11W Mailbag: Discussing Ohio State's Wide Receiver and Defensive Back Depth, Maryland's Chances and More

By Eric Seger on October 9, 2015 at 12:00 pm
The Ohio State-Maryland mailbag from Eleven Warriors.
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The 11W Football Mailbag is the only stop you need for answers to your most pressing questions about Ohio State's next matchup. Have a question? Ask it, and if we can, we'll answer it.


What does Ohio State need to do this weekend to silence the 'chicken littles' and doubters? Will anything make the masses happy? Also, if the Bucks play great, will we hear ‘it was just Maryland?’ What kind of realistic performance does this team need to put together this week in order to get the masses to step back from the ledge? — NavyBuckeye91, LouBuck35 and BuckeyeFreak4844

I don't think Ohio State could do anything to make the masses happy, unless it scores a touchdown on every single play and prevents Maryland from getting a first down. Wish I was kidding, but sadly, I'm not. It's what it's come to, I fear.

I do think, though, that if Ohio State can score 40-plus points and keep Maryland under 10, it could temper the 'chicken littles' to use your term just a bit. Above all, if Ohio State keeps playing the way it has defensively and is more efficient in the red zone/doesn't turn the ball over, it should result in a wide margin of victory regardless if it is "just Maryland."

Do you think Ohio State can pull off a shutout? How many points will Maryland score? — OSU_ALUM_05 and Seattle Linga

Ohio State can certainly pull off a shutout, but I doubt it happens. Shutouts are so difficult to come by in college football, even though Maryland got blanked at home against Michigan last weekend. Randy Edsall is fighting for his job, which I think will in turn make his players bust their tails a little bit harder for him and at least score some points.

My score prediction is Ohio State 42, Maryland 10

Is this week going to be the turning point in which the offensive struggles can be put to rest and we finally see a high powered offense like we have been expecting all season? Can Ohio State play an entire game without a turnover? — Adamluangraj

I think there's a good chance that is the case. After watching the Indiana film a few times this week, Ohio State had a lot of dumb penalties and errors that, if fixed, means more points and Indiana doesn't hang around. Then again, the Buckeyes were scrambling a bit down the stretch after Zander Diamont's long touchdown run.

The Buckeyes can play the entire game without a turnover, but something just tells me that this team is one that will at least give the ball away once a game. Until they prove me wrong, that's my take.

Plus, Maryland just isn't very good. It should be a big day for Ohio State.

What is the over/under on turnovers for both teams? — Jumar

This is a fair question. Though I don't know if this is an actual stat, I'd put the combined over/under for turnovers from both teams at five. Maryland gives it away at the second-highest clip in the country and Ohio State isn't exactly protective of the rock either.

Urban Meyer said in is presser that turnovers need to be fixed or guys sit. With the wide receiver core so depleted, do you see a guy like Jalin Marshall really getting benched if he puts the ball on the carpet this weekend? How do you see his risk/reward proposition at this point when you have guys like Braxton Miller and Dontre Wilson at the same position? What is the wide receiver rotation going to look like this week? Does Michael Thomas remain on the field more, rather than continually rotating guys in at WR? — OldColumbusTown, KBonay, BuckeyeCWRU and KevinJ

To the first part of the question, no. I know Meyer said what he said regarding taking people out of the game if they can't hold onto the ball, but Marshall is way too much of a threat and there aren't too many other trusted wide outs available because of the injuries to Corey Smith and Noah Brown.

Both Miller and Wilson possess great talent with the ball in their hands, but because the former is still getting used to playing wide receiver and Marshall is simply better than Wilson, their risk-reward isn't on the same level. Each guy deserves touches — and, for the record, I thought Wilson played his best game as a Buckeye at Indiana — and Miller's going to keep getting chances to replicate what he did in Blacksburg, Virginia, on Labor Day Night. Meyer loves him too much.

I do think Michael Thomas will remain on the field more moving forward. It seems like it would be a poor decision for the coaching staff to not do that, because he's the offense's second-best player behind Ezekiel Elliott. If Johnnie Dixon's knees are healthy enough to play, I anticipate him to get plenty of chances Saturday. The biggest returning piece is obviously Parris Campbell, who I think will play most of the game out of necessity. As far as the younger guys like James Clark, Torrance Gibson and K.J. Hill, who knows? That's up to Meyer.

Where does Torrance Gibson stand? Is he ready to step in and show us what all the fuss is about? In addition to Gibson, is this the week K.J. Hill will get a chance to play/contribute? In light of the injury is this the week and if so what do you expect when they get into the game? — BUCKEYE3M, BuckeyeCWRU and Dweinz

Figured I'd follow up the last question with the weekly inquiries about the freshman skill players. It makes sense.

