Bye Week A Possible Boon For Buckeyes

Who does not enjoy the occasional day off from work? I am not talking about a day off when you are sick. I am talking about a scheduled day off from work, where you can relax, and do whatever you want to do. Essentially, that is what the players get with the scheduled bye week for October 31st.

That is not to say or suggest that the coaches have the same luxury. Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer has been using the bye week for promoting his new book, making the various media rounds.More importantly, the coaching staff have been on the road, visiting prospective recruits at various locations around the country.

Getting back to the players, this bye week is coming at an opportune time. Not surprisingly, Ohio State has had its roster depleted due to injury, with varying degrees of severity. Players such as Joshua Perry, Darron Lee, and Parris Campbell have battled injuries this season. It may be presumptuous of me to make this statement, but a week off from pounding for Ezekiel Elliott before the November slate of games is not a bad thing, in my estimation. Look at this linked article, courtesy of elevenwarriors.com, and tell me how a week off may do wonders for this team, heading into November.

In the shameless self-promotion department, please listen to this week’s Men of the Scarlet and Gray Podcast. Shannon Sommers was able to assemble an all-star ensemble to have a roundtable consisting of Joe Dexter (@BuckeyeRadio) of ScriptOhio, Derrek Coss (@BuckeyeBrothers) of The Buckeye Brothers, and Tony Gerdeman (@GerdOZone) of theozone.net. We discussed some of the surprises as they relate to the current freshman class, challenges, and even dabbled in some forecasting for the remainder of the 2015 Ohio State football schedule. As a teaser, we even worked in a Voltron reference into the show…

@BuckeyeRadio @smsommers84 @BuckeyeBrothers @GerdOZone My favorite line - "Put all these fired coaches together & create a Voltron of suck"

— Chip Minnich (@ChipMinnich) October 28, 2015

Continuing on the shameless self-promotion tour, I wrote about Ohio State at the midseason point previously for athlonsports.com. This article was written before J.T. Barrett was named the full-time starter at quarterback, but several of the points and concerns I have for Ohio State are still valid. To read my analysis, please click here.

My bye week plans? The lovely Mrs. Minnich and I plan on carving pumpkins with our three children, hoping to avoid any mishaps with the carving knives. Getting our kids ready for an evening of Trick Or Treat, hoping none of our children suffer the same fate as this poor young man.Lastly, I plan on turning on the TV at 8pm, to watch a few of our future opponents, to get some advance scouting on both of them. I would be remiss if I didn’t say I am also hoping to see this tweet continue to be referenced by the college football world…

Greatest pumpkin of all time? (via @poppyTburton) pic.twitter.com/e1nWk4120S

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) October 28, 2015

Hoping everyone has a safe and Happy Halloween!

Buckeyes “Ramble On” To Rumble At Rutgers

“Leaves are falling all around, It’s time I was on my way.
Thanks to you, I’m much obliged for such a pleasant stay.
But now it’s time for me to go. The autumn moon lights my way.
For now I smell the rain, and with it pain, and it’s headed my way.
Sometimes I grow so tired, but I know I’ve got one thing I got to do…
Ramble On,
And now’s the time, the time is now…”

No, Led Zeppelin was not singing about the upcoming Ohio State at Rutgers game, as much as I would like to believe so. Undefeated Ohio State travels to Piscataway, New Jersey, for a conference clash with the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. Rutgers enters the contest at 3-3, fresh off a monstrous comeback victory over Indiana.

While playing Rutgers is a relatively new concept for Ohio State, the idea of traveling to New Jersey in search of high school football talent is not. In the past, Buckeye greats such as Jack Tatum and Alonzo Spellman starred for the Buckeyes. Present players on the team from New Jersey include freshman offensive tackle Kevin Feder, redshirt sophomore cornerback Eli Apple, senior placekicker Jack Willoughby, sophomore wide receiver Noah Brown, and redshirt freshman defensive end Darius Slade. As Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer stated, New Jersey is home to outstanding high school football, among other things…

Even Urban Meyer thinks New Jersey is the best pic.twitter.com/9Et6rdRq4z

— Ross Childs (@RossChilds9) October 19, 2015

Rutgers has had its share of controversies this season. Wide receiver Leonte Carroo was suspended earlier this season, and will be a game time decision for the Scarlet Knights. If Carroo can go, the Ohio State secondary will be put to the test, as Carroo is one of the most dynamic wide receivers in The B1G.

Ohio State enters into this game with tremendous anticipation to see how the offense will respond under the quarterback play of J.T. Barrett. With Barrett starting at the onset of the game, Ohio State fans believe the offense will finally emerge into the explosive unit that has been anticipated all season.

Besides controlling Leonte Carroo as a receiving threat for Rutgers, Ohio State must confront the challenges of a strong Rutgers running game. Ohio State’s rush defense has given up significant yardage on the ground in consecutive weeks, in wins over Maryland and Penn State. Ohio State enters into the game without the services of senior defensive lineman Tommy Schutt. To compensate for the loss of Schutt, Ohio State will rotate defensive linemen Michael Hill, Joel Hale, and true freshman Robert Landers.

