Friday Skull Session

By D.J. Byrnes on October 16, 2015 at 4:59 am
Jalyn Holmes preparing to take on Maryland.
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ICYMI:

This week's NSFW ANTI-WORK #BANGERS:

THE RUSHMEN PACKAGE. Joey Bosa didn't have a sack on the 2015 season yet, and then Chris Ash reached into his bag of tricks and deployed this timely Pokéball.

From Ryan Ginn of Scout.com:

That's the "Rushmen Package," featuring three DEs: Tyquan Lewis, Sam Hubbard, and Joey Bosa taking the place of Tommy Schutt in the middle. It's a pass rush package, and there aren't many guards in the country that can wrangle a wild and enraged Bosa. (RIP to Maryland OG Andrew Zeller.)

So, what was that look? Ohio State calls it the rushmen package, and it was added for the Maryland game. Co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash is fond of throwing unique looks at opposing defenses on third downs, and this was the latest example of a package designed to confuse and frustrate opposing offensive lines in a high-leverage situation.

“Some of the things we do on third down are a little unique and different when you’re not counting on them to run the football,” Ash said. “You may not be as a sound in the run but you’re trying to get after the quarterback and affect the quarterback. The things we do like that are specific to third down.”

Although it will likely only appear on third-and-long downs, the Buckeyes will keep using it in the future because it allows them to get their best pass rushers on the field in key passing situations.

Good luck stopping that lineup in obvious pass situations. All four of those players will be making millions in the NFL in a couple of years. Just a matter of keeping them fresh/healthy throughout the game/season.

SCOUTS FLOCKING TO PSU-OSU. Penn State may be unranked, but don't be fooled: The Nittany Lions have some talent on their roster. 

Given the talent on the field, nearly half the NFL will be sending scouts to the affair.

From NFL.com:

Clubs attending: New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants, San Diego Chargers,Arizona Cardinals, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns,Washington Redskins, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys.

Three top players: Penn State (QB Christian Hackenberg, DL Anthony Zettel, DL Carl Nassib); Ohio State (DE Joey Bosa, RB Ezekiel Elliott, LB Darron Lee).

Matchup to watch: Hackenberg's offensive line will face its stiffest challenge of the year in pass protection against Bosa, Adolphus Washington and others. PSU's chance of staying close will rest heavily not only on Hackenberg getting adequate time, but on Hackenberg getting rid of the ball on time, as well.

Good to see the Cincinnati Bengals can't be bothered to send someone up I-71. Mike Brown is probably doing his scouting from the luxury of his own home.

BIG TEN EAST TRENDING UP. Urban Meyer. Mark Dantonio. Jim Harbaugh. James Franklin. The Big Ten East is stocked with great recruiters, and it could get more crowded if Maryland hits a home run with its replacement for Randy Edsall.

Can the Midwest support it?

From ESPN.com:

When you compare the volume of top prospects within the geographic footprint of the Big Ten and, for example, the SEC, it’s impressive what these four teams are doing on the recruiting front. The states of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania are home to 26 ESPN 300 prospects in the 2016 class, whereas Florida, Louisiana and Georgia combined have 99 ESPN 300 prospects in this class alone. That means Big Ten teams have less talent locally to pull from, and have to recruit outside of their home states to fill recruiting classes.

[...]

Penn State had a rocky start to the season before recovering to start league play, but if recruiting is any indication of how competitive these four teams will be in the future, the potential of a four-headed Big Ten East monster is there.

[..]

“I don’t know that four teams in the same division on the same side all can sustain it at the same time for the same duration. Timing factors into it, how many scholarships people have available, but it’s really competitive right now and it’s a real challenge.”

Not mentioned: Notre Dame, which somehow still exists in 2015.

Demographic trends are whatever — all four schools carry a national enough #brand to fill the gaps — and I'm a firm believer in a rising tide lifting all ships. Now, if I had to choose those who would falter... James Franklin would be the first one off the island, followed by Mark Dantonio (but that's only due to age).

As for Urban vs. Harbaugh, well... I don't think my views on that need to be fleshed out. We'll get a good idea where we stand in a month and a half(!!!!!).

SHOUTOUT TO THE BUCKEYE MOMS. Y'all might've seen ESPN's latest 30 for 30, Trojan War. Let's just say USC's culture was a little more relaxed than Ohio State's.

#FF, Annie Apple. As always.

IT'S ALMOST TIME. Some commenters mentioned yesterday that the Horseshoe is a bit tame these days. I still think Black Saturday is going to bring some extra juice to the crowd. The additional "hydrating" time allowed before Penn State (as compared to Maryland) won't hurt either.

I've seen a lot of black Ohio State gear around Columbus this weekend, and I think there will be enough black out participants (talking clothes, not booze here, folks) to get a historically cool picture of the Shoe.

Via RB coach/Skull Session reader Tony Alford: 


I wouldn't be surprised if it's a close game — this is PSU-OSU after all — and Urban Meyer says his team doesn't do "statement games," but I think the men in black will send a shot across the playoff committee's bow on Saturday night.

THOSE WMDs. Someone played pornography over a loudspeaker at a Target and parents freaked out... Tis true: This is a great lede... After Burner: Sega’s jet-fighting, puke-inducing arcade marvel... Former bomb shelter now home to hundreds of thousands of mosquitos... The enigma behind America's 20-year lobster boom... Woman online dates, becomes a pawn in a criminal plot.

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