Gibson is 100 percent; Meyer said it himself this week. Hill never was injured (that we know of) so I think he has a better chance of contributing on game days. Gibson is just too immature, I think.

Every time Meyer is asked about Hill, Gibson or even Mike Weber and their possibility of redshirting, all he says is, "We haven't made that decision yet." Redshirts aren't locked down until the end of the season anyway, just in case a young guy is pressed into duty due to a rash of injuries. That very well could be the case at wide receiver after the injuries to Noah Brown and Corey Smith, but it remains to be seen until the game rolls around. My take? Hill, Gibson or Weber won't play this year and thus, redshirt.

Has the offensive coaching staff mentioned anything about the depth at the running back position? The running game seems to only consist of Zeke and Brax. This is a talented combo but (I assume) Brax will be needed more on the outside because of the injuries at WR. Also, with the Samuel injury, which running backs (or H-Backs) should expect more snaps in the run game? — LTWilliams

Great question. This is a topic I thought about towards the end of the Indiana game and while we were interviewing Elliott after. The dude was exhausted. It made me realize that outside of him, the only guys that had carries during the game were Braxton Miller, Cardale Jones and Curtis Samuel. Samuel battled back spasms all week, which is why he didn't play much against the Hoosiers. I think he'll get more touches this weekend both in the passing and edge running game. Miller's going to get his chances, too, because Meyer "feels so bad" about the lack of touches he's had since the Virginia Tech game.

As far as the true running backs behind Elliott, history shows that Samuel is likely to get the nod first in front of Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball. It's just how the chips have fell.

In terms of the offensive coordinator and play calling, is it still somewhat of a 50:50 Ed Warinner/Tim Beck with Meyer having final say? Or will Beck be taking over a little more since he's up in the box? Or some other breakdown in terms of getting the plays called in?Louie1131

I think Beck's input will continue to garner more attention from Meyer and Warinner as the season wears on. Meyer alluded to that happening at Indiana, a big reason Ohio State switched to its zone blocking scheme in the second half to spring Elliott.

I don't know the exact breakdown percentage-wise of the play calling, but would imagine Warinner has most of the say after heeding the thoughts of both Meyer and Beck. Meyer trusts both guys, and the more the season wears on, the more each guy will get comfortable with one another to come to more concise decisions on play calls.

The play calling seems a bit conservative through the first five games. Should we expect the same this week or will they be more aggressive? — BuckeyeWarrior27

I think they'll be more aggressive. Meyer identified that as an issue prior to the Indiana game and even though the turnovers and penalties prevented much of a downfield passing game against the Hoosiers, the playbook should be pretty wide open against Maryland. Of course, now that I say that, it probably won't happen, but who knows.

In regards to the red zone QB play, do you actually think there is merit to what Meyer said in the press conference or do you think it was more of a you will just have to wait and see now won't you type of response? Do you think there's a chance we see them experiment with J.T. in the red zone or do they use a weak opponent to continue building with Cardale until it's mop up time? Assuming the score gets lopsided (from a heavy dose of Zeke) does Cardale play 4 quarters working out the kinks and improving timing with WRs? Or does J.T. come in the 4th with heavy doses of Dunn? — BUCKDUBBS007, Bignut2017, Steve-OH, WezBuck28 and Buckeye Scottie

If I was a betting man, I'd say the only way Barrett gets in the game Saturday is if Ohio State's way ahead in the fourth quarter. It is pretty evident, though, that Meyer's thinking about his days at Florida when Tim Tebow was his red zone quarterback and the Gators won the 2006 BCS National Championship. How much Jones and Barrett buy into that, though, is a huge unknown. The media hasn't been given the chance to speak to either ] since that question was raised on Monday.

Maryland provides a good opportunity for Ohio State to get a league win and work out a bunch of the kinks within its offense, starting first of course with cutting out the turnovers. If Ohio State does that, it should enjoy a nice lead in the fourth quarter and Barrett should get playing time along with other backups.

Watching on TV, it is sometimes hard to see the true cause and effect in the offense. Many of Cardale's throwaways/pressures/sacks come after holding on to the ball for quite some time while looking for options down the field. Is this the result of receivers not creating enough separation? Is Cardale not getting through his progressions soon enough to see the right (open) option? Is he just being hesitant and conservative in his decision-making? — OldColumbusTown

Probably a little of everything you mentioned, honestly. I think the overarching thing, though, is that everyone on the offense is pressing. Even though they don't admit they're feeling the pressure put on by fans, national pundits, etc., they're human. It's nearly impossible not to.

When people try too hard and don't just let their skills take over, mistakes happen. I think Jones was trying to make the perfect play every single time he went out there, the reason for holding onto the ball too long or making the wrong read. Fixing that will take time and reps, and now that he knows he is Meyer's choice at quarterback moving forward, one would think he'd settle in and become more comfortable.

