The Buckeyes will play the Spartans in their 5th game this season as they look to improve their record to 4-1. OSU is 3-0 at home, and MSU like OSU, is 0-1 on the road.
MSU was beaten downfield by the Notre Dame receivers, which could be the role that emerging star freshman Devin Smith plays. The Irish's downfield play was set up by safe sideline passes. The posession receiving game is the key to opening up MSU's defense. The draw play was also very effective against the Spartan defense. This leads me to believe that a scrambling Braxton Miller should have room to run, and it bodes well for OSU's interior running attack. I would expect the Buckeyes to throw the draw and screen into the gameplan. The draw should be used if OSU is connecting on passes, and the screen is typically used to slow a quick pass rush but can also be used if the Buckeyes show they're not afraid to go deep. Only the game's path can depict which will come first, but I bet we see both the draw and screen as OSU tries to get the ball to Jordan Hall.
OSU also features a strong return game where MSU gave up a big early game score to Notre Dame. I expect something big from Hall and Berry when it comes to returns this week.
Defensively, the game plan is similar to when OSU played Miami. The Bucks need to avoid big plays and play strong up front. BJ Cunningham will likely have the company of the lengthy Travis Howard, but MSU has a few other solid receivers; including good TE play; so OSU's DB's need to play solid. MSU has a few good RB's that have the ability to make plays. This will be more of a test than it was facing Miami where OSU was gashed for big yards. The Buckeye DL and LB's have another chance to prove themselves this weekend, and they need to step up to the challenge.
Notre Dame showed how to beat MSU, but this is a different game. Can the Buckeyes step up to the challenge? Can MSU pull off their first win at the shoe since the infamous 1998 upset? Those questions shall be answered this Saturday, but this should surely be a great tip-off to another hard-hitting Big 10 football season.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Can Fickell Gain Buckeye Nation's Trust?
This weekend poses a daunting task for both teams in the Horseshoe as they have wrapped up their weak non-conference schedules and are ready to move into conference play. This season has already included major let-downs for both squads in their only true tests, and with so many questions to answer, one has to think that this game could be a pivotal moment for everyone involved.
MSU has taken precautionary measures by having closed practices and not allowing players to talk to the media this week. Mark Dantonio, who has never beat OSU as a head coach, wants to ensure the focus of his players is only on the game. That says a lot for a team returning 12 starters including experience and record-breaking numbers at skill positions. This could spell danger to a Buckeye defense that not only has given up three straight 300 yard games on defense, but they almost average giving up 300 yards per game defensively after finishing the weak part of their schedule.
MSU has looked solid defensively, but you have to factor in the weak schedule to get a good look at how good they really are. Just as the Buckeyes were smothered by a weak Miami team, the Spartans were whooped by a weak Notre Dame team giving up 31 points. MSU's numbers have been good, but Notre Dame took advantage of them. Notre Dame used draws frequently which were set up by a down-field passing attack. It seems like that would be a blueprint for teams to score on MSU, but the Buckeyes aren't exactly suited for airing it out. This means that OSU will have to either make huge strides in the passing game this week or run the ball very well. It seems that the latter would better fit this Buckeye squad, but the passing game can be critical this week, which is a lot of pressure to put on a freshman QB and a very young group of receivers. Who knows what's going to happen? All I know is that Coach Fickell has an excellent opportunity this weekend, and he has the chance to finally show all of us who this team is. It's time to step up and show us what ya' got. If there's one thing I'm sure of, it is that Mark Dantonio and the Spartans are taking this game seriously; and they will have some tricks up their sleeve. Buckle up because this game is going to be intense.
MSU has taken precautionary measures by having closed practices and not allowing players to talk to the media this week. Mark Dantonio, who has never beat OSU as a head coach, wants to ensure the focus of his players is only on the game. That says a lot for a team returning 12 starters including experience and record-breaking numbers at skill positions. This could spell danger to a Buckeye defense that not only has given up three straight 300 yard games on defense, but they almost average giving up 300 yards per game defensively after finishing the weak part of their schedule.
MSU has looked solid defensively, but you have to factor in the weak schedule to get a good look at how good they really are. Just as the Buckeyes were smothered by a weak Miami team, the Spartans were whooped by a weak Notre Dame team giving up 31 points. MSU's numbers have been good, but Notre Dame took advantage of them. Notre Dame used draws frequently which were set up by a down-field passing attack. It seems like that would be a blueprint for teams to score on MSU, but the Buckeyes aren't exactly suited for airing it out. This means that OSU will have to either make huge strides in the passing game this week or run the ball very well. It seems that the latter would better fit this Buckeye squad, but the passing game can be critical this week, which is a lot of pressure to put on a freshman QB and a very young group of receivers. Who knows what's going to happen? All I know is that Coach Fickell has an excellent opportunity this weekend, and he has the chance to finally show all of us who this team is. It's time to step up and show us what ya' got. If there's one thing I'm sure of, it is that Mark Dantonio and the Spartans are taking this game seriously; and they will have some tricks up their sleeve. Buckle up because this game is going to be intense.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Regurgitate The Kool-Aid
I went through a phase that many fans live in. Much of my life, including my emotional energy, was centered on the success of OSU Football. This all started because of the timing of that success with my life. The first year I had time to follow OSU Football was the year after I graduated high school due to my involvment with my own short-lived football career. That year was 2002, and I still remember watching some of those incredible games with my father. I remember grabbing my hair with both hands in reaction to the "Holy Buckeye" Michael Jenkins catch at Purdue, and I remember feeling like we had the game won when Willis McGahee went down in the NC with that nasty knee injury. I also remember how I got more and more involved and how I became so emotionally invested as that season went on. The NC game was so amazing, but the continued success through the years really got many of our expectations up. The sense of pride in being a Buckeye and being apart of something so successful allowed me to feel good about myself, but the losses made me depressed as if I could've done something to prevent it.
