Frogs O' War - TCU Football vs Ohio State: Advocare ShowdownThe #1 TCU Athletics blog on the internet!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50293/fow-fav.png2018-09-14T15:57:56-05:00http://www.frogsowar.com/rss/stream/176102172018-09-14T15:57:56-05:002018-09-14T15:57:56-05:00TCU vs Ohio State: How to Watch, College GameDay Info
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<img alt="NCAA Football: West Virginia at Texas Christian" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/sNRZh2mX9pKvf0gwxLAAosseWU0=/0x762:1943x2057/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61406803/usa_today_10350154.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>ESPN’s flagship program is invading TCU’s campus once again - here’s what you need to know.</p> <p id="MhxXRm">It will be a chock full day of TCU Football Saturday, as Frog fans (and Buckeye boosters) can enjoy all of the fanfare and festivities surrounding College Football in DFW.</p>
<p id="bnF4xI">The big game kicks off with ESPN’s College GameDay invading the campus commons on TCU’s campus in Fort Worth, before the action heads east to Arlington for a 7:00pm kick-off at AT&T Stadium.</p>
<p id="XkqphL">Here’s all the info you need to know!</p>
<p id="pEvlKh"><strong>Saturday Morning:</strong></p>
<p id="A0woR0"><strong>Where: </strong>Live from the Campus Commons at the University Union, located between Brown-Lupton University Union and facing Scharbauer Hall. </p>
<p id="4TvfRD"><strong>How:</strong> Entrances North and South of the Campus Commons (near North and South Drive) as well as the entrance through the breezeway of the Brown-Lupton University Union. All entrances will open at midnight on Saturday.</p>
<p id="C2KYDd"><strong>Parking: </strong>Lots 3 and 4 or the <a href="https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article164475547.html">LaDainian Tomlinson</a> parking garage.</p>
<p id="f9aeVR"><strong>Watch on TV: </strong>8:00am - 11:00am | ESPN</p>
<p id="30N5VB"><strong>Guest picker: </strong>Yeah, we don’t get it either.</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">* CUE THE DRUM ROLL * <br><br>And the Week 3 guest picker is ... <a href="https://twitter.com/WWERomanReigns?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WWERomanReigns</a>! <a href="https://t.co/ckWmyx5HVs">pic.twitter.com/ckWmyx5HVs</a></p>— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) <a href="https://twitter.com/CollegeGameDay/status/1040329794620207107?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 13, 2018</a>
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<p id="tQl7ub"><strong>Saturday Night:</strong></p>
<p id="NeOJaS"><strong>Time</strong>: 7:00pm</p>
<p id="qMV61K"><strong>Location</strong>: AT&T Stadium -- Arlington, Texas</p>
<p id="TPUbDp"><strong>TV: </strong>ABC | <strong>Live stream:</strong> <a href="http://www.espn.com/watch/">WatchESPN</a></p>
<p id="z7MNN2"><strong>Listen:</strong> <a href="https://gofrogs.com/watch/?Live=16&type=Live">HFTV</a></p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2018/9/14/17861452/tcu-vs-ohio-state-how-to-watch-college-gameday-infoMelissa B. Triebwasser2018-09-14T13:00:02-05:002018-09-14T13:00:02-05:00TCU vs. Ohio State: A Q&A with Land Grant Holy Land, SB Nation’s Ohio State blog
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<img alt="NCAA Football: Oregon State at Ohio State" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zZdfJvmHcWfns1GeNuyiuDQrtxQ=/0x83:3668x2528/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61398729/usa_today_11199001.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We sat down with Land Grant Holy Land to hear more about the Buckeyes. </p> <p id="HFsw6l">It’s time to stretch. Not in the sense of limbering up, although the Frogs need to do that too. Rather, it’s in the sense that Gary Patterson is looking to see where is TCU team is in comparison with one of the best teams in the country. </p>
<p id="YJJ7yv">In preparation for this game we sat down with Matt Tamanini of <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com/">Land Grant Holy Land</a>, SB Nation’s Ohio State blog, to ask him a few questions about the Buckeyes. A big thanks to him for such thorough answers. </p>
<p id="TDNbve">You can also read my answers to his questions <a href="https://www.landgrantholyland.com/2018/9/13/17853722/ohio-state-tcu-football-preview-q-and-a-frogs-o-war-2018">here</a>. </p>
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<p id="qgCsJf"><strong>Jamie Plunkett: There have obviously been a lot of opportunities for distractions with the dark cloud around Urban Meyer/</strong><span><strong>Zach Smith</strong></span><strong> this offseason. How has the team maintained its focus in the midst of all that stuff? </strong></p>
<p id="0DrGHa">Matt Tamanini: It’s a vague cliche in sports to talk about a team’s “culture,” but that’s what OSU’s players and coaches have talked about in the weeks since the media blackout surrounding the team was lifted. Whether it was due to injuries dating back to <span>Braxton Miller</span> and <span>J.T. Barrett</span> going down before and during the national championship season, or star players routinely leaving early for the NFL, this Ohio State program has regularly repeated the “Next Man Up” mantra for years, and in a certain way, that’s how they’ve handled this. </p>
<p id="jqOGGt">Everyone has claimed that things were more or less business as usual as Ryan Day took over as the interim head coach for training camp. Obviously being without a coach as successful and talented as Urban Meyer is not ideal, but with the help of Greg Schiano and <span>Kevin Wilson</span>— both former head coaches— Day appears to have navigated it fairly well. He has shown himself to be more than capable of being a head coach right now, I just hope that when that eventually happens, that it is in Columbus, and not somewhere else. </p>
<p id="C6lfUl">I also think that it’s a testament to the players. While I am sure that they all have very strong opinions about what went down, they have been steadfastly focused on their work, and even though their first two games weren’t exactly against top-flight competition, they don’t seem to have missed a beat. I also think that this has given them a bit of a chip on their collective shoulder; an “us vs. the world” mentality. </p>
<p id="M1oSFn">It’s a little ridiculous, considering that all of the issues have come from within, but all coaches find ways to spin even the smallest of slights into motivational tools, so I’m sure it’s being done here. Even though everyone is publicly stating that Meyer’s suspension has had little effect on the program, I wouldn’t be surprised if it has brought an extra ounce of motivation when everything is said and done. </p>
<p id="mKxyhD"><strong>JP: Everyone knows about </strong><span><strong>Nick Bosa</strong></span><strong>, but Ohio State’s defensive line rolls much deeper than just him. Who are some other names along the line that TCU fans need to know about heading into Saturday? </strong></p>
