Special Schadenfreude: OSU on their QB and Offense Situation
So, over at Eleven Warriors, one of the key Ohio State blogs, they have great discomfort over their team. Specifically, fans are really struggling with their QB situation, and with their offense. Here's a sampling of thread links:
LINK: Chris Spielman, Bobby Carpenter, and Cris Carter on the QB Situation
Discussion on how they view the QB sit, with some tweets. Here's one:
Chris Spielman said he's doesn't know why Urban Meyer is going with Cardale Jones. Said the timing between QB & WR is not there.
LINK: What's the Panic Meter with the Offense?
Discussion not just on QB situation, but entire offense. Here's a sample post:
If Ohio State doesn't beat this Maryland team by 28 points (the same Michigan beat them) and dominate throughout, panic is the right word. How could it not be? You'll have seen the team not perform as well as your rival against a common opponent, right before hitting the meat of the B1G schedule.
LINK: This Offensive Debacle Finally Makes Sense
Convoluted discussion and theory on why things are going so poorly with Ohio State's offense.
Also, apparently their live board really melted down on Saturday, with extremely inappropriate and racist comments about Cardale. A good reason not to go to a totally live and totally anonymous chat.
For being 5 - 0, and the number one team in the country, Ohio State fans are really nervous and struggling. Oh, and one other thing. I haven't seen nearly as much in the way of thinking Harbaugh is a lousy coach. They still think he is half crazy, but not too many think he is a lousy coach. In fact, a lot of them really, really wish he would go to Miami: they realize that the jig is up for OSU dominance in the Big 10.
This is the kind of schadenfreude I really love. I mean, the schadenfreude of Texas fans? That's just piling on. The schadenfreude of Buckeyes? Them are some delicious, tasty nuggets.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:05 PM ^
... undefeated schadenfreude.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:08 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 7:24 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 7:29 PM ^
But come on...Georgia and Ole Miss are both better than ANYONE OSU has played and Wisconsin is right on par with VT.
I don't agree with the poster you're responding to...but not sure this is the strongest argument. It's like using the transitive property to say you're better than someone else.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:27 PM ^
I don't think that Ole' Miss or Georgia is worse than anyone that OSU has played. In fact, I think they are likely better by a decent margin. At the same time, I don't buy that Ole' Miss and Georgia are "legitimate" top 10 teams until they've gotten through the meat of their schedules. Who have they played? I'm not certain that OSU would've lost to either/both Georgia and Ole' Miss. Perhaps they would have. But who have either of those teams played?
Ole' Miss: UTM, Fresno State, Alabama, Vanderbilt and Florida.
Georgia: Lousiana Monroe, Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Southern University and Alabama.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:34 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 7:52 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 7:58 PM ^
I hope they're undefeated coming into Ann Arbor. I hope they keep on winning without changing a thing. And I hope that Michigan then obliterates OSU. That is when the real schadenfruede, the true tears of unfathomable sadness, will flow.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:25 PM ^
even in ann arbor? i mean, that'd be an epic victory that hasn't happened in decades. way too many chickens need to hatch before any of that could happen, but it is in the realm of possibility.
October 5th, 2015 at 11:26 PM ^
If OSU and Michigan win out, and Michigan beats OSU, I would do many things I've never done in my 56 years.
- eat a whole lemon
- burn a couch
- have a goofy smile on my face for days
- buy and wear a Michigan jersey.
- send glorious texts to my lawyer nephew who went to OSU and hung around the OSU sidelines.
Ok, I've had a goofy smile on my face before. When I got married. When my daughter was born. When we adopted twins. When my daughter got married, and when she moved away with the Navy. But as regards Michigan football, this would be the most epic thing EVER. I don't know if it could be topped for me.
October 6th, 2015 at 8:45 AM ^
The last time I cried for any reason was when my son was born. If we beat an undefeated OSU this year and end the regular season 11-1 to go to the Big 10 Championship game, I will probably weep tears of joy. In public.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:02 PM ^
October 6th, 2015 at 10:54 AM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 7:30 PM ^
Does your cat enjoy popcorn during football games?
October 6th, 2015 at 1:14 AM ^
Who doesn't ??
October 6th, 2015 at 10:57 AM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 7:06 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 7:22 PM ^
I know...late in the game they were running a typical offense instead of milking the clock. Maybe that ex Nebraska OC was running the show who knows? Very strange though...the only other thing I can think of is he was trying to keep stats/points up for the AP rankings?
Definitely odd decisions though I do agree.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:28 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 8:23 PM ^
He's got a pitch and catch to his record this year. He switched to receiver because he was third on the depth chart and knew he would never have a chance of seeing the league as a QB.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:03 PM ^
Ummm, yep. Throwing a single pass once every couple of weeks and throwing the ball 20-30 times per game are not the same (and this isn't considering the amount of reps he'd be taking in practice week in and week out). He's had to major shoulder surgeries to repair torn labrums, one tear happening during normal throwing with zero contact just six months after the initial surgery. Every report I read during the summer discussed how odd the second injury was and the immense difficulty he faced in being able to return to original form. The entire story just sounds like he was never cleared to throw again, and they're rightfully protecting his privacy and not divulging that information.
