We live in a world where the Chicago Cubs are "World Series Champions." I hope every Ohioan looks themselves in the mirror today and does a gut check. Is this what we want? A bunch of transplant computer coders coming into Cleveland and buying up StubHub tickets? Because that's what I saw last night.
It's time to depose Chicago as the capital of the Midwest. Its pizza is trash and it's overcrowded and dirty. Columbus today, Columbus tomorrow, and Columbus forever.
Cubs fans take a walk. I'm banning all pro-Cubs comments.
IT'S A MENTALITY, MAN. The older I get, the more I appreciate mentality. It's not infallible, but the right mentality is a powerful force in life.
Take Ohio State's red zone defense. It's still good, despite what everyone says about the local team being bad. You might think it has something to do with Urban Meyer recruiting elite athletes that can guard shrunken spaces... but that would be a disservice to the mentality carried by the Silver Bullets.
From espn.com:
Nobody in the Big Ten has been better and only one team in the nation has limited red zone touchdowns at a more successful rate than the Buckeyes, who will go into this weekend’s huge clash with No. 10 Nebraska conceding them just 33 percent of the time. Compacted into an even tighter space facing goal-to-go situations, Ohio State has been the country’s most formidable unit at barricading the end zone, a scenario it found itself in on Northwestern’s final drive in a one-possession game.
But when the stakes were highest, the Buckeyes produced a tackle for loss, generated pressure on the quarterback that drew a holding penalty and forced three incomplete passes to force a field goal and protect the lead. That set up the offense to run out the clock on an important victory, keeping Ohio State alive in the chase for the conference title.
[...]
"The biggest thing is you’ve got to have guys that will play with a chip on their shoulder, won’t take no for an answer," [linebacker Chris Worley said.] "I think it’s more of a mindset and then just having the right guys in the right positions. I don’t think it’s the scheme, and even the coaches will tell you it’s not the scheme.”
Sounds like we discovered the problem with the offense, y'all. The scheme isn't the problem. It must be the attitude.
Japes aside, if OSU maintains their red zone fortitude, it will be a tough out for any opponent remaining. My body is ready for the impending Waffle House brawls.
GIVE BOWEN THE BALL. I'm hoping to see some wild plays against Nebraska. It's a night game against a one-dimensional team, and it'd be nice to see the local team get back to playing to win and not just to avoid losing.
One way to do that would be to get No. 44 Branden Bowen — a guy some wanted to replace Isaiah Prince at Right Tackle — some catches out of the backfield.
From bcsn.tv:
“Yeah, we’re looking at him for post routes and corner routes,” Ohio State coach Urban Meyer joked Monday.
[...]
The move allowed the Buckeyes some extra muscle in the running game, and gave the offensive line a hand in certain formations. Bowen is not taking starter Marcus Baugh’s spot as Ohio State’s top tight end, but he gave depth to a position Meyer said has been beaten up by injuries.
“We had a couple of injuries at the tight end position, and he’s a guy that's really earned some playing time,” Meyer said. “And he can catch, by the way. But he played pretty good in that game.”
Throw the damn ball to Bowen. Nebraska coach Mike Riley called Nick Bosa and Bobby Landers "No. 97" and "No. 67." So he clearly hasn't spent enough time watching Ohio State film to know about Bowen.
Meyer should make Riley pay for that ignorance by sending the 6'5" 320-pound Bowen on a wheel route.
ARMSTRONG? WHAT? I don't get political often in this space, folks. People always accuse me of political beliefs. (You mention a Waffle House meal and suddenly you support Eugene Debs.)
Regardless, the federal government needs to investigate Tommy Armstrong's eligibility. This dude was in college with me, and I last attended in the winter of 2011.
From theozone.net:
Enter Glover-Williams, who has been a special teams daemon this year, but strickly a defensive player since his arrival on campus. In high school, however, Glover-Williams was a first team Division I running back in Ohio, having rushed for 1,149 yards a senior, and that's why the Buckeyes are using him to emulate Armstrong.
The Buckeyes are focused on Armstrong's running ability, but they aren't forgetting about totally as a passer either, and remarkably Glover-Williams has been able to give the Buckeye defense at least a decent look at Armstrong as a passer as well.
"He's completed some passes," said Lattimore of Glover-Williams this week.
What's funny is Nebraska's passing game is worse than Ohio State's. It's the equivalent of letting a 2015 four-star OSU athlete play QB.
MEANWHILE, IN KNOXVILLE. Remember when Tennessee was a top-10 team? That was a hilarious three weeks.
Jalen Hurd, a former five-star Ohio State target, quit the team earlier this week. Wednesday, head coach Butch Jones was reduced to this:
Butch now talking about a @WSJ article looking into chest-bumps and high fives, saying his team needs that kind of energy.
— Paul Fortenberry (@Volquest_Paul) November 2, 2016
Butch just cited a Wall Street Journal report that proves teams that have more high-fives and chest bumps win more games.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) November 2, 2016
Who should replace Butch Jones in Knoxville? I vote Pete Rose, Hit King.
MAKES YOU THINK. Imagine seeing a crime spree on TV, and when the suspect's vehicle rolls across the screen, you think, "Damn, I know those wheels."
Such is what happened to the friends of Ikechi Emeaghara. When they saw PSAs about the "Buckeye Bandit" — suspected of robbing "countless" pharmacies and banks — they knew to whom those Tahoe wheels belonged.
From 10tv.com:
The man police say is the Buckeye Bandit is out of the hospital and behind bars. He faced a judge for the first time Wednesday.
[...]
The buckeye bandit got his nickname by wearing Ohio State gear as he robbed countless banks and pharmacies.
One known fact friends say is Ikechi Emeaghara is a Michigan fan.
Emeaghara faces 25 years in prison and a $250K fine.
Honestly, I respect it. If you're going to throw your life to crime, why not do it while dressed in the regalia of your blood enemies? Your friends would never suspect it... until they see your Tahoe sliding through a security camera on blades.
THOSE WMDs. Why NFL ratings are down, and you don't have to care... Killer sought by text message blast... All it takes to steal your face is a special pair of glasses... Colourful Carina Nebula blasted by brilliant nearby stars... Anthony Bourdain: The Interview.
