I think my pedometer picked up about 1500 steps just from my nervous motions, even though I basically didn't move from my barstool for 4 hours.

I have to believe that 'Bama will remain in the top spot, regardless of what happens in the SEC title game next weekend, and they'll end up going to Atlanta to play in the Peach Bowl CFP semifinal game. Best case scenario for OSU then is that they are given the 2nd or 3rd seed and are sent out to Buckeye-friendly Glendale for the Fiesta Bowl CFP semifinal game. As someone on Twitter mentioned, the offense has sputtered in the past few weeks in cold weather, but this team is built for warm weather, which will bode will for the playoffs.

I walked out of the room 3x in second half.  Can't believe OSU found a way to win. 

 

Three things

1.  Harbaugh is an ass for complaining about the officiating.  He should complain about his teams 3 turnovers or failure to stop Weber/Samuel in OT

 

2.  OSU did nothing to impress me about winning a title.  Aside from a gutsy win at home against a good team, they have a lot of work to do esp on offense

 

3.  As an OSU fan, I love their position of being on the outside of a Conf title looking in.  They will likely not drop regardless of the Big Ten game and don't have to fear injury or fatigue.

2.  OSU did nothing to impress me about winning a title.  Aside from a gutsy win at home against a good team, they have a lot of work to do esp on offense

 

3.  As an OSU fan, I love their position of being on the outside of a Conf title looking in.  They will likely not drop regardless of the Big Ten game and don't have to fear injury or fatigue.

 

2. The offense has looked terrible in the past few games. However Meyer is one of those coaches that always does a great job getting his team prepared for postseason games with a month to prepare. I think they'll be ready for the semifinal game, and as I mentioned above, this team was built for warm weather so they'll probably play better based on that alone. I don't think they're winning the title, though. In fact, I don't think anyone is going to beat Alabama.

 

3. I agree and I was rooting for Penn State yesterday because I don't think the Buckeyes have much to gain (other than a trophy and some money) by playing in the Big Ten title game.

http://thespun.com/college-football/espns-538-projects-college-football-playoff-after-ohio-state-michigan-game

 

ESPN says an even better chance than Alabama.

 

The Buckeyes not making it might send a bad message:  don't schedule tough non-conference games.  The win over Oklahoma makes a big difference.

As a Michigan fan that game was gut wrenching.  They had a chance to absolutely bury the Buckeyes in the 3rd quarter and they blew it.  The 3 turnovers cost Michigan the game.  Take any of those away and they win in regulation.

 

With that said the officiating was terrible in that game.  I won't go so far as to say it cost Michigan the game, but it wasn't even close to evenly called.  And I don't think I'll ever be convinced that Barrett made the line to gain on that 4th and 1 in the second overtime.  Absolutely gut wrenching.

As a Michigan fan that game was gut wrenching.  They had a chance to absolutely bury the Buckeyes in the 3rd quarter and they blew it.  The 3 turnovers cost Michigan the game.  Take any of those away and they win in regulation.

 

With that said the officiating was terrible in that game.  I won't go so far as to say it cost Michigan the game, but it wasn't even close to evenly called.  And I don't think I'll ever be convinced that Barrett made the line to gain on that 4th and 1 in the second overtime.  Absolutely gut wrenching.

 

outside of Michigan fans, nobody in the national media is saying the Barrett first down was the wrong call.  Everything else was inconsequential.  I think Meyer made some ridiculous calls like the fake punt.  The defense bailed them out time & time again.  The two missed FG's could have wrapped the game in regulation for OSU. 

 

Could've, should've, would've.  The game will go down as an instant classic.  The rivalry is back, in a big way.  hands down the #1 rivalry in college football now and probably for next few years. 

 

I think projecting forward to next year, Michigan is going to lose a big senior class and OSU will come back next year loaded.

outside of Michigan fans, nobody in the national media is saying the Barrett first down was the wrong call.  Everything else was inconsequential.  I think Meyer made some ridiculous calls like the fake punt.  The defense bailed them out time & time again.  The two missed FG's could have wrapped the game in regulation for OSU. 