I reached my peak point when OSU lost to Illinois when they were on the verge of completing back-to-back perfect regular seasons. That defeat made me depressed, and I had to sit back and think about my relationship with Buckeye Football. I had to think about what I have control over and what I don't, and that was a tough time for me since I am so proud to be a Buckeye.
I have drawn back the amount of intrest I take in recruiting, but I still am very much a fan; and I'm constantly reading up and looking for videos to hear and see about other's thoughts on OSU. This has evolved into The Buckeye Board and this blog where my voice can be heard, and I want Buckeye Nation to hear and respond to me. I believe I'm very rational in my outlook of Buckeye Football, but I obviously still have issues as I find it very hard to pick against my beloved Buckeyes.
I'm looking forward to jumping into MSU this week, and it will surely be one of the more intense match-ups on slate. The fact that both OSU and MSU have lost already will provide this game with some fire. These teams haven't played each other for awhile, and they both have something to prove. MSU has been somewhat solid on defense, but their competition has been suspect. OSU has had its obvious issues including a poor passing game and a defense that has been gashed for 300+ yards 3 games in a row.
The match-ups in this game heavily favor MSU, in my opinion. MSU has experience and talent on offense in all of their skill positions. MSU is the team with experience. MSU has a stout run defense which matches up well with OSU's offense. Buckeyes, this is a dangerous game because we can't necessarily play that underdog role yet, so Coach Fick and Coach Bollman have an important gameplan ahead of them. I will jump into what I expect to see in the next post.
I reached my peak point when OSU lost to Illinois when they were on the verge of completing back-to-back perfect regular seasons. That defeat made me depressed, and I had to sit back and think about my relationship with Buckeye Football. I had to think about what I have control over and what I don't, and that was a tough time for me since I am so proud to be a Buckeye.
I have drawn back the amount of intrest I take in recruiting, but I still am very much a fan; and I'm constantly reading up and looking for videos to hear and see about other's thoughts on OSU. This has evolved into The Buckeye Board and this blog where my voice can be heard, and I want Buckeye Nation to hear and respond to me. I believe I'm very rational in my outlook of Buckeye Football, but I obviously still have issues as I find it very hard to pick against my beloved Buckeyes.
I'm looking forward to jumping into MSU this week, and it will surely be one of the more intense match-ups on slate. The fact that both OSU and MSU have lost already will provide this game with some fire. These teams haven't played each other for awhile, and they both have something to prove. MSU has been somewhat solid on defense, but their competition has been suspect. OSU has had its obvious issues including a poor passing game and a defense that has been gashed for 300+ yards 3 games in a row.
The match-ups in this game heavily favor MSU, in my opinion. MSU has experience and talent on offense in all of their skill positions. MSU is the team with experience. MSU has a stout run defense which matches up well with OSU's offense. Buckeyes, this is a dangerous game because we can't necessarily play that underdog role yet, so Coach Fick and Coach Bollman have an important gameplan ahead of them. I will jump into what I expect to see in the next post.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Evolving The Buckeye Board Blog
The Buckeye Board, on Facebook, and The Buckeye Board Blog have both been something that I have wanted to do for awhile now due to my passion for Buckeye Football. I used to be an avid Bucknut's blogger and was scraped off in their recent move to the 247 sports site. Plus, I get really annoyed at homers; so I couldn't take many of the common Bucknut's bloggers. Basically, I want to talk about OSU football and love interacting with other fans; but I don't think I should have to pay to do that; so The Buckeye Board has been born.
This site started off right after the first game (Akron) of this 2011 season, and I did two game previews (Toledo & Miami); but I want to talk about more than just previews; so this blog is going to be evolving into more of a blog where I'm going to be writing about my opinions of topics surrounding OSU Football. I would like to get a following on here, as well as on the Facebook page, so we can all chat and share our thoughts about these topics. I missed out on the preview of last week's game (Colorado) because I was working on getting this blog updated...and partly because I was depressed about the Miami loss. The week went really fast, which is very unusual for me during football season. I am 1-1 this year, and 0-2 against the spread; but I don't feel bad about that because the suspensions and quarterback questions really drug this team down in those two games. That's another reason I wasn't too rushed to get my Colorado preview up. I wanted to see what Braxton would do as the starter, and I can now comfortably make some more projections as I know who the quarterback will be. The big issue is seeing how consistent he will be, but we'll get to that later.
You can send me e-mails or however you want to get ahold of me, I'm happy to hear from other fans; so l look forward to hearing from other Buckeyes. As for now, we get to focus on Big 10 play. GO BUCKEYES!!!
