Back Away From The Ledge #BuckeyeNation

 Well, Saturday night did not go the way Buckeyes wanted, but much to many crazy opinions out there, all is so far from lost.  This is not the BCS system of the past fans, this is the CFB playoff system, and the season is just getting started. The B1G is one of the best conferences in CFB this season, and winning the conference will go an awful long way to making it into the playoffs.

  It was a complete dumpster fire on social media during and after the game. It's an embarrassment to the fans who support and love this team win or lose. Buckeye Nation is better than that behavior, you cannot ever talk about another fan base if that is how you react to a loss. It is important that the players, coaches, and recruits see that we embrace them when things don't go perfect. One thing I've always loved about being a Buckeye fan is the undying support we have for each other, something that other fan bases cannot say.

  Urban Meyer is one of the top two CFB coaches for a reason, he is very good at what he does and his record speaks for itself. The legend that we have leading this squad, along with a stellar supporting cast he has assembled, will right this ship. Looking at the season, the best time to lose, if you're going to lose, is early!! Do you recall our last CFB National Championship? If so, do you remember when we lost? That's right, game 2 home opener against VT at night.

  These next two weeks will be big in making adjustments on both sides of the ball so we can fully utilize all the weapons on this team. I have total faith in Urban and the coaches to put us in position to turn this season into a very memorable, exciting one for the players and fans. This season is so far from a lost season, hang in there and step away from the ledge...we're going to be just fine #BuckeyeNation.

**Bonus**
Everyone participated in #TheWave to the children's hospital at the end of the first quarter so there is hope for humanity. GO BUCKS!!

REVIEW - TWSS Fans Interact: Game-Day Preview; Oklahoma

#2 Ohio State (1-1,1-0) #5 Oklahoma (2-0,0-0)

Ohio Stadium, Columbus

TV: ESPN - Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Maria Taylor

Radio: 97.1 WBNS The Fan - Paul Keels, Jim Lachey, Matt Andrews

7:30 p.m.

Ohio State lost the first match-up in 1977 on a last second field goal but has won the last two headed into Saturday night. \ Both teams winning percentages are eerily similar: OSU 128 seasons 887-323-53 (.724) Oklahoma 123 seasons 874-321-53 (.721)

Headline - Boomer Sooner in The Shoe

What will the atmosphere be like for this long awaited match-up?

Ryan - I'm hopeful the atmosphere will be raucous and loud. I want fans screaming. I want people who are there to wake up Sunday morning unable to talk from screaming so hard. I want Baker Mayfield to be unable to think straight. Mostly, I want the crowd to be loud to drown out the noise of “Boomer Sooner.".

Annie - First home game of the season, night game….would be fun to register on the seismometer like we did last fall during the MeatChicken game. Loud and electric...OSU fans ALWAYS deliver!

Rebut - The Shoe was ridiculous as usual and the fans stayed engaged as long as they had a reason to. There were times during the game that I could not speak loud enough for someone standing next to me. Once it appeared the game was in hand late in the fourth and the fans started to file out the exits.

Ohio State D versus Oklahoma O

What do you think of these units head to head and who has the advantage?

Ryan - Their O line is experienced and arguably the best in the nation. Our D line has depth. That depth had the capability to wear an O line out. I want to believe our depth and speed will ultimately wear them out and allow the speed to get the Baker Mayfield and disrupt his game. He's dangerous out of the pocket when the play breaks down, so our corners and LBs need to be watchful, as well.

Annie - Oklahoma has a huge beef with us, especially after our “basic D” came into their house last year and embarrassed the heck out of them. Our D is young, and with youth sometimes comes inexperience. Simply put, we can’t let Oklahoma convert on as many third down plays as we did in the Indiana game. With that being said, our staff/boys made huge adjustments at halftime against Indiana and the results were favorable. We need our boys to have a solid first and second half of play. On paper, Oklahoma has the advantage, but our boys will find a way to get the job done.

