First, I want to thank everyone who has welcomed me to the Eleven Warriors community over the past four months. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I cannot express how grateful I am to you for reading my skull session. It was my great honor to work and write for you!
Today, be sure to tell someone that you love them and that you are grateful to them. We all could use a little love and compassion, so show the other person as much as you can. Heck, make it part of your routine. Imagine how that would change the trajectory of each day!
thanks again. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks a million times. You are all the best Ohio State fans.
Touchdowns…everywhere. There’s no better way to lift everyone’s spirits than by showing the highlights of Ohio State’s 62-39 victory over Michigan in the 2018 edition of the game, last played in Columbus.
The Buckeyes scored a lot of touchdowns in that game. Like, a lot of touchdowns. Blake Howbale also added two field goals! Mind if we watch all the Ohio State scoring games together?
What a game. Dwayne Haskins threw five touchdowns, Chris Olav had a breakout game, and Parris Campbell hit Mach 1 for 71 yards, etc. It’s all very beautiful.
If Ohio looks like this this Saturday… how about it? CJ Stroud hit five touchdowns, Dallan Hayden came in (another) breakout game and Emeka Egbuka (or maybe Xavier Johnson) hit Mach 1 in a long touchdown.
The game that proves it. Marvin Harrison Jr is one of the nation’s top receivers this season. On Saturday, Ohio State could claim to be the best passer in college football when it faces Michigan’s No. 1 defense in total (241.3 yards per game) and No. 2 in passing efficiency (100.5).
Mike Kuchar of The Athletic believes that Michigan’s defensive scheme could have allowed Harrison to go one-on-one with full-backs on the perimeter, which would have benefited a player nicknamed Route Man Marv:
Marvin Harrison Jr. vs. Single Cover (5th): 38 receptions (1st) 700 yards (1st) 11 touchdowns (1st) 33 receptions (1st) 19 catches over 15 yards (1st) -e) (: @OhioStateFB ) pic.twitter.com /3XsIaG8TZ
In addition to analyzing Harrison’s deadly route tree, Kuchar, in a recent piece for The Athletic, broke down the Wolverine’s defense scheme and how it protected the second-year wide receiver on Saturday:
For the first time this season, Michigan will face a top 10 quarterback and a top 10 wide receiver on the same team. But don’t expect the Wolverines’ defense to change what they do, the #1 defense in the nation in overall defense and the #2 defense in passing efficiency. What Michigan is doing is playing one high-secure defense, using either screen 1 or screen 3 in 47 percent of their snaps this season.
This means Harrison will have a match on the perimeter and will likely draw with senior cornerman Mike Thane Ristier, who has caught 65% of his goals, or Haemon Green, who has a 6-2 close range. those deep throws. While he only allowed a 48-percent hit rate, Green struggled against Michigan State earlier in the year, giving up 20 yards to catch those deep balls. Another option for the Wolverines is to have DJ Turner, their best cover but usually guarding Harrison around the perimeter.
An unnamed defensive coordinator who played at Ohio State this season told Kuchar that Michigan would run the base because it allows the Wolverines to place another quarterback in the zone, thereby making the Buckeyes “one-dimensional in the run game,” adding that it would become a test for a young defender like Dallan Hayden, who has already taken on a huge workload dealing with TreVyon Henderson and Mian Williams with various medical conditions.
Injury issues for the Buckeyes’ running backs could give Michigan defensive coordinator Jesse Minter some opportunity to add a few double looks to early runs, helping Harrison in quick play and sending the Buckeyes into Game 3 and the long game, Stroud. targets Harrison in 37 percent of his shots. This is the perfect time to apply pressure and kick the ball out of bounds.
“Now you can do what you want out there,” said another Big Ten defensive coach familiar with the Buckeyes. “You can’t stand still against the State of Ohio. Ultimately, you need to apply pressure, and this forces you to play one on one. If you don’t put pressure on them, they will sit back and tear you apart because their athletes are better. Good. You need to find a media outlet to broadcast some kind of coverage and surround Marvin’s back.”
That being said, the outcome of this game may depend—at least in terms of an Ohio state offense against a Michigan defense—on how much the Wolverines can put pressure on C.J. Stroud in the rear. But even so, can pressure stop Heisman Trophy leader and Biletnikoff semi-finalist?
Harrison will be contacted on Saturday. He always does. The question is whether the Michigan defense has the patience to put it all in front of them and challenge Ohio State to hit timed routes and over-the-shoulder shots at a steady pace without giving up on big game-changing plays. This is something that no defense has been able to do this season.
The Wolverines don’t have an answer to Marvelous Marv. Frankly, no other program in the country works. He is the best receiver in the country and he will prove it again this weekend – the biggest stage in all sports.
