We begin today by pouring out a can of my finest vintage illicit watermelon FourLoko for Skip Mosic, the producer of the Urban Meyer Call-in Show who fell on his sword Thursday afternoon after no calls went through earlier in the day.
Mosic shouldered the blame because that's what soldiers do. But I heard from somebody who would know that Meyer, unsurprisingly, calls the shots during those appearances (as he does at 99% of media appearances). This is why he can show up late, leave early, and choose not to field calls after a loss.
Meyer obviously didn't feel like he needed coaching advice from plebes, which is fair. But this is the only access fans get to Meyer, and without those fans, Meyer wouldn't be paid millions of dollars to coach an "amateur" football team.
It's soft, but even more so to trot out a producer to have him act like he made the executive decision to change the layout of the show because "all the questions were already asked earlier in the year." It's not hard to see the score.
So yeah, may the spirit of Mosic enjoy that frosty beverage from the afterlife. We know what you did, Skip! And we salute you!
This week's NSFW ANTI-WORK #BANGERS:
- Deadwood: The best of Seth Bullock.
- Justified: Boyd Crowder on procrastination.
- Boardwalk Empire: Best scenes.
Folks, it's high school rivalry week in the Buckeye State. Some say high school football is overrated, but those people fail to realize high school football is as much about supporting the community as it is the level of play.
Piqua hosts Troy tonight at 7 p.m. For those unaware (as I was until I met my girlfriend), Piqua–Troy is the fiercest rivalry in the Miami Valley.
I respect Troy, Ohio, USA as a city (shoutout to Basils on Market!), but Troyians got another thing coming if they think Piqua ain't taxin' that ass tonight.
Another game close to my heart is the Marion Harding Presidents at River Valley Vikings. I'm a Viking by bad blogging decisions (shoutout to the-rooster.com!) and diploma. I'm Prexie by blood.
Tilt of the cap to River Valley, but I could never show my face in Marion again if I didn't back the Prexies in a knife fight.
Troy and RV might as well not show up tonight.
FIXING THE OFFENSIVE LINE. It's easier to tear things down than build them up, which makes it no surprise it's easier to shout "that guy sucks!!!!!" than coach up an offensive lineman.
So that's why I like pieces that identify the problem and possible solutions.
From theozone.net:
The success of this team will hinge on the ability to be diverse in its play calling while not getting too far away from the team's true identity -- a power running game.
Often times the coaching staff is too focused on breaking tendencies, or showing something new, that it forgets what has worked in the first place. This loss will serve the Buckeyes well as it will offer an opportunity to “self-scout” and iron out the wrinkles moving forward.
If you like Xs and Os stuff, be sure to follow Kyle Morgan (and 11W's Kyle Jones) on Twitter.
It will be interesting to see if Meyer utilizes protection shifts or even chip-blocks against Northwestern. The Wildcats don't have the pass-rush that Penn State does, so Meyer could pocket some ideas for tougher opponents down the road.
Ohio State should overwhelm Northwestern with talent without getting too fancy.
GIVE THE BROOKLYNITE THE BALL. Here's what has mystified me, the assistant to the offensive coordinator, about the offense this year: There are only two speeds with Curtis Samuel.
- Forced
- Non-Existant
We saw the same thing last year with Braxton Miller.
From cleveland.com:
And twice this season the Buckeyes have gone 20-plus plays before giving him the ball. On Saturday against Penn State, Samuel -- who is is second in the country in yards per carry (8.23) among players with 50 or more carries -- ran the ball twice.
Mike Weber ran it 21 times for 11 yards.
"(Samuel) had eight catches, which I think is his season high," Warinner said. "We tried to get him the ball. Any time you can get the ball to athletes in space, that's your objective. We have to do a better job of that, no question."
The Buckeyes need more of a running balance between Weber and Samuel, especially as they try to figure out the passing game. Samuel is more explosive.
