Given last night's Copa America result, I don't think the United States is as good as Argentina at soccer. Who knew?
the man is a god. #messi pic.twitter.com/4wp6JpOdf0
— brady phelps (@LobShots) June 22, 2016
BUCKS GET BACK TO BUSINESS. J.T. Barrett and Urban Meyer worked wonders in 2014, which is why many people (author included) thought he'd be the starter against Virginia Tech in 2015. That didn't come to pass.
However, when Barrett got his chances, he didn't look like the same quarterback. Obviously, things clicked against Michigan and Notre Dame, but it's not as if the passing game ever satisfied Meyer (or a perfectionist like Barrett).
That said, 2016 is a new year, which means another chance to right the well-balanced ship that launched Barrett into the record books in 2014.
From sbnation.com thorough breakdown of the magic possible between Meyer and Barrett:
With big tight end Marcus Baugh returning, the Buckeyes can continue to trot out their preferred spread-I formations and mix in two-back runs with the rest of their offense. By inverting the paths of the QB and RB on the "zone read" play, they can get Samuel on the perimeter with a lead blocker while asking Barrett to make reads and cuts between the tackles[.]
There's little doubt that the Buckeye run game will once again be highly effective in 2016, and the combination of Barrett, Samuel and their other tailbacks should make for a group that's both efficient and explosive. The question will be whether the Buckeyes can generate enough explosive plays with their run game or else capitalize on its efficiency with a back-breaking passing game like they had in 2014. That would make a truly elite offense.
Perhaps the most likely way for this to happen is if the Buckeyes can find targets for their quick, spread passing attack that can turn short throws into long gains through open-field explosiveness. With Samuel likely to play a major role in 2016 and young, explosive receivers like Torrance Gibson coming up the ranks, this is definitely a feasible outcome.
I agree, the offense should return to form in 2016, but I don't expect it to happen overnight. There are too many new faces that lack experience.
The good news is Ohio State's schedule is so tough a loss to Oklahoma won't derail its title chances in the least. While it's not certain Meyer, Tim Beck, and Ed Warinner will fall back into harmony, the kinks should be worked out by the start of Big Ten play when Chris Ash and Rutgers roll into Columbus.
By the end of the season, I expect to see the well-oiled machine reaping opponents.
SAM HUBBARD: BOSA'S FIRST REPLACEMENT. When Ohio State signed 2016 five-star DE Nick Bosa, many assumed the Little Bear to be the rightful heir to the Big Bear's throne. Bosa has the ability to do so and will play in 2016, but that thinking ignores what Ohio State has in Sam Hubbard.
From espn.com:
Subbing in for Bosa in the opener against Virginia Tech and again later in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, Hubbard more than held his own. He actually finished with more sacks (6.5) than Bosa (5) did. Those are very impressive numbers for a first-year player who wasn't even a starter.
Hubbard takes over a full-time role at defensive end this season, and big things could be on the way. The former star high school lacrosse player is extremely athletic -- he gained nearly 35 pounds to slide up from linebacker to defensive line after arriving on campus. Yet Hubbard probably won't face many of the same constant double-teams that Bosa had to deal with, at least not right away.
Ohio State's schedule features several teams that like to throw the ball a lot, including Bowling Green, Tulsa, Nebraska and Indiana. Hubbard should have plenty of chances to rush the passer, and I predict he'll finish with double-digit sacks.
Sam Hubbard is one of those athletes that could play defensive lineman, linebacker, or safety. He played safety in high school, so he hasn't been playing DE but for a few years.
Take Hubbard balling in 2016 to the blood bank, just don't be surprised when he jets for the NFL after this season. Scouts will love his game and will be quick to realize he's the type of man you build a championship team around.
TBDBITL TO ROCK IN CLEVELAND. Cleveland is hosting a parade for the world champion Cleveland Cavaliers today. I was going to take a vacation day and go up, but my body is still racked by the ramifications of my juvenile actions this weekend.
If you're a fan of the Cavs who missed out on the Game 7 celebrations and also want to experience the feeling of heroin without doing heroin, I suggest you head to the Sleeve and revel in the chaotic scenes.
The kingly tones of The Best Damn Band in the Land will supply the soundtrack.
From waitingfornextyear.com:
According to multiple outlets the parade, which will feature over 60 floats and the Ohio State marching band, will begin near Quicken Loans Arena and will travel east on Carnegie Avenue, north on E. 9th Street and then West on Lakeside Avenue, ending outside of the Cleveland Convention Center near Mall B where a one-hour rally will take place. There are also multiple reports surrounding crews setting up a stage at the north end of Mall B that will allow the thousands of Cleveland fans to fill in the grass-covered area that sits between the city's skyscrapers and the lakefront.
At some point, I promise my bandwagon ass is going to stop talking about the Cleveland Cavaliers' championship, but today is not that day.
This may be controversial, but the next time Ohio State wins a title (so about six months from now), the university needs to orchestrate a parade. Championship parades are the only good kind of parades and should be used at every opportunity.
THAT'S WHY HE'S THE TROLL SULTAN. Yes, Cardale, go on! It's entirely an Ohio thing:
I might know a lil something about finishing 3 games when the odds are stacked against you must be an Ohio thang pic.twitter.com/oNIygV2f2i
— Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) June 21, 2016
Can't wait to watch backup Bills QB Cardale Jones out-duel Tom Brady in the AFC championship before besting Aaron Rodgers in the Super Bowl.
HERE'S ANOTHER L, BAY AREA. Big, big news for Columbus on Tuesday as the U.S. Department of Transportation named the Discovery City its Smart City.
From dispatch.com:
The city beat out six other finalists for the competition to receive $50 million in grant funding from the federal government and Vulcan Inc. to develop Columbus into the nation’s proving ground for intelligent transportation systems.
That means that, soon, driver-less vehicles will roam parts of Columbus, access to electric vehicle charging stations will increase and and more cars will be able to communicate with traffic signals and other transportation infrastructure.[...]
The city also has about $90 million in local matching commitments lined up, including $19 million in public money. That gives it a total of $140 million to upgrade Columbus’ transportation network.
Columbus beat out San Francisco, Austin, Portland, Kansas City, Denver, and Pittsburgh for the honor, so its haters are welcome to continue their misguided snickering. I'll be too busy blogging from my driverless car, which I assume is already in the mail.
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