The 11W Football Mailbag is the only stop you need for answers to your most pressing questions about Ohio State's next matchup. Have a question? Ask it, and if we can, we'll answer it.
Throw to run ratio for this game? To kind of piggy back on this question, how do you see the play calling going? More bubble screens like last year or think we will try and push the ball downfield and see what our young we are made of? — KBonay and CincySweaterVest9
Urban Meyer and Ed Warinner both stressed multiple times this week their intentions to bring balance to Ohio State's playcalling and the desire to gain 250 yards passing and 250 yards rushing. However, I think Ohio State is going to air it out plenty on Saturday.
Meyer's offense is at its best with an established running game bleeding into a downfield passing attack that feeds off play-action. Ohio State won a national championship in 2014 doing so and admittedly got away from it last year with the quarterback dilemma, too many toys at wide receiver and Ezekiel Elliott in the backfield. Meyer wants to see how the wide receivers perform on the big stage, so I think they will throw it down the field more than last year. But don't think they're not going to run the ball or get it to Curtis Samuel and Dontre Wilson on quick hitters. Mike Weber is pretty good, too.
I was never good at ratios but I'll say they're going to try pretty hard to call as many passes as rushes.
Do we see starters the whole game? (J.T., Weber, etc.) or do we see the backups in the second half if it gets out of hand? In relation to this: How many true freshmen do you expect to see? — IronPastor and NOLABuckeye
The starters are going to play the majority of the game. It's the season opener, Ohio State's roster is essentially brand new and game reps cannot be replicated in practice. If the game gets out of hand in the fourth quarter, Meyer is going to let some of the non-starters play. He feels he has solid depth in most areas — he wants to see it in action.
As far as Barrett and quarterback reps, more on that in a bit.
Note: Special shoutout to both IronPastor and NOLABuckeye. I pray your life isn't completely unsettled and torn apart by the heavy rains and flooding down in Louisiana. You guys are in my thoughts.
How did the city come up with the name Bowling Green? — Knarcisi
It looks like you guys had this pretty much figured out on the mailbag thread but this is what my interns tell me with regards to Bowling Green's name:
The original Bowling Green is in New York City, and settlers in Kentucky nabbed the name in 1798 — originally "Bolin Green" — when some American patriots thrashed a statue of King George III and used it for bullets during the Revolution. Related: America is badass.
Some folks in Virginia discredit that history, however, saying their town was named after a "ball alley game" of the legendary Robert Moore. Nothing like an 18th century #wellactually to get your mind right on a Friday.
Anyways, a retired postal worker that used to live in the Kentucky version of Bowling Green apparently liked the name and suggested it upon the town's settlement in 1832. More than 20 years later, that town was incorporated.
Is all of this true? I have no idea. I got it from Wikipedia. I will say this, however: My sister is a Bowling Green State University graduate and I vaguely remember her saying something like this when my parents threw 12-year-old me in the family Astro van as the younger brother/pack mule extraordinaire and drove us two hours north to move here into her dormitory.
If anyone has any other details on the city getting its name, please share.
What should we watch out for from Bowling Green, if anything? — Ronbizi
The Falcons will throw the ball and throw it everywhere. Ronnie Moore is a stud at wide receiver and James Knapke has plenty of experience as a fifth-year senior quarterback. However, I'm just as curious as you guys are about Bowling Green because Mike Jinks is about to lead a college football team for the first time ever.
Additionally, watch for Austin Valdez from Sylvania, Ohio. He went to Bowling Green as a quarterback and is now one of the most underrated linebackers in the country. Our Kyle Jones loves him, and I trust his judgment because every time I read one of his Film Study stories I learn something about the game. You should do that too.
Who gets more carries in this game, Curtis Samuel, Mike Weber or J.T. Barrett? — BuckeyIn NY, BuckeyeTrappedInSouth and Fawn Lieboweitz’ Fiance (GREAT name)
I received a bunch of questions about Ohio State's running game and who is going to carry the load, so I'll try to answer them here.
First, I think fans needs to realize what it means that Mike Weber is Ohio State's starting tailback. That's a big deal — just look at the players that came before him at that position. So because of that, I think he'll get the most carries/take the first carry/all of that. Additionally, he is an excellent runner.
Second, J.T. Barrett is still going to run the ball this year. He is way too lethal with his legs not to, and if Weber shows he can block with any sort of conviction like Ezekiel Elliott did for two years Ohio State will keep doing that. Having a quarterback who can run the ball well is such a weapon in college football.