<p id="kCrQqf">MT: This is a great point. Back in 2015 when Nick’s brother Joey was playing his final season in Columbus, he got so much attention from opposing offenses– thanks to double and triple teams– that his numbers declined significantly. However, his line-mates reaped the benefits by having a clearer path to the quarterback. We haven’t seen that as much with Nick yet, mainly because he’s only played the first halves of games thus far, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens more as the season progresses. </p>
<p id="joMdFH">Anyway, the Buckeye that will likely benefit the most from this is <span>Chase Young</span>, the other defensive end. He is probably even more athletic than <span>Bosa</span> is, but is nowhere near as refined and in control. He was ejected from the Rutgers game for two unsportsmanlike penalties (one for spiking the ball after a sack, the other for running onto the field to celebrate). While that excitement and passion can get him trouble with penalties, it’s also part of what makes him so dangerous. He is quick, he is powerful, and he is raw. </p>
<p id="2tiHL0">(Here’s a video of one of his sacks against Rutgers, it’s a pretty good example of the type of player he is: <a href="https://streamable.com/uzl21">https://streamable.com/uzl21</a>)</p>
<p id="irHpty">The other starters on the line will be Dre’Mont <span>Jones</span> and Robert Landers. Both are exceptional interior linemen, and will have their share of sacks and TFLs this season, but when it comes to dominant, game-changing players that should be accounted for at all times, it’s Bosa and <span>Young</span>. </p>
<p id="wDnfd6"><strong>JP: Defensively, Ohio State’s secondary gave up some big passing plays against Oregon State when they were missing </strong><span><strong>Jordan Fuller</strong></span><strong>, but looked much better against Rutgers. What impact does Fuller have on Ohio State’s secondary? </strong></p>
<p id="Y7VPbe">MT: Fuller’s return made a huge difference for the back seven of the defense, not only because he’s the best DB on the team, but because he is also a captain, and the most experienced player in the secondary, so his presence is valuable in a lot of areas. </p>
<p id="gwaMaD">Over the past three or four years, Ohio State has sent a steady stream of defensive backs into the NFL; part of that is coaching (especially Kerry Coombs who is now on Mike Vrabel’s staff with the Tennessee Titans), and part of that is recruiting. The Buckeyes don’t have a deficiency of talent when it comes to the secondary, but they do have a lack of experience in the defensive backfield. With Fuller out, you had junior corners <span>Damon Arnette</span> and Kendall Sheffield, who split a starting spot last year, and a handful of sophomores at safety who played sparingly, if at all, last year. </p>
<p id="b1Nmf5">So, just in terms of an attrition battle, having someone who has played as much, and at a high level, as Fuller has been important. In the Rutgers game– and, again, with the caveat that it was against Rutgers– he was able to shut down his side of the field, giving his fellow DBs— not to mention the linebackers— the ability to play a little tighter in man coverage, not afraid that if they got beat, they were all alone. </p>
<p id="xi8kkd">He also just appears to be a calming influence on the secondary. As the veteran in the room, he brings a leadership that the position group is going to need if it is going to improve enough throughout the season to get to where previous secondaries have been for Ohio State.</p>
<p id="qizbV8"><strong>JP: TCU has more team speed than Oregon State or Rutgers. While Ohio State doesn’t fit into the stereotype of being a slow Big 10 school, it’s one thing to be fast, it’s another to have to defend it. Do you see TCU’s speed on offense giving Ohio State problems Saturday? </strong></p>
<p id="20F709">MT: At this point, it goes without saying that for many reasons, offenses in the Big Ten do not look like offenses in the Big 12, and the way that offenses look dictate the way that defenses look. So, I think that both teams have potential advantages because of that, and it will depend on which side makes the most of it. I think that Ohio State has plenty of speed on offense, both from running backs and wide receivers, so I think this mostly applies to OSU’s defense vs. TCU’s offense. </p>
<p id="9P9h6j">If TCU is able to create opportunities for skill players to get the ball in space, that is where Ohio State’s defense is the most vulnerable. That goes for <span>Shawn Robinson</span> as well. If he sees opportunities to scramble, I would worry about OSU’s linebackers being able to stop him before he gets to the next level of the defense. While that definitely has to do with speed, it also has to do with scheme. If it’s a straight foot race, while the Buckeyes might not win every time, they will keep it close enough to make a play. But, if Gary Patterson can put players in opportunities to have room to move, that’s where it could become problematic for OSU. </p>
<p id="egblF3">This is where the impact of <span>Jordan Fuller</span> comes in. Ohio State’s defense cleaned up their big play problems against Rutgers, but they have yet to face a dual-threat quarterback at all this season, let alone one as athletic as <span>Robinson</span>. So, keeping him contained will be big for the Buckeyes. Also, if he is able to get the ball out quickly, negating the dominant pass rush, that should also give his skill players room to maneuver. </p>
<p id="QchfHq">The one thing I will say about speed though is that I think the perception of the big, plodding Big Ten teams is at least partially rooted in about a decade-or-so old view of the conference. While there are certainly still teams that prefer to play the grind-it-out style of football— most notably Wisconsin— since Urban Meyer has come into the league, not only has he changed the recruiting practices at Ohio State, but for everyone else in the B1G as well. Over the past four recruiting cycles (since OSU won the National Championship), Ohio State, Michigan and Penn State have consistently been in the Top 5 or Top 10 in class rankings, with schools like Michigan State, Maryland, and Nebraska knocking on the door. </p>
<p id="sxDuq7">And, since Ohio State is usually one of the top two or three schools in recruiting rankings and in sending players to the NFL, even if the Big Ten competition isn’t the fastest, the Buckeyes are usually practicing against players with plenty of speed, which might even be more valuable in terms of reps. So, not since Urban Meyer was beating OSU in a national championship game have I worried tremendously at a speed and talent disadvantage for the Buckeyes. However, there is always plenty of other things to worry about. </p>
<p id="DXv60y"><strong>JP: </strong><span><strong>Dwayne Haskins</strong></span><strong> certainly looks like the real deal two games into the season. What makes him so dangerous, and how should TCU try to knock him off his game Saturday? </strong></p>
