To prove to y'all I don't hate the South, I spent the weekend in Nashville (by choice), and it was awesome.
I swear there were more Ohio State fans than Vols fans rolling around on Saturday, and don't even get me started on the performance Browns fans put down throughout the entire weekend. Ohio ran wild on the Country Music Capital of the World.
And as I tweeted last night: I now understand why Everclear is banned in Ohio. It's a sensible law that should be enforced worldwide.
J.T. BARRETT BULLIES WAY INTO HEISMAN CONTENTION. In the aftermath of Braxton's injury, there were whispers around the program that J.T. Barrett was ready for the bright lights, and so far the Texan has produced.
Sure, there was the Virginia Tech debacle, but 1) that was on the whole team and 2) one game in September doesn't define a season. Since then, J.T. Barrett has demolished the competition... to the tune of being on pace for a historic season.
It appears the nation is catching onto the lesson. From HeismanPundit.com's Week 6 Heisman Watch:
This could’ve been Braxton Miller’s spot. In fact, if Braxton Miller was healthy and doing what Barrett has been doing, he’d be in the top three of the Heisman race right now. As its stands, the redshirt freshman is on pace to have the best season for a quarterback in Ohio State’s long and storied history. It’s looking more and more like the Buckeyes will be 7-1 when they take on Michigan State in East Lansing. If Barrett continues to play like he’s been playing while leading OSU over Sparty, he’s going to have a shot at being the third-straight redshirt freshman to win the Heisman. He’s currently on pace for almost 4,000 yards of offense and 45 touchdowns in 12 games. Beat Michigan State and he’ll be able to add to those numbers in the Big Ten title game. If Ohio State is 12-1 at that point and primed for a playoff spot, Barrett’s production could propel him to the Heisman.
Season Stats: 88 of 133, 1,354 yards, 66.2%, 17 TDs, 5 INTs, 186.3 rating, 276 rush yards, 2 TDs
Season Pace: 3,249 passing yards, 41 TDs, 662 rush yards, 4 TDs.
And HeismanPundit is right... it's essentially a one-game season for J.T. Barrett's Heisman hopes. It's insane to think it could happen — and even right now, it seems unlikely — but you know what also seemed unlikely? That Ohio State's offense would be firing this well without Braxton Miller.
I know it seems blasphemous, but we could legitimately be looking at a quarterback controversy in 2015. I know, I know... Braxton is a dynamo, but as we learned earlier this year... injury rehabilitations are fickle things.
For argument's sake, let's say J.T. wins the Heisman or is at least named a finalist. Do you waste a year of his development for Braxton's return? That's a tough call, but it'd make for fascinating theater. (This is why Urban Meyer is Ohio's highest paid public employee.)
OSU BACK IN THE PLAYOFF HUNT? I spent a large portion of this weekend arguing with people about this: if Ohio State runs the table, they'll be in the playoffs.
Seventy-three percent of polled 11W readers disagreed with this notion back in September, but BTN's Tom Dienhart (somewhat) concurs:
If Ohio State runs the table, do the Buckeyes have a chance at making the playoffs? – Kevin
Without a doubt they do. Look, it’s still early. Many crazy things can happen. Just look at last weekend and all of the upsets of top-10 teams. I think if the Buckeyes run the table and win the Big Ten with just one loss, they would have a good shot to make the playoffs. This team is getting better and better. It’s scary. The trip to Michigan State on Nov. 8 looms large.
Some people thought I was crazy, but here's an interesting New York Times headline from November 11th, 2007:
Illinois Is the Team That Spoils Ohio State’s Season
We all know it would eventaully be LSU and that warlock Les Miles that spoiled Ohio State's season... but it's insane Ohio State made a title game after losing to Ron Zook's Illinois in the middle of November. OHIO STATE ISN'T DEAD YET.
There are two months of football left, and as of now, there doesn't appear to be a dominant team. If Ohio State wins out (ESPN pegs that a 21% chance), they'll be in the playoffs. (That's just one man's #take; mark it down if you must.)
DEFENSE IS COMING ALONG NICELY. Ohio State's defense didn't look like the '86 Bears, but I thought the Silver Bullets put in one of their best performances of the year on Saturday. (That dude Joey Bosa is a damn problem.)
From the venerable Tim May of The Columbus Dispatch:
The defense held Maryland to 117 yards below its average. And the aggressive approach forced the turning point play of the game, linebacker Darron Lee’s interception late in the first half. He returned it 10 yards before fumbling at the Maryland 6-yard line, only to see McMillan pick it up and continue down to the 1, setting up the TD pass to Vannett. The Buckeyes had four interceptions, including one each by cornerbacks Eli Apple and Doran Grant, and for the most part held Maryland’s dangerous receivers Stefon Diggs and Deon Long in check while pressuring both quarterbacks to the tune of three sacks.
I am furious about this bye-week, because I really liked the momentum — and most of all, the attitude ― the Bullets built up throughout the Maryland game. The week can be used to tweak the scheme/coaching, but I'd much rather have the Bullets out there this Saturday testing their mettle against live competition.
The defense wasn't perfect, but if J.T. Barrett and the offense continue their development, the Bullets will never have to be. If the defense can create turnovers, then I don't think there will be too many teams that can beat Ohio State. That's the key though: turnovers.
They say Rome wasn't built in a night, and with that in mind, I couldn't be happier with the progress.
PHYLLIS FROM MULGA GOES IN ON PAUL FINEBAUM. I try not to promote troll lord Paul Finebaum. In fact, I am so skeptical of him, part of me thinks this rant was staged to garner free advertisement. If that's the case, this could be one of his best troll jobs yet.
Regardless, here's a video of an angry Alabaman woman calling Paul Finebaum a punk and a cow turd:
I still don't know how Alabama lost that game, or how Mississippi is relevant in football in the year 2014.
EVAN TURNER CAN STILL CUT A RUG. I hold the Celtics in contempt, and I'm not too high on Evan Turner as an NBA player, but I am a fan of watching dudes get crossed-over:
Little bit of an MJ-forearm-push-off? Perhaps, but as everybody knows: it ain't cheating if it ain't called.
THOSE WMDs. We need your questions for Earle Bruce... Bizarre: baby black bear found dead in Central Park... From @Floppy_Floners: Beer Thieving Pig Gets Drunk and Starts Fight With Cow... Time-lapse of a maggot becoming a fly is petrifying... How Ohio Housewife Flew Around World, Made History and Was Forgotten... Hmmm, good strategy... When you forget you have a child.
