We continue our death march to bowl season. At least today you can subsist upon a free Breakfast Kegger! If you like what you see, consider a subscription to the site. It’s worth the price for access to the forums, alone!
- STROUD DEFENDS HIS BOY
C.J. Stroud said after the Michigan game that he can’t be defined by a single football game, which is a funny thing for a two-year starter at Ohio State to say when discussing the one game that’s so important it’s usually referred to as “The Game.”
Stroud was back at the podium yesterday where he reaffirmed his belief that one game doesn’t define him. He also defended his friend Jaxon Smith-Njigba for missing the playoffs.
From Bill Rabinowitz of dispatch.com [brackets mine]:
“I know that people were talking about how he should play, and y’all have no idea the stuff that he’s been through this year. No clue. Who are people to talk about my brother like that? It kind of gets me a little angry that people try to make it seem like he’s not a team player, and he doesn’t care about his teammates.
“That’s the total opposite. I’m on the phone with him every day. ‘How’s practice, bro. I’m watching film. I’m doing this.’ He’s helping out the young receivers. He helped Marvin (Harrison Jr.) and (Emeka Egbuka) so much this year, those dudes who had to step up. The same with [TreyVeyon Henderson] (with the running backs).
“It’s not fair for people to ridicule Jaxon or Tre or anybody who’s out with injury because that’s the worst part of this game.”
I hate to say it, but Stroud reminds me of Baker Mayfield in that he goes out of his way to potshot fans for acting like fans. How are you going to handle the game’s biggest stages when you can’t even handle some crank talking shit online? Just close your eyes and stop reading it!
Criticism is part of the game. It’s Ohio State. This kind of talk is soft, and I continue to see it as indictment for how Day has developed his crown jewel position.
Would love for him to prove me wrong, though! I would order one (1) Stroud jersey of Alibaba as penance for my sins.
- BUCKEYES GETTING HEALTHY AT THE RIGHT TIME?
If there’s one thing that helps the Buckeyes this layoff, it will be getting healthy. Coach Mick can’t rupture your tendons if you’re already sitting out from workouts!
Some big names are expected to be rehabbed by then. Cameron Brown, Mike Hall and Miyan Williams all plan to be healthy by the time the Buckeyes head to Georgia.
From Dan Hope of elevenwarriors.com:
Miyan Williams, who saw limited action against Michigan after missing the previous game against Maryland with an ankle injury he suffered against Indiana, said he is “feeling good” and “ready to play.” Likely to start at running back against Georgia with Henderson out, Williams said he “rolled my ankle real bad” in the Indiana game and “wasn’t all the way healthy” when he returned to action against Michigan, but he believes he will be back to 100% by the end of the month.
“I probably got to work through it a little bit, but that’s the plan, to be 100,” Williams said Wednesday. “I’ve been able to do most of the stuff (in practice).”
I think our gothic quarterback will be the workhorse if Ohio State beats Georgia, but you’re always going to want a guy called “Meatball” in your Pokémon rolodex when facing a team like Georgia.
Good to see Mike Hall is also coming along from what must have been a leg amputation that has kept him from consistent playing time in the second half of the season.
- RECRUITS ROLLING IN
Say this much about Ryan Day: The man is the best recruiter of quarterbacks and wide receivers in Ohio State history.
- 2023 four-star QB Lincoln Kienholz, who flipped from Washington.
- 2024 five-star WR Jeremiah Smith, the No. 1 WR of the class.
Maybe Day wins a championship this season and flips the narrative. But until then, it’s harder and harder to get excited about elite quarterbacks and receivers if Day’s ceiling remains the same.
THOSE WMDs. Spicy creamy Mexican chorizo mac and cheese… TikTok challenges keep leading children to their deaths… The creative history of GIFs… Inside ebay’s stalking scandal… What do animals see in a mirror?