The Drought is Over
Caleb Downs scores Ohio State’s first punt return touchdown since 2014.
These summer days keep melting away like this and one day we're going to wake up to a keg of Loko and a Bowling Green whoopin' on tap.
By the way, 11W is running a contest for two free t-shirts from our fabled Dry Goods. Check it out on our Facebook page if you're into that kinda thing.
#QBGEDDON2. There was a time, simple as it was, I thought "Having two good quarterbacks is the same as having none," was a crone's fable.
Then the 2015 season unfolded.
While I doubt anybody here would be eager to relive the glory days of last summer's #QBgeddon, there's no doubt we're headed that direction if current commitments hold.
When five-star QB Tate Martell committed to the Buckeyes on Sunday, he joined a stable that looks like this, via cleveland.com:
Clark: A 6-foot-4, 223-pound prospect, Clark has been committed to Ohio State since his freshman year. Since he was 14, it was clear he was going to be an impressive physical specimen. Just looking at him you can tell he has the physical tools to be an elite quarterback, but he's much more of a pocket passer, which is different than what Ohio State has had at that position during Meyer's tenure.
Haskins: A 6-foot-3, 198-pound quarterback, Haskins was one of the best prospects in the 2016 class and has already enrolled at Ohio State. He'll have a year advantage over both Clark and Martell, so it's hard to imagine he doesn't have a little leg up. Haskins is considered a pro-style quarterback like Clark, but he's kind of a hybrid between Clark and Martell.
Burrow: Given how highly-recruited the above three names were, it's kind of hard to remember that the Buckeyes have Burrow on the roster. By 2017, Burrow, a dual-threat quarterback from Athens who came in next to Torrance Gibson, will have two years of experience. It's possible that he'll be the best guy for the job by then, but, at this point, it's hard not to get lost in the stars.
After Barrett departs, we could be staring down the barrel of a four-way battle for the starting QB job. All of the players' talents will be unique, and all will have a legitimate claim to the throne.
And while it's the height of #BuckeyeProblems to fret over a loaded QB battle that might be two summers away, it's still something worth pondering. There's no doubt Urban Meyer and his staff duffed the handling of last summer's battle, but hopefully it will pay dividends in finding the starter to replace J.T. Barrett and to make him feel like The Man without having to look over his shoulder every time he throws an errant pass.
I have no idea who I'd pick in this race. Burrow will be the eldest in the system, Meyer called Haskins the most advanced passer he's seen at that age, Clark earned an offer as a freshman, and Tate is a No. 1 overall prospect at his position. THERE MAY BE NO WRONG ANSWER.
I think Barrett is gone after this year, but we'll see. Let's just hope #QBGeddon2 is more entertaining than its predecessor (it can't be worse, right?).
SCHOTTENSTEIN CENTER SET FOR BOTOX INJECTION. The Schottenstein Center has the aura of a crypt during most Ohio State basketball games. I would solve this by razing it and moving games back to St. John Arena, but obviously, Ohio State sachems would never tolerate that.
Their plan, however, is putting a cool $32 million into renovations.
From theozone.net:
The plan calls for an addition to the North side of the arena that will allow major reshuffling of certain customer services and for adjustment in office space usage within the arena.The rest of the 32 million will go basically into cosmetics.
"It's about a 32 million dollar project that has a few pieces to it," said OSU Associate Vice President for Business Advancement Xen Riggs whose office is in charge of the project.
"One of them is to give the main concourse kind of a face lift. The building is going to be 18 years old this year in October."
Good golly, the Schott is going to be 18 this year? It seems like just yesterday it was riding its tricycle down Lane Avenue and shoving silverware into light sockets.
I remain doubtful that $32 million is enough to fix the atmosphere during games. But hey, those games probably don't pay as much as a Kanye West concert.
THE RIVALRY NOT PERSONAL FOR WEBER (YET). There's always a special focus paid to prospects who committed to one side of The Rivalry but ended up playing on the other. (Shoutout to Kyle "0-3" Kalis!)
Mike Weber is one such prospect. But this little blood feud of ours does not affect his personal relationship with Detroit prospects whose life went askew.
From mlive.com:
But as the former Cass Tech star was messing with Michigan fullback Khalid Hill on Friday, he reminded that the Michigan-Ohio State rivalry is on the field, not dominating their lives.
“We don’t talk about it at all,” Weber said last week, where he was helping coach at the Sound Mind Sound Body camp. “We know each other way before it and will know each other way after. The rivalry is big, of course, and we don’t block it. But when it comes to being around each other, it’s playing video games, laughing, talking about other things.”
While fans are always quick to jump on players for not caring "as much" as they do, I suggest they at least wait until Weber is bloodied on the field during a Game. Once those stupid winged helmets come at him, he'll reexamine certain relationships in his life.
Weber also shed some behind-the-scenes light into his turbulent redshirt season:
“I got a scope and got back kind of fast,” he said. “But by the time I got back I was out of sync, out of shape and I just sat out and watched behind Zeke and the older guys and it turned out good anyway.”
Looks like his mind (and body) will be right heading into this season.
ZEKE ABOUT TO EAT. Ezekiel Elliott was always going to supplant Darren McFadden on the Dallas Cowboys' depth chart, but his grip on that spot tightened Tuesday morning:
Darren McFadden had surgery on the injury he suffered to his elbow two weeks ago. Garrett expects him to be out for "a couple months."
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) June 14, 2016
Cowboys RBs coach Gary Brown said Darren McFadden fell Memorial Day weekend on his right elbow trying to keep from dropping his cell phone.
— Brandon George (@DMN_George) June 14, 2016
Cell phones are going to seem brutish and draconian whenever we start implanting radio chips into skulls at birth.
DONTRE WORKING ON HIS SPIN MOVE. IS THIS THE YEAR DONTRE WILSON PUTS IT TOGETHER?
Almost that time . pic.twitter.com/vXkdz2lmxm
— Dontre Wilson (@treydayy_) June 13, 2016
Quickness has never been Dontre's problem; it's all about his ability to break tackles. Still, he too looks ready for the season.
The local team might be better than the national punditry thinks!
THOSE WMDs. Yes, professional runners are weak... Emory University offers comedy degree, swears it isn't a joke... This robot can 3D print a pizza in under five minutes... Education of a jailhouse lawyer... As MLS grows, will hardcore fans still be welcome?
