Fickell's Performance; Who's Next?

To be a little more blog-like, here's something that I wrote on Bucknuts in response to Coach Luke Fickell's performance and whether he deserves another chance along with a little added on follow up from another topic...Enjoy!

I wouldn't say Fick didn't do good enough. Give him a good offensive coach, and this team wins 2-3 more games at this point. He was put in a bad situation, and he certainly wasn't ready; but the record of this team doesn't reflect his performance. That record relects the team, which is obviously very young, and all of the coaches. Our QB's and WR's showed very little progression that appeared to be coached.

Most of this team will be back next year, and Fick should be allowed to have some better staff to help move this program forward. I mean, even Rich Rod got 3 years.

The thing that gets Fick is that he doesn't have the experience to totally make-over a staff, and if he was able to get rid of coaches, I'd find it hard to believe that he could cut Bollman since he has been here so long. Siciliano needs to be replaced too, for that matter. Many of these guys are built around Tresselball; so do you risk replacing them in hopes that someone else will fit, do you totally clean slate and start over, or do you leave everything the way it is?

In my opinion, and most of you agree with this; changes need to be made. The game has evolved to a high-paced speed, and the program needs to change. You can't bring in a coach, like Rich Rod, who says I'm going to run this specific offense. You have to bring in a guy who can line up in the I or go 5 wide depending on what talent he has, and at OSU you should be able to mostly do it all.

The key is the play-calling. It has to be unpredictable, not off the wall bonkers no-sense play-calling, just not predictable. Risks have to be taken at times. "Success is when preparation meets opportunity". Not sure who the quote is by, but the point is that we can only take care of preparation. Good coaches do that. They prepare their team for situations such as having to play the 2nd string QB or having to replace players lost to injury, suspension, or graduation.

Our team needs to learn to play with speed and enthusiasm consistently. Our offense has to learn to be effecient and take what's given, and our defense has to learn how to handle an up-beat game.

Not to ramble too much, but look back at the last two NCG appearances. We struck first (Ginn KO RET TD and Beanie's big run), but our defense was unable to sustain the counter-punch giving up TD's in both games. Our offense doesn't consistently play at that level, so we are basically unable to win in shoot outs; and the 42-39 game wasn't played at this speed. Although, that Buckeye offense was the closest we've had to playing up to speed. I hate the SEC, but they play the game at a different speed than the B1G. We need to impliment an offense that can play at that speed and a defense that can sustain the response.

I understand Tresselball and agree with aspects of that style. Field positioning, not turning the ball over, and solid special teams are very important. Every team should play with these basic fundamentals, but we need to be able to take the game to the next level. I'm not so sure Fick is the guy that can do that, but that doesn't mean he can't be successful at OSU. I mean, we weren't that far from making the B1G CG this year, and we've seen how badly this team performs at times. We need to focus on being the leaders in the B1G by stepping it up, and we have so many young players with experience that this system can start to be implimented now. Allow these guys to raise the bar over the next 3 years while training the incoming classes, but the changes have to be made now.

I don't think Fick did a bad job, but this program has a shot to progress; and they need to jump on this opportunity. I just hope the school is prepared.

That is all of my post from Bucknuts, but to add to the drama think about this: Urban Meyer has coached at that speed. Not only that, but he coached the Bowling Green and Utah offenses up to that speed. Those schools are still benefitting from what Coach Meyer did. I'm not saying OSU is going to hire him or even that he's the right guy for the job, but it seems like the most logical choice for so many reasons. He has the OSU ties, he's proven to be successful at different schools and up to the highest level, he's who the majority of the fans want, he's a gold mine with recruiting and would rebuild that fence around Ohio, and it's his dream job. It's so obvious that it's disgusting. Will the school shoot for Meyer, will they go after another big-name coach, or will they try to find another diamond in the rough like Tress? Right now, we don't know. What we do know is a limo was seen leaving the Woody Hayes Athletic Center today, and a private jet left Columbus heading straight to Gainesville. Who was in that jet? With the OSU vs, Florida basketball game happening just last night, it could be any high roller; but why would they be at the WHAC? For now, we can only speculate; and speculate we will.

Update: Same plane that came from Gaineville to OSU airport was in Miami when Urban Meyer met with Univ. of Ariz. That meeting took place in Miami.

Go Bucks!

