04-11-2019, 04:29 PM
Spoke with two of the Wisemen who have been inside of the WHAC the past few weeks. Here are some of the things mentioned:
As I had mentioned in a prior nugget, GARRETT WILSON is looking to be a big factor in the offense this fall. He has benefitted from some injuries at the H, but his playmaking is something that we will get to enjoy for the next three years. Very shifty and explosive fast, so buckle up this September...
Ryan Day has taken on Urban Meyerâ€s mentality of “we must go hard after the #1 QB in the country every year, regardless of locationâ€. While they struck out on JUSTIN FIELDS in 2018, they hit a homerun getting him with 2-3 years of eligibility remaining. He is on the Haskins “three and out†program, wanting to follow in the same path, at the same program, with the same position coach, and the same personal QB coach in Quincy Avery (who is a rising superstar in the personal QB space). Heâ€ll also sign with David Mulugheta of Athletes First, much like Dwayne did (and Deshaun Watson before him, who magically became his buddy last summer and they worked out together). This is developing into a next level pipeline of super high end talent, and Ryan Day is all over it (along with Mark Pantoni) Here is a piece on Mulugheta :
https://frntofficesport.com/one-of-next-years-biggest-nfl-free-agents-may-not-be-a-player/
Why does that matter to us OSU fans? Because FIELDS has been over the top in learning the book and running the offense. Some kids know theyâ€ll start and let off the gas a little bit. Justin has been the opposite, and itâ€ll show in a BIG way this fall. While Haskins had the best arm talent in school history, Field will be up near the top in terms of combo running/passing talent. This, my friends, will be fun to watch come September…
In the backfield, itâ€ll likely be the MASTER TEAGUE/MARCUS CROWLEY show, as Demario has been out and JK will get likely one ceremonial series (if that). The staff is really disappointed about the Brian Snead situation, as Tony Alford believed he would have been the next superstar back (Rob Smith anyone?? Scout guys will remember that reference). Crowley has been a ball of fire when he knows the play cold, so him learning the book and getting much better on pass pro will determine how big of a factor he will be. The running back room knows that the covet #2 spot behind JK means a lot of touches, so itâ€ll be a fierce summer…
The receiver room is loaded once again as Bin Victor, Chris Olave, and Austin Mack carry the load along with KJ Hill. Again, how much those older or banged up (Olave/Mack) guys play will be decided in the next 48 hours. No reason to get a stud hurt in a meaningless show. Jeremy Ruckert anyone?? He has "dropped his nuts" in terms of throwing his face in there and blocking and playing less soft, so here is to hoping he can make a dent in a very strong TE room under Kevin Wilson...
The OL these past three weeks has been a great testimony to Coach Studâ€s preference on cross training guys at different spots and on different sides to find the best mix. JOSH MYERS and GAVIN CUPP have been pretty settled in at guard and center, but the rest of the crew has been flipping around to see who can do what best. BRANDON BOWENâ€s heroic climb back from his gruesome ankle injury has been inspiring to say the least, and I think come hell or high water he starts at guard or right tackle come fall. Guard is where he really made a big move next to Billy Price two years ago, so I like having a 6â€7 masher in there to move people. Last yearâ€s unsung hero JOSH ALABI would start at LT if we played today (thankfully we donâ€t), be THAYER MUNFORD and his wonky back will hopefully be ready for the rigors of camp come August (doesnâ€t a 20 year old with a really bad back make you nervous?). Saturday will be a big day for MAX WRAY and NICK PETIT-FRERE, as theyâ€ll get the bulk of the work on the edges versus ZACH HARRISON and TY SMITH, who have given tackles fits this spring. Will be interesting to watch…
On major difference on defense is having GREG MATTISON as the leader. The dynamic between Greg Schiano and Alex Grinch last year was essentially non-existent after Week 6, as Grinch was fed up on his lack of input in the game plan. This led to some incredibly unsound defense down the stretch, where oftentimes the fronts didnâ€t match up with the coverages and the run support reads. MATTISON has changed all of that (with the help of holdover Larry Johnson), and him not having a designated position to coach allows for him to ensure everything meshes (he has spent a ton of time with the linebackers and mentoring young Al Washington Jr., who is a DL coach by trade). Regardless, ignore the terrible performance of Michiganâ€s defense in the finale last year when you judge Greg Mattsion. He came here to get away from Don Brownâ€s defense and scheme and get back to running his defense. Very very excited about this. Last time, I saw his defense in person was when Florida beat our asses in 2006. If he can replicate anything close to that, paired with Dayâ€s offense, then the folks of the Game Thread will have to resort to complaining about their ice cream being too cold…
On the defense, the previously mentioned ZACH HARRISON and TY SMITH have both taken steps. HARRISON potentially could be our Jevon Kearse, as Kearse fell in the 1999 NFL draft for being “rawâ€. Turns out when you are fast as f---, that doesnâ€t matter as much. Combine that with having Larry Johnson teaching your technique (and effort level, which led a lot to be desired early but has been corrected), watch out. Edge rushers tend to have big days in Spring Games (Solly Thomas had 7 sacks one year), so WATCH OUT...
