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!
Friday, August 16, 2013
Depth Charting : Ohio State Offense
"Shark Week" at Ohio State's football training camp is wrapping up. Urban has said this week will make or break the 2013 season for the Buckeyes. An "official" two-deep depth chart has not been released, although that could come any way. We will race against the OSU media team and coaching staff and see how close we end up. Without further ado, here is your depth chart for the 2013 Ohio State offense:
QB:
1) Braxton Miller (Junior), aka Xbrax 360. Heisman Trophy favorite, regardless of Manziel's eligibility. Miller will be expected to put up even bigger numbers in Year 2 of Urban Meyer and Tom Herman's spread offense. Last season saw him total more than 3,300 total yards and 28 touchdowns, including some ridiculous running ability. Feel free to look up his 2012 highlights on YouTube for moves not able to be duplicated in video games. He'll also look to improve his 58.8% completion percentage in becoming a more efficient passer.
2) Kenny Guiton, aka Kenny G. The fifth-year senior from Texas has been called "the ol' right hander" by Urban Meyer as well as Mr. Reliable. If Miller misses time because of the beating he takes running the ball, similar to last year, Guiton can be counted on to manage the offense. He led the Buckeyes to a thrilling 4th quarter-tying drive against Purdue and capped off the comeback in OT. There probably isn't a backup QB in America as highly thought of and respected as Kenny G.
Others - Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett
RB:
The Bucks are absolutely loaded at running back. They're seven deep, and Coach Meyer says, "There's not a miss in the group." There is a good mix of scat backs and power backs. With returning senior Carlos Hyde suspended for the first three games, true freshman Dontre Wilson has been receiving a lot of buzz at training camp. Wilson is a speedster in the mold of recent Oregon backs. In fact, he was committed to the Ducks before Chip Kelly bolted for the NFL.
1a) Carlos Hyde* - "El Guapo" won't see the field until at least the fourth game. He rushed for 970 yards last season in just 9 games of work. He's a true power back but has sub-4.5/40 speed to go with it. He set the goal of becoming Meyer's first 1,000 yard running back, but his suspension will likely prevent that.
1b) Jordan Hall - The fifth-year senior was granted a medical redshirt after missing most of last year with various injuries. He's slated to start at RB in game 1, but he will likely move to the H-back/pivot position.
2) Rod Smith - Last season, Smith was all over the field in various spots, returning kickoffs, catching passes, and running all over Nebraska's defense. If he can conquer his fumbling issues, Smith could be poised for a breakout year with Hyde suspended. He's 6'3'', 225 pounds, which isn't the typical Urban Meyer running back.
The rest - Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball return. Ball received a lot of buzz in the spring, but both guys haven't gotten a lot of hype in camp. Incoming freshmen are Ezekiel Elliot as well as the previously-mentioned burner Dontre Wilson. Many believe Wilson will be more of an H-back in the mold of Percy Harvin.
WR:
Three guys have separated themselves over the past year - returning starters Corey Brown and Devin Smith are expected to be the starters and returning junior Evan Spencer has impressed the coaches as well. Brown was Mr. Reliable last season, though he struggled to gain many YAC (or is it RAC?) yards. Smith was the big play threat, but often could not break free from tighter coverage. Sophomore Michael Thomas is slotted in that 4th WR position. Chris Fields received praise from coaches at the end of last season as well as in the spring.
The rest - The Bucks are unproven beyond those first four to five guys. Injuries and transfers have left little depth. Incoming freshmen Jalin Marshall and James Clark could see some time as they push the veterans. Other than that, there hasn't been a lot of talk in the two-deep.
H-back:
Aka "The Percy Harvin Role" (real original, media) - This position was almost non-existent in last season's offense. The staff has been grooming Jordan Hall for this role. Other candidates to back him up are Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall.
TE:
Meyer has called this perhaps the best tight end group he's ever had. They are led by Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett. Both guys are very solid catching the ball as well as blocking. It is unclear if sophomore Blake Thomas will be playing, as there are rumors out now of a career-ending injury (more to come as it becomes available). Finally, freshman Marcus Baugh will miss the first game for underage drinking and should provide some depth after that.
OLine:
The offensive line was a strength in 2012. Only converted-TE Reid Fragel left (fighting for a spot with the Bengals in the NFL), which opened up the RT position. It appears sophomore Taylor Decker has edged out Chase Ferris for that spot. Next to him at the RG spot will be Marcus Hall, senior. Hall is flanked to his left by three more seniors (wow, 2014 could be rough up front) - center Corey Linsley, LG Andrew Nowell, and LT Jack Mewhort.
Behind the starting five it's a little less clear - the guess here is LT Kyle Dodson, LG Darryl Baldwin, C Jacoby Boren, and RG Tommy Brown to go along with the previously mentioned RT Chase Ferris.
We shall see how this compares to the official Depth Chart in a matter of days. What is clear on offense is that there is a lot of returning starters, and quite a bit of experience in the backups mixed in with some highly-touted freshmen. Expect the Bucks to improve on their B1G-leading 37 points per game from last season.
QB:
1) Braxton Miller (Junior), aka Xbrax 360. Heisman Trophy favorite, regardless of Manziel's eligibility. Miller will be expected to put up even bigger numbers in Year 2 of Urban Meyer and Tom Herman's spread offense. Last season saw him total more than 3,300 total yards and 28 touchdowns, including some ridiculous running ability. Feel free to look up his 2012 highlights on YouTube for moves not able to be duplicated in video games. He'll also look to improve his 58.8% completion percentage in becoming a more efficient passer.
2) Kenny Guiton, aka Kenny G. The fifth-year senior from Texas has been called "the ol' right hander" by Urban Meyer as well as Mr. Reliable. If Miller misses time because of the beating he takes running the ball, similar to last year, Guiton can be counted on to manage the offense. He led the Buckeyes to a thrilling 4th quarter-tying drive against Purdue and capped off the comeback in OT. There probably isn't a backup QB in America as highly thought of and respected as Kenny G.
Others - Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett
RB:
The Bucks are absolutely loaded at running back. They're seven deep, and Coach Meyer says, "There's not a miss in the group." There is a good mix of scat backs and power backs. With returning senior Carlos Hyde suspended for the first three games, true freshman Dontre Wilson has been receiving a lot of buzz at training camp. Wilson is a speedster in the mold of recent Oregon backs. In fact, he was committed to the Ducks before Chip Kelly bolted for the NFL.
1a) Carlos Hyde* - "El Guapo" won't see the field until at least the fourth game. He rushed for 970 yards last season in just 9 games of work. He's a true power back but has sub-4.5/40 speed to go with it. He set the goal of becoming Meyer's first 1,000 yard running back, but his suspension will likely prevent that.
1b) Jordan Hall - The fifth-year senior was granted a medical redshirt after missing most of last year with various injuries. He's slated to start at RB in game 1, but he will likely move to the H-back/pivot position.
2) Rod Smith - Last season, Smith was all over the field in various spots, returning kickoffs, catching passes, and running all over Nebraska's defense. If he can conquer his fumbling issues, Smith could be poised for a breakout year with Hyde suspended. He's 6'3'', 225 pounds, which isn't the typical Urban Meyer running back.
The rest - Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball return. Ball received a lot of buzz in the spring, but both guys haven't gotten a lot of hype in camp. Incoming freshmen are Ezekiel Elliot as well as the previously-mentioned burner Dontre Wilson. Many believe Wilson will be more of an H-back in the mold of Percy Harvin.
WR:
Three guys have separated themselves over the past year - returning starters Corey Brown and Devin Smith are expected to be the starters and returning junior Evan Spencer has impressed the coaches as well. Brown was Mr. Reliable last season, though he struggled to gain many YAC (or is it RAC?) yards. Smith was the big play threat, but often could not break free from tighter coverage. Sophomore Michael Thomas is slotted in that 4th WR position. Chris Fields received praise from coaches at the end of last season as well as in the spring.
The rest - The Bucks are unproven beyond those first four to five guys. Injuries and transfers have left little depth. Incoming freshmen Jalin Marshall and James Clark could see some time as they push the veterans. Other than that, there hasn't been a lot of talk in the two-deep.
H-back:
Aka "The Percy Harvin Role" (real original, media) - This position was almost non-existent in last season's offense. The staff has been grooming Jordan Hall for this role. Other candidates to back him up are Dontre Wilson and Jalin Marshall.
TE:
Meyer has called this perhaps the best tight end group he's ever had. They are led by Jeff Heuerman and Nick Vannett. Both guys are very solid catching the ball as well as blocking. It is unclear if sophomore Blake Thomas will be playing, as there are rumors out now of a career-ending injury (more to come as it becomes available). Finally, freshman Marcus Baugh will miss the first game for underage drinking and should provide some depth after that.
OLine:
The offensive line was a strength in 2012. Only converted-TE Reid Fragel left (fighting for a spot with the Bengals in the NFL), which opened up the RT position. It appears sophomore Taylor Decker has edged out Chase Ferris for that spot. Next to him at the RG spot will be Marcus Hall, senior. Hall is flanked to his left by three more seniors (wow, 2014 could be rough up front) - center Corey Linsley, LG Andrew Nowell, and LT Jack Mewhort.
Behind the starting five it's a little less clear - the guess here is LT Kyle Dodson, LG Darryl Baldwin, C Jacoby Boren, and RG Tommy Brown to go along with the previously mentioned RT Chase Ferris.
We shall see how this compares to the official Depth Chart in a matter of days. What is clear on offense is that there is a lot of returning starters, and quite a bit of experience in the backups mixed in with some highly-touted freshmen. Expect the Bucks to improve on their B1G-leading 37 points per game from last season.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Legal Troubles Surround Bucks, But Not a Big Deal on Field
Urban Meyer has a track record, justified or not, of legal trouble following his programs. Well, mostly just Florida. I don't think anyone cared about Utah or Bowling Green having players arrested. The unofficial count at UF was 31 arrests in six seasons. Many of those charges never stuck, but the national media doesn't really care. Nevermind the fact that LSU and Georgia had arrests at a much higher pace.