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The B1G Mess (Part II)

The Big Ten race got a little clearer this week. I was 4-2 in my picks, but the 2 loses hurt and were both atop their respective divisions. I had MSU losing to Iowa and OSU beating Purdue, but while these games seem to have made the division races clearer, it won't take much to make everything crazy again. Here's the current standings:

Legends Division
Michigan State 8-2 (5-1)
Nebraska 8-2 (4-2)
Michigan 8-2 (4-2)
Iowa 6-4 (3-3)
Northwestern 5-5 (2-4)
Minnesota 2-8 (1-5)

Leaders Division
Penn State 8-2 (5-1)
Wisconsin 8-2 (4-2)
Purdue 5-5 (3-3)
Ohio State 6-4 (3-3)
Illinois 6-4 (2-4)
Indiana 1-9 (0-6)

Week 12 Games:

Nebraska (4-2) @ Michigan (4-2)

Toussaint Has Been Running Strong

*The race for 2nd place behind Michigan State. Should Sparty lose to Indiana or Northwestern and Nebraska win out, the Huskers would go to Indianapolis. Michigan finishes the season with two tough home games as the Wolverines focus and resilience will be tested.  I think Penn State's defense is better than Michigan's, but I think Michigan has a better offense than Penn State.  Michigan's run game has improved as of lately with Fitzgerald Toussaint having some big games.  Denard Robinson hasn't had to be all of this offense, and it's a good thing because he's been dinged up.  This will be an interesting matchup on both sides of the ball, but I look for Nebraska to pull through in another close one.



Indiana (0-6) @ Michigan State (5-1)

Keyshawn Martin is a Playmaker

*Not much to say here. If Michigan beats Nebraska, MSU can afford one more loss. This game shouldn't be that loss. This matches the top of the conference with the bottom, and while the middle of the pack has been a constant battle; this game shouldn't even be close.  MSU is known for stumbling, but this game should be a blowout.  Sparty can be Sparty next week.

Iowa (3-3) @ Purdue (3-3)
*An interesting matchup at home as Purdue is high from their overtime win over OSU, and Iowa is down from their loss to MSU. Purdue is one win from being bowl eligible, and they finish the season with Indiana; so two wins isn't out of the picture and would be a great end to the season for Danny Hope and the Boilermakers. The Boilers D passed the Buckeye rush test, but now they'll face a more balanced attack from the Hawkeyes.  Iowa is the better team, but I think Purdue ends up getting the 'W' this weekend.

Minnesota (1-5) @ Northwestern (2-4)

*Northwestern, like Purdue, is one win from being bowl eligible; and they really want to get it this week because Michigan State comes calling next week. Minnesota is still fighting hard and trying to find something to build on for the future under Coach Jerry Kill. This should be a good game, but I would definitely give an edge to Northwestern with it being at home and all. A win by the Wildcats would see their new-found success meet division leader Michigan State in the regular season finale, but a loss would most likely end any chance at a post-season game.  I'm picking Northwestern big behind their passing game.

Penn State (5-1) @ Ohio State (3-3)

McGloin's Performance Will Be Crucial for PSU

*This game would have meant so much more had the Buckeyes not crapped their pants against Purdue, but instead we're left with a game that is basically meaningless unless Wisconsin losses to Illinois...like that's gonna happen. The Buckeyes were given their opportunity to win the Big Ten but proved they weren't worthy. It will be Senior Night in Columbus, and DeVier Posey will be back, so maybe something mildly entertaining will come from Jim Bollman's offense...and I'm just full of jokes tonight. This will be a battle of defenses, and the Buckeye's has looked piss poor since their outstanding performance against Wisconsin. This will be interesting to see which Buckeye team hits the field and how the Nittany Lions respond to all of their issues as well as their first loss in Big Ten play. Last year Matt McGloin passed for two first-half touchdowns while staring down the Buckeye sideline.  The Bucks responded with two second-half pick-6's, and that seems to be a common occurance in this rivalry. Will McGloin prevail this year, and how will Silas Redd fare against this Buckeye defense? The Buckeyes have blamed their poor performances of the past two weeks on the early game time, but they won't have that excuse this week. They will need a strong performance to get the 'W'.

Wisconsin (4-2) @ Illinois (2-4)

Montee Ball is Racking Up Yards Again

*Wisconsin is 2 wins away from going to Indianapolis, and they can taste it. The one time strong favorite to win the conference apears to be back on a roll, and they seem to be the favorite by just about everyone even though PSU still holds the divisional lead. Illinois has done a great job of impersonating Michigan from the Rich Rod years as they have lost four straight since starting 6-0. The Boilermakers and Buckeyes will be praying for an Illini victory, but common sense would say otherwise. The only thing Illinois really has going is that this game is at home, and Wisconsin has struggled on the road this year.