My preseason guy TERADJA MITCHELL looks to crack a few helmets on Saturday as well, as he has a strange “explosive†twitch that has led to some major collisions in scrimmage and inside run settings. Will be fun to watch him, especially with Tuf out...
The back four will feature future All-American and 1st round pick JEFF OKUDAH in his final season, and I look for him to be in the Denzel Ward range when it is all said and done. The new cute “Bullet†positon (I love when they come up with cool names to tell recruits theyâ€ll be a BULLET instead of a Nickel DB LOL) along with the two safety spots will be occupied by JORDAN FULLER, JOSH PROCTOR, and BRENDON WHITE. That is a damn good trio, and the JEFF HAFLEY effect (our DBs finally turn their heads!) will be noticeable…
On a final note, one thing to watch for during the game is how this is now officially Dayâ€s offense (along with Kevin Wilson and Mike Yurcich). Weâ€ll actually go under center (I know that is crazy right??) and you will see the things Day preferred and you will see a lot less of the staple plays from the Urban Meyer Power Spread offense. Always interesting when a Coordinator gets the head gig, as he really gets to have carte blanche on his side of the ball. The Wisemen told me it was VERY noticeable in the offense. We will throw the mess out of the ball Saturday, so buckle up for a roller coaster ride of big plays both ways (long passes and sacks). How will this team be? Time will tell, but both Wisemen said "Damn Good" when posed that question...Â
Enjoy Saturday as the Spring Game followed by Moving Day at the Masters and the NHL playoffs is a STRONG sports Saturday. Is it fall yet???
As I had mentioned in a prior nugget, GARRETT WILSON is looking to be a big factor in the offense this fall. He has benefitted from some injuries at the H, but his playmaking is something that we will get to enjoy for the next three years. Very shifty and explosive fast, so buckle up this September...
Ryan Day has taken on Urban Meyerâ€s mentality of “we must go hard after the #1 QB in the country every year, regardless of locationâ€. While they struck out on JUSTIN FIELDS in 2018, they hit a homerun getting him with 2-3 years of eligibility remaining. He is on the Haskins “three and out†program, wanting to follow in the same path, at the same program, with the same position coach, and the same personal QB coach in Quincy Avery (who is a rising superstar in the personal QB space). Heâ€ll also sign with David Mulugheta of Athletes First, much like Dwayne did (and Deshaun Watson before him, who magically became his buddy last summer and they worked out together). This is developing into a next level pipeline of super high end talent, and Ryan Day is all over it (along with Mark Pantoni) Here is a piece on Mulugheta :
https://frntofficesport.com/one-of-next-years-biggest-nfl-free-agents-may-not-be-a-player/
Why does that matter to us OSU fans? Because FIELDS has been over the top in learning the book and running the offense. Some kids know theyâ€ll start and let off the gas a little bit. Justin has been the opposite, and itâ€ll show in a BIG way this fall. While Haskins had the best arm talent in school history, Field will be up near the top in terms of combo running/passing talent. This, my friends, will be fun to watch come September…
In the backfield, itâ€ll likely be the MASTER TEAGUE/MARCUS CROWLEY show, as Demario has been out and JK will get likely one ceremonial series (if that). The staff is really disappointed about the Brian Snead situation, as Tony Alford believed he would have been the next superstar back (Rob Smith anyone?? Scout guys will remember that reference). Crowley has been a ball of fire when he knows the play cold, so him learning the book and getting much better on pass pro will determine how big of a factor he will be. The running back room knows that the covet #2 spot behind JK means a lot of touches, so itâ€ll be a fierce summer…
The receiver room is loaded once again as Bin Victor, Chris Olave, and Austin Mack carry the load along with KJ Hill. Again, how much those older or banged up (Olave/Mack) guys play will be decided in the next 48 hours. No reason to get a stud hurt in a meaningless show. Jeremy Ruckert anyone?? He has "dropped his nuts" in terms of throwing his face in there and blocking and playing less soft, so here is to hoping he can make a dent in a very strong TE room under Kevin Wilson...
