As Ohio State's schedule kicks it up a notch with Oklahoma coming to town for a Top-5 showdown in the Shoe, the 11W roundtable is also ratcheting things up as we welcome special guest Evan Turner.
The 2010 National College Player of the Year and No. 2 overall pick in the 2010 NBA Draft may specialize in hoops but The Villain also knows his college football.
Joining Evan for this week's edition we also welcome 11W staffers James Grega, Andrew Ellis and the godfather of the Dubcast, Johnny Ginter.
Let's get to it..
Ohio states secondary struggled in the early going but closed strong against Indiana's song with passing attack. This week, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield comes to town. Who wins the battle of Oklahoma's pass offense against Ohio State's secondary and why?
ET: Although Baker Mayfield had an unreal first half last weekend, I still believe the secondary will be able to rise to the occasion. I think the defensive line will apply pressure the whole game and Denzel Ward and company will capitalize off that pressure.
James: After seeing what Richard Lagow and Indiana’s receivers were able to do against Ohio State’s secondary, I have a hard time picking the Buckeyes here. Baker Mayfield doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is with his arm. Everyone talks about his mobility, but not enough about how effective he is throwing the ball downfield. Dede Westbrook is gone, but tight end Mark Andrews will line up all over the field and give the Buckeyes fits, as will 6-foot-5 wide receiver Jeffery Mead. If I had to put a number on it, I would guess the Sooners will accumulate close to 300 yards passing in this game.
Andrew: I think that Mayfield will put up some numbers against the Buckeyes, but I don’t expect it to be enough to proclaim him as the winner of this battle. The Ohio State defensive line will be doing their thing and I’m guessing Mayfield throws at least a pair of interceptions. Indiana’s receivers made several ridiculous catches despite solid coverage, so I’m not worried about the young Buckeye secondary just yet.
Johnny: Mayfield is really, really, really (insert 4039 reallys here) good. This isn't news and he was barely challenged against UTEP, but on paper it's pretty evident that he holds a decent advantage, even on the road, against a secondary that got pretty well torched against Indiana. It's fun and reassuring to handwave away performances against crappy teams, but that becomes a whole hell of a lot more difficult when that performance was 19/20 for 329 yards and three touchdowns as literally 14 Sooners caught a pass last week. Mayfield worries me, and spoiler alert: I think he's the main reason why the Sooners win.
Up front, Ohio State's defensive line bullied the Hoosiers last week holding them to 17 yards rushing with nine TFL and five sacks. Oklahoma should provide a stiffer test for Larry Johnson's group especially left tackle Orlando Brown. How much success will the defensive line have in getting pressure on Mayfield?
Johnny: The defensive line is why I'm perfectly willing to accept being wrong about this weekend. They are legitimately great, and all of those predictions about that unit being possibly the best single group in the country might not have been hyperbole. Mayfield is a shifty guy but he's rarely asked to shoulder a significant part of the running game; Ohio State's d-line should do well to keep a very green Oklahoma running back corps in check, and forcing Mayfield to have to scramble and pick up yards with his feet is a war of attrition that they can win. I don't foresee as many sacks, but if they can get to Mayfield early it could totally change the tenor of the game.
Andrew: I expect Mayfield to be under pressure all night, especially in the game’s final two quarters. Brown is a great one, but Larry Johnson’s rotation along the line will have fresh bodies going up against some winded linemen and that certainly works in Ohio State’s favor. The Buckeyes got to Mayfield three times last year, and they are coming off a five-sack performance against Indiana. I expect a ton of pressure and 5+ sacks on Saturday.
ET: Oklahoma has one of the best offensive lines in the country and I can see how they may cause some concern. But I witnessed how ferocious our defensive line was last week at Indiana and I have great confidence their activity and intensity will wear down the Sooner offense throughout the game!
James: I think Orlando Brown will win most of his matchups, but elsewhere, I think Ohio State’s defense line finds ways to get pressure. The Buckeyes have too much talent up front for the entire unit to be shut down. The Sooners have one of the best offensive lines in the country, but they don’t rotate like the OSU defensive front does. I think as the game goes on, the Buckeye defensive line will wear down Oklahoma’s front five and get pressure on Mayfield.
