Q&A: Getting To Know Ohio State With The Buckeye Battle Cry

We’re a little over 24 hours away from the Cincinnati Bearcats and the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium.

Over the last week we’ve done our best to break down the Goliath that’s facing our beloved ‘Cats tomorrow night. But we can only do so much. We don’t follow Ohio State football as closely as their fans and bloggers. That’s just the nature of the beast.

Luckily we were able to garner several folks who do. This week we hooked up with The Buckeye Battle Cry who cover Ohio State for the Bloguin network. You can read my answers to their questions here. Also, feel free to give them a follow on Twitter @The_BBC. They’ve been writing intensely about OSU for years and have more knowledge about their football team than I could learn in a lifetime. I think we’ll all have a better understanding of what awaits Cincinnati thanks to their answers below.

Cincy on the Prowl: Coming into this season, it wasn’t outrageous to say that Ohio State was staring at its most potent offense in the illustrious history of the football program. But then Braxton Miller went down. How has J.T. Barrett fared in his stead and can the Buckeyes still score with the same fluidity?

The Buckeye Battle Cry: To answer your 2nd question first, no, the offense will not score with the same fluidity that they could have with Miller as QB. They may not score with the frequency that they could have under Miller, either. Braxton is simply a special person, that makes the game look effortless.

I think that J.T. Barrett is doing a good job. But, it’s hard for me to get a good read on how good he can be this season due to the uneven quality of the opponents and to be honest, the uneven quality of OSU’s offensive game-planning. As we’ve mentioned internally at tBBC, Barrett’s early success will depend on his ability to distribute the ball to his numerous play-makers. He has a lot of help, he doesn’t need to try to be Braxton 2.0. OSU can show a punishing running game, going 3-4 deep in quality running backs, which provides the capability to have “fresh legs” in the game for the full 60 minutes, the TE’s appear to be part of the game plan, and OSU’s WR’s do provide some deep strike capability.

At this point, I don’t see Barrett winning games like Miller can, but I don’t see him losing games, either. I think that J,T, is faring reasonably well.

COTP: Who’s Ohio State’s most dangerous threat on the outside and at running back? There doesn’t seem to be a single player that stands out.

TBBC: You mentioned in the questions that there doesn’t seem to be a single player that stands out and you’re exactly right. It’s for that reason that we still don’t know who the most dangerous outside threat or running back is. But, there are some clues.

In the backfield, Meyer continually praises Curtis Samuel, who quietly led the team in rushing against Kent State two weeks ago. Ezekiel Elliot has been given the starting nod each week but has yet to really see “starter” or “workhorse” reps. I think Meyer is waiting for one of them to break out and demand a lion’s share of carries.

In my humble opinion, it’ll be Samuel. Meyer seems to really like him judging by all the praise he gives him in press conferences.

As far as the outside goes, we know the deep threat is Devin Smith. He has that “take the top off” potential on every snap with his speed and amazing hands. Hard to believe that the game plan every week, as it pertains to Smith, is strictly the deep, big play stuff. I know I speak for a lot of us when I say we’d love to see them involve Smith in the short and intermediate routes as well as the long ball.

Dontre Wilson seems to be being given every opportunity to take the slot back role and make it his own. Notice I didn’t say “Percy Harvin” role and that’s because it’s a slight to Harvin’s talent to assume someone can fill the role he played with Florida. The Buckeyes need a slot back that can make people miss in space and take it to the edges with speed. If whoever takes the job is even half as good as Harvin was, it’ll be scary for Big Ten defenses.

Who will take it? Wilson seems to fit the bill. Jalin Marshall I’m sure would like more opportunities, but for now it’s Wilson. Again, another spot where they’re looking for someone to break out and just take it.

COTP: OSU’s defensive line is among the best in the nation. What makes them so good and who should Cincinnati key on in particular?

TBBC: They are so good partly because are all talented players. Of the starters Bosa, Washington, Bennett, Miller) there is one 5* recruit and four 4* recruits. They’ve also received some top notch coaching with former coach Mike Vrabel and current coach Larry Johnson. Defensive coordinator Chris Ash also brings a hellbent approach to the defense, which lets them play more aggressively.

