Another day, another Noah Br—Ben Victor!!!!—highlight:
Good gawd, Binjimen Victor. pic.twitter.com/Zp5FCiVJxU
— Paul Blogba (@Dubsco) August 17, 2016
Enemies better hope J.T. Barrett doesn't get the ability to just chuck it anywhere on the field. Seems like that would be tough to defend.
THE NEXT DRAFTEES ON DECK. Ohio State lost 15 players to the NFL this offseason. While that seems like a lot, it will be routine in a couple of years.
And while Ohio State has yet to play a game this season, it's never too early to look at the 2017 NFL Draft Board to see where Buckeyes stand.
From Dane Brugler of CBS Sports, who rates Ohio State No. 10 in his draft rankings:
| PLAYER | POSITION | COMMENT |
|---|---|---|
| SAM HUBBARD | DE | "He flashes loose athleticism for that size along with the ball instincts to find the ball, track and finish." |
| RAEKWON MCMILLAN | MLB | "He has the strong hands and power base to shed contact while not losing sight of his target, leveraging holes to pilfer the ball carrier of his lane." |
| PAT ELFLEIN | C | "He needs to improve his pre-snap reads to better anticipate and adjust to pressures, but his power allows him to quickly recover and reset his base." |
| GAREON CONLEY | CB | "Similar to Apple, he is built well for the position with the height and arm length to match up with opposing wide receivers in bump-and-run coverage." |
| TYQUAN LEWIS | DE | "Lewis is thickly put together with the lower body flexibility to launch himself off the snap, attacking blockers as they get into position." |
| BILLY PRICE | OG | "One of the strongest players not only in the program but also the conference, Price has forceful hands to control and steer defenders once he latches." |
| J.T. BARRETT | QB | "Barrett isn't a proven downfield passer and Ohio State's offense isn't exactly a prep course for what he'll be asked to do in the NFL, but his leadership, intangibles and ability to move the chains are an intriguing package for pro teams to consider." |
Call me crazy, but this could look different when the Cleveland Browns are on the clock with the No. 1 pick of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Other players Brugler says to watch: Curtis Samuel, Dontre Wilson, Corey Smith, Marcus Baugh, Dante Booker, Marshon Lattimore, and Cam Burrows.
If Baugh gets drafted next year, who cares if OSU never throws to its tight end? That will be a certifiable NFL pipeline that will attract plenty of blue chip talent.
Also kind of shocked not to see Noah Brown listed. National media are about to get a grizzly 4:59 a.m. wake-up call.
R.I.P. RGIII. Injuries plagued Ryan Shazier through much of his first two years in the NFL, which were otherwise stellar. Once again 100%, he's looking to continue his trajectory, which should petrify Browns and Bengals fans.
From nfl.com:
Before the legendary Dick LeBeau was ushered out of town, following the 2014 campaign, and Keith Butler was promoted to defensive coordinator, Butler was the linebackers coach. He admits he'll always be hardest on this group. He speaks critically about Shazier needing "to develop his mind a little bit more." And yet, he unflinchingly says, "He's going to be a lot better than he was last year."
Last year was a revelation in some ways. In Week 2, against the 49ers, Shazier was essentially the "spy" on San Francisco's absurdly athletic quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. He freelanced on occasion, he resembled a safety on others and he, in general, defied what the Niners expected to see. Shazier finished with 15 tackles, including a sack. He also forced one fumble and recovered another.
Butler, a starting linebacker himself for nine of his 10 pro seasons in Seattle, dances the line of giving Shazier free rein while impressing upon him the rules of reliability. Shazier says, in truth, he takes fewer chances now. In Year 1, he was apt to use his speed to get underneath a block. In Year 3, he's more apt to take the block head on.
The worst part about Ryan Shazier for me, the Browns dope, is not only is he a wrecking ball strapped with C-4 against my pitiful team, but he's also a reminder of the Justin Gilbert–Johnny Football snafu.
I try to remember 2011 when as a freshman he bossed against Michigan with one functioning leg—plus some others things:
DARRON LEE TO START? When the New York Jets drafted Darron Lee, the prevailing assumption was he would spend most of 2016 as a backup. After earning some first-team reps early in fall camp, Lee backed it up Thursday night against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Now, he's projecting as a starter.
From nj.com:
FLORHAM PARK — Darron Lee had an awfully good first game in a Jets uniform.
In Thursday night's preseason opener against the Jaguars, Lee had four tackles, two tackles for a loss and a sack. He flashed, earned praise from teammates and coaches, and has since... moved up the depth chart?
"A ton of guys are getting reps," head coach Todd Bowles said on Tuesday. "We like to mix and match people and see how they look in pads. Guys have been put first, second, third team. We're just trying different combinations."
In every practice since the Jacksonville game, Lee has seen extended action with the Jets' starters. On Saturday, with David Harris out of practice for an excused reason, Lee played strong inside linebacker. On Sunday, with Harris back, Lee rotated in-and-out with weak inside linebacker Erin Henderson. On Monday, Lee took most reps with the first-team defense in their nickel package.
We'll get our next clue Friday night. If Lee locks a starting gig down, that's another piston in the Urban Meyer Recruiting Machine that will appear in almost every NFL game this year.
You know who watches the NFL? 'Croots.
(Please don't quote me on that. I have no idea what #teens watch.)
OVAL BEACH TOO TRILL. I thought my friends and I were suave cats when we brought a football and Gatorade mixed with cheap vodka to Oval Beach. As it turns out, we weren't half as chill as this 1980 gang.
From @OhioStateAlumni:
"On top of the world" is right. That dude tore High Street up that afternoon, probably walking that ball the whole way, too.
DID URBAN TANK THE IRISH? We all know about Urban Meyer's alleged love affair with the Notre Dame. Sure, whatever. Not like it's winning the Irish any titles.
But, what if Meyer tried to tank them? That'd be scandalous. And while I'm not ready to accuse Meyer of tanking the Irish, I would like to present these facts.
From usatoday.com on Aug 12th:
The comparisons aren’t exact, but the situation is similar enough that Kelly called Urban Meyer during the offseason. He asked for advice, and for what Meyer would have done differently in hindsight. Kelly says Meyer told him the Buckeyes struggled to find an offensive identity.
Fast forward to yesterday:
NEWS: Both DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire will play quarterback at Texas, #NotreDame coach Brian Kelly just said.
— Brian Hamilton (@BrianHamiltonSI) August 17, 2016
Makes you think, doesn't it? But hey, Zaire seems thrilled:
#NotreDame QB Malik Zaire on Brian Kelly's decision: "My whole goal is to turn chicken crap into chicken salad. We gotta make him right."
— Brian Hamilton (@BrianHamiltonSI) August 17, 2016
Should be a fun implosion to watch.
THOSE WMDs. Stealing Bitcoin with badges... Why Your Team Sucks: Indianapolis Colts... Getty photographer explains iconic Usain Bolt photo... Slovakia wine region waiting for spotlight... Origins and evolutions of the Cleveland accent... Warren G. Harding did not coin "normalcy."
