These are exciting times, sports-wise at least, in not just the 614 but Ohio at large. The battle of Ohio last weekend went to the Browns, in a 17-6 win over the Bengals. The Reds made the playoffs, but following the trend they ended the season on, decided to crap their pants against the Pirates and are no longer in the postseason.
Tonight, the Indians make a return to October baseball when they will play host to the Tampa Bay Rays in the Wild Card game. Cleveland last saw post-season action in 2007 where they blew a 3-1 ALCS lead to the Boston Red Sox. There is plenty of irony here as Terry Francona is now the manager of the Tribe, and if they win they will face his former team (Boston).
The Browns are 2-2 after seemingly waving the white flag in trading away Trent Richardson. Brian Hoyer has stepped in for the injured Brandon Weeden and led the team to victories over the Vikings and Bengals. Cleveland will be showcased on Thursday Night Football against Buffalo, with a realistic chance to get over .500 and take over first place in the AFC North, with Sunday's games still pending to determine where the rest of the division will be by the weekend's end.
In hockey, the Blue Jackets have as much momentum as ever as an organization and get their season started on Friday against the Calgary Flames. Columbus made quite a bit of noise in the off-season as they re-signed their Vezina-winning goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky, to a two-year deal. They also added free agent-winger Nathan Horton to the mix in what might have been the biggest splash of the off-season in the NHL. The team moves to the Eastern Conference and the Metropolitan Division. There is a renewed sense of optimism around the team and their journey to make the playoffs will start October 4th at Nationwide Arena.
The President's Cup gets underway Thursday as a team of the twelve best U.S. golfers take on the best non-European golfers in some international competition at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. This is only the third United States venue ever for the President's Cup. Passes for all four days of competition are sold out, meaning 35,000 spectators will fill "Jack's course" this weekend.
In case that wasn't enough, Ohio State is quietly riding the nation's best win streak at 17 games. The Buckeyes took care of Leaders Division rival Wisconsin in prime time last weekend, 31-24. They will go on the road this weekend to Evanston, Illinois, where they will take on undefeated Northwestern, again in prime time. ESPN's "College GameDay" has chosen Northwestern as its location this week.
The phrase "best....ever" is often over-used in society today. But for Columbus as well as Ohio, "biggest sports weekend ever" has never been more appropriate. Enjoy it, because these kinds of weekends do not come around very often.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Thursday, September 26, 2013
CBJ - The Roster
Here is our uneducated, best guesses at attempting to predict what the Columbus Blue Jackets roster will look like once the regular season gets started. DISCLAIMER - We may be wrong.
We will start from the back end and work our way forwards. If you don't know hockey, that means goalies, followed by defensemen, followed by the forwards. Ages will follow each name to highlight just how young this squad is.
Goalies
Spoiler - it's the Bob show. The team will lean heavily on Sergei Bobrovsky (24), he of his new $11.25 million deal. The 2013 Vezina Trophy winner will be counted to build off of last season's success. It is very tough (read: virtually impossible) for goalies in the modern era to have back-to-back seasons with save percentages .930 or better. Can Bob do it again? The team certainly hopes so.
Curtis McElhinney (30) was slated to be the backup, but an injury may force Mike McKenna (also 30) up to Columbus to hold down the fort, or should I say bench as Bob will be starting for quite a few games. Jeremy Smith (24) is also on the mix, but probably on the outside looking in.
Defensemen
The blue line is very deep as the team feels very good about their first nine to ten guys on the back end. But only six dress for each game with the option of scratching a seventh.
Locks:
The top line duo will almost certainly be Jack Johnson (26) and Fedor Tyutin (30). Both guys bring a solid two way game and should excel on the power play.
Penciled in as the second pairing are two shutdown defensemen - Dalton Prout (23) and Nikita Nikitin (27). Prout led the team in +/- last year as a rookie with a +15 rating through 28 games. Nikitin struggled a bit last year after a breakout 2011-2012 season.
The last "lock" is James Wisniewski (29). Wiz is somewhat injury-prone in his career, but provides much needed offense on the blue line as well as toughness on the back end. He is a power play specialist for a unit that was dreadful last year.
On the Bubble:
The sixth and final spot could very well be 2012 No. 2 overall pick Ryan Murray (20). Murray was injured before the NHL season began last year and has had a long road back from shoulder surgery. He has been paired with Wiz in the preseason several times.
Tim Erixon (22) has some NHL experience and could very well be starting come Opening Night. Erixon was acquired in the Rick Nash trade.
There are two other guys knocking on the door - Cody Goloubef (23) who scored his first NHL goal last season, and Ilari Melart (24). Melart was a free-agent signing from Finland in the offseason, but he may need extra time to adjust to the NHL's smaller rinks.
Out:
We have David Savard (22) pegged as an odd man out. He did not look ready when he was called up during last year's playoff push in April. Will Weber (24) is another young player who is just on the outside of the top six.
-An interesting note is that even though both Goloubef and Savard were resigned this summer, they would have to clear waivers to get to Springfield under the new CBA rules. This could complicate matters for the team as the regular season approaches.
Forwards
Here is something you're not used to saying in Columbus - the Jackets have a lot of depth among their forwards. While the details of who will be playing at LW remains unanswered, there is a pretty clear picture of who will be starting against Calgary, barring any further injuries.
