Happy Monday!
Grab a cup of coffee and get prepared for the week ahead with my 10 thoughts heading into the week.
OK, let’s start with the quarterbacks. Kyle McCord was clearly “the guy” on Saturday, even through overthrows, underthrows and his first career interception, He found his groove for the offense, using the shovel pass to gain steam, completing 13 of his final 15 pass attempts for 319 yards and two touchdowns. So what’s next for the freshman? Much of that has to do with the health of redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said he and Stroud made a decision to rest the redshirt quarterback the Sunday after Ohio State’s Week 3 win over Tulsa, making the Sunday after the Akron win one week of rest. Day said he wasn’t sure of Stroud’s overall status, but that he was getting stronger. The Ohio State head coach made it clear that the health of the offense would come down to the three main guys in his quarterback room: Stroud, McCord and Jack Miller III, who added 66 yards passing against the Zips. But it clearly seems to be a two-man room, with Miller taking the field only in garbage time. So here’s what I think Ohio State will do. I think Stroud will come back against Rutgers. I think Day knows that he has one hell of an insurance policy with McCord. From that point, the Ohio State offense begins to evolve, knowing there’s depth now in that quarterback room, knowing there’s experience to be used.
It helps to have a running game led by TreVeyon Henderson.It was the first time in school history where an Ohio State freshman started at quarterback and running back. But the thing is the Buckeyes really don’t view Henderson as a freshman. He’s running as if he’s been there for years. I mean, this is what he’s done through his first four games as an Ohio State running back: 439 rushing yards on 46 carries for 9.5 yards per touch and seven all-purpose touchdowns, scoring in each of the first four games of his career. This dude can straight-up run. His agility and burst are exceptional. Nobody has really figured out how to stop him, finding the holes he needs from his teammates and doing what he was taught how to do.
Oh, and he didn’t play high school football as a senior last year. This is where Ohio State’s balance starts. With the foundation of Henderson beside Stroud, McCord or whoever is out there, the Buckeye offense is already at an advantage.
But there is a clear question that still remains in the Ohio State running back room: Who’s No. 2? Redshirt junior Master Teague and redshirt freshman Miyan Williams basically split carries behind Henderson. But the placement of the carries is what mattered most for the pair. Williams as actually the first back on the field outside of the freshman, taking Ohio State’s first drive of the second quarter: taking four carries for 19 yards. But when Henderson sat down for good, Teague ran the show, recording eight carries to Williams’ three in the third quarter for 71 yards and two touchdowns. There’s honestly not much of a game plan you can take from a game against Akron. But the only stable thing about the running back room at this point seems to be Henderson. Who’s next in line? Ohio State will definitely need to find out heading into conference play the rest of the way.
I couldn’t get out of my mind how proud Haskell Garrett looked when he was asked about Tyleik Williams. The redshirt senior defensive tackle himself recorded three sacks for 15 yards of loss, leading a defensive unit that provided a level of pressure Ohio State hadn’t seen yet this season. But Garrett could not seem to get his mind off the true freshman’s performance, recording four solo tackles and two assisted tackles with two sacks for 17 yards of lost yardage. While experience kind of set the tone for the defensive line against Akron, the youth is what’s going to carry this team, which is something you saw from Garrett’s eyes at the podium before he even spoke a word about Williams and his progress.
I asked sophomore Cody Simon specifically this week about the linebacker room’s role in generate a level of pass rush. He basically talked about following the lead of the defensive line, doing whatever they could to help make the quarterback uncomfortable. In Week 3 against Tulsa, it seemed like something the Buckeyes turned to at times, filling holes the Golden Hurricane offensive line was handing them with linebackers between the A and B gaps. Senior linebacker Teradja Mitchell filled that role Saturday against Akron, recording two tackles for loss for four yards. Providing pressure is not just one unit’s job and while things have not been perfect for the linebackers room this season, it’s something that could help the overall defense int he long run, especially if the guards and center are occupied with Williams and Garrett on the inside of the line.
Speaking of a lack of perfection in the linebacker room, Al Washington’s position room got even smaller over the course of last week. Both Dallas Gant (transfer) and K’Vaughan Pope (dismissal) are gone from the linebacker group. But Ohio State has a core group that it’s been utilizing since Day 1: Mitchell, Simon and Tommy Eichenberg, with added responsibilities for Steele Chambers, who played 32 snaps against Akron, Palaie Gaoteote IV and Craig Young.
Let’s go see how that team up north is doing. A Michigan running game that looked other-worldly over the first few weeks looked human Week 4 against Rutgers as Blake Corum, Hassan Haskins and company averaged 2.9 yards per carry while scoring two touchdowns. Junior Cade McNamara wasn’t much help at quarterback either, completing 56.3% of his passes for 163 yards. Holding onto a 20-3 halftime lead, the Wolverines offense became basically stagnant, allowing the Scarlet Knights to fight back with 10 unanswered points and a fighting chance at ending Michigan’s perfect season. But a missed field goal, a turnover on downs and a fumble gave the Wolverines their fourth win of the season, a No. 14 spot in the latest AP and USA Today Coaches Poll. Up next is Michigan’s first real test: a road game against Wisconsin and a Badger rush defense that has allowed 1.2 yards per carry over the first four games.
