After kicking things off in style on Tuesday, the football Buckeyes take the field later this afternoon to stage practice number two of 15, culminating with the spring game slated for April 13 in Cincinnati's Paul Brown Stadium.
Ross broke down the first practice with precision, highlighting Braxton Miller's improved mechanics, Jordan Hall's strong debut in the slot and Devin Smith's projected versatility, while surmising Josh Perry could very well make a push to be the staring MIKE. Working predominantly from the nickel, the Bullets also slotted Tyvis Powell at first-team star, noting the 6'3" product out of Bedford could see plenty of snaps this fall.
Schematically, the Buckeyes worked on a diverse set of plays, paying special attention to the inside zone read, even showing it from the pistol. In the passing game, it was marvelous to learn Ohio State focused on crossing routes. Hall gave an early glimpse of how successful those routes could be and Philly Brown could also flourish on catch-and-run plays across the middle.
Today's practice in the Woody is followed by an interview session featuring Luke Fickell, Ryan Shazier, Curtis Grant, Perry, and Camren Williams. Kyle will hold it down and serve up the goods later tonight.
Finally, Ohio State's Pro Day will be held tomorrow with Zach Boren, Zach Domicone, Reid Fragel, Garrett Goebel, Johnathan Hankins, Travis Howard, Orhian Johnson, Taylor Rice, Jake Stoneburner, John Simon, Nathan Williams and Etienne Sabino all expected to be in attendance.
I CAN'T GET NO...SATIS-BRAXTON. Despite a stellar sophomore season in which Braxton Miller was named the B1G's most outstanding offensive player, the kid has refused to rest on his laurels.
Miller worked out with QB Whisperer George Whitfield Jr. over the holidays and anyone who has seen him throw since has praised his improved footwork and delivery. Even after Miller graced the cover of Sports Illustrated, the word is that Miller will reportedly spend his spring break working out with Whitfield, this time in Norman, Oklahoma, alongside Georgia signal-caller Aaron Murray, who plans to be there for six days:
“We’re just going to train in the morning and the afternoon and Landry (Jones) will train between us,” Murray said. “It should be fun. We’ll get a couple of two-a-days in, work with him, get to work with Braxton. I think that will be pretty cool.”
If the story holds true, you have to feel good about Braxton's dedication to improving his overall offensive prowess, and specifically his skills in the passing game. And all this from a guy that Tom Herman told SI could "be as good as there ever was." Giggity.
NOT FADE AWAY. Ohio State's stunningly beautiful upset of the Indiana Hoosiers, on the road no less, has caused many fans and national pundits alike to revisit their opinion on the Buckeyes, and more specifically, on just how much noise the Buckeyes might make in the Big Dance.
Indiana grad and straight-shooter Eamonn Brennan came away impressed:
It means Ohio State might just be elite after all. It's not like Ohio State wasn't held in high regard before Tuesday night. It's just that the regard was predictable, almost staid. Ohio State was good enough to beat teams it should beat, particularly at home, but not good enough to reach up into the top five or the top 10 and knock off the true national title contenders. The Buckeyes' defense was always going to show up, but their lack of a second scorer to complement Thomas, their lack of a real offensive punch, would hold them back. If there is any impression to take away from Tuesday night in Bloomington, it's this: If Ohio State defends like that, it can beat just about anybody.
Mark Titus also received some homer-validation thanks to the upset, showing optimism that trumped our own dose of Scarlet Fever just days before Matta's squad curb-stomped the candy-stripers on Senior Night:
When the Buckeyes play great defense like they did when they beat Michigan State and like they did against Indiana on Tuesday night, Ohio State is every bit a national title contender. If they get contributions on offense from guys other than Deshaun Thomas, there's no telling how good the Buckeyes can be.
