Urban Meyer and various members of the football Buckeyes met with the media after practice last night, ahead of a Saturday night showdown with the Penn State Nittany Lions and Meyer it clear he expects a "street fight".
Talking about the PSU offense, Meyer believes it's a must that the Buckeyes pressure Christian Hackenberg so he can't sit back in the pocket and wait for a coverage breakdown in the OSU secondary. How the Buckeyes go about trying to make Hackenberg uncomfortable, specifically if they can get solid pressure without an extra rusher and also, just how often the Bullets actually do dial up the blitz will be an interesting piece of the game plan to watch.
Meyer noted the defensive staff took far too long in adjusting to Iowa's game plan last Saturday so it's likely Fickell and company will act with a bit more urgency should Penn State find consistent success in the early going.
Offensively, Braxton Miller said he wants to get tight end Jeff Heuerman involved which is a great thing to hear after last week's success. I discussed it at length after Heuerman's career-high five reception performance against the Hawkeyes not just because it's so rare OSU features the tight end as a pass catcher but moreso because of the six times he was targeted, five came on 1st down.
If nothing else, the extra offensive option especially on 1st down can help keep linebackers honest that might be cheating up to stuff the run.
STICKY FINGERS. Former Buckeye and current BTN staffer Stanley Jackson rapped with Brent Yarina yesterday on the subject of the B1G's best wide receiver and I have to say I'm in total agreement with the man that stole snaps from Joe Germaine.
Interestingly, for a conference that collectively kinda blows and is often erroneously boxed in as being a slogging, slow band of boring footballers, the league does have a decent crop of receivers. The headliners are obviously Jared Abbrederis, Philly Brown, Jeremy Gallon and Allen Robinson with guys like Cody Latimer, Devin Smith and Quincy Enunwa making consistent noise.
Jackson, when asked to name the top receiver in the league, cited Robinson who is the early league-play leader in receptions per game (8.5) while ranking 2nd in yards per game with 128.5. Clearly, the OSU secondary will have its hands full and even if Roby is on his game, Robinson brings a 6'3" frame and Christian Hackenberg has done pretty welll at giving Robinson a chance to high-point the football.
I have to believe Roby is approaching this game as a redemption opportunity of sorts so those two should be a sick matchup to watch all night.
Could you drive past Michigan's digital billboard and not crash?HOOPS, I DID IT AGAIN. I know a portion of you struggle to care about OSU basketball until a fork has been poked in the football season but Thad Matta's crew tips off the schedule two weeks from Saturday and it's my belief that you should find it in your heart to give his program as much love as you do Urban's.
Specifically, Aaron Craft is as fine a student athlete as you will ever come across and entering his senior season, the talk of whether or not he has a shot in the NBA has been a notable topic.
Matta, as you'd expect, has gone to bat for his guy:
"I think he can play in the NBA, yes. A lot of teams like to carry three point guards. The one thing about Aaron Craft is he wins, and there's a huge premium in my mind for guys that do that. He's played a lot of different roles for us. I sure hope (he gets the chance). Defensively, there are none better. He's the best defender in college basketball and has been for the last couple of years."
Another summer of pick-up games going head to head against Mike Conley only helped help Craft's development, as did a stint going against Kyrie Irving at a camp the Cavs point guard hosted in New Jersey earlier this year. Irving's take on if Craft can play at the next level?
“Oh yeah. I believe so. He's a leader, he's a tough defender, he's been working on his offensive game. I'm interested to see the things that he's learned from the camp and the things that he's accomplished this summer in terms of his game and see the difference between his junior and senior year. He did well against the other campers. He played me tough and I know he learned a lot at the camp.”
Only time will tell and even though, as much as I love the kid, I have to admit I'm not a believer (yet?) that he'll stick in the NBA, nothing would make me happier than to see Craft prove his doubters wrong.
One thing that could hamper individual success in his crucial senior season might be the new no hand-check rule that has already turned scrimmages into foul-plagued free throw shooting contests (71 fouls / 91 FTs).
I BET THESE THREE ARE A HIT AT PARTIES. A trio of Ann Arbor city council folk announced earlier this week they plan to bring a resolution forward that would ask the University of Michigan to either decommission or significantly decrease the use of a fairly new 27x48 foot digital billboard located between the Big House and Crisler Arena, making it clearly visible from Stadium Boulevard.
The council members are concerned the video billboard is too big and too bright, therefore it could distract drivers, nevermind that you shouldn't have a license if you can't keep your car free from ending up with human remains lodged in its grill or within the 12 foot width of a typical driving lane, all because a flashing billboard near the road.
Interestingly, the city does have an ordinance outlining signs such as the devilish one in question but the university doesn't have to abide by such standards. At a cost of $2.8 million, it's hard to believe David Brandon and company will be in any hurry to capitulate by pulling the plug on the monstrosity.
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