Latest Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast ~ Look Back At Western Michigan, Look Ahead To Indiana

My man Shannon Sommers and I recorded our thoughts on Ohio State's victory over Western Michigan.  We talked about areas we were impressed by, as well as some potential areas of concern going forward.

We were fortunate enough to have Kyle Swick of The Crimson Quarry join us to get some advance scouting on the Indiana Hoosiers, who welcome Ohio State into Bloomington on October 3rd at 3:30pm EST on ABC/ESPN2.  We also previewed several B1G football games, as well as predicted the West Virginia/Oklahoma, Alabama/Georgia, and Notre Dame/Clemson contests.  We hope you enjoy the show.  Go Bucks!


http://menofthescarletandgray.com/2015/09/30/men-of-the-scarlet-and-gray-podcast-invading-the-hoosier-state/

Ohio State Looks To ‘Buck’ Western Michigan Broncos

Two very sluggish and lackluster offfensive performances in a row. Coming off a game that saw starting quarterback Cardale Jones post 4/9 passing for 36 yards, with 2 interceptions, the popular opinion was that J.T. Barrett would claim the starting quarterback spot against Western Michigan.

As is often in life, popular opinion was incorrect. Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer stated that Cardale Jones would still start at quarterback.

Urban Meyer Made a Statement with Actions: We Don't have a Quarterback Problem http://t.co/zEClnTDevK pic.twitter.com/uTxlGOdLYk

— Tony Gerdeman (@GerdOZone) September 24, 2015

While the quarterback decision loomed over the proceedings this week, there are other areas related to Ohio State that must be considered as they take on Western Michigan in Ohio Stadium at 3:30 pm ET on ABC (or ESPN, depending on where you live).

1. Establishing A Consistent Offensive Identity ~ I completely agree with Coach Meyer when he states that “Quarterbacks are product of those around them”. I also believe that in many respects that Ohio State may have an issue with having too many weapons that the coaching staff is trying to incorporate into the offense. If you are not aware of how Meyer came to design his style of the spread option offense, please click on this link to learn about when Coach Meyer was an assistant at Notre Dame, and a painful loss to Nebraska that did not include former Fighting Irish WR David Givens.

What is the point? That in the quest to include playmakers, Ohio State is deviating from what led them to the emphatic victories over Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon on their way to the national championship in 2014.

To make Cardale Jones more effective at quarterback, Ohio State needs to be able to run the ball with authority against Western Michigan. Yes, I know Ezekiel Elliott has been running for over 100 yards against Hawaii and Northern Illinois, but the running game has not been nearly as dominant as it was last season in those aforementioned games. Once Ohio State has the dominant running game going, it will open up the passing game for play-action opportunities down the field. Once the running game is going north and south, it will open up the opportunity to run east and west with Braxton Miller or Curtis Samuel out of the wildcat. In case this sounds familiar, it is because I mentioned it earlier this week on our regularly scheduled edition of the Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast with Shannon Sommers.

2. Be Patient With Cardale Jones ~ Easier said (or in this case, written) than done. No quarterback can get into a rhythm if they believe they will be pulled after the first time a mistake is made. I was in Ohio Stadium last weekend against Northern Illinois, and the mood was palpable after Jones threw his second interception that Barrett would be entering the game. While I hope and believe Jones will play better than he did against Northern Illinois, it is crucial for Jones’ confidence that he is given the opportunity to go the distance, to squash any chances of a quarterback controversy from growing beyond the point that it already has.

3. “A Lot Of Hope Is Dangerous” ~ If that phrase sounds familiar, props to you for recognizing it. Northern Illinois left Ohio Stadium feeling that the game at Ohio State was winnable, as Ohio State only defeated them 20-13. How does this relate to Western Michigan? It will be important for Ohio State’s psyche to crush the hope of Western Michigan, early and often. Once Ohio State gets a lead, it will be crucial to maintain a level of intensity that has not been seen this season since the opening game victory at Virginia Tech.

Prediction: Look for Ohio State to come out with a focus and intensity after what can only be presumed as a physical week of practice. While I have no idea how Cardale Jones will perform, look for a better game plan that will take the best of Jones’ talents, and the offensive line playing at a level not seen since the opening game. I am going Ohio State 42, Western Michigan 14.