<p id="YfsZM8">MT: I know that this will sound hyperbolic, and more than a little bit like an unhinged fanboy, but <span>Dwayne Haskins</span> quite possibly could be the best passer in the history of Ohio State football. While that is admittedly an outrageous claim to make two games into the season, when you step back and look at it, most of Ohio State’s best quarterbacks— especially of recent vintage— have been more of the run-first variety (Les Horvath, Troy <span>Smith</span>, <span>Terrelle Pryor</span>, <span>Braxton Miller</span>, <span>J.T. Barrett</span>).</p>
<p id="i0prv7">You have to look at someone like Art Schlichter in a different era in the late 1970s/early 1980s, or Joe Germaine in his junior season in 1998 to find anyone who can even compare to Haskins’ ability, and even then, I don’t think it’s close. Granted he’s only started two game this season— and he didn’t really play in the second half of either game—, but he played a decent amount last year, including leading a comeback in Ann Arbor for an injured Barrett, so he’s not starting the season completely green. </p>
<p id="FsB486">The difference that has been obvious with him compared to other Buckeye quarterbacks is not only his arm strength, but his accuracy as well. In the 2014 postseason run, and the ensuing mess to start the 2015 season, <span>Cardale Jones</span> showed an incredibly powerful arm, but after receivers like <span>Michael Thomas</span> and Devin <span>Smith</span> left for the NFL, it was painfully obvious that without elite pass-catchers to make up for his errant throws, more often than not, Jones was just throwing the ball deep and hoping for the best. </p>
<p id="rJgTh2">That has not been the case with Haskins. In Week 1 against Oregon State, the Beaver defense was giving him the underneath routes, so he took advantage of that, leading receivers on crossing routes, allowing them to catch the ball in stride and turn up field. Against Rutgers, who playing more man coverage, he was able to find opportunities to throw receivers open. </p>
<p id="jkuES4">For example, on his first touchdown against Rutgers, not only did he throw a seemingly effortless 46-yard ball to <span>Johnnie Dixon</span> in the end zone, but he also dropped it into <span>Dixon</span>’s arms perfectly. Those types of passes are not things that Buckeye fans are used to seeing… at least not from Ohio State quarterbacks. (Video of that TD: <a href="https://streamable.com/x69o0">https://streamable.com/x69o0</a>) </p>
<p id="yvz8OE">So, while I am sure that his stats will come back down to earth a bit when he plays better teams like TCU, Penn State, etc., he has the skills to be really special.</p>
<p id="RJO9ES">However, since he is less of a running threat than many of his predecessors, the most likely way to get to him is to get in his face. Haskins is probably accurately described as a throw-first, dual-threat quarterback, but he’s not going to beat you with his legs. He has two rushes this season for a total of 24 yards, and they were both scrambles. So, while he can run when need be, he is much more comfortable throwing the ball. Both last season and so far this year, he has proven to be a remarkably adept decision-maker, especially when given time, so I think there are a lot of questions still to be answered about how he will hold up against a pass-rush that disrupts his timing. </p>
<p id="wfLHEz"><strong>JP: Prediction time - what do you think happens on Saturday? </strong></p>
<p id="RjpbNu">MT: I think that TCU finds opportunities to gash the Buckeye defense, but that OSU gets enough stops to win. On the other side of the ball, I think that Haskins has just too many playmakers to be kept out of the endzone, so I am going to go with Ohio State 41, TCU 24. I also predict at least one muffed punt turnover for OSU, setting up the Horned Frogs for one of their scores. </p>
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https://www.frogsowar.com/2018/9/14/17855300/tcu-vs-ohio-state-a-q-a-with-land-grant-holy-land-sb-nations-ohio-state-blogJamie Plunkett2018-09-14T11:00:02-05:002018-09-14T11:00:02-05:00Keys to Victory: How the Horned Frogs can Beat the Buckeyes
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<figcaption>Shawn Robinson’s legs could be the X-Factor Saturday night. | Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Yes, it can be done. Here’s how.</p> <p id="31aSgV">13.5 point underdogs?</p>
<p id="w0X5xw">It’s not the first time TCU has been doubted against a name-brand program under Gary Patterson - and it sure won’t be the last.</p>
<p id="bj26Wl">But this is, quite possibly, the toughest test the Frogs have faced since GP strolled into Funky Town, and knocking off the #4 Buckeyes won’t be an easy feat. On paper, Ohio State rules - full of four and five stars, backed up by four and five stars - who are also backed up by four and five stars - the Buckeyes are as deep with talent as any team TCU will face all year. But Gary Patterson will have his team prepared, and with him on the sidelines, the Frogs always have a shot.</p>
<p id="dhiaru">Let’s see how they might attack Ohio State and come out with the win.</p>
<h3 id="CduHPK"><strong>Shawn Robinson has to be accurate</strong></h3>
<p id="OuSKZ1">The reviews have been somewhat mixed through three Shawn Robinson starts. Though two of the games have been played in terrible weather (40 mph winds in Lubbock and a torrential downpour in Dallas), Robinson has completed just 45 of 79 attempts (a 57% completion rate) for an average of 64 yards per game - though, again, he played just a half against Southern and wasn’t able/asked to throw the ball much against Texas Tech or SMU.</p>
<p id="uuTQhn">If the Horned Frogs are going to win Saturday night, though, we will need to see the very best of the former Texas Gatorade Player of the Year. I fully unleashed Shawn Robinson that is a threat to throw it deep or take off and run for a first down. They’re going to need to open up the playbook, and the quarterback is going to need to make plays.</p>
<p id="tJFIIW">Shawn Robinson has the talent and has played at a high level in big games - in Jerry World, in fact - but he will face his biggest test Saturday night. </p>
<h3 id="1QjnZk"><strong>Defensive line has to wreak havoc</strong></h3>
<p id="qaqRzp">For the Frogs to have a shot Saturday, they are going to need to make some things happen. That can start in the Ohio State backfield, where TCU defenders will need to make the acquaintance of Dwayne Haskins.</p>
<p id="b5biFw">We have been waiting for the Ben Banogu game - the senior defensive end was better against SMU, but you know he’s been waiting for week three to really turn it on. We will also see LJ Collier for the first time in 2018, and he could be a huge difference maker for the Horned Frogs. Corey Bethley, Ty Summers, Brandon Bowen, et al, will need to make tackles, make plays, and cause problems if they want to have a shot of slowing down an Ohio State offense that’s averaging over 60 points per game to start the season. </p>