Third, Curtis Samuel is going to be everywhere, and he'll get his fair share of carries too. Meyer, Barrett and even Samuel all said they expect the junior to touch the ball a lot this year, which I think will benefit Ohio State as long as he stays healthy.
Fourth, Ohio State is going to do whatever is working in order to win a close game. It probably won't be a close game Saturday, but if Warinner, Meyer and Tim Beck see a way to exploit Oklahoma's defense by Barrett running the ball, they're going to do it. If it takes 150 Barrett rushing yards to beat the Sooners, so be it.
Isn't winning the game the most important thing?
Estimate the number of Armageddon comments in the live thread if the game is within two touchdowns at the half. Relatedly, which coach will draw the most fire from the Internet during halftime? — OSU_ALUM_05
My guess for Armageddon comments is around 200, and it'll probably be that way even if Ohio State is up by three touchdowns.
And, Tim Beck. That poor guy.
Over/Under 300 yards rushing? Do the Buckeyes score on their first possession? Over/under Silver Bullets get three turnovers? Over/under Rushmen get 7 sacks? — BeatTTUN
Under, but just barely. Yes. Over. Under.
Will any of the positions listed as "or" for starters be settled this weekend? Or, should we expect most of these battles to continue through the Tulsa game? Do you expect most of the "or" to be put to rest by the time the Buckeyes travel to Norman? Or, will these first two games be even enough to test to the "or." — VegasBuckeye04
One spot already is settled, because Meyer announced Weber as Ohio State's starting running back. The others will likely need a few games to shake out, I think, though the staff is going to want to know who it can count on when Ohio State goes to Oklahoma. So I think even though they will continue to leave ORs on the depth chart, the team will know who the starters are after a few games. The most ORs reside with the wide receivers, so I'm curious who will play the most from that unit on Saturday.
How many QBs will get PT this Saturday? Does Joe Burrow see the field in garbage time? — AZNChipmunk and BuckeyeEddie27
I think Burrow will get a few snaps, just based off what Meyer said on Monday: "Obviously, you'd like to see a guy like that in the game a little bit."
However, like I stated before, Barrett needs all the game reps he can get with his new receivers, new running back and three new offensive linemen. You just can't simulate it in practice. I'll say that Burrow will get a series or two but only if Ohio State is ahead by more than three touchdowns late in the fourth quarter.
More likely: A tight end touchdown or zero kickoffs out of bounds? — GOOMBAY and EZE
See, this one would be easy but Sean Nuernberger is out for at least this game nursing a groin injury. All due respect to Marcus Baugh and Tyler Durbin, but neither one is very likely.
But since you're making me pick, I'll say zero kickoffs out of bounds. Every year Ohio State says is going to get the tight end more involved. And every year it doesn't really happen.
Given all the new starters this year who do you expect to stand out in this first game/start on their way to becoming a household name? With so many unknowns coming into this game how do you think this D will stand up? — BuckeyeCWRU and BuckeyeFreak4844
Mike Weber. Meyer has spoken very highly of him over the course of the week and he looks to be in great shape and ready to roll. I'm anxious to see what he can do.
The defense is going to go through some growing pains but eventually will be a very solid unit. If all this depth on the defensive line is there and performs the way Ohio State keeps talking like it will, that will be a game-changer. Plus, the Buckeyes now have four recruiting classes in the fold since Meyer took over. They focused on speed while they did that and intend to have guys flying everywhere. That's what Greg Schiano likes to do.
Is Schiano on the sideline or in the box? Fickell has always been on the sideline, but it would seem one of them should be in the box to get the bird's eye view. Schiano, a former HC, is probably also used to being on the sideline, plus his intensity and enthusiasm could be used down there. Long story short, how does that dynamic play out? I'm just thinking about last year's dynamic with the new offensive 'co-coordinator' and how that played out. Don't want that again. — KJonesATX
Greg Schiano will coach in the press box, according to all of the players in the secondary that we spoke to this week. I think Schiano and Fickell's dynamic is going to be fine, but again we won't really know until Ohio State plays a game.
I say I believe it'll be fine because I am here to report on what people say and Schiano made it clear during camp he knows that Fickell is the defensive coordinator. So he knows where his sits on the totem pole if you will, just like Chris Ash did. But Schiano is an excellent defensive-minded coach and extremely intense, like you said.
