Skull Session: It's Always Ohio Against the World, Ohio State Has Several Standouts Through Six Weeks and Cade Stover is the Buck of the Week

By Chase Brown on October 18, 2023 at 5:00 am
Cade Stover
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Welcome to the Skull Session.

This post from Ohio State football made me lol.

Let's have a good Wednesday, shall we?

 OHIO AGAINST THE WORLD. "I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE LOU HOLTZ IS RIGHT NOW," Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said calmly after the Buckeyes defeated Notre Dame on the road (Ryan Day said calmly is a reference to this iconic delivery from the late, great Michael Gambon in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire").

“What he said about our team, I cannot believe,” Day said in a postgame interview. “This is a tough team right here. We’re proud to be from Ohio. It’s always been 'Ohio Against the World,' and it will continue to be 'Ohio Against the World.'”

Many outside Buckeye Nation (and perhaps some inside it) scoffed at Day's insinuation that Earth stood against Ohio, namely its land-grant university, Ohio State. But after I read a recent article from The Athletic, one where coaches who faced the Buckeyes in 2023 shared the team's strengths and weaknesses, I can confirm that Day was correct: It's always been Ohio Against the World, and will continue to be Ohio Against the World.

Here is what those coaches said about Ohio State:

The Good

“They’ve got the best receiver room in college football (in Marvin Harrison Jr.),” said one assistant who faced Ohio State. “It’s comparable to an NFL receiver room. All three of their starters will play on Sunday.”

...

“The two D-linemen were frickin’ unbelievable,” said a coordinator who faced Ohio State. “It was almost like having two receivers out there at D-lineman. It looked like they were working releases out there on O-linemen. Their feet were that quick, and it looked like they had a release package. They can dip and run underneath you, they can run around you and then they can run through you. Those are two top-tier guys who will be playing on Sundays. I knew Sawyer was a good player but wasn’t expecting him to be as explosive as the other one.”

...

“(People) talk about (Cade Stover) as a pass catcher, but he’s a dirty work guy in the run game,” the assistant said. “He’s physical, he tries to throw his face in the fan when he’s blocking. He’s kind of the unsung hero for them in the run game.”

...

“No. No. They’re not soft. I can’t believe (Lou Holtz) said that,” said one assistant.

...

“I don’t think they’re soft. Just inexperienced, maybe not as much star power as they usually have,” another assistant said. “But I bet they have a lot of young guys who will end up being pretty good but are still finding their way.”

The Bad

“The secondary as a whole probably is not what people are used to seeing,” one coordinator said. “They’re going to play a ton of man and expect the guys up front to get home and protect the guys on the back end, but when they don’t, I think that’s where they’re vulnerable. I wasn’t blown away by the back end.”

...

“Their safeties and corners are actually average, maybe even below average,” one assistant said. “I know that’s a crazy thing to say about Ohio State, but I think the corners are overrated and the safeties are average. ... You can stretch them down the field vertically.”

...

“(Kyle McCord) looks like a quarterback still trying to find his way,” said one coordinator.

...

“It felt a lot more like (Ohio State was) calling it for (McCord) to not lose it rather than him to go win it. … It’s definitely more of a game manager role for him now versus a game winner.”

...

“It seems like when things go wrong, or they start struggling, the only thing they have in their bag is to find (Harrison),” one coordinator said. “He’s a really talented player. He’s one of the best players in all of college football. For teams that are able to pressure him and rattle him and take 18 away, the biggest question mark is how will McCord function if someone eliminates 18 from the game?”

...

“We felt like we could attack the edges against those guys, especially since the guards were both returning starters,” said one assistant who faced the Buckeyes. “Attacking the edges against them was definitely in our game plan.”

...

“I wasn’t impressed with the right tackle Fryar. When we played them, I thought he was just OK,” another assistant said. “I don’t think Ohio State has the guys up front that they’re normally used to having."

Meanwhile, in the very same article (!), the very same coaches (!) talked about Penn State as if the Nittany Lions were the next iteration of The Greatest Show on Turf. And in the very same article (!), Michigan was described as the second coming of the 1972 Miami Dolphins.