<p id="SMx4qO">A couple of sacks, a few stuffs behind the line to throw the Buckeyes off schedule, maybe a forced fumble... it won’t be enough to just contain, the defensive line has to shake things up. They’re certainly capable of doing just that.</p>
<h3 id="RLruSm"><strong>Stop the long ball</strong></h3>
<p id="H09RVc">It’s long been the achilles heel of the Horned Frogs, the long pass that eats up chunks of yards and leads to momentum changing scores. After giving up two such passes against Southern, the Frogs did not allow a pass longer than 17 yards on the evening, albeit in sub-optimal conditions. Ohio State has a far superior QB, much better and faster wide receivers, and a far more dominant offense, and presents a very different challenge for Jeff Gladney, Julius Lewis, Noah Daniels, and company. The Buckeyes are averaging over 10 yards per pass, nearly 13 per reception, and have 11 players averaging over 9.0 yards per catch - they can REALLY sling it.</p>
<p id="PsdGdQ">KJ Hill and Parris Campbell have been the early go-to guys, combining for 20 catches through two games. With a running game that has wracked up 600 yards in two games (oh my god) to keep defenses honest, the corners and safeties are going to have a massive challenge ahead of them. Guys like Innis Gaines and Niko Small are going to need to stay true to their lanes in the secondary while the corners focus on keeping everything in front of them. Haskins can drop it in there, TCU will need to hope he doesn’t get many chances.</p>
<h3 id="xhOz0o"><strong>Where has Jet been?</strong></h3>
<p id="yEsZps">We haven’t seen much of Darius Anderson through the first two games; though he is listed as a starter, Sewo Olonilua has been the first guy behind Shawn Robinson in both of the Frogs’ first two matchups, and while Jet leads the team in carries (17), that’s not a lot of opportunities for one of the Big 12’s most dangerous runners.</p>
<p id="PZ534C">Two factors have contributed to this: one, Anderson was a bit banged up in camp, didn’t practice much, and didn’t participate in any scrimmages - he simply wasn’t ready to play football. Two, why use up one of your most important players before the first big game of your season?</p>
<p id="GIKt1J">Coming off of a knee injury late in the 2017 campaign, Anderson should be rounding into form by Saturday. In his limited chances this year, he’s averaging over six yards a carry, but has yet to get into the end one - something that all of the TCU running backs can say. For the Frogs to get the pass rush off of Shawn Robinson, Jet, Sewo, Kenedy, and Emari - not to mention Robinson - have to stay on schedule, pick up good yardage, and break off a big run or two.</p>
<h3 id="tWLEY9"><strong>Get some lucky breaks</strong></h3>
<p id="fSJpis">On paper, Ohio State is much better than TCU.</p>
<p id="OZ7dcZ">Parade All-Americans backing up Parade All-Americans, according to GP.</p>
<p id="kYtoMA">Four stars backing up five stars backing up five stars backing up future All-Pros.</p>
<p id="WWcMLK">We know it.</p>
<p id="pgMBEA">But, many a team and many an opposing fan, has made the mistake of counting out Gary Patterson and TCU - and lived to regret it.</p>
<p id="3nZCHH">Ohio State very well could be the next.</p>
<p id="FerlZE">For the Frogs to pull off the upset (and as nearly 14 point dogs, it would indeed be an upset), TCU will need a break or two to go their way. Maybe a strip sack for a scoop and score? A tipped pass that leads to an interception deep in Ohio State territory? Or a muffed punt that turns into a score? And, of course, let’s not forget #TurpinTime:</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m going to put on a show for the people!</p>— KaVontae Turpin (@KaVontaeTurpin) <a href="https://twitter.com/KaVontaeTurpin/status/1040399656948322304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2018</a>
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<p id="cF3bpC">TCU can beat Ohio State straight up, but it will be a lot easier if they get a couple balls to bounce their way.</p>
<p id="hVwCC2">Can’t wait to see if they do.</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2018/9/14/17846228/keys-to-victory-how-the-horned-frogs-can-beat-the-buckeyesMelissa B. Triebwasser2018-09-13T14:00:02-05:002018-09-13T14:00:02-05:00“One game at a time.” TCU Football not falling for Ohio State hype
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<img alt="TCU Football at SMU | Friday, September 7, 2018 " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pgbAA2D49piygg9h1Oc0t8nDkxw=/0x0:3000x2000/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61385915/Niko_Small.0.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>TCU Football at SMU | Friday, September 7, 2018 | Melissa Triebwasser</figcaption>
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<p>Niko Small and Kelton Hollins have the coach speak down to a T.</p> <p id="NN3FBw">For six weeks or so, Gary Patterson has been telling us it wasn’t time to talk about Ohio State. No, first, they needed to grow the guys up and survive Southern. Then, they were going to take SMU’s best shot on a short week. Get to 1-0. Get to 2-0. Then, and only then, could we starting barking at the Buckeyes.</p>
<p id="yaIOYx">Well, TCU Football is 2-0, it’s week three, and Ohio State is coming. It’s finally time to talk about the Buckeyes.</p>
<p id="qdvaic">On Tuesday, reporters gathered in the Four Sevens Team Room to do just that, and had the opportunity to talk to two of the captains and leaders of the TCU Football program about this week’s big game. But, while they are certainly excited for week three, they were careful to toe the party line and remind us that “it’s just another football game.”</p>
<p id="5Cs2Gr">Kelton Hollins is a football player, something he reminded reporters of on more than one occasion. He also is, apparently, a graduate of the Gary Patterson school of saying nothing while saying everything. Though reporters kept asking how he felt about finally playing a big game, Hollins wasn’t biting. To him, it’s just a chance to play football. “I’m pumped because it’s my next opportunity to play a football game. This is a childhood dream that I get to live out every day, this is the next game, the next time I am living out that dream. The excitement I have to play football - you can’t compare it to anything else.”</p>
<p id="ZDXW9h">For senior safety Niko Small, the sentiment can be echoed. “Everybody lives to play on the big stage, and we are blessed to have the opportunity to play on the big stage against a great program. But we can’t let that affect our game plan or our focus.”</p>