The Conclusion:

What a great week of Big Ten football we have ahead of us. Every game has a sub plot as to why it's important. The Nebraska @ Michigan and Penn State @ Ohio State games seem to be the most intringuing match-ups of the weekend, but the Wisconsin @ Illinois game might be the most important. It shouldn't be much of a match-up as Wisconsin is back to their dominant form, and Illinois looks to have packed up their bags for the season; but that game, along with possibly the Michigan State @ Northwestern game of next weekend, have the ability to shake up the Big Ten Standings once again. Both Wisconsin and Michigan State should win, but both teams have the possibility of losing focus and over-looking teams in road games where just about every Big Ten team has struggled. The dust seems it has started to settle, and after this weekend; we will once again learn what these teams are made of.

My Big Ten Championship Game Prediction:
Leaders Division Champion: Wisconsin
Legends Division Champion: Michigan State

The B1G Mess (Part I)

With seven teams still in the Big Ten Championship hunt and only 3 weeks left, I thought it was necessary to dissect the conference standings and make some predictions for who will make it to Indianapolis. I focused on nine of the twelve Big Ten teams, but the other three have an outside shot at making waves in this confusing yet competitive race to Indianapolis.

The three teams that I've left out are Indiana (Bye, @MSU, Purdue), Northwestern (Rice, Minnesota, Michigan State), and Minnesota (Wisconsin, Northwestern, Illinois). Obviously, the Northwestern/MSU and Minnesota/Wisconsin games could change the outcome of the Big Ten; but I think the favorites will win in those games. One scary thing is that Wisconsin heads to Minneapolis this weekend, and the Badgers haven't won on the road yet this year. I would look for them to power their way to a big win though. Northwestern could beat MSU, and they are riding high after their win over Nebraska; but they have two other games before the Spartans roll into town. Chances are, that game won't be important; but the possibility of it being a big game still lingers.

Now I want to move on to the teams I've focused on. I have nine teams (Michigan State, Nebraska, Iowa, Michigan, Penn State, Ohio State, Wisconsin, Purdue, and Illinois) that have a shot at making noise down this crucial stretch of Big Ten play. Eight of the twelve Big Ten teams are bowl-eligible, and it is still possible for ten teams to get the necessary six wins if Northwestern and Purdue can win two of their three final games. Here are the current standings. These standings are based solely on conference records and show leaders based on head-to-head records.

Legends Division
Michigan State 7-2 (4-1)
Nebraska 7-2 (3-2)
Iowa 6-3 (3-2)
Michigan 7-2 (3-2)
Northwestern 4-5 (2-4)
Minnesota 2-7 (1-4)

Leaders Division
Penn State 8-1 (5-0)
Ohio State 6-3 (3-2)
Wisconsin 7-2 (3-2)
Purdue 4-5 (2-3)
Illinois 6-3 (2-3)
Indiana 1-9 (0-6)

In the final three weeks of Big Ten play, I have highlighted the eleven most important games. There's four games in weeks eleven and twelve and three games in week thrirteen that I'm going to key on. I'm going to show you matchups and make some predictions for week 11. My key games for weeks twelve and thirteen will be shown in this post, but I'm going to hold off on write-ups for those games in case my predictions are entirely off. As the season's end draws near, I will keep this blog series (The B1G Mess) going.

The records shown beside the team will reflect their current conference record.

Week 11

Nebraska 3-2 @ Penn State 5-0

Burkhead's Tough to Tackle

Everyone knows about the drama at PSU right now and is eager to see how their team will respond when a tough Nebraska team visits Happy Valley in this cross-divisional matchup. Both teams are fighting for Big Ten Championship births, but the big difference is that Penn State can afford to lose this game if they win out. I look for an emotional game at Beaver Stadium, and I think that the Huskers will rebound from their shocking loss to Northwestern to beat PSU. Penn State has the tools to beat Nebraska, but a lack of focus caused by the scandal is not good when facing a non-traditional offense that can score on any play. In the end, Nebraska pulls through.