With Mike Weber held out of the Indiana game due to a lingering hamstring, J.K. Dobbins stole the show in his first collegiate start. The expectation is that both will play this week. Who ends up being the bigger factor against the Sooners and how do you think the carries at tailback pan out over the long term?
ET: I was very impressed with the performance Dobbins had last week. I'm glad he made the most out of his opportunity and I was also shocked to see how often he was used in the offense. I think if Mike Weber is used the same way when it's his turn to play then he will definitely put up major number, as well! Both options are highly talented and explosive but I think Dobbins may get almost of the time at running back because of the momentum he has started out with!
James: Until I see Mike Weber get a few game reps, I am going with Dobbins. I think the coaching staff is in love with his ability and breakaway speed, something Weber hasn’t shown he has yet in his Ohio State career. I think both will play, and the coaching staff will go with the hot hand, but I expect that guy to be Dobbins for the second week in a row.
Andrew: Weber will carry the load on Saturday but I’m also expecting a lot of J.K. Dobbins. I think Weber will be the bigger factor but I also foresee a few explosive plays from Dobbins — perhaps even coming in the passing game. As for the long term, I am expecting about a 60/40 split in favor of Weber. J.K. Dobbins isn’t going away, and he will be heavily involved moving forward.
Johnny: Weber got Wally Pipped. The end. Maybe. Actually, the real Pipping test comes this weekend, because A) Dobbins is going to get first crack at the Sooners, B) if he's getting yards and performing well there is no way in hell Weber starts splitting their carries (unless Kevin Wilson is dumb), and C) the nature of the game means that the running backs will probably not end up with that many carries overall anyway. If Dobbins struggles early and Weber comes in, that's his opportunity. But in all honesty I don't see Mike Weber succeeding where J.K. Dobbins does not. Dobbins is the running back of the future.
Ohio State's pass offense got a couple long touchdown receptions last week though they were of the catch and run variety as J.T. and company continued to struggle with the deep passing game. What kind of success will the passing attack have this week? How concerned are you that the deep threat has been absent from the attack for so long?
Andrew: I happen to love all of the crossing routes that have been implemented into the offense, though I do worry about Parris Campbell taking a big shot while coming across the middle at some point. I guess I didn’t really think they tried to go downfield all that much on Thursday. I recall the one deep shot to Victor that resulted in a flag and then of course the Campbell drop, but that didn’t seem to be a big part of the game plan. I am a little concerned about the deep passing game, though, and that’s something that needs to develop over the next handful of games. I’m expecting more of the same this weekend. Short passes, intermediate and crossing routes, and the occasional deep shot sprinkled in.
James: The lack of a deep threat since Devin Smith left is a major concern, but Ohio State has been able to get by in recent years by winning the battle in the trenches. When they haven’t been able to do that, they have lost (see Clemson game) or come dangerously close to losing (Michigan, Michigan State). Parris Campbell breaking free last week, even though he dropped it, was an encouraging sign for Ohio State, and I think they hit a big one against Oklahoma in a critical spot.
Johnny: You can keep the Oklahoma defense honest by taking deep shots downfield, but the Ohio State offense needs to do a better job at mixing in what are essentially short handoffs that allow guys like Parris Campbell to use their speed and pick up 7-10 yards on a consistent basis. Spreading the opposing defense out horizontally can be an effective way to give the running game some room, and that's a really nice way of saying that I've got pretty much zero confidence in the deep ball right now. Some of it is J.T.'s fault, as he's really, really inaccurate past 20 yards, but a lot of it is receivers who simply don't get separation on a regular basis.
ET: As long as we don't throw near Jordan Thomas then I have full faith that we will have a great weekend throwing the ball. I think J.T. Barrett is due for a HUGE offensive performance and I think the guys are going to be focused on sending a message about their offensive capabilities!
