Skull Session: Shaun Wade Will Learn to Play Outside Corner, Cardale Jones is Outperforming His 2014 Self, and an Early TBDBITL Tryout

By Kevin Harrish on February 19, 2020 at 4:59 am
That's my quarterback in today's skull session.
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The Buckeyes may not be playing football at this time of year, but they sure ain't doing nothing.

My body is glad I am not in that room. I would not survive. I am not strong enough.

Word of the Day: Bounteous.

 TO THRIVE OUTSIDE. Shaun Wade's spent significant time at every defensive back position possible during his two playing seasons in Columbus, except the one he's always wanted to play (and coincidentally enough, was recruited by his old and also new position coach).

But now because NFL scouts apparently needed to see more than just two seasons of dominance from one of the most versatile defensive backs in the country, Wade gets to play outside, and Kerry Coombs gets to help him.

“First of all, he’s got to play on the outside,” Coombs said. “He’s got great length. He can run. He’s got to demonstrate that he can go against the No. 1 receivers in the country, week in and week out, the best guys on the other guy’s team and eliminate them from the offense. If you can do that, you’ve got a great chance.”

The funny thing is that’s all Shaun Wade has ever wanted. But there will still be a learning curve for him and Coombs already has plans on how to prepare him for what’s to come.

“You’re not going to win every play, but you’d better win most of them,” Coombs said. “We know what that looks like. He’s got to accept that challenge. He’s got to do a lot of film study. He’s got to get better at the line of scrimmage in his technique. He’s been playing inside. It’s a different technique. He’s got things that he’s going to have to work on, and he will. I really believe that he will.”

Given how well he's done at pretty much everything else Ohio State's asked him to do, I think he'll do just fine at the position he swears comes most naturally to him, especially with Kerry Coombs providing the assist.

I still can't believe we get one more season of him. I feel like I need to send someone on the NFL Draft advisory board a Christmas card for this.

 EMPEROR OF THE XFL. As if there was ever any doubt, The Iron King, Cardale Jones, First of His Name, Poacher of Badgers, Tamer of Tides, Slayer of Ducks, Troll Sultan, and 12th Son of Ohio has established himself as a ruling conquerer of the XFL.

Cardale Jones, QB, Defenders

Did you know Jones is 13-0 as a starter between college and the pros? The former Ohio State signal-caller has been on point in two outings for the Defenders and has looked significantly more comfortable than most other quarterbacks in the league. Jones has been accurate to all levels of the field, utilizing strong footwork on timing routes while showing an ability to improvise when a play breaks down. He's thrown for 511 yards and four touchdowns through two contests while completing 62% of his passes.

For reference, Dolodale had 500 yards and four touchdowns with a 57% completion percentage through the Wisconsin and Alabama games in 2014, but this time against teams of professional athletes.

So, he's basically playing better than the best stretch of his life.

There's no doubt in my mind he'll be playing in the NFL next year, unless his arm falls off in the next two months.

It's going to be wild watching 12-gauge, Dwayne Haskins, Joe Burrow and Justin Fields duel it out on Sundays for the next 10 years.

 STARTING 'EM YOUNG. I've got some bad news for seven-year-olds with dreams of becoming a drum major at Ohio State – it's probably too late, cause you're already getting outworked by younger kids.

We already had Konner Barr, who was training for his role at age six. Now we've got two-year-old Greyson, who's already significantly better with a baton than me, the adult with fully developed motor skills.

The next logical step in drum major development will be genetically engineering them from birth. Kids will be emerging from the womb twirling a baton and doing perfect backbends by age two.

 FAILED SYSTEM. Tight end Luke Ford transferred from Georgia to Illinois to be closer to his chronically ill grandfather and allow him a chance to see him play in person. But since he had to wait a year to become eligible, that's never going to happen.

There are pros and cons to the whole one-time transfer proposal that's being tossed around right now, but if I have to choose, I think I'm pretty sold on the system that doesn't punish a kid for transferring closer to home to play in front of his dying grandfather.

 NOT STICKING TO SPORTS. A man is stuck with permanent erection and is in constant pain after a penis operation... A man is awarded $100,000 after being denied the license plate "IM GOD"... The Dallas gym that time forgot... The exonerated men who now work to free others... Beer, bread and coffee are healthier than you think... Turns out, burning things like candles inside is probably bad for you.

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