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Tag Archives: Ohio State Buckeyes
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).
OSU 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.
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).
URBAN MEYER AWARE OF OSU’S SLOW STARTS AND HIS RECRUITING CLASSES NEEDING TO STEP UP
Listen to what Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer told me today during his Big Ten conference call about his team’s slow starts this year and at the end of last year, and if he’s disappointed with the lack of play makers emerging from his three recruiting classes. My questions are questions 2 and 3 in the conference call.
Listen here courtesy of the Big Ten: http://snpy.tv/1pMvSBd
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OHIO STATE DEPTH CHART vs VIRGINIA TECH
Only some minor changes in the Buckeyes depth chart from week number #1 to week number #2.
Pat Elflein is now listed as the starting left guard instead of right guard.
Jacoby Boren is listed as the starting center
Billy Price is now listed as the starting right guard instead of left guard.
Michael Bennett is listed as the starting defensive tackle.
One of the defensive end starting spots is now listed as Steve Miller of Rashad Frazier.
Vonn Bell is listed now as a starting safety.
Here is the complete Ohio State depth chart heading into the game this Saturday at 8pm in Columbus against Virginia Tech – https://go.osu.edu/ohiostatedepthchart …
PODCAST – BUCKEYES INSTANT ANALYSIS – OHIO ST. 34 NAVY 17
Here’s my “Instant Analysis” of Ohio State’s 34-17 season opening win over Navy at M & T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland.
Ohio State redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett threw for 226 yards and 2 touchdowns in his debut for the Buckeyes.
Buckeyes wide receiver Devin Smith caught one of Barrett’s 2 touchdown passes, an 80 yarder in the third quarter that was the big play of the game for OSU and propelled them to the 34-17 win over Navy.
WHAT’S THE BIGGER LOSS – BRAXTON MILLER FOR THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES OR JOSH GORDON FOR THE CLEVELAND BROWNS?
OHIO STATE
Braxton Miller was a Heisman Trophy candidate and was expected to lead the Buckeyes to a Big Ten title and into the first ever NCAA College Football Playoff to battle for a National Championship. He has been lost for the year with a shoulder injury that he had surgery on Tuesday, August 26th.
Miller accounted for 3,162 yards of total offense and 36 touchdowns for the Buckeyes last season.
He threw for 2,094 yards with 24 TD’s and 7 INT’s.
He rushed for 1,068 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Miller is being replaced by redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett who has never taken a snap in a regular season game at Ohio State. Redshirt sophomore Cardale Jones could also see some time at quarterback. Jones has completed 1 pass in his career in Columbus for 3 yards, but has rushed for 128 yards and 1 score.
BROWNS
Josh Gordon was coming off a record setting year in which he led the NFL in receiving yards with 1,646 yards in only 14 games and he scored 9 touchdowns. Gordon’s yards per catch average was 18.9. Gordon has been suspended for the entire year for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
photo courtesy of AP – Tony Dejak
Browns G.M. Ray Farmer passed on drafting highly rated wide receiver Sammy Watkins with the 4th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and then proceed not to draft a receiver at all in the 7 round draft in a year when the receiver position was considered very deep.
The Browns did sign free agent wide out Andrew Hawkins from the Bengals, but he’s not even close to the player Gordon is, and he’s not even considered a #1 receiver. Hawkins totaled only 12 catches for 199 yards last season in Cincinnati and failed to get into the end zone.
The Browns are banking on free agent veterans Miles Austin and Nate Burleson to step in and fill the void left by Gordon’s suspension. Austin and Burleson combined to reach the end zone 1 time last year and both are known more for their injuries lately, than for what they’ve done on the football field. Austin only played in 11 games for the Cowboys last season and Burleson suited up for just 9 games for the Lions last year. Neither have helped the team or quarterbacks Brian Hoyer or Johnny Manziel so far in the preseason, can you really count on them in the regular season?
CAVS, BROWNS, INDIANS, BUCKEYES and GLADIATORS – NEWS AND NOTES
MERRY CHRISTMAS CAVS
As we told you a few weeks ago and is now being reported by the four letter network’s Marc Stein, LeBron James and the Cavs will play in a Christmas day game against Dwyane Wade and the Heat in Miami. The NBA and Cavaliers full schedule will be announced on Wednesday night around 6pm.
THE REX EFFECT ANS WHO STARTS AT QB
As we also told you months ago, Rex Grossman would sign with the Browns and the free agent QB has. We pointed out to you then that this made so much sense because he played for Kyle Shanahan in Washington and Houston, knows his offense and can help teach it to Brian Hoyer and more importantly, to Johnny Manziel. think of it this way, Grossman is to Johnny Football, what Gary Danielson was to Bernie Kosar. Grossman by the way, will wear #3.
As far as who the Browns starting QB will be in game #1 at Pittsburgh on Sunday, September 7th? Head coach Mike Pettine said he’d like to name that starter before the team’s third preseason game, preferably on their off day on Thursday, August 21st. Both Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel will take snaps with the first team offense in their second preseason game on Monday night in Washington. Here’s hoping one of the two QB’s helps the offense score a touchdown, something they didn’t do against Detroit and in their “Family Night” scrimmage.
WALKING WOUNDED WAHOO WARRIORS
Not a good time to have three key players hurt if you’re the Indians.
NICK SWISHER (right knee soreness): Was examined by Dr. Rick Parker yesterday at the Cleveland Clinic after recurrence of right knee pain. Currently gathering more information and seeking additional opinions on present condition before diagnosis and plan of care are administered.
DAVID MURPHY (right oblique strain): MRI yesterday confirmed a strained right oblique. Expected to return to Major League game action in 4-to-5 weeks.
MICHAEL BOURN (left hamstring strain): Currently tolerating planned rehab assignment without issue. Was scheduled for 9.0 innings Tuesday in AAA Columbus.
BUCKEYES BLACK STRIPES
Ohio State rookies wear black stripes on their helmets during training camp until they display actions and efforts that prove they understand the Ohio State culture on the field of “4-to-6 seconds” and go as hard as you can from “point A to point B.” Once they show they understand that, they then have their black stripes removed. It should come as no surprise that the first two rookies to have the black stripe removed from their helmet were highly touted linebacker #5 Raekwon McMillan and running back Curtis Samuel.
O – H – I – O HOOPS
Ohio State’s December 2nd matchup at Louisville in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge is set for a 9:30pm tip from the KFC Yum! Center in Louisville, Kentucky. The game, one of 14 played during the three-day event, will be televised on ESPN. In his career Thad Matta has a 6-4 record in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge and has won five of the last six games in the event.
TITLE BOUND
The Cleveland Gladiators, led by head coach Steve Thonn and quarterback Shane Austin will host Arena Bowl 27 at Quicken Loans Arena on Saturday, August 23rd at 8pm. The Gladiators (19-1) play the Arizona Rattlers (17-3) for the Arena League Championship! Austin, pictured right, threw 7 touchdown passes in the Conference Championship game to beat Orlando and advance Cleveland to the title game.