Locks:
Artem Anisimov (25), Cam Atkinson (24), Matt Calvert (23), Blake Comeau (27), Brandon Dubinsky (27), Nick Foligno (25), Marian Gaborik (31), Boone Jenner (20), Ryan Johansen (21), Mark Letestu (28), and R.J. Umberger (31) will likely be in the lineup on October 4th.
That is 11 of the 12 forwards spots. Both Derek MacKenzie (32) and Jared Boll (27) are battling injuries but would likely start if healthy on Opening Night. Do not forget Nathan Horton (28), who should be ready to go by December.
On the Bubble:
Jack Skille (26), Michael Chaput (21), Cody Bass (26), Ryan Craig (31 - Springfield's captain last season), Jonathan Marchessault (22), and Sean Collins (24) make up that group that is just on the outside looking in. Many will likely see time if injuries occur. Skille will have to clear waivers to get to Springfield - a similar situation to Savard and Goloubef.
That is where the roster sits right now. This could change at any moment due to injuries of course. The Jackets will likely have one of the youngest teams in the NHL this season as Adrian Aucoin and Vinny Prospal are not back this year - both were pushing 40. The Jackets, by not resigning Prospal, are the only team in the NHL that does not have their leading point scorer back from last year. They are counting on the young guys to pick up that slack and score "by committee." It remains to be seen if all that youth and potential can translate into wins this season.
We will start from the back end and work our way forwards. If you don't know hockey, that means goalies, followed by defensemen, followed by the forwards. Ages will follow each name to highlight just how young this squad is.
Goalies
Spoiler - it's the Bob show. The team will lean heavily on Sergei Bobrovsky (24), he of his new $11.25 million deal. The 2013 Vezina Trophy winner will be counted to build off of last season's success. It is very tough (read: virtually impossible) for goalies in the modern era to have back-to-back seasons with save percentages .930 or better. Can Bob do it again? The team certainly hopes so.
Curtis McElhinney (30) was slated to be the backup, but an injury may force Mike McKenna (also 30) up to Columbus to hold down the fort, or should I say bench as Bob will be starting for quite a few games. Jeremy Smith (24) is also on the mix, but probably on the outside looking in.
Defensemen
The blue line is very deep as the team feels very good about their first nine to ten guys on the back end. But only six dress for each game with the option of scratching a seventh.
Locks:
The top line duo will almost certainly be Jack Johnson (26) and Fedor Tyutin (30). Both guys bring a solid two way game and should excel on the power play.
Penciled in as the second pairing are two shutdown defensemen - Dalton Prout (23) and Nikita Nikitin (27). Prout led the team in +/- last year as a rookie with a +15 rating through 28 games. Nikitin struggled a bit last year after a breakout 2011-2012 season.
The last "lock" is James Wisniewski (29). Wiz is somewhat injury-prone in his career, but provides much needed offense on the blue line as well as toughness on the back end. He is a power play specialist for a unit that was dreadful last year.
On the Bubble:
The sixth and final spot could very well be 2012 No. 2 overall pick Ryan Murray (20). Murray was injured before the NHL season began last year and has had a long road back from shoulder surgery. He has been paired with Wiz in the preseason several times.
Tim Erixon (22) has some NHL experience and could very well be starting come Opening Night. Erixon was acquired in the Rick Nash trade.
There are two other guys knocking on the door - Cody Goloubef (23) who scored his first NHL goal last season, and Ilari Melart (24). Melart was a free-agent signing from Finland in the offseason, but he may need extra time to adjust to the NHL's smaller rinks.
Out:
We have David Savard (22) pegged as an odd man out. He did not look ready when he was called up during last year's playoff push in April. Will Weber (24) is another young player who is just on the outside of the top six.
-An interesting note is that even though both Goloubef and Savard were resigned this summer, they would have to clear waivers to get to Springfield under the new CBA rules. This could complicate matters for the team as the regular season approaches.
Forwards
Here is something you're not used to saying in Columbus - the Jackets have a lot of depth among their forwards. While the details of who will be playing at LW remains unanswered, there is a pretty clear picture of who will be starting against Calgary, barring any further injuries.
Locks:
Artem Anisimov (25), Cam Atkinson (24), Matt Calvert (23), Blake Comeau (27), Brandon Dubinsky (27), Nick Foligno (25), Marian Gaborik (31), Boone Jenner (20), Ryan Johansen (21), Mark Letestu (28), and R.J. Umberger (31) will likely be in the lineup on October 4th.
That is 11 of the 12 forwards spots. Both Derek MacKenzie (32) and Jared Boll (27) are battling injuries but would likely start if healthy on Opening Night. Do not forget Nathan Horton (28), who should be ready to go by December.
On the Bubble:
Jack Skille (26), Michael Chaput (21), Cody Bass (26), Ryan Craig (31 - Springfield's captain last season), Jonathan Marchessault (22), and Sean Collins (24) make up that group that is just on the outside looking in. Many will likely see time if injuries occur. Skille will have to clear waivers to get to Springfield - a similar situation to Savard and Goloubef.