We have read and heard the player's reactions to the criticism that have been shot towards this team. The way I see it there is two ways this can go. 1) galvanize the team as a unit and ignore the outside criticism and work towards the goal of the B1G championship or 2) splinter the team and coaches. How does Urban the staff handle keeping the negativity out of the locker room when it is so prevalent outside of the locker room? — VegasBuckeye04

Meyer spoke on Wednesday about how they had team meetings to discuss social media backlash and those on the outside of the program throwing hate at the way Ohio State's been playing. He did, however, tell them they have to remember one important thing: That's life. When you play at a big program like Ohio State and also at the next level, there's always going to be someone gunning for you.

So to answer your question, I think Meyer and the staff handle the negativity by being real with their players and the situation, but also try to have them use it as motivation to come together as a team. How exactly this team handles it remains to be seen.

When will we see Braxton throw out of the shotgun? Is he healed enough to make a substantial downfield throw? Should we expect to see him in a more traditional receiver role going forward with our depth issues at the position? — RK84 and Brutu

I think the chances of him being in a more "traditional" receiver role are greater than the odds of him throwing the ball downfield. He hasn't been made available for comment since the Virginia Tech game, so it is hard to speculate on where his shoulder's health sits. He probably feels better than he did a month ago, but before the season said he didn't trust it enough to move forward with quarterback training.

Ohio State hardly has "traditional" wide receivers outside of Michael Thomas — pure pass catchers who thrive on single coverage. Most guys who are targets on the outside — Marshall, Wilson, etc. — can also run the ball on jet sweeps or touch passes. That's the way Meyer recruited the position (Thomas was a holdover).

With that, said, I think Miller will stick to his H-back training as they try to figure out the best ways to get him the ball. Just my hunch.

Will Raekwon McMillan be 100 percent for this weekend? How did Marshon Lattimore grade out last week — is he ready to play corner if Gareon Conley/Eli Apple get hurt? — OSU_ALUM_05

Yes, McMillan should be good to go. It sounded like his migraine was just a day of game thing. Lattimore didn't grade out as a champion for the defense, and unless players do that, we hardly hear about how they were judged by the coaches in film. He got his feet wet against Indiana, though, when Conley was out, but it was a small sample size. It'll definitely be a step back if either Conley or Apple suffer injury, though.

What are the best (OSU dominates) and worst (OSU struggles) matchups on both sides of the ball? — GOOMBAY

Frankly, Ohio State matches up well with Maryland everywhere. The only place it could have a disadvantage is on special teams. Will Likely is a the biggest punt returner threat in the country and Brad Craddock won the Lou Groza Award in 2014. Pretty tough to beat that.

Will Likely is one of the best kept secrets around the country. How big of an impact do you see him having on returns and on defense? — SFlaBuckeye13

I see Likely being the best chance Maryland scores Saturday. He's electric in space, so if the punt team struggles to replace Corey Smith, he could get find some space and turn in a big play.

What are the different dynamics of the three possible quarterbacks Maryland might play? Do their skill sets roughly match one another, or are they all unique quarterbacks? — OSUBucks5

The trio of Caleb Rowe, Daxx Garman and Perry Hills all possess similar traits when it comes to throwing the ball. Hills won the job out of camp, but was benched for Rowe in hopes of establishing more of a vertical passing game. Rowe didn't take care of the ball really at all, so Garman got a shot. It didn't go all that well, either, but he hardly threw the ball downfield.

Basically, Rowe is the better threat down the field. All three, however, are about the same type of player even though they have all struggled mightily this season.

Will the Silver Bullets hold the Terps to under 200 yards of total offense?Bsanders2519

Probably. Michigan did that on the road and Ohio State's defense is just as good, if not better, than that of the Wolverines. Unless the unit gives up some big plays like it did to Zander Diamont last weekend.

Buy or sell: Ezekiel Elliott reaching 200 yards this game. — Toad1204

Sell. I think Ohio State will throw the ball too much to allow that to happen.

Which ugly uniforms will Maryland be wearing this time? — 1MechEng

Who knows. There hasn't been any news out this week indicating how Maryland will look when it pays a visit to Ohio Stadium Saturday.


BONUS: Cream of crab soup or Maryland (tomato based) crab soup? — JohnnyKozmo

Tomato crab soup. I had it when I was in Baltimore last season for Ohio State's season opener against Navy and it was scrumptious.

BONUS: Since in a week I will finally be back in Columbus for the first time in 3 years (TTUN game in 2012), what's the new "have to try place" in Columbus?VegasBuckeye04

Couldn't tell you, man. Campus has changed so much even since I graduated in May 2014, with all the new dorms blossoming on north campus. Maybe someone else could help him out with this?

Thanks as always for sending in your questions.

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