For whatever reason, Urban Meyer receives the most criticism about his program and the kind of players he recruits when there are legal issues in the news about players on his team. We here at the 614 are going to wait until all of the facts from all of the cases come out before commenting. If you've been following the Carlos Hyde story, that situation has taken three or four turns over the last week. Columbus Police Department, hurry the heck up. We're waiting! (But seriously, do police investigations always take this long?)
In case you were on vacation with no internet or cell service, you may have heard Ohio State had some arrests over the past 7-10 days. Let's briefly recap, leaving out all speculation.
1) Freshman tight end Marcus Baugh was arrested and booked on underage alcohol consumption and possession of a fake I.D. He is 17. Baugh is suspended through week 1, meaning he has lost all financial aid from his scholarship for the summer. Impact on field: minimal. There are two solid guys ahead of him in Nick Vannett and Jeff Heuerman as well as Blake Thomas. Baugh may be a red-shirt candidate even.
2) Tim Gardner, also an incoming freshman, was arrested and charged with obstruction of official police business. No idea what that means but Urban packed him up and sent him home. Gardner will not be playing for the Bucks in 2013. No word yet if the lineman will have a chance to earn his way back in 2014. He was a three-star recruit out of Indy who earned an offer after slimming down for the staff in time for a summer camp last year. Impact on field: none. Gardner wasn't going to play this year.
3) Carlos Hyde is suspended indefinitely from the football team. He is listed as a person of interest in an alleged assault on a female that took place in Sugar Bar 2 in the Brewery District of Columbus, Ohio near 2:00 a.m. on July 20/July 21. Literally everything beyond that has been speculation, hearsay, or rumors. That is all we are going to confirm as fact here at 614 Sports at this time. On the field - could be tough if Hyde is kicked off the team or misses significant time. He was poised to become Meyer's first 1,000 yard running back. He rushed for 970 yards and 16 touchdowns last year in 9 games of action. Simply put, the guy is a beast at 240 pounds and a supposed 4.5/40. The Buckeyes do have several talented, yet slightly inexperienced players behind Hyde. Rod Smith could step up if he has figured out his fumble issues.
4) Bradley Roby was arrested and charged with battery resulting in bodily injury. The police report states that Roby was kicked out of a Bloomington, Indiana bar near 2:30 a.m. and tried to re-gain access. That is when the supposed altercation occurred with the bouncers and he was held until the police arrived. Roby was scheduled to attend Big Ten Media days but was replaced by Christian Bryant. The fourth year junior is an All-American candidate and was listed on the Thorpe Award watch list for best defensive back on the country. Meyer said recently he expects a suspension will ensue following the outcome of the case. On the field: Tough. There's no way to replace a Bradley Roby. He's the shutdown corner every great defense needs. Mock NFL drafts have him as the top DB in the 2014 draft and likely a top 15 pick. The Buckeyes are also thin at corner, though they brought in several highly-touted freshman.
So, to recap, we have two bar/night club incidents by upper-classmen (both of whom may be cleared legally) and two freshmen getting into trouble within a few weeks of getting on campus. The previous 12 months for Meyer? Free of any legal issues with his players.
Many in the national media jumped at the opportunity to rip Meyer for allowing these things to occur under his watch, as if he can control 90+ college kids at all times. He said at Big Ten Media day he doesn't care about his reputation because, well, reputation is what others think of you. The legal issues aren't ideal, but the Bucks should still be a top 5 team come September. Hyde could see minimal punishment if cleared or be off the team if charged and convicted. Meyer already alluded to a likely suspension for Roby - a game or two. This SI article is a pretty fair and accurate report on all the things Meyer has had to deal with regarding his players. There is some pretty detailed back stories at UF and really should give you a unique perspective on how Meyer views these situations.
Camp is just around the corner and the season kicks off in 36 days. Until then, stay out of bars...if you're a D-1 (sorry, FBS!) college athlete.
For whatever reason, Urban Meyer receives the most criticism about his program and the kind of players he recruits when there are legal issues in the news about players on his team. We here at the 614 are going to wait until all of the facts from all of the cases come out before commenting. If you've been following the Carlos Hyde story, that situation has taken three or four turns over the last week. Columbus Police Department, hurry the heck up. We're waiting! (But seriously, do police investigations always take this long?)
In case you were on vacation with no internet or cell service, you may have heard Ohio State had some arrests over the past 7-10 days. Let's briefly recap, leaving out all speculation.
1) Freshman tight end Marcus Baugh was arrested and booked on underage alcohol consumption and possession of a fake I.D. He is 17. Baugh is suspended through week 1, meaning he has lost all financial aid from his scholarship for the summer. Impact on field: minimal. There are two solid guys ahead of him in Nick Vannett and Jeff Heuerman as well as Blake Thomas. Baugh may be a red-shirt candidate even.
2) Tim Gardner, also an incoming freshman, was arrested and charged with obstruction of official police business. No idea what that means but Urban packed him up and sent him home. Gardner will not be playing for the Bucks in 2013. No word yet if the lineman will have a chance to earn his way back in 2014. He was a three-star recruit out of Indy who earned an offer after slimming down for the staff in time for a summer camp last year. Impact on field: none. Gardner wasn't going to play this year.
3) Carlos Hyde is suspended indefinitely from the football team. He is listed as a person of interest in an alleged assault on a female that took place in Sugar Bar 2 in the Brewery District of Columbus, Ohio near 2:00 a.m. on July 20/July 21. Literally everything beyond that has been speculation, hearsay, or rumors. That is all we are going to confirm as fact here at 614 Sports at this time. On the field - could be tough if Hyde is kicked off the team or misses significant time. He was poised to become Meyer's first 1,000 yard running back. He rushed for 970 yards and 16 touchdowns last year in 9 games of action. Simply put, the guy is a beast at 240 pounds and a supposed 4.5/40. The Buckeyes do have several talented, yet slightly inexperienced players behind Hyde. Rod Smith could step up if he has figured out his fumble issues.
4) Bradley Roby was arrested and charged with battery resulting in bodily injury. The police report states that Roby was kicked out of a Bloomington, Indiana bar near 2:30 a.m. and tried to re-gain access. That is when the supposed altercation occurred with the bouncers and he was held until the police arrived. Roby was scheduled to attend Big Ten Media days but was replaced by Christian Bryant. The fourth year junior is an All-American candidate and was listed on the Thorpe Award watch list for best defensive back on the country. Meyer said recently he expects a suspension will ensue following the outcome of the case. On the field: Tough. There's no way to replace a Bradley Roby. He's the shutdown corner every great defense needs. Mock NFL drafts have him as the top DB in the 2014 draft and likely a top 15 pick. The Buckeyes are also thin at corner, though they brought in several highly-touted freshman.
So, to recap, we have two bar/night club incidents by upper-classmen (both of whom may be cleared legally) and two freshmen getting into trouble within a few weeks of getting on campus. The previous 12 months for Meyer? Free of any legal issues with his players.
Many in the national media jumped at the opportunity to rip Meyer for allowing these things to occur under his watch, as if he can control 90+ college kids at all times. He said at Big Ten Media day he doesn't care about his reputation because, well, reputation is what others think of you. The legal issues aren't ideal, but the Bucks should still be a top 5 team come September. Hyde could see minimal punishment if cleared or be off the team if charged and convicted. Meyer already alluded to a likely suspension for Roby - a game or two. This SI article is a pretty fair and accurate report on all the things Meyer has had to deal with regarding his players. There is some pretty detailed back stories at UF and really should give you a unique perspective on how Meyer views these situations.
Camp is just around the corner and the season kicks off in 36 days. Until then, stay out of bars...if you're a D-1 (sorry, FBS!) college athlete.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
First Thoughts on the Columbus Blue Jackets Schedule
The Columbus Blue Jackets are no longer in the Western Conference. They are now in the Eastern Conference as a part of the Metropolitan Division.
Instead of just breaking down individual match ups, I decided it would be easier to put the schedule into three different categories. Starting with.
THE FACTS:
The schedule is back to the normal 82-game format. Last year the NHL had a shortened season starting in January with just a 48-game schedule.
The Jackets' season will begin on Friday, October 4th at home against the Calgary Flames and will end on the road Saturday, April 12th against the Florida Panthers.
The Jackets will play games on back-to-back days 17 times this season, including their first and last two games of the season.
With the new schedule alignment the Jackets will host every NHL team and visit every NHL arena.
74 of the 82 games will start at 8:30 p.m. eastern time or earlier.
THE GOOD STUFF:
Opening night against the Flames should be a great night for the city of Columbus. In a city that is known for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Jackets will begin the season that may start the transformation of the 614 into a hockey town as well. Only time will tell.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 7th. The first time Rick Nash will come back to Nationwide Arena as a player on an opposing team. This game will remind Jackets fans of the team we once had and how much things have changed in just one season. Former Rangers Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik to name a few, will look to get some revenge on their former team as well. Instead of listing more reasons why this game will be a must-see one, I'll just end this segment by saying I'm looking forward to this game more than any other one this season.
Time to get familiar with the East. Columbus will have to quickly adjust to playing some not-so familiar foes on a regular basis. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders are a few teams the Jackets will be playing at least four times this season.
If the team is successful this year, the last month will bring plenty of excitement. The matchup with the Blackhawks on Friday, April 4th at Nationwide Arena could have a playoff atmosphere if the Jackets are in the playoff hunt.
DON'T FORGET:
The Jackets won eight of their last nine games last season with six of games coming on the road. Expect the three-game road trip to Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose at the beginning of February to be a barometer for this team as they head into the Olympic break.
