The 11W Football Mailbag is the only stop you need for answers to your most pressing questions about Ohio State's next matchup. Have a question? Ask it, and if we can, we'll answer it.
I (and I assume I'm not alone) felt like the Buckeyes tried to get too "cute." Instead of calling straight forward runs and easy short to mid-range passes, it seemed like every (overstatement) play was designed to go to the outside force a big play. Is this an incorrect observation, or is there a reason to this perceived madness? Was it a result of the caliber of the opponent, trying different plays, or just underwhelming play calling? — ChicagoBuckeye
I don't think Ohio State tried to get too "cute" against Hawai'i as much as people might think. Yeah, I'm sure it was a tad frustrating for fans watching to see the guys on the offense *only* produce 31 points in a game the Buckeyes nearly covered. Darn them.
Urban Meyer spoke Wednesday about how they had a chance to hit a few big plays against the Rainbow Warriors in similar ways like we're accustomed to seeing, but they just missed.
You're not wrong in thinking the offense tried to break rushes or passes outside in hopes of making a big play, but I don't think it was as a result of underwhelming play calling. Hawai'i's defense played hard and it showed what could happen when their opponent tries to sleepwalk through a game. Plus, I'll leave you with this quote from Meyer after the game regarding the offensive style:
"And someone said back to basics: Our basics are not just north/south, we're east/west as well. But we weren't hitting it like we should. So we'll get better."
Any chance we will actually see Ed Warinner try to get Nick Vannett involved in the offense? We all know how many playmakers there are on the team, but it seems like tight end is always the forgotten position, and Vannett has shown he has got the hands to be one of the best in the country. 2 catches for 23 yards is a pretty disappointing start. — ScarletAndGrayMatter
All fair points and great questions, but the only thing I'll say against your idea to get Vannett the ball more is what Meyer said this week about his performance against Hawai'i: It just wasn't very good.
There's no question Vannett is (and has been) a vital cog in the machine that is the Ohio State offense, but at tight end, he has to show with consistency that he can block well on the edge in order to get his number called. As a guy who played tight end in high school, that's just how the chips fall sometimes. Also, if Vannett's out on a route and Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett elect to go elsewhere with the ball, that's not necessarily his fault, either.
Does Warinner stay on the field all year, or is it better for him to go to the box? Just seems like he has a lot on his plate dealing with the O-line and calling plays. Also who gets the most sacks this week, Joey Bosa or Darron Lee? — Brutus360
I think your question about Warinner holds some weight, just because the man guy who called the plays last year (Tom Herman) sat in the press box and therefore could see lineups and formations a little easier. Then again, Meyer and Warinner said multiple times during camp that the play call is bounced between them and quarterbacks coach Tim Beck, with Meyer almost always having the final say-so. Specifically, if Meyer wants someone who's hot to get the ball, he gets the ball. He said that on his radio show Thursday.
So to answer your question, I'll say I think Warinner stays on the field the whole season. He's got his duties to keep his big boys up front in line, which he can't do from the box. It is a lot on his plate, sure, but Warinner is one of the best minds on the staff. Frankly, any criticism toward him flat out astounds me.
As far as your other question, I'll go with Bosa. He got one taken away last week, so game on.
Also: You weren't the only person to submit a question mentioning Warinner but also misspelling his name so this isn't a shoutout to just you, Brutus, because I've seen it misspelled elsewhere on the site. Say it with me: W-A-R-I-N-N-E-R. Two Rs, two Ns.
Will we begin to see Braxton Miller doing more than running out of the gun formation? Or do you feel as if this is something Warinner and Co. save for a MSU or other "top notch" opponent? When will we see Miller sweep, stop and throw? — IamJoeHall, Osusam77
Meyer mentioned on his radio show Thursday that we "might see a pass from him this week," but that doesn't mean a whole lot. I think a lot of Miller not having thrown the ball yet has to do with opponents, because they don't want to put something on film in the non-conference with Sparty coming to Ohio Stadium in November.
However, I think it more has to do with his shoulder's health than anything. He doesn't trust it enough to put it in harm's way like that again and potentially be lost for the season. I'd expect that to change midway through the year, if I had to guess.
According to the numbers, Northern Illinois' defense looks a little more stout against the run than the pass. Do you know what kind of defense they run, if its a man, zone, 3-4? Do you think they have the scheme/athletes to slow down the Buckeyes offense like Hawai’i did? Where is NIU's biggest strength on defense, and how do you expect the Buckeye offense to counter it? — Bsanders2519 and NavyBuckeye91
You're correct with looking at the numbers and coming to that assumption about the Husky defense. The unit's allowed an average of 305 passing yards through two games in 2015, and just 128 on the ground.
