I dedicate this Skull Session to the Coldwater Community Picnic, though the Coldwater Library should write me a letter of thanks for not taking my Marionaire cake wheel hustle to the Chuck-a-Luck gambling dens. I would have left with $30,000 and not brownies, peanut butter cookies, and a cake.
Also shoutout to the lovely village of New Bremen (seriously, it's really nice) and the delectable 17 West. My Western Ohio restaurant rolodex grows thicker by the week thanks to tips from my humble readers.
ICYMI:
- Photos: Local team arrives at its camp hotel.
- Photo: Liam McCullough wins camp check-in.
- Five-star 2019 OT Doug Nester committed to Ohio State.
- What Nester brings to the Buckeyes.
- Help put a life-size statue of Woody Hayes in his hometown of Newcomerstown, Ohio.
Word of the Day: Dowdy.
HARBAUGH! Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh is 0-2 against Ohio State, which makes this year's date with the Buckeyes the biggest game of his three-year career.
And Harbaugh, who apparently dresses like an auto mechanic for practice, is tapping the last Michigan Man alive with a winning record against Ohio State as honorary captain for The Game.
Harbaugh, for all his hilarious idiosyncrasies, is correct about people not appreciating how hard it is to be on television.
And props for the Woodson selection. I was like 10 when he played in Ann Arbor and the dude bullied the Buckeyes and Browns for what felt like 30 years.
I'm just not sure how credulous Michigan players will find such tall tales of Wolverine dominance in The Rivalry. It's not like any of them can remember it.
RIGHT GUARD SPOT. Camp heats back in this week as players moved into the Grandview Hyatt last night. Though we probably won't get an official depth chart until the Bucks take the field in Bloomington, one hot position battle will be at right guard.
From theozone.net:
69 Matt Burrell, rSo OR
66 Malcolm Pridgeon, rJrAs I said above, I’ve only got two names here because I believe this is where the real battle will take place. I could list all seven names here that Urban Meyer said will get a look, but that seems unnecessary. I don’t see the freshmen Wyatt Davis or Josh Myers breaking through, and redshirt freshman Gavin Cupp is still battling injuries.
I picked Burrell, but Pridgeon got a lot of work with the first team last week. The loser of the battle should serve as a versatile backup, though I'd suspect Pridgeon would be better than Burrell at tackle in a pinch.
HUBBARD STOUT AGAINST THE RUN. Defensive ends are known for their ability to smash a quarterback into pieces, but people forget they have run responsibilities too.
Sam Hubbard is venerable against the run:
Sam Hubbard stuffed the run very well last season. pic.twitter.com/rxPDXJYakp
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) August 5, 2017
If the defensive line is half as good at stopping the run as they'll be at rushing the passer, opposing offenses better buckle up.
PANTONI SPIES ON THE WOLVERINES. Michigan periscoped a practice this weekend, and Ohio State direct of player personnel Mark Pantoni took the opportunity to scout them.
Look whose watching @UMichFootball @CoachJim4UM @AaronBDesigns @GregFreyUM pic.twitter.com/d3jATWDJng
— The Player & The Fan (@theplayerthefan) August 6, 2017
I suspect this is why some coaches are paranoid about allowing media to tape practice drills. Their underlings are always prying around other programs. Valuable intel must be gleaned from time to time.
O RLY? I thought Coaches Polls were worthless until I saw Utah coach Kyle Whittingham made $15,000 from a preseason ranking stipulation in his contract.
Turns out a Top Six ranking bodes well for a team's title hopes.
From collegefootballtalk.com:
Why is that arbitrary number of six potentially significant? Over the past 15 seasons, 10 of the eventual national champions began the season ranked in the Top Six of the preseason coaches’ poll.
Clemson, 2016, No. 2
Alabama, 2015, No. 3
Ohio State, 2014, No. 6
Alabama, 2012, No. 2
Alabama, 2011, No. 2
Alabama, 2009, No. 5
Florida, 2008, No. 5
LSU, 2007, No. 2
Texas, 2005, No. 2
USC, 2004, No. 1
The No. 2 local team in the playoff hunt this year? Big... if true.
THOSE WMDs. Rogue One teaches us about the Rebel Alliance's military chops... Silicon Valley's millionaire engineers who barely work... Nazi salute lands Chinese tourists in hot water in Germany... You're cheesing your cheeseburgers wrong... Ohio state fair tragedy: What happened?