Columbus dominated Detroit last season with a 4-0-1 record last season. They will look to continue the current success as they host the Wings twice in March. An under-the-radar storyline for the next few seasons in mind is whether the Penguins or Red Wings will be considered more of a rival for the Blue Jackets. Right now I'm going with Detroit. There's no better feeling than sticking it to "Hockey Town".
I'll make this last part quick. The five things I'm looking forward to most next season:
5. The return of Jeff Carter (I don't like this dude). Columbus struggled against the Los Angeles Kings last year. Hopefully they turn it around.
4. With the Olympics in Russia this year, it's only fitting to see the best offensive Russian against the best Russian goaltender. Ovechkin versus Bobrovsky.
3. Opening Night.
2. Games against Detroit and Chicago. Both teams are legit and the Jackets would love to be a considered one of the "Big Boys" if you will in the NHL. You gotta beat the best to be the best.
1. Every big game must have a title. Nash comes back to Columbus. For now the title of this game can be "The Return".
Eric - How are you not looking forward to the Penguins with Crosby and Malkin or the Flyers with Steve Mason (hahaha) and Voracek? Think you could squeeze those into your top 5?
Instead of just breaking down individual match ups, I decided it would be easier to put the schedule into three different categories. Starting with.
THE FACTS:
The schedule is back to the normal 82-game format. Last year the NHL had a shortened season starting in January with just a 48-game schedule.
The Jackets' season will begin on Friday, October 4th at home against the Calgary Flames and will end on the road Saturday, April 12th against the Florida Panthers.
The Jackets will play games on back-to-back days 17 times this season, including their first and last two games of the season.
With the new schedule alignment the Jackets will host every NHL team and visit every NHL arena.
74 of the 82 games will start at 8:30 p.m. eastern time or earlier.
THE GOOD STUFF:
Opening night against the Flames should be a great night for the city of Columbus. In a city that is known for the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Jackets will begin the season that may start the transformation of the 614 into a hockey town as well. Only time will tell.
Mark your calendars for Thursday, November 7th. The first time Rick Nash will come back to Nationwide Arena as a player on an opposing team. This game will remind Jackets fans of the team we once had and how much things have changed in just one season. Former Rangers Artem Anisimov, Brandon Dubinsky and Marian Gaborik to name a few, will look to get some revenge on their former team as well. Instead of listing more reasons why this game will be a must-see one, I'll just end this segment by saying I'm looking forward to this game more than any other one this season.
Time to get familiar with the East. Columbus will have to quickly adjust to playing some not-so familiar foes on a regular basis. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers and New York Islanders are a few teams the Jackets will be playing at least four times this season.
If the team is successful this year, the last month will bring plenty of excitement. The matchup with the Blackhawks on Friday, April 4th at Nationwide Arena could have a playoff atmosphere if the Jackets are in the playoff hunt.
DON'T FORGET:
The Jackets won eight of their last nine games last season with six of games coming on the road. Expect the three-game road trip to Anaheim, Los Angeles and San Jose at the beginning of February to be a barometer for this team as they head into the Olympic break.
Columbus dominated Detroit last season with a 4-0-1 record last season. They will look to continue the current success as they host the Wings twice in March. An under-the-radar storyline for the next few seasons in mind is whether the Penguins or Red Wings will be considered more of a rival for the Blue Jackets. Right now I'm going with Detroit. There's no better feeling than sticking it to "Hockey Town".
I'll make this last part quick. The five things I'm looking forward to most next season:
5. The return of Jeff Carter (I don't like this dude). Columbus struggled against the Los Angeles Kings last year. Hopefully they turn it around.
4. With the Olympics in Russia this year, it's only fitting to see the best offensive Russian against the best Russian goaltender. Ovechkin versus Bobrovsky.
3. Opening Night.
2. Games against Detroit and Chicago. Both teams are legit and the Jackets would love to be a considered one of the "Big Boys" if you will in the NHL. You gotta beat the best to be the best.
1. Every big game must have a title. Nash comes back to Columbus. For now the title of this game can be "The Return".
Eric - How are you not looking forward to the Penguins with Crosby and Malkin or the Flyers with Steve Mason (hahaha) and Voracek? Think you could squeeze those into your top 5?
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Expectations for the Blue Jackets in 2013-14 Season
The Jackets have had what looks to have been a successful off season so far with three first-round draft picks, the signing of Nathan Horton and resigning goalie Sergei Bobrovski. Check out our podcast where we talk about these topics and discuss the expectations for the Blue Jackets next season here.
Saturday, June 29, 2013
The state of the Columbus Blue Jackets and thoughts on LeBron coming back to Cleveland
This week's podcast includes Blue Jackets analysis and the idea of LeBron coming back to Cleveland. Click here to listen.
Friday, June 21, 2013
A Season of "Almost's"
Sports can suck sometimes. Specifically, being a fan of athletes or teams.
That isn't to say that the competition isn't great or that the drama and intensity isn't world-class. You're reading this because you really like sports. I'm writing this because I really like sports. In the end, they're just games and mostly meaningless fun in the big picture, but it really is no fun when things aren't going your way in the sports-world.
(Full-disclosure, I was brought up on Ohio State football and Cleveland pro sports. I have since added the Blue Jackets to "my teams." You can imagine my heartbreak outside of the 2002 title in football.)
The 614 has had a tough go of it recently when it comes to sports. This could include Cincinnati and Cleveland as well. A lot of teams came close, but most of the fans came away from each particular season feeling empty-handed. Let's take a look at some recent sports heartbreaks:
LeBron James just capped off his second consecutive NBA Title with another Finals MVP to go with it. He's stomping on hearts across Cleveland and Ohio in the process. He was our guy, born and raised in Akron. He was supposed to bring a title to Ohio, not the clowns posing as "fans" in Miami. And get this, it almost didn't happen. The Spurs played a magnificent Game 6, and a made free throw here, or a rebound there, and we would be making of "LeChoke" and his 1-3 record in the Finals. Instead, everything that had to go right for the Heat did, and they held off the aging Spurs in a Game 7 for the ages. Pop actually got outcoached in Game 6, and Danny Green and Tony Parker combined to shoot 4-24 in Game 7 to doom the Spurs. Cavs fans everywhere almost got their chance to see LeBron fail.
Ohio State men's hoops - we've been saying this for awhile, the Buckeyes almost won the title. They almost got to the Final Four for a second consecutive season, except everyone forgot how to shoot against Wichita freaking State. They almost won the title in 2012. And 2011. And 2007. In fact, one of the most storied hoops programs in NCAA history has just one title to their game, all the way back in 1960. This was followed almost by two more titles, but they finished runner up in both of those years. Thad Matta almost has this program to the top.
Ohio State football - almost competed for anything in the post-season, if not for that whole pesky lying to the NCAA thing a couple years prior. Urban Meyer has a chance this upcoming season to reverse this fortune as the Buckeyes are finally eligible for a bowl game and the program seems to be back in order. For you die-hard Buckeye fans, you know how close Columbus was to celebrating a title many times - '06, '07, '10 recently, and essentially every year from 1993-1998 (oh...John Cooper...). Still, the Buckeyes have managed seven national titles, but the one in 2002 is the only one in over 40 years.
Browns - I got nothing. They're almost a competent organization? Haha, just kidding.
Bengals - the Bengals haven't won a playoff game since the 1990 season. They almost won a playoff game the last seasons, falling both times to the Texans.
Indians - Again, I got nothing here recently. Heartbreaks in '95, '97 (and almost every year when they were on their run), and '07.
Reds - The Redlegs almost won a playoff series last season, but they blew a 2-0 lead in a best of 5 to the San Francisco Giants. Their almost ready to turn the corner and be a World Series contender.
Cavs - Besides almost getting to see LeBron lose in the Finals (again), the Cavs are almost ready to turn it around. They fired Byron Scott as their coach and have the first pick in the upcoming draft. LeBron teased the fans plenty, almost delivering a title in '07 and then not getting out of the East in '08 and '09. Thanks for nothing, LeBron.
Blue Jackets - The CBJ almost made the post-season this year. They almost won a playoff game a few years ago in their only appearance. Actually, those are about the only almost's that apply to the franchise, unless you count draft picks and players they almost drafted.
As you can see, if you're going to be a sports fan in Ohio, you better be ready for some close calls that will almost never go your way.
That isn't to say that the competition isn't great or that the drama and intensity isn't world-class. You're reading this because you really like sports. I'm writing this because I really like sports. In the end, they're just games and mostly meaningless fun in the big picture, but it really is no fun when things aren't going your way in the sports-world.
(Full-disclosure, I was brought up on Ohio State football and Cleveland pro sports. I have since added the Blue Jackets to "my teams." You can imagine my heartbreak outside of the 2002 title in football.)
The 614 has had a tough go of it recently when it comes to sports. This could include Cincinnati and Cleveland as well. A lot of teams came close, but most of the fans came away from each particular season feeling empty-handed. Let's take a look at some recent sports heartbreaks:
LeBron James just capped off his second consecutive NBA Title with another Finals MVP to go with it. He's stomping on hearts across Cleveland and Ohio in the process. He was our guy, born and raised in Akron. He was supposed to bring a title to Ohio, not the clowns posing as "fans" in Miami. And get this, it almost didn't happen. The Spurs played a magnificent Game 6, and a made free throw here, or a rebound there, and we would be making of "LeChoke" and his 1-3 record in the Finals. Instead, everything that had to go right for the Heat did, and they held off the aging Spurs in a Game 7 for the ages. Pop actually got outcoached in Game 6, and Danny Green and Tony Parker combined to shoot 4-24 in Game 7 to doom the Spurs. Cavs fans everywhere almost got their chance to see LeBron fail.