That is where the roster sits right now. This could change at any moment due to injuries of course. The Jackets will likely have one of the youngest teams in the NHL this season as Adrian Aucoin and Vinny Prospal are not back this year - both were pushing 40. The Jackets, by not resigning Prospal, are the only team in the NHL that does not have their leading point scorer back from last year. They are counting on the young guys to pick up that slack and score "by committee." It remains to be seen if all that youth and potential can translate into wins this season.
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Countdown: TEN DAYS TO OPENING NIGHT
Fall is in the air, the leaves (or Leafs in Toronto) are changing as the temperature drops, the kids are back in school, football is back...scratch that, HOCKEY IS ALMOST BACK!
In just ten short days, the NHL will return. And this time it will be the full 82-game slate because there ain't no stinking lockout this year!
With a couple preseason games left, the injury bug appears to have bitten the Blue Jackets. Backup goalie Curtis McElhinney is out at least another week with a lower-body (groin?) injury. He is questionable for opening night, but who really cares...BOBROVSKY! Bob will obviously be starting, assuming he stays healthy.
On defense, Dalton Prout made his debut last night returning from surgery on August 15 to repair a torn muscle in his abdomen. Matt Calvert also debuted last night from a pulled groin. Speaking of last night...the Blue Jackets looked lifeless in a 2-1 shootout loss against Minnesota. The Wild fielded basically an AHL team as they sat their six biggest stars and starting goalie.
Nikita Nikitin is battling a "dent" in his foot/ankle after taking a puck. No timetable is set for the Russian's return but he should be in the lineup on 10/4 against Calgary. Both Jared Boll and Derek MacKenzie are out with injuries, putting them in jeopardy of starting for the home opener. Cody Bass, who wasn't expected to make the final cut anyway, suffered a broken thumb against the Wild.
Due to the injuries, the Jackets have re-called (called back up?) three forwards from Springfield - Dalton Smith, Sean Collins, and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault. They will be making the trip to Buffalo for the preseason game tomorrow.
As for opening night, the Blue Jackets have not sold out the October 4th tilt with Calgary according to CBJ officials. WHAT THE HECK CBUS?? Get on the bandwagon now and buy your tickets! They're available at bluejackets.nhl.com.
As opening night gets closer, we'll have a full preview up for the 2013-2014 season. Due to the continuing injuries, it's pretty hard to predict opening night lines at the moment. That picture should become clearer after the final two preseason games - at Buffalo on Wednesday and home against Carolina on Thursday.
In just ten short days, the NHL will return. And this time it will be the full 82-game slate because there ain't no stinking lockout this year!
With a couple preseason games left, the injury bug appears to have bitten the Blue Jackets. Backup goalie Curtis McElhinney is out at least another week with a lower-body (groin?) injury. He is questionable for opening night, but who really cares...BOBROVSKY! Bob will obviously be starting, assuming he stays healthy.
On defense, Dalton Prout made his debut last night returning from surgery on August 15 to repair a torn muscle in his abdomen. Matt Calvert also debuted last night from a pulled groin. Speaking of last night...the Blue Jackets looked lifeless in a 2-1 shootout loss against Minnesota. The Wild fielded basically an AHL team as they sat their six biggest stars and starting goalie.
Nikita Nikitin is battling a "dent" in his foot/ankle after taking a puck. No timetable is set for the Russian's return but he should be in the lineup on 10/4 against Calgary. Both Jared Boll and Derek MacKenzie are out with injuries, putting them in jeopardy of starting for the home opener. Cody Bass, who wasn't expected to make the final cut anyway, suffered a broken thumb against the Wild.
Due to the injuries, the Jackets have re-called (called back up?) three forwards from Springfield - Dalton Smith, Sean Collins, and Jonathan Audy-Marchessault. They will be making the trip to Buffalo for the preseason game tomorrow.
As for opening night, the Blue Jackets have not sold out the October 4th tilt with Calgary according to CBJ officials. WHAT THE HECK CBUS?? Get on the bandwagon now and buy your tickets! They're available at bluejackets.nhl.com.
As opening night gets closer, we'll have a full preview up for the 2013-2014 season. Due to the continuing injuries, it's pretty hard to predict opening night lines at the moment. That picture should become clearer after the final two preseason games - at Buffalo on Wednesday and home against Carolina on Thursday.
Monday, September 23, 2013
Boone Jenner Making His Case
Last season, after the lockout shortened pre-season "camp" to virtually nothing, Boone Jenner was the last cut. He was sent to his back to his junior team in Oshawa where he put up 82 points in 56 games. The Blue Jackets didn't want his entry-level deal to kick in just yet.
Coming into camp this month, the thought was Jenner would likely start out at AHL Springfield, and perhaps garner a call-up later if injuries occurred. The top 12 appeared to be pretty well set with everybody coming back except Vinny Prospal. Nathan Horton was signed in the off-season, although he won't be ready to go until November or December.
Jenner's position is in the middle at center - a position where the Jackets are loaded. Anisimov, Johansen, Letestu, Dubinsky, and MacKenzie all are expected to make the team as centers. Given the depth, the coaches have also tried out Jenner as a left-winger. In the preseason, he's mostly played alongside Dubinsky and Gaborik, a line that has thoroughly dominated.
Throw those expectations out the window. Jenner is solidifying himself as one of the best forwards on the team, even at just 20 years old. He has put up 3 goals in 3 games and has set up opportunities for others every game. He's making the decision increasingly difficult on the staff.
