GO Bucks

[Willyville Guy]

This past week has been insane. I'm exhausted by all the activity at the WHAC.

 

I needed a little pick me up yesterday, so I went and counted the seven (7) five stars coming in. Go Bucks.

[YoloinOhio]

5 star DT Taron Vincent (son of Troy) committed today.

 

DL is getting nasty. Vincent, Chase Young, Nick Bosa, Jonathon Cooper, Malik Barrow, Haskell Garrett & Jerron Cage.

Then there is Micah Parsons, who the Buckeyes are trying hard to flip. Where are you going to run?

Throw it? Nah. Jeffrey Okudah, Shaun Wade, Kendall Sheffield, Marcus Williamson, Isaiah Pryor, Amir Riep and Jaiden Woodbey.

Edited April 2, 2017 by YoloinOhio

[Willyville Guy]

One of the takeaways from the Clemson game was that OSU didn't have any of the enormous and athletic DLs that the schools down south seem to have. So pulling Vincent away from FSU is a huge win.

 

Looking forward to the spring game!

[Willyville Guy]

Spring Game notes:

 

Touch tackling to start the game suggests that the coaches are more concerned than usual about injuries and depth. Not a great sign but it’s only April. Funniest take I saw was Ben Axelrod’s comment that touch tackling was a tribute to the 2013 defense.

 

The QB situation is as we predicted. JT is the unquestioned leader of the team and a great running QB. He was also the third best passer in the Spring Game. His only deep ball attempt was intercepted. The other two (three!) looked silky smooth. I’m concerned that if the passes are still ugly early on in the season, the fans in the Shoe will start clamoring for one of the kids. Wilson and Day need to get this right.

 

WR is still unsettled. Good to see Dixon finally get out there and show his stuff – if he can avoid injury then he seems like “the guy” to me. Sounds like the coaches plan to rely heavily on McLaurin, who did not impress me much last year. Hopefully he can make the leap. I’m still high on K.J. Hill. Victor may have a maturity issue.

 

H-back looks sweet with McCall and Campbell. On the RB side, it’s interesting that Dobbins is already challenging A. Williams on the depth chart. Not sure what the issue is with Williams, or if Dobbins is just a stud.

 

Defense looked nasty up front. CBs got abused a little bit – hopefully that suggests nothing more than improving WR play, but it’s tough to ignore the amount of talent that has left for the NFL from the back end. Plenty of work to do for Coach Coombs.

 

Last year the story coming out of the Spring Game was what a great weapon Torrence Gibson would be at WR – and we know how that story ended. So as usual, none of this my amount to a hill of beans but it was good to see a packed stadium and the team on the field.

[YoloinOhio]

I loved what I saw from the offense last week, particularly because the offense is usually behind the defense at this point and I'm not worried about the D. It will be hard to be replace the big 3 in the secondary and we have a lot of youth back there but again, tOSU had proven to be able to reload and often be even better - this is due to the recruiting successes and I believe player development under Schiano. The DL is is going to be absolutely nasty especially with the talk of playing Hubbard at LB and essentially having 5 pash rushers.

 

Biggest question mark for me is again the WR development. It's critical and they did look good. I am really rooting for Dixon to break through after the injury issues he's had. But they have so much young talent -- will it ever come to fruition? One thing I saw is TE usage. Pretty excited about AJ Alexander.

 

I'm really struggling about JT. I know folks will say it's crazy but I'd rather see Haskins or Burrow. It will never happen though and I need to accept that. I appreciate what JT has done, but I just think the other two are better QBs while JT is better at running for the 1st down, running the read Option. The most I can hope for is Urban somehow using 2 QBs. He's done it before with success but it has to be very strategic. Regardless, I hope JT comes out and makes me look like an idiot!

GO BUCKS!

Edited April 22, 2017 by YoloinOhio

[YoloinOhio]

This is crazy... what a recruiting class!

 

FIRST-ROUND PICKS FROM 2013 CLASS

PLAYER SELECTION TEAM

Joey Bosa No. 3 Los Angeles Chargers

Ezekiel Elliott No. 4 Dallas Cowboys

Eli Apple No. 10 New York Giants

Darron Lee No. 20 New York Jets

Gareon Conley No. 24 (2017) Oakland Raiders

 

@benaxelrod

18 of Ohio State's 22 2014 national title team starters now in the NFL, plus Billy Price who's still in school. Pretty remarkable team.

 

Imagine reading this tweet the day after Braxton Miller went down.

Edited April 30, 2017 by YoloinOhio

[YoloinOhio]

tOSU kicks off the 2017 season 8 weeks from tonight in Bloomington, IN. This is one of the best previews I've seen (not done by a local reporter)

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2017/7/6/15908130/ohio-state-football-2017-preview-schedule-roster

 

O-H!

[Willyville Guy]

I-O!

 

The SB Nation preview is a good read. Interesting that it says Urban doesn't always trust JT's decision making in the passing game. I had always thought that JT's reads were what kept him in the #1 spot. Anyway, I'm pumped for the season.

 

Looking at the posts above following the spring game, I'm reminded that Wilson called several plays for the tight end - which every OSU fan in the world wants to see more of every year. That, combined with the upcoming decision of Jeremy Ruckert, the #1 TE in the country and some people's #1 overall, makes for an enticing opportunity to further expand the offense under the new coordinator.

[YoloinOhio]

I-O!