Ohio State men's hoops - we've been saying this for awhile, the Buckeyes almost won the title. They almost got to the Final Four for a second consecutive season, except everyone forgot how to shoot against Wichita freaking State. They almost won the title in 2012. And 2011. And 2007. In fact, one of the most storied hoops programs in NCAA history has just one title to their game, all the way back in 1960. This was followed almost by two more titles, but they finished runner up in both of those years. Thad Matta almost has this program to the top.
Ohio State football - almost competed for anything in the post-season, if not for that whole pesky lying to the NCAA thing a couple years prior. Urban Meyer has a chance this upcoming season to reverse this fortune as the Buckeyes are finally eligible for a bowl game and the program seems to be back in order. For you die-hard Buckeye fans, you know how close Columbus was to celebrating a title many times - '06, '07, '10 recently, and essentially every year from 1993-1998 (oh...John Cooper...). Still, the Buckeyes have managed seven national titles, but the one in 2002 is the only one in over 40 years.
Browns - I got nothing. They're almost a competent organization? Haha, just kidding.
Bengals - the Bengals haven't won a playoff game since the 1990 season. They almost won a playoff game the last seasons, falling both times to the Texans.
Indians - Again, I got nothing here recently. Heartbreaks in '95, '97 (and almost every year when they were on their run), and '07.
Reds - The Redlegs almost won a playoff series last season, but they blew a 2-0 lead in a best of 5 to the San Francisco Giants. Their almost ready to turn the corner and be a World Series contender.
Cavs - Besides almost getting to see LeBron lose in the Finals (again), the Cavs are almost ready to turn it around. They fired Byron Scott as their coach and have the first pick in the upcoming draft. LeBron teased the fans plenty, almost delivering a title in '07 and then not getting out of the East in '08 and '09. Thanks for nothing, LeBron.
Blue Jackets - The CBJ almost made the post-season this year. They almost won a playoff game a few years ago in their only appearance. Actually, those are about the only almost's that apply to the franchise, unless you count draft picks and players they almost drafted.
As you can see, if you're going to be a sports fan in Ohio, you better be ready for some close calls that will almost never go your way.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
CBJ : Meet Your New Division
It is official - The Columbus Blue Jackets have played their last game in the Western Conference's Central Division (for now, Bettman could send the Jackets back in a few years as his last move as Commissioner), capping off a miserable twelve seasons in what was arguably the most loaded division in the NHL. Of course, the CBJ put up their first winning record against their division foes this past season, going 9-6-4. So, we say goodbye and look ahead to our new neighbors and the rivalry potential.
The Jackets never established a truly hated rival. Columbus was always that little brother that people sometimes paid attention to, mostly because of how bad they were. Sure, Detroit was pegged as a "rival," but it was no Ohio State-Michigan. Red Wings fans are...how do I put this...Red Wings fans. They think because Gordie Howe played for them and they have been around since 1926 that they are inherently better than you as a fanbase and that you know nothing about hockey. They are kind of like the New York Yankees fans in baseball, except with an old, crappy arena that no one outside Detroit likes. We'll still see them as they are making the trek East with us, but less frequently as they'll be in the other division.
Chicago struggled much like Columbus did to start the 2000's. The Blackhawks hit lottery gold, however, and drafted All-Stars like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to build their franchise around. They won the Cup in 2010, and their arrogance level is just slightly below that of Detroit fans. The Jackets never seemed to play well against the Blackhawks, including four one-goal losses this past season. We will not miss Chicago fans invading Nationwide Arena a few times each season.
Goodbye to the St. Louis Blues, and thanks for letting us steal John Davidson from you! St. Louis was never really a rival. Looking back, the feeling is kind of "meh." Nothing too memorable about their fans or the matchups with them either. They have Hitch and Kris Russell, we got JD and Nikita Nikitin. Not really going to miss playing St. Louis as they are building into a contender year in and year out and should make some noise in the West for years to come.
Then there's Nashville. It was tough losing to Nashville so much because they are so similar to the Jackets. They are a small market team with a limited history. Predators fans think they are so much better than the Blue Jackets because they had TWO (!!) whole extra years of hockey before the CBJ. Big deal guys. I am sure the Jackets will not miss traveling to Nashville several times throughout the season, as the Jackets could never seemingly pull out a win there (until Bobrovsky!). It was always a pain to play the Preds. Goodbye, you will not be missed.
There it is, our official goodbye to the Central Division. Good riddance. We hate you. So, now the Jackets move from a division stacked with playoff contenders to...a division stacked with playoff contenders <shakes fist at Bettman>. And the best players in the league. This new division is part of the new Eastern Conference, but does not have an official name yet from the NHL. Just "Division D." Very creative, Mr. Bettman. I suggest "The Blue Jackets and All of Their Former Players Division." No? Ok. Let's meet our new divisional opponents:
Carolina Hurricanes:
Rivalry Potential: Minimal
Don't get me wrong, future road trips to North Carolina to watch some CBJ hockey sounds awesome. Most people do not realize the Hurricanes have won a Stanley Cup within the last ten years. That's how much they move the meter...or rather, don't move the meter. Cam Ward is their franchise goalie, and the rest of the roster appear to be the Staal brothers. Carolina has had a difficult time winning in Columbus since 2007. I can see the Hurricanes filling the void of the Blues - a solid franchise, but not really a rival.
New Jersey Devils:
Rivalry Potential: Low
<Insert Jersey Shore joke here> Is Martin Brodeur STILL their goalie? Most think the 40 year old net minder will retire, but he could always pull a Brett Favre. Their main rivalry is with the Rangers so I doubt adding a Midwest market team will rile up the fans of the Devils. New Jersey may be at the start of a rebuild, with a lot of veterans on the back ends of their careers. That is certainly saying something given the fact that they reached the Stanley Cup Finals last season.
New York/Brooklyn Islanders:
Rivalry Potential: Minimal
Remember when the Islanders offered Scott Howson their ENTIRE draft for the #2 pick in the 2012 Draft? That was almost a blockbuster trade, but Howson, I think rightly, drafted Ryan Murray and told the Islanders, "I don't need your stinking draft picks." It seems like the Isles have been a franchise in decline for as long as the Blue Jackets have been existence. Fan support seems to be waning. There is a glimmer of hope with Michael Grabner and John Tavares leading a young core of players. They seemingly have a never-ending stock of goalies over 35, so they may be in search of a franchise goaltender in a year or two. This will, of course, set them back five more years into oblivion. However, they are currently in the playoffs and the Jackets are not.
New York Rangers:
Rivalry Potential: Very Good
Oh, those New York Rangers. In case you have been living under a rock for the last twelve months, the Rangers picked up Rick Nash from Columbus in exchange for Arty, Dubi, Tim Erixon, and a first round pick this year. The Jackets returned a similar favor at the trade deadline, picking up Marian Gaborik for Derek Dorsett, Derrick Brassard, John Moore, and a sixth round pick. Fedor Tyutin was drafted by the Rangers and played there early in his career. Vinny Prospal used to be a Ranger. Anton Stralman was a Blue Jacket once upon a time. The Rangers have one of the best goalies in the league with Henrik Lundqvist. The Jackets have Bobrovsky. These teams will have a lot of familiarity with each other for the next few years. Should be fun - The New York Blue Jackets v.s. the Columbus Rangers.
Philadelphia Flyers:
Rivalry Potential: Moderate
Another new division foe who the Jackets have done business with recently. It started with the Jakub Voracek trade for Jeff Carter, which also allowed Philly to draft Sean Couturier with the Jackets first round pick in 2011. It continued last summer as Scott Howson acquired Sergei Bobrovsky for a second round pick and two fourth rounders. The Flyers decided Steve Mason was worth Michael Leighton AND a third round draft pick (what are they thinking?). Philly fans are notoriously tough, and Flyers fans are no different. They, like the Rangers, expect to be in the playoffs every year and compete for Stanley Cups. They took a step backwards this year but the Flyers will be a tough matchup going forward.
Pittsburgh Penguins:
Rivalry Potential: What's Hotter Than Being Hot?
Separated by a mere three hours, Columbus and Pittsburgh could be on the verge of a budding new rivalry. These teams come from similar small markets. They both play in blue collar states and blue collar cities. While Pittsburgh was bottoming out and drafting guys like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Jackets were drafting Gilbert Brule and Nikita Filatov. These two teams could easily be flipped right now if not for a few ping pong ball bounces. Anyway...every game Pittsburgh has played in Nationwide Arena has been electric. Penguins fans travel, and their arrogance resembles that of Detroit or Chicago. Get used to it, they are a top team in the NHL right now, with two of the top three forwards in the game and a Stanley Cup just a few years back.
Washington Capitals:
Rivalry Potential: Modest
We see you, Chimer. The next five years will not be fun facing Washington, unless they trade away Alex Ovechkin. They struggled early this year, but managed to win their (weak) division and earn the three seed in the playoffs. The Capitals do not have a long history with many of the other teams in this new division, so Columbus could fill that void of rival. There isn't a long history between the two or lots of former teammates on opposing benches, so this potential rivalry might need a spark to get it going. We'll see, perhaps a few playoff series will do it?
There you have it, your new division. A lot of familar faces. The Jackets will face each team either five or six times each year. All are fairly reasonable road games to attend should you choose to go. In theory, the NHL will have a name for the division by the start of next year, but who knows with Gary Bettman.
The Jackets never established a truly hated rival. Columbus was always that little brother that people sometimes paid attention to, mostly because of how bad they were. Sure, Detroit was pegged as a "rival," but it was no Ohio State-Michigan. Red Wings fans are...how do I put this...Red Wings fans. They think because Gordie Howe played for them and they have been around since 1926 that they are inherently better than you as a fanbase and that you know nothing about hockey. They are kind of like the New York Yankees fans in baseball, except with an old, crappy arena that no one outside Detroit likes. We'll still see them as they are making the trek East with us, but less frequently as they'll be in the other division.