They run a 4-3 defense with man coverage on the back end, but at times switch to an odd front on in passing situations. The best player on the unit is fifth-year senior middle linebacker Boomer Mays No. 45, but the weak passing defense should help Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett get well this week after last week's iffy performance. I would expect Ohio State to trust its offensive line and run the ball up the middle, but throw it plenty over the middle or on swing passes to test the linebackers.
NIU has averaged roughly 360 yards per game passing with no interceptions and six touchdowns, while they've been just north of 200 yards per game rushing and also having six touchdowns on the ground. While the passing game looks like the more obvious threat, do you think Ohio State's defense may give up some larger chunks on the ground game while we respect the passing game? (basically, is this the game where the defense starts to look human again?) — RunningFree
Simply put, yes, this is a game where the Ohio State defense looks a little more normal. Max Wittek had a day to forget last Saturday, but he also didn't have the talent at skill positions that Drew Hare does at Northern Illinois.
I could see Ohio State playing to protect the pass more early to get a feel on how the Huskies plan to attack it, leaving some holes for running back Joel Bouagnon to work. He's scored five of those six touchdowns you mentioned, but don't sleep on Hare as a runner either. He's no Jordan Lynch, but he knows what he's doing in this his second year as starting quarterback.
Where does this NIU team stack up against the NIU squads that have been dominating the MAC and recently appeared in a BCS bowl? How has NIU's offense looked without Jordan Lynch? Is Jordan Hare going to be the best quarterback Ohio State’s faced so far? — THE, Sightlygrain6 and HotSauceCommittee
I combined all three of your questions because they each housed a lot of the same general ideas.
This Northern Illinois team isn't nearly as good as the one that lost to Florida State, 31-10, in the 2013 Orange Bowl. Why? It doesn't have Lynch anymore, the guy who finished third in the 2013 Heisman Trophy voting. That guy was a stud.
However, Hare is easily the best quarterback Ohio State's faced so far in this young 2015 season. Michael Brewer was solid — remember, he never lost a half in the two years he played Ohio State before getting hurt on Labor Day — as was Max Wittek, but Hare is a more potent passer and gets the ball out very quick. The Huskies won the MAC last year, but were picked to finish third in the West Division of the conference, behind Toledo and Western Michigan. We already know what Toledo is capable of doing on a national stage and will get a look at the Broncos next week. Rest assured, that division is solid, and Northern Illinois is a big reason why.
What was the environment like in practice this week? Based on last week's performance, what areas did the coaching staff put most of their focus? — LTWilliams
In order to get the specific answers to those questions, I'd have to be an employee of Meyer's staff. The head coach did say Wednesday, though, that the team had two very good days in practice earlier in the week, something he doesn't normally say.
As far as where the staff put most of their focus, I'd say it's defensively to stop Hare and the Huskies. Yes, the unit pitched a shutout last week, but Northern Illinois is a different animal than Hawai'i. The offense at times was iffy against the Rainbow Warriors, but I think that was a result of a short work week.
Rod Carey was talking this week about a receiver they had that was 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds from North Dakota. He said this kid is a total stud and how glad he is to have him on his team. Do you know anything about and who this kid is? What's the scoop on him? — D-Day0043
The kid is Kenny Golladay, who is fast, big and has great hands. He transferred from North Dakota following the 2013 season, so had to sit out last year due to NCAA rules. It makes sense that Carey is excited to have his services this year for Hare, because he's already racked up 357 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He good.
For more on him and how Ohio State has to prevent him from having a huge day, I'll refer to the esteemed Kyle Jones.
What matchups will you be watching in this game? — NOLABuckeye
Piggybacking off my previous answer a bit about Golladay, how Eli Apple and Gareon Conley defend him is the first thing I'll watch for Saturday. If they give up a couple long passes to him that result in scores — think of the three 60-plus yarders to Cincinnati's Chris Moore last year — then the Buckeyes could be in trouble.
Other than that, I'll be watching Ohio State's offensive line when it decides to run the ball. The interior guys didn't play well Saturday against Hawai'i. Did they fix the issues?
Meyer and the players have mentioned that when they switched their protection before the snap, the Warriors would immediately notice and blitz from the opposite side of the field. Why, then, did we not simply fake the audible for the line protection? Thinking about it now, it is rather obvious as to when OSU audibles before the snap. Do you see this as a possible change going forward? — Cooper
I didn't think to ask anyone about why they didn't fake the audible at the line of scrimmage. Maybe they did. Maybe they didn't. We'll never know!