 

Well that just isn't true.

 

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/11/27/13756832/jt-barrett-first-down-ohio-state-michigan-2016

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/michigan-has-legit-beef-with-controversial-spot-on-ohio-states-fourth-down-conversion/

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/11/26/13753594/ohio-state-michigan-final-score-results-2016

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/11/fourth-down-spot-ohio-state-michigan-double-overtime

http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2016/11/26/13753718/michigan-ohio-state-2016-fourth-down-spot-overtime-j-t-barrett-first-down

 

And many of the missed calls were very consequential.  Notably the pass interference called on the Michigan defender on Ohio State's final  drive in the fourth quarter (the ball was arguably uncatchable and past the player before contact) and the missed PI call on Ohio State in the second overtime forcing Michigan to settle for a FG.  Again, I'm not claiming Michigan lost because of these missed calls, but they certainly didn't help.

outside of Michigan fans, nobody in the national media is saying the Barrett first down was the wrong call.  Everything else was inconsequential.  I think Meyer made some ridiculous calls like the fake punt.  The defense bailed them out time & time again.  The two missed FG's could have wrapped the game in regulation for OSU. 

 

Well that just isn't true.

 

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/11/27/13756832/jt-barrett-first-down-ohio-state-michigan-2016

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/michigan-has-legit-beef-with-controversial-spot-on-ohio-states-fourth-down-conversion/

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/11/26/13753594/ohio-state-michigan-final-score-results-2016

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/11/fourth-down-spot-ohio-state-michigan-double-overtime

http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2016/11/26/13753718/michigan-ohio-state-2016-fourth-down-spot-overtime-j-t-barrett-first-down

 

 

The articles you link all say it was close or controversial but do any say the wrong call was made?

^Ah yes, I agree.  There is no view of the play that unequivocally shows the location of the ball at its furthest point forward so nobody can make the claim that the call was unquestionable wrong.  The spot of the ball on either side of the line would not have been overturned under review. 

^Ah yes, I agree.  There is no view of the play that unequivocally shows the location of the ball at its furthest point forward so nobody can make the claim that the call was unquestionable wrong.  The spot of the ball on either side of the line would not have been overturned under review. 

 

This.  The ruling on the field was going to stand either way.  And as an OSU fan, I'm willing to admit that it might have been a home-crowd ruling on the field, but the video evidence was sufficient to sustain it.

 

On the playoff issue, I'm actually surprised to see 538 giving OSU a 90% chance to get in.  If Wisconsin wins the Big Ten, I can see that, because we have the direct win over Wisconsin and only one loss on the season.  But if Penn State wins the Big Ten, they have both the conference title and the direct win over us, though their overall body of work is admittedly much less impressive (especially cross-division play within the league: we played Nebraska and Wisconsin, which was literally the toughest possible cross-division schedule; they played Iowa and Purdue).  I think 538 is underestimating the psychological difficulty of letting in a team that didn't even play for its conference title, though admittedly being one of the only one-loss majors left counts for something, especially if any of the others (Clemson, Washington) fall.

I don't even think it's a question that OSU gets in.  They should stay at #2 after this week and simply having one less game than a few others teams shouldn't knock them out of the top 4.  I'm looking at the possibilities for Michigan and though they are slim I do think Michigan is, by far, the best 2 loss team in the country.  I guess we'll see what happens.

OSU is in, there's no way they aren't in. 

 

The only question is whether Penn State/Wisconsin is in also, which could happen if they win and any of the other conf title games are an upset and Alabama/Clemson/Washington go down

 

^I think Michigan is a very good team, maybe top 4, but it's a real stretch to see them making it as a 2-loss team and not being a conf champ

outside of Michigan fans, nobody in the national media is saying the Barrett first down was the wrong call.  Everything else was inconsequential.  I think Meyer made some ridiculous calls like the fake punt.  The defense bailed them out time & time again.  The two missed FG's could have wrapped the game in regulation for OSU. 

