Ohio State is in a precarious situation at the moment. On one hand Urban Meyer is sticking with Cardale Jones and the majority of Buckeye Nation wants JT Barrett. Cardale should get one more game to prove he is the starter; otherwise, I do not think Cardale is our QB. With Cardale Jones opposing defenses have learnt that Urban does not trust Cardale to throw it down the field, Cardale's size does not allow him to run the QB option affectively and he does not look like a leader on the field.
Last year we saw JT improve dramatically in a very short time frame. Cardale is not showing the same progress. At some point, hopefully soon, Urban will have to pull the plug. I am tired of hearing coaches talk about a game like it was supposed to be a game instead of it being a blow out. In no way shape or form should the last 5 games have been close games. They should have all been blow outs, but they were not. Our defense is the backbone of this team and have received no help from an embarrassing offense.
Last year we scrutinized Herman and Meyer for their play calling at this time. This year we are questioning the same situation. I do not see Ohio State's present situation as a dilemma more than I do an easily fixed problem. First and foremost, we need to stick to one classification of player. Opponents have realized what our offense looks like when Jet Sweeps and QB sneaks are called. I think that Braxton, Dixon, and Campbell should be our downfield receivers. Marshall, Wilson, and Vannett are our intermediate passing wide receivers, and Samuel and Zeke are our running backs. The offensive line can open holes for Zeke to run through as seen against Indiana.
I think, if Cardale stays our QB, that the WR should be sent downfield every single possession we have, that way the secondary and safeties have to decide whether they will stop the pass or the run. If they decide to stop the pass, then we send Zeke up the middle of the defense for big gains. If they decide to stop the run, then Cardale should throw the ball over their heads to our WR for easy touchdowns. Cardale should not be doing anymore QB sneaks because he simply does not do them well enough. We have a better chance of Zeke running for a touchdown on 4th and 1 then Cardale getting a 1st Down by pushing the pile forward.
If Cardale performs poorly against Maryland, I will be shocked if Urban keeps him in. I guess the question is this, if Cardale is the QB for our first loss will Buckeye Nation be calling for his head? What about Urban? If this team loses this year it will be due to self inflicted wounds.
Monday, October 5, 2015
Sunday, October 4, 2015
The 2015 Ohio State Buckeyes
Hello Buckeye Nation, I write this post with a lot on my mind. First and foremost, I apologize for not posting anything in a long time. Secondly, my expectations of this team have changed and for a good reason, but not because I do not believe in this team, but because I have realized something about the game of football, it is unpredictable.
The Big Ten Championship, Sugar Bowl, and National Championship game were amazing acts of Urban's Mantra, 9 Units Strong. Every Unit played with such intensity and selfishness that we pushed our way to a National Championship. Cardale Jones picked up where JT left off and essential showed Buckeye Nation something we did not know existed. We left last year thinking that the next year would be a continuation of domination on both sides of the ball.
Virginia Tech was a game that had stuck in our minds since the game ended. We walked into Lane Stadium and smacked the Hokies around. The last 4 games Buckeye Nation has watched each game thinking that 7 or 8 touchdowns would be thrown on the board without blinking, but anything but has happened. Not to say this has kept me up at night, but the result of each win has left we wondering when our luck will run out.
The beginning of last year and after Virginia Tech this team felt like the entire college football world was against them. Now we have a #1 ranking in front of our team and the Nation is watching every step we make hoping we slip up. College football is not ready to give up the notion that the SEC is not dominant anymore, but instead the Big 10. Last year, JT was given the team and we destroyed our competition, even when we struggled. We need to look at this team as if we are not National Champions. Last year we played every game with intensity hoping that the Virginia Tech loss did not knock us out of the College Football Playoff. This year we are playing hoping to win every game to get us into the Playoff, a totally different mindset. If we forget all about the National Championship and look at this team as #1 because of all the talent we have, this team is the exact same as it was last year, finding itself every Saturday and hoping to improve for the next game. Urban Meyer needs to stop with the statistical analysis and go with his heart, because I believe that is telling him JT is the better QB. Too many people are calling plays on our offense. Beck or Warriner need to go to the booth, no more coaches on the sideline than needed. I do not care about the raw emotion of the game and having the coaches feel it. Football is about strategy and emotions do not always fit into that.
With all the talent we have the playing calling should have no boundaries. Elliot's dominance has to pushed on the defense like it was against Indiana. Cardale did not throw many passes down the field and that hurt us. When we have Marshall, Wilson, Nixon, Campbell, and Braxton we should be taking shots down the field. Elliot and Samuel should rotate as our running backs. Whenever we push the boundaries with Zeke or an outside quick throw the opposing defense has a tough time covering us. Needless to say we are undefeated but by the skin of our teeth. In a later post I will talk about the defense.
The Big Ten Championship, Sugar Bowl, and National Championship game were amazing acts of Urban's Mantra, 9 Units Strong. Every Unit played with such intensity and selfishness that we pushed our way to a National Championship. Cardale Jones picked up where JT left off and essential showed Buckeye Nation something we did not know existed. We left last year thinking that the next year would be a continuation of domination on both sides of the ball.
Virginia Tech was a game that had stuck in our minds since the game ended. We walked into Lane Stadium and smacked the Hokies around. The last 4 games Buckeye Nation has watched each game thinking that 7 or 8 touchdowns would be thrown on the board without blinking, but anything but has happened. Not to say this has kept me up at night, but the result of each win has left we wondering when our luck will run out.
The beginning of last year and after Virginia Tech this team felt like the entire college football world was against them. Now we have a #1 ranking in front of our team and the Nation is watching every step we make hoping we slip up. College football is not ready to give up the notion that the SEC is not dominant anymore, but instead the Big 10. Last year, JT was given the team and we destroyed our competition, even when we struggled. We need to look at this team as if we are not National Champions. Last year we played every game with intensity hoping that the Virginia Tech loss did not knock us out of the College Football Playoff. This year we are playing hoping to win every game to get us into the Playoff, a totally different mindset. If we forget all about the National Championship and look at this team as #1 because of all the talent we have, this team is the exact same as it was last year, finding itself every Saturday and hoping to improve for the next game. Urban Meyer needs to stop with the statistical analysis and go with his heart, because I believe that is telling him JT is the better QB. Too many people are calling plays on our offense. Beck or Warriner need to go to the booth, no more coaches on the sideline than needed. I do not care about the raw emotion of the game and having the coaches feel it. Football is about strategy and emotions do not always fit into that.
With all the talent we have the playing calling should have no boundaries. Elliot's dominance has to pushed on the defense like it was against Indiana. Cardale did not throw many passes down the field and that hurt us. When we have Marshall, Wilson, Nixon, Campbell, and Braxton we should be taking shots down the field. Elliot and Samuel should rotate as our running backs. Whenever we push the boundaries with Zeke or an outside quick throw the opposing defense has a tough time covering us. Needless to say we are undefeated but by the skin of our teeth. In a later post I will talk about the defense.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)