The competition never ends. As two college football blue-blooded programs, Ohio State and Michigan have talent spread across the 32 franchises that make up the NFL. Because of this, there are many ex-Buckeyes and Wolverines teammates in the league.
To achieve the common goal of winning the Super Bowl with their teams, these teammates must rid themselves of their contempt for each other. But of course, when the week of rivalry comes around, the jokes between the players are rewarded.
ESPN’s John Keim wrote about how intercollegiate rivalry spread to the NFL locker rooms, with McLaughlin’s story being the first in the article:
He wore the colors of Michigan. The player, who grew up in scarlet and gray, is now forced to wear corn and blue as Ohio State lost to the Wolverines last year. Two days after the game, McLaughlin appeared at a team meeting wearing a Michigan jersey with teammate Khaleke Hudson’s name and the number 7 on the back.
It’s a ritual played out in every NFL locker room during the season when a player loses a bet because his college is losing to another teammate’s school. It’s not about money changing hands, it’s about pride. We are talking about the appearance in a T-shirt of another team or overalls. Maybe it’s a joy to see another player declare another player the best in a video. Or maybe even put up with the sight of a goat (meaning Tom Brady).
It seems that even McLaughlin – one of the most humble people on the planet – is having a hard time taking part in the action. He barely wore his jersey to that meeting because the corn-blue color made him sick.
“Make me pose in Michigan blue? It’s disgusting,” McLaughlin said, repeating the last sentence several times for emphasis.
Of course, one of the first teammates to comment on McLaughlin’s jersey was Snapper captain Camaron Cheeseman, who also played in Michigan.
“It’s a little embarrassing,” McLaughlin said. “But that’s how people do it, because your money comes and goes, but right to brag, you’re wearing another team’s uniform, you might have to post it on social media… I would definitely rather lose my money. I don’t want to come here, blue Michigan like I did last year.
While McLaughlin looks awkward in a Michigan jersey, the former Ohio State wide receiver has every right to show off in this game. In his five years at Columbus, he posted a perfect 5-0 record against the Wolverines.
“I hate being a guy, they beat us, but I thought, ‘You didn’t beat me Khalek when I was there.’ I played for Ohio State, so they lost. But when I was there, I got five gold pants if we really count,” McLaughlin said, referring to the gold medal the Buckeyes won when they beat Michigan.
Thanksgiving plate. Today’s “this and that” section will be titled “Thanksgiving Plates” because, frankly, it’s a great way to celebrate what this ad is going to achieve.
This afternoon or evening, you can have turkey, mashed potatoes with sauce, stuffing, green beans, mac and cheese, and more on your plate to make a great meal. Similarly, I uploaded soccer, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and women’s cross country in this section, which was a perfect ending to my skull session.
First, look at Dallan Hayden’s performance in Maryland. He spoke about his efforts with the Turtles in the latest episode of “The Stories Behind the Stickers”.
Secondly, prosecutions have resumed. The man was strong against No. 21 Texas Tech and lost by 33 points to the Red Raiders at the Maui Invitational in his native Hawaii.
PTS: 33 FG: 12-19 REB: 8 AST: 5 ST: 2 TO: 1 Relive @JusticeSueing’s big day in @OhioStateHoops’ victory over Texas Tech. pic.twitter.com/9P91GCE0Gy
Third, on Wednesday, the women’s basketball team beat Wright State (the wrong school) 105-52. The Buckeyes don’t have star quarterback Jesse Shelton, but that doesn’t matter. This is if you don’t track forced errors. Ohio State finished the game with 23 steals, but imagine Sheldon and her 6.8 steals per game added to that number!
Fourth, Ohio State cross-country runner Eddie Engel received the Big Ten Athlete of the Year award on Wednesday. Engel finished 10th in the NCAA tournament last weekend in 19:50.4. Her performance led the Buckeyes to a 15th-place finish overall. Engel is also the first Buckeye to ever win the Big Ten Cross Country Championship from 8:00 p.m. to the game.
Congratulations to @OhioStateTFXC’s Addie Engel, #B1GXC Women’s Athlete of the Year! https://t.co/q6gbMLP6aA pic.twitter.com/QoI82ol3s4
Well guys, this is what I’m going to do on Turkey Day. Thanks again for reading Skull Sessions. You are all rock stars. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving!
In pursuit. Alaskan firefighters help rescue an elk stranded in a house… A cat crawls out of a bag when security finds a stowaway cat at JFK airport… Diversity in space: The European Space Agency gets its first paratrooper… Top 20 Thanksgiving television shows of all times, from Peanuts to Friends… Thanksgiving dinner or five Big Macs?
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Post time: Nov-29-2022