This site started off right after the first game (Akron) of this 2011 season, and I did two game previews (Toledo & Miami); but I want to talk about more than just previews; so this blog is going to be evolving into more of a blog where I'm going to be writing about my opinions of topics surrounding OSU Football. I would like to get a following on here, as well as on the Facebook page, so we can all chat and share our thoughts about these topics. I missed out on the preview of last week's game (Colorado) because I was working on getting this blog updated...and partly because I was depressed about the Miami loss. The week went really fast, which is very unusual for me during football season. I am 1-1 this year, and 0-2 against the spread; but I don't feel bad about that because the suspensions and quarterback questions really drug this team down in those two games. That's another reason I wasn't too rushed to get my Colorado preview up. I wanted to see what Braxton would do as the starter, and I can now comfortably make some more projections as I know who the quarterback will be. The big issue is seeing how consistent he will be, but we'll get to that later.
You can send me e-mails or however you want to get ahold of me, I'm happy to hear from other fans; so l look forward to hearing from other Buckeyes. As for now, we get to focus on Big 10 play. GO BUCKEYES!!!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Board Breakdown Ohio State @ Miami
The Board Breakdown – Ohio State (2-0) at Miami (Fla.) (0-1)
Saturday September 17, 2011 (7:30 pm ESPN)
Weather: 89/77 30% Rain
Last week I picked OSU to cover the spread (19 points which later was 18 points), and then I started to think as the suspensions were announced to continue through at least last weekend’s game that maybe I should pull back. I knew Toledo was going to be good, but I thought OSU would pull away in the end. What really hurt The Buckeyes was the play of the OL. The running game was weak, and the passing game was relatively ineffective after the first drive while watching Joe Bauserman (#14) throw the ball away time-after-time. That strategy allowed Toledo to keep fresh on defense, and that’s why OSU didn’t end up pulling away in the end…or at least it didn’t help. OSU is a team that has to win the time of possession battle this year to be its best because they are not a quick striking team, so short TOP means that they aren’t sustaining drives. I really wanted to change my prediction to us not covering the spread. I was thinking more like a 28-17 game rather than my 38-13, but I stuck with it and was wrong. The plus is that we still got the win and move on to game 3 with an undefeated record. I’m going to try this prediction thing again, and I think it will help that I know a little more about Miami than I did Toledo, so here goes…
Miami’s O vs. Ohio State’s D
Passing: It would have been nice to get Travis Howard (#7) back last week, but the good news is that he’s back now; and it might be very much needed with Miami returning Travis Benjamin (#3) to action after his own suspension. Dominic Clarke (#5) and Bradley Roby (#25) have played well in his absence, but the speedy Benjamin will need some personal attention that Howard would love to give. WR Allen Hurns (#1) is another dreadlocked speedster that the Buckeyes will need to keep an eye on, and the play of Roby and Clarke, thus far, leads me to believe it shouldn’t be a problem, but that’s not even mentioning returning starter LaRon Byrd (#2). Miami also returns Jacory Harris (#12) from suspension for his first games of this 2011 season and his senior year. Last year against OSU, Harris threw for 232 yards and a TD but also had 4 pick’s that helped OSU seal the 36-24 victory. Harris is streaky, and he’s either pretty good or really bad. This boils down to the pressure applied by the defense. This year’s OSU D is obviously very different from last year’s squad, and the Buckeyes are still seeking leaders and stability on defense; but John Simon (#54) seems to be stepping up into that role. His play will be crucial to the success of the silver bullet defense against the Hurricanes. Nathan Williams (#43) will miss his 2nd game this season with a knee injury that will keep him out 4 more weeks, and this is a huge loss for OSU’s pass rush. Last week J.T. Moore (#50) filled in for Williams and will be expected to fill those shoes once again, and Moore will have his chance to make plays this week against the Hurricane offense. Miami’s OL lost a couple starters (1 grad and 1 inj), but they have made adjustments; and all 5 starters have multiple starts. They have a good RT in Washington (#72), but their LT and RG were expected to be backups before the season started; so look for Simon to take advantage of the weaker LT. OSU’s DB’s have played relatively well thus far, but a few key breakdowns last week allowed Toledo to hit some big plays. Travis Benjamin is speedy, but the Buckeyes seem to have more of a problem with quick passes rather than downfield plays. The good news is that this can be fixed, and Miami is more of a drop-back style passing team that plays into OSU’s strengths on defense up front and in the secondary. Moeller still has been quiet through the start of this year, but it’s because he’s not making huge plays like Buckeye fans are used to; and there’s only so much you can do when the ball is not being thrown your way. Once again, this could be another huge week for the Buckeye DL.
My Key Matchup (MIA Passing): OSU’s DE’s vs. Miami’s OT’s
*The pressure on Harris could be the difference in Miami being an efficient passing team or being a turn-over machine. Look for some stunting from the Buckeyes to try to confuse Harris as it seemed to work in 2010. They will have to do something to keep the pressure on Harris without the rush from Williams. Simon’s play will need to be top-notch, and Moore will need to play at a high level. The need to get pressure on Harris is huge, and the Bucks would love to do it without bringing LB’s into the mix on a consistent basis.