 

The SB Nation preview is a good read. Interesting that it says Urban doesn't always trust JT's decision making in the passing game. I had always thought that JT's reads were what kept him in the #1 spot. Anyway, I'm pumped for the season.

 

Looking at the posts above following the spring game, I'm reminded that Wilson called several plays for the tight end - which every OSU fan in the world wants to see more of every year. That, combined with the upcoming decision of Jeremy Ruckert, the #1 TE in the country and some people's #1 overall, makes for an enticing opportunity to further expand the offense under the new coordinator.

Ruckert is 100% crystal ball to Bucks, I'm praying that holds on. He's an absolute monster.

 

AJ Alexander was the TE who looked really good in the spring game and then recently tore his ACL. Which sucks. But Baugh is returning, and they have some other young guys like Jake Haussman waiting in the wings and I heard Rashod Berry may switch over to TE because the DL is so loaded.

Edited July 13, 2017 by YoloinOhio

[Willyville Guy]

https://twitter.com/Birm/status/887024747166523392

 

Ruckert to Ohio State. Nice.

[YoloinOhio]

https://twitter.com/Birm/status/887024747166523392

 

Ruckert to Ohio State. Nice.

yup. And another L for Michigan . This 2018 class is legendary (again). Friday Night Lights is this week and I wouldn't be surprised to see commitments from targets kamryn Babb, Jason Oweh, Tyreke Smith or Blue Smith (but he's going to have to change that first name). Jackson Carmen isn't committing until December but he's a near lock. Then it's s scramble for the rest of the spots. I have a good feeling about Micah Parsons by the time it's all said and done but Nebraska and Penn State are trying to hold on to him for dear life at the moment. He'd be their biggest signee and is an add-on here. Edited July 19, 2017 by YoloinOhio

[YoloinOhio]

Cris Carter just said on BTN that Chase Young looks like Jadeveon Clowney out there in practice. True freshman. Dear lord. He's already bigger than Tyquan Lewis.

 

Schiano said this is the most talented DL he's been around including at Tampa Bay.

 

Also, Urbs grew a camp beard. Not messing around

Edited August 6, 2017 by YoloinOhio

[Willyville Guy]

Cris Carter just said on BTN that Chase Young looks like Jadeveon Clowney out there in practice. True freshman. Dear lord. He's already bigger than Tyquan Lewis.

 

Schiano said this is the most talented DL he's been around including at Tampa Bay.

 

Also, Urbs grew a camp beard. Not messing around

 

Since camp started I've been pretty happy (that's an understatement) with the talent I see on both sides of the ball - although some questions need to be answered at WR and o-line. I've been even more satisfied with the coaches at almost every position, which is surprising considering a year ago I was stressing over the brain drain that follows a Natty and huge NFL draft results. I guess getting the coaches sorted was the only good thing that came out of getting blown out by Clemson last year. Anyway, after your post yesterday I had a little Buckeye bounce in my step.

 

Until, this is, I saw on the Buckeye boards a crazy rumor about Coach Marotti heading to the Steelers? I hope that turns out to be false.

Edited August 7, 2017 by Willyville Guy

[YoloinOhio]

 

Since camp started I've been pretty happy (that's an understatement) with the talent I see on both sides of the ball - although some questions need to be answered at WR and o-line. I've been even more satisfied with the coaches at almost every position, which is surprising considering a year ago I was stressing over the brain drain that follows a Natty and huge NFL draft results. I guess getting the coaches sorted was the only good thing that came out of getting blown out by Clemson last year. Anyway, after your post yesterday I had a little Buckeye bounce in my step.

 

Until, this is, I saw on the Buckeye boards a crazy rumor about Coach Marotti heading to the Steelers? I hope that turns out to be false.

saw that too but nothing corroborated. Give the man a huge raise, Gene!!

 

Michael Hill suspended first few games per Urban but they have depth at DT.

[Willyville Guy]

Looks like the annual early-season pot suspension.

[YoloinOhio]

Looks like the annual early-season pot suspension.

yep. Not grades because he's already graduated. Rumor is that both he and Noah Brown failed drug tests after last season. Noah obviously turned pro so no repercussions.

[YoloinOhio]

Burrow broke his throwing hand in practice - Haskins is officially the backup!!!

 

And I'm guessing no redshirt for Martell!

 

Wonder if Burrow tries to get a medical redshirt or just transfer to OU once and for all

Edited August 23, 2017 by YoloinOhio

[YoloinOhio]

Rain in the forecast for Bloomington. And wind. There is some !@#$ing hurricane in Texas that will impact the Midwest...

 

And the season held so much promise. Only to die at the feet of Mother Nature and urbans play calling in inclement weather.

 

On to Basketb....err...Wrestling

 

Save us, Kevin Wilson. Buckeye Nation turns its lonely eyes to you.

Edited August 25, 2017 by YoloinOhio

[Willyville Guy]

Great: rain. We're screwed.

 

I'm glad the backup QB competition is over but feel bad for Burrow. It took an injury to decide a competition that nobody expected would extend all the way to a week before Game 1. The kid just won't back down. I'd be surprised to see him transfer, even if it's objectively in his best interest, just because I can't see him conceding like that. I expect him to stay and fight like hell for playing time and continue to push everyone else along the way.

 

Six friggin days until the redemption tour begins. Looking forward to a young, angry football team.

[YoloinOhio]

Chance of rain down to 20 % in Bloomington for Thursday!!

 

It's sad how much scar tissue I have from rain games 😔