Chicago struggled much like Columbus did to start the 2000's. The Blackhawks hit lottery gold, however, and drafted All-Stars like Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews to build their franchise around. They won the Cup in 2010, and their arrogance level is just slightly below that of Detroit fans. The Jackets never seemed to play well against the Blackhawks, including four one-goal losses this past season. We will not miss Chicago fans invading Nationwide Arena a few times each season.
Goodbye to the St. Louis Blues, and thanks for letting us steal John Davidson from you! St. Louis was never really a rival. Looking back, the feeling is kind of "meh." Nothing too memorable about their fans or the matchups with them either. They have Hitch and Kris Russell, we got JD and Nikita Nikitin. Not really going to miss playing St. Louis as they are building into a contender year in and year out and should make some noise in the West for years to come.
Then there's Nashville. It was tough losing to Nashville so much because they are so similar to the Jackets. They are a small market team with a limited history. Predators fans think they are so much better than the Blue Jackets because they had TWO (!!) whole extra years of hockey before the CBJ. Big deal guys. I am sure the Jackets will not miss traveling to Nashville several times throughout the season, as the Jackets could never seemingly pull out a win there (until Bobrovsky!). It was always a pain to play the Preds. Goodbye, you will not be missed.
There it is, our official goodbye to the Central Division. Good riddance. We hate you. So, now the Jackets move from a division stacked with playoff contenders to...a division stacked with playoff contenders <shakes fist at Bettman>. And the best players in the league. This new division is part of the new Eastern Conference, but does not have an official name yet from the NHL. Just "Division D." Very creative, Mr. Bettman. I suggest "The Blue Jackets and All of Their Former Players Division." No? Ok. Let's meet our new divisional opponents:
Carolina Hurricanes:
Rivalry Potential: Minimal
Don't get me wrong, future road trips to North Carolina to watch some CBJ hockey sounds awesome. Most people do not realize the Hurricanes have won a Stanley Cup within the last ten years. That's how much they move the meter...or rather, don't move the meter. Cam Ward is their franchise goalie, and the rest of the roster appear to be the Staal brothers. Carolina has had a difficult time winning in Columbus since 2007. I can see the Hurricanes filling the void of the Blues - a solid franchise, but not really a rival.
New Jersey Devils:
Rivalry Potential: Low
<Insert Jersey Shore joke here> Is Martin Brodeur STILL their goalie? Most think the 40 year old net minder will retire, but he could always pull a Brett Favre. Their main rivalry is with the Rangers so I doubt adding a Midwest market team will rile up the fans of the Devils. New Jersey may be at the start of a rebuild, with a lot of veterans on the back ends of their careers. That is certainly saying something given the fact that they reached the Stanley Cup Finals last season.
New York/Brooklyn Islanders:
Rivalry Potential: Minimal
Remember when the Islanders offered Scott Howson their ENTIRE draft for the #2 pick in the 2012 Draft? That was almost a blockbuster trade, but Howson, I think rightly, drafted Ryan Murray and told the Islanders, "I don't need your stinking draft picks." It seems like the Isles have been a franchise in decline for as long as the Blue Jackets have been existence. Fan support seems to be waning. There is a glimmer of hope with Michael Grabner and John Tavares leading a young core of players. They seemingly have a never-ending stock of goalies over 35, so they may be in search of a franchise goaltender in a year or two. This will, of course, set them back five more years into oblivion. However, they are currently in the playoffs and the Jackets are not.
New York Rangers:
Rivalry Potential: Very Good
Oh, those New York Rangers. In case you have been living under a rock for the last twelve months, the Rangers picked up Rick Nash from Columbus in exchange for Arty, Dubi, Tim Erixon, and a first round pick this year. The Jackets returned a similar favor at the trade deadline, picking up Marian Gaborik for Derek Dorsett, Derrick Brassard, John Moore, and a sixth round pick. Fedor Tyutin was drafted by the Rangers and played there early in his career. Vinny Prospal used to be a Ranger. Anton Stralman was a Blue Jacket once upon a time. The Rangers have one of the best goalies in the league with Henrik Lundqvist. The Jackets have Bobrovsky. These teams will have a lot of familiarity with each other for the next few years. Should be fun - The New York Blue Jackets v.s. the Columbus Rangers.
Philadelphia Flyers:
Rivalry Potential: Moderate
Another new division foe who the Jackets have done business with recently. It started with the Jakub Voracek trade for Jeff Carter, which also allowed Philly to draft Sean Couturier with the Jackets first round pick in 2011. It continued last summer as Scott Howson acquired Sergei Bobrovsky for a second round pick and two fourth rounders. The Flyers decided Steve Mason was worth Michael Leighton AND a third round draft pick (what are they thinking?). Philly fans are notoriously tough, and Flyers fans are no different. They, like the Rangers, expect to be in the playoffs every year and compete for Stanley Cups. They took a step backwards this year but the Flyers will be a tough matchup going forward.
Pittsburgh Penguins:
Rivalry Potential: What's Hotter Than Being Hot?
Separated by a mere three hours, Columbus and Pittsburgh could be on the verge of a budding new rivalry. These teams come from similar small markets. They both play in blue collar states and blue collar cities. While Pittsburgh was bottoming out and drafting guys like Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, the Jackets were drafting Gilbert Brule and Nikita Filatov. These two teams could easily be flipped right now if not for a few ping pong ball bounces. Anyway...every game Pittsburgh has played in Nationwide Arena has been electric. Penguins fans travel, and their arrogance resembles that of Detroit or Chicago. Get used to it, they are a top team in the NHL right now, with two of the top three forwards in the game and a Stanley Cup just a few years back.
Washington Capitals:
Rivalry Potential: Modest
We see you, Chimer. The next five years will not be fun facing Washington, unless they trade away Alex Ovechkin. They struggled early this year, but managed to win their (weak) division and earn the three seed in the playoffs. The Capitals do not have a long history with many of the other teams in this new division, so Columbus could fill that void of rival. There isn't a long history between the two or lots of former teammates on opposing benches, so this potential rivalry might need a spark to get it going. We'll see, perhaps a few playoff series will do it?
There you have it, your new division. A lot of familar faces. The Jackets will face each team either five or six times each year. All are fairly reasonable road games to attend should you choose to go. In theory, the NHL will have a name for the division by the start of next year, but who knows with Gary Bettman.
Jackets Finish with a Flurry, Fall One Point Short
They couldn't have their cake and eat it too.
A city had been re-energized and was all in for a playoff run. Lord Stanley's Cup was calling. This was it, a team of destiny. They were the best story in the NHL for much of the last two months. But roughly 45 minutes after 19,002 fans stood, screaming, for the final home game in Nationwide Arena, the Blue Jackets season came to an abrupt end.
There are two ways to look at this fairy-tale, whirlwind of a season in Columbus. Looking back at the "what ifs" and shaking your head in disgust at the war room in Toronto, the owners, the NHLPA, etc. Or embracing the journey this team took the city on over the last 60 days, going from worst team in the NHL to tied for that 8th and final playoff spot, only to fall short because of some stupid tiebreaker.
We'll pull the band-aid off quickly and live as unhealthy fans, wondering might have been. What if there was no lockout? What if this team had more than a week of a training camp? What if the owners and Players Association had reached an agreement two weeks earlier, resulting in a 52-game season instead of the 48 we were treated to? What if Todd Richards had gone with Sergei "NUMBER ONE COP ON THE FORCE" Bobrovsky as the full-time goalie just two games sooner? What if the NHL war room, which reviews all goals, had ruled in Columbus' favor, just once? Seriously, Matt Calvert is apparently an NFL kicker with his kicking goals. And I guess the shootout rules of constant forward motion don't apply to Vancouver. What if the CBJ had won in regulation at Minnesota a couple weeks ago, which would have kept the Wild from earning a valuable point? What if Cam Atkinson had scored (legitimately) on his shootout attempt in the home opener, resulting in a win rather than a loss?
It's tough to stomach. The LA Kings, the defending Stanley Cup Champions in part to Columbus trading them Jeff Carter last year for Jack Johnson and a 1st round pick, provided no help this season to the Jackets. The Kings played Minnesota and Detroit in the final week of the season, losing to both by wide margins. The Kings were the only team to beat the CBJ over the last nine games, in regulation no less. It was the 5th game in seven days for the Jackets, over four time zones and all but one against playoff teams, the last four of which all came on the road. How many other teams had that tough of a seven day stretch? The Jackets went 4-1, that last loss coming by one goal in the Staples Center. The Jackets played 11 back-to-back games. 22 of 48 games were sandwiched back-to-back. Detroit played 8 back-to-backs. One point. They were one point away.
As you would expect, everyone in the organization is saying the same thing - It was a really nice run, but they weren't good enough. The 5-12-4 hole was just too big to overcome. The shortened season came back to haunt them. They simply ran out of games.
Now, there are a lot of positives to build on. This team re-captured the hearts of a city, a city just waiting to explode for a contender. After two lockouts, no playoff wins in franchise history, and without a franchise player (the only one in history, Rick Nash, was traded last summer), Columbus rallied around this group over the last eight weeks. NWA (what up Compton ... kidding, NWA = Nationwide Arena) was sold out for the season finale against Nashville with a raucous, playoff-type atmosphere that reminded everyone this can, in fact, be a "hockey town." It truly is a sports town, but that is a different discussion for another day. New GM Jarmo Kekalainen said the atmosphere gave him "goosebumps." The players know they can have one of the best arenas in the league if they are simply playoff contenders.