 

Well that just isn't true.

 

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/11/27/13756832/jt-barrett-first-down-ohio-state-michigan-2016

http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/michigan-has-legit-beef-with-controversial-spot-on-ohio-states-fourth-down-conversion/

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/11/26/13753594/ohio-state-michigan-final-score-results-2016

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/11/fourth-down-spot-ohio-state-michigan-double-overtime

http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2016/11/26/13753718/michigan-ohio-state-2016-fourth-down-spot-overtime-j-t-barrett-first-down

 

And many of the missed calls were very consequential.  Notably the pass interference called on the Michigan defender on Ohio State's final  drive in the fourth quarter (the ball was arguably uncatchable and past the player before contact) and the missed PI call on Ohio State in the second overtime forcing Michigan to settle for a FG.  Again, I'm not claiming Michigan lost because of these missed calls, but they certainly didn't help.

 

Michigan had the ball and was driving with a 17-7 lead in the middle of the 3rd quarter. Then the OSU D forced a pick. That was turning point to me, not the refs. Michigan hangs on to the football and they win that game hands down even if Durbin makes the two field goals. I thought Harbaugh let his team get a little arrogant with a 10-point lead and plenty of time to go. Also despite ESPN continually claiming there is a revival of the "Ten Year War" in order to make this happen will require Michigan to win a game at some point in the future.

It wasn't a play you can be 'convinced' on either way.  The video evidence was such that however it was called on the field, it likely would have stayed. 

 

I hate that such a great game is being marred by complaints about the officiating.  I would like to see a full game audit on missed calls before I even entertain that thought.  Football is a game of inches.  Inches are what separates a turnover on downs from a first down.  It is what separates a PI call from a no call.  You always notice the other team getting away with things.  I thought, for instance, Michigan's O-linemen and DBs were getting away with holding a good part of the game.

^of course.  and the fake punt OSU ran unsuccessfully had holding all over the place. 

Ohio State has to be a lock for the CFP at this point, regardless of how any of the title games play out. I think 'Bama is also a lock even if they lose the SEC title game. The only way the Big Ten "Champion" is guaranteed the last spot in the CFP, in my opinion, is if the Clemson and/or Washington loses. I hope they both lose, though, which call me crazy, could open the door up to having THREE Big Ten teams make the playoff. The committee would be facing 2-loss team madness, but ultimately it would come down to a choice between Colorado or Michigan. At that point, just let Kordell Steward throw a Hail Mary to decide who gets in.

 

Ohio State is in but I have zero confidence in them picking up a win on 12/31.  The offense is a horrendous mess - JT has regressed as a QB from 2014 (it's almost like hiring a bad QB coach has a bad effect on the QB...go figure), the O-Line can't pass block, the receivers can't catch when they do get open, and the OCs seem to forget Mike Weber for 20 minutes at a time.  The play-calling is predictable and the execution is bad.  Where is the team that rolled in Norman or trounced Nebraska 62-3?  They're young and inconsistent.

Ohio State is in but I have zero confidence in them picking up a win on 12/31.  The offense is a horrendous mess - JT has regressed as a QB from 2014 (it's almost like hiring a bad QB coach has a bad effect on the QB...go figure), the O-Line can't pass block, the receivers can't catch when they do get open, and the OCs seem to forget Mike Weber for 20 minutes at a time.  The play-calling is predictable and the execution is bad.  Where is the team that rolled in Norman or trounced Nebraska 62-3?  They're young and inconsistent.

 

JT is starting to look like Brandon Weeden. You can see him counting as he stares down each receiver. He was almost picked off three times on Saturday. Got to believe a team like Alabama will make him pay for his mistakes.