<p id="E7V6ca">Both players were more than willing to acknowledge that they face a tough task Saturday at AT&T Stadium against a team that is as good, or better, than any they will face this year. But as far as this being a statement game, the TCU players aren’t buying it. “I view every game as an opportunity to make a statement,” Hollins said. Small, agrees, “There’s excitement all around, excitement on the campus, excitement for everybody. But for us, we just try and take it the same way as we take every other game. We just try and focus on the one goal we have - to get to 3-0. That’s the only thing we have to think about and worry about. For us, we want to stay as a team, stay focused on what we want to do.” That being said, he is willing to acknowledge that the stage is a little bigger than it was the previous two games. “Everybody lives to play on the big stage, and we are blessed to have the opportunity to play on the big stage against a great program. But we can’t let that affect our game plan or our focus.”</p>
<p id="TfmCQ1">With Game Day in town for the event, and it absolutely is an event, there is certainly a different vibe on campus. That’s something that the players appreciate, not just for how it feels, but for what it took to get to this point. “We love having Game Day over here - they always treat us well. For us, as the players, we try and just focus on the things we need to focus on. We get too excited, it might mess us up,” Small said. </p>
<p id="16t4Xl">That tradition was built on the backs of great players that came before them, guys that built this program from the ground up and made TCU Football the type of program that Game Day wants to visit, that Ohio State wants to play, that matters to a national audience. That isn’t lost on Niko Small, who was a recruit when the Buckeyes edged out the Horned Frogs for the fourth and final College Football Playoff spot in 2014.</p>
<p id="3hJpJ9">“A lot of hard work, dedication, and tradition got us to where we are. A lot of people put us in the place we want to be at now, so we have to carry on the tradition.” And while he is quick to credit those that came before him, “guys like Jerry Hughes and Andy Dalton, they set the standard. Now I have to live up to it,” he believes he has a team that can play with anybody, too. “If you ask me, I will never say that anybody on my team is less than anybody on any other team - and I am sure, if you asked Ohio State, they would say the same thing. Great players, great coaches on both sides - whoever wants it more at the end of the day is going to get that game.”</p>
<p id="5fw6ic">Hollins agrees, and has taken it upon himself to make sure his unit, the offensive line, performs up to the standards that led to six former TCU offensive tackles opening the NFL season on NFL rosters. “I know what I want the team to be, so I feel like I have to step up and push my teammates. But I don’t want to be a leader that only creates followers, I want to be a leader that creates leaders. So with that, I push my teammates to also lead the team.”</p>
<p id="1vpeCV">For both Small and Hollins, though, it’s not about the build up, it’s not about the excitement, it’s not about the big stage. It’s about playing a football game and trying to get to win number three. That’s been Hollins’ dream since he was a child. “Wherever we play, whatever we play in - I am going to play my hardest. We can be playing in backyard - we would be playing football, so I would be living out my dream.” Small is ready to kick things off in the parking lot, if that’s what it takes. “I’m a football player. We could line this up in the parking lot and I would be excited. We can play this in the backyard, anywhere, and we would be excited to play this game.”</p>
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https://www.frogsowar.com/2018/9/13/17850740/one-game-at-a-time-tcu-football-not-falling-for-ohio-state-hypeMelissa B. Triebwasser2018-09-13T12:30:02-05:002018-09-13T12:30:02-05:00Neutral-site or not, let’s just enjoy College GameDay for what it is
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<p>There have been mixed feelings about ESPN’s decision to broadcast College GameDay from TCU’s campus ahead of what is technically a neutral-site game vs. Ohio State.</p> <p id="xz2ox5">College football would never be college football without a little controversy sprinkled in, would it? Maybe that’s what makes the sport so beautiful — something that is near and dear to seemingly everyone in Fort Worth, Columbus and far beyond. </p>
<p id="uEaSG7">No matter who you cheer for, Saturday is going to be a beautiful day. The matchup between No. 15 TCU and No. 4 Ohio State is the type of situation which any fan of the games live for. Two successful programs — one a blue-blood and one “new royalty” — set to battle it out on a grand stage for all to see. </p>
<p id="3gMWK7">There’s anticipation. There’s off-field tension. And even with the game being played at an NFL Stadium, there will still be the pageantry that makes the game unlike anything else. Even ESPN College GameDay, the beloved pregame show that has traveled across the country each season for now more than two decades, is setting their sights on the showdown between the Horned Frogs and the Buckeyes. You can’t ask for much more than that. </p>
<p id="DKtVg1">Okay, sure, it would have been an incredible sight to see TCU and Ohio State fans cram into the 50,000 seat Amon G. Carter Stadium for a contest as big as this one. And it would have been a thrill for Frog fans to see their team play at The Shoe in 2019. Fair enough, there are plenty of risk-factors with a home-and-home series — injuries and playoff chances among them — and no institution can complain about a $5 million check that comes with the move to AT&T Stadium. But you can’t fully replicate an on-campus atmosphere at a neutral-site — even if one school is just 18 miles away.</p>
<p id="WxUkMD">Perhaps that last thought weighed heavy on the minds of the higher-ups at ESPN last week. In an unexpected turn of events, GameDay has opted to broadcast the show in the middle of the TCU Campus Commons for a second consecutive season this Saturday, even though there won’t any football game at the venue adjacent to the set. </p>
<p id="OX6MyG"><em>Hallelujah. ESPN has miraculously spared us from being entirely robbed of the on-campus element for this highly-awaited matchup. </em></p>
<p id="59nwel">Go ahead and start celebrating on both sides of the aisle. Right?</p>
<p id="ic3b6B">One might think. Alas, not everyone is so pleased with the idea of TCU getting some extra PR for what is technically a neutral-site matchup — even if the game is being played in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Or so that was brought to my attention earlier this week (Spoiler: most of those folks probably won’t be sporting purple on Saturday).</p>
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<p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is a neutral game in Dallas. <br><br>Yet ESPN is going to TCUs campus for GameDay. I don’t care how close it is to Dallas, they could have found a spot in Dallas if they wanted to.<br><br>I can’t wait till we show the entire nation that the Buckeyes are not messing around this year. <a href="https://t.co/1rdKZrVnt9">https://t.co/1rdKZrVnt9</a></p>— Mr. Ohio (@MrOH1O) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrOH1O/status/1038954162061553664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 10, 2018</a>
