The first and foremost thing is the QB race. This incredibly tight and we all expect CJ Stroud to take the first snap right? The Third Wiseman said, verbatim, “I am saying this to you as a friend. DO NOT count JACK MILLER out of this.” Jack had a whale of a day, and he is supremely athletic. He and CJ Stroud is the tightest QB competition, with the highest skill ceiling, that we have seen at Ohio State. This isn’t Braxton versus Joe Bauserman where they both look awful. These are two guys who could feasibly both be starting somewhere opening weekend (Jack’s dad having a company private jet that can pick Jack up at any moment is pretty cool LOL). Ryan Day has been a master of splitting reps and situations to get a full evaluation, but the scrimmage fireworks. Both had long connections to JAXON SMITH-NJIGBA, who has been the best guy in camp this week. He is manning the slot right now to help get him prepped for CHRIS OLAVE’S return (he is kinda on the veteran plan where if he has a hangnail he is held out of scrimmage work)...
The running backs had a great day at the office. MYIAN WILLIAMS had three touchdowns in various situations (they generally script red zone and middle of the field work mostly and for a set number of plays of usually 8-10 per set). TREY HENDERSON runs really really hard, which is good because he isn’t the biggest guy out there. He can take it to the third level and run through a safety, and he did that twice yesterday. He will be a MAJOR factor and had an incredibly productive week. They made the decision to take his black stripe off prior to the scrimmage even starting, but he could have lost it on the scrimmage performance alone. EVAN PRYOR also got a lot of work out of the backfield. HENDERSON actually held on in pass protection just enough to allow CJ. STROUD to deliver a great ball to MARVIN HARRISON...
Speaking of future superstars, MARVIN HARRISON seems to have been criminally underrated by recruiting services. His ability to track the ball and top end his routes has elevated him into the “he is never covered so just throw it anyways” category. He has been holding down CHRIS OLAVE’s spot at the X, and while OLAVE isn’t going to get Wally Pipp’d, anyone else probably would be scared to death. HARRISON had two TDs and at least 4 catches that I counted (gotta remember they aren’t each individually playing more that 35 plays or so between the three groups). JAXSON SMITH-NJIGBA is as good as his name is cool. He has a great connection with JACK MILLER, and is the middle of the field safety valve that is a major problem on option routes. This is the best looking WR room we have ever seen, and it is fun seeing the younger guys running with the starters with OLAVE out and GARRETT WILSON limited (1000 rep club kinda guy)...
On the OL, the MAX WRAY news meant more work for some younger guys as the 2nd team RT. Thayer looked great in his limited scrimmage reps (I swear he is the only old guy with significant out there with Olave and Haskell sitting this one out). Once he gave way to Dawand, there was little drop off. DAWAND JONES is a mammoth, but he has really gotten himself into much better shape since the season ended. LUKE WYMPLER got a ton of reps as the starting C, and he wasn’t really noticeable, which is a great thing for a C (no yips on the shotgun snaps). The Third Wiseman is also convinced NIC PETIT-FRERE will end up being better than Jackson Carman in the NFL. Carman might get a head start by a year, but Nic played better than he did last year and is supremely more athletic. He shut down the right side, and he and PARIS JOHNSON really have worked well together. Very very excited about that combo...
On the DL, the kid who really is standing out is JACK SAWYER. The First Wiseman really wanted to say TARON VINCENT, who has been very vocal in HASKELL GARRETT’s absence, but when you are just two guys watching, you notice the pressure players more than a noseguard. The Third Wiseman used to love asking John Cooper “Which puppies were biting”, which is a take off of Coop saying “Dogs that bite, bite as pups” IE what freshmen can play. When he asked Coop that about Orlando Pace in 1993, Coop said “Orlando is a werewolf. Nobody asks if they bite because they already know what it is”. Well, JACK SAWYER is officially in the WEREWOLF category. He has been rolling with the 2’s in practice and is at a minimum the #3 DE on the team behind Tyreke Smith and Tyler Friday. Very good chance he passes Friday. Kid is very confident and talkative out there. LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. He isn’t a scared early enrollee. Had major pressure on the QBs versus some of our younger tackles on plays that would have been sacks or sack fumbles if they were live...
Speaking of LIVE, at the request of the defensive staff, the scrimmage was TACKLE TO THE GROUND for the running game!! This is where we have needed to get better, and we actually tackled! The last few spring games have inexplicably been two hand touch, so I hope these rules stay for next Saturday!
Of the linebackers, CRAIG YOUNG and CODY SIMON were really laying the wood to the young RBs, who need to be hit to get used to the college game. The thing that made me smile the most was seeing TERADJA MITCHELL land an absolute kill shot on an outside zone play. He is a guy we NEED and his energy is really contagious. He has always been a nasty hitter, but the instincts and feel for the defense look more synced up with the hitting on Saturday. MAJOR props to AL WASHINGTON because his guys showed up in a big way on Saturday...
The SECONDARY seems more synced up with Barnes and Coombs. RYAN WATTS and LEJOND CAVAZOS are making major strides to play this year. CAVAZOS showed up last year with the wrong mindset, and after getting a large slice of humble pie, has turned it around. SEVYN BANKS needs to get mended up and have a big summer to live up to the expectations in that corner room. LATHAN RANSON not playing more last year was a crime against humanity, but they finally recognized he was “Best 11”. The Best 11 UFO defense is as fun to see as you would expect, but it will clearly be not shown on TV next week during the spring game.
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