Michigan State 4-1 @ Iowa 3-2

Sparty Has Bad History with Iowa

Iowa controls their own destiny, as does Michigan State. This game is huge for the Legends Division, and we all remember what Iowa did to MSU last year when they got off to a 37-0 start and ended up winning 37-6. This time it's at Iowa where the Hawkeyes are 6-0 this year. Michigan State's only road win came at Ohio State, and like that game; Coach Mark Dantonio cut players off from talking to the media during this week of preparation. A win by Iowa could make the Iowa/Nebraska game in week thirteen the decision-maker for the Legends Division. A win by MSU would leave the Spartans with only Indiana and Northwestern to beat to win the Legends Division Title. I think that MSU wants this game badly, but in the end, Iowa's pink locker room softens up the Spartans; and the Hawkeyes roll in another big win over Sparty.


Ohio State 3-2 @ Purdue 2-3

Herron Leads the Buckeyes

Purdue isn't in the running for the Big Ten title like the Buckeyes are, but this mini rivalry could give the Boilermakers the boost they need to become bowl eligible. The Buckeyes running game should dominate this game as Purdue's D-line has injury issues, and the Boilers struggle against the run. It'll be interesting to see how Purdue's offense attacks the Buckeye D because the secondary has struggled at times this year, and the Boilermakers have the skill players on the edge to take advantage of Buckeye mistakes. John Simon and Co. could and should register another huge game as they shut down the new-found Purdue ground attack, and I look for the Buckeyes to pull through in convincing fashion.

Michigan 3-2 @ Illinois 2-3

Denard Will Run on Illinois

Both of these teams are all but out of the Big Ten race, but the winner of this game could carry some momentum on in the last two weeks of Big Ten play in which both teams have big games. Michigan is trying to prove that they aren't the Wolverines of the past that will flop in the last half of the season. Illinois is trying to prove that they are the Fighting Illini of earlier this season that started 6-0 before going on this three game skid. Illinois is tough at home, but the Wolverines, under 1st year Head Coach Brady Hoke, will look to play solid defense and use their running attack to score points and eat the clock. This game saw both teams score in the 60's as they went to triple overtime a year ago. I wouldn't look for a high-scoring game. In the end, I think Michigan gets good play from it's defense and pulls off a rare road victory.

Standings after week 11.

Legends
Nebraska 8-2 (4-2)
Iowa 7-3 (4-2)
Michigan State 7-3 (4-2)
Michigan 8-2 (4-2)
Northwestern 5-5 (2-4)
Minnesota 2-8 (1-5)

Leaders
Penn State 5-2 (5-1)
Ohio State 7-3 (4-2)
Wisconsin 8-2 (4-2)
Purdue 4-6 (2-4)
Illinois 6-4 (2-4)
Indiana 1-9 (0-6)


These results set up for some very good week twelve and thirteen matchups. Right now, the cross-divisional games are just as important as the divisional games. With five 2 loss teams, one 1 loss team, and one undefeated team heading into Week 11; everyone is scrambling for wins; and PSU is the only team whose season doesn't completely change with a loss. Everyone wants to stay in the race for the championship. These games will be heated, and rivalries add fuel to the fire as the Big Ten season's end draws near. Winners will carry momentum onto next week where more drama awaits, and losers will fight the odds to rebound. Memories will be made in this season that has already proven to be memorable.

My Week 12 Predictons:

Penn State 5-1 @ Ohio State 4-2
*Winner would take Leaders Division lead. OSU - W

Wisconsin 4-2 @ Illinois 2-4
*If Illinois beat UM, this game would be meaningful. Wisconsin - W

Nebraska 4-2 @ Michigan 4-2
*UM is undefeated at home, and 2 wins by Nebraska would lead to a big week 13 matchup against rival Iowa. Nebraska - W

Iowa 4-2 @ Purdue 2-4
*If Iowa beat MSU, a win in this game would help keep them atop the Legends Division and allow the following Iowa @ Nebraska game decide the Legends Division Winner. Iowa - W


My Week 13 Predictions:

Iowa 5-2 @ Nebraska 5-2
*Game would decide the Legends Division Champion. Nebraska - W.
Penn State 5-2 @ Wisconsin 5-2
*PSU would be coming off a 2 game losing streak, and if OSU lost to UM; this would decide the Leaders Division Champion. Wisconsin - W.
Ohio State 5-2 @ Michigan 4-3
*If OSU wins, they go win the Leaders Division. Michigan wants to beat OSU so bad. OSU - W.