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<p id="2dUQwn">First things first: Regarding the frustration from Ohio State fans, I get it. It’s fair to say any fan-base has the right to be a little irritated when a game that is heralded as a neutral-site meeting seemingly benefits your opponent significantly more than yourself — at least in terms of TV time. I’m sure TCU fans would feel the same way if the game was being played in Cleveland and GameDay decided to broadcast from Ohio State’s campus. </p>
<p id="GUs8Xm">False advertising? No. But I won’t argue that there may be at least a perceived slant towards the Horned Frogs here. As I stated earlier, GameDay has repeatedly set up shop at nearby Sundance Square in downtown Fort Worth when neutral site contests have been played in Arlington. Such was the case when Florida State kicked off the 2014 season vs. Oklahoma State, and again when Alabama took on Wisconsin in week 1 of the 2015 campaign. Full disclosure: I initially presumed ESPN would make the journey to Jordan Hare Stadium this week to hype up the SEC West showdown between Auburn and LSU. But on the chance they chose TCU and Ohio State, which they did, I fully expected GameDay to broadcast from Sundance Square, not on campus.</p>
<p id="zeBntE">I was wrong. </p>
<p id="gKfhhr">Here we are, with TCU’s campus getting being in the limelight for a second time in less than 12 months. And that’s a dream come true both TCU students and everyone else who has a special place in their heart for the Frogs. </p>
<p id="BRXUou">Sure, Ohio State fans who are staying in Dallas or Arlington (not to get nit-picky, but there is a big difference) will have to spend some extra gas if they had hopes of being in the pit behind Rece Davis, Lee Coros, Kirk Herbstreit and Desmond Howard. And admittedly, the atmosphere probably wont be as welcoming to Buckeyes fans as it would have been elsewhere. </p>
<p id="dKkQzv">Still, for anybody who isn’t thrilled with GameDay’s decision to be on TCU’s campus out of a perceived bias or something along those lines, let’s take a step back for a second. </p>
<p id="COghZb">I don’t have all the answers. I don’t know what ESPN’s true motivation is for what, to the best of my knowledge, is an unprecedented move for a neutral-site meeting. But here’s what I do know:</p>
<p id="EkWmwN">College GameDay, as much as it is a pre-game show, is about showcasing college campuses all across the country.</p>
<p id="wHv9Vh">Sure, fans of all ages can enjoy attending the show. But the reality is that students drive the atmosphere around the set. The words “GameDay is coming” can often make the entire season for a school — especially smaller institutions like TCU. A reminder that while the Horned Frogs have recently earned national attention, TCU only has around 9,000 undergraduate students and has been a Power-5 program for less than a decade. Even if GameDay is attending a game that is labeled as “neutral-site,” ESPN isn’t going to pass up the opportunity to be on a college campus if feasible — AKA a 20 minute drive. Why the show went to New York City for one week last September, I do not know, and knock on wood that doesn’t happen again anytime soon (Let’s be honest too, the venue is the only thing keeping this game “neutral,” at least in terms of geography).</p>
<p id="IEAOgb">Believe me, I’m sure ESPN wanted to be on a campus for the 2014 and 2015 kickoff games that saw them venture over to Sundance Square. The only problem? For the sake of fans who want to attend both the show and the game, it’s a little tough to get from Tallahassee or Madison to Arlington in eight hours. This time, ESPN has the rare opportunity to make it work. And before you say that the show could have just gone to a game that is actually being played on a campus, a friendly reminder that TCU-Ohio State has, for some time, been slatted for the ABC prime-time slot. While they still could have gone to LSU-Auburn, it makes a bit more sense for ESPN to hype up a game on a network which they own than one that will air on CBS.</p>
<p id="bMqmNb">Another stat to be mindful of too. While yes, all that matters is the here and now, Ohio State has been featured more than 40 times on GameDay since the show began traveling around the nation. The show even visited Columbus not once but twice in a span of less than two months in 2017. On the contrast, this is just the seventh time the Horned Frogs have ever been featured on the show, and just the third time TCU has hosted GameDay. Like it or not, the inevitable truth is that Buckeyes will continue to find themselves in GameDay-worthy matchups far more frequently than the Horned Frogs will going forward. Is there really that much harm in providing TCU students with what is quite frankly a rare opportunity in this neck of the woods?</p>
<p id="1Onr7o">For those who want to vent any frustrations, go ahead and do so (not that TCU fans have any reason to do so). But to the point — once Saturday arrives, let’s all just enjoy the scene for what it is. All politics aside, this is a celebration of the game. It’s a day which both schools — no matter how the scoreboard looks later that evening — should cherish. It may sound cliche, but at the end of the day, it really all is “just a game.” And College GameDay, for as much of a pedestal we put it on, is just a show. </p>
<p id="i083ri">Beyond what goes down on the football field, Saturday will be what you make it. Fingers crossed that the majority of fans on both sides decide to make the most of it — especially when it’s lights, camera action at 8 a.m. CT in Fort Worth.</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2018/9/13/17855208/neutral-site-or-not-lets-just-enjoy-college-gameday-for-what-it-isDean Straka2018-09-13T10:00:13-05:002018-09-13T10:00:13-05:00“One of the best offenses in the country all year long” - A Q&A with Eleven Warriors
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<figcaption>Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>We sat down with Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors to find out just how good the Buckeyes are and how much confidence the fan base has going into Saturday.</p> <p id="I1QrxS">We will have two Q&As for you this week, as we were able to talk Advocare Classic with two exceptional blogs covering Ohio State. First up is Dan Hope of Eleven Warriors, one of the biggest team blogs in the land. </p>
<p id="Q7StrU">Dan knows Ohio State as well as anyone, and, let’s just say - he’s pretty confident in his 2-0 team taking it to the Horned Frogs in Arlington. Let’s dive in.</p>
<p id="3Y3EuE"><strong>FOW: Ohio State has played a couple of “Power Five” teams to open the season, but neither Oregon State or Rutgers presented much of a challenge. What have you gleaned about the 2018 Buckeyes from these early contests, if anything?</strong></p>
