Woody Hayes use to say that nothing cleanses the soul like getting the heck kicked out of you, truthfully he used a different word than heck but that is one of my favorite sayings of all time. The Buckeyes had that sort of event against PSU but it appeared to leave them a little derailed until this past Saturday night. The fellas here have struggled to find the good when it comes the Buckeyes offense and defense and Saturday proved fruitful for both! As you will see below in offensive unsung, Ryan believes there are plenty of kudos to go around!
Offensive
tOSU Offensive MVP
Scott – J.T. Barrett. He ran the offense well, extended plays and looked like the old J.T.
Mike Meals – Curtis Samuel. When he is on and making plays, the offense is unstoppable.
Jeremy – JT Barrett. There was the JT we know and love. Escaping pressure, getting the ball to his play-makers, and getting time to get thru his progressions. Over 300 yards total offense while barely running the ball. Build off this and continue to dominate please
Ryan – JT Barrett. 4 touchdowns. He only had 8 carries, which I am happy about. He looked sharper and more confident out there. The protection from the line enabled him to play at the level we all know he’s capable of.
Brad TBU – I’m going with Curtis Samuel here. JT is the obvious choice here but Curtis getting the ball at the right spots on the field busted this game wide open.
WVa – Curtis Samuel officially threw his hat into the Heisman talk Saturday night and it is honestly befuddling why he hasn’t already been there. He showed some clear separation on the long TD to start the second half. He has some mojo that very few players have had in this offense and I don’t think any of the future three opponents have what it will take to slow him down. 1,000 yards rushing and receiving? the fact it’s a possibility is mind boggling!
Perfect that this ends in a tie. The Buckeyes two Heisman contenders sent a message!
tOSU O-line MVP
Scott – Pat Elflein, even though he had a questionable holding call against him.
Mike Meals – said it all year…until someone else truly shows he’s more deserving, Pat Elflein will always be my pick. He’s the leader of this unit.
Jeremy – I’ll 2nd Ryan’s complete line award. I thought the 3 young starters looked better than they have in weeks. Looked to be more communication among the line for protection.
Ryan – All of them. Seriously, every single one of them. They all won the line of scrimmage battle all night. JT wasn’t pressured, seemingly at all. The confidence they gained from this game will go far in the weeks ahead.
Brad TBU – We just name this segment The Pat Elflien award . another solid performance. & Billy Price is a straight up Man bulldozing several Nebraska defenders 5 to 15 yards deep.
WVa – Is there a better offensive lineman in the country than Pat Elflein? I am hard pressed to find one if there is. Even when the Buckeyes took one on the chin he was still working his tail off to do it all. He has been an amazing leader in this season that has brought along three youngsters. Billy Price has been valuable but not close to what Elflein has done.
Pat Elflein, Pat Elflein Pat Elflein
tOSU Offensive Unsung
Scott – Mike Weber. The focus was on Curtis Samuel and Barrett, but Weber got all the tough yards.
Mike Meals – I’m giving this one to Noah Brown. He had only like 14 catches. But one was a TD and this is unsung. He was doing little things like keeping defenders with him on routes, trying to block when needed, and most importantly not complaining about only having, what, 2 receptions?
Jeremy – Mike Weber had only 11 carries last night. His TD run tho showed his progression again as he has learned to stay on his feet when tacklers attempt the shoestring tackles. Bruising back inflicting more pain than he’s taking. He’s a bad bad man
Ryan – So, so many deserving of this:
- Mike Weber. He’s a beast. He’s a monster. He’s any other big/strong/tough adjective you can come up with. Oh yeah, and he’s also a freshman. He plows through the defensive players and works for the tough yards.
- Curtis Samuel. Give this man the ball! As much as possible! Every game! He was leading receiver with 137 receiving yards, and had a long 75 yard touchdown catch and run.
- K.J. Hill. 5 catches for 66 yards. Yes, they were with Burrow at end of the game, yes, the game was already well in hand, but again, the confidence gained from playing that well was go a long way.
