How about those Los Angeles Dodgers, baby!? Their No. 1 fan never doubted them. Dusty Baker (is still employed!?!?!?) and the Nationals just booked a one-way ticket to Dump City.
THAT'S CROOTIN', BABY! Coaches—the elite ones like Nick Saban and Urban Meyer and not bitter clowns like Brian Kelly—will be the first to say: They don't win games, their players do.
This is why Meyer considers recruiting "the lifeblood of the program." Entering Saturday's primetime contest, his team will have the decided playmaker advantage.
From cleveland.com:
According to cfbstats.com, Ohio State has broken 12 plays this season of 30 yards or longer. Wisconsin has just five plays like that, which is tied for the fewest in major college football.
Plays of 20 yards or more? Ohio State has 28, which is tied for 49th in the nation. Wisconsin has 19 such plays, which is tied for 112th.
For Ohio State, Curtis Samuel averages 10.3 yards per touch, Dontre Wilson averages 10.1 and Mike Weber averages 6.6.
For Wisconsin, among players with enough touches to qualify for the Big Ten rankings, tailback Corey Clement averages 3.9 yards, while Dare Ogunbowale averages 4.4.
The advantage is bigger than that.
Here are the recruiting rankings from the last five years, via 247sports.com:
| YEAR | OHIO STATE | WISCONSIN |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 4 | 32 |
| 2015 | 7 | 40 |
| 2014 | 3 | 33 |
| 2013 | 2 | 38 |
| 2012 | 5 | 65 |
Sure, Wisconsin didn't enjoy the coaching stability the Buckeyes did in that time, but Meyer still managed to pull together a Top 5 class in 2012 in three months.
Regardless, the original point remains unchanged. The only way Wisconsin wins is it muddies the game like it did against Michigan.
A TIME TO CRITICIZE. Meyer said something this week that stuck with me to Tuesday night while searching for Skull Session #content.
From dispatch.com:
Meyer said Holtz’s advice is “forever branded on my heart,” that you shouldn’t be overly critical with players after a loss. But when you win despite not playing your best, he said, players are more receptive to criticism. That’s what they’ve gotten.
“I think urgency is always good, absolutely, and especially proactive conversation as opposed to reactive,” Meyer said.
[...]
How dissatisfied was Meyer with the offense? He named six defensive linemen as “champions” against Indiana. Only two offensive players — linemen Pat Elflein and Jamarco Jones — earned that distinction.
Never thought I would type this, but shoutout to Lou Holtz. That's real.
Like I said Monday, I believe the passing struggles were the best thing to happen to the local team with a big game on tap this weekend. Is there any doubt Meyer and J.T. Barrett will fix their mistakes and be on point this weekend? Reminder: It's blasphemous to say "Yes."
BAKER THE TOUCHDOWN STOPPER. Jerome Baker continued his onslaught against Indiana. Pro Football Focus named him to its team of the week. His 88.2 grade was the highest of any linebacker in the country.
From profootballfocus.com:
Baker had the best game of his short career, leading Ohio State with seven stops and leading the nation with an 88.9 run defense grade this week.
How good must Dante Booker be to have beaten out Baker?
I expect Booker to make his return this week from an MCL sprain. I never like seeing players lose their spots to injury, but Baker has been all over the field in every game he's played.
I do not envy Meyer in this situation because no matter how he handles it, it will be unfair to at least one of his players.
CURTIS SAMUEL: THE GOOD FOOTBALL MAN. Here's an ESPNU video featuring Tom Luginbill and Charles Arbuckle dissecting Curtis Samuel opting to break ankles on an option route:
.@OhioStateFB's Curtis Samuel lined up for an option route... He opted to break ankles. @TomLuginbill and @Charlesarbuckle break it down pic.twitter.com/iX3feXmYjJ
— ESPNU (@ESPNU) October 11, 2016
That's pretty, but not as pretty as Jamarco Jones would've made it look. Meyer is great and all, but as an assistant to the offensive coordinator, I remain perplexed why El Patrón ignores his most dangerous weapon. My only reasoning is he's keeping that Ace in the deck to trump Jim Harbaugh next month.
BIG BEAR BACK. Joey Bosa, like all American workers, held out for what he felt he was a fair paycheck. Because sports addles people's minds, this somehow made him a bad guy to large swaths of Chargers fans.
Bosa debuted last Sunday and destroyed the Oakland Raiders.
Guess who never doubted him?
Joey Bosa says reaction from Chargers fans on social media has gone from "God, I hated you" to "I just bought your jersey" pic.twitter.com/82CLXNUPGO
— Marty Caswell (@MartyCaswell) October 11, 2016
Of course, these people will all hate him again should he not repeat his performance against the Denver Broncos tomorrow night.
Sports careers: We are the worst.
THOSE WMDs. Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark: Traumatizing children for 35 years... Toll of synthetic drugs on South Florida's streets... Syria's white helmets run towards the bombs... New room found at Winchester mystery house... Doctor still eats food he dropped on the floor.
