Hello and happy Thursday. Today is my last day of work before heading back to the Motherland for the Nebraska game and more importantly, Eat Too Brutus. Prepare yourself Columbus, the 11W squad is fixin’ to hit you with everything its got.
You ready?
PHILLY MELT. The AP had a nice write-up on Braxton Miller’s favorite target: Corey Don’t call me Philly Brown.
Did you know this?
He's tied for 30th in the nation - something almost unheard of in recent years for an Ohio State wide-out - in receptions per game (6.40).
Me neither. The production is a testament to Meyer and the coaching staff molding and utilizing the talent we all knew was there.
Brown had 12 catches for 84 yards against the Spartans, making the 14 catches TOTAL for the leading receiver last season seem ridiculous in comparison.
While Philly is leading the team in receptions, he’s only found the end zone once (against Miami). I’m sure Brown won’t agree with me, but I’m ok with this.
Brown has displayed his ability to be the putter to Devin Smith’s driver. Due to his effectiveness in the short game on screens and slants, defenses have to respect Philly’s side of the field, ultimately clearing the way for the big play ability of Smith.
Now if Brown could just break a tackle. This from Meyer:
''He's allowed to make a guy miss once in a while and get more than eight yards [jokingly]. Our spread is going to attack you vertically and horizontally. And our horizontal guy has to be able to shake loose from a couple of those (tackles).''
Broken tackles or not, the receiving unit has stepped up in a big way. You’re starting to see roles carved out on this team, and that my friends is a good thing.
Walt's best yet. Download it here.OHHH THAT LINE. Speaking of previously maligned units, who would you think Meyer was talking about if you heard this quote before the start of the season?
“Those five guys are locked and loaded. They’re together, well-coached … so that’s the group right now that I’m most pleased with.”
My guess is the offensive line might have been second to last on your list, only bested in terribleness (word?) by the receiving corps.
Well believe it or not, the group Meyer is most pleased with is indeed the offensive line. Ramzy had a great piece earlier in the week on this very topic, but it's worth revisiting as the Buckeyes will need another strong showing from the hogmollies up front to best Nebraska.
Meyer believes the high praise they received this week won't affect their gameplay on Saturday.
“That was a much-maligned unit, with several new starters. So when they see they’re getting ready to face another good D-line, that (praise) was just for that game, and we move on. So, no, I’m not worried about that (them getting a big head) at all.”
In my opinion, this is a unit that needed a little air pumped into their heads (aka confidence). Called “non-functional” in the spring, they truly had nowhere to go but up. Giving up one sack against Michigan State’s excellent defense was certainly a step in the right direction.
Coaches and fans agree the line isn’t where it needs to be, but feeling good about the trajectory of the front five is a pretty foreign concept in Columbus. Amazing what an O-line coach who spends more time on land than in water can do for a team.
BRASKY ROAD GAME WOES. Lost in the Urban Meyer hysteria gripping Columbus is the fact that current Nebraska players have never visited the ‘Shoe.
"I've heard many great things about it," senior running back Rex Burkhead said. "I'm sure it's going to be rowdy and loud, and being a night game, I'm sure it will be a great atmosphere. As an offense, we'll need to key in on our communication and make sure everyone knows what's going on."
In fact, this will be the Cornhuskers' first trip to the banks of the Olentangy since 1956.
Unfortunately for the Fighting Pelinis, the road hasn’t been too kind as of late.
In their first Big Ten game on the road against Wisconsin, they failed to show up, leaving Madison with a 48-17 loss. The end result was eerily similar at Michigan. To the surprise of everyone, Nebraska found a way to let Denard Robin(terception)son and company take them to the cleaner’s with a 45-17 defeat.
This season the Cornhuskers have already dropped one on the road to UCLA, and the ‘Shoe figures to be a tougher test than the Rose Bowl (which in my head is packed with surfer bros more concerned about catching some waves after the game than rooting for the Bruins.) I know Pasadena isn’t close to a beach, just roll with it.
Hey guys and gals heading to the game, if you need any extra motivation to get loud, there’s this from Nebraska Safety P.J. Smith:
"A lot of people talk up stadiums, but once you get there, it's not what you thought it would be. I don't even get excited about certain stadiums. I just want to go and win.
"It's very important that we come out really fast this weekend and take their crowd out of it. Set the tone. Let them know we're here to take care of business."
We’ll see if the crowd can help keep Nebraska’s road woes intact.
THAT'S SPECIAL. The Plain Dealer reported yesterday Former OSU head coach Jim Tressel will be joining forces with WKYC Channel 3 as a special contributor.
"His weekly report, "A Moment With Jim Tressel," will air each Wednesday, starting
tonight[yesterday night], during the Gannett-owned station's 7 p.m. newscast."
As much as I want something titled “A Moment With Jim Tressel” to include softly played acoustic guitar, knit sweaters, baked goods and macramé, it sounds like WKYC wanted to take it in a different direction:
"Jim's national championships as head football coach at Ohio State and Youngstown State universities are well-known to all, but his motivational speeches and best-selling books will be the basis of our 'A Moment with Jim Tressel."
We were so close you guys. Did anyone watch it last night? What did you think?
LINKIN DONUTS. OPPUM SABAN STYLE!... Hexaflexagon will blow your mind... Raiders of the Lost Ark in one GIF from start to finish... This is funny for most, Simba excluded of course... Dan Gilbert does NOT agree.