Todd Richards has said as much. He was quoted as saying it's not much of a decision right now, regarding Jenner making the team. Dubinsky said, "that guy works his (rear end) off." Jenner hasn't just displayed skill, but a tough grit that the Jackets are looking for. He had two goals, including the game-winner, in Saturday's 5-3 win at Pittsburgh.
With just a few preseason games remaining, one of the remaining questions about the roster are where Jenner is going to play. At this rate, Boone should start looking for an apartment or condo to call his own in the 614. Hopefully his preseason play translates to the regular season. Either way, this is a new problem for the CBJ - too many good players and not enough roster spots.
Coming into camp this month, the thought was Jenner would likely start out at AHL Springfield, and perhaps garner a call-up later if injuries occurred. The top 12 appeared to be pretty well set with everybody coming back except Vinny Prospal. Nathan Horton was signed in the off-season, although he won't be ready to go until November or December.
Jenner's position is in the middle at center - a position where the Jackets are loaded. Anisimov, Johansen, Letestu, Dubinsky, and MacKenzie all are expected to make the team as centers. Given the depth, the coaches have also tried out Jenner as a left-winger. In the preseason, he's mostly played alongside Dubinsky and Gaborik, a line that has thoroughly dominated.
Throw those expectations out the window. Jenner is solidifying himself as one of the best forwards on the team, even at just 20 years old. He has put up 3 goals in 3 games and has set up opportunities for others every game. He's making the decision increasingly difficult on the staff.
Todd Richards has said as much. He was quoted as saying it's not much of a decision right now, regarding Jenner making the team. Dubinsky said, "that guy works his (rear end) off." Jenner hasn't just displayed skill, but a tough grit that the Jackets are looking for. He had two goals, including the game-winner, in Saturday's 5-3 win at Pittsburgh.
With just a few preseason games remaining, one of the remaining questions about the roster are where Jenner is going to play. At this rate, Boone should start looking for an apartment or condo to call his own in the 614. Hopefully his preseason play translates to the regular season. Either way, this is a new problem for the CBJ - too many good players and not enough roster spots.
Thursday, September 19, 2013
Update: CBJ Halfway Through Pre-Season
Hard to believe Jackets fans, but the pre-season slate of games is already half over. The CBJ's have already played four of their eight pre-season games, all coming in the last four days. Additionally, the first wave of cuts came down Wednesday, but the larger cuts should be coming out today (Thursday) or Friday. Coach Todd Richards has said he'd like to be down to one group - roughly 30-35 guys - by the weekend.
Injury update:
-Matt Calvert has been out the past week with a groin injury. He should be good to go by next week.
-Nathan Horton is on track for his return some time in November or December.
-Dalton Prout is on schedule or slightly ahead of schedule for his return. The team expects he'll get a pre-season game or two in coming up. He has resumed practicing, though he is not cleared for full contact.
Pre-season games in the books:
The Jackets won 5-4 in OT over Pittsburgh on Sunday. Ryan Murray made his NHL debut and did so in dramatic fashion, netting the game-winning goal on the rush thanks to R.J. Umberger's set up.
The team then followed that up with a split-squad night on Tuesday. The team at home, playing against Buffalo, lost 3-1. Coach Richards was not happy to say the least. Bobrovsky made his pre-season debut in net for a couple periods, letting in two goals. The "younger" of the two squads was sent to Minnesota and won 3-1 thanks to Ryan Johansen, Cam Atkinson, and Mark Letestu - the veterans on the road trip. Little-known Jeremy Smith stopped 20 of 21 shots in his first NHL action in net.
The Jackets followed that up with a 5-4 win at Carolina on Wednesday night. The top line of Boone Jenner - Dubinsky - Gaborik turned heads as they combined for 3 goals (5 assists, 8 total points).
Cuts:
Five cuts were made Wednesday as many of the junior clubs get underway.
-Goalie Oscar Dansk (second-round pick in 2012) was sent back to his junior team of last season in the OHL. This isn't really a surprise, as he's looked at more of as a "project" at just 19 years of age. He had an outside opportunity at making the Springfield team.
-2013 second-round draft pick Dillon Heatherington is back with his WHL team. The blue line is pretty stacked right now as it is.
-Among the forwards, Josh Anderson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Nick Moutrey were also sent back to their junior teams.
One-timers:
-Kerby Rychel is the only 2013 first-round pick at CBJ camp. This is more of a reflection of the depth among the organization and not a knock on Dano or Wennberg (the other two first rounders).
-Boone Jenner is turning heads. It will be extremely hard to keep him off the team this year.
-Cam Atkinson is getting a look at the top LW spot. Cam has played RW his whole career, but with Prospal not coming back he may make the switch to his off wing.
-James Wisniewski and Ryan Murray have been paired up on defense for two pre-season games. This could be a sign of some chemistry. Look for a 29/27 pairing on opening night.
-Veteran goalie Tim Thomas and his agent denied rumors this past week about going to Columbus. The whole situation is a bit unclear, but it's an obvious sign that management is still looking at the free agent pool to improve the team. That said, McElhinney should be a decent enough backup for 10-15 games this year.
