Congratulations to J.T. Barrett, Michael Bennett, Pat Elflein and all other Ohio State Buckeyes who earned All-Big Ten honors. This season wasn't textbook, but that's part of what's made the 2014 season so rewarding.
There have been highs and lows, but ultimately, this season has been the most rewarding of the Urban Meyer Era.
Even if Ohio State gets rolled Saturday — and Ohio State ain't getting rolled Saturday — this team has already overachieved. It's a team I feel could play with anybody, and regardless of what happens this weekend, it's been an honor to cheer for this team.
TV REMINDER: The No. 14 men's basketball team travels to No. 5 Louisville tonight for a primetime tip (9:30 p.m. ESPN) with the Cardinals as part of this year's rendition of the Big Ten-ACC Classic.
CARDALE WAS THE ORIGINAL ACE IN THE HOLE. As I wrote yesterday, I'm officially all-in on the reign of King Cardale:
Focused On ONE Thing and ONE Thing Only!
— Cardale Jones (@CJ12_) December 1, 2014
It could be because I have no other option, but it took me under 48 hours until Cardale Jones/Tim Tebow comparisons frolicked through the desolated wasteland that is my mind.
People, however, forget Cardale was originally Braxton Miller's backup early in the football calendar year.
From Austin Ward of ESPN:
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Leaving spring practice, Ohio State's plan was for Cardale Jones to be ready to step in for a Heisman Trophy candidate if need be. The identity of that player may have changed, but coach Urban Meyer's faith in his backup quarterback remains the same now as it was heading into training camp.
It was Jones, not J.T. Barrett, who went into August first in line to step in for Braxton Miller. And while Barrett eventually moved ahead of the redshirt sophomore and developed into one of the nation's most prolific scorers for No. 6 Ohio State before breaking his ankle Saturday against rival Michigan, Jones won't exactly be going into his starting debut in the Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin without any experience running the first-team offense.
"Obviously it's going to be a really good environment against a very tough defense," Meyer said Monday. "But it's not like he's not taking snaps with the one offense or understands the concepts. He has a very good understanding. We expect our quarterbacks here to prepare a certain way.
Cardale has been in the system for three years, and as long as he takes care of the football, Ohio State's offense will be fine. As we'll examine in a bit... I like the King's base skills.
CAN'T HATE ON GREATNESS. The playoff committee drops its latest ruminations tonight, and I'm not holding my breath for the Buckeyes to be cast into the playoff field just yet.
From Dan Wetzel of Yahoo! Sports:
Over the course of the last week, the Ohio State Buckeyes have: seen a talented defensive player lose an appeal with the NCAA and wind up permanently suspended; watched its star quarterback, who replaced its previous star quarterback, go down to injury; managed to gut out a victory over its archrival in the process anyway and; most horrifically, had to cope with a reserve go missing only to be found dead Sunday in a dumpster behind his apartment due to an apparent self-inflicted gun shot.
"Tough week," coach Urban Meyer said Monday at his weekly press conference.
[...]
Everything that is playing out this week in Columbus, and could play out Saturday in Indianapolis, is why the playoff selection committee's stated ability to consider injuries is a misguided one.
I suppose the name of the game remains the same: Beat Wisconsin. Oddly, however, I think Ohio State has a higher need for the ambiguous "style points" since J.T. Barrett went down.
It's not fair J.T. Barrett's injury will likely affect its playoff hopes, but those are the breaks of the game. If Cardale and Ohio State light up Wisconsin, however, then I think Ohio State has a much stronger case than Texas Christian or Baylor:
Bowl Eligible Teams beaten: Alabama - 8 Ohio State - 8 FSU - 7 Oregon - 5 TCU - 5 Baylor - 3 But hey, Buckeyes don't play anybody.
— KJ (@Buckeye45) December 1, 2014
#JustFacts.
GARY ANDERSEN JUST WANTED TO CHILL AND WATCH A GAME. But his snitchin' son had different plans for him.
From Bill Landis of the Northeast Ohio Media Group:
[Wisconsin coach Gary] Andersen wasn't seated for five minutes before it became time to coach again. His son Chasen, a freshman linebacker for Wisconsin, had some tape for his dad to study[:] Cardale Jones' high school highlight tape.
"When I got there, I was expecting maybe to sit down watch a game and all the sudden he throws that in front of me and says, 'Dad, this guy's really good,'" Andersen said Sunday. "First time that's happened. Good scouting by him I guess."