It's tough that this group of players, coaches, etc. exactly as it is assembled won't be together again. Sure, the core will be there, but make no mistake, changes will be made. New additions Brandon Dubinsky and Jack Johnson have brought about a culture change, and a winning expectation to the franchise. Jarmo, JD, and all the players said over the weekend that this season wasn't enough. The goal is to win a Stanley Cup, not to merely make a decent run and fall short. Head coach Todd Richards was able to bring in his own assistants, and since taking over midway through last season, the CBJ are 42-38-9 under Richards.
Here's what you need to know for the off-season:
1) The Blue Jackets have three first round picks. Their own pick is 14. They also own the picks of the LA Kings and New York Rangers, which should fall somewhere between 18 and 24. A package deal is likely, as Jarmo has said he would like to draft players in the first round that can be immediate impact players, or trade those picks to move up, or perhaps for an already established player.
2) The 2013-2014 Salary Cap will drop, fairly significantly to $64.3 million. The Jackets currently have $46.8 million already in cap payroll for next season. They are projected at the moment to have $19.4 million in cap space to work with.
3) Point 2 above is huge for teams at or near the salary cap. Surely, there will be some decent players who will have to be cut or moved so teams can be compliant with the cap, which may open up some free agents for the Jackets to sign.
4) Free agents. Matt Calvert, Mark Letestu, and Cam Atkinson all signed relatively-modest two-year extensions with the team over the past month. The unrestricted free agents are Vinny Prospal, Blake Comeau-ver, Nic Drazenovic (who played mostly at AHL Springfield), Adrian Aucoin, and never-used backup goalie Michael Leighton. The restricted free agents are Artem Anisimov, Colton Gillies, and Sergei Bobrovsky. I think it goes without saying that Bob and Arty are the two "must-haves" have the free agent group. From there, next in line would likely be Prospal, though he will turn 39 during next season and may opt for retirement. Comeau and Gillies are both decent 3rd and 4th line players, but it remains to be seen if management views them as part of the core or as expendable players.
Top moments from the shortened season:
1) Vinny's Point. Late in the third period of a 3-0 beat down of Detroit at NWA, Prospal emerged from a scrum in the last minute and as he was being ushered by the referees to the locker room, he brought the attention of some of the Red Wings on the ice to the score. Just a simple point up to the 3-0 score on the jumbotron. You're our favorite troller of the year, Vinny.
2) Season Finale. 19,002. Standing room only. Playoffs on the line. What more needs to be said? There was a playoff hockey atmosphere for the first time in four years in Columbus, and it ended all too quickly, but that Saturday night put an exclamation point on the season.
3) The late season 6-game road trip. It's too difficult to select just one game. The shootout win in Minnesota with Bob standing on his head? The OT winner in Colorado? The OT winner in Anaheim? The late goal by Johansen to hand the Sharks just their second regulation loss at home all season? That road showed the true heart and grit of this team.
4) The OT win at home against Anaheim, that momentarily propelled them into 8th place for the first time all year. This really was when playoff fever took hold in the 614.
We will have more coverage for you throughout the off-season, but until next time, just remember Gary Bettman is evil and we hate the LA Kings.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Jackets Still Are In the Playoff Race With Two Weeks Left
The Columbus Blue Jackets have played 42 of their 48 games in the shortened 2013 regular season.
In the first 21 games the team went 5-12-4. In the previous 21 games the Jackets have a record of 14-4-3. Columbus also has a record of 4-2 after acquiring Marian Gaborik, a skilled right winger at the trade deadline. The obvious answer to the teams second-half success is goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. It's really that simple.
The Jackets' playoff odds don't look too hot with their next five games coming on the road. The good news is the team's six-game road trip started on the right foot with a 3-2 shootout victory Saturday night at Minnesota.
Points are at a premium right now and as good as the Jackets have played lately, they'll have to play even better to earn a spot in the 2013 NHL Playoffs.
The Blue Jackets next game is Monday night as they travel to Denver, Colorado to face the Avalanche at 9:00 PM ET and look to improve on their current three-game winning streak. The team is currently two points out of eighth place in the Western Conference.
In the first 21 games the team went 5-12-4. In the previous 21 games the Jackets have a record of 14-4-3. Columbus also has a record of 4-2 after acquiring Marian Gaborik, a skilled right winger at the trade deadline. The obvious answer to the teams second-half success is goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky. It's really that simple.
The Jackets' playoff odds don't look too hot with their next five games coming on the road. The good news is the team's six-game road trip started on the right foot with a 3-2 shootout victory Saturday night at Minnesota.
Points are at a premium right now and as good as the Jackets have played lately, they'll have to play even better to earn a spot in the 2013 NHL Playoffs.
The Blue Jackets next game is Monday night as they travel to Denver, Colorado to face the Avalanche at 9:00 PM ET and look to improve on their current three-game winning streak. The team is currently two points out of eighth place in the Western Conference.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Breaking Down the Columbus Blue Jackets Playoff Odds
The Columbus Blue Jackets have 12 games remaining in the shortened 2013 hockey season. They are currently in a heated playoff race and are a point out of eighth place.
Before looking at what lies ahead, let's slow down and see how the Jackets got themselves to their current 15-14-7 record.
The Jackets went 2-5-1 in the month of January. This wasn't too surprising considering Columbus basically cleaned house in the offseason and had a team that hadn't built much chemistry coming into the season.
Columbus went 3-7-2 in the month of February. Oddly, Jackets fans still felt positive, as the team was competitive all month and never lost a game by more than two goals.
The Jackets turned things around in the month of March. Last month the team went 10-2-4 due to the outstanding play of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
Once again, it may sound like a broken record, but Bobrovsky has single-handedly put the Jackets on the radar in the NHL and turned the team into a playoff contender.
Now to the 12 games remaining. Eight of the remaining games will be on the road, leaving four more home games at nationwide the rest of the season.
Columbus has a home record of 11-4-5 and a road record of 4-10-2 on the season to this point.
The odds clearly are against Columbus, a young team that has thrived off home-ice advantage.
Head coach Todd Richards will have hands full in the month of April, as the Jackets must play with high expectations from fans for the first time in a while.
March may have come to an end, but if Columbus makes it the playoffs there's no doubt they will be considered the 2013 cinderella of the NHL.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will play their first two games of April this Thursday and Friday with road games against the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues.
Bobrovski was a star in March. There's just one question I have for "Bob" this month. "Can I get an encore?".
Before looking at what lies ahead, let's slow down and see how the Jackets got themselves to their current 15-14-7 record.
The Jackets went 2-5-1 in the month of January. This wasn't too surprising considering Columbus basically cleaned house in the offseason and had a team that hadn't built much chemistry coming into the season.
Columbus went 3-7-2 in the month of February. Oddly, Jackets fans still felt positive, as the team was competitive all month and never lost a game by more than two goals.
The Jackets turned things around in the month of March. Last month the team went 10-2-4 due to the outstanding play of goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
Once again, it may sound like a broken record, but Bobrovsky has single-handedly put the Jackets on the radar in the NHL and turned the team into a playoff contender.
Now to the 12 games remaining. Eight of the remaining games will be on the road, leaving four more home games at nationwide the rest of the season.
Columbus has a home record of 11-4-5 and a road record of 4-10-2 on the season to this point.
The odds clearly are against Columbus, a young team that has thrived off home-ice advantage.
Head coach Todd Richards will have hands full in the month of April, as the Jackets must play with high expectations from fans for the first time in a while.
March may have come to an end, but if Columbus makes it the playoffs there's no doubt they will be considered the 2013 cinderella of the NHL.
The Columbus Blue Jackets will play their first two games of April this Thursday and Friday with road games against the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues.
Bobrovski was a star in March. There's just one question I have for "Bob" this month. "Can I get an encore?".
Sunday, March 17, 2013
The Dilemma
The Columbus Blue Jackets have found lightning in a bottle the last couple weeks in the form of Sergei Bobrovsky in net. The goalie is on some kind of ridiculous tear. He put up his second career shutout against Phoenix. The CBJ remain just a few points out of the playoffs, creating a hot debate among fans in the 614. Should the Jackets continue to ride goalie Bob and take a shot at a playoff run, or "tank it" for a top draft pick? We'll tackle it here.
Eric: The recent ten-game point streak has been nice, and has given fans some excitement for the short-term future. Unfortunately, it's not what the Jackets need as a franchise at this point. Remember the playoff run of a few years ago? The team got in as a seven seed, but GM Scott Howson set the team back as they struggled to build on their foundation, ultimately leading to three futile seasons and terrible contract signings to try to strike quickly again (see: James Wisniewski's deal).
The franchise drafted a future superstar in the 2012 Entry Draft in Ryan Murray, who is still out recovering from shoulder surgery. He was the second overall pick, and many experts had him pegged as the number one overall prospect. With three first round picks in the 2013 Draft, Columbus has a great opportunity to pick up one or two more future superstars (three would be too good to be true for Jackets fans). That is how it's done in the NHL. Franchises are mainly built through the draft. Teams looking to rebuild usually have to get a top three or four pick to get their superstars as well. It's how Pittsburgh did it, drafting Fleury, Crosby, Malkin, and Staal. Chicago drafted Kane and Toews in the top three in back-to-back drafts, and added their top defensemen (Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook) in the first round just a few years prior to that. Edmonton is attempting to go the same route, although success has not yet come for the Oilers.
For a franchise known for its futility, the Jackets have never won the top overall pick in a draft. The odds have not been in their favor. Unfortunately, they have too often finished between 20th and 25th overall, missing the playoffs but not getting a top-three pick. They have found ways to draft between 6th and 10th overall, and missed on quite a few of those picks. The 2013 Draft is loaded with top-end talent, and a pick in the top three would almost assure them of a star.
