better, bringing diversity and creativity to the offense while helping get the playmakers open in space and letting them create with the football in their hands.
Will Howard and the run-pass option
Howard is a good thrower, and with weapons like Jeremiah Smith, Emeka Egbuka and Carnell Tate, he will put up numbers that he hasn’t yet put up in his career. However, what makes Howard the most dangerous in this Chip Kelly offense is his ability to run.
The way they have used the RPO this season thus far is an example of that. All defenses have to respect Howard’s ability to take off and get yards using his legs, opening up options for Kelly and Ryan Day to implement more plays and get guys open using the run-pass option.
Junk Bonds
Slow starts
I will be the first person to say I did not care about the Buckeye’s slow start and shaky first half against Akron. Still, it is way more fun when you have a game like this one, where the Buckeyes jump ahead big early and bury the opponent immediately.
Way more fun.
Buy/Sell
Buy: MACTion
Anyone who follows college football closely knows the Mid-American Conference is awesome. The Halloween games on Tuesday night in the snow in front of 30 people on ESPN2 have a romantic feel to them that rivals almost nothing.
On Saturday, Northern Illinois beat Notre Dame, and Bowling Green made Penn State sweat until the final seconds of the game. At least Ohio State didn’t struggle.
Buy: Kyle McCord
Hand up: I told people last season to buy stock in McCord, and I was wrong. But I can’t quit this guy. He has had a great start to his second start at Syracuse, and with the current state of the ACC and their schedule, the Orange could be in store for a big season.
McCord was not the right quarterback for Ohio State, and the Buckeyes did upgrade the position with Will Howard, but he is still a good to even great college quarterback. A place like Syracuse is perfect for him to succeed, and I will be rooting for him.
Sell: Targeting
Targeting was created with good intentions, but it has morphed into something genuinely ridiculous. On top of that, the punishment simply does not match the crime anymore.
It should not be an immediate ejection. It is too subjective of a penalty at this point, and unless it is clearly malicious and the intent to injure is present, the penalty has to be level to make it fair.
Sell: Injuries
They are a fact of life in the game of football and sports, but Western Michigan had to play this one without star running back Jalen Buckley, and injuries ruin good things. It would have been fun to see Buckley against this Ohio State defense, and I hope he recovers quickly.
Continue reading...