Look, call me a homer if you want, but the Buckeyes have the talent to compete with anyone in the country and they're finally starting to have games in which they excel on both ends of the floor. Tuesday night, everything came together and Ohio State fans saw something they've been waiting for since November. Shannon Scott, Evan Ravenel, and Sam Thompson all played the best game of their careers on the same night that Thomas and Aaron Craft brought their A-games, and Ohio State looked like the second-ranked team and national title favorites while Indiana looked like the underachievers searching for an identity. It was the most impressive road win in college basketball this season and it could be a turning point for an Ohio State team that never seemed able to get over the hump.
Time will tell if the Buckeyes have really turned the corner – in that multiple players are finally ready to contribute on a consistent basis – but there's no question the victory is a huge dose of confidence for a team that could be hitting its stride at just the right time.
Ravenel Day will be held before Sunday's tip against IllinoisTORN AND FRAYED. An added bonus to the upset of Indiana, a win that cost the Hoosiers a chance to win their first outright B1G championship in 20 years, was the impact it had on Senior Night.
For reasons my lazy fingers have yet to fully discover, Indiana stuck with tradition and held Senior Night festivities after the game despite the late tipoff, foolishly – or cockily – putting the event at risk of finishing in the wee hours of the morning, potentially against the bitter backdrop of defeat. The questionable planning left Christian Watford, Jordan Hulls and Derek Elston to entertain a spent Assembly Hall crowd that wondered just how much snow was coming down outside.
In an even cornier scene, Tom Crean and company were presented with the B1G regular season championship trophy since they can do no worse than share the title, something they would have to do if they lose at Michigan on Sunday. The players, who had just lost by nine at home to a team they were favored to beat by eight, were decked out in championship t-shirts and hats. As the event dragged on past midnight, few fans were left when the Hoosiers cut down the nets.
On one hand, I get that the Hoosiers took the chance to celebrate clinching at least a share of the regular season championship considering their long drought. On the other, they could have made the event look significantly less cheesy if they did what virtually everyone else does, which is honor the seniors before tipoff of the last game. Further, they could have even made a few more dollars by hosting some sort celebration event in Assembly Hall before or after the B1G tournament if accepting a trophy and cutting down the nets was of such importance.
Props to Thad for sticking it to Tom Arnold one more time.
YOU GOT THE SILVER. Examining the salaries of athletic directors at schools in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision for the first time since October 2011, USA Today determined that AD compensation is up 14%, to an average of $515,000 annually.
The news comes on the heels of various articles reporting that academic spending across colleges is either decreasing or not increasing at the same rate as spending in athletic departments across the country.
R.C. Johnson, the recently retired Memphis AD, suggested his former peers earn every red cent citing the demands of the job:
Johnson figures athletics directors earn every penny. He defines the job's degree of difficulty with admirable concision: "Sell more tickets. Raise more money. Win more games. Graduate everybody. And don't cheat."
Based on those pressures, it's hard to take issue with the salaries. In fact, those ADs serving at nationally elite football factories and/or upper-echelon basketball schools could probably make an argument for being underpaid. That said, the report indicates there are currently nine athletic directors pulling in more than $1 million annually.
Interestingly, Vanderbilt's David Williams is the highest-paid athletic director at $3.2 million while Louisville's Tom Jurich is second at $1.4 million. Ohio State's Gene Smith holds down the seventh slot at just under $1.1 million per year.
IT'S ALL OVER NOW. Number of inhabitants per doctor in the world... The most intense college hoops fights of recent memory... MATH... The home cities of American television shows... Worst Hockey Fight Ever... The home states of all American NBA hoops players... Nine years ago yesterday... Vrabro with a smokin' birthday wish... The Longest Minute In Sports... Top 20 coaches on the hot seat... Weird Al shreds... 177 days to go... Cool shirt, cooler footwear. Tammy Faye Baker meets an airbag... Courtesy of Wax Poetic, Record Store Day 2013 is boasting an impressive vinyl lineup. Here's to hoping I can score Lawn Boy.