The team badly needs better scoring from their forwards. Ryan Johansen, drafted fourth overall in 2010, has shown signs of being a franchise center for the future. Other than that, the team is filled with decent third and fourth-line forwards. The Jackets just do not have the forward talent to compete with the defending-champion L.A. Kings, the record-setting Chicago Blackhawks, or new division foes like the New York Rangers (hello, Nasher), Pittsburgh Penguins, or Philadelphia Flyers. Bobrovsky can't possibly save every shot. The Jackets are currently 30th (or last) in the NHL in scoring at 2.1 goals per game.
Here is the good news if you are a fan of tanking it for a top pick. The team finishes with 12 of their last 17 games on the road, where they have struggled mightily in buildings not located in Detroit. Also, as good as Bobrovsky has been in net, he cannot possibly continue at his current pace. If there is any season to finish last, it would be this shortened season. The fans would not have to live through the misery of an 82-game season. The short-term glory of barely making the playoffs does not help this franchise become a perennial Stanley Cup contender. Unfortunately, Jackets fans, we need to lose in regulation quite a bit down the stretch.
Ben: Ok, Eric. You have made some valid points. First of all I need to make a couple of comments:
1. "You play to win the game". Herm Edwards
2. "Playoffs?!...You kidding me... I just hope we can win a game". Jim Mora
That's taken care of. Now I can move on with my argument.
As much as many of the fans and I would love to have a top-three pick in the next draft, it's a bad idea to purposely set the team up for the scenario.
Here's two reasons you don't tank the rest of the season:
1. Winning is contagious- Call it cliche, but there has been plenty of proof throughout the years that proves this to be true. Let's consider all the players and coaches for the Jackets right now. It's clear to all of us that they know and believe they're way better than they were at the beginning of the season. With the 614 hockey swag at a very high point, it would be dumb to let it go. The Columbus Blue Jackets and their fans are confident and have a serious belief they can compete with anybody, that's not something you let fall to the wayside.
2. The Bandwagon Effect- Jackets fans like showing up to a game with a busy Nationwide Arena. Unfortunately, the CBJ don't bring in the largest crowds. With more wins at the end of the season combined with the lieu of first-round draft picks and some preseason hype, more fans (who weren't previously fans) will show up to games. This essentially would give the Jackets a better home-ice advantage for the 2013-14 season.
I could go on for hours, but we got a season to finish.
In the end both of us just want a Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, for now, the Jackets are facing... "The Dilemma".
Eric: The recent ten-game point streak has been nice, and has given fans some excitement for the short-term future. Unfortunately, it's not what the Jackets need as a franchise at this point. Remember the playoff run of a few years ago? The team got in as a seven seed, but GM Scott Howson set the team back as they struggled to build on their foundation, ultimately leading to three futile seasons and terrible contract signings to try to strike quickly again (see: James Wisniewski's deal).
The franchise drafted a future superstar in the 2012 Entry Draft in Ryan Murray, who is still out recovering from shoulder surgery. He was the second overall pick, and many experts had him pegged as the number one overall prospect. With three first round picks in the 2013 Draft, Columbus has a great opportunity to pick up one or two more future superstars (three would be too good to be true for Jackets fans). That is how it's done in the NHL. Franchises are mainly built through the draft. Teams looking to rebuild usually have to get a top three or four pick to get their superstars as well. It's how Pittsburgh did it, drafting Fleury, Crosby, Malkin, and Staal. Chicago drafted Kane and Toews in the top three in back-to-back drafts, and added their top defensemen (Duncan Keith and Brent Seabrook) in the first round just a few years prior to that. Edmonton is attempting to go the same route, although success has not yet come for the Oilers.
For a franchise known for its futility, the Jackets have never won the top overall pick in a draft. The odds have not been in their favor. Unfortunately, they have too often finished between 20th and 25th overall, missing the playoffs but not getting a top-three pick. They have found ways to draft between 6th and 10th overall, and missed on quite a few of those picks. The 2013 Draft is loaded with top-end talent, and a pick in the top three would almost assure them of a star.
The team badly needs better scoring from their forwards. Ryan Johansen, drafted fourth overall in 2010, has shown signs of being a franchise center for the future. Other than that, the team is filled with decent third and fourth-line forwards. The Jackets just do not have the forward talent to compete with the defending-champion L.A. Kings, the record-setting Chicago Blackhawks, or new division foes like the New York Rangers (hello, Nasher), Pittsburgh Penguins, or Philadelphia Flyers. Bobrovsky can't possibly save every shot. The Jackets are currently 30th (or last) in the NHL in scoring at 2.1 goals per game.
Here is the good news if you are a fan of tanking it for a top pick. The team finishes with 12 of their last 17 games on the road, where they have struggled mightily in buildings not located in Detroit. Also, as good as Bobrovsky has been in net, he cannot possibly continue at his current pace. If there is any season to finish last, it would be this shortened season. The fans would not have to live through the misery of an 82-game season. The short-term glory of barely making the playoffs does not help this franchise become a perennial Stanley Cup contender. Unfortunately, Jackets fans, we need to lose in regulation quite a bit down the stretch.
Ben: Ok, Eric. You have made some valid points. First of all I need to make a couple of comments:
1. "You play to win the game". Herm Edwards
2. "Playoffs?!...You kidding me... I just hope we can win a game". Jim Mora
That's taken care of. Now I can move on with my argument.
As much as many of the fans and I would love to have a top-three pick in the next draft, it's a bad idea to purposely set the team up for the scenario.
Here's two reasons you don't tank the rest of the season:
1. Winning is contagious- Call it cliche, but there has been plenty of proof throughout the years that proves this to be true. Let's consider all the players and coaches for the Jackets right now. It's clear to all of us that they know and believe they're way better than they were at the beginning of the season. With the 614 hockey swag at a very high point, it would be dumb to let it go. The Columbus Blue Jackets and their fans are confident and have a serious belief they can compete with anybody, that's not something you let fall to the wayside.
2. The Bandwagon Effect- Jackets fans like showing up to a game with a busy Nationwide Arena. Unfortunately, the CBJ don't bring in the largest crowds. With more wins at the end of the season combined with the lieu of first-round draft picks and some preseason hype, more fans (who weren't previously fans) will show up to games. This essentially would give the Jackets a better home-ice advantage for the 2013-14 season.
I could go on for hours, but we got a season to finish.
In the end both of us just want a Stanley Cup. Unfortunately, for now, the Jackets are facing... "The Dilemma".
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Columbus Outlasts Phoenix to Prolong their Point Streak to 10 Games
The past week it's been the same conversation every day when talking about the Columbus Blue Jackets. "Did you see Bobrovsky last night?".
Bobrovsky has put the team on his back, stopping 239 of 245 shots in his last eight games played.
Saturday night Bobrovsky had 39 saves, allowing no goals in regulation or overtime. Of course, the Jackets' offense didn't produce once again, so it took a shootout to get the 1-0 victory over the Phoenix Coyotes.
Anisimov and Letestu scored for the Jackets in the shootout as the Coyotes failed to score on their first two attempts.
Columbus has now had 20 one-goal games on the season (29 games played) and has a record of 11-12-6. The Jackets will host the Nashville Predators on Tuesday night at 7 PM ET. If they win they'll be .500 for the first time since January 23rd earlier this season (1-1-1 at the time).
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Lack of Offense Remains a Glaring Weakness for the Blue Jackets
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky only gave up one goal on 38 shots from the Vancouver Canucks in a 2-1 shootout loss in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday night.
Columbus had it's five-game win streak come to a halt, but were still able to extend their point streak to eight games.
Tuesday night's performance is the perfect example of the Blue Jackets current status as a team. One that can compete on a nightly basis, but lacks fire power on offense to take themselves over the top.
Why can they compete on a nightly basis? Simple answer. The team has played spectacular defense and has a rising star in goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
Now to the lack of offensive fire power. How about averaging 2.2 goals per game, good for 28th in the NHL. That's simply not good enough.
I'll be keeping a close eye on the Jackets offensive play in Thursday's matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena at 7 PM ET. It very well could be telling of the direction this team is heading the rest of the season.
Columbus had it's five-game win streak come to a halt, but were still able to extend their point streak to eight games.
Tuesday night's performance is the perfect example of the Blue Jackets current status as a team. One that can compete on a nightly basis, but lacks fire power on offense to take themselves over the top.
Why can they compete on a nightly basis? Simple answer. The team has played spectacular defense and has a rising star in goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.
Now to the lack of offensive fire power. How about averaging 2.2 goals per game, good for 28th in the NHL. That's simply not good enough.
I'll be keeping a close eye on the Jackets offensive play in Thursday's matchup with the Chicago Blackhawks at Nationwide Arena at 7 PM ET. It very well could be telling of the direction this team is heading the rest of the season.
Monday, March 11, 2013
Bobrovsky Stars In Jackets Winning Streak
After a great weekend of sports many fans might be having "A Case of the Mondays". Monday, however, for Columbus Blue Jackets fans isn't too bad for a change.
Yeah the team's on a five-game winning streak and can consider the possibility of a playoff spot. In the end, what's most important about this team is that they're finding their true identity.
Starting off with the key figure in the winning streak. Sergei Bobrovsky. As mentioned in an earlier post, Bobrovsky entered the game for Steve Mason versus Edmonton last week less than a minute into the second period. During the Jackets' hot streak, Bobrovsky started the other four games and played in four overtime periods.
Bobrovsky has faced 128 shots and given up four goals over the past five games. That's one goal per every 25.6 shots. In the five games (including overtimes) Bobrovsky has a goals allowed average (goals given up per sixty minutes) of .81. If none these statistics blow you away, it doesn't hurt to know Bobrovsky had his first career shutout (3-0 versus Detroit on Saturday) and was named the "First Star" of the week.
The second key to the streak has been the Jackets penalty kill. Columbus was short handed 14 times during their five previous wins and only allowed one power-play goal (not to mention it was a 5-on-3 goal given up at Detroit). The Blue Jackets now are fifth in the NHL in penalty kill percentage and have a defense that won't be taken lightly for the remainder of the season.