Speaking of Rutgers: I feel like those Michigan rushing stats are important to look at heading into Ohio State’s return to conference play. The Scarlet Knights held the Big Ten’s No. 1 rushing offense — a group that averages nearly 300 yards per game with 17 touchdowns on the ground — to 2.9 yards per carry. Henderson has not really been challenged yet. But this is a group that’s only allowed 3.3 yards per carry and five rushing touchdowns in four games: sixth best in the conference. Ohio State feasted on the Big Ten’s No. 2 rushing defense in Minnesota Week 1, recording 201 yards on the ground — most coming from Williams.
You know who didn’t feast this weekend? Justin Fields. Sheesh, what a struggle it was for the former Ohio State starter and first-year Chicago Bears quarterback. Fields was sacked nine times by the Cleveland Browns defense. NINE TIMES FOR 67 YARDS LOST. That’s atrocious. He really wasn’t able to use his legs to get out of it either, rushing only three times for 12 yards. And the lack of comfort really brought instability in the passing game as a whole, completing six of 20 pass attempts for 68 yards. Fields’ situation was one he was waiting for, but it wasn’t ideal. With Andy Dalton sidelined with a knee injury, the 2021 draft pick had to face Myles Garrett Jadeveon Clowney and company. This is not the Fields Ohio State fans remember from the past two seasons. But it was a “Welcome to the NFL” moment for sure.
Finally, here's what you all have been waiting for: the song of the week. I'm going to put myself out there right away: I'm a Dave Matthews Band fan. Yes, the "Crash Into Me" band, the "Ants Marching" band. The band Andy Bernard roller skates to in one of of my favorite episode of The Office. I find them to be incredibly engaging musically showing layer after layer of musical prowess with each instrument played. Every distinct drum beat, every distinct melody from the horn section is right on target. That's something that always gets me: just pure talent. And really, nothing showcases that more to me than the opener of DMB's Piedmont Park show in Sept. 2017. This version of "One Sweet World" brings back a lot of memories for me. It's something I've turned to for years. I'll get you some variety in the coming weeks for sure, but I wouldn't want to start this week any other way.
Grab a cup of coffee and get prepared for the week ahead with my 10 thoughts heading into the week.
OK, let’s start with the quarterbacks. Kyle McCord was clearly “the guy” on Saturday, even through overthrows, underthrows and his first career interception, He found his groove for the offense, using the shovel pass to gain steam, completing 13 of his final 15 pass attempts for 319 yards and two touchdowns. So what’s next for the freshman? Much of that has to do with the health of redshirt freshman C.J. Stroud. Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said he and Stroud made a decision to rest the redshirt quarterback the Sunday after Ohio State’s Week 3 win over Tulsa, making the Sunday after the Akron win one week of rest. Day said he wasn’t sure of Stroud’s overall status, but that he was getting stronger. The Ohio State head coach made it clear that the health of the offense would come down to the three main guys in his quarterback room: Stroud, McCord and Jack Miller III, who added 66 yards passing against the Zips. But it clearly seems to be a two-man room, with Miller taking the field only in garbage time. So here’s what I think Ohio State will do. I think Stroud will come back against Rutgers. I think Day knows that he has one hell of an insurance policy with McCord. From that point, the Ohio State offense begins to evolve, knowing there’s depth now in that quarterback room, knowing there’s experience to be used.
It helps to have a running game led by TreVeyon Henderson.It was the first time in school history where an Ohio State freshman started at quarterback and running back. But the thing is the Buckeyes really don’t view Henderson as a freshman. He’s running as if he’s been there for years. I mean, this is what he’s done through his first four games as an Ohio State running back: 439 rushing yards on 46 carries for 9.5 yards per touch and seven all-purpose touchdowns, scoring in each of the first four games of his career. This dude can straight-up run. His agility and burst are exceptional. Nobody has really figured out how to stop him, finding the holes he needs from his teammates and doing what he was taught how to do.
Oh, and he didn’t play high school football as a senior last year. This is where Ohio State’s balance starts. With the foundation of Henderson beside Stroud, McCord or whoever is out there, the Buckeye offense is already at an advantage.
But there is a clear question that still remains in the Ohio State running back room: Who’s No. 2? Redshirt junior Master Teague and redshirt freshman Miyan Williams basically split carries behind Henderson. But the placement of the carries is what mattered most for the pair. Williams as actually the first back on the field outside of the freshman, taking Ohio State’s first drive of the second quarter: taking four carries for 19 yards. But when Henderson sat down for good, Teague ran the show, recording eight carries to Williams’ three in the third quarter for 71 yards and two touchdowns. There’s honestly not much of a game plan you can take from a game against Akron. But the only stable thing about the running back room at this point seems to be Henderson. Who’s next in line? Ohio State will definitely need to find out heading into conference play the rest of the way.