<p id="ri6KZZ">Dan Hope: Well, Ohio State’s offense has certainly stood out, scoring 129 total points and accumulating 1,300 total yards in those first two games. New starting quarterback Dwayne Haskins has more than lived up to the hype, and the rest of the offense around him has looked great, too, both in the passing and running game. Certainly, the competition hasn’t been overly challenging, but there’s still a different look and feel to the Buckeyes’ offense that suggests it will be one of the best offenses in the country all year long.</p>
<p id="rUAgSe">Ohio State’s defensive line has more than lived up to the hype, too – again, the competition hasn’t been particularly tough, but it still appears obvious that Nick Bosa, Dre’Mont Jones and company are going to cause problems for opposing offenses all year long. The rest of the defense played much better against Rutgers than it did against Oregon State, but that could have had more to do with the Scarlet Knights’ lack of ability on offense than anything else, so it’s too early to draw any conclusions about the linebackers and secondary yet.</p>
<p id="xJe3X4">Perhaps most importantly, though, Ohio State hasn’t shown any signs whatsoever of being distracted or hampered by the suspension of Urban Meyer. With acting head coach Ryan Day and an experienced group of assistant coaches leading the charge, it’s felt like business as usual for the Buckeyes on the field, inspiring confidence that they will be among the top national championship contenders this year.</p>
<p id="JBs3Oh"><strong>FOW: Dwayne Haskins is the next in line of a long lineage of successful quarterbacks in Columbus... based on what you have seen so far, what makes him different/special than the guys who preceded him?</strong></p>
<p id="GnHsxK">DH: Haskins might very well be the best pure passer that Ohio State has ever had, or at least in the past couple decades. That feels like a hyperbolic statement after just two starts, but while the Buckeyes have had many successful quarterbacks over the years – with Troy Smith and J.T. Barrett being the two most prominent recent exampls that come to mind – most of them have not been elite-level passers that go on to be early-round NFL draft picks. Haskins, however, absolutely appears to have those traits, showing an ability to throw the deep ball with accuracy and complete passes into tight windows that will make pro scouts salivate. The trade-off, compared to most of Ohio State’s other recent quarterbacks, is he isn’t much of a running threat. But his ability to stretch the field vertically as a passer is helping open to up the running game for Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins.</p>
<p id="GX7tkT"><strong>FOW: Tate Martell has also played some, and Ryan Day spoke highly of him after the Rutgers win. Do you expect to continue to see both QBs play, or was that happening strictly because of the scoreboard?</strong></p>
<p id="83bGDT">DH: Truthfully, that’s one of the biggest questions I have going into Saturday’s game. Day (and Meyer before his suspension) have consistently said that the plan is to play Martell, but they’ve also been consistently vague about how much he’ll play. Personally, I think the Buckeyes should stick with Haskins in close games as long as he keeps playing as well as he has so far this season, because there’s no reason to mess with a good thing going. My hunch, though, is that the Buckeyes will find a way to continue involving Martell in the offense – even if it’s only for a few plays in some games – because he brings a very different skill set to the position as an athletic running threat, and they will want to force defenses to prepare for the challenges of facing both quarterbacks. Meyer also has a known affinity for having a quarterback running element in his offense, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise if Martell’s role grows once he returns from suspension – no matter how well Haskins plays.</p>
<p id="b8JKnZ"><strong>FOW: What adjustments did you see the defense make between Oregon State and Rutgers? How do you expect the front to handle the Horned Frogs run game – one that features three very capable backs that have a mix of size and speed?</strong></p>
<p id="oeBhKU">DH: The biggest difference from the Oregon State game to the Rutgers game is that there weren’t any defensive plays in which the Buckeyes clearly busted and gave up big plays. While the Buckeyes gave up 31 points and 392 yards to Oregon State, 82 percent of those yards came on seven plays of 20+ yards. Against the Scarlet Knights, they didn’t give up any plays of more than 15 yards. Whether that was a result of playing better defense or worse competition, though, I’m not sure. It was probably a combination of both, but either way, the Buckeyes will face a much tougher test this Saturday.</p>
<p id="QQHQ0I">Up front, I expect Ohio State’s defensive line to control the matchup with TCU’s offensive line. The question I have, however, is whether the linebackers and defensive backs will make the plays they need to make on the rare occasions that the Horned Frogs’ backs are able to break into the second level of the defense. My guess: the Horned Frogs will break off two or three big runs, but otherwise, they’ll be stopped within two or three yards of the line of scrimmage on most plays.</p>
<p id="fMr7BH"><strong>FOW: The Frogs have a young QB and a relatively inexperienced offensive line. The Buckeyes have one of the best defensive players in the country. But Nick Bosa is just one man, and it’s certainly a talented front across the board. How will Ohio State look to exploit this matchup?</strong></p>
<p id="dSSZoK">DH: The problem with double- or triple-teaming Bosa, which most opponents try to do, is that the Buckeyes have a multitude of defensive linemen – some of whom don’t even start – who tend to win more often than not when they’re single-teamed. Chase Young gives the Buckeyes another elite talent at defensive end opposite Bosa, while Dre’Mont Jones and Robert Landers are disruptive interior defensive linemen. The Buckeyes also have deep rotations across the defensive line, which helps keep the top players fresh, and their backups are capable of blowing up plays in the backfield too. So I’d expect Ohio State to have plenty of success getting after the quarterback on Saturday. The question will be whether they remain disciplined enough to avoid being exposed for big plays when Robinson decides to tuck and run the ball.</p>
<p id="6mIR6N"><strong>FOW: Based on the first two games, do you see an area where TCU might have an advantage when it comes to the matchups?</strong></p>
<p id="6DyqNR">DH: I don’t see any clear-cut advantages for TCU, but one matchup I’m really interested to watch is that between Ohio State’s offensive line and TCU’s defensive line. The Buckeyes’ offensive line has been excellent in their first two games this season, but they haven’t really been tested, and they have two new starters – Thayer Munford at left tackle and Malcolm Pridgeon at left guard – while Michael Jordan is in his first year playing center. And I think TCU’s defensive line is talented enough to expose any flaws that the Buckeyes might have in that offensive line. </p>