Drew Allar "has all the arm talent in the world." Penn State's defense is full of "elite P5 players" and has "two NFL draft picks at corner." The Nittany Lions "rush the passer well" and are "athletic."

Michigan is "well above" Ohio State and Penn State. The Wolverines are "one of the deepest teams" in college football." Jim Harbaugh's squad "brings the fight" to their opponents in several ways.

These coaches, man. I believe Bulletin Board Material and its impact on games is a little overblown, but, man, I hope somehow, some way these quotes reach the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

On Tuesday, Day said Ohio State loves to be "coached hard." Maybe that can include some references to what those outside the Woody think about the team as it prepares for one of its toughest matchups of the season.

"I think this team likes to get coached hard. I do," Day said. "This is a great team that can get pushed. They respond well. This is a tough game. There is a lot riding on every game. We know that. It's my job to bring it every week, every Saturday, and push as hard as I can. ... I think the guys like to see that passion. I think they like to see that part of it. It's my job to bring that. I'm gonna continue to do it."

I can't wait for Day to calmly say, "I'D LIKE TO KNOW WHERE (ONE ASSISTANT WHO HAS FACED THE BUCKEYES) IS RIGHT NOW!" in his postgame interview after Ohio State beats Penn State. It will be glorious.

 MIDSEASON STANDOUTS. After seven weeks, we've reached the halfway point of Ohio State’s 2023 season. The Buckeyes are 6-0, mainly due to the performances of a handful of standout players on both sides of the ball: Kyle McCord, TreVeyon Henderson, Marvin Harrison Jr., Emeka Egbuka, Cade Stover, JT Tuimoloau, Tyleik Williams, Denzel Burke and Lathan Ransom, to name a few.

On Hump Day – the halfway point of the week – I wanted to share some midseason superlatives for The World Famous Ohio State Buckeyes. Here are my selections for offensive MVP, defensive MVP and the team's surprise standout:

Offensive MVP: Marvin Harrison Jr.

There is no other option here. Harrison has been the most valuable player on offense, collecting 31 receptions for 604 yards and five touchdowns across six appearances, with some of those appearances coming on a bum ankle.

Against Purdue, Ohio State scored its first touchdown in eight plays. Harrison had three catches for 63 yards and reached the end zone on that drive. With his running mate Emeka Egbuka back in Columbus dealing with an ailment, Harrison recorded five catches, 105 yards and one touchdown versus a Purdue defense whose primary goal was to stop him. He could have had three more catches if not for some uncharacteristic drops in the adverse weather conditions.

Harrison had two catches for 18 yards in Ohio State's season opener with Indiana. Since then, he has recorded 29 receptions and 58 targets on the year. His 58 targets pace the team and represent 35.8% of the target share for the Buckeyes' (also extremely talented) pass-catchers.

He’s the best wide receiver in the country. He's Ohio State's offensive MVP.

Defensive MVP: Denzel Burke

Burke's improvement was all the rave among Ohio State's coaches and players in the offseason. When Ohio State's season opener with Indiana came around, we all learned the reasons for that. Burke was dominant against the Hoosiers, and he has improved each week since.

In his six appearances in 2023, quarterbacks have targeted Burke 31 times, which has resulted in 15 receptions for 149 yards. That's good for a 48.9% completion percentage and 4.8 yards per attempt. Burke has also shown a desire to drop his shoulder and deliver hits, recording five tackles, one tackle for loss and one forced fumble this season. He also has recorded one interception, becoming the first Ohio State cornerback to intercept a pass since Cam Brown in 2021.

Burke exited Ohio State's win over Purdue with an undisclosed ailment, leaving his status for Saturday's matchup with Penn State in question. The Buckeyes' defensive MVP at midseason, I am sure Ohio State would love to have him versus Drew Allar and Co.

Surprise Standout: Tyleik Williams

Before the 2023 season started, I expected Mike Hall Jr. would be Ohio State's top defensive tackle this fall. After six weeks, that honor belongs to Williams – no ifs, ands or buts about it. This season, Williams has been the most improved player on Ohio State's roster, and if not for Burke's excellence, he would have been my choice for defensive MVP.