Expect a clearer roster picture by next week. The 614 will keep you updated. And remember, just two weeks until the regular season kicks off. Time is certainly flying.
EDIT - And just like that, 18 roster cuts were made this afternoon, including Rychel. No real surprises among the 18. You can find the names of all those no longer at camp at bluejackets.nhl.com.
Injury update:
-Matt Calvert has been out the past week with a groin injury. He should be good to go by next week.
-Nathan Horton is on track for his return some time in November or December.
-Dalton Prout is on schedule or slightly ahead of schedule for his return. The team expects he'll get a pre-season game or two in coming up. He has resumed practicing, though he is not cleared for full contact.
Pre-season games in the books:
The Jackets won 5-4 in OT over Pittsburgh on Sunday. Ryan Murray made his NHL debut and did so in dramatic fashion, netting the game-winning goal on the rush thanks to R.J. Umberger's set up.
The team then followed that up with a split-squad night on Tuesday. The team at home, playing against Buffalo, lost 3-1. Coach Richards was not happy to say the least. Bobrovsky made his pre-season debut in net for a couple periods, letting in two goals. The "younger" of the two squads was sent to Minnesota and won 3-1 thanks to Ryan Johansen, Cam Atkinson, and Mark Letestu - the veterans on the road trip. Little-known Jeremy Smith stopped 20 of 21 shots in his first NHL action in net.
The Jackets followed that up with a 5-4 win at Carolina on Wednesday night. The top line of Boone Jenner - Dubinsky - Gaborik turned heads as they combined for 3 goals (5 assists, 8 total points).
Cuts:
Five cuts were made Wednesday as many of the junior clubs get underway.
-Goalie Oscar Dansk (second-round pick in 2012) was sent back to his junior team of last season in the OHL. This isn't really a surprise, as he's looked at more of as a "project" at just 19 years of age. He had an outside opportunity at making the Springfield team.
-2013 second-round draft pick Dillon Heatherington is back with his WHL team. The blue line is pretty stacked right now as it is.
-Among the forwards, Josh Anderson, Oliver Bjorkstrand, and Nick Moutrey were also sent back to their junior teams.
One-timers:
-Kerby Rychel is the only 2013 first-round pick at CBJ camp. This is more of a reflection of the depth among the organization and not a knock on Dano or Wennberg (the other two first rounders).
-Boone Jenner is turning heads. It will be extremely hard to keep him off the team this year.
-Cam Atkinson is getting a look at the top LW spot. Cam has played RW his whole career, but with Prospal not coming back he may make the switch to his off wing.
-James Wisniewski and Ryan Murray have been paired up on defense for two pre-season games. This could be a sign of some chemistry. Look for a 29/27 pairing on opening night.
-Veteran goalie Tim Thomas and his agent denied rumors this past week about going to Columbus. The whole situation is a bit unclear, but it's an obvious sign that management is still looking at the free agent pool to improve the team. That said, McElhinney should be a decent enough backup for 10-15 games this year.
Expect a clearer roster picture by next week. The 614 will keep you updated. And remember, just two weeks until the regular season kicks off. Time is certainly flying.
EDIT - And just like that, 18 roster cuts were made this afternoon, including Rychel. No real surprises among the 18. You can find the names of all those no longer at camp at bluejackets.nhl.com.
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Your 2013 Ohio State Season Preview
"And that will do it! The Buckeyes win the national title! Their 8th in school history! They've taken down Alabama and the SEC!"
Calm down, Buckeye fans...As far as I know, I'm not a psychic. But make no mistake about it, that is clearly where this year's team has their sights set. Below, we will preview their journey and what needs to happen to get there.
Offense:
The offense should be much improved in Year 2 under the Tom Herman/Urban Meyer spread/power run/no huddle offense. Junior Quarterback Braxton Miller is back and poised for a serious Heisman run. Four offensive line starters, all seniors, return from last year's undefeated season and former five-star recruit Taylor Decker has locked down the right tackle position.
Ohio State will be dealing with several suspensions in the backfield - senior Carlos Hyde for the first three games, and junior Rod Smith for the opener. Fear not, as the Buckeyes are loaded with five-star talent at running back. Jordan Hall, who was thought to be the best option for the "pivot" or "hybrid" role, will slide over as the starting running back to start the season. There are several guys working to get on the field - including true freshmen Ezekiel Elliot (EzE for future references) and speedster Dontre Wilson.
The receivers are led by several veterans, but should feature some new faces throughout the season. Jalin Marshall, the previously mentioned Wilson, James Clark, and Corey Smith all bring more speed to the field for the Buckeyes. Corey Brown is Mr. Consistent and Devin Smith is always a deep threat. Senior Chris Fields is actually the starting "H" or hybrid right now.
The staff has raved about the tight ends, and some expect the group to be the best in the country. Both Nick Vannett and Jeff Heuerman are athletic tight ends who can both block and pass. Two tight end sets may be more common in Buckeye Country this year.
Overall, the offense is a veteran group that should improve upon last season's average of more than 37 points per game in Year 2 of this offense. The hype around Dontre Wilson has him as a leading candidate for "X factor" on the team. Additionally, the offensive line should be one of the top units in the nation.
Defense:
Unlike the offense, Luke Fickell and Everett Withers' unit will field a lot of new faces. Just four starters return from last season, and Bradley Roby is suspended for the Buffalo game. Ryan Shazier is the only starter back among the front seven.
