Somehow, there still 17 days devoid of meaning between us and No. 2 Ohio State at Indiana. Until then, pass time with the latest hype reel (featuring camp Week 2 highlights):
We can't lose one day.
— Ohio State Football (@OhioStateFB) August 13, 2017
The Bucks continued an annual tradition and moved down to Coffey Fields for Week 2 of fall camp.#1Strong pic.twitter.com/CT8sc1CO8c
Don't worry, Urban. I log on every day with the sole purpose of earning my spot as a local blogger. You can count on me, brother, as long as we can count on you rocking that beard in Bloomington.
Speaking of Meyer, we'll hear from Ohio State's football czar this afternoon when he meets with assembled media. Follow 11W's Dan Hope, Andrew Lind, and new guy on the beat James Grega on Twitter for updates from the WHAC.
P.S. If you're one of those people who brags about not liking Game of Thrones you should feel bad about your bad tastes. Thank you.
ICYMI:
- Jerome Baker relied on his physical prowess during his breakout season. This year, he understands the scheme.
- A look at the 43 foes Ohio State has never faced— and five we'd like to see scheduled.
- Help put a life-size statue of Woody Hayes in his hometown of Newcomerstown, Ohio.
Word of the Day: Perfidious.
DO AS I SAY, NOT AS I DID. Jerome Baker went from backup to a breakout star for the Silver Bullets last year after one snap that resulted in the MCL sprain of Dante Booker changed the course of the season.
Baker will obviously be more comfortable in Year 2 of Greg Schiano's defense. He also serves as testament to just how fast things can change for a player—and he wants his teammates to take heed.
From theozone.net:
“Oh, absolutely, Jerome got up and talked to [the other linebackers],” [linebackers coach Bill] Davis said. “He talked to a lot of them and he said, ‘Look guys, this time last year I was in a backup mindset. And all of a sudden I became a starter and I got really nervous and every day I had a knot in my gut. And I didn’t do enough to prepare.’ And he really had a strong message for all of the guys. I think they saw it. ‘What happened to Jerome may happen to me. And I’m going to be more ready than he was.’”
For Baker, it’s ‘Do as I say, not as I did.’ He was a fantastic example of why players need to be ready to step in and step up, but for teaching purposes, he is almost a cautionary tale. Not everybody is going to have the same happy ending as Baker’s tale, which is why he doesn’t want his teammates making the same mistakes that he made.
Easier typed than done, but given the violent nature of the sport, it's almost assured the Buckeyes will call upon a backup this year. If he lacks the physical prowess of Baker, at least let him heed his advice.
WEBER PRAISED. Turns out, it could be a big year for Ohio State's primary running back.
From nfl.com:
Weber was very productive as a redshirt freshman last season, running for 1,096 yards. While Saquon Barkley (Penn State) and Derrius Guice (LSU) deserve all the hype they've received as top-notch backs, I think Weber will step forward in 2017 to join them in the Heisman Trophy mix at the end of the year. His game includes many of the same characteristics Ezekiel Elliott displayed with the Buckeyes. Weber is a slippery and strong runner. He also has the ability to make catches and block at a high level. That all-around skill set, combined with great surrounding talent, means there is a big year in the offing for Weber.
The question isn't if Weber well exceed his own hype. It's if Weber will exceed the J.K. Dobbins hype.
MEYER'S STAFF = GOOD? We all know Urban Meyer's staff will be good this year. How else can you describe a staff of national-championship winners that added two former head coaches and an NFL coordinator?
Those in the #biz say it's doubtful another staff can rival Meyer's mix.
From dispatch.com:
“No doubt the coaching power on that staff is without peer,” said Tom Dienhart, senior writer for BTN.com. “Schiano and Wilson have been head coaches. Larry Johnson may be the best defensive line coach in the country. That staff will give Ohio State an edge in every game this year.”
ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit said he hadn’t studied every staff in the country but said, “By experience and accomplishments alone, I think it’s the strongest staff top to bottom in college football. And I think it’s the strongest that Urban has had in his career, based on their credentials.”
I love this year's staff almost as much as I love the roster. It's a special mix that *fingers crossed* will lead to special things in January. If not, then we'll burn Columbus down and build back up from the ashes.
ARIZONA IS A FLAT CIRCLE. Arizona and Arizona State are hardly ever relevant in football. Still, I thought it's always been easy to tell the schools apart given the only thing they seem to share is the state of Arizona.
Apparently folks mix them up all the time, and it's created an issue in need of a public service announcement.
From tucson.com:
Bear Up?
Forks Down?
It’s gone on for so long that the two schools actually have discussed the possibility of making some sort of public service announcement video, politely, yet firmly explaining that the Wildcats hail from Tucson, while the Sun Devils live in Tempe.
“It just shows a lack of respect for both schools,” said Shawn Malkind, a 2013 ASU graduate. “I’d like to think that a mistake that some ESPN broadcaster makes or someone else makes couldn’t make me mad, but it certainly is annoying.”
In 2013, well-known sportscaster Dan Patrick picked up an ASU helmet on his show — which was great publicity — until he identified the school as the Arizona Wildcats.
"I'm not mad, just annoyed, actually" — 2013 Arizona alumnus Shawn Malkind. His descendants will be proud of the strong moral stand their grandpappy took.
HARBAUGH! Jim Harbaugh won't release depth charts again this year because this is super secret information.
Don't expect Jim Harbaugh to be releasing a depth chart anytime soon -- or the entire season. pic.twitter.com/ThZqxfOP2i
— Kyle Rowland (@KyleRowland) August 12, 2017
What a pedantically moronic hill to die upon. Still won't prevent him from taking that L in the last week of November, either.
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