In honor of our roundtable guest this week, who featured a dominant versatility (20.4 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 6.0 apg in 2010), which player on Urban's squad do you see as the most versatile and why?
ET: I think Sam Hubbard is obviously the no-brainer for this question. I believe he started at The Ohio State as a tight end and then made the switch to linebacker and now he's defensive end. I think the most impressive thing is how quickly he's able to pick up something new and make an impact! You can't ever take that for granted. My tenure playing for the basketball team was similar, so I know this isn't an easy task especially when you're playing for a national contender every year. There's no real time for getting your feet wet, you have to perform!
James: The first name that comes to mind is Demario McCall, but it is so hard to pick him because he seems to be falling on Ohio State’s depth chart. I am hesitant to throw this name out there, but I will go with Campbell. A running back in high school, we saw what he can do when he gets the ball in his hands. It is just a matter of securing the ball. He is also a dangerous return man, which is why I am picking him here.
Andrew: Even though he had the bad drop, I’m going to go with Parris Campbell. He doesn’t have the best hands in the world, but I think those drag/crossing routes are perfect for him. He only had one carry against Indiana, but I expect him to get more as the season goes on. He’s also back returning kicks, and I think he will take one to the house before the season ends. That speed is ridiculous, too.
Johnny: It's probably Demario and frankly if Ohio State loses a close game but the GOAT was allowed to go super saiyan and pick up like 100 yards rushing and 150 receiving, then I'm really not going to be too broken up about it.
You have one game to win for a national title and you have the current roster except for at quarterback. Rank OSU's quarterbacks over the last 10 years in order of your preference to start this fictional national title game: Terrelle Pryor, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Cardale Jones.
Johnny: Terrelle Pryor in an Urban Meyer offense would be like strapping a nuclear bomb to a cheetah that weighs 50 tons and having it run down a sloth. I love Braxton and J.T. and Dolo but holy hell: understand that Terrelle Pryor did all of the absolutely insane stuff that he did while working in the confines of a Jim Bollman offense, the functional equivalent of being chained to a 75 pound cannonball for your college career. Urban would wreck everyone with TPeezy.
Andrew: 1. Barrett, 2. Miller, 3. Pryor, 4. Cardale.
Barrett has been criticized a lot lately, but I think back to 2014 and some of his performances early on and that puts him at No. 1 for me. Before the injuries set in, Braxton Miller was a big play waiting to happen at quarterback — even in 2011 when he was only a freshman and wasn’t playing in the ideal system. Pryor is certainly the most athletic of the group and I can only imagine what he would have been like in an Urban Meyer-led offense. I love Cardale but this team has no real deep threat right now. He obviously has a canon for an arm, but with no Devin Smith (or anyone similar) on the current roster, that puts him at No. 4 for me.
ET: I would choose Terrelle Pryor. I was around when he played for the Buckeyes and always admired his natural athletic gifts along with some big wins that he was part of. I think his starting record as a QB was 33-4 and he always played well in bowl games. I think it would've been cool to see his career here end with a win and not controversy that took away from some of the amazing things he did.
James: Cardale Jones, Braxton Miller, J.T. Barrett, Terrelle Pryor. Jones is first because he did it. He won a national title. Without him, I am not so sure Ohio State defeats Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. In order to beat the Crimson Tide, your quarterback has to be able to make some NFL caliber throws and the other three guys on this roster, I wouldn’t have faith in them to do so.
Who was the better walk-on at Ohio State: Terry Glenn in football or Mark Titus in hoops?
ET: Hahahaha I don't even think this is a serious question! I have a love-hate relationship with Titus and I always admired the movement that his blog and CLUB TRIL had (even though he road my coat tails to get it going lol) but Terry Glenn's journey as a walk on to being a first team All-American and Biletnikoff Award recipient is nothing short of amazing!! He then went on to play 12 seasons in the NFL and was a pro bowler. I've seen Mark Titus play ball lately and the fact that he isn't fat and can dunk still (only once a month) isn't anything to feel bad about either!