Lastly, chicken or the egg on the depth chart thing. I have a hard time believing that a Braxton Miller that never missed a snap due to injury isn't still running the offense today, but that's unverifiable.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:18 PM ^
Even if he was cleared to play QB, after two major shoulder injuries it's time to start thinking about where he projects at the next level. No NFL team is going to take a chance on him at QB with that history, but he has the athleticism for other places on a football team so it's better for everyone if he starts to learn another position.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:52 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 10:54 PM ^
You stated that he was physically unable to throw. Those were your words and he gave evidence that your words were incorrect. So why the boo hoo? Moreover, are you suggesting that Urbs has Miller throwing the FB even though he isn't cleared to do so?
October 5th, 2015 at 7:09 PM ^
I couldn't help watching the OSU - Indiana game on Saturday. My hopes weren't too high: I figured Indiana would find a way to lose, and they did. But man, OSU fans had to be sweating bullets. They didn't look like a dominant world beating team against Indiana. And they lost one of their receivers, Corey Smith, to boot.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:20 PM ^
Indiana looked pretty good....that is a team to watch I think.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:33 PM ^
Could have been a different game if not for key injuries to Indianas QB and RB.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:04 PM ^
October 6th, 2015 at 11:08 AM ^
centered around their running back, not throwing the ball downfield. They've got Braxton Miller who can outrun anyone and they've got Ezikiel Smith who is an incredible talent, what are these fans bitching about. You get Smith an opening, he's gone on any part of the field. You get Miller the ball in space, and he's gone no matter where he catches it.
Cardale Jones is a load. The guy is like Cam Newton without the speed. Not the best passer in the world but an incredibly strong arm. That is why he's the quarterback. Whether he works well with a bunch of first-year or inexperienced receivers is the same issue that Rudock has, without the same arm strength.
Michigan has more offensive issues than Ohio State. The fact they had problems with Indiana is because their defense allowed Indiana to make plays, not the offense. The offense saved their butt in the second half. If the offense had played like it did against NIU, then they have problems. Indiana played to win but typically found a way to lose.
Look, the pollsters will not move a No. 1 team off that perch until they nearly lose and get lucky or if they actually lose. So, all this bleating about the qb situation in Columbus could be stifled if they just made the running game the focal point and then developed the passing game as a change-up part of their game, which by the way, is how Northwestern operates.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:59 PM ^
They beat 11-3 Missouri last year, gave Michigan a hell of a game in 2013 (yeah, I know) and scared Ohio State in a 52-49 loss in 2012. They still haven't won more than 5 games in a year since 2007.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:25 PM ^
Yeah, Indiana won't be the de-facto bye week I thought they would be at the beginning of the season. That will have to be Rutgers.
October 6th, 2015 at 7:05 AM ^
we will destroy Indiana, because DEFENSE.
October 6th, 2015 at 11:12 AM ^
we are defensing against that popsickle stick qb and their backup running game. The only thing that scares me about Indiana is their tempo and getting an offensive rhythm, which doesn't allow your defense to make all those presnap reads and counter moves.
October 6th, 2015 at 8:19 AM ^
I wouldn't say that Indiana found a way to lose. I'd say that OSU remembered they have Elliot.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:13 PM ^
They better be alarmed if Maryland scores on them, much less make it a game.
Maryland is AWFUL. UNLV would beat them. (UNLV is on a 2-game win streak btw)
Willie Henry ate their QB.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:14 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 7:23 PM ^
I was SCREAMING hysterically when it happened.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:29 PM ^
Any chance you could put that 1 clip up for us? Thanks in advance and I definitely understand if you're not up to it after assembling the highlight reel!
October 5th, 2015 at 7:44 PM ^
That picture deserves a caption contest. My entry is, "WILLIE SMASH PUNY QB!!!"
October 5th, 2015 at 7:59 PM ^
NOBODY!
October 5th, 2015 at 7:42 PM ^
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October 5th, 2015 at 8:08 PM ^
On another note, it's amazing how far image quality has come in the last 9 years.
October 5th, 2015 at 9:06 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 8:18 PM ^
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October 5th, 2015 at 8:30 PM ^
was the first game where I saw a D lineman literally suplex the QB. That was amazing!
October 6th, 2015 at 8:21 AM ^
The right guard whiffed horribly on a cut block. That is why Henry basically was unimpeded on his way into the backfield.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:12 PM ^
October 5th, 2015 at 7:20 PM ^
Alot of what you said is true...I also think they had some emotion due to that young man's tragic suicide on their roster last year.
October 5th, 2015 at 8:34 PM ^
I think Cardale Jones woke up and realized "Holy shit, I'm the QB for the #1 team and now I've got to play like it every week."
It all came so sudden last year, he really did not have time to think about it. Now he has, and he has the yips a little bit. He had to be 3rd string most of last last season for a reason.
Also, teams have learned that you have to tackle him. Nobody is just giving him a little shove anymore like you do other QBs and then wind up surprised when he is still standing and heaves a 40 yard pass downfield.
October 5th, 2015 at 7:15 PM ^