Happy Monday Columbus. It looks like hockey might just be relevant again in the 614.
Yeah the team's on a five-game winning streak and can consider the possibility of a playoff spot. In the end, what's most important about this team is that they're finding their true identity.
Starting off with the key figure in the winning streak. Sergei Bobrovsky. As mentioned in an earlier post, Bobrovsky entered the game for Steve Mason versus Edmonton last week less than a minute into the second period. During the Jackets' hot streak, Bobrovsky started the other four games and played in four overtime periods.
Bobrovsky has faced 128 shots and given up four goals over the past five games. That's one goal per every 25.6 shots. In the five games (including overtimes) Bobrovsky has a goals allowed average (goals given up per sixty minutes) of .81. If none these statistics blow you away, it doesn't hurt to know Bobrovsky had his first career shutout (3-0 versus Detroit on Saturday) and was named the "First Star" of the week.
The second key to the streak has been the Jackets penalty kill. Columbus was short handed 14 times during their five previous wins and only allowed one power-play goal (not to mention it was a 5-on-3 goal given up at Detroit). The Blue Jackets now are fifth in the NHL in penalty kill percentage and have a defense that won't be taken lightly for the remainder of the season.
Happy Monday Columbus. It looks like hockey might just be relevant again in the 614.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Jackets Hold Off Edmonton and Improve to Above .500 At Nationwide Arena
Tuesday night was a microcosm of the Jackets' season for its fans, except for the fact that the team won.
The Jackets seemed to on their way to a home victory with an early flurry of shots and a Vinny Prospal goal (team-leading ninth of the season) to put them up 2-1 after trailing early.
With 1:17 remaining in the first period, Mason gave up a game-tying goal scored by Ryan Whitney. The Jackets found a way to outshoot the Oilers 14-7 in the first period and still be tied at two going into intermission.
Once again, this is a microcosm of the season. So the beginning of the second period is where it gets worse. Only 31 seconds into the 2nd, Magnus Paajarvi scored his fourth goal of the season to put Edmonton up 3-2. In less than two minutes of regulation time, the Jackets found a way to go from leading 2-1 with plenty of confidence, to losing 3-2 with a rather upset home crowd.
Segway.
Enter Sergei Bobrovsky.
After entering the game with 19:29 in the 2nd period, Bobrovsky stopped all 21 shots he faced including a phenomenal save in overtime.
Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson scored his second goal of the season to tie the game at three with 9:16 remaining in the 2nd period, but the story of the game was Bobrovsky's outstanding relief performance.
The Columbus Blue Jackets won in a shootout over the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night by a final of 4-3. The Jackets are over .500 at Nationwide Arena for the first time this season (5-4-3 record at home).
Artem Anisimov and Mark Letestu scored in the shootout while Bobrovsky continued his dominance not allowing an Oiler to get the puck in the net.
Jackets Head Coach Todd Richards did a magnificent job of keeping his team composed after a disappointing turn of events that put the team in a 3-2 hole.
Columbus has now had eight consecutive one-goal games (five on the road and three at home). The team is 3-3-2 in that stretch with the only regulation victory coming at Detroit.
For what it's worth, 10 of the Jackets' 16 losses have been by one goal. With an overtime and a shootout victory in the last two performances, the Jackets may just be turning things around.
Columbus has now won two straight and has a four-game point streak. The team will look to keep the momentum they've built on Thursday night as they host the Vancouver Canucks (11-6-5) at 7:00 PM ET.
The Jackets seemed to on their way to a home victory with an early flurry of shots and a Vinny Prospal goal (team-leading ninth of the season) to put them up 2-1 after trailing early.
With 1:17 remaining in the first period, Mason gave up a game-tying goal scored by Ryan Whitney. The Jackets found a way to outshoot the Oilers 14-7 in the first period and still be tied at two going into intermission.
Once again, this is a microcosm of the season. So the beginning of the second period is where it gets worse. Only 31 seconds into the 2nd, Magnus Paajarvi scored his fourth goal of the season to put Edmonton up 3-2. In less than two minutes of regulation time, the Jackets found a way to go from leading 2-1 with plenty of confidence, to losing 3-2 with a rather upset home crowd.
Segway.
Enter Sergei Bobrovsky.
After entering the game with 19:29 in the 2nd period, Bobrovsky stopped all 21 shots he faced including a phenomenal save in overtime.
Columbus defenseman Jack Johnson scored his second goal of the season to tie the game at three with 9:16 remaining in the 2nd period, but the story of the game was Bobrovsky's outstanding relief performance.
The Columbus Blue Jackets won in a shootout over the Edmonton Oilers Tuesday night by a final of 4-3. The Jackets are over .500 at Nationwide Arena for the first time this season (5-4-3 record at home).
Artem Anisimov and Mark Letestu scored in the shootout while Bobrovsky continued his dominance not allowing an Oiler to get the puck in the net.
Jackets Head Coach Todd Richards did a magnificent job of keeping his team composed after a disappointing turn of events that put the team in a 3-2 hole.
Columbus has now had eight consecutive one-goal games (five on the road and three at home). The team is 3-3-2 in that stretch with the only regulation victory coming at Detroit.
For what it's worth, 10 of the Jackets' 16 losses have been by one goal. With an overtime and a shootout victory in the last two performances, the Jackets may just be turning things around.
Columbus has now won two straight and has a four-game point streak. The team will look to keep the momentum they've built on Thursday night as they host the Vancouver Canucks (11-6-5) at 7:00 PM ET.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Parody Gives Basketball Bucks Some Hope
College Athletics is an unpredictable beast. For some reason, perhaps it’s that whole
“student” part of student athlete providing distractions. College athletes do
not always perform consistently from game to game. This past fall it looked like Oregon would
battle Kansas State for the BCS Championship Game. The two teams
didn’t perform down the stretch and left the door open for Alabama and Notre Dame.
College basketball is no different in that aspect. Teams ranked in the top five have been
defeated on nineteen occasions by unranked opponents this season.
Yes, 19. A few weeks ago,
Indiana lost on the road at Illinois as the top-ranked team in the country. Surely, this should have resulted in a fall
from the top spot. Nope, not this
season. Virtually every other top team
behind the Hoosiers lost that week. So much for "earning" the top spot.
This brings us to the enigma that is the Ohio State men’s
basketball team this year. They’ve put
together impressive home wins against Michigan, Michigan State, and
Wisconsin. They have also been hammered
in Madison and at Illinois. You’ve
probably heard Ohio State is awful against ranked teams. They are 2-7 against top-25 opponents (the
Badgers were unranked at the time of their home victory).
That doesn’t really matter though. Ohio State proved it could hang with Duke
at Cameron Indoor. A Duke team with a healthy Ryan Kelly. The Bucks were a few missed shots away from knocking
off Kansas. They took Michigan to overtime in
Ann Arbor and were a botched last-second play away from doing the same to
Sparty at the Breslin Center.
Here’s why their record against quality opponents isn’t a
huge cause for concern right now: College basketball is down this year. Way down.
Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist aren’t leading a Kentucky
squad. Jared Sullinger and Thomas
Robinson have moved on. There isn’t a
Steph Curry or Kemba Walker carrying a team (that we know of yet).
Here is what happened.
Last year’s sophomore class was exceptionally strong, in part because of
Barnes, Sullinger and others coming back because the prior year the NBA
lockout loomed. A strong sophomore class was combined with a
solid freshmen class, headlined by Anthony Davis. The quality of teams was simply better
last season. I'm not even sure who Dick
Vitale’s “diaper dandies” would be this year other than Mclemore of Kansas,
Nerlens Noel (who's hurt), and Stauskas for Michigan (who has tailed off). Perhaps this is a reflection of a “down”
freshmen class or I just haven’t had as much time to watch college basketball
(dang it employment!).
This Ohio State team is essentially the same as last year’s
group, minus the 1st round NBA draft pick Sullinger and one of the
all time career points leaders in Ohio State history in William Buford. Those guys were replaced with Amadeo Della
Valle, who for the record has the potential to be my all-time favorite Buckeye
because of his hair, hustle, sweet stroke, and swag (see Twitter). No offense to Amadeo, but he’s mostly played
during garbage time so Thad is trying the whole addition-by-subtraction approach
I guess.
For as bad as Ohio State has been at times this year, they
currently hold a top-15 national ranking, have an almost-guaranteed win left
on the schedule (Illinois at home), and a chance to make a statement
at Indiana. They should be a 4 or 5 seed
come tournament time, but we’ve already seen that every top team has flaws and
is beatable. The first game in the NCAA
tournament and possibly even the second won’t be a “high quality” opponent that
OSU has struggled with all season. As
long as the Buckeyes don’t go into a tailspin and bring it every night, they’ll
be in every game they play because of their stifling defense.
There are question marks, don’t me get wrong. There are about two “known” quantities on
this team. Deshaun Thomas will put up
18-25 a night and Aaron Craft will play relentless defense and provide great
energy…and some rosy red cheeks. Other
than that, I don’t know who is going to show up. Free throws have been all over the
place. Same goes for 3 pointers. The defense has even disappeared at times. Like every college basketball team this year,
they are flawed.
The obituary was being written for this team following
back-to-back losses (the first such occurrence in 121 games) which led to
losses in 3 of 4 that culminated in the beat down by the Badgers. That was followed up by a no-show near home loss
to Northwestern who has SEVEN scholarship players on their roster. Ohio State can play with anyone in the
country…when they’re on. Fortunately for
them, there is not a dominant team in college basketball this year. This gives them a shooters chance come tournament
time. However, every team is probably
thinking the same thing. Just a few
short weeks until we find out which teams are going to weave their way through
the mess that is college basketball all the way to the Final Four.
Enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the ride.
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