Rushing: Ohio State has done quite well against the rush so far this year holding Akron to 35 yards and Toledo to 46 yards. Miami has starters back at C and LG, but OSU should once again play strong against the run. Miami’s Lamar Miller (#6) is a much better RB than the Buckeyes have seen thus far. He’s a quick guy with a good burst and decent size (5-11 212). Miller had the big kick return for a TD last year against OSU but didn’t see action in the backfield. Miami does have some big OL as they’re about ¾ the size of Wisconsin’s OL, which is still huge, and that size has given OSU problems in the past. Miami ran quite a few zone read plays against Maryland where Miller hit the hole with authority, so the key in the run game is clogging the middle; stretching the play; and allowing the Buckeye LB’s to run to the ball carrier. The spread attack works in OSU’s favor when it comes to the running game, but Miami will also line up in the I-formation. The effectiveness of Miami’s passing will make a big difference in their running game, but look for this to be a big test for the OSU DL and LB’s.
My Key Matchup (MIA Running): Johnathan Hankins (#52) and Garrett Goebel (#53) vs. Miami’s OL.
*You might as well throw Michael Bennett (#63) into this mix as well because the big freshman will start getting more and more reps as the season goes on. I like OSU’s odds here as Hankins takes up a lot of space, but the big factor is that they play gap-control defense while keeping the Miami OL off the Buckeye LB’s. Hankins, Goebel, and Bennett don’t have to make a ton of plays in the backfield to be successful in this game; but do pay attention to these guys, especially late in the game, if Miami lines up in the I-formation because their success will tell you a lot about this game. The speed at LB will be nice in this game, and I would look for Etienne Sabino (#6) to make a bunch of tackles.
Ohio State’s O vs. Miami’s D
Rushing: Ohio State returns a few players on offense that should help with their attack and versatility, but Miami also returns 2 crucial starters on defense in LB Sean Spence (#31) and DT Marcus Forston (#99). The Buckeye OL has been suspect early in the year specifically in the run game, but Corey Linsley (#71) returns after a few games of suspension and will add to the rotation at RG behind Marcus Hall (#79). The Buckeyes return projected starting RB Jordan Hall (#7) who will probably also see reps at the slot position which should compliment the power game that Carlos Hyde (#34) brings. Jaamal Berry (#4) is expected to get a few carries against Miami as well, but Hyde and Hall will be the featured guys. Berry had a big run against the Canes last year and could be a breakaway threat, but he doesn’t want to rush his return from his nagging hamstring injury. If he is ready then I would expect some excitement from him. Spence is great at running down plays that stretch too wide, and Miami has solid DT’s in the middle; so it will be interesting to see how the Bucks scheme for the two of them. I would look for OSU to run isolations on Miami’s smaller LB’s (avg. 222 lbs) with 250 lb fullback Zach Boren (#44), and I would also expect off-tackles while trying to down-block on the OLB’s while getting outside the DT’s. Braxton Miller (#5) should see time at QB and will be utilized much like Pryor was as a Frosh but with more ability to pass the ball which makes him dangerous. OSU will use bootlegs to get him on the run, but the primary runners in this game need to be Hyde and Hall.
My Key Matchup (OSU Running): OSU’s Guards vs. Miami’s DT’s.
*Miami returns both DT starters, but Regis (#54) and Forston are listed as interchangeable players at one DT spot with Junior Darius Smith (#98), who weighs 360 lbs, listed at the other. This matchup is more crucial than on the flip side of the ball because OSU doesn’t have a QB that is known to have the ability to pick apart a defense where Miami’s Harris has shown flashes.
Passing: Miami is starting some inexperienced guys at DE which should be an interesting matchup with OSU’s tackles, especially true Frosh Andrew Norwell (#78). OSU will play both QB’s this week, but Bauserman is definitely not going to be on the run much; so pocket protection will be necessary. The Miami defensive backfield would be stronger with Ray-Ray Armstrong (#26) on the field, but the Canes have made adjustments without the suspended safety on the field. Their starting four features returning starters FS Vaughn Telemaque (#7) and CB turned SS Jo Jo Nicolas (#29). The CB’s have little game experience but have been in the system awhile. These guys were taken advantage of early in the Maryland game, and OSU has the ability to throw those quick passes especially with Hall at slot; so bubble screens are a definite possibility this week. Those screens would help keep pressure off the QB, but the Buckeye receivers need to get up field quickly to take the Miami LB’s out of the picture. Philly Brown (#10) will not be playing this week, but Chris Fields (#80) had a game-changing play last week that should give him some confidence; and Verlon Reed (#9) has looked good so far. Devin Smith (#15) will also see the field this week and looks to be solid. Don’t forget about TE Jake Stoneburner (#11) because he could have a game even bigger than his game against Akron. Miami’s LB’s, CB’s, and SS average a height of only about 6 ft tall. Last year, Brandon Saine picked a touchdown pass off Spence’s helmet. T.Y. Williams (#18) height could also be useful in this game if OSU decides to call on him. The Buckeye WR’s will keep those Cane DB’s busy, throw Jordan Hall at slot and/or coming out of the backfield; and it’ll be easy to forget where Stoneburner has ventured off to. Lets just hope that the OL gives the QB’s some time.