I couldn’t get out of my mind how proud Haskell Garrett looked when he was asked about Tyleik Williams. The redshirt senior defensive tackle himself recorded three sacks for 15 yards of loss, leading a defensive unit that provided a level of pressure Ohio State hadn’t seen yet this season. But Garrett could not seem to get his mind off the true freshman’s performance, recording four solo tackles and two assisted tackles with two sacks for 17 yards of lost yardage. While experience kind of set the tone for the defensive line against Akron, the youth is what’s going to carry this team, which is something you saw from Garrett’s eyes at the podium before he even spoke a word about Williams and his progress.
I asked sophomore Cody Simon specifically this week about the linebacker room’s role in generate a level of pass rush. He basically talked about following the lead of the defensive line, doing whatever they could to help make the quarterback uncomfortable. In Week 3 against Tulsa, it seemed like something the Buckeyes turned to at times, filling holes the Golden Hurricane offensive line was handing them with linebackers between the A and B gaps. Senior linebacker Teradja Mitchell filled that role Saturday against Akron, recording two tackles for loss for four yards. Providing pressure is not just one unit’s job and while things have not been perfect for the linebackers room this season, it’s something that could help the overall defense int he long run, especially if the guards and center are occupied with Williams and Garrett on the inside of the line.
Speaking of a lack of perfection in the linebacker room, Al Washington’s position room got even smaller over the course of last week. Both Dallas Gant (transfer) and K’Vaughan Pope (dismissal) are gone from the linebacker group. But Ohio State has a core group that it’s been utilizing since Day 1: Mitchell, Simon and Tommy Eichenberg, with added responsibilities for Steele Chambers, who played 32 snaps against Akron, Palaie Gaoteote IV and Craig Young.
Let’s go see how that team up north is doing. A Michigan running game that looked other-worldly over the first few weeks looked human Week 4 against Rutgers as Blake Corum, Hassan Haskins and company averaged 2.9 yards per carry while scoring two touchdowns. Junior Cade McNamara wasn’t much help at quarterback either, completing 56.3% of his passes for 163 yards. Holding onto a 20-3 halftime lead, the Wolverines offense became basically stagnant, allowing the Scarlet Knights to fight back with 10 unanswered points and a fighting chance at ending Michigan’s perfect season. But a missed field goal, a turnover on downs and a fumble gave the Wolverines their fourth win of the season, a No. 14 spot in the latest AP and USA Today Coaches Poll. Up next is Michigan’s first real test: a road game against Wisconsin and a Badger rush defense that has allowed 1.2 yards per carry over the first four games.
Speaking of Rutgers: I feel like those Michigan rushing stats are important to look at heading into Ohio State’s return to conference play. The Scarlet Knights held the Big Ten’s No. 1 rushing offense — a group that averages nearly 300 yards per game with 17 touchdowns on the ground — to 2.9 yards per carry. Henderson has not really been challenged yet. But this is a group that’s only allowed 3.3 yards per carry and five rushing touchdowns in four games: sixth best in the conference. Ohio State feasted on the Big Ten’s No. 2 rushing defense in Minnesota Week 1, recording 201 yards on the ground — most coming from Williams.
You know who didn’t feast this weekend? Justin Fields. Sheesh, what a struggle it was for the former Ohio State starter and first-year Chicago Bears quarterback. Fields was sacked nine times by the Cleveland Browns defense. NINE TIMES FOR 67 YARDS LOST. That’s atrocious. He really wasn’t able to use his legs to get out of it either, rushing only three times for 12 yards. And the lack of comfort really brought instability in the passing game as a whole, completing six of 20 pass attempts for 68 yards. Fields’ situation was one he was waiting for, but it wasn’t ideal. With Andy Dalton sidelined with a knee injury, the 2021 draft pick had to face Myles Garrett Jadeveon Clowney and company. This is not the Fields Ohio State fans remember from the past two seasons. But it was a “Welcome to the NFL” moment for sure.
Finally, here's what you all have been waiting for: the song of the week. I'm going to put myself out there right away: I'm a Dave Matthews Band fan. Yes, the "Crash Into Me" band, the "Ants Marching" band. The band Andy Bernard roller skates to in one of of my favorite episode of The Office. I find them to be incredibly engaging musically showing layer after layer of musical prowess with each instrument played. Every distinct drum beat, every distinct melody from the horn section is right on target. That's something that always gets me: just pure talent. And really, nothing showcases that more to me than the opener of DMB's Piedmont Park show in Sept. 2017. This version of "One Sweet World" brings back a lot of memories for me. It's something I've turned to for years. I'll get you some variety in the coming weeks for sure, but I wouldn't want to start this week any other way.