It could be something that changes moving forward because of how experienced the line is, but I wouldn't bet on it. Those guys are worried about getting their blocks aligned in the final moments before the ball is snapped, in addition to the snap count. You want to add to their plate the idea of a fake audible? Just seems like a lot to me.
Any updates on Torrance Gibson and how he's progressing? Any chance we see him on the field this weekend? — BUCKI06
Gibson is still working his way back into the lineup after his ankle sprain. As far as I know, he's healthy, but don't expect to see him this weekend. There's just too much talent at the wide receiver spot ahead of him.
Is it safe to say that any true freshmen that doesn't get into either this game or next is redshirting? Any surprises on that front? — BrutusB, WezBuck28
It's probably safe to assume that, but to be politically correct you can never really say someone is going to redshirt until the end of the season. If there is a rash of injuries at one spot, then a young guy might get pressed into action.
I don't think there are too many surprises on that front, just because Ohio State is so loaded and deep at literally every position. Isaiah Prince is the backup right tackle and Denzel Ward and Eric Glover-Williams are really the only other true freshmen who've played, just on special teams. There just isn't a lot of room on offense or defense.
What are your thoughts on the kicking competition? Is Jack Willoughby the guy at placekicker (would think he holds onto kickoff duties), or do we see Sean Nuernberger back at some point? — Hovenaut
Ah, yes, the weekly #kickergeddon question. It's completely merited, though, as long as there's that lovely little OR on the depth chart.
Anyway, I think Willoughby is the guy at placekicker based off what Meyer's said this week. Until Nuernberger beats him out, it's his job moving forward, just like quarterback with Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett.
How do you see the snap count percentages between Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett breaking down this week? Do you believe Meyer is setting J.T. up to start Big Ten season? — Bucks4nuts and KevinJ
I think Jones is going to get the majority of the snaps, though I thought that last week and then he didn't play all that well so he was yanked for half a quarter. Meyer's going to roll with him unless he gives him a good excuse not to, especially because he said the offense doesn't change much regardless which guy is in the game. If I had to put a number on the breakdown, I'd go 80-20 Jones-Barrett. The latter will get some mop up duty.
As for the second question, no. He seems pretty set on going with Jones.
Given the perceived level of competition the Buckeyes will face through October, is it realistic to expect playing time to continue to reach down to about 6-8 different guys at WR/H and 2-3 RBs? Also, to get more players seasoned, could we see more rotation on the O-line to get playing time for underclassmen? — BUCKEYE3M, ScarletNGrey01
Sure. There's talent all over the place on offense and if Ohio State hops out to a big lead in any of its future games, it's going to get a chance to play. Same goes with the offensive line, where I could see Jamarco Jones and Isaiah Prince getting the earliest reps from backups. Ed Warinner's spoken highly of each of them.
With teams that are coming up on our schedule there should be about a month and a half of games that aren't super close. Who is the one guy who will shock us in the late mop up duty time? Is Kyle Berger’s career at Ohio State done after this latest injury? — VegasBuckeye04
Ohio State should win its next rung of games pretty handily, but let's not get too far ahead of ourselves. Crazy things happen, especially on the road in the Big Ten.
Good question about the one guy who could make waves in mop up time, though. To answer it, I'll go with Mike Weber. Meyer said he's going to be out this week but could be finally full-go for Western Michigan. He's very, very good, so I expect him to earn some touches provided he doesn't have any hindrances with his knee.
On Berger: Yes, I think so. It sucks for him, but he just can't stay healthy and is falling so far behind his peers in his development. Just going to be hard to recover at this point.
BONUS: Who is the fastest (straight line speed) on the team? — FlyerBuckeye
There's a lot of debate about this, but I think the answer is Gareon Conley. Darron Lee spoke about his crazy speed on Wednesday, as well as how he can dunk a basketball with ease. Others: Parris Campbell, Braxton Miller and Ezekiel Elliott.
BONUS: Hot dog, Nachos, or Soft Pretzel? What's your go-to in stadium snack? — D1145fresh
Nachos, without question. We don't get the standard stadium eats up in the press box (except at Michigan State, which is horrible), but when I do go to sporting events at my leisure it's almost a guarantee I buy nachos. Throw some salsa, jalapeños and onions on there, and I'm a happy camper. (until the next morning)
Thanks for the great questions this week, all. Looking forward to next week.