My Key Matchup (OSU Passing): Jake Stoneburner vs. Miami LB/DB’s.
*As I listed above, Stoney could be hard for Miami to matchup with; and it helps that Bauserman has built chemistry with the TE. If Bauserman/Miller spread the ball around then I would expect for #11 to have a solid performance.
Special Teams
MIA Ret: Special teams were big in this game last year otherwise Miami wouldn’t have been close to competing with the Buckeyes as they put 14 points up just on returns. OSU looks like they’re covering returns better, but they will have a tough challenge ahead of them this weekend in Miami. Drew Basil (#24) needs to get more height on his kickoffs than he did last year, but his kicks looked a little better in the first few games. Ohio State has talked about switching punt formations back to the traditional style as the “Purdue style” has caused many issues since its implimentation. Miller and Benjamin will need to be contained this time around.
OSU Ret: Chris Fields had a big…no HUGE…punt return last week, and Jordan Hall returns this week; but even though Hall was expected to be the starter going into the season I would expect Fickell to keep Fields back there while Hall and Berry return kicks. This will help keep Hall’s legs fresh throughout the game.
FG: Miami’s kicker Jake Wieclaw (#40) has done something that Drew Basil has not…he made a FG. Wieclaw is 1 of 1 on kicking FG’s this year as he made a 30 yarder against Maryland. Basil is 0 for 2 on his kicks which are both from 40+ yards. Basil has a big leg but has struggled with his aim this year. Last year Basil’s big leg got a couple FG’s blocked which doesn’t give us Buckeye fans much confidence when kicking FG’s. I would love for Basil to light it up this game and give him some confidence. Both kickers are perfect on XP’s (Wieclaw 3/3, Basil 9/9).
Summary and Prediction
Both teams that hit the field this weekend will most likely look very different from what they did in the opening week(s) of this season. There’s no more holding out. Both new coaches want to win to get the fans behind them. Miami fans still want revenge for the 2003 NC game. There’s quite a few players on OSU’s team from the Miami area. The game will be heated, and points should be scored. The two things that determine the outcome of this game is the pressure on Harris and the running game of OSU. I see Harris having a pretty strong performance, and I think OSU’s run game will be better than last week but not quite what we need it to be. I hope the game doesn’t come down to FG’s, so that means OSU has to finish drives and be more aggressive with playcalling and execution. My call…OSU 21-MIA 17
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
The Board Breakdown - Toledo @ Ohio State
Toledo (1-0) at Ohio State (1-0)
Saturday, September 10, 2011
I’m not going to tell you about the history of the two teams, the coaches, or last year’s stats. I want to key in on specific match-ups and/or players as I do these pre-game write-ups throughout the season. These will be better as we play better teams and the match-ups are a little more intense, but until then...
Toledo’s O vs. Ohio State’s D
Toledo will use a two QB system that have similar attributes as OSU’s QB’s. It seems as if these QB’s play a similar role in the offense, too. Owens (#2) is the mobile guy while Dantin (#4) is the passer. It seems that Dantin will see the field the most, but don’t be surprised if UT tries to throw Owens in early in the game to see who will have more success especially since these QB's both started multiple games a year ago.
Ohio State shouldn’t struggle to stop UT’s RB Thomas (#24) even though he’s coming off a game where he rushed just 9 times for 115 yds and a TD. OSU is just bigger and stronger up front. Toledo is still breaking in two new starters on the OL including a redshirt Frosh at center. Ohio State’s defensive line needs to live up to their hype and stuff the run. They really need to get used to being called on every week as the cupcake games are about to be over for the year. I think Garrett Goebel (#53) needs to have a good game, but Nathan Williams (#43) could be an impact player off the edge.
Toledo’s passing game is a little more dangerous than their running game with Page (#12), Reedy (#11), and Illinois transfer Cordale Scott (#3) lining up at WR. Page put up great numbers last year, but it seems that he will be the first WR to be stranded on Howard Island as Travis Howard (#7) should return to starting duty this week. The keys to these matchups are how well Roby (#25), Clarke (#5) and especially Moeller (#26) cover the other WR’s. Even with the UT experience, I expect OSU’s DB’s to play quite well. Roby will be happy to have Howard back because now the ball will be thrown his way. I’m sure Moeller will be used quite a bit in this game, and hopefully; he’ll return to the impact player he was at the start of last year after a slow start to this year. I would assume that UT would plan on throwing quite a few quick passes, such as bubble screens, to try to take OSU’s pass rush out of the game; but if not; the DL needs to do a much better job rushing than they did a week ago. I think Moeller really needs to have a good game, but that's assuming that Howard is the lock-down guy that everyone says he is.
Overall, you have to give the advantage to OSU’s silver bullets. I expect a little more intensity out of the defense this week. Toledo has never even scored on OSU (2 meetings, 87-0), which will most likely change after this week; but I would love to see the shut-out streak to continue.
Ohio State’s O vs. Toledo’s D
Toledo’s defense returns all of their starters from last year with the exception of one DT and their weak side LB. They still have 8 seniors and 3 juniors lining up on defense. This is an experienced group, and OSU will have to play well to score points.
