Tag Archives: J.T. Barrett

OSU’S URBAN MEYER NAMES J.T. BARRETT HIS STARTER AT QB FOR RUTGERS GAME

Hear my Q and A with Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer on why he selected J.T. Barrett over Cardale Jones to start this Saturday at Rutgers.

Listen here –

 

Urban Meyer

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE FROM OHIO STATE ON QUARTERBACK J.T. BARRETT

Update on Ohio State Quarterback J.T. Barrett

5:30 p.m. – Nov. 29, 2014

Ohio State freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett (Wichita Falls, Texas; Rider High School) suffered a right ankle fracture in the second half of the Buckeyes’ 42-28 victory over Michigan Saturday at Ohio Stadium. He is scheduled to have surgery Sunday at the Ohio State University Medical Center, and he will miss the remainder of the season.

JT Barrett Thumbs Up Injury photo

Barrett, 11-1 as Ohio State’s starting quarterback after taking over the starting position just 12 days before the opening game of the season, had rushed for 89 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 176 yards and another score against the Wolverines. Ohio State was leading 28-21 when Barrett was injured. OSU scored the next two touchdowns of the game for a game-clinching 42-21 lead.

Barrett finishes his campaign with school record totals of 3,772 total yards and 45 touchdowns responsible for. His touchdowns total is a Big Ten record. He passed for 2,834 yards and a school-record 34 touchdowns and he rushed for an additional 938 yards and 11 touchdowns.

 

INSTANT ANALYSIS – OHIO STATE 42 MICHIGAN 28

My thoughts on yet another Buckeyes victory over “That Team Up North”!

Listen Here –

JT Barrett Thumbs Up Injury photo

KENNY’S KEYS TO AN OHIO STATE WIN OVER MICHIGAN

PROTECT THE PIGSKIN – If the Buckeyes don’t turn the ball over on offense or special teams the Wolverines can’t beat them. The only way Ohio State loses this game is if the Buckeyes beat themselves. Michigan can’t match Ohio State’s offense point for point this season like they did last year in OSU’s 42-41 win in Ann Arbor. Urban Meyer has too many weapons for even the 9th ranked defense in the country to stop in J.T. Barrett, Ezekiel Elliott, Jalin Marshall, Michael Thomas, Jeff Heuerman and Devin Smith just to name a few. If those guys hold onto the ball and don’t give Michigan a short field to work with or cough it up in the red zone and don’t come away with any points, then Michigan can’t beat Ohio State.

J.T. Barrett TD Pass vs Navy

A BALANCED OFFENSIVE ATTACK – Urban Meyer and Tom Herman need to use all the weapons I mentioned above on offense. The strength of this Michigan team is on defense so you’re going to need to keep them off balance. Start with the run, mix in some throws, a few option plays, hit them with the play action pass, follow that up with a few jet sweeps and then a deep ball or two. Keep the Wolverines guessing and get everyone involved in the offense. Ideally you’d like to throw for 250 yards and run for another 200 yards in this game.

DON’T GIVE UP THE BIG PLAY – In the last three games Ohio State’s defense has given up touchdown runs of 30, 33, 52 and 90 yards. The Buckeyes need to do a better job of tackling and taking better angles to the ball. Also they can’t go for the “Sports Center” hit of the game. Be fundamentally sound and just “Do Your Job” on defense. In other words, wrap up and tackle. Don’t let quarterback Devin Gardner or wide receiver Devin Funchess take what should be a minimal gain and turn it into a momentum changing “BIG Play”. Joey Bosa, Joshua Perry, Raekwon McMillian and Doran Grant need to lead the way.

Marcus Hall Flipping the Bird to Michigan Fans 2013

YOUNG STARTERS NEED TO HANDLE THE PRESSURE – The Buckeyes will have 13 starters on offense, defense and special teams that are either freshmen or sophomores playing in “The Game”. Those “‘Yutes” (see My Cousin Vinnie for clarification) need to have complete “Focusness” (Jim Thome term) and don’t let “The Game” get too big for them. Keep your composure and don’t go all Marcus Hall on the Wolverines (although that was classic last year) and again just “Do Your Job”, instead of trying to do too much. If they play like that, then these young talented kids should be fine.

Urban Meyer

BE SOUND ON SPECIAL TEAMS – Nothing gives an underdog more hope and confidence then returning a punt or a kickoff for a touchdown. OSU’s coverage units must stay in their lanes and again just “Do Your Job” and they should be fine. Also, Urban Meyer who is in charge of the special teams units, needs to have his troops on high alert  for fake punts, field goals and extra points. The Wolverines have nothing to lose and everything to gain in this game, so you can bet that Brady Hoke will be pulling out all of the stops in what should be his last game as head coach at Michigan.

KENNY RODA 1 ON 1 WITH FORMER OSU QB JOE GERMAINE

One of Ohio States all-time best quarterbacks joined me on 1480 WHBC to talk OSU/Michigan, J.T. Barrett, Urban Meyer and more  -listen here-

Joe Germaine vs Michigan

photo courtesy – spokeo.com

 

KENNY’S KEYS FOR OHIO STATE TO BEAT MICHIGAN STATE

JT Barrett and O-Line vs Maryland

1) Protect The Pigskin – No Turnovers! OSU is not good enough where they can cough up the football and give the Spartans extra possessions or a short field. So “Protect The Pigskin”!

2) Unplug The Pressure Cooker – If the Buckeyes can score early, maintain the lead  into the second half to take the crowd out of it, then they’ll have a chance late to win a close game.