Wisconsin isn't going to base its defensive gameplan for Saturday's conference title game against Ohio State on a three-minute video of a manchild Jones making easy work of prep players, but Andersen doesn't have much else to work with.
Thanks for the hot tip... Chasen.
Andersen, however, would be wise to heed the tale of the tape, because while I am a sucker for a highlight reel ("Antonio Henton is like Troy Smith, but more athletic"), I do feel there is a bit of a reckoning coming in Indianapolis:
I'm surprised Homeland Security allows Cardale to roll around with a howitzer sewn to his arm.
Fickell responding to my ? how to stop 250lb cardale jones: I wouldn't let him get going that's for sure plus he can throw it 75 yards.
— toddporter (@toddporter) December 1, 2014
The performance of the offensive line because even more imperative now. If they slob out and keep a clean pocket for King Cardale, then the chains will be a'moving. I hope Tom Herman calls nothing but QB Tank Draws and 80-yard bombs.
BAD NEWS, WISCONSIN. Speaking of bombs, I imagine a cartoon atomic bomb going off in Urban's head when he heard this:
Urban Meyer on Big Ten title game: "We're underdogs? I didn't know that."
— Patrick Maks (@maksimuspatrick) December 1, 2014
(Sportsbook.ag lists Wisconsin as 4½-point favorites.)
After three years of watching Urban Meyer teams, a #take I've developed is I believe his teams perform best as an underdog. (Bad news for playoff teams if Ohio State gets into the playoffs too, because it will likely come in as the No. 4 team.)
Another #take I've developed: Do not bet against an Urban Meyer team that's an "underdog."
MARK IT DOWN: DURON CARTER NEXT NFL STAR. I don't care what anybody says, I will always consider Duron Carter an Ohio State legend. I will also be sending a letter every day to Browns GM Ray Farmer to break the bank for Carter, who would be an excellent compliment to Josh Gordon.
#Browns will work out ex-OSU WR Duron Carter, son of HOF'er Cris Carter, league source says. CFL contract expires, can start visits Monday
— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) December 1, 2014
It might actually be better to go the CFL route. That way, a player can sign with anyone and isn't drafted to some trash team like the Oakland Raiders.
HERMAN: BROYLES FINALIST. Tom Herman is a finalist for the 2014 Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant. (Yes, Lane Kiffin is in the hunt as well.)
- Lane Kiffin, University of Alabama, Offensive Coordinator
- Dave Steckel, University of Missouri, Defensive Coordinator
- Tom Herman, Ohio State University, Offensive Coordinator
- Scott Frost, University of Oregon, Offensive Coordinator
- Doug Meacham, Texas Christian University, Co-Offensive Coordinator
Some Badgers thought one of their own got slighted:
Somehow, #Badgers defensive coordinator Dave Aranda is not a finalist for the Broyles Award for top assistant. OK then.
— Jesse Temple (@jessetemple) December 1, 2014
As for Herman... Tulsa fired its coach Bill Blankenship, and Herman is another "name to watch." Tulsa and Ohio State, by the way, play in 2016. (Herman's name is also being floated in Nebraska circles too.)
Going B1G in Indy
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OHIO STATE NO. 1 IN ATTENDANCE. It's 6:00 a.m. on the Tuesday following The Game, and Brady Hoke is still employed at Michigan. (Although his fate is reportedly set to be announced this afternoon.)
Regardless, Hoke's mediocre Michigan team had some to do with it, but Ohio State's national attendance crown is still pretty impressive.
Per the Big Ten:
The Big Ten is one of two conferences with more than two teams ranked among the top 22 in the nation in average attendance, with seven schools comprising that group. Ohio State leads the nation in average attendance at 106,296, followed by No. 3 Michigan (104,909), No. 5 Penn State (101,623), No. 10 Nebraska (91,249), No. 18 Wisconsin (79,520), No. 20 Michigan State (74,681) and No. 22 Iowa (67,512).
It's a good time to be a Buckeye.
THOSE WMDs. Jameis Winston goes to student conduct court today... Adam Schefter (Michigan Man) says Jim Harbaugh to Michigan unlikely... Peter Wright's hair makes you think... What it’s like to have your identity hijacked and replaced with a Russian-speaking Bruce Willis impostor... I love the OBC, but he got owned here... Girl Scouts selling cookies online this year.