^At least JT can run but he doesn't anticipate throws anymore (i.e. "throw the receiver open").  He waits until his guy is in a huge open window, makes sure he's there for 2-3 seconds, then pulls the trigger - usually it's inaccurate or dropped.  Might as well just run the triple option at this point.

Urban Meyer got some huge news yesterday.  He became a grandfather!  His oldest daughter Nicki gave birth to his first grandchild - a boy named Troy - with her husband Corey Dennis, a graduate assistant on the OSU football staff.

 

Oh, and his Ohio State football team was also listed third in the final College Football Playoff rankings - which means the Buckeyes will face #2 Clemson in a semifinal game at the Fiesta Bowl on New Year’s Eve in Glendale, Arizona.

 

Coach Meyer said, “I watched the selection show from the fifth floor maternity ward of Riverside Hospital".

 

Or as today's Dispatch headline put it, "A birth and a berth":

 

http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2016/12/05/1204-meyer-grandchild.html

 

http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2016/12/05/1204-cfp-ohio-state.html

Ohio State is in but I have zero confidence in them picking up a win on 12/31.  The offense is a horrendous mess - JT has regressed as a QB from 2014 (it's almost like hiring a bad QB coach has a bad effect on the QB...go figure), the O-Line can't pass block, the receivers can't catch when they do get open, and the OCs seem to forget Mike Weber for 20 minutes at a time.  The play-calling is predictable and the execution is bad.  Where is the team that rolled in Norman or trounced Nebraska 62-3?  They're young and inconsistent.

 

JT is starting to look like Brandon Weeden. You can see him counting as he stares down each receiver. He was almost picked off three times on Saturday. Got to believe a team like Alabama will make him pay for his mistakes.

 

He definitely does the countdown & visual read of each receiver.  No ability or effort to look off the corners or safeties and throw his man open.  Not sure what the offense will look like a month from now but hopefully better.  I think the offensive line has given him good time to make his reads.  He needs to do more roll outs and throw from outside the pocket.  If they start connecting on some long bombs the way they did back in 2014, it will open up the offense for everything.

 

All that aside, my expectations remain low.  I  think this is a really young team that has already exceeded expectations.

Ohio State is in but I have zero confidence in them picking up a win on 12/31.  The offense is a horrendous mess - JT has regressed as a QB from 2014 (it's almost like hiring a bad QB coach has a bad effect on the QB...go figure), the O-Line can't pass block, the receivers can't catch when they do get open, and the OCs seem to forget Mike Weber for 20 minutes at a time.  The play-calling is predictable and the execution is bad.  Where is the team that rolled in Norman or trounced Nebraska 62-3?  They're young and inconsistent.

 

JT is starting to look like Brandon Weeden. You can see him counting as he stares down each receiver. He was almost picked off three times on Saturday. Got to believe a team like Alabama will make him pay for his mistakes.

 

He definitely does the countdown & visual read of each receiver.  No ability or effort to look off the corners or safeties and throw his man open.  Not sure what the offense will look like a month from now but hopefully better.  I think the offensive line has given him good time to make his reads.  He needs to do more roll outs and throw from outside the pocket.  If they start connecting on some long bombs the way they did back in 2014, it will open up the offense for everything.

 

All that aside, my expectations remain low.  I  think this is a really young team that has already exceeded expectations.

 

I have to agree.  We have a ridiculous amount of talent, but for some reason that chemistry doesn't seem to be there.  We came within a controversial inch of losing to Michigan and a two-point conversion of losing to Michigan State.  Surprisingly, with J.T. Barrett at quarterback, it's actually been the defense that has played the star role in both of our last two games, and several of our earlier ones as well.  (And it was special teams that mucked it up for us against Penn State--blocked FG returned for a score and some other less dramatic clumsiness on top of that.)  Against Clemson, at least based on the last two games, I actually have more confidence in our defense's ability to contain DeShaun Watson than I have in our offense to score consistently against Clemson's less-heralded defense.