Rebut - Ryan and Annie were spot on for their assessments here . . , but the things they said that cannot happen did. Baker Mayfield won the game out of the pocket, on the run and on third downs. True to the battle in the trenches the Oklahoma offensive line stayed strong and gave Mayfield more opportunities than not. At the end of the day, the more experienced team won this battle.

Ohio State O Versus Oklahoma D

Same question as above but with a twist, who has the advantage here and also who is more likely to struggle due to inexperience?

Ryan - Eventually our O line gelled and powered through the defense of Indiana. They need to come out with that power from the start. Open big gaps for “J.K. Weber" to run through. I'd like to see the crossing patterns continue and Parris Campbell to break off a long play or two against their defense. I'd give the advantage right now to Oklahoma here because I still have concerns about the passing game.

Annie - Ohio State’s weakness on O is our wide receivers, if they come up big, we’ll be in good shape. Also, if J.T. can be consistent, (much like he was in second half against Indiana) I look for us to put up 30+ points.

Rebut - This is a tough one to swallow for most Buckeye fans due to the fact that Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day were suppose to fix everything. Two things are clear after this top five match-up. The Buckeyes are still very young at the skill positions and if J.T. cannot get the ball away quickly and his progression breaks down? The Buckeyes are in trouble!

Oklahoma took away the crossing routes with a stout D and the gaps that were there for Weber weren't for Dobbins. The disappointing thing here is Weber was giving the team momentum and did not return until later in the game after leading the Buckeyes down the field.

The second thing that is clear about this Buckeye offense' identity is it is a run first offense and if they have to get out of that, they are in trouble.



Last Time They Met - Special Teams

Who stole the show last season and will there be a repeat performance at home in the Shoe? If not, who will be this game's star?

Ryan - Noah Brown stole the show last year. He, obviously, will not be there in this game, so I'm counting on the three-time captain Joseph Thomas to become the star we know he is.

Annie - Who stole the show for me last year ...the refs when Joe Mixon dropped the ball before entering the endzone on his 97 yard kickoff return….we got robbed!!! I would love to see a huge kickoff return by our special teams unit to shove it in the Sooners faces….I’ll take a big hit for a turnover too!


Rebut - Nobody for the Buckeyes really stole the show on Saturday night but every time Parris Campbell had a return on a kick-off, he shined.Parris probably needs punt returns added to his play selcetion.

Of course the actually rebut here is Baker Mayfield, he took care of business Saturday night and then some. May have set the tone for a Heisman run the rest of the season.

Special teams can win ball games nowadays, which team has the upperhand here and why?

Ryan - Our punter was pretty wonderful against Indiana. Of course, you hope to never see the punter, but he was great. Parris Campbell returning can be deadly and break the game wide open. Fingers crossed he returns a kick for a touchdown.

Annie - I’ll go with the Bucks…more experience…I don't know darn thing about special teams to be honest.

Rebut - Parris tried to keep the Buckeyes in good field position after an Oklahoma score and Drue Chrisman was deadly with his leg flipping the field every-time he was needed.

OSU was big underdog last year and went in kicked the Sooners in the Boomer. While not as heavy of a favorite, how does OSU prevent that from happening this time?

Ryan - They need to set the tone early. Establish the running game and allow J.T. to play-action pass off of that. There will be huge holes in the middle of the defense, so play action to a crossing route in the middle can help. I don't need to see long, deep passes. Just long enough to get first downs.

Annie - Defense wins games and ultimately….championships!

Rebut - Neither of these happened in this epic match-up. The Buckeyes were basically(sorry) dominated in just about every fashion of the game. By the time the running game could get going, the Buckeyes needed to throw the ball and that became disastrous.

Final Thoughts - Offensive firepower versus defensive will

It’s arguably the best offensive line in the nation (Oklahoma) vs. the best defensive line (Ohio State), what is the best match-up between these lines (player vs. player) and who will impose their will overall and why?

Ryan - Nick Bosa played the most snaps of anyone on the DL against Indiana, I believe. I'd like to see him matched up with the tackle and see his speed get to the QB. He was so close to getting multiple sacks a few times last week, this week I'd like to see it happen.

