ohio state has problems...
Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 4:45 pm
By Davis
ohio state entered the 2015-2016 season as the favorite to repeat as national champions. Virtually all of the 2014 squad returns, presumably better. Throw a healthy Braxton Miller into the mix, give Ezekial Elliot the ball 25 times a game and let Cardale Jones do his thing. Or JT Barrett, the buckeyes have so much depth at every position that no one can match them, next man up, right? On paper, it’s tough to argue that the buckeyes will not repeat…that is of course if you don’t know what a red flag looks like and this team is sporting red flags left and right.
Let’s start at the Quarterback spot. Cardale Jones and JT Barrett spent most of the preseason battling for who would take control of the buckeye offense. Coach Meyer praised both players for their hard work and leadership and it was a well documented jockey for the position. But was it a quarterback battle or an episode of the Hills? Urban Meyer kept us all in the dark as to who would be his starter. So quiet that it wasn’t announced until the night of their first game against Virginia Tech. This is College Football isn’t it? buckeye fans and people across America weren’t sure if they were watching football or an episode of Laguna Beach. Maybe Stephen was going to be the Quarterback, who knew? When it was all said and done, Cardale Jones trotted out and led the buckeyes to a victory over the Hokies, avenging a loss that was thought to be the nail in the buckeyes coffin. Jones started again on Saturday against Hawaii only this time, he couldn’t seem to get in any rhythm, missing open receivers and running into defenders. His play was so poor at one point that Coach Meyer had to bring in back up JT Barrett, one of the buckeyes 40 Heisman candidates and Barrett fared no better than Jones, repeating the mistakes Jones made, missed opportunities, and busted run plays. And then Meyer gave Braxton Miller some chances to take snaps out of the wildcat, and the only thing wild about it was the stubborn Miller who refused to do anything but run. Earth to Braxton: YOU ARE A QUARTERBACK, THROW THE BALL! The 3 QB’s all failed to muster any offense and took the buckeyes into the half up only 14-0 on Hawaii, a team you can’t find on a map because they’re in the ocean.
Urban Meyer has to pick a quarterback this week and run with him. If it’s Cardale, it’s Cardale. JT? Make JT the starter and go. I still don’t understand Braxton Millers move to halfback, he’s the best QB on this team. But pick a guy and go. Jones can’t be worried JT is looking over his shoulder all season and vice versa. Or let Braxton play QB, not two backup quarterbacks.
Ezekial Elliott is a hard runner. He dominated the last 3 games of the season last year breaking off huge runs in all three contests, throwing him right into the Heisman race this season. But people need to pump the breaks on Zeke’ and understand this. Zeke is not Barry Sanders. Zeke is not Bernie Sanders. Zeke’ is a nice option to hand the ball off to. If he goes for an 80yd touchdown, he sure looks impressive but he doesn’t do that very often. Is it safe to say he benefited from poor tackling fundamentals in the playoffs? Yes, it’s fair. Even against the Hokies you saw a defense that forgot how to tackle. Hawaii made Zeke look like Zeke’, the guy who will get you 100yds a game if you press the issue and give him 25 carries. His YPC is below 3 if you take out his huge gainers. He’s Adam Dunn. Home Run or bust. Mostly Bust. Let’s pump the breaks on Zeke.
Let’s give the buckeyes credit. The defense is stout and will be tough to put up large quantities of points on. Treyvon Boykin and company might be the only remedy to expose that defense. But offensively, the buckeyes are gimmicky. Wildcat formations, wheel routes, half back passes. We get it, you have so many options on the surface. But as the season trudges on, we are going to see a buckeye team that has flaws, especially on the offensive side.Jones/Barrett/Miller/Elliot are going to have to put their egos aside for this team to succeed. Took many cooks in the wannabee Heisman kitchen, too many egos to please for this team to be great.
Bret Bielema is a goof ball but he was right about ohio state playing only one ranked team this season. Sparty is coming to burn Columbus down and dash the playoff dreams of buckeye nation and they can do it. They’ll come in with a great win over a quality Oregon team in a close game so Michigan State knows how to win a close game. The talent is there in Columbus but the buckeyes have a long way to go in smoothing out some legitimate issues.