3) Avoid Burnt Toast – OSU’s secondary can’t give up the deep ball and get burnt deep by Tony Lippett for long touchdowns. Lippett averages 21 yards per catch and has 9 touchdowns. QB- Connor Cook will look for him early and often and will test a secondary that he torched last season in the Big Ten Championship game.

4) Protect and Create – Urban Meyer’s offensive line must play it’s best game keeping J.T. Barrett clean and healthy while creating holes for Ezekiel Elliott, Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson and Curtis Samuel to run through.

5) Release and Create – When Tom Herman calls pass plays, OSU’s wide receivers must avoid getting jammed at the line of scrimmage, run precise routes and then create yards after the catch. It’s time for Michael Thomas, Dontre Wilson, Evan Spencer, Devin Smith and Jeff heuerman to make some big plays in the passing game against a quality opponent.

Urban Meyer In Game vs Navy

6) Watch For the Fake – Mark Dantonio likes to gamble on special teams, so Ohio State’s special teams coach, Urban Meyer must be ready anywhere on the field for Sparty reaching into their bag of tricks on punts, field goals or extra points.

 

RODA REPORT – WEEKEND RECAP OF CAVS, BUCKEYES AND BROWNS

Might thoughts on the Cavs win in Chicago, Ohio State blowing out Illinois and the Browns getting the job done against Tampa Bay.

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PODCAST “INSTANT ANALYSIS” OHIO STATE 52 MARYLAND 24

Here’s my breakdown of the Buckeyes 28 point win at Maryland today in their first Big Ten game of the 2014 season.


JT Barrett and O-Line vs Maryland Michael Thomas TD Catch OSU vs Maryland

FRIDAY FOOTBALL FORECAST

OHIO STATE at MARYLAND  –  12pm  –  SATURDAY

Maryland has a chance to show all the doubters, like myself, why they belong in the Big Ten as they host Ohio State Saturday. The Buckeyes have chance to show that they’ve started to figure out how to play pass defense as they go up against a talented dual threat quarterback C.J. Brown (wrist injury) and his group of talented receivers – Stefon Diggs, Deon Long and Marcus Leak.  If Brown can’t go at QB then it’ll be Caleb Rowe slinging the pigskin around against the Buckeyes. Either way,  it’s another big test for the back end OSU’s defense.

The Buckeyes special teams better be up to the task as well as they’ll be tested in their coverage units going up against the 11th ranked kickoff return man in the country in Stefon Diggs (29.4avg) and William Likely, the 8th ranked punt return man in the country (22.0avg).

J.T. Barrett Close Up from the FrontOSU quarterback J.T. Barrett has put up some decent numbers overall so far for Urban Meyer. The redshirt freshman signal caller has thrown for 1,080 yards and 13TD’s in his first 4 games while running for 205 yards and a a score. He will have to continue to play at a high level for the Buckeyes to win this game on the road in what could be another shootout.

I’ll take the Buckeyes in another high scoring affair 34-24.

 

CLEVELAND BROWNS at TENNESSEE TITANS  –  1pm  –  SUNDAY

The Browns have an opportunity for a road win at Tennessee this Sunday. The Titans are ranked 22nd against the run in the NFL and the Browns strength is their rushing attack, ranked 9th in the NFL. Because of the solid play of the offensive line it shouldn’t matter if it’s Ben Tate, Isaiah Crowell or Terrance West carrying the rock, Kyle Shanahan’s offense should be able to move the ball on the ground.

If the Browns are successful with ground game, this will set up Brian Hoyer for plenty of play action opportunities against a defense that has given up 74 points over their last 2 games.Brian Hoyer In Game Close Up

If Jake Locker plays for the Titans, the Browns pass defense will be tested more than if Charlie Whitehurst is under center. But Locker is coming off a wrist injury and while he practiced this week, he could be a bit rusty and not at 100 percent. That’s good news, because any help the Browns pass defense can get right now is needed as they rank 27th against the pass in the NFL.

 

I’m taking the Browns 24-17 in this one, as they start a stretch of 5 games where I expect them to go at least (3-2) if not (4-1).

AN EARLY LOOK AT OHIO STATE at MARYLAND

#20/18 OHIO STATE at MARYLAND  –  Big Ten East Division

Saturday, Oct. 4 • 12p ET • College Park, Md. • Capital One Field at Byrd Stadium (51,802)

ABC • Announcers: Sean McDonough, Chris Spielman, Todd McShay

 

OHIO STATE (3-1 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) 

Head Coach: Urban Meyer  –  3rd Year (27-3)

Offensive Leaders:

Rush  –     Ezekiel Elliott (55-323 yards, 3 TDs) and

J.T. Barrett (55-205 yards, 1 TD)

Pass  –      J.T. Barrett (70-110, 1,087 yards, 13 TDs)

Rec.  –      Michael Thomas (13-247 yards, 4 TDs) and

Devin Smith (9-278 yards, 4 TDs)

 

Defensive Leaders:

Tackles  –   Joshua Perry (32 tackles)

Sacks  –      Joey Bosa (2.5-26 yards)

 

MARYLAND (4-1 overall, 1-0 Big Ten) 

Head Coach: Randy Edsall – 4th year (17-25)

Offensive Leaders:

Rush  –     C.J. Brown (56-266 yards, 5 TDs)

Pass  –      C.J. Brown (73-128, 996 yards, 7 TDs)

Rec.  –      Stefon Diggs (29-398 yards, 2 TDs)    (KO Returns  –  29.4 avg – 11th Country)

 

Defensive Leaders:

Tackles  –   Sean Davis (42 tackles)

Sacks  –      Andre Monroe (3.0-20 yards)

INT’s  –       6 as a team (19th in the Country)