We survived to Wednesday, folks. Let's give ourselves a round of applause!
ICYMI: Ohio State is No. 5 in the latest CFP Poll. (Here are Eric Seger's gut reactions.)
IT SWITCHED. Ohio State's offense didn't perform for large swaths of the season. The good news for the local team is its offense is masterminded by Urban Meyer, who knows a thing or two about scoring points.
That's why I refused to fret about the sluggishness of the offense in October. Meyer usually figures it out come crunch time. And he did so against Nebraska.
From theozone.net:
This edition of Buckeye Breakdown: Through The Eyes of J.T. Barrett illustrates the decisions made by the coaching staff, and Barrett, that opened up the passing lanes against a Cover 3 or Cover 4 look. Says Barrett, “They were playing aggressive with the safeties once again. That’s when we get shot plays, when they’re aggressive with the safeties. We came out at halftime and we scored on the first play. Then they went to cover three and took that way…”
Props to not only Meyer but "Touchdown" Tim Beck and Ed Warinner. Their props are never as loud as the criticism.
Samuel in the slot is a nasty development against these soft zones enemies have deployed against Ohio State. Enemy DCs may need to go back to the drawing board.
SCHIANO A MASTER NOW. I wasn't sure about how I felt about the Greg Schiano hire when it went down. He was bad in the NFL. But a former NFL coach as a co-defensive coordinator is good.
The proof is in the pudding, though.
From collegefootball.ap.org:
"Any relationship is about fit. I've had opportunities that just weren't a fit for me to be a head coach. If and when the fit is right that's when I'll do it and the same for them," Schiano said. "Some people are looking for a younger guy that doesn't have a whole bunch of experience, but is kind of catch the rising star so to speak. Where other people are looking for something else. It's the same for me. At this stage in my career, I don't need to be a head coach. Would I like to be? Yeah, I would like to be again someday."
[...]
"I have kind of gone back for a master's degree in coaching under someone I'm very close with," said Schiano, who drew interest from both Southern California and Miami last year.
"What he did was try to add a little bit more swag to the defense," junior linebacker Chris Worley said. "Not just thinking about making a good play but thinking about making a great play. Not just thinking about stopping teams, but becoming a smothering defense."
Meyer demands two years from any of his assistants. It will be interesting to see if he holds his old pal Schiano to that traditional pact because he'll definitely draw interest from programs due to his experience and results at OSU.
Whether he finds that right fit? That's another question entirely.
MARYLAND NOT HEALTHY. Michigan demolished Maryland last week, and now the Terrapins aren't healthy with No. 5 Ohio State on deck. That's a dicey proposition.
From foxsports.com:
Quarterback Perry Hills has a recurring throwing-shoulder injury that flared up again last week at Michigan. He is considered day-to-day. Ty Johnson, the team's leading rusher, is dealing with a lower body issue that forced him to leave Saturday's game in the third quarter.
"This is obviously something he's been dealing with throughout the season, and I think it will be more of the same," Durkin said of Hills. "He's made it through some games fine, and some games he's taken a hit on it and it's forced him out for a little bit. He was wanting to come back in that game."
Maryland could use all hands on deck against Ohio State. Durkin is impressed with the Buckeyes' overall speed.
It's hard for me to get excited about the Maryland game. Ohio State should roll them on talent, and my only hope is the Buckeyes leave the game without injuries. All my chips are on the Michigan game at this point.
BIG HANK DOING WORK. Everybody loves when former Buckeyes make points in the NFL, but Johnathan Hankins is out here doing work too:
Johnathan Hankins beat LG Stefen Wisniewski so badly he thought it was a screen. It was not. pic.twitter.com/YqDroD1uMv
— Mike Renner (@PFF_Mike) November 8, 2016
How is this graded, football minds? Seems like Wisniewski may have pulled a hustle?
FINEBAUM RIPS BAYLOR. Finebaum is bad, unless he's good. And he was good on his Monday show while delivering a sermon on the embarrassment of Baylor football:
THOSE WMDs. Guy walks into a bar and is never seen again... Price before product, period... Dos a Cero: A rivalry retold... India abolished large banknotes in fight against black money.