The entire defensive line will be new starters, but the coaches like the young talent they have. Former five-stars Noah Spence and Adolphous Washington will bookend the line on the ends, while juniors Joel Hale and Michael Bennett will anchor the interior. The athleticism is expected to be better than 2012, but it is all potential right now as most of the guys have limited experience.
The linebacker corps is the biggest question mark for the 2013 team. Ryan Shazier is a pre-season All-American, but the rest of the unit is unproven. As of now, the staff will roll with former number two overall recruit (2011) Curtis Grant and sophomore Josh Perry. Do not expect to see a lot of the 4-3 base defense with the inexperience at this position.
When Brad Roby returns, the secondary will feature three four-year starters. Christian Bryant and C.J. Barnett anchor the safety positions. There's a lot of young talent waiting in the wings. Tyvis Powell has earned the "STAR" position as the nickel-back. Expect to see freshman Vonn Bell on the field at some point this season.
With the depth in the secondary and question marks at linebacker, expect to see quite a bit of the "4-2-5" nickel package and "3-2-6" dime package against the four and five wide receiver sets. The young players will have to grow up in a hurry if the defense wants to return to a top unit nationally.
Other factors:
Ohio State is one of just twenty schools in the country returning their entire coaching staff. It is Year 2 with the new staff, meaning the players have more familiarity with the system. Meyer is 34-4 in previous stops in his second year, including a national title at Florida. Braxton Miller is reportedly "not even in the same hemisphere" when compared to last year. Will it result in a more polished product on the field? We'll soon find out.
The 2013 recruiting class was ranked second or third nationally. There are a lot of fast skill players and playmakers who should make an impact. Urban said they lacked some of that top end speed last year. They like what they have now and the offenses should have some more "jets."
Schedule:
The Buckeyes should be favored in every game, probably by a touchdown at least. The toughest games will be Wisconsin, at Northwestern (who won 10 games last season), and of course the finale in Ann Arbor. Ohio State is the hands-down favorite to win the "Leaders" Division and get to Indy in December. San Diego State and California may be tricky non-conference games.
The ceiling is obviously 13-0 and the BCS Championship Game. However, history says back-to-back undefeated seasons are not likely. It has only happened five times previously in the Big Ten, and the last time was 1947-1948. So, is 26-0 in the cards? Time will tell. The season starts soon.
Calm down, Buckeye fans...As far as I know, I'm not a psychic. But make no mistake about it, that is clearly where this year's team has their sights set. Below, we will preview their journey and what needs to happen to get there.
Offense:
The offense should be much improved in Year 2 under the Tom Herman/Urban Meyer spread/power run/no huddle offense. Junior Quarterback Braxton Miller is back and poised for a serious Heisman run. Four offensive line starters, all seniors, return from last year's undefeated season and former five-star recruit Taylor Decker has locked down the right tackle position.
Ohio State will be dealing with several suspensions in the backfield - senior Carlos Hyde for the first three games, and junior Rod Smith for the opener. Fear not, as the Buckeyes are loaded with five-star talent at running back. Jordan Hall, who was thought to be the best option for the "pivot" or "hybrid" role, will slide over as the starting running back to start the season. There are several guys working to get on the field - including true freshmen Ezekiel Elliot (EzE for future references) and speedster Dontre Wilson.
The receivers are led by several veterans, but should feature some new faces throughout the season. Jalin Marshall, the previously mentioned Wilson, James Clark, and Corey Smith all bring more speed to the field for the Buckeyes. Corey Brown is Mr. Consistent and Devin Smith is always a deep threat. Senior Chris Fields is actually the starting "H" or hybrid right now.
The staff has raved about the tight ends, and some expect the group to be the best in the country. Both Nick Vannett and Jeff Heuerman are athletic tight ends who can both block and pass. Two tight end sets may be more common in Buckeye Country this year.
Overall, the offense is a veteran group that should improve upon last season's average of more than 37 points per game in Year 2 of this offense. The hype around Dontre Wilson has him as a leading candidate for "X factor" on the team. Additionally, the offensive line should be one of the top units in the nation.
Defense:
Unlike the offense, Luke Fickell and Everett Withers' unit will field a lot of new faces. Just four starters return from last season, and Bradley Roby is suspended for the Buffalo game. Ryan Shazier is the only starter back among the front seven.
The entire defensive line will be new starters, but the coaches like the young talent they have. Former five-stars Noah Spence and Adolphous Washington will bookend the line on the ends, while juniors Joel Hale and Michael Bennett will anchor the interior. The athleticism is expected to be better than 2012, but it is all potential right now as most of the guys have limited experience.
The linebacker corps is the biggest question mark for the 2013 team. Ryan Shazier is a pre-season All-American, but the rest of the unit is unproven. As of now, the staff will roll with former number two overall recruit (2011) Curtis Grant and sophomore Josh Perry. Do not expect to see a lot of the 4-3 base defense with the inexperience at this position.
When Brad Roby returns, the secondary will feature three four-year starters. Christian Bryant and C.J. Barnett anchor the safety positions. There's a lot of young talent waiting in the wings. Tyvis Powell has earned the "STAR" position as the nickel-back. Expect to see freshman Vonn Bell on the field at some point this season.