Watson has thrown 15 INTs this season and our defense is a bunch of ball hawks.  I like that matchup - and hopefully the linebackers can contain him when he runs.

JT's lack of progress is surprising.  IMO, he has all the traits to be an all-time great college QB, but things have never come together for him to allow his talent and ability to translate into a week-by-week superstar.  He does seem to have some issues in the cold (remember, he is from Texas), so I have more faith in him for the playoffs than I would have in the Big10 championship.  All that said, what OSU seems to still be missing and has been missing for two years is a true deep threat at WR.  He had Devin Smith his freshman year and that forced the defenses to back off in coverage, opening up some larger windows.  Even if the deep threat only catches one or two passes a game, his presence makes all the difference.  I still say that championship game against Florida would've been much different if Ginn Jr. hadn't broken his ankle in the endzone celebration.  When he left, Florida was able to move an extra guy into the box and used press coverage on our WRs.  It threw our rhythm completely off.

5-star recruit Torrance Gibson, we hardly knew ye ... (from ESPN):

 

Former Ohio State recruit Torrance Gibson signs JUCO letter of intent

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Torrance Gibson's once-promising, turbulent career at Ohio State appears to be over already.  After being suspended for the fall semester, the former five-star recruit signed a junior college letter of intent with Mississippi Gulf Coast on Tuesday, signaling that he won't be returning to the Buckeyes.

( . . . )

Ohio State had great expectations for Gibson when he signed after a high-profile recruitment, first as a potential dual-threat quarterback and then as a potentially game-changing wide receiver.  Thanks to a logjam of passers on the depth chart and his dynamic athleticism, Gibson asked for the opportunity to switch to wide receiver after arriving on campus and looked capable of making an impact there with his 6-foot-4 frame.

 

But the transition did not go smoothly, on or off the field for the Florida native.  Gibson never stepped on the field as a true freshman as he struggled to find consistency with his new responsibilities as a wideout.  He was also suspended for a game during his redshirt season. --- The hype that surrounded his recruitment was renewed during practices in April when Gibson capped off a productive month with six catches for 50 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the spring game.  But again, that didn't last long.  Ohio State announced Gibson's semester-long suspension shortly before the season opener.

 

MORE: http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18269700/former-ohio-state-recruit-gibson-signs-juco-letter-intent

The AP All-America list came out this week.  Three Buckeyes received 1st-team honors, two buckeyes received 2nd-team honors and one received 3rd-team honors.  It should also be noted that sophomore defensive end Sam Hubbard earned 1st-team Academic All-America honors:

 

First Team:

• Pat Elflein - senior  (Center)

• Curtis Samuel - junior  (All-Purpose Player)

• Mailk Hooker - sophomore  (Safety)

Second Team:

• Billy Price - junior  (Guard)

• Raekwon McMillan - junior  (Linebacker)

Third Team:

• Cameron Johnston - senior  (Punter)

Full listing:  http://collegefootball.ap.org/article/2016-ap-all-america-team

I think McMillan is gone, but I hope Samuel and Price return for their senior years. I understand if Samuel doesn't. Not sure he has much room to improve on his stock and would have to risk not getting injured. 

With Luke Fickell leaving the coaching staff to become the University of Cincinnati's head coach next season, it looks like his replacement has been announced:

 

http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2016/12/22/osufb-bill-davis.html

 

Bill Davis has coached 24 years in the NFL, with three stints as defensive coordinator.  His most recent defensive coordinator job was for the Philadelphia Eagles from 2013-15.  In 2016, he was an analyst inside the Buckeyes’ program.  Urban Meyer and Bill Davis met as football players at UC in 1985 and Davis was the best man at Urban Meyer’s wedding 27 years ago.

 

It seems likely that Bill Davis will be taking over Fickell's defensive coordinator position, either in whole or in partnership with Greg Schiano, who was co-defensive coordinator with Fickell this season.

Well, that was a disaster.