- Demario McCall. With the Dontre Wilson Experience at punt returner all but over, Demario McCall could and should, be put back there to see what he can do. He’s a monster in open space and he’s impressive every time he touches the ball.
Brad TBU – Weber I’ve told anyone who will listen since last season ended this. Kid was a beast. He just continues to prove me right. Runner up Freshman Guard Michael Jordan.
WVa – I am in agreement with my comrades. Mike Weber isn’t getting the pub he deserves, will have the quietest 1,000 season in Ohio State history. Says a lot for how consistent te offense may have been even though his 100 yard games have gone away and his average has come down. He is still working his tail off and providing the spark.
Mike Weber Jr. is turning into quite the under appreciated work-horse
Defensive
tOSU Defensive MVP
Scott – Malik Hooker. He good.
Mike Meals – Hooker for me (an answer, not a request by the way)
Jeremy – Malik Hooker. His night started with a great block on Webb’s pick 6. He literally blew by everyone to seek someone to hit. His pick 6 showed his athleticism. He was there all night delivering hits to anyone touching the ball.
Ryan – Malik Hooker. His ability to find the football is insane. His closing speed on receivers is tremendous. His hair is fantastic. He weaved in and out of traffic to return that INT for touchdown. He’s simply fun to watch.
Brad TBU – The Corner Backs & Dline as a group Shutdown Herbie Cornhusker so they never had chance to gain momentum.
WVa -Malik Hooker is the easy MVP for the defense for the entire season. He has been a nice surprise all season and hasn’t let up. He has become one of my favorite to wear the SnG this season.
Malik Hooker, by Hook or by crook!
tOSU D-line MVP
Scott – Sam Hubbard. He’s becoming a focal point for opposing offenses.
Mike Meals – Hubbard. He’s playing great ball, and like Scott says above, he is the DL everyone is game planning against.
Jeremy – Sam Hubbard/Michael Hill. Hubbard was busy applying pressure and making stops. Seems like his stats didn’t really show his impact. Hill did a great job plugging the middle whenever he was in the game. Both of Hills tackles were for a loss. That’s how you get more PT.
Ryan – Sam Hubbard. Bosa didn’t play much last night. He also didn’t need too. Hubbard was disruptive and was seemingly ALWAYS around wherever the offense was attempting to go with the football.
Brad TBU – A Tie Lewis & Hubbard both were dominate Saturday night.
WVa – Sam Hubbard has been lost in the hype of Bosa a bit this season. He has been the workhorse of the defense and continues to perform at a high level!
Sam Hubbard is the easy choice.
tOSU Defensive Unsung
Scott – Raekwon McMillan. Never thought he would be in this space but teams are trying to go away from him. That means a lot.
Mike Meals – Kwon…he’s still silently having one of the best Mike LB seasons in OSU history. He should win the Lott Award this year.
Jeremy – I don’t think I can pick just one. Webb has been dogged all year by everyone yet he set the tone of the game with his pick 6. Our entire d-line didn’t let them breathe in the running game. Lattimore continues to be impressive in shutting down WRs. Just all around complete defensive dominance
Ryan – The rest of the defense. Everyone, and I mean everyone, stepped up and played at the level we all know that they can.
Brad TBU – Another Tie Damon Webb got The Night Time party Started the Right way with a pick 6 & in the words of Mark Jackson Momma there goes that Man Malik Hooker. We will miss him next season because he’ll be playing on Sunday’s
WVa – I don’t know how he is doing it but Raekwon is flying under the radar. Maybe it’s just his workman like mentality and some lack of big plays but he had multiple on Saturday night that contributed to others having defensive success(Webb pick-six)
Raekwon McMillan continues to fly under the radar
Odds and Ends
tOSU Special Teams MVP
Scott – Demario McCall. Didn’t do much. But just wait.
Mike Meals – I love Jeremy’s answer below but it’s McCall. If only because he’s not Wilson. But Parris had a huge return, while still sore. And y’all know I love Campbell almost as much as I do Weber.