With the depth in the secondary and question marks at linebacker, expect to see quite a bit of the "4-2-5" nickel package and "3-2-6" dime package against the four and five wide receiver sets. The young players will have to grow up in a hurry if the defense wants to return to a top unit nationally.
Other factors:
Ohio State is one of just twenty schools in the country returning their entire coaching staff. It is Year 2 with the new staff, meaning the players have more familiarity with the system. Meyer is 34-4 in previous stops in his second year, including a national title at Florida. Braxton Miller is reportedly "not even in the same hemisphere" when compared to last year. Will it result in a more polished product on the field? We'll soon find out.
The 2013 recruiting class was ranked second or third nationally. There are a lot of fast skill players and playmakers who should make an impact. Urban said they lacked some of that top end speed last year. They like what they have now and the offenses should have some more "jets."
Schedule:
| Date | Opponent / Event | Location | Time / Result |
 |
|||
| 08/31/13 | vs. Buffalo  |
Columbus, Ohio | 12:00 p.m. ET |
| 09/07/13 | vs. San Diego State |
Columbus, Ohio | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| 09/14/13 | at California |
Berkeley, Calif. | 7:00 p.m. ET |
| 09/21/13 | vs. Florida A&M |
Columbus, Ohio | TBA |
| 09/28/13 | vs. Wisconsin * |
Columbus, Ohio | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| 10/05/13 | at Northwestern * |
Evanston, Ill. | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| 10/19/13 | vs. Iowa * |
Columbus, Ohio | 3:30 p.m. ET |
| 10/26/13 | vs. Penn State * |
Columbus, Ohio | 8:00 p.m. ET |
| 11/02/13 | at Purdue * |
West Lafayette, Ind. | TBA |
| 11/16/13 | at Illinois * |
Champaign, Ill. | TBA |
| 11/23/13 | vs. Indiana * |
Columbus, Ohio | TBA |
| 11/30/13 | at Michigan * |
Ann Arbor, Mich. | TBA |
| Big Ten Championship Game | |||
| 12/07/13 | TBA * |
Indianapolis, Ind. | TBA |
The Buckeyes should be favored in every game, probably by a touchdown at least. The toughest games will be Wisconsin, at Northwestern (who won 10 games last season), and of course the finale in Ann Arbor. Ohio State is the hands-down favorite to win the "Leaders" Division and get to Indy in December. San Diego State and California may be tricky non-conference games.
The ceiling is obviously 13-0 and the BCS Championship Game. However, history says back-to-back undefeated seasons are not likely. It has only happened five times previously in the Big Ten, and the last time was 1947-1948. So, is 26-0 in the cards? Time will tell. The season starts soon.
Monday, August 26, 2013
Depth Charting: Ohio State Defense
In honor of the two-minute drill, I'll be putting together our best guesses at the defensive depth chart before Urban Meyer and Ohio State releases the "official" two-deep. It's Buffalo week, and the 2013 season kicks off in five days. Without further ado, here's what your Buckeyes defense should look like on gameday.
DE:
The two starting ends will be sophomores Noah Spence and Adolphous "Diesel" Washington. Spence is your pure pass rusher, or "Leo," while Washington will hold down the strong-side position. Backing up the young studs should be Steve Miller, Tyquan Lewis, and Jamal Marcus. Freshman Joey Bosa may see spot-duty at the strong-side defensive end position.
DT:
Michael Bennett has established himself as a starting tackle. Joel Hale and Tommy Schutt are in a battle for the nose tackle spot. Hale may get the nod early, but Schutt will probably be starting by season's end. In addition, man-beast Chris Carter (now below 340 lbs.) should see some goal-line and short yardage duty. Michael Hill and the previously-mentioned Joey Bosa should also be backups.
WLB:
Ryan Shazier is the only returning starter from last year's front seven. Behind him may be a variety of young guys - most likely Craig Fada or Camren Williams.
MLB:
For now, Luke Fickell will roll out Curtis Grant. The former five-star recruit has struggled his entire college career to grasp the increased speed of the game, but the junior will get another shot to start this season. Pushing for that spot will be true freshman Mike Mitchell and walk-on Joe Burger.
SLB:
Josh Perry is listed as the starter for the SAM position, but the sophomore has very limited game experience. Behind him are true freshman Trey Johnson and perhaps Camren Williams.
STAR/Nickel:
The Buckeyes will employ quite a bit of a 4-2-5 nickel defense against some of the spread and pass-happy offenses. The nickel-back will likely by Tyvis Powell, though he is being pushed by stud freshman Vonn Bell and Corey "Pittsburgh" Brown. Brown is projected as the starter for the "Dime back" position should the Buckeyes go 3-2-6 against five-wide sets. Cam Burrows will be a backup there.
CB:
Though he will miss the first game due to suspension, Bradley Roby should be back with force for the remainder of the season. The All-American is on the Thorpe pre-season watch list and should go in the top 15 of the 2014 NFL draft if all goes according to plan. Opposite of him will be junior Doran Grant. Behind those two are sophomore Armani Reeves (starting in Roby's place against Buffalo) and freshmen Gareon Conley and Eli Apple.