Prediction: The Rutgers fan base will be out in full force for this one, as this game will be the first time Ohio State plays in High Point Solutions Stadium. After a full day of tailgating, look and listen for a raucous Rutgers crowd.

Rutgers-Ohio State game is a sell out. It’s 4th B1G home game Rutgers has sold out in past 2 years

— Brett McMurphy (@McMurphyESPN) October 21, 2015

Look for Ohio State to come out fast, to try and silence the crowd. Rutgers has the talent to keep it interesting during the first half, but Ohio State has too much talent and speed for Rutgers to keep pace. I have it Ohio State 49, Rutgers 21. 

Buckeyes Look To "Black Out" Penn State

Ohio State defeated Maryland 49-28 in what was arguably the best offensive performance by the Buckeyes in the 2015 season.  Using a two quarterback system, Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett led Ohio State to a combined five touchdowns; the other two touchdowns were scored on the ground by Ezekiel Elliott.  Ohio State was able to mix its traditionally strong running game, with play action passing to Michael Thomas and Jalin Marshall.  The common football maxim is that if you are playing two quarterbacks, you may not have one - no matter how you feel about it, Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer may have unlocked the secret to a productive Ohio State offense for the remainder of this season.

.@OSUCoachMeyer on Cardale Jones: The thing he did best (vs Maryland) was he managed the game ... he did not force throws. #GoBucks

— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) October 15, 2015

.@OSUCoachMeyer on O-line: We are playing good. They are grinders. They are well-coached. They are getting better and better... MORE>>>

— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) October 15, 2015

Next up in Ohio Stadium are the Penn State Nittany Lions. Ohio State fans can recall how the Buckeyes needed to rally at Beaver Stadium in double overtime last season, until Joey Bosa sacked Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg by pushing Nittany Lions running back Akeem Lynch into Hackenberg’s leg. Ohio State fans will fondly hope that this game against Penn State will closely resemble more of what happened the last time Penn State visited in 2013, when Ohio State cruised to a 63-14 rout.

Meyer on last year's 2OT win: "It was a war last year."

— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) October 15, 2015

Ohio State will unveil a special black uniform for the night game against Penn State.  If going to the game, be sure to wear black, or be prepared to face the wrath of Shelley Meyer... 

The jerseys Ohio State will wear in the dark…8 p.m. Oct. 17…Ohio Stadium…vs. Penn State: Right here. Right now! pic.twitter.com/6DDWbStcCT

— Jerry Emig (@BuckeyeNotes) October 3, 2015

2 more days til: wear black wear black wear black wear black wear black wear black wear black wear black wear black. Did I say WEAR BLACK?👍😀

— Shelley Meyer (@spinnershells) October 15, 2015

Black uniforms can be debated positively or negatively from now until the conclusion of the Penn State game.  In my estimation, Penn State is the best team that Ohio State has faced so far this 2015 season. 

MORE @OSUCoachMeyer: ...This is a tough defensive front (in Penn State) we are facing this weekend. #GoBucks

— Ohio State Buckeyes (@OhioStAthletics) October 15, 2015

Meyer on PSU: They lead nation in sacks. "They're looking like Penn State. Very talent. Violent defense."

— Bill Rabinowitz (@brdispatch) October 15, 2015

Here are three things I will be keeping an eye upon when the game kicks off at 8pm EST on ABC...

1.  Penn State's offensive line versus Ohio State's defensive line ~ Penn State has given up 19 sacks through the first six games of the season, with ten sacks in the opening game loss to Temple.  Ohio State's defensive line, led by Bosa and Adolphus Washington, will pin their collective ears back on passing downs.  Will Penn State be able to protect Hackenberg?  Will Penn State use screens or other quick passing plays to try and negate the Ohio State pass rush?

2. Penn State’s Opportunistic Defense ~ On the latest Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast, our guest Kevin McGuire noted how Penn State’s defense has been capitalizing upon turnovers in their five victories. With the exception of Ohio State’s win over Maryland, the Buckeyes have turned the ball over at an alarming rate. Will Ohio State revert back to its bad habits against the Nittany Lions?

3.  Ohio State In The Red Zone ~ Using Barrett opened up the offense in a positive way against Maryland.  Will Ohio State be able to build upon the momentum moving forward against Penn State?

“There will be no statement games. This is a real one, this is a tough one. Absolutely, there is no conversation about that.” — Urban Meyer

— Eric Seger (@EricSeger33) October 15, 2015

Prediction: New uniforms and a night game are tremendous energy builders, but any game comes down to the team that is able to consistently block and tackle their opponent. Penn State is closing the gap talent-wise with Ohio State, but is not there yet with the Buckeyes. Look for Ohio State to pull away in the second half, behind the strong Buckeye offensive line and the running of Ezekiel Elliott. I have it Ohio State 35, Penn State 21.