Annie - I look for Nick Bosa to come up huge..I’m still waiting for him to have his “wow” game…praying tonight is it! Another final thought….how did this adorable lil Buckeye “rose” end up answering with this group of yahoos?!?!?!  HAAHAHA….KIDDING….LOVE YA, BOYS!

Rebut - Sam Hubbard was a monster in this game and was the glue that kept the defense in it until the wheels started to come off in the second half. Youth in the back 6/7 is problematic when you are playing against a talented offense. They will grow up quickly due to this loss.

At the end of the day, the offensive line for Oklahoma withstood the rotation and skill of the Buckeyes even though they got to Mayfield seven times Saturday night. Jerome Baker put the hit of a lifetime on Mayfield and he still came back!

BUCKEYE BQ ( FROM BEHIND ENEMY LINES): Chipotle Marinated Steak Tacos

Time for another edition of BUCKEYE BQ FORM BEHIND ENEMY LINES,

With the First Home game of the Season let's start off the Tailgate or watch party the right way.
with a simple & easy recipe for the grill those of you who follow me on Twitter have seen this before,
Chipotle Marinated Steak  Tacos.

Marinade:

4 Tablespoons Fresh orange juice
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 chipotle chile in adobo sauce, minced
1 tablespoon adobo sauce
1 tablespoon honey
1 garlic clove, grated
3/4 teaspoon Sea-Salt  ( or Kosher Salt)
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
2lbs flank steak or Chuck steak  ( thicker cut recommend Julianne cut)

combine OJ, lime juice, adobo sauce, honey, grated garlic &  3/4 teaspoon Sea-Salt
& cumin in a Large zip lock bag keep 3/4 cup of reserve for basting. add steak & marinade for at least 30 minutes if you have time I usually let it sit in the fridge for 3 days trust me it's worth it.

Set grill to 350 to get the perfect grill marks you want set the steak at 2 o'clock the rotate after 4 minutes and set the steak at 10 o'clock. wait 4 minutes flip & do same process as first grill marks
make sure your center burner is off because after the marks are set you want to cook the steak on indirect heat until done . internal temp for rare should be 145 for medium 160 well done 170.

Then on a flat top or a pan you want to toast the tortilla's on both sides.



                                     

Remove from grill slice to desired thickness (I recommend against the grain slice) & add your own selected toppings for this I like the use of baby spinach as opposed to lettuce
and the process should look like this when finished

 

Try it Saturday & enjoy while The Buckeyes Stampede the Sooners with your favorite beverage of choice while I come up with something else next week. we might even step away form the grill breakout the crockpot & leave you with the thought of Beer Braised Short Rib Poutine. something tells me Chris Hunt & Tom Adelsberg just had Heart attacks after reading that.


As Always GO Bucks OH-

TWSS: Ask The #BSU; Oklahoma

C 🅾️RY‏ @CoryBBPC - How will OSU attempt to stop the OU pass attack?

Diana - My answers are a little short and sweet this week as my husband and I are preparing for Hurricane Irma here in South Florida. I answered a few, but my mind is everywhere so I can't concentrate on what I want to write. I'll be on my game next round!!

Silver Bullets and some PICKS!

Mel - With the Bucks “Basic Defense”

Lindsay - During game one we saw a secondary which was definitely vulnerable until the second-half adjustments were made. I'm hoping we play zone coverage and not man-to-man during the game. Our D thrives in zone and allows our dangerous defenders to get themselves in position for plays and picks...I mean, it's just BASIC!! :)

Shannon - Better communication from the young secondary. Hopefully if they are playing man coverage for the corners they have been practicing the bump and run. A lot of people are upset with the secondary from the Indiana game, but if you go back and look you will see Indiana made a lot of amazing plays. Baker Mayfield was darn near accurate against UTEP, but he had lots of time to throw. The best defensive line in the nation vs. the best offensive line will be playing a big part in the success or failures of any passing attack for the Buckeyes.