Meyer said earlier this week Penn State "did some things" to take Samuel away. So hopefully the offensive trust can crack the code on adjustments to the adjustments because Ohio State's best player disappearing for large swaths of the game isn't optimal.
What's confounding about it, though, is Samuel is ineffective when they're ramming him between the tackles repeatedly and forcing the issue. His best moments come when involved organically, which is easier to type than orchestrate in the heat of a game.
Still, that's why coaches make more per game than I make in a year.
BACK TO SCHOOL. Imagine standing in the BuckID line and seeing Greg Oden behind you.
Wait, were college freshmen even alive during Oden's time at Ohio State? I don't want to do that math.
From indystar.com:
Oden is enrolled this semester at Ohio State, a 28-year-old sophomore majoring in sports industry. When asked if he'd play basketball again, he said, "I wish. It's over." Instead, he is back with the Buckeyes as a student coach, helping out the players and Matta any way he can.
"I wouldn't say I regret anything," Oden told IndyStar Thursday in a phone interview. "I would say I just wish I did things better."
[...]
"I'm still trying to figure out my life. Since I've been in fourth grade, all I've known was basketball. I'm just trying to better myself and work on my degree and set something up for the future of my family."
The good news for Oden is he got paid and can still finish his degree. If Eleven Warriors went bankrupt I would end up panhandling on Fifth Avenue and 670. (No, no, this isn't something I think about regularly. Why do you ask?)
CAN'T HATE DON BROWN. Remember the days incompetent goofs coached Michigan? They were awesome, and I cherished every moment.
Those days are gone, however. Though Don Brown has yet to face an elite offense, there's no denying his coaching.
From coachingsearch.com:
In his first year leading the group, Brown’s defense is at the top of the country in most key defensive stats — No. 1 in scoring and 3rd down, No. 3 in rushing yards per carry. But he says it’s not just about numbers and X’s and O’s like the players are pieces to a puzzle. He was asked Wednesday about developing relationships and how that plays a role.
“I told them a story,” Brown said. “Back when I worked for Carmen Cozza at Yale (from 1987-92), one of the things he told me was, ‘Those players aren’t chess pieces. They’re human beings, and they want to have a relationship with you. If you want them to play hard for you, develop relationships. Those are the things that are important.' I took that to heart.
“The most important thing you do is get those guys to understand we’re all in it together. We’re all human beings. We all care about one another. That’s in good times and bad. It’s easy to do when you’re 7-0. Tough to do when you’re on the off side of that coin. It’s really an important piece.”
A Michigan Man discovered empathy. We may truly be living in the end of times.
GET DUMPED THEN, DENNY'S. I've never ended up at Denny's sober or by plan. It's the worst breakfast chain in the game (yet somehow has stayed open in Marion my entire life), but it will try to bully into the Columbus breakfast game by the end of the year.
From columbusunderground.com:
America’s diner is returning to Columbus with a new location just north of OSU. Denny’s, with its 1,700 24/7 locations nationwide, will open at 3019 Olentangy River Road at the end of the year.
This will be the sixth location for franchise owners Jack Thompson and Thomas Pilbeam. Together they started opening Denny’s franchises six years ago. Columbus, as well as this particular location, has been on their radar for about three years, but things just recently started falling into place.
“We’ve been looking in Columbus for forever for a good site,” Thompson said. “I’m a huge Ohio State fan. This couldn’t be a better location for me, personally, and just Columbus is, I feel, a great home for Denny’s.”
Somebody get a message to Jack and Thomas: We Ohio State fans only eat Waffle House, and we're ready to die in this game.
Are they?
It doesn't sound like it.
THOSE WMDs. Don't mess with New York's bodega cats... Pushing that crosswalk button makes you feel better, but... Rise and fall of daily fantasy sports... For 22 unclaimed bodies in New York, a grim path from death to burial... Scientists prove "Patient Zero" did not bring HIV to the United States... Florida Man: Cops mistook Kripsy Kreme glaze for meth.
