Pressuring Harris is key to a Buckeye victoryFollowing a too close for comfort 27-22 win over upstart Toledo in the 'Shoe, the Buckeyes take their talents to South Beach to face Jacory Harris and the Miami Hurricanes.
The 'Canes are riding a four game losing streak against ranked competition and they sport just a 15-7 mark in Sun Life Stadium. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes are 32-16 in night games and come in on a bit of a high thanks the reinstatement of Jordan Hall and Travis Howard though that is somewhat tempered by the fact both Nathan Williams and Philly Brown will not play due to injury.
With the spector of allegations and sanctions looming over this one from a national perspective, you may want to try to time up the radio broadcast with the ESPN telecast to spare yourself three and half hours of witty names for the game and relentless discussion on the state of both programs.
Beyond the drama both schools are going through with the NCAA, there are plenty of storylines for this matchup. Let's explore a few with this week's version of the roundtable...
With Hall and Howard back in the fold, Fickell has some decisions to make. How would you utilize Hall– or would you let him play at all?
Alex: I think you have to let him play. He probably already served one more game of suspension then he deserved, so I think that's enough punishment. In addition, Fickell's job is on the line this year and he'd be silly not to play his most dynamic threat on the offensive side of the ball. I think you'll see Hall in the backfield running the ball, in the slot catching passes, and being utilized on options, end arounds, and other more gimmicky plays. Remember his TD pass to Pryor last year? Don't sleep on that either.
Elika: I think not letting him play would be about as dumb as putting in a freshman with fumbleitis when all we're trying to do is escape from Toledo with our lives. I'm hopeful that Smith will eventually learn to hold on to the ball, but until he does- Hall gives us another weapon, and we could use one right now... him and Hyde should get the most touches.
Ramzy: I still long for the days when Walt Harris had the Ohio State backfield in splitbacks with two guys carrying a threat to run the ball or go wide for outlet passes on any given play (sigh).
What about Howard? Clarke and Roby have played very well on defense thus far so do you take one of them out or maybe use Howard at nickel?
Sam: Howard deserves to start, but I would have him be the nickel back this week and work him back as a starter next week.
Jeremy: I love how Clarke and Roby have played, and in my opinion the concept is to get the best 11 on the field. Can one of these guys play safety, or star? Can't be TOO hard to learn a brand new position in three days, can it?
Alex: I think Fickell will reward Clarke and Roby for their excellent play through the first two games, but on the second series of the game Howard goes in as the #1 corner. This kid is an absolute stud who is going to make a ton of plays this year and I have a really good feeling that playing in his hometown that he's going to give Jacory Harris some nightmares. I'd use all three of these guys against Miami's athletes and I think they will shut them down.
Last question on the Charity3 topic…How would you grade Gene Smith’s handling of this situation and why?
Ramzy: CharityGate is the shadiest thing thus far. Cash-filled envelopes either come from grandma or someone who doesn't want anyone to know that they're getting paid. Ohio State approved this thing twice. It's 188 miles from campus. Doug Archie said 1% of the charity activities that they approve as a department come from outside Central Ohio. Archie is Gene's guy, and by the Laws of Transitive DERP that means Gene has handled this terribly. Again.
Alex: I think Gene was obviously given some bad information last week that lead to the announcement of the players returning for Toledo which obviously didn't happen. I think he definitely should have instructed Fickell to keep his mouth shut until the reinstatement process was complete, so he definitely messed up in that aspect. Overall, I think it was fine though. It seems the delay in reinstatement came from the players either not being completely forthright, more information continuing to come out and needing investigation, or the NCAA wanting to put down their fist a bit. None of those are Gene's fault and his cooperation with the NCAA in getting these guys cleared by Tuesday afternoon needs to be recognized.
Elika: I always think this is such a tough question to answer. I know Gene personally and have seen firsthand what a smart, experienced and hardworking person he is. I feel for anyone in his shoes, there's only so much you can do to police a bunch of boys. In terms of dealing with the NCAA and the premature reinstatement, I'd be shocked to find out there are many ADs around the country that would've done a better job at handling that situation. Smith is one of the most experienced and accomplished ADs there is, his knowledge is mind boggling... sometimes trying to understand the NCAA is like trying to understand why your wife is crying over a TV commercial. You just do the best you can. Could he have done better? In retrospect, yes. Would many others have done better? I don't think so. I give him a B.
Speaking of Smith, will he be the AD that hires the next permanent head football coach at Ohio State? Or to rephrase, is Smith’s job in major jeopardy and if so, when might the university pull the plug?
Ramzy: Smith's crisis management has been terrible. Once this current, mutating catastrophe is over I cannot imagine how the BoT could keep him around.
Sam: I believe that Smith should be out as AD, however given that he still has his job after all of the turmoil for the football program, I think he keeps his job.
