Buckeye Blogger NetworkAside from the two major surprises in the draft with Nate Ebner going to New England in the 6th round and Mike Brewster not getting drafted, the other three pretty much went where they were expected to. Let’s take a look at all of the drafted Buckeyes and how they will fit in with their respective teams.
We begin with the highest pick in the draft for the Buckeyes in OT Mike Adams and him landing in Pittsburgh. Adams didn’t exactly have a stellar NFL combine literally falling into the middle of the road in just about every category.
Anchored The Line
Clearly the best lineman on the Ohio State squad each of the past two season, Adams had a huge upside in his protection blocking. Missing a few games in the last season it was easy to see marked improvement across the line when he returned. The Steelers are all about running the ball and controlling the clock as well as play action. This was a good get for their revamping of the line. They invested two first round and two second round picks to shore things up. Adams will be learning RT behind a good veteran in Flozell Adams and will have time to get acclimated to the NFL in a system that has a history of solid line play. Practicing across from his old counterpart and teammate Cam Heyward should get him ready for a nice NFL career. Read More
In this week’s edition of news and notes, we take a look at the ever swirling world of college “playoffs”; helping you get to the bottom of the matter. You can probably guess where this is headed…
Never forget
Buckeye 411
(Gee) knows more about bow ties than he does about journalism.
Probably true, but since Gordo is a fifteenth level bow-tie ninja, what does that say about your point?
OT J.B. Shugarts (seventh or free agent): Good size, but had false start and some foot problems with the Buckeyes.
Happy 2012! Here’s our version of the weekly wish list for the Gator Bowl… the last Buckeye bowl game for a while.
Wishing for a great halftime band.
A Will To Win - This is the first time since 2004 that Ohio State isn’t in a BCS bowl…. With a whole new fold in place for the upcoming season, it’s important to go out and play like you want to win this meaningless bowl. It just sets up momentum heading into the spring and leaves a lasting mark.
Seniors and Juniors Play their Best - Seniors and Juniors, this is the last time you will ever compete in a bowl situation ever again. Cherish it. Enjoy it. Play your heart out like your life depended on it. It might just be another bowl to everyone else, but for you guys– it’s your last chance to compete in the “post-season.”
Run it Up the Gut - As much as everyone is looking forward to new Urban Meyer folds in the offense, I want to see a game like the Illinois contest, where Ohio State runs it a heavy amount. Okay, not that much, but still I’d love to see two 100 yard rushers and some secondary scorers out of the backfield.
Ebner Strike - The Bo Rein most inspirational player on the squad deserves a BIG day on special teams. Here’s to hoping that he gets that against Florida. Read More
Prizes for everyone!!
Today was the football team banquet; here’s who was honored:
Congratulations to these Buckeyes and all who were acknowledged during the season ending event!
Dr. Jon Woods dots the I in the first ever Second Script in a single game.
I’m not going to wax philosophic after that Penn State game. Being in the stadium for Dr. Wood’s last home game was wonderful – particularly getting a chance to shake his hand and thank him for everything after the game. The game, though, left a lot to be desired.
Eric and Jim get together to discuss the upcoming game between Ohio State and Michigan State, and reminisce about the Colorado game. They talk about the development of quarterback Braxton Miller, and the superb play of Jordan Hall in all phases of the game. They also mention the ever important Nate Ebner missile and what he means to the kick coverage. Finally, they spend plenty of time talking about Michigan State and their excellent quarterback, Kirk Cousins.
Joining Eric this week for the opponent’s interview is Joe Rexrode of the Lansing State Journal, the local newspaper for the state capital of Michigan. They talk plenty of MSU football, including the issues for the MSU offensive line.
All this and more on this week’s radio hour!
If you want to be like all the cool kids, you can subscribe to The Buckeye Battle Cry Radio Hour on iTunes!
Big Ten season is finally upon us with the Spartans of Michigan State visiting Columbus this Saturday. What do the guys want to see this weekend? Don’t forget to tell us what you want to see in the comments!
Jake Stoneburner has been missing the last couple of games.
Hungry Hankins. A Michigan native, Jonathan has been playing lights out as of late (when he hasn’t been dinged up). With the injuries on the Spartan offensive line, and motivation that comes with playing one of the home teams, it’s time for a phenomenal game.
Defensive Score. I really can’t believe that Ohio State has gone this long without one. If it’s a blocked punt or a pick six, it’s time for the Silver Bullets to get on the scoreboard
Special Teams Savvy. Mark Dantonio is not afraid to try a little trickeration in the kicking game- “Little Giants” beat Notre Dame last year, and a PI during a fake punt led to a come from behind win against Northwestern. While the Special Teams battle will be a Tressel Family chess match, it will take more than just brilliance on the sidelines to get a “plus” in this category. Can we just clone Ebner ten times?
Need I Say More?. No False Starts. Pretty please??? We’re in conference now… focus should be easier to maintain.
Since I had the opportunity to attend the game in the Horseshoe today, I wasn’t able to do my usual recap. Because of that, I instead took a series of notes and jotted down some thoughts from the game to share. Hopefully I can provide some insight that wasn’t obvious from the television broadcast.
Also, I want to thank Joe D for covering me so ably on the recap this week. Without him, I might not have even been able to make the game!
Pregame
Braxton Miller attempts the Stiff Arm of Justice.