It seems as if Bauserman (#14) has settled in quite well at QB, but Miller (#5) will still be used as needed. I’m wondering if Miller takes that first drive in for 6, would he have seen far more first half action. I really hope he wants to get that starting spot even if he doesn't take it for awhile, but his actions on the sideline last week have many questioning how ambitious he is. I do, however, like the role that both QB’s are playing right now as long as Bauserman continues to get comfortable and Miller continues to grow. I thought Miller’s mechanics looked much better than Pryor’s ever did. He had zip on the ball, and his short passes were mostly on point. Bauserman’s throws seemed a bit like Pryor’s when he was starting out. He seemed to wait until the receiver was completely open before throwing the ball, and this is something that’s going to have to change. It’s great that he’s finding the open guy, but at some point he’s going to have to put some trust in his abilities and take more risk on throws because defenses will eventually get pressure on him, and I don't think he can rely on his scrambling abilities too much. I thought both of the QB’s made good decisions when they did play, but I would look for Miller to start getting a little more playing time early in the game.
RB this week should be interesting to watch with the return of Jordan Hall (#7) and maybe Jaamal Berry (#4). Before I get too far in, I want to point out how important Zach Boren (#44) is. This guy is a great fullback, and much like an offensive lineman; his efforts go unrecognized. Getting back to RB, Carlos Hyde (#34) looked good last week as the feature back and should be the power back all season. Hall was supposed to be the starter, so who knows what will be on the field this week. I would love to see Hall/Berry beside Miller in the spread package. I think they will add a dimension that Hyde doesn’t have when we are running the spread. I also think Hall would fit great at slot when we do run our power package with Hyde in the backfield. It’s always good to have guys on the field who know what to do with the football in their hands. Rod Smith (#2), to me, has the build and features to be a great back. I don’t think that is going to happen this year though. He looked uncomfortable with the ball and seemed to seek contact rather than trying to find the holes. I love the physical style of play, but you have to be looking for 6 when you can get it; and I don't think he's expanded his vision to include the endzone until we are inside the 5 yard line. The fumble hurts too, but let’s not forget Beanie had the same problem as a Frosh; and look how good he turned out to be. The good news is that we won’t NEED to use Smith when we have Hall, Berry, and Hyde all back there; and that’s not mentioning Herron (#1) upon his return. The Buckeye OL should dominate this week which will give our RB's room to run. Toledo isn't huge up front, but they do bring back experience; and they got pressure last week which forced turnovers. I think the key here is how well Andrew Norwell (#78) handles the UT DE's.
The WR position is something that scared the crap out of me heading into the season, and now I couldn’t be more excited. Corey Brown (#10) and Verlon Reed (#9) look to be the next group of big name WR’s to come out of OSU. Both have great athletic ability, and as long as the QB’s are getting time; these guys will be reeling in some passes. We can’t talk about OSU’s receivers without mentioning the catch from last week. Even Spencer (#16) showed great athleticism on his one-handed snag. Devin Smith (#15) has been getting all kinds of hype through camp and looks to be another early contributor. T.Y. Williams (#18) dropped on the depth chart due to a bad case of butterfingers in camp but looked good in the opener while catching a couple of rockets from Miller. The height of Williams would be great to utilize if he can get those hands to work. I have been excited about Chris Fields (#80) ever since seeing his high school highlight film, and he looks to be a steady contributor as well. Jake Stoneburner (#11) had a career and historic game last week and needs to continue to step up through this season. He gives defense all kinds of matchup problems. Toledo returns all of their DB’s from last year, and all of them are Seniors. This won’t be the OSU receivers toughest test of the year, but it will be more of a test than last week; and passing this test will show a little growth out of this young group of WR’s. I think Stoneburner will have another solid performance as he continues to make D-coordinators question who to cover him. One of the WR's will step up in the next few weeks, and my guess says that Brown could be streaky; but Reed seems to have great potential.
Special Teams
It appears as though OSU is still having troubles kicking FG’s. This is something that needs to be fixed ASAP, and that all boils down to the leg of Drew Basil (#24). Ohio State will have to do their best at covering kicks and punts to keep the dynamic Page from being a thorn in our side. Toledo has a good kicker, and their punter had two kicks (38 yrd avg) that were both fair-caught.
Overview
Toledo got 5 turnovers in week 1 from NH (2 int/3 fumb) and gave up none. OSU gave up a fumble and intercepted a pass. Toledo won’t get the ball handed to them this week, but I fully expect them to give OSU some trouble in the beginning. Toledo is 6-8 vs ranked opponents, and OSU is aware of this; so there’s no looking ahead to Miami for OSU. I expect the game to be close for awhile, but Ohio State is a 19 point favorite; and I expect them to cover the spread with solid defensive play and a key breakout performance on offense from whoever takes the most reps at RB...my guess is Hall.
OSU – 38
UT - 13
Go Bucks!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
I’m not going to tell you about the history of the two teams, the coaches, or last year’s stats. I want to key in on specific match-ups and/or players as I do these pre-game write-ups throughout the season. These will be better as we play better teams and the match-ups are a little more intense, but until then...
Toledo’s O vs. Ohio State’s D
Toledo will use a two QB system that have similar attributes as OSU’s QB’s. It seems as if these QB’s play a similar role in the offense, too. Owens (#2) is the mobile guy while Dantin (#4) is the passer. It seems that Dantin will see the field the most, but don’t be surprised if UT tries to throw Owens in early in the game to see who will have more success especially since these QB's both started multiple games a year ago.