D & J's M ❤M‏ @LuckeyAnnie -  Seeing that @CollegeGameDay will be in C-bus this weekend, I'd like to know your BEST #GameDay sign vs #Oklahoma! #GoBucks

Diana - #BasicSooners.

Mel - I would have nothing but a picture of Baker Mayfield's mugshot on my sign. LOL

Jane - #StoopifiedSooners

Lindsay - Where's the backup QB’s prediction #AskingForAFriend

Shannon - My favorite Christmas present is Harbaugh tears

Buckeye SloopCast‏ @SloopCast -  Oklahoma played a cupcake week1, #OhioState played a good conference opponent. What are the pros/cons?

Jane - Though playing a cupcake team may seem like the best way to start the season, I’m all about going for it ... shoot me out of the cannon and let’s see what ya’ got. The Buckeyes faced a talented Indiana team that came out firing on all cylinders and had the Buckeyes on their heels for most of the first half, on both sides of the ball. Offensively, our wide receivers were being smothered and our defense couldn’t get their footing as QB Richard Lagow was throwing the football like he was releasing a hot missile, fast and accurate. Halftime proved to be productive with adjustments  and the Buckeyes started putting some drives together. By the fourth quarter they were well on their way to a victory. Give me a night conference game as an opener to show that you can work the kinks out and not have a false sense of security.

Lindsay - I'm happy that we played a tougher opponent in game one. Playing a B1G team allowed our new offensive coordinators to get their feet wet and shake off a few jitters. We played a hungry Indiana team which didn't let us quit, we had to stay on our toes throughout a good three quarters. We faced some early adversity and were able to make the adjustments needed to put us in a position to run away with the game in the 4ourth. I'm glad both sides of the ball were put in difficult situations, it allowed our coaches to coach and our captains to lead. Playing a cupcake game one would not give this young team the extra confidence needed with a big game in week two. Sure, a cupcake game gives you flashy numbers, but I'll take the flashy numbers we gutted out in a conference game.

Shannon - Ohio State has to have the better pro in this scenario. Young secondary tested so now they know what they need to clean up. Right side of the line getting game time together, the coaching staff seeing J.T. is not a pocket passer. The electric energy especially from a night game is something the Buckeyes are already familiar with in week two. For Ohio State, it was given the perfect setup for the matchup this weekend with a divisional game like Indiana.

The cons would have been if OSU lost.

Chris Hunt‏ @wvabuckeye - Of all of the great match-ps across the lines between the Ohio State D and Oklahoma O, which head-to-head are you looking forward to the most?

Mel - Bosa, Lewis and Hubbard against that “Basic” Mayfield.

Jane - Sam Hubbard. Looking forward to seeing him rush Mayfield. He has the size, athleticism and strength. I’m ready to see his speed off the line take Baker down.
 

Lindsay - I'm looking forward to watching Nick Bosa, our sweet Baby Bosa, get after Baker Mayfield. I know Nick is hungry after being held back a little bit last year due to his previous injury, he's ready to explode onto the scene and make some big sacks for this talented D!

Shannon - I am going to go with the five-man front to see if it confuses Oklahoma at all. There is more than just a head-to-head battle I want to see. Knowing that Oklahoma cannot double team this defensive line will be showcasing pure strength vs. strength. Oklahoma doesn’t look like it has a rushing game like last season without Perine or Mixon. This means the defensive line will be able to pin their ears back more and rush Mayfield. Bigger question will be who will be the spy if they use one to keep him contained.

PREDICTION

Diana -  A damn W since I likely won't be able to watch!! #HurricaneIrma

Mel - Now now ... we all know how I feel about predictions lol.

Jane - Good guys by seven. #Melwillbedoinglaundry

Lindsay - I hate predictions, but I will tell you ... it will be a W for the good guys! GO BUCKS!

Shannon - I will have to stay consistent as to what I said on the Silver Bullets Podcast 34-17.

TWSS #BSUBooWatch : Johnnie Dixon

This week's #BSU Boo Watch is none other than Johnnie Dixon! After having his first few years riddled with injuries, this will be the season he bursts onto the scene in this potent offense and becomes a major target for J.T. Barrett. His TD in week one showed Buckeye fans what we've all been wanting to see .. .a HEALTHY Johnnie Dixon.