Urban Meyer said in a tv and radio spot, “we weren’t supposed to be there.†Most people agreed. The reality of this season? A loss to Sparty is going to make it tough to politic your way in this year.
ohio state entered the 2015-2016 season as the favorite to repeat as national champions. Virtually all of the 2014 squad returns, presumably better. Throw a healthy Braxton Miller into the mix, give Ezekial Elliot the ball 25 times a game and let Cardale Jones do his thing. Or JT Barrett, the buckeyes have so much depth at every position that no one can match them, next man up, right? On paper, it’s tough to argue that the buckeyes will not repeat…that is of course if you don’t know what a red flag looks like and this team is sporting red flags left and right.
Let’s start at the Quarterback spot. Cardale Jones and JT Barrett spent most of the preseason battling for who would take control of the buckeye offense. Coach Meyer praised both players for their hard work and leadership and it was a well documented jockey for the position. But was it a quarterback battle or an episode of the Hills? Urban Meyer kept us all in the dark as to who would be his starter. So quiet that it wasn’t announced until the night of their first game against Virginia Tech. This is College Football isn’t it? buckeye fans and people across America weren’t sure if they were watching football or an episode of Laguna Beach. Maybe Stephen was going to be the Quarterback, who knew? When it was all said and done, Cardale Jones trotted out and led the buckeyes to a victory over the Hokies, avenging a loss that was thought to be the nail in the buckeyes coffin. Jones started again on Saturday against Hawaii only this time, he couldn’t seem to get in any rhythm, missing open receivers and running into defenders. His play was so poor at one point that Coach Meyer had to bring in back up JT Barrett, one of the buckeyes 40 Heisman candidates and Barrett fared no better than Jones, repeating the mistakes Jones made, missed opportunities, and busted run plays. And then Meyer gave Braxton Miller some chances to take snaps out of the wildcat, and the only thing wild about it was the stubborn Miller who refused to do anything but run. Earth to Braxton: YOU ARE A QUARTERBACK, THROW THE BALL! The 3 QB’s all failed to muster any offense and took the buckeyes into the half up only 14-0 on Hawaii, a team you can’t find on a map because they’re in the ocean.
Urban Meyer has to pick a quarterback this week and run with him. If it’s Cardale, it’s Cardale. JT? Make JT the starter and go. I still don’t understand Braxton Millers move to halfback, he’s the best QB on this team. But pick a guy and go. Jones can’t be worried JT is looking over his shoulder all season and vice versa. Or let Braxton play QB, not two backup quarterbacks.
Ezekial Elliott is a hard runner. He dominated the last 3 games of the season last year breaking off huge runs in all three contests, throwing him right into the Heisman race this season. But people need to pump the breaks on Zeke’ and understand this. Zeke is not Barry Sanders. Zeke is not Bernie Sanders. Zeke’ is a nice option to hand the ball off to. If he goes for an 80yd touchdown, he sure looks impressive but he doesn’t do that very often. Is it safe to say he benefited from poor tackling fundamentals in the playoffs? Yes, it’s fair. Even against the Hokies you saw a defense that forgot how to tackle. Hawaii made Zeke look like Zeke’, the guy who will get you 100yds a game if you press the issue and give him 25 carries. His YPC is below 3 if you take out his huge gainers. He’s Adam Dunn. Home Run or bust. Mostly Bust. Let’s pump the breaks on Zeke.
Let’s give the buckeyes credit. The defense is stout and will be tough to put up large quantities of points on. Treyvon Boykin and company might be the only remedy to expose that defense. But offensively, the buckeyes are gimmicky. Wildcat formations, wheel routes, half back passes. We get it, you have so many options on the surface. But as the season trudges on, we are going to see a buckeye team that has flaws, especially on the offensive side.Jones/Barrett/Miller/Elliot are going to have to put their egos aside for this team to succeed. Took many cooks in the wannabee Heisman kitchen, too many egos to please for this team to be great.
Bret Bielema is a goof ball but he was right about ohio state playing only one ranked team this season. Sparty is coming to burn Columbus down and dash the playoff dreams of buckeye nation and they can do it. They’ll come in with a great win over a quality Oregon team in a close game so Michigan State knows how to win a close game. The talent is there in Columbus but the buckeyes have a long way to go in smoothing out some legitimate issues.
Urban Meyer said in a tv and radio spot, “we weren’t supposed to be there.†Most people agreed. The reality of this season? A loss to Sparty is going to make it tough to politic your way in this year.