I would be remiss if I did not give many plaudits and compliments to my co-host Shannon Sommers on the Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast for lining up the esteemed Bill King as a guest. Bill was tremendous in our interview, and if you have not yet heard the podcast, you are really missing out on what was a very informative and fun time.

Special Edition Podcast: Talking With "The King" On Men Of The Scarlet And Gray

I have to give many props to my co-host podcasting ally Shannon Sommers.  Shannon contacted Bill King, to see if Bill would have any interest in being a guest on our Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast.  We were both excited when Bill replied affirmatively.

For those of you who may not know, Bill King is a national radio host, based out of Nashville, TN.  From 2005-2014, Bill had a show that ran on Sirius XM.  Presently, Bill is hosting a show for WNSR from 7-9am CST.  If you have never listened to his show, you are missing out, as Bill regularly has guests on to talk about all things college sports, especially college football and recruiting.

Shannon and I had the opportunity to talk about Ohio State football, the SEC, and some of Bill's other passions, such as brisket and Natural Light.  We had some laughs, and had a tremendous time.

If you have not yet done so, you can listen (and subscribe) to our shows on iTunes, Stitcher, Soundcloud and of course Buckeye Sports Radio.

You can follow Buckeye Sports Radio on twitter @buckeyesradio, and you can follow our show on twitter and facebook @MotSaGPodcast.

http://menofthescarletandgray.com/2015/09/24/motsag-podcast-special-edition-with-bill-king/

Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast link: Northern Illinois review & Western Michigan preview

My man Shannon Sommers and I had the opportunity to look back at the Northern Illinois game, some ideas on how to fix what is ailing the Buckeyes, and we look ahead to the Western Michigan game with our guest Justin Coffin.  We even talk about some quality adult beverages that we all enjoy...

http://menofthescarletandgray.com/2015/09/23/motsag-podcast-western-tun-preview-with-huskie-dissection/

Northern Illinois Poses A 'Husky' Challenge For Ohio State

The words of caution and concern have been raised by me in the past, in case you forgot. Northern Illinois, the team that has defeated other B1G programs such as Iowa, Minnesota, Northwestern, and Purdue, will be entering Ohio Stadium to face the top-ranked Buckeyes in week three of the 2015 season. This game will mark the first time Ohio State and Northern Illinois have played since the 2006 season opener, when Ohio State won 35-12 over Northern Illinois.

Almost lost in the focus of this game is that former Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel, as well as former Buckeye football players Joey Galloway and Tim Anderson, will be honored with inductions into the Ohio State Hall Of Fame. Congratulations to these individuals, as well as all of the former Buckeye athletes who are immortalized with this tremendous honor.

Courtesy of buckeyegrove.com, below is a video clip of Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer describing what lies ahead for Ohio State with a talented Northern Illinois team…

Below are three areas I will be keeping a close eye on during the game…

1. Will Ohio State “Feed The Zeke” Against The Huskies? ~ Ohio State is 2-0 to start the 2015 season, but the offensive attack has been somewhat inconsistent and lacking the identity of the traditional power running game associated with Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes. With four of five offensive linemen returning, are the challenges simply a reflection of early season chemistry issues? If Ohio State can establish its traditional running game by running the ball well up the middle with Ezekiel Elliott, look for the rest of the offense to fall into place.

2. Can Ohio State Shut Down Northern Illinois’ Running Game? ~ If Ohio State can shut down Northern Illinois’ running game, with RB Joel Bouagnon as the key player, it will allow Ohio State to unleash its pass rush against Huskies QB Drew Hare. Hare is a steady quarterback who rarely makes mistakes; Hare has not thrown an interception yet this season. If Ohio State can keep the Huskies in third and long situations, the opportunity to wear the Huskies down with the Ohio State running game (see item # 1 in my preview) is that much more likely.

3. Has Ohio State Figured Out Its Quarterback Issues? ~ Nobody wants a quarterback controversy. All a quarterback controversy will do is divide, and possibly fracture, the locker room. Cardale Jones, off to a slow start, needs to play a smart game – instead of trying to force a big play, making a smart play is the way to approach this game. While J.T. Barrett should get playing time, introducing Barrett into the game too early can only fan the flames of a possible quarterback controversy.