Dixon was a heralded recruit out of South Florida and attended Dwyer HS. He won a state championship his senior year and looked to build on that success at OSU, until the injury bug bit him. He is now healthy and ready to show the world what he can do ... buckle up fans, he's going to have a special season.

Joe Thomas Barrett ... King Boo

Each week the sassy ladies of BSU are going to highlight a player of the week, hence, the birth of BSU Boo Watch! A fun, interactive feature each week that will drum up excitement, as if we needed anymore. 

Loved so much by us, he IS our logo

For week one there was no better choice than Joe Thomas Barrett, King Boo himself!
Lindsay: J.T. started off the game with the typical naysayers throwing shade, by the end, they saw the leader and spark we all know he is. 
In the first half, it seemed like the receivers were having a difficult time getting open and running the correct routes. You can hate on J.T., but make sure it's because of errant throws, not a receiver not making a play! Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson admitted that the first half was on him, he didn't put our offense in the right position to make plays, hence, second-half adjustments. 
The second half had a calm, composed J.T. making a gorgeous, long, downfield pass that was perfectly placed, but unfortunately, Parris Campbell could not secure it. This pass made all the haters who said he can't make downfield plays open their eyes and see the QB that Ryan Day, Wilson, and Urban Meyer see. They know why he is the No. 1 guy. The proficient pass game of the second half opened up the run game for our little star boo in the making, J.K. Dobbins, and for J.T. to make plays with his feet. 
By the end of the game we saw our leader settle in and use all of his weapons, which will all be important next Saturday night when we defeat Oklahoma! GO BUCKS.

Mel: Basically all I have to say to the J.T. haters is suck it! Keep doing what you're doing J.T.! Go Buckeyes!

Diana: There is a reason J.T. is OSU' first three-time captain. As I have mentioned before, he is cool and calm. The Indiana game started of slow and it had me on edge a little. I told myself that there would adjustments for second half and would ya look at that ... there were! It's always fun to listen to the haters when he's not doing well and then listen to them worship him when he is. I can't wait to see him light up Oklahoma again! The joke is on you haters! Go Bucks! 

Jane: Joe Thomas, first three-time captain in the history of Ohio State football. Leader of leaders and breaker of every quarterback record that was set before him. That is our #KingBoo. All of Buckeye Nation expected our boys, led by J.T., to hit the field and score on every drive. After all, all we had heard was Wilson was going to run a fast-paced, high-powered offense and Day had worked with J.T. What we saw was an offense, and offensive coordinator, trying to find their way. Wide receivers not getting open and not much in the way of utilizing our tight ends, and J.T. always takes the hits, verbal that is, from some not-so-patient fans. The work of our running back Dobbins is a story for another day.
Of note, J.T. is leading a pack of young man which was experiencing not only a first college game, but a conference game on the road, at night! They young guys all needed a little time to get their footing, and work out the nerves to start doing what they have trained to do.
The second half was proof of J.T.’s steadfastness, calm, epic ability to lead, and his solid talent as a quarterback. He threw for a little over 300 yards, rushed for 61 and had four touchdowns, with most of this work coming in the second half. I don’t believe there is a college team that would not want J..T as its quarterback and leader. And, I for one, am thrilled that he is representing the best damn college in the land, The Ohio State University!

Game-day Preview: @ Indiana Hoosiers

#2 Ohio State(0-0,0-0) @ Indiana(0-0,0-0)

Memorial Stadium, Bloomington
TV: ESPN - Dave Flemming, Kirk Herbstreit, Laura Rutledge

Radio: 97.1 WBNS The Fan - Paul Keels, Jim Lachey, Matt Andrews

8:00pm
Ohio State leads all-time 72-12-5; Buckeyes 21 straight

Headline - New OC Kevin Wilson against his former team

There probably isn't anyone more excited and nervous at the same time than Ohio State offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. After six season's building up the program in Bloomington, Wilson had to leave under other than ideal circumstances, but left the keys with one of his better friends and defensive coordinator Tom Allen.