THE player that Cincy needs to key on is sophomore DE Joey Bosa (6’5″, 278). Although DT Adolphus Washington leads the defensive line in tackles with 10, Bosa is more disruptive. He leads the team in tackles-for-loss, 2nd in sacks and has forced two fumbles. Your offensive line and QB need to be alert to where his is at all times.

COTP: The Virginia Tech game looked like a lesson in offensive line ineptitude. What’s going on there?

TBBC: Well, two things happened. First, they threw 6/7/8 guys at 5 blockers and were not prepared for it. They needed to advance their calls and couldn’t due to inexperienced QB.

Second, only one lineman started this season with more than a full year of experience and the best of the new faces only started occassionally last season due to an injury.

The biggest take away from it was that this unit wasn’t ready to be graceful under pressure. They should be better off because of it as the season progresses.

COTP: The Ohio State secondary was a sieve last season. What adjustments if any have been made to ensure that area of the defense is up to the level of the rest of the team?

TBBC: New co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash has implemented a new system that so far has really improved the play of the safeties in coverage as well as giving his young corners the best opportunity to have success.

So far, they haven’t been tested like they will be on Saturday against the Bearcat aerial attack. After an All-B1G selection last year, Doran Grant has really stepped up as a leader in the secondary. But the major player will be the Ohio State defensive line, who will look to pressure Gunner Kiel into making mistakes.

If that happens, then there will be no sieve talk on Saturday.

COTP: Speaking of the secondary, one of the biggest storylines heading into this game is cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs who has heavy Cincinnati ties. What is the feeling up in Columbus on him? UC fans certainly aren’t missing him much.

TBBC: If they’re playing well fans love him. If not, they want him out. That seems to be the case with coaches everywhere.

I know there were a lot of anti-Fickell fans last year when the defense stunk. As special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach, Coombs is responsible for two important parts of the OSU football team.

With a co-defensive coordinator brought in and the promise of changes on defense, fans locked themselves into a wait and see mode. The defense has played better, but the secondary hasn’t really been tested yet. Navy doesn’t throw, Kent State had no clue and no prayer. Virginia Tech shredded the Buckeyes on third down, but that could have been a coverage scheme out of Coombs’ control.

The UC game will determine a lot. If the DBs get torched and/or kick coverage sucks, I could see some grumbling starting up.

COTP: We all know Bearcats fans have had this game circled for a while but can the same be said for Buckeyes fans?

TBBC: When the schedule came out I don’t think the majority of Buckeye fans would’ve had this one circled. Other than the obvious, Michigan, I think most Buckeye fans look towards November and the rematch with Michigan State.

I know myself, along with a few other hardcore folks circled this game once Gunner Kiel was named starter as a true test to see where this pass defense truly is early on. There’s no doubt that Kiel is one of the top 3 Qb’s OSU will face this season and Shaq Washington is right up there with Diggs and Long (Maryland), Funchess (Michigan), Lippett (MSU), and Wynn (IU) as one of the top wide receivers to test OSU’s secondary.

One thing I think this week has shown is that UC fans think there is more of a rivalry with OSU than OSU fans think there is. I’ve seen the back and forth on twitter and Facebook since Sunday morning and it’s actually quite comical.

COTP: Overall, Cincinnati fans want to get a regular series going with Ohio State, even if it’s as frequently as every other year. Personally I think it’s good for Ohio as a whole and certainly puts a strong non-conference game on either team’s schedule. What do you think about this?

TBBC: I have never truly understood why The Buckeyes and Bearcats do not play every year? I mean, it’s great to add an in state rivalry, but when you really give it some thought, it goes way beyond that spectrum in my opinion. The great people of Ohio deserve it, period. It can be something for both fan bases to enjoy, and imagine the attention it would garner to the young men playing at every level.

This would be such a win/win situation for both universities, but the Bearcats added exposure would surely help recruiting and strengthen Ohio football even more. The Buckeyes would get more love in the Cincinnati area, which has been on the wish list for some time now. The last reason is simple, very little travel needed to play at either stadium by teams and most fans. It’s a great way to reduce expenses while keeping 100% of the revenue in state every year.

All this and a strong rivalry that will go on for years to come. It would provide excitement, chatter and good old College Football in our great state of Ohio. I say LET THE GAMES BEGIN!!!!