Ohio State shouldn’t struggle to stop UT’s RB Thomas (#24) even though he’s coming off a game where he rushed just 9 times for 115 yds and a TD. OSU is just bigger and stronger up front. Toledo is still breaking in two new starters on the OL including a redshirt Frosh at center. Ohio State’s defensive line needs to live up to their hype and stuff the run. They really need to get used to being called on every week as the cupcake games are about to be over for the year. I think Garrett Goebel (#53) needs to have a good game, but Nathan Williams (#43) could be an impact player off the edge.
Toledo’s passing game is a little more dangerous than their running game with Page (#12), Reedy (#11), and Illinois transfer Cordale Scott (#3) lining up at WR. Page put up great numbers last year, but it seems that he will be the first WR to be stranded on Howard Island as Travis Howard (#7) should return to starting duty this week. The keys to these matchups are how well Roby (#25), Clarke (#5) and especially Moeller (#26) cover the other WR’s. Even with the UT experience, I expect OSU’s DB’s to play quite well. Roby will be happy to have Howard back because now the ball will be thrown his way. I’m sure Moeller will be used quite a bit in this game, and hopefully; he’ll return to the impact player he was at the start of last year after a slow start to this year. I would assume that UT would plan on throwing quite a few quick passes, such as bubble screens, to try to take OSU’s pass rush out of the game; but if not; the DL needs to do a much better job rushing than they did a week ago. I think Moeller really needs to have a good game, but that's assuming that Howard is the lock-down guy that everyone says he is.
Overall, you have to give the advantage to OSU’s silver bullets. I expect a little more intensity out of the defense this week. Toledo has never even scored on OSU (2 meetings, 87-0), which will most likely change after this week; but I would love to see the shut-out streak to continue.
Ohio State’s O vs. Toledo’s D
Toledo’s defense returns all of their starters from last year with the exception of one DT and their weak side LB. They still have 8 seniors and 3 juniors lining up on defense. This is an experienced group, and OSU will have to play well to score points.
It seems as if Bauserman (#14) has settled in quite well at QB, but Miller (#5) will still be used as needed. I’m wondering if Miller takes that first drive in for 6, would he have seen far more first half action. I really hope he wants to get that starting spot even if he doesn't take it for awhile, but his actions on the sideline last week have many questioning how ambitious he is. I do, however, like the role that both QB’s are playing right now as long as Bauserman continues to get comfortable and Miller continues to grow. I thought Miller’s mechanics looked much better than Pryor’s ever did. He had zip on the ball, and his short passes were mostly on point. Bauserman’s throws seemed a bit like Pryor’s when he was starting out. He seemed to wait until the receiver was completely open before throwing the ball, and this is something that’s going to have to change. It’s great that he’s finding the open guy, but at some point he’s going to have to put some trust in his abilities and take more risk on throws because defenses will eventually get pressure on him, and I don't think he can rely on his scrambling abilities too much. I thought both of the QB’s made good decisions when they did play, but I would look for Miller to start getting a little more playing time early in the game.
RB this week should be interesting to watch with the return of Jordan Hall (#7) and maybe Jaamal Berry (#4). Before I get too far in, I want to point out how important Zach Boren (#44) is. This guy is a great fullback, and much like an offensive lineman; his efforts go unrecognized. Getting back to RB, Carlos Hyde (#34) looked good last week as the feature back and should be the power back all season. Hall was supposed to be the starter, so who knows what will be on the field this week. I would love to see Hall/Berry beside Miller in the spread package. I think they will add a dimension that Hyde doesn’t have when we are running the spread. I also think Hall would fit great at slot when we do run our power package with Hyde in the backfield. It’s always good to have guys on the field who know what to do with the football in their hands. Rod Smith (#2), to me, has the build and features to be a great back. I don’t think that is going to happen this year though. He looked uncomfortable with the ball and seemed to seek contact rather than trying to find the holes. I love the physical style of play, but you have to be looking for 6 when you can get it; and I don't think he's expanded his vision to include the endzone until we are inside the 5 yard line. The fumble hurts too, but let’s not forget Beanie had the same problem as a Frosh; and look how good he turned out to be. The good news is that we won’t NEED to use Smith when we have Hall, Berry, and Hyde all back there; and that’s not mentioning Herron (#1) upon his return. The Buckeye OL should dominate this week which will give our RB's room to run. Toledo isn't huge up front, but they do bring back experience; and they got pressure last week which forced turnovers. I think the key here is how well Andrew Norwell (#78) handles the UT DE's.