 

I didn't think the Buckeye really had a shot at the title this year, but I never would have expected such an ugly showing in the playoff. If this team was a year ahead of schedule, hopefully last night will be the catalyst to make a few moves that will put them over the top next year. Obviously they need to find a better offensive coordinator, in fact they should shell out big bucks to get one. But I also think they need to take a hard look at the quarterback position. Somehow J.T. Barrett hasn't really improved since his freshman year.

^you are right, 1 year ahead of schedule. I told my good buddy here who is a huge OSU fan and went to Phoenix for the game that OSU is full of 1st and 2nd year players vs Clemson is a junior and senior dominated team. That makes a huge difference in college football with across the board physicality.

 

Lastly, I think OSU needs to figure out a way how to get more physical running between the tackles. They are too horizontal and I understand you can't run downhill as well without Zeke, he was able to do it from the read option, but hardly any back can do that, maybe a few in the nation each year. IMO they need to set up some downhill schemes because these top teams like Clemson and Bama can fly horizontally, need to take it straight to them.

Well, that was a disaster.

 

Yep.  Nothing good to take away from this 31-0 loss.

I didn't think the Buckeye really had a shot at the title this year, but I never would have expected such an ugly showing in the playoff.  If this team was a year ahead of schedule, hopefully last night will be the catalyst to make a few moves that will put them over the top next year.  Obviously they need to find a better offensive coordinator, in fact they should shell out big bucks to get one.  But I also think they need to take a hard look at the quarterback position.  Somehow J.T. Barrett hasn't really improved since his freshman year.

 

It's like the Dispatch's Rob Oller was reading your comment for today's commentary:  http://buckeyextra.dispatch.com/content/stories/2017/01/02/rob-oller-column-osu-must-identify-its-identity-on-offense.html

 

He thinks that QB coach Tim Beck, offensive coordinator Ed Warinner and receivers coach Zach Smith are on the hot seats - in descending order of seat hotness.

Well, that was a disaster.

 

Yep.  Nothing good to take away from this 31-0 loss.

 

True, but it’s both hilarious and pathetic when TTUN (aka OBB) fans try to crow about Clemson winning when they have won one of their last fourteen games against tOSU.

my thoughts on the game.  Most of this has already been said by others

 

1.  Obviously the play calling has been an issue since Tom Herman left.  It was bad last year and we had much more talent.  It's terrible this year with a young team.

 

2.  Barrett has regressed.  He pulls his eyes down and isn't looking downfield.  The handful of times he passed downfield, we got 2 big pass interference penalties and 2 others he overthrew/under threw the receiver.  The stat in 3rd quarter showed how many passes he had beyond 15 yrds and it was 1.  Only pass he seemed to be able to complete was the comeback pass.

 

3.  Defense looked really soft.  Guys were not swarming to the ball, defense couldn't get off blocks all night.  Corners were tied up on the outside and LB's were non existent.

 

4.  We are really missing a big physical RB.  I can't understand how they don't have someone on the team available to put in for a different look.  Zeke Elliot made playcalling so much easier when he busted arm tackles at the line and blasted through the secondary.  I really have to think back to a time when we didn't have a power back on the team like Elliot, Carlos Hyde, Beanie Wells, etc.  Do we even have a FB on the roster?

 

5.  The legend of Urban Meyer and his bowl preparation took a big hit.  The team was not ready to play.  The offense was so out of rhythm.  The o-line blocking was terrible.  Nobody picking up blitzers.  Barrett not picking up the reads.  Defense should have been reading the plays coming from Clemson.  They run the quick screen pass to the wideout better than anyone but after the 4th time, it should not have been working. 

 

I don't know that the play calling was any different under Herman.  It's just that teams have adjusted to our scheme and, particularly, Barrett.  Make him beat you with his arm was Clemson's approach, as well as MSU and PSU this year.  Add in the fact that we haven't had a legit downfield threat since Devin Smith.  Also, can't underestimate the value Zeke had to this offense.  He kept defenses on their toes because he could easily beat "8 in the box" by blasting through the first level and outrunning the DBs.

