It's Student Appreciation Day, folks. The Woody Hayes Athletic Center doors open at noon, which should be ample time for students to shake off their fake hangover from 32 Friday night Natty Lights.
ICYMI:
- Maybe, just maybe, the spring game is starting to mean something in the development of wide receivers.
- The local team believes its four defensive ends could start anywhere in the country.
- Columbus Brewing launches canned beer for sale at Horseshoe.
- Men's center David Bell will transfer.
- Larry Johnson's No. 1 goal: Put the quarterback on the ground.
Word of the Day: Intransigent.
NO MORE MISSES. Offensive line is a tough position to scout. Just because a fella is built like a tree trunk doesn't mean he has the mental fortitude to withstand bull rushes for 60 minutes. And mental toughness isn't enough to excel, either.
So every program in America misses (or fails to develop) offensive linemen. It's about mitigating losses. Considering OSU is an offensive line-driven program, the lack of OL depth signifies too many recruiting misses.
From cleveland.com:
It's easier to work in some true freshmen at skill positions, or basically anywhere that allows for some rotation. You don't rotate on the offensive line. It's all about developing cohesion among five guys. So when Michael Jordan started at left guard last year, that was a sign of the the few recruiting misses Ohio State has had in offensive line recruiting.
"More than a few," Meyer said. "You can't do that. ... What happens is you have a year like you did last year. ... Some players didn't develop, some things happened. Dog ate my homework, whatever it is. That should not happen here. Very disappointed in that. We can't miss again."
That's some shade on not only Ed Warinner, who recruited some of those misses, but also Greg Studrawa. Michael Jordan performing admirably doesn't change the fact he shouldn't have been forced to play in the first place.
I'm patiently awaiting the summer arrival of five-star guard Wyatt Davis. It will be intriguing to see how he fits into the mix. If Demetrius Knox holds RG down, perhaps the Slobs are back in business.
G.O.A.T. STATUS. Florida's unrelenting defensive line in the 2007 Fiesta Fiasco will haunt my dreams until the day I die.
Urban Meyer revamped the D-line almost immediately upon arrival, yet this year's group could be the best he's ever had.
They're aiming higher.
From dispatch.com:
“We want to be remembered as the best defensive line, a complete defensive line,” defensive end Tyquan Lewis said Thursday. “We want to be remembered as that defensive line that everybody talks about — to go down in history. That’s what we’re working for and aspire to be.”
Despite losing three starters, including Joey Bosa, from the 2015 team, Ohio State’s defensive line became a strength a year ago. Lewis was the Big Ten’s defensive lineman of the year and surprised many by returning for his senior year. Sam Hubbard grew into a star. Jalyn Holmes and Nick Bosa would start almost anywhere else.
Indeed, the locals will talk about the defensive line if it blazes through Ohio State's opponents like that. As of now, the over/under on sacks is 105.
LITTLER BEAR AHEAD OF BIG BEAR. Ohio State's defensive line riches are perhaps no better encased than in Nick Bosa. At any other school, Bosa would be a preseason all-conference starting defensive end. At Ohio State, he's another (valuable) cog in the war machine.
Even though he may not technically start, Larry Johnson says the younger brother is more advanced than his All-Rookie brother was at his age:
From 247sports.com:
“He’s a year ahead in his progression," he said of Bosa. "He’s done a great job. He is locked in and he will be a pretty good player for us.”
With a recently drafted brother who also was a Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and a two-time consensus All-American always looming over Bosa, it would be normal for him to feel the pressure. It appears instead that he's let that fuel him, looking to not only live up to what Joey did with the Buckeyes, but exceed it.
“Nick probably learned some things a little earlier than Joey did," Johnson said. "I arrived here (after Joey’s freshman year) and Nick got all of the stuff Joey didn’t his freshman year."
Bosa coming back next year already feels like grand larceny.
TAKE A TRIP TO CONLEY ISLAND. Former stars hitting the autograph circuit is nothing new this time of the year. Gareon Conley, however, is using it as a vehicle to help give back to his hometown Massillon community.
Stark County, Ohio – April, 6 2017 – Former Massillon Tiger and Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley invites you to visit “Conley Island” and join him for a special launch event this Saturday, April 8, 2017 from 1 PM to 3 PM at Giant Eagle 2032 Lincoln Way E, Massillon OH 44646. While the name “Conley Island” stands for Gareon’s ability to stand alone while shutting down an opponent ("on an island"), Conley Island also encompasses all of the family, friends, and fans from Stark County, OSU and across the U.S. that have contributed to his journey.
Welcome to Conley Island.“As I transition from college and move forward in my professional career, I wanted to establish a way to recognize and bring together the communities that support me,” said Conley. “Conley Island is a tribute to where I’m from and a way to Pay It Forward.”
Along with the opportunity to meet Gareon, take a photo or get an autograph, a limited-edition line of Conley Island apparel will be available exclusively at Giant Eagle and online at www.conleyisland.com. To Pay it Forward, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Conley Island merchandise will benefit Stark County's Refuge of Hope, an amazing facility providing food and shelter to those in need. For more information, please visit www.refugeofhope.org.
Note to prospects: This man once committed to Michigan. But it switched. Look at his soon-found wealth and take heed.
STARVING BUCKEYE WANTS CHICKEN NUGGETS. Social media alerted me to this post yesterday:
This is Carter, as you can see he likes to eat Wendy's chicken nuggets in his free time. #Nuggsforcarter #NUGGLORD @TheEllenShow @carterjwm pic.twitter.com/tibZPE9KNB
— QG 4hunnid (@QGwaltney) April 7, 2017
When I saw "#NUGGLORD" I thought it was a social media advertisement for a soon-to-be-incarcerated weed dealer. Apparently, our new friend Carter struck a RT deal with Wendy's for a year's worth of Chicken Nuggets.
HELP ME PLEASE. A MAN NEEDS HIS NUGGS pic.twitter.com/4SrfHmEMo3
— Carter Wilkerson (@carterjwm) April 6, 2017
I'll share the #content without RTing. Apologies to Carter. It's policy. My advice is to get into something more lucrative, like buying the world's biggest Cheeto on eBay like this ambitious #teen:
— Nick Robinson (@Babylonian) April 6, 2017
THOSE WMDs. How a Columbus Crew supporters group found a home of its own... What it's like to lose your spouse in your 30's... Stopping exercise for 10 days can decrease blood brain flow... Medieval villagers hacked their dead to pieces in fear of zombie apocalypse... Guardian of the cotton-top... Ohio quadruplets earn spots at Harvard and Yale.