The WR position is something that scared the crap out of me heading into the season, and now I couldn’t be more excited. Corey Brown (#10) and Verlon Reed (#9) look to be the next group of big name WR’s to come out of OSU. Both have great athletic ability, and as long as the QB’s are getting time; these guys will be reeling in some passes. We can’t talk about OSU’s receivers without mentioning the catch from last week. Even Spencer (#16) showed great athleticism on his one-handed snag. Devin Smith (#15) has been getting all kinds of hype through camp and looks to be another early contributor. T.Y. Williams (#18) dropped on the depth chart due to a bad case of butterfingers in camp but looked good in the opener while catching a couple of rockets from Miller. The height of Williams would be great to utilize if he can get those hands to work. I have been excited about Chris Fields (#80) ever since seeing his high school highlight film, and he looks to be a steady contributor as well. Jake Stoneburner (#11) had a career and historic game last week and needs to continue to step up through this season. He gives defense all kinds of matchup problems. Toledo returns all of their DB’s from last year, and all of them are Seniors. This won’t be the OSU receivers toughest test of the year, but it will be more of a test than last week; and passing this test will show a little growth out of this young group of WR’s. I think Stoneburner will have another solid performance as he continues to make D-coordinators question who to cover him. One of the WR's will step up in the next few weeks, and my guess says that Brown could be streaky; but Reed seems to have great potential.
Special Teams
It appears as though OSU is still having troubles kicking FG’s. This is something that needs to be fixed ASAP, and that all boils down to the leg of Drew Basil (#24). Ohio State will have to do their best at covering kicks and punts to keep the dynamic Page from being a thorn in our side. Toledo has a good kicker, and their punter had two kicks (38 yrd avg) that were both fair-caught.
Overview
Toledo got 5 turnovers in week 1 from NH (2 int/3 fumb) and gave up none. OSU gave up a fumble and intercepted a pass. Toledo won’t get the ball handed to them this week, but I fully expect them to give OSU some trouble in the beginning. Toledo is 6-8 vs ranked opponents, and OSU is aware of this; so there’s no looking ahead to Miami for OSU. I expect the game to be close for awhile, but Ohio State is a 19 point favorite; and I expect them to cover the spread with solid defensive play and a key breakout performance on offense from whoever takes the most reps at RB...my guess is Hall.
OSU – 38
UT - 13
Go Bucks!
Monday, September 5, 2011
The Opening Act
As time and change have surely shown, how great my devotion to O-HI-O. I have been a Buckeye fan all my life. Born and raised in central Ohio, I always dreamt of pulling that beautiful scarlet jersey over my beaten shoulder pads in preparation for battle in the Shoe. I wanted, so badly, to place Buckeye leaf stickers on the side of my helmet until it was so jam packed that I had to revert to the other side. I got goosebumps thinking about walking out of the tunnel onto the field side-by-side with my brothers while being led by one of the historic figures in Buckeye coacing history. As the years went on, the dreams were hard to live up to. I didn't know what it took to reach that goal and had to settle for less. The last night of my high school football career, I realized that my dreams would remain just that...dreams. Even though I couldn't be a Buckeye on the football field, I became a Buckeye in the classroom while receiving my Bachelor's and Master's degrees from The Ohio State University. It was an accomplishment that meant so much more than finishing school or opening new doors to my future career. I was officially a Buckeye, and while I didn't get to put Buckeye leaves on my helmet or pad up in the scarlet and grey; I do get to put on one of those scarlet, or white for away games, jerseys every Saturday morning. It may not be the same thing, but it's as close as most of us get.
The reason I started this blog, as well as The Buckeye Board on facebook, is simple. I love talking about and supporting The Ohio State University. I love Buckeye Nation and the passion they bring every Saturday of football season. The energy before the games is something that gives me deja vu back to those childhood dreams of mine. I love everything that is Buckeye football, and I find great pride in being apart of Buckeye Nation. I want to not only bring that group a little closer together but also be able to communicate with them. That's why I created this blog.
I don't want any kind of attention or to be praised by anyone. I simply want to help the team and fans, and the way I can do that is by bringing everyone closer together in a peaceful manner. The internet is a great invention and allows us Buckeyes all across the world to keep up to date on news surrounding the program. There's some fantastic videos on youtube as well as great writers out there. This is information that needs to be shared, and that's all I'm hoping to do. I like to talk about Buckeye football, so I figured I'd use my blog to do some write-ups and post them on The Board. Everyone can respond and we'll go from there.
I'm looking forward to the possibilities of this blog and facebook page...but not as much as I'm looking forward to this season, so welcome to the blog; and I look forward to next Saturday. As always, Go Bucks!
The reason I started this blog, as well as The Buckeye Board on facebook, is simple. I love talking about and supporting The Ohio State University. I love Buckeye Nation and the passion they bring every Saturday of football season. The energy before the games is something that gives me deja vu back to those childhood dreams of mine. I love everything that is Buckeye football, and I find great pride in being apart of Buckeye Nation. I want to not only bring that group a little closer together but also be able to communicate with them. That's why I created this blog.
I don't want any kind of attention or to be praised by anyone. I simply want to help the team and fans, and the way I can do that is by bringing everyone closer together in a peaceful manner. The internet is a great invention and allows us Buckeyes all across the world to keep up to date on news surrounding the program. There's some fantastic videos on youtube as well as great writers out there. This is information that needs to be shared, and that's all I'm hoping to do. I like to talk about Buckeye football, so I figured I'd use my blog to do some write-ups and post them on The Board. Everyone can respond and we'll go from there.
I'm looking forward to the possibilities of this blog and facebook page...but not as much as I'm looking forward to this season, so welcome to the blog; and I look forward to next Saturday. As always, Go Bucks!
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