Allen probably knows Wilson better than anyone right now and he wouldn't be in the position he is in if not for Wilson turning him lose with one of the more improved defenses in all of the B1G. Allen returns nine defensive starters which is critical to the teams success this season. Some experts believe it will be a top 25 defense in the country, and they have the offensive fire power to support it with seven returners on that side of the ball.

Wilson was not handed a bare cupboard from Ed Warinner either. The Buckeyes offense comes back with just about everybody that produced yardage last season(save for Curtis Samuel). The addition of Ryan Day as the new quarterback's coach has people believing this offense will be a lot like the Tom Herman led offense late in 2014. It will be a battle of two friends who know each other very well at night, in Bloomington and maybe with more Hoosiers fans than Buckeyes for the first time since the Corso era.

Indiana O Versus Ohio State D

Ohio State O Versus Indiana D

Last Time They Met

Final Thoughts - Leadership Reigns

The Buckeyes are led by the first three-time captain in Ohio State history in J.T.(King Boo) Barrett, not to mention eight other captains. That is a first in 128 seasons of Ohio State football. 

There are five captains on the defensive side of the ball and four of them are in the "Rushmen Package"; Tyquan Lewis(two-time), Jalyn Holmes, Tracy Sprinkle and Sam Hubbard. Chris Worley has taken his seat at the Captains brunch as well. 

On the offensive side of the ball Barrett leads the way with Billy Price(two-time), Terry McLaurin and H-back Parris Campbell. 

Barrett and Price both have already graduated from Ohio State and lead an offense that needs to fix some things from last season. Most fans believe that Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin will help lead in this effort and bring along some much needed youth in Binjimin Victor and Austin Mack.

Defensively speaking, the Buckeyes are led up front by Tyquan Lewis and Sam Hubbard and have the deepest position breakdown of any team in America right now. More pressure on the quarterback should give the young secondary time to develop and improve. 

The seven or eight(including Nick Bosa, Robert Landers, Dre'Mont Jones and frosh Chase Young) rotating on the front line will wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks this season.

Speaking of leadership, Urban Meyer is 93 and 15 in first time match-ups with coaches. 

Enjoy the hype video courtesy of @OhioStFBhttps://twitter.com/OhioStateFB

BUCKEYE BQ ( FROM BEHIND ENEMY LINES)

Happy Game day & greetings From The State Up North,

For those of you from Twitter world I'm Brad of The Buckeye Under Ground , living behind enemy lines & making Weasel fans lives miserable here since 1977. I'm also a bit of a BBQ aficionado & from time to time will be sharing some recipes & grilling tips  my own smartass opinions on The Football Season , the people's Communist Republic of _ichigan , Booger err captain Khaki err Woody & Bo wannabe err Harbaugh.


Today though we are going to start with a simple rib recipe that only take 10 -15 minutes of prep time & about 2/12 to 3 hours of grill time, however if you are a low slow person like myself it can take 6.5 to 7 hours. depending on the choice of cooker you have at home will depend on time & flavor if you have a smoker or Pellet smoker would be the optimal for low & slow. for those of you who have Propane or natural gas grills I would recommend adding a small smoke box to your grill for smoke flavor

Prep : remove your country style rubs And rinse them under cold water
      Pat them dry & put them on a cutting board or large pan to prevent the mess you will make when seasoning them.

Step 2  for those of you in NW & NE Ohio I would recommend using a very liberal amount of Stadium Ball Park mustard , Here in the state up north Pelican and anywhere south of Columbus in AHIA Phils Dusseldorf or Ben's mustard will do the job. as far as rubs go if you make your own or store bought is a personal preference, 1 Tip I will give is add a layer of brown sugar over the top of the rub this will add a nice sweet flavor especially if you had heat to the rub.