Coaching staff dominoes are beginning to fall:

 

- Tom Herman (now coaching Texas) hired OSU QB coach Tim Beck to be his offensive coordinator at UT.

 

- OSU hired Ryan Day to be their new QB coach.  Day spent the past two seasons as QB coach under Chip Kelly with the Eagles and the 49ers.

 

- Former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson is expected to be named offensive coordinator at Ohio State after meeting with Urban Meyer on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.  Wilson resigned as Indiana's head coach last month.

 

MORE: http://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/18403062/kevin-wilson-expected-named-ohio-state-buckeyes-offensive-coordinator

In honor of MY MAN, Marshon Lattimore, who just declared for the NFL draft and is likely to go in the 1st round, if not the Top 10, I am reposting this conversation here.  Where you at Clefan98[/member] ??  :-P :-D

 

^I like Erik Smith A lot.  He was the only tarblooder that showed up in the state championship. 

 

I hope I'm wrong.  But I don't think I am.  Lattimore is the far superior player out of the two.  I would be shocked if Smith made it into the rotation before Lattimore.  There are also quite a few players who will start out ahead of Smith on the depth chart not mentioned by the above analysis - - Devon Bogard (assuming he can get and stay healthy, he might actually start), Ron Tanner, Jayme Thompson, Eli Apple, Gareon Conley, and a few LB/S hybrids in Chris Worley and Daron Lee.

 

I think you're going to be wrong on this one.  This kid is a flat out player.  UM said he's going to play in his presser on Weds.  Alabama was another team that offered Erick, so there's that.  I'm not a big ranking guy myself but one site had him listed as the 5th best safety in the country, while another ranked him as the 2nd best.  He sees time before Lattimore.  I'd bet on that. 

 

Also, it's kind of funny to me that you mention the state championship game, because I was really down on his performance in that game (minus the kick return).  Loveland gameplanned for Lattimore..... double covering his side of the field most of the time while on defense and not running or throwing his way too often on offense.  Smith should've had a huge game.  He didn't.  A 2 minute highlight tape of him tackling the ball carrier (a lot of times arm-tackling) beyond the first down marker doesn't help the argument.

 

Here is a longer video, which I only watched the first half of prior to posting it here.  I can tell you that he will have a hard time finding the field at tOSU if he shows the effort and ability on display at 2:00 and 2:50 and 6:40 and 7:00.  That #27 for Loveland, BTW, is a HS freshman..... an exceptional freshman, but a freshman nonetheless.....

 

Well I think you're going to be surprised when Smith plays over Lattimore.  EVERY scouting site ranks Smith over him.  They can't all be wrong, right?  Also I know a guy (knew more when Tress was there) currently on the OSU coaching staff.  I can tell you they are in love with this kid.  Sorry man, I'm going with what Im hearing from my source over anything I hear on an internet forum.  He'll be in the two deep at the beginning of Fall camp. At least, thats what's expected.   

 

Just giving my opinion.  Not trying to upset you.  BTW, not every site has Smith ahead of Lattimore.  Lattimore is still #1 in the state on a few, including ESPN and 247Sports.  Smith must've got a late season bump on rivals and scout, because he was always behind Marshon.  But no.... obviously they are not all wrong.  In fact, I think two of them are right ;)

National Signing Day was yesterday - and the rankings are in:

 

http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2017/2/1/14463172/ohio-state-national-signing-day-2017-recruiting-class-commits-rankings

 

http://www.dispatch.com/sports/20170201/ohio-state-football--look-at-2017-recruiting-class

 

OSU's 2017 recruiting class is said to be one of their best ever.  They netted 5 five-star recruits (3 of which are early enrollees) at OLB, OG, DE & the two top rated CB recruits in the nation.  They also had 14 four-star recruits, which include RB - J.K. Dobbins and QB - Tate Martell, who are both early enrollees.  Of the entire 21 player recruiting class, 9 are early enrollees and already practicing with the team.