Legends Division Champion - Nebraska
Leaders Division Champion - Ohio State

Big Ten Championship Game

Buckeyes Would Love Another Shot at Huskers

An Offensive Identity Would Make a Difference

There will be at least a "The B1G Mess" Part II and III in the following weeks which will build off of this post but reflect the updating standings. Stay tuned!

Focus - Ohio State @ Purdue

There are many factors that will help determine the outcome of the game this weekend as the Buckeyes head to West Lafayette to face the Boilermakers.

The Buckeyes looked like they were sleeping on the Big Ten's worst team, Indiana, last week when they struggled to put the Hoosiers away. The Bucks got a little banged up and were surely given a scare. That scare should serve as a wake-up call to players, coaches, and fans.



Buckeys Need to Block Kawann Short

 Coach Luke Fickell knows the task ahead is a tough one as the Buckeyes are 2-2 at Ross-Ade Stadium in the past decade. The Boilermakers are 4-1 at home this season, and any Big Ten road win is huge as most teams have been very successful in defending their turf. The Buckeyes are 1-2 on the road, but are 1-0 on the road since the return of Boom Herron.

Other elements adding to the game will be revenge and bowl eligibility. Purdue was stomped 49-0 last year in Columbus, and they would love to spoil the Buckeye's shot at the Big Ten Championship Game. A win by the Boilermakers would put an end to that Buckeye dream, and after over-coming so much this season; the Buckeyes want to finish the season out. That win would help the Boilermakers rebound from losing two of their last three games, and it would give them a boost in these last few weeks of regular season play. They need to win two of their final three games to become bowl eligible, and they have Ohio State and Iowa, who is 0-3 on the road, at home before traveling to Bloomington, Indiana to play the in-state rival Hoosiers. While Ohio State and Iowa have their sights set on winning their division, Purdue is hoping that one or both teams are over-looking them. After this weekend, the Big Ten Title race will take another form just as it transformed over the last two weekends. Right now, seven of the twelve teams can still make it to the Big Ten Championship Game. The Big Ten Title picture will be a little clearer after this weekend as there are four big games, but I will discuss all of this in my next post "The B1G Mess".



Braxton Has Rushed for 4 TD's in the Last 2 Games



The actual matchup on the field between Ohio State and Purdue is an interesting one. The Buckeyes have been dominant on the ground since the return of Boom Herron, and Braxton Miller looks to have gained confidence from the Wisconsin win. He set up blocks and jukes in the open field, and his burst is very impressive. Miller, Herron, and Hyde are a good combination. Pair that up with the Boilermaker's awful rush D and injuries on their D-line, and the Bucks should have little problems pounding the ball at Purdue. The coaches came out last week and said they were content with being a one-dimensional team, so we'll see how both teams gameplan for that.

Purdue's pass D is average, but they have a big-play CB in Ricardo Allen. The Bucks don't pass often, especially if it's windy, and had they had that mindset last week; the Indiana game would've been much different. They tried to establish a passing game which resulted in sacks and no big plays for the Buckeye offense. This team knows their offensive identity for now and needs to stick with running the ball. An improved passing game would be a huge boost for the Buckeyes, but that most likely will have to wait another week.



Simon Has Been a Monster Lately



Purdue's offense is one that will attack the Buckeye edges similar to the way that Toledo attacked. The Buckeyes struggled against the Boilers two years ago and struggled against Toledo this year, but they're getting better. Travis Howard has improved his game, and Bradley Roby has matured as the season has progressed. The Purdue attack makes the defense cover the whole field. The safeties can't give up easy ones like they have the past few weeks. One big positive about this matchup is that the Purdue QB isn't known for his mobility. The Bucks have struggled with the mobile Indiana QB, but John Simon and Co. should be able to break through the weak Purdue OL and pressure the QB. This will help the defense in all aspects tremendously. The key to this game is how well the Buckeyes tackle, and Coach Fickell is also directing more attention to getting turnovers.

Special teams has been a big bonus for the Buckeyes lately. Drew Basil has been nailing FG's but needs to avoid kicking out of bounds on kickoffs. Ben Buchanan has been a solid punter too. The Buckeye return game took a hit with the loss of Jordan Hall, but Hall seems like he's on his way back to action this week. If there's a place the Buckeyes really need Jordan Hall, it's returning kicks and punts. Some big special teams plays would help the Buckeyes this weekend, and a fast start would be monumental. The Boilers are known for getting on the scoreboard quickly, so an early big special teams play for the Buckeyes could be a game-changer.