The OL these past three weeks has been a great testimony to Coach Studâ€s preference on cross training guys at different spots and on different sides to find the best mix. JOSH MYERS and GAVIN CUPP have been pretty settled in at guard and center, but the rest of the crew has been flipping around to see who can do what best. BRANDON BOWENâ€s heroic climb back from his gruesome ankle injury has been inspiring to say the least, and I think come hell or high water he starts at guard or right tackle come fall. Guard is where he really made a big move next to Billy Price two years ago, so I like having a 6â€7 masher in there to move people. Last yearâ€s unsung hero JOSH ALABI would start at LT if we played today (thankfully we donâ€t), be THAYER MUNFORD and his wonky back will hopefully be ready for the rigors of camp come August (doesnâ€t a 20 year old with a really bad back make you nervous?). Saturday will be a big day for MAX WRAY and NICK PETIT-FRERE, as theyâ€ll get the bulk of the work on the edges versus ZACH HARRISON and TY SMITH, who have given tackles fits this spring. Will be interesting to watch…
On major difference on defense is having GREG MATTISON as the leader. The dynamic between Greg Schiano and Alex Grinch last year was essentially non-existent after Week 6, as Grinch was fed up on his lack of input in the game plan. This led to some incredibly unsound defense down the stretch, where oftentimes the fronts didnâ€t match up with the coverages and the run support reads. MATTISON has changed all of that (with the help of holdover Larry Johnson), and him not having a designated position to coach allows for him to ensure everything meshes (he has spent a ton of time with the linebackers and mentoring young Al Washington Jr., who is a DL coach by trade). Regardless, ignore the terrible performance of Michiganâ€s defense in the finale last year when you judge Greg Mattsion. He came here to get away from Don Brownâ€s defense and scheme and get back to running his defense. Very very excited about this. Last time, I saw his defense in person was when Florida beat our asses in 2006. If he can replicate anything close to that, paired with Dayâ€s offense, then the folks of the Game Thread will have to resort to complaining about their ice cream being too cold…
On the defense, the previously mentioned ZACH HARRISON and TY SMITH have both taken steps. HARRISON potentially could be our Jevon Kearse, as Kearse fell in the 1999 NFL draft for being “rawâ€. Turns out when you are fast as f---, that doesnâ€t matter as much. Combine that with having Larry Johnson teaching your technique (and effort level, which led a lot to be desired early but has been corrected), watch out. Edge rushers tend to have big days in Spring Games (Solly Thomas had 7 sacks one year), so WATCH OUT...
My preseason guy TERADJA MITCHELL looks to crack a few helmets on Saturday as well, as he has a strange “explosive†twitch that has led to some major collisions in scrimmage and inside run settings. Will be fun to watch him, especially with Tuf out...
The back four will feature future All-American and 1st round pick JEFF OKUDAH in his final season, and I look for him to be in the Denzel Ward range when it is all said and done. The new cute “Bullet†positon (I love when they come up with cool names to tell recruits theyâ€ll be a BULLET instead of a Nickel DB LOL) along with the two safety spots will be occupied by JORDAN FULLER, JOSH PROCTOR, and BRENDON WHITE. That is a damn good trio, and the JEFF HAFLEY effect (our DBs finally turn their heads!) will be noticeable…
On a final note, one thing to watch for during the game is how this is now officially Dayâ€s offense (along with Kevin Wilson and Mike Yurcich). Weâ€ll actually go under center (I know that is crazy right??) and you will see the things Day preferred and you will see a lot less of the staple plays from the Urban Meyer Power Spread offense. Always interesting when a Coordinator gets the head gig, as he really gets to have carte blanche on his side of the ball. The Wisemen told me it was VERY noticeable in the offense. We will throw the mess out of the ball Saturday, so buckle up for a roller coaster ride of big plays both ways (long passes and sacks). How will this team be? Time will tell, but both Wisemen said "Damn Good" when posed that question...Â
Enjoy Saturday as the Spring Game followed by Moving Day at the Masters and the NHL playoffs is a STRONG sports Saturday. Is it fall yet???