Penn State "Black Out" Podcast Edition from Men of the Scarlet and Gray

http://menofthescarletandgray.com/2015/10/14/men-of-the-scarlet-and-gray-podcast-black-out-edition/

Buckeyes Look To Sprint Past The Maryland Terrapins

Ohio State is favored by 33 points over Maryland in the Buckeyes’ homecoming game that kicks off at 12pm EST on The Big Ten Network. While Ohio State fans are hoping for the Buckeyes to come out with an impressive performance against the Maryland Terrapins, Maryland fans are wondering if this will be the final coaching appearance by Randy Edsall. Edsall is rumored to be on the firing line, according to social media…

While Randy Edsall has been rumored to be on the hot seat, I must confess that I believed Maryland would not fire him until January 2017. My reasoning is that Edsall signed a contract extension that would obligate Maryland to pay Edsall millions if terminated before January 2017. Maryland also made the move to The B1G in an effort to improve its financial standing; this move would certainly put a crimp on those financial plans. (My podcasting partner Shannon Sommers did ask our guest Daniel Gallen (@danieljtgallen) about Edsall’s job security on the latest Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast, by the way.)

Instead of dwelling on ‘what if’s’ and ‘what might be’s’ that may happen as they relate to Maryland’s coaching situation, here are three areas that I will be focusing upon during the actual game between Ohio State and Maryland in Ohio Stadium…

1. Ohio State Establishing An Offensive Identity ~ Run the ball with Ezekiel Elliott. Hit Michael Thomas for easy short gains along the sideline. Throw deep to keep Maryland from putting eight or nine in the box. Once these elements have been established, then the lateral plays involving Braxton Miller or Jalin Marshall can be incorporated.

2. Avoiding Turnovers ~ Easier written than done for this Ohio State team. Ohio State has been far too generous with the ball. It is time for Ohio State to not only demonstrate true ball security, but also punish players with loss of playing time if the transgressions continue.

3. Red Zone Efficiency ~ Field goals are nice, but touchdowns are what put a smile on the face of Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer. Once within the red zone, figure out the easiest and most efficient way to get the ball into the end zone for six points.

Maryland was facing an uphill battle coming into this game, and the Randy Edsall rumors are only pouring gasoline onto the fire. Coach Meyer can use this game to get ready for the big November stretch run. I have it Ohio State 42, Maryland 7.

Buckeyes Back On Road To Battle Hoosiers

4-0 Ohio State at 4-0 Indiana. How many of you thought it was going to be like this, back when thinking about this game as it related to the schedule?

You can put your hand down, Kyle Swick of The Crimson Quarry. By the way, thank you again for appearing on The Men of the Scarlet and Gray podcast with Shannon Sommers and me to preview this game.

Back to business. Ohio State took a step in the right direction offensively against Western Michigan, running a faster tempo offense behind the quarterback play of Cardale Jones. While Jones played better than in previous contests versus Hawaii and Northern Illinois, Jones also left points on the field by being late with deep passes; one of the three was intercepted, and two of the passes were almost intercepted. Jones also had some time management issues at the end of the first half, taking a costly intentional grounding call that led to the clock running out on the Buckeyes, missing an opportunity for a field goal.

All of what I wrote up above are fixable, and probably will be addressed going forward, especially the deep passing fundamentals that are crucial for the offense to succeed. Below are three areas that I will be focusing upon when Ohio State and Indiana get going in Bloomington at 3:30pm EST on ABC/ESPN2.

1. Ohio State’s Run Defense Versus The Indiana Running Game ~ Ohio State gave up 169 yards last week to Western Michigan, prompting concern from the Ohio State fan base, as well as Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer. Indiana is led by UAB transfer Jordan Howard. Howard has already rushed for 675 yards this season, and is coming off an impressive 168 yard game at Wake Forest. The interior defensive line, led by seniors Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt, need to rebound against Indiana as B1G play begins.

2. Ohio State’s Turnover Problems ~ A problem area from the end of last season, Ohio State has been entirely too generous with the football. Interceptions and fumbles are becoming far too commonplace this season for Coach Meyer to feel comfortable.

3. Braxton Miller’s Status In The Offense ~ It has become more and more evident that the coaching staff is trying to incorporate Miller into the offense, and more and more evident that the offense bogs down whenever this takes place. Yes, Braxton Miller is a dynamic player, but is it so important to get Miller the ball that the entire offense stalls out? Keep an eye out to see if the coaching staff lets the game flow better, before getting Miller the ball in situations that seem or feel forced.

Prediction: Ohio State is the best team Indiana has faced so far this season. While Indiana has talent across the board offensively, the Indiana defense has been giving up an average of 32 points a game, ranking them 97th defensively in this category. Indiana did not improve its team outlook by suspending DL Darius Latham prior to this contest. Look for Ohio State to use this game to continue to fine tune and improve upon its offense, while also working to shore up its run defense. I have it Ohio State 42, Indiana 21.