Earlier this week, on The Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast, Shannon Sommers and I discussed this game in greater detail. While I respect Northern Illinois, I believe Ohio State will benefit from a full week of preparation, coming out with more energy and better focus. The Huskies will keep it interesting for the first half, but I see Ohio State slowly but surely pulling away in the second half to make it Ohio State 42, Northern Illinois 17.

Will The Warriors Want To Come Out And Play At Ohio State?

Congratulations to Ohio State on the impressive 42-24 opening victory on the road at Virginia Tech. Ohio State not only was able to avenge its lone loss in 2014 by defeating the Hokies, but the game marked the dynamic return of Braxton Miller for the first time since The 2014 Orange Bowl.



The 1979 movie “The Warriors” is a personal favorite. It is well worth the rental if you have never seen it; scrounge some change from your car or couch, and I am guessing you will be able to have enough for the rental. Anyway, below is one of the classic clips that I felt I had to include in my preview, as Hawaii’s team name are the Rainbow Warriors. Wouldn’t it be tremendous if the Ohio State P.A. announcer included this on Saturday, with Urban Meyer’s face superimposed on the screen of the Rogues’ leader? (I would tell you more, but I truly don’t want to spoil the movie for those of you who have not seen it.)



Earlier this week, Shannon Sommers and I previewed the home opener for Ohio State, as the Buckeyes will welcome in the University of Hawaii for a 3:30pm EST kickoff that will be televised on The Big Ten Network. This game will mark the first time that Ohio State and Hawaii have met on the gridiron. Ohio State comes into this game on only four days of rest, while Hawaii is coming off ten days of rest; Hawaii played Colorado on 09/03/2015. As I stated on this week’s Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast, traveling to/from Hawaii is a physically exhausting experience, as the trip to/from Ohio will take about nine hours of total flight time.

Here are three quick items to keep an eye out for with Hawaii at Ohio State…

1. Cardale Jones Is The Starting Quarterback, But… ~ Look for J.T. Barrett to get substantially more playing time than what happened against Virginia Tech. It would not be surprising to see Barrett enter the Hawaii game while the contest is still in doubt, as Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer may want to keep Barrett fresh. Ohio State fans certainly remember how the 2014 team was forced to play three quarterbacks during the course of the season; why would the coaching staff not have the same pressing concerns? Here is something to contemplate – if this game gets out of hand, and Ohio State builds a truly substantial lead, will redshirt freshman Stephen Collier earn his first playing time as a Buckeye?

2. How Soon Will The Suspended Players Return To The Lineup? ~ Ohio State welcomes back defensive end Joey Bosa and wide receivers Dontre Wilson, Corey Smith, and Jalin Marshall. All are talented players, and can only help the team in a variety of ways going forward. Will Coach Meyer play them in the second or third series, as a manner of continued discipline? On The Urban Meyer Call-In Show on 09/10/2015, Meyer stated that Parris Campbell is a starter, as well as that Curtis Samuel and Braxton Miller will play at H-Back, the same position that Wilson and Marshall have also played.

3. Youth Can, And Should Be Served ~ Jones, Knox, Taylor, Lisle, and Prince. Sounds like a prestigious law firm, and maybe it will be someday in the future. (Jamarco) Jones, (Demetrius) Knox, (Brady) Taylor, (Evan) Lisle, and (Isaiah) Prince represent the listed second team offensive line, from left to right. With Taylor Decker, Jacoby Boren, and Chase Farris all seniors, plus Pat Elflein a redshirt junior who could leave after this season for the 2016 NFL Draft, Ohio State may be in the exact same predicament that the program had in 2014, with four players to replace along the offensive line. Why not play the inexperienced backups, to gain that necessary experience? Ezekiel Elliott will probably rush for over 100 yards by the half; what is there to gain by tiring Elliott out against Hawaii, when players such as Bri’onte Dunn or Warren Ball can take some carries, keeping Elliott fresh for the important stretch run that will begin in November?

Prediction: Hawaii enters this game with a victory over Colorado, but traveling across the mainland into Ohio Stadium is a very tall order. Hawaii has a talented quarterback in Max Wittek, and will throw a 3-4 defensive scheme against Ohio State that the Buckeyes do not routinely encounter. The talent, depth, and experience across the board will just be too much for Hawaii to keep pace.