SS:
Christian Bryant is being looked at as a leader for the defensive unit. Hopefully he has matured enough and won't take any stupid 15-yard penalties this season. His backups are likely to be Corey Brown and Vonn Bell.
FS:
C.J. Barnett is another veteran in the defensive backfield. He, Bryant, and Roby are all four-year players who have started the last three seasons. Ron Tanner is likely to be his backup.
Specialists:
Freshman Aussie Cameron Johnston is slated to be the starting punter. Hopefully he can deliver Brad Wing-like results. Senior Drew Basil has become a solid kicker inside of 50 yards. Bryce Haynes is the long snapper.
Coach Meyer has said they have a variety of options at returner - Corey "Philly" Brown, Devin Smith, Bradley Roby, Dontre Wilson, Jordan Hall, Rod Smith, and Jalin Marshall have all been speculated to be returners. Even senior Chris Fields returned a punt for a TD in 2011. There's an embarrassment of riches to choose from in this department.
Finally, the team will hold voting today for the 2013 captains. Jack Mewhort is already set in stone as one - Urban said as much at the end of spring practice. Braxton Miller and Christian Bryant are the next two in line as they went to B1G Media Days. Other candidates include 2012 captain Jordan Hall, Ryan Shazier, C.J. Barnett, Corey (WR) Brown, Corey Linsley, Kenny Guiton, and Michael Bennett. The bet from the 614 is Mewhort, Miller, Bryant, Hall, and Shazier. Ohio State will make an announcement later today.
We will post a preview of the entire 2013 season on Friday. Football week is upon us. Enjoy it everyone!
DE:
The two starting ends will be sophomores Noah Spence and Adolphous "Diesel" Washington. Spence is your pure pass rusher, or "Leo," while Washington will hold down the strong-side position. Backing up the young studs should be Steve Miller, Tyquan Lewis, and Jamal Marcus. Freshman Joey Bosa may see spot-duty at the strong-side defensive end position.
DT:
Michael Bennett has established himself as a starting tackle. Joel Hale and Tommy Schutt are in a battle for the nose tackle spot. Hale may get the nod early, but Schutt will probably be starting by season's end. In addition, man-beast Chris Carter (now below 340 lbs.) should see some goal-line and short yardage duty. Michael Hill and the previously-mentioned Joey Bosa should also be backups.
WLB:
Ryan Shazier is the only returning starter from last year's front seven. Behind him may be a variety of young guys - most likely Craig Fada or Camren Williams.
MLB:
For now, Luke Fickell will roll out Curtis Grant. The former five-star recruit has struggled his entire college career to grasp the increased speed of the game, but the junior will get another shot to start this season. Pushing for that spot will be true freshman Mike Mitchell and walk-on Joe Burger.
SLB:
Josh Perry is listed as the starter for the SAM position, but the sophomore has very limited game experience. Behind him are true freshman Trey Johnson and perhaps Camren Williams.
STAR/Nickel:
The Buckeyes will employ quite a bit of a 4-2-5 nickel defense against some of the spread and pass-happy offenses. The nickel-back will likely by Tyvis Powell, though he is being pushed by stud freshman Vonn Bell and Corey "Pittsburgh" Brown. Brown is projected as the starter for the "Dime back" position should the Buckeyes go 3-2-6 against five-wide sets. Cam Burrows will be a backup there.
CB:
Though he will miss the first game due to suspension, Bradley Roby should be back with force for the remainder of the season. The All-American is on the Thorpe pre-season watch list and should go in the top 15 of the 2014 NFL draft if all goes according to plan. Opposite of him will be junior Doran Grant. Behind those two are sophomore Armani Reeves (starting in Roby's place against Buffalo) and freshmen Gareon Conley and Eli Apple.
SS:
Christian Bryant is being looked at as a leader for the defensive unit. Hopefully he has matured enough and won't take any stupid 15-yard penalties this season. His backups are likely to be Corey Brown and Vonn Bell.
FS:
C.J. Barnett is another veteran in the defensive backfield. He, Bryant, and Roby are all four-year players who have started the last three seasons. Ron Tanner is likely to be his backup.
Specialists:
Freshman Aussie Cameron Johnston is slated to be the starting punter. Hopefully he can deliver Brad Wing-like results. Senior Drew Basil has become a solid kicker inside of 50 yards. Bryce Haynes is the long snapper.
Coach Meyer has said they have a variety of options at returner - Corey "Philly" Brown, Devin Smith, Bradley Roby, Dontre Wilson, Jordan Hall, Rod Smith, and Jalin Marshall have all been speculated to be returners. Even senior Chris Fields returned a punt for a TD in 2011. There's an embarrassment of riches to choose from in this department.
Finally, the team will hold voting today for the 2013 captains. Jack Mewhort is already set in stone as one - Urban said as much at the end of spring practice. Braxton Miller and Christian Bryant are the next two in line as they went to B1G Media Days. Other candidates include 2012 captain Jordan Hall, Ryan Shazier, C.J. Barnett, Corey (WR) Brown, Corey Linsley, Kenny Guiton, and Michael Bennett. The bet from the 614 is Mewhort, Miller, Bryant, Hall, and Shazier. Ohio State will make an announcement later today.
We will post a preview of the entire 2013 season on Friday. Football week is upon us. Enjoy it everyone!
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