Jeremy – Cameron Johnston. When you don’t have to punt it means your team had a great night offensively. Plus he had 9 friends come watch him play from Australia so he deserves something good this week
Ryan – Tyler Durbin. Two fields goals, eight extra points and a tackle.
Brad TBU – Punt Return may have been addressed with McCall. Punt & Kick Coverage teams were a Monster on Saturday led by Eric Glover Williams.
WVa – I am with Scott, just wait for Demario to shine. I think he will be the punt returner from here on out.
Demario McCall getting the call to be the guy
tOSU Needs Improvement
Scott – Kickoffs. Maybe it was by design but I’m not thrilled with the short kicks.
Mike Meals – the speed in which the offensive coaching staff gets the play call in. If you want to line up and “Check with me”, you better get the team on the ball with more than 10 seconds on the play clock.
Jeremy – The passing game still. Yep social media was declaring it back. To quote Lee Corso “not so fast my friend”! There was some great throws made. And again there were the “cmon JT” the pass to a wide open Weber comes to mind. Even the pass to Victor should’ve been more on target (tho I still say it was a TD). Both TEs were involved in passing game which will give defenses more to think of when Alexander is in games now. But where was Brown, Campbell, and McLaurin? And I believe KJ Hill is a weapon we must see more of over the likes of Smith and Clark. He like McCall are home run threats when they touch the ball.
The defensive line had no sacks. That is surprising to me given all the talent and pressure we put on their qbs last night.
Ryan –The improvement needed is that the team, as a whole, needs to continue to play at this high of level each and every week. At Sparty and home to That Team Up North, they all need to continue to play the way they played against Nebraska. OFFENSE: Win the battle at the line. Give JT time to go through his progressions. Feed Curtis Samuel. Feed Mike Weber. Don’t let Dontre return punts. DEFENSE: Win the line battle. Pressure the QB. No Fly Zone secondary. Cover the middle of the field on slant passes.
Brad TBU – when you walk away from a game & the only thing you can complain about is 1 muffed punt return it’s a pretty good night
WVa – Going to have to bite my tongue this week. Too many positives to pick anything and the fellas did awesome above.
Take your pick!
tOSU Next Big Star
Scott – Demario McCall. Just wait.
Mike Meals – can I use Weber here? I’m using Weber here.
Jeremy – KJ Hill. Our next speedster who will give DCs nightmares when he touches the ball. Great to see him get in the game late and make plays to show coaches he’s ready for more
Ryan – Demario McCall. I hold my breath when he gets the ball. He has the ability to break off for a big play every time the ball is in his hands. The redshirt is burnt, let the kid play.
Brad TBU – KJ Hill will be the pick. But I’m going with Joe Burrow. Completed 6 for 6 on the numbers a couple of nice runs the kid is emerging as the next leader of this Football Team.
WVa – Demario McCall is earning regular carries but the team is just now figuring out the share for everyone else. Don’t want anyone hurt but it gives you good reason to believe things would be okay if Weber went down.
Back to back wins for Demario.
TB1G Coach of the Week
Scott – Urban Meyer. He got the boys ready for a huge game.
Mike Meals – Urban is the obvious answer.
Jeremy – Urban Meyer showed once again he knows how to put on a show when he’s hosting the nations best recruits. His game plan was simple…. complete and utter destruction of Nebraska. And he showed his willingness to correct the obvious by removing Wilson as punt returner.
Ryan – Urban Meyer. Trust him. He’ll lead you to the promised land.
Brad TBU – Urban will be the pick but the last 3 weeks it’s been Dennis Franklin. I can’t believe I just typed that out loud. Excuse me while I throw up in my mouth a little know. Bartender can I get another Wild Turkey please. See you next week gang.
WVa – Might be Urban Meyers best coaching job yet considering the youth of this team. He has finally let loose of the reigns!
Urban Meyer is the obvious choice!
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