Grill  & Smoker
You want to set you grill or smoker at around 225 for a slow cook & make sure the heat is indirect when using a smoker you want the smoker going for at least 2 hours before cooking if using a propane gill you can increase heat to about 325 -350 close the door & let cook for about 3 to 4 hours.
a digital Thermometer is preferable for temperature how often you open the door to check will determine cooking time so try not to lift the lid.


when 30 minutes are left base the rubs with another layer of mustard and the ribs should look like this.

make sure the internal temp is around 150 to 160 then close the lid or wrap them in foil to cook them a little faster this will also help them come out more tender as well they are done when the internal temp is 180 t0 185 . you don't have to let them rest before serving but I recommend at leat resting for 10 minutes for optimum flavor.



So if you have the time try them tonight for the game or over the Labor day weekend  & enjoy.

Have a safe & happy weekend everyone & enjoy the Game tonight, and as always GO BUCKS













For you

2017 Rules Changes: A Year To Late

With only a few days until the 2017 college football season really gets underway, it is a good time to take a look at the rules changes that will be taking effect this season.  Every offseason the NCAA rules committee sits down and reviews proposals for rules changes, implementing some and discarding most.  Some years the implemented changes are major and are immediately noticeable by fans while other years the changes are much more subtle and are easy to miss.  This year’s changes are fairly subtle but one of them will certainly get Ohio State fans talking.  Below I will summarize the rules changes and my own view of them as a high school football official.

Horse Collar Tackles

The horse collar tackle rule has been expanded to include more actions.  Previously a horse collar tackle required the defender to grab the inside back or side collar of the shoulder pads or jersey, under the new rule grabbing the nameplate are on the back of the jersey can now be considered a horse collar.  It is important to note that for something to be a horse collar tackle, the defender has to grab one of these specific areas and then immediately pulling the ball carrier down backwards or to the side.  It is not a horse collar tackle if the ball carrier breaks free or if the defender then uses their other hand to pull down the ball carrier another way.

I think this is a great tweak to the rule.  Horse collar tackles are a safety issue the danger of grabbing and dragging a player down from the back of their upper body is the same whether the hand is inside or outside the collar.  This will require players to be much more careful about where they are grabbing on the ball carrier, as opposed to just making sure that they didn’t get their hand inside the jersey/shoulder pads.  From an officiating perspective, this will be pretty easy to call as the nameplate area is obvious and it is easy to see when it is being grabbed.

 

Field Goal Blocks

In a rule that Ohio State fans wish had been implemented last year, it is now a foul for a defensive player to run forward from beyond the neutral zone and then leap or hurdle in an obvious attempt to blog a field goal or extra point try.  A player may still leap if they start from a stationary position but the blocked field goal by Penn State’s Marcus Allen last season would now be a foul because Allen had a running start. 

This is another player safety rule that was implemented due to injuries that occurred when the leaping defensive player landed on the back of an offensive lineman.  This will be another easy one to call as it will be easy to notice the defensive player getting a running start. 

 

Pants

Beginning in the 2018 season, players will have to wear knee pads and pants that cover these pads and the knees.  This had previously been recommended in the rules but not required.  The reason for the delay in implementing this rule is because many schools had already purchased equipment for this year and while schools like Ohio State could afford new equipment easily, smaller schools aren’t in the same situation.

This is primarily a safety issue as wearing more pads obviously will reduce the number of injuries that occur.  I also support it because the really short pants that look like biker shorts look rather stupid.

 

TWSS: #BSUBooWatch...King Boo J.T. Barrett

Each week the sassy ladies of BSU are going to highlight a player of the week, hence, the birth of BSU Boo Watch! A fun, interactive feature each week that will drum up excitement, as if we needed anymore. For week one there was no better choice than Joe Thomas Barrett, King Boo himself!

Loved so much by us he IS our logo

  JT Barrett is poised to have a Heisman type senior season. The addition of Kevin new offensive coordinator, Kevin Wilson and QB coach, Ryan Day will help bring back the JT we saw in the Tom Herman offense, that's enough to get anyone excited!

  I expect JT to come out firing on all cylinders. He will be sure to utilize the potent Zone 6 guys, quick hand offs to our ground guys, and knowing when to tuck and run. I have heard rumblings from insiders that the maturity and leadership JT is showing on the field preseason, will make Buckeye Nation and college football take notice.