Elika: Buckeye Nation hasn't exactly been Gene's biggest supporter lately, but I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that for emotional fans, it's easier to direct your disappointment to an AD than it is your beloved coach that beat Michigan as easily as he tied his shoes *insert Denard joke here*. Obviously he's made mistakes, but I don't see them as having reached Mike Garrett levels of idiocy. Name me three more experienced, knowledgeable, accomplished ADs, and I'll jump on the bandwagon to pull the plug.
Jeremy: It is my opinion that Smith will last through this football season. He might hire the next coach, because more immediate upheaval would not be good for the school, but after the NCAA levies finally rulings about the "Tat 5", I think he's officially "on notice".
Miami’s o-line is a strength of their team. Having said that, how do you see Ohio State’s defensive line fairing against the ‘Cane front on Saturday night? Which d-lineman do you think is most likely to have a standout performance?
Ramzy: As a big believer in the defensive philosophy of 600lbs of Run-Stopping Ass™ I see the interior line needing a disruptive, rambunctious performance. The more times we hear "Hankins" on Saturday night, the better.
Alex: I think the bigger guys in Simon, Goebel, Hankins, and Bennett will do just fine clogging up their holes, stopping the run, and making plays in the backfield when they get the opportunity. The key lies in the LEO position with Williams out. I think Simon is most likely to have the stand out performance once again but Moore needs to be serviceable.
Most Buckeye fans seem to quickly dismiss Jacory Harris as a threat and frankly, welcome having him on the field against Ohio State thanks to his earned reputation as a turnover prone player. That said, who would you rather see guiding the Miami offense Saturday night, Harris or Stephen Morris, the kid that is coming off a 19/28, 195 yard, 2 INT performance in the loss at Maryland and why?
Jeremy: I would rather face Morris, despite Harris' inconsistent play from time to time. I expect him to be much better against the Buckeyes this weekend, especially if he's not put on his back early in the ball game.
Sam: Jacory Harris is a proven talent, and given that the OSU defense doesn't appear to force many turnovers, I would much rather have the unproven Stephen Morris on the field against OSU.
Corey: Harris. Every time I have watched this kid, he gets erratic when the pressure comes and I think OSU gets some pressure on him Saturday night. Harris has 39 INT's in his 3 years, including 15 last season and he is playing in a new system. If Ohio State's corners can cover like they have the first 2 games and the D-Line gets pressure, Harris will throw at least 2 picks.
How you think Fickell/Bollman handle the QB situation this week? Will Braxton play? If so, to what extent might he see action and who do you think is quarterbacking the offense in the 4th quarter of what should be a close game?
Corey: I think Miller gets a few snaps in the first half, as long as OSU is leading. I know everyone was up in arms that Miller didn't play last week, but OSU was trailing most of the first half and Fickell COULD NOT lose that game. He had to go with the senior leader who knows where to go with the ball and when to throw it away. If it's close in the 4th, I think Bauserman is in there, as Miami gets a steady does of Hyde and Hall, with a sprinkling of short passes to Stoney. If it's close or OSU is behind, I wouldn't be surprised if Miller doesn't see the field again.
Ramzy: I think Miami's secondary is begging to be shredded. If Bauserman can exploit that in the face of what should be a lot of front-seven pressure and blitzing there won't be any reason to take him out of the game. If he's successfully audibling into screen passes and draw plays while hitting TEs on dump-offs and WRs who should be able to get open, I think Braxton will stay on the bench again.
Elika: Braxton will play. Braxton has to play. If nothing else, for my sanity. I think the extent he sees action is going to be determined by the flow of the game and how things go. I do think, however, it's pretty clear that Bauserman is the man of choice in the 4th quarter of a close game.
What’s the one thing Ohio State must do in order to win this game?
Alex: Tresselball, ironically, is the forumla to win this game. Defense, field position, time of possession, and limiting turnovers beats the Hurricanes.
Corey: Run the ball well. The O-Line has to open up some holes for the backs, allowing OSU to control some of the clock. The 'Canes may stack the box again, but if they can't get the running game going and The Baus has to chuck it 25+ times, it could be a long night. However, if Miami does load the box and Bauserman can hit a couple of those bombs he missed on last week, then the 'Canes will have to loosen up.
Ramzy: Not kick 14 points into Miami's hands again like last year. This year's team cannot win despite doing that. Last year's could.
Finally, a bit off topic but what do you think about the Pro Combat uniforms unveiled yesterday that OSU will wear for the Wisconsin game?
Sam: I like the Pro Combat uniforms and am excited to wear them. They look really intimidating when the Buckeyes wear them and play well.
Corey: I've gotten used to the Combat uni's for one game a year. I still feel they are ugly every year they come out, but once OSU wears them and proceeds to put a whooping on someone, they are the coolest uni's EVER.
Ramzy: (Dolly Parton version) "And IIIIIII-EEEEEEE-IIIIIIIIII, will always, hate themmmmmemememem ooooh yeah, will always haaaaaaaate themmmmmmmm..."