http://insider.espn.com/college-sports/football/recruiting/classrankings

 

Looking at Ohio State and the B1G rankings:

 

1.  Ohio State (2nd nationally)

2.  Michigan (6th)

3.  Penn State (17th)

4.  Maryland (20th)

5.  Nebraska (21st)

6.  Michigan State (32nd)

7.  Wisconsin (40th)

8.  Iowa (43rd)

9.  Northwestern (44th)

10. Rutgers (50th)

11. Illinois (55th)

12. Indiana (57th)

13. Minnesota (58th)

14. Purdue (59th)

Impressive Haul by Maryland. Was hoping to see Penn State higher up as well as Nebraska. Sparty has slipped in the last 2 years. Want to see all BIG team sin top 50

Am I the only one who is not a huge fan of Mike Weber?

The Buckeyes are losing six underclassmen to the 2017 NFL draft.  It's less than the nine underclassmen lost to last year's draft.  Although the defensive secondary is baring the brunt of the early declarers - losing 3 of 4 starters for a second straight season.

 

Their draft prospects, according to ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr., as reported at http://www.landgrantholyland.com/2017/1/20/14334112/ohio-state-news-marshon-lattimore-malik-hooker-nfl-draft:

 

- Defensive back Marshon Lattimore (and Hts121's main man) is projected to be the #6 pick.  Safety Malik Hooker is projected at the #17 slot in the first round.

 

- Kiper said three other underclassmen (HB - Curtis Samuel, LB - Raekwon McMillan and CB - Gareon Conley) are projected as second round picks.

 

- The surprise early declarer (WR - Noah Brown) is projected as a third or fourth round pick

And speaking of OSU's 2016 NFL draft class - which was previously noted in this thread at https://www.urbanohio.com/forum2/index.php/topic,6876.msg801393.html#msg801393

 

ESPN posted a video that looked back at the OSU players drafted in 2016.  The video asked "Was Ohio State's 2016 draft class the best the NFL has seen?", while noting the following:

 

- Ohio State had 12 players taken - 5 of them first-rounders;

- All 12 saw action on the field and several became impact players;

- DE - Joey Bosa (SD) had 10.5 sacks to led all rookies;

- RB - Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) led the NFL with 1,631 rushing yards at 108.7 YPG;

- WR - Michael Thomas (NO) led all rookies in receptions, rec yards & rec TD;

 

VIDEO:  http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18532217/ezekiel-elliott-michael-thomas-joey-bosa-ohio-state-buckeyes-part-best-rookie-class-ever-one-college-nfl-2016

All the more impressive that they made a run to the College Football Playoff this past year. The result was unfortunate, but to lose a class like that and still have such a great season is a testament to what Meyer has built in Columbus.

I am surprised that Hooker is not projected in the Top 10.  As much as I like Lattimore, Hooker would be the first Buckeye on my Big Board.  I don't see any weaknesses.

Am I the only one who is not a huge fan of Mike Weber?

 

Just now responding to this.  No, you are not alone.  In fact, I have never been sold on him.  He just doesn't seem to show up reliably enough in big plays or big games, or maybe there's just some critical instinct that he lacks.  He's got good physical stats but that's not actually determinative of game impact.

I am surprised that Hooker is not projected in the Top 10.  As much as I like Lattimore, Hooker would be the first Buckeye on my Big Board.  I don't see any weaknesses.

 

Kiper's Mock Draft 3.0 has the three Buckeye defensive backs moving up the big board.  Lattimore is now at #5, Hooker is now at #7 and Gareon Conley has moved up to #14.

 

http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2017/3/22/15020942/nfl-mock-draft-2017-espn-mel-kiper-3-0-version-insider-eagles-philadelphia-gareon-conley-ohio-state