  Get on your feet fans, the day we've waited for all year has finally arrived! Get ready to support our guys in what should be a very impressive season...Go Bucks!!! O-H...

TWSS: #AskTheBSU: Indiana

BlackLion‏ @Only1CieGrant - 1. Which Buckeye will score the first TD of the 2017 season?

Diana -   JT Barrett. He's going to make it look easy too! #ThatsMYQB

Mel - Mike Weber….I think he's going to have a huge 2017 season

Jane - Binjamin Victor….he will be the go to WR this year.

Lindsay - Johnnie Dixon...I really think he's finally healthy and will have standout year!!

2. Which Buckeye will force Indiana's first turnover?

Diana - good ole sweeeet Nicky Bosa. ❤️

Mel - Sam Hubbard

Jane - Jerome Baker - lookout.

Lindsay - Nick Bosa. He finally lost the reins that were holding in him last year, he will be a man possessed!!

#TwitterlessSean:  How important do you feel it is for the Buckeyes to come out with an emphatic performance in the first game to shake off the disappointment of last year.

Diana- My sweet Miami Hurricane husband would ask this….

I was nervous before the game started and just did not have a good feeling. We all saw the outcome. I think these boys have done a lot of maturing since the loss and they are going to come out with a chip on their shoulders. I am confident this team will silence the doubters! #HowSheGonnaEat

Mel-To say I don't think of that game every once and awhile is a lie. But I think they come out ready and play like the Buckeyes we all know. Excited to see JT do his thing!

Jane - imperative. A huge loss like that always lingers in the recesses of the mind. A decisive win will be the confidence boost that this Buckeye team needs to start the season.

Lindsay - Sean!!! I think it is crucial to have a significant victory. I know Urban and his players and they are ready to make a statement…they’re hungry!! The addition of Wilson and Day will be seen and seen early, this offense will be potent!!

Screamin Yeti‏ @Cincy235Shawn  Who will be the difference maker in the game? and why?

Diana - With the hiring of Day and Wilson my answer is JT Barrett. He is cool, calm and now he has the right tools to make it happen.

Mel - I think the team as a whole will be a difference maker

Jane - Production from our Tight Ends. And, my girls know I love me a Tight End. #81Vannett

Lindsay - JT being JT!!! I think fans and naysayers alike will be impressed by the maturity that the first ever 3 time captain will display. If great offensive minded people like Wilson and Day couldn't wait to work with JT, we should all sit back and enjoy. This will be more the JT we saw with Herman, but even better!! #ThatsOurQB

Ryan‏ @Ryan_1828 - 1. Who will come in in relief for JT when we're up by 30 in the 3rd quarter now that Joey Burrow is out for the season?

Diana - Haskins no doubt. I cannot wait to see him light it up. #NextManUp

Mel - Dwayne Haskins lol I mean it's pretty much set in stone he's the backup at this point

Jane - Hands down, Haskins

Lindsay -  Haskins. The injury to Burrow put this question to rest.

2. How many touchdowns will J.T. be responsible for?

Diana - at LEAST 3.

Mel - Well considering I love JT..all of them lol jk I'm gonna say two

Jane - Hat-trick

Lindsay - JT will be responsible for 4 TDs

Darrell Dotson‏ @DarrellJDotson - Will the score be over or under Lee Corso's age?

Diana - My brother has jokes. Hahaha!! Under by 41.

Mel - lmao...under by at least 40 yrs

Jane - Lee would love this question. Under by 45

Lindsay - Haha!!! Under

PREDICTION

Diana -  I'll be at the Buckeye Bar starting the celebration of my 31st. I want to say 31 so bad but I'll go with 20.

Mel - I don't do predictions lol it's the superstition thing...lmao Momma and Linds

Jane - Mel doesn't predict...she does laundry. Buckeyes by 17.

Lindsay - Not a fan of predictions, I may do laundry with Mel!! The Good Guys by 19