Earlier this spring, I ranked the opponents on Ohio State’s 2015 schedule, and I ranked Hawaii last. Even the Hawaii correspondent we e-mailed, @dontwarriorboutit, predicted this to be a rout for Ohio State, with a 61-17 prediction. I have it 63-10, as Ohio State will try to keep it from getting out of hand, but it may be difficult with so many talented players, eager to impress the coaching staff, in the hope that impressive plays may garner them more playing time.

3 Thoughts From The Mind Of Minnich ~ Hokies Will Come ‘Loaded For Bear’ Against OSU

“Loaded For Bear” is an old expression, meaning someone or several people are ready for a difficult challenge. You could make the argument that although Virginia Tech effectively disrupted and dismantled Ohio State’s offense in 2014 using the Bear Front Cover 0 scheme, it will be the Buckeyes who are truly ‘loaded for bear’ as they begin the 2015 season in Blacksburg at 8pm EST on 09/07/2015.

Three Quick Things I will be keeping an eye out for during the game:

1. The Bear Front Cover 0 Scheme: How quickly will Virginia Tech use it against Ohio State, and how effectively will Ohio State be able to neutralize it? As stated up above, and as any Ohio State fan remembers from 2014, Virginia Tech used the Bear Front Cover 0 to its maximum effectiveness last year in Columbus. Why would Virginia Tech possibly deviate from something that worked so well? All offseason, Ohio State has practiced on how to defeat the scheme. The chess match between Virginia Tech’s Bud Foster and Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer and Ed Warriner will be fascinating.

2. Special Teams Truly Need To Be Special: Besides a stifling defense, Virginia Tech has made a sterling reputation off its special teams units, often blocking punts that swung the momentum in their favor against their opponent. Cameron Johnston is a tremendous punter, but needs to be prepared for the possibility of the Hokies going all out with a punt block scheme.

3. It Truly Is ‘Miller Time’: Braxton Miller returns to the field of play for the first time since January 2014. How much of a factor will Miller be as an H-Back, or as a listed punt returner? The aforementioned Foster will be on high alert any and all times Miller steps on the field for the Buckeyes.

I believe this game is going to be a tougher game than many Ohio State fans want to acknowledge. Blacksburg is going to be loud, raucous, and well-liquidated after a whole day in preparation for this game. Virginia Tech will not only run the Bear Front Cover 0 scheme, but look for various blitzes and stunts that will test Ohio State’s offensive line and the starting quarterback; for the record, I believe that will be J.T. Barrett, but I anticipate Cardale Jones getting playing time as well. Both Chris Spielman and Joey Galloway believe this will be a close one; who am I to argue with Buckeye legends? I have it being close until the fourth quarter, with Ohio State pulling away, to make it Ohio State 28, Virginia Tech 17.

Looking Back At Ohio State’s 2012 Recruiting Class (Part Two)

Back in 2012, Urban Meyer’s first recruiting class as head coach of Ohio State consisted of 25 players. As has already been discussed in length in part one, 11 players are no longer with the program. This 44 percent departure rate is higher than “The Rule of Thirds,” which is generally applied to recruiting classes when it comes to retention.

Even with an unusual number of departures, that still leaves 14 players who have remained a part of the Buckeyes program. Of this group, five are expected to contribute this season and possibly 2016, while nine are projected starters. Here are those players listed in order of when they verbally committed to Ohio State.

To continue reading, please click here…

Looking Back At Ohio State’s 2012 Recruiting Class (Part One)

The 2012 Ohio State football recruiting class is technically the first of head coach Urban Meyer’s players that were signed and brought to Columbus. I write the phrase “technically” because there are many extenuating factors that need to be remembered and contemplated when looking back at the 25 players who signed on the dotted line in February 2012 and became Buckeyes.

First and foremost, I have been reviewing Ohio State recruiting classes over the years. I have looked back at the recruiting classes going back to 2005, which included players such as James Laurinaitis, Brian Hartline and Malcolm Jenkins. The 2005 class was relatively small with 18 players signed, and was not highly rated by the recruiting analysts, but the Buckeyes only lost three from that class to transfer or academic issues, resulting in 15 who either started or contributed to Ohio State during their careers. This 83 percent success rate ranks that group highly in the unofficial “Rule of Thirds” concept that is applied to recruiting classes.

To continue reading, please click here…