Defense is an entirely different animal than offense (obviously) so I'm not keen on the idea that the bumpiness that happened last year with Ed Warinner and Tim Beck will happen in 2016 with Fickell and Schiano. As we saw in the final two games of the season, the offensive coordinator should have been in the box from the outset.
If we don't see Demario McCall in the BG game, could we safely assume that he's going to redshirt (barring injuries)? — BUCKEYE3M
I don't think you can "safely assume" anything with this team just because it is so young but if McCall doesn't hit the field against Bowling Green it won't bode well for his playing time later in the season.
I hope McCall plays in some capacity, though, because I enjoy his game, his swag and he is a really good dude to talk to. He gives great quotes, is respectful and looks you in the eye when you're asking him a question. I thought Ohio State might throw him on the depth chart at either punt or kick returner but didn't. I understand why they didn't but McCall can be a difference maker in that area of special teams — he just sits behind a few really good returners like Wilson and Samuel.
Continuing the "KickerGeddon" theme from last season: Will Meyer actually let the walk-on attempt a field goal if this is a close game? Or does he go for it on 4th and short inside the 25-yard line? — NavyBuckeye91
I don't think this game is going to be close (by the end) but this is an excellent question. If Ohio State is only ahead by one possession late in the second quarter, will Meyer go for it or let Tyler Durbin kick?
I think he will go for it, just because Durbin is a walk-on and former soccer player receiving his first football start ever. If the Buckeyes get up big later in the game however, I'd bet Meyer lets him try a kick if the opportunity arises. Kicker is an important position and I can almost guarantee that Meyer wants Durbin to have some experience kicking during a live game before Ohio State heads to Oklahoma.
All indications are that Sean Nuernberger should be back by then, but you never know.
In what phase do you expect to see growing pains be the most obvious? — WeakSideLB
On the offensive line, just because a true freshman is starting. Pat Elflein and Billy Price are both excellent players but Michael Jordan is making his first college start and is 19 years old. That's wild.
J.T. Barrett could get sacked once or twice early on which will frustrate fans but they need to remember the line is starting three new guys, one is a true freshman and Elflein only recently got back to fully participating in practice because of his shoulder surgery. It will take time for them to gel.
There were some names we kind of expected to see on the two-deep that were absent. Can you give us a rundown of who is a little dinged up and who just isn't quite game ready for whatever reason? — Ronnie
Sure, I think that is a fair thing to do with the season opener not far away.
Malcolm Pridgeon (knee) and Darius Slade (Achilles) are out for the season with injuries. Throw Cam Burrows in that camp too, as Meyer said he is out with another foot injury.
Meyer said on his radio show Thursday that Marcus Baugh dealt with a shoulder injury recently but is good to go for Saturday. His name was on the depth chart, but that is the someone who is dinged up. Ohio State also omitted K.J. Hill from the depth chart by mistake, so I guess all of the wide receivers are going to play Saturday. (related: don't put too much stock into that, or the depth chart)
Larry Johnson said Robert Landers and Joshua Alabi had a few nicks here and there during camp too but nothing too serious.
Did I miss anyone? If I did, feel free to let me know.
Noon kickoffs, for a game that isn't against Michigan are lame, agree? — JohnBlairGoBucks
Disagree. For a sports writer whose works does not truly begin until after postgame interviews, noon games are the best. You're usually able to have some sort of an evening with friends and family after a noon game.
As a fan, non-noon games are the best so I see where you're coming from.
Which offseason coaching change will be most evident in the style of play or Xs and Os vs BG? — Escote22
Very good question, and I'll go with Schiano by a nose. I think Greg Studrawa was an outstanding hire for Ohio State but from an Xs and Os standpoint, Schiano will bring plenty to the table as he and Fickell try to attack Bowling Green's offense.
That's not a knock on Studrawa, either. Schiano will just have more opportunities to make a splash impact with his guys than the offensive linemen will. Does that make sense? It made sense in my head.
How big of an impact will Nick Bosa have this season? Will we see the "Bosa Shrug" in this game? — BuckeyeWarrior27 and Bucks2TheNatty
I do not think we will see the Bosa Shrug this game because I think Nick is going to surprise everyone and not doing his brother's sack celebration. He should anyways — being your own man is important in today's world.
Plus, I don't think Bosa will get a sack this game. He'll need some live game reps and time to truly trust his knee and Ohio State brought him on slow after that injury last season. That being said, I think he will certainly break into the rotation and play a ton this year provided he can stay healthy.
Thanks for sending in your inquiries, as always.