Coach Fick knows that Purdue is a different team at home, and the Buckeyes can't come out flat against this hungry Boilermaker squad. The Buckeyes know that they can only worry about themselves and the task at hand. This week is all about focus. Don't focus on Penn State. Don't focus on the Big Ten Title. Don't even focus on rebounding from last week. Focus on the gameplan for this week's opponent. Know your role, and do your job.

                                                  

                                                                                       
                                                           

Go Bucks!

Buckeyes, Coaches Look for More Progression

The Buckeyes Celebrate the Big 'W'

In a season that has contained some highs and many lows, the Buckeyes are currently soaring about as high as they possibly could. It's not unlikely for a team to under-achieve when put in the situation that the Buckeyes are facing right now, but this is a team that has just found new life. They are back home against an inferior Indiana team as they look to avoid any kind of hangover from their upset win of Wisconsin in a game that was emotionally exhausting but well-worth the cost.

The Bucks have been solid in almost all aspects of the game over their last two contests as the team has started to mature and gel, but the one big problem seems to be finishing games. Saturday almost marked the second instance of the season when the Bucks gave up a big lead in the 4th quarter. This isn't including the late charge that Illinois took at the Bucks which came up very short. For some reason, the players seem to give up big plays and stop moving the ball on offense as they attempt to sit on the big lead.

The issue all revolves around coaching whether we're dealing with attitude, endurance, or play-calling. This team has taken total 180's twice only to be saved in their most recent contest by the late game heroics of a true freshman QB. Something is happening on that sideline and in that press box that needs to change. These coaches and players can't get comfortable with a lead especially against a solid offense. The rotation on the D-line needs to be a little more active to avoid draining key players before the 4th quarter. These, like the QB rotation, are minor coaching errors that need to be made if this team expects to continue to make noise down the home stretch of their season.

The season was very blurry before it unexpectedly came into focus last week, and OSU will look to avoid stumbling back into the haze of uncertainty. The cloud of NCAA sanctions will fall on the Bucks in the coming weeks, but the effects of that will be dealt with as needed. The cloud could catch back up to the Bucks if they stumble down the stretch in games which they should be favored. They look to continue their current trend of winning this weekend against Indiana.

Boom Herron is a Force for the Buckeyes

OSU is the heavy favorite as they head into the game with Indiana this weekend. Look for the Bucks to build a big lead by running the ball, playing solid special teams, and harrassing the gimpy Indiana offense with their dominant defense. This has been the key to the Buckeye's success.

Herron should have a huge game, but don't be surprised to see Carlos Hyde try to make the most out of any opportunity he gets since Jordan Hall will sit with an ankle injury. This offensive line should dominate the game, and I wouldn't be surprised to see OSU get 250-275 yards as a team.

The passing game is something that is expected to have recently taken a few steps in the right direction, but look for Jim Bollman to stay conservative with the passing game as he does not want to risk losing the confidence Braxton Miller has built. I wouldn't rule out 15 passes, but they will surely work on basics.

Ryan Shazier Blocks a Wisconsin Punt

The return game took a shot with Hall's injury, but Chris Fields will step in; and he is the only Buckeye who has a TD return this season. Hall will return for later games, but Fields and others should fill in fine. The defensive special teams got a big punt block from Ryan Shazier last week, and they have looked must better against returns this season. We could see some more big plays this week from the OSU special teams. Don't forget that OSU's kickers have been spot on. These guys don't get mentioned unless they're messing up, so it's good that they're not the center of attention.

The defense has been stellar in recent weeks.  Indiana loses their best two WR's for the season starting this week, so I would expect their offense to sputter against a solid Buckeye D. I would like to see more lineman get in the rotation for OSU to prepare for this final stretch, and we know the Bucks have the players. At the very least, we should see guys come in for mop-up duty.

Curtis Grant Celebrates Blocked Punt Recovery

Speaking of mop-up duty, hopefully we will see Kenny Guiton take his first snaps of the season. I know fans are waiting for the moment to shove that in Bollman's face, but it will be nice if we could see players like Curtis Grant and Doran Grant among many other stars in waiting for this young Buckeye squad.

I look for a dominant victory for the Buckeyes this weekend, and as long as OSU only worries about themself; the rest of the cards will fall in place. I mean, look where this team is in the Big Ten and how far they've come. As long as they focus on improving their own game, they will be just fine.

Go Bucks!