An ESPN midseason All-American, Williams ranks fifth on the team with 27 total tackles and leads the Buckeyes with six tackles for loss. He has also added one sack, four pass breakups, one fumble recovery and one defensive touchdown.

Williams has also recorded an impressive 282 snaps after six weeks – the most snaps of Ohio State's defensive tackles and the second-most snaps for an Ohio State defensive lineman behind JT Tuimoloau (305).

I think 91 has been freed.

 FARMER GRONK STONKS. With a four-catch, 53-yard, two-touchdown performance in Ohio State's 41-7 win over Purdue, Cade Stover was the best player at his position in Week 7. At least, that's what his Pro Football Focus grade indicated.

PFF wasn't alone in its praise for the Ohio State captain, as representatives from the Reese's Senior Bowl named Stover its Stock Up Player of the Week for his efforts.

Ohio State also named Stover the Buck of the Week.

You have to love Farmer Gronk.

A native of Lexington, Ohio, Stover has been at Ohio State since 2019. Over the past four seasons (and six games), the 6-foot-4, 251-pound athlete has been a linebacker, a defensive end, a linebacker, a tight end, a linebacker and finally settled at tight end at the start of 2022.

Last season, Stover had one of the most productive receiving seasons ever for an Ohio State tight end, collecting 36 receptions for 406 yards and five touchdowns. He should surpass those numbers in 2023, as the talented pass-catcher is on pace to have the most productive receiving season ever for an Ohio State tight end with 23 catches for 359 yards and three scores in six games.

If Stover keeps that pace across a 12-game regular season, he would have 46 catches for 718 yards and six touchdowns when Ohio State enters December (fresh off a win over Michigan, of course). Add whatever Stover could garner in the postseason, and he would have a season for the record books.

I like the sound of that.

Farmer Gronk Stonks are through the roof!

 NOW THAT'S WHAT I CALL CONFIDENCE. Eupouria is a 5,000-square-foot business in the Gateway-University District (1568 N. High St.) that features live music, DJ events, pay-per-view sports events, games, food, drinks and a self-serve draft system with 40 taps of beer, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages.

Before Ohio State battles Penn State this weekend, Eupouria's owner, Benjamin Morgan, has presented a win-win scenario for those who watch the Big Ten East contest at his restaurant and bar.

From Eupouria's Facebook:

Hey Columbus! Ben here, one of the owners of [Eupouria]. On Saturday, our beloved Buckeyes will face one of their toughest opponents all season. I'm so confident in our Bucks that I'm going to put my money where my mouth is. If our boys lose, I will personally pay for everyone's tab on the self-serve system at Eupouria. That's right, either The Buckeyes prevail or I'm putting your tab on my personal credit card. This could be VERY expensive!

Don't let me down, [Kyle McCord] and [Ryan Day]!

I'll see you guys at The You Pour on Saturday.

RULES: Visitors must be 21 years or older. We do NOT overserve. Self-serve draft system has preset cutoff amounts. Guests must be checked in before halftime. Covers drinks during the game – not before or after.

Morgan and Eupouria's idea mirrors that of a Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bar called Jack's American Pub, which had a promotion that offered free drinks if the New York Jets lost a game. The promotion was supposed to be a good riddance to former Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers – then it all went off the rails when Rodgers tore his Achilles in Week 1 versus the Buffalo Bills.

Today, the Milwaukee Bar has reversed its course on the original promo, as Jack's American Pub now offers free drinks when the Jets win. Good news for Cheeseheads, bad news for Jack's American Pub: The Jets are 3-3 in 2023. That's certainly more wins than most expected for a Zach Wilson-led team.

But, like Tim May, I digress.

No Ohio State fan should want the Buckeyes to lose on Saturday. But, if for some reason they do, the loss will be easier to swallow with some free booze from Eupouria – see what I did there?

 SONG OF THE DAY. "Dream On" by Aerosmith.

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