MY THOUGHTS.....2024 Spring

 The Ohio State Buckeyes finished spring practice for 2024 with the annual spring game with the Scarlet getting past the Gray 34-33.

A few questions still remain at QB and the offensive line.  Kansas State transfer Will Howard got the start and was hit-and-miss.  He ended up 9-for-13 for 77 yards but made a couple of questionable throws on the intermediate and deep throws, one of which was an interception.  He did show good mobility in the pocket.  Devin Brown, now fully recovered from the ankle injury that hobbled him in the latter stages of last season, had the best game of the QBs.  Brown went 5-for-7 for 66 yards and a touchdown while adding three carries for 24 yards.  True freshman Julian Sayin completed 10-of-17 throws for 85 yards and also threw a pick and was sacked three times.  So, Devin Brown probably moved up to second team as Howard’s backup at this point.  TreVeyon Henderson looked as good as ever running as well as catching a couple balls out of the backfield and so did transfer Quinshon Judkins, who has established himself as the top backup to Henderson and true freshman James Peoples carried 13 times for 59 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown run and looks to be ready to step in for the departed Dallan Hayden, who entered the transfer portal last week.  TC Caffey and San Williams-Dixon also got their chances toting the ball and played well.  RT Josh Fryar seems to have refined his technique and had a good stint and Carson Hinzman played well at RG, and Alabama transfer Seth McLaughlin saw quite a bit of action at center.  LT Josh Simmons and LG Donovan Jackson showed they are ready to lead the way on the left side of the line.

Four interceptions highlighted the day on defense.  That and the six pass breakups showed the defensive side of the ball is loaded. All four picks came from backups.  Davison Igbinosun returns with his tight coverage and broke up a pass in the end zone, preventing a touchdown.  True freshman Aaron Scott Jr impressed with a pair of pass breakups and the defensive line, and linebackers got free with sacks on every QB that played in the game.

So ends another spring practice and in 20 weeks we’ll see what the 2024 Buckeyes have in 

MY THOUGHTS.....2023 Season

MY THOUGHTS.....Cotton Bowl

 

What could’ve been an easily winnable game instead turned into one of the most hideous offensive performances I can remember.  It was the first time in 83 games the Buckeyes failed to score a touchdown, going back to their 31-0 loss to Clemson in the 2016 semifinal. 

Of course, it didn’t help that starting QB Kyle McCord transferred, Marvin Harrison and Cade Stover did not play, and the reshuffled offensive line was a mess.  The 203 total yards was also the fewest in a game since that playoff loss seven years ago.  There were a few positives.  No one can doubt TreVeyon Henderson played his tail off knowing the ineptness of the offensive line.  It was a testament to his ruggedness he gained as much (72 yards) as he did.  Emeka Egbuka caught six of the ten passes completed by Ohio State quarterbacks.

The defense, God bless them, played very well, holding the Missouri offense scoreless for three quarters until they finally wore down; having to constantly take the field due to the ugly offensive performance.  Cody Simon had his best game, as he led the Buckeyes in tackles with 12 and Jack Sawyer had three sacks.

The debacle in Dallas will make for a long, dark off season as many questions need to be answered in the next eight months before the Buckeyes take the field for the 2024 season opener August 31 against Akron.

Cotton Bowl: Ohio State v Missouri

December 2 Predictions

MY THOUGHTS.....Michigan

 

Ohio State lost to Michigan 30-24, which all but eliminated Ohio State’s hopes of making the four-team CFP.

An early interception thrown by QB Kyle McCord, which gave the Wolverines the ball at the 7-yard line, giving them an easy first touchdown, may have proven to be the difference.  He also threw a pick on Ohio State’s last-ditch drive of the game, but still managed to throw for 271 yards and Michigan’s defense, as other defenses, had trouble keeping up with Marvin Harrison Jr. as he hauled in five catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.  Cade Stover hauled in three and had a 32-yarder in which he dragged a couple of Wolverine defenders for extra yardage.  Emeka Egbuka hauled in three and had the other TD reception.  Michigan’s defense has been tough to run against all year and Saturday was no exception.  TreVeyon Henderson netted 60 yards and a touchdown, yet the Wolverines held him to a mere 3.2 yards per carry.  Chip Trayanum fared somewhat better, with a 6.1 average, yet only had six carries.  The inconsistency of the offensive line in run blocking, an issue all year, without a doubt, was the factor in the offense gaining a mere 107 yards on the ground and averaging less than four yards per carry.  To the offensive line’s credit, they limited Michigan’s defense to just one sack of Kyle McCord. 

Steele Chambers led the way for Ohio State’s defense with 13 tackles and Sonny Styles and Tommy Eichenberg both played well with seven stops apiece.  Ohio State’s defense gradually wore down in the second half.  Michigan was able to get at least five yards on each of their first down plays, which made their play-calling on second and third downs that much easier.  They did most of their damage on the ground; 122 out of their 156 rushing yards came in the second half.

Next year could be a defining season for Coach Ryan Day.  Although he’s 56-7 at Ohio State, the only current B1G coach to win a CFP game and play for a national title and has kept Ohio State within the top five programs in the country, he’s now 1-3 versus Michigan, (even though at least two of those games are likely to be vacated) 1-4 as an underdog, and 1-6 versus top five teams: the only win coming in the 2020 CFP against Clemson.

So, now, the Buckeyes will wait until next week to find out their bowl destination and opponent.