James: One is a legend. The other played in the NFL. No need to say more.
Andrew: This is an extremely tough question, but I will give a very slight edge to Terry Glenn and his 1,700 yards and 17 scores over Titus and his nine career points. Big fan of Club Trillion, though.
Johnny: Did Terry Glenn ever write a blog post about being stuck in an elevator with Walter Offutt? No he did not, so Mark Titus, duh. I'm wearing my Club Tril shirt as I type this.
Week One nationally saw some fantastic finishes, Bama cruising over FSU and Kevin Sumlin snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, amongst other happenings. Any surprise or under the radar team that grabbed your attention? And what about Michigan? Did their defense reload or was that more about Florida's offense being trash?
Andrew: The biggest surprise for me was definitely Maryland. I hadn’t bought into the Texas hype train, but I definitely thought Tom Herman would handle the Terps in Austin. Walt Bell is a heck of an offensive mind, but I didn’t expect them to carve Texas up quite like that. The Texas/Maryland and TAMU/UCLA games were the two best ones I watched all weekend. Gotta think Kevin Sumlin won’t last much longer in College Station.
A lot of the guys Michigan has starting this year did see significant playing time in 2016, so I wasn’t expecting the defense to take too big of a step back. Don Brown is one of the best in the business and the talent is certainly there. However, this performance was just as much about Florida as it was Michigan. It seems like the Gators haven’t had a competent offense since Meyer left town.
Johnny: Texas crashing and burning against Maryland at home was not something that I thought would ever happen in a million years to Tom Herman in his first game at one of the best jobs in the country, but I'm glad it did because it's very funny and also gave Urban the chance to throw some really excellent dirt on the grave of whatever hopeful optimism that Texas fans might've had for their program this year. They'll get better, but man that looked bad. Florida's offense is absolutely trash, in part as a result of missing their best players, but Michigan's defense is also very, very good. It's solid coaching on their part, and if they can start to reload as ably as Urban Meyer has... look out.
James: Maryland’s offense looked fantastic, but took a huge blow losing Tyrrell Pigrome for the season. As far as Michigan goes, I think their performance is being blown out of proportion. Florida’s offense has been horrible since Tebow left (Urban Meyer’s fault). If Michigan looks like that against Wisconsin and Penn State on the road, then I will buy into the Michigan hype. Until then, I still think they are the third best team in their own division.
ET: I was most impressed with Howard's win over UNLV. They truly defeated the odds by getting the win on the road. I wish I would've bet money on that game! Thoughts on TTUN: It was all a fluke!
Last year's match up in Norman was a toss up according to Vegas but Ohio State rolled. This year Ohio State is favored by 7.5 points. Do the Buckeyes cover? Give us a final score and your stand out performer.
ET: Hell yes we will cover the spread and I have Dobbins as the standout performer!
James: Part of me is very tempted to pick Oklahoma in this game, strictly because I am still not 100 percent convinced Ohio State can hit the big play on offense, or stop it in their secondary. However, I think the Buckeyes will be able to control the line of scrimmage in this game, and ultimately that is where games are won. I am taking the Buckeyes to win 34-30.
Andrew: I’ve got the Buckeyes covering with ease. Call it Ohio State 44, Oklahoma 24. Mayfield is solid, but I’m not sure about their running game and that offensive line may be in for a rough night. Binjimen Victor will be your standout player. I’m not necessarily expecting a huge yardage total, but I see a couple of jump-ball touchdowns for the sophomore.
Johnny: I think J.K. Dobbins will have another great game, but J.T. and the receivers will struggle (even with an injured Oklahoma cornerback). This is a revenge game for Mayfield, who is clearly motivated, and a chance for Lincoln Riley to prove himself against one of the best coaches in the game. If the defensive line can pressure Mayfield into early bad throws or even a turnover or two, the Buckeyes will have a much better chance at winning this game. But waiting a half to play optimal football will sink them, and this weekend I just don't think they'll be able to get the offense going in time. 41-38 Sooners.
