ICYMI:
- Urban Meyer Monday presser notes.
- Meyer: Western Michigan "exposed our interior defense a little bit."
- Ohio State remembers its recent struggles against Indiana.
- Film Study: Setting the table for Jalin Marshall's 37-yard touchdown grab.
I DIDN'T THINK IT WAS POSSIBLE. Had I said one of Cardale Jones' biggest 2015 struggles would be underthrowing the football... people would've (rightfully) spit in my face. But here we are in late September, and underthrows are plaguing the Buckeye offense.
From ESPN.com:
If the biggest problem Meyer could come up with for his offense was it missed on too many deep shots, that seems like a pretty easy fix for the top-ranked Buckeyes. Obviously it’s a bit of an unexpected problem to have with the rocket-armed Cardale Jones on hand, but this week there will be no doubt about the solution and no reason for anybody to second-guess that Ohio State will get it right.
[...]
A number of potential explanations for the undercooked passes, one of which was intercepted, were floated in the aftermath of a performance that otherwise solidified his claim to the spot thanks to more than 300 yards of offense and a pair of touchdown passes. Maybe Jones was just taking a bit too much off his throws against Western Michigan. The redshirt junior might have still been working out his timing with a reworked cast of wide receivers. Perhaps he was a bit surprised to even have targets streaking open after Jones indicated the Buckeyes had prepared for different defensive looks with a game plan that didn’t call for that many vertical shots.
Kyle Jones mentioned in the 11W staff chat during the game the underthrows could be due to lack of practice reps, which would make sense. Since Cardale Jones solidified his role, I assume the practice reps will start to skew heavier in his favor.
That said, underthrows are a much better problem than "the offensive line can't protect long enough in pass coverage" or "the receivers aren't creating separation down the field."
GAMEDAY DONE GOOFED. Because ESPN College GameDay is a big business, it doesn't take risks. Despite a grassroots campaign to bring GameDay to Bloomington, it's headed to Clemson on Saturday for the Tigers' showdown with Notre Dame (yawn).
From Uproxx.com:
Indiana’s football team hasn’t been to a bowl in Kevin Wilson’s tenure. The last appearance was a loss in the Insight Bowl in 2007 under Bill Lynch. Before that, the team hadn’t been bowling since 1993. There’s never been a 10-win season in Indiana history (although there has been one Rose Bowl appearance).
When some people say a 4-0 start with an almost certain death to come at the hands of the reigning National Champions the following weekend isn’t a thing to celebrate, those people aren’t Hoosier fans. If anything, this silly hashtag, which took on a life of its own, represents what is great about college football in the first place. Every season is a misshaped ball of clay that can become a Rodin sculpture, or it could turn into a lopsided pencil-holder you give to your mom on Mother’s Day.
[...]
GameDay‘s been to Clemson, more than once. It’s been to Georgia. It’s been to Alabama, and Florida, and Ohio State, and USC, and Florida State, and every other big school. We’ve seen the same B-roll, the same signs, the same traditions.
There are unique experiences at each and every school in college football, and despite whether you think Indiana earned the right to be on College GameDay or not, it still would’ve been cool as all getup to see the Hoosiers rewarded for the traction they showed all week leading up to the Wake Forest game.
What's more impressive in 2015: Beating Texas at home or going on the road and knocking off a feisty Wake Forest team?
Indiana is the class of Indiana football, and the Hoosiers were mugged on this one. GameDay had a chance to do something unique, and it's disappointing (but not surprising) the bland decision won out.
(I take it all back if Guzzler Bro makes a return.)
HERE COME THE DAWGS. I expect Alabama to thump Georgia on Saturday, but the Dawgs are moving up the ranks.
From Bovada:
| TEAM | 9/15/15 ODDs | CURRENT ODDS |
|---|---|---|
| OHIO STATE | 7/4 | 7/4 |
| MICHIGAN STATE | 8/1 | 8/1 |
| GEORGIA | 12/1 | 9/1 |
| LOUISIANA STATE | 12/1 | 9/1 |
| MISSISSIPPI | 10/1 | 10/1 |
| BAYLOR | 12/1 | 10/1 |
| TEXAS A&M | 12/1 | 12/1 |
| TEXAS CHRISTIAN | 7/1 | 12/1 |
| NOTRE DAME | 25/1 | 14/1 |
Here's how Chris Spielman sees the field:
Chris Spelman top teams in the country that he believes could give OSU problems: 1. LSU 2. Michigan 3. Michigan St 4. Utah 5. Stanford
— jbook (@jbook37) September 28, 2015
(Oh yes, Spielman is all-in on that team up north.)
As for the Heisman: Louisiana State's Leonard Fournette is my favorite non-Buckeye player at the moment, and it's no surprise to see him running up the odds list.
BTW: Fournette faces Eastern Michigan's 128th-ranked rush defense this weekend. I hope they have a fleet of coroners on hand.
| PLAYER (POSITION, TEAM) | 9/15/15 ODDS | CURRENT ODDS |
|---|---|---|
| LEONARD FOURNETTE (RB, LSU) | 11/2 | 3/2 |
| NICK CHUBB (RB, GEORGIA) | 15/2 | 7/1 |
| TREVONE BOYKIN (QB, TCU) | 17/2 | 7/1 |
| SETH RUSSELL (QB, BAYLOR) | 10/1 | 8/1 |
| EZEKIEL ELLIOTT (RB, OSU) | 10/1 | 12/1 |
| CODY KESSLER (QB, USC) | 10/1 | 12/1 |
| KYLE ALLEN (QB, TEXAS A&M) | 33/1 | 20/1 |
| DERRICK HENRY (RB, ALABAMA) | 14/1 | 20/1 |
| CARDALE JONES | 20/1 | 25/1 |
| PAUL PERKINS (RB, UCLA) | 50/1 | 25/1 |
Braxton Miller, whose odds sat at 20/1 on September 15th, is now off the Bovada betting board.
GET WHIPPED THEN, CHILDHOOD CANCER. The Whipping Childhood Cancer Challenge is the new Ice Bucket Challenge, and childhood cancer is an issue close to Joshua Perry's heart.
Here's Camren Williams, Joshua Perry, and Joe Burger completing the challenge (watch until the end).
Oh, that's a cold, hateful move right there by Perry and Burger — hilarious — but cold and hateful too.
@RIP_JEP http://t.co/bJlqq79rta Heck, they know the link by now. lol
— Joshua 1:9 Be Brave (@BeBrave_Joshua) September 28, 2015
TAXI FOR CHARLIE? I like Charlie Strong, but I'm starting to doubt he survives.
Charlie Strong informed Texas opened as 18.5-point underdog against TCU. "I didn't know it was that bad. Wow."
— Max Olson (@max_olson) September 28, 2015
"Wow."
THOSE WMDs. This ridiculous gun was made to shoot 100 birds at once... Understanding the emotions of procrastination... Five clown truths you'll wish you didn't know... 18 entries from the Nat Geo 2015 Photo Contest... The puzzle that drove England to madness.