<p id="W3zhLl"><strong>FOW: Give me one player on each side of the ball that TCU fans should know, but may not be as familiar with, and tell us why they might be the key to victory?</strong></p>
<p id="RuJPn2">DH: An unheralded but important player on offense is K.J. Hill. While he’s not one of the most gifted receivers in Ohio State’s six-deep receiver rotation, he tends to be a security blanket out of the slot when Haskins need to check down and make a short or intermediate pass – which I think TCU’s defensive line will force him to do more than the Buckeyes’ first two opponents did. Other receivers like Austin Mack and Parris Campbell offer more big-play ability, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Hill ends up leading the Buckeyes in catches on Saturday.</p>
<p id="iFh0nE">Defensively, Jordan Fuller is a key player at safety whose importance to Ohio State’s defense was certainly noticeable in the first two games, as he missed the Oregon State game with a hamstring injury before returning for the Rutgers game. He’s the only experienced player the Buckeyes have at the position, and a really good talented who plays a crucial role in patrolling the back end and preventing big plays. His contributions might not necessarily jump off the screen, but the Buckeyes need to have to be at his best to keep the TCU offense in check on Saturday.</p>
<p id="LaHb1j"><strong>FOW: And finally... how do you think this game plays out? Ohio State wins if... TCU wins if... and your score prediction.</strong></p>
<p id="QZVI2y">DH: If Ohio State can play up to its ability on both sides of the ball, I believe the Buckeyes will win this game, and they could win it comfortably. When Haskins is passing the ball efficiently and the offensive line is opening up holes for Dobbins and Weber to hit, the Buckeyes’ offense is tough to stop. And if Ohio State’s defensive line is firing on all cylinders, I believe they will be able to put heavy pressure on Shawn Robinson and force him to make mistakes.</p>
<p id="Md9JXQ">That said, this is Haskins’ first game away from home as Ohio State’s starting quarterback. It’s also Day’s first game away from home as the Buckeyes’ acting head coach. And it’s by far the toughest test that the Buckeyes have faced all year. Ohio State still has to prove that they can handle those variables without Meyer – and without experienced players from last year like Barrett – and if they aren’t ready for the bright lights and fall into a hole, the Horned Frogs will have a chance.</p>
<p id="1nNDCT">Ohio State is the more talented football team, though, and the Buckeyes really haven’t shown any reason to be concerned about their ability to handle the spotlight. I expect TCU to hit some big plays, but I don’t think the Horned Frogs will have a consistent answer for Ohio State’s offense or defensive line. My final score prediction: Ohio State 42, TCU 24.</p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2018/9/13/17853514/one-of-the-best-offenses-in-the-country-all-year-long-a-q-a-with-eleven-warriorsMelissa B. Triebwasser2018-09-11T10:05:44-05:002018-09-11T10:05:44-05:00Quick Look: Ohio State Buckeyes
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<p>The Frogs will be in a battle on Saturday night. </p> <p id="U6prQ6">Ohio State week is finally here, and it comes with all the hype of <a href="https://www.frogsowar.com/2018/9/8/17836306/tcu-ohio-state-getting-college-gameday-on-tcus-campus">College GameDay</a> in tow. The Buckeyes have opened as 13.5 favorites over the Frogs, and if you listen to Ohio State fans, they fully expect to cover. </p>
<p id="MnUpAA">It’s not an unwarranted belief, by any stretch of the imagination, as Ohio State touts arguably one of the best defensive lines in the country, as well as incredible talent at quarterback and running back. And, if you’ve seen their first two games of the year, they certainly look like a force to be reckoned with. </p>
<p id="ylfRuO">The reality is, though, that they’ve played two teams that aren’t even close to their level in Oregon State and Rutgers. </p>
<p id="QgqkXj">TCU isn’t Oregon State or Rutgers. While on paper the Frogs look outmatched from a talent perspective, we all know that Gary Patterson will get his guys ready to play. </p>
<p id="IdogUe">The Buckeyes aren’t without their weaknesses, and TCU isn’t without it’s strengths. This will be a dogfight. Get ready. </p>
<p id="9nrddj"><strong>Ohio State’s Offense</strong></p>
<p id="rFrN1T">Sophomore Dwayne Haskins leads the Bucks from behind center, and he’s an exciting talent. Completing 79.2% of his passes through two games, Haskins has thrown for 546 yards and nine touchdowns, to one interception. He’s not much of a dual threat, though, as he’s only run four times this season. </p>
<p id="eZEj95">That’s not to say OSU can’t run the ball, though. Between Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins, the Buckeyes have a strong presence in the run game. Both bigger backs, at 5-10/215, Weber and Dobbins have combined for a little over 350 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. </p>
<p id="BHetnZ">From the receiver spot, Ohio State has legitimate depth laden with upperclass talent. Parris Campbell and Terry McLaurin have five combined receiving touchdowns on the season, and K.J. Hill, Austin Mack, and Johnnie Dixon have also made significant impacts in the receiving game. </p>
<p id="2MsmtN">It should be mentioned, too, that Ohio State has dual-threat redshirt freshman Tate Martell they can turn to as well. Martell has seen significant playing time this season over the course of OSU’s two season-opening blowouts, and he’s performed well. How much he plays on Saturday is yet to be seen. </p>
<p id="I4RiHM"><strong>Ohio State’s Defense</strong></p>
<p id="mF4Fze">You’re going to hear a lot about Nick Bosa this week. The 6-4, 263 pound defensive end is an elite talent, and he’s going to give TCU’s tackles everything they can handle. Through two games Bosa has five tackles for loss and three sacks, and has absolutely destroyed the guys trying to block him. </p>
<p id="oXWPyq">The Buckeyes defensive line will arguably be the best DL TCU faces all season, so this will be an incredible test for TCU’s big men up front. Where TCU may excel, though, is in the passing game - where the Frogs’ speed could give Ohio State some problems. </p>
<p id="MFAomt">Kendall Sheffield and Damon Arnette are good cover corners, no doubt, but they rarely see speed in the Big 10 like TCU will throw at them on Saturday night. Safety Jordan Fuller made his season debut against Rutgers, and seemed to significantly improve Ohio State’s pass defense in the process. He’s another big name to keep an eye on Saturday. </p>
<p id="H8t0vj"><strong>Ohio State’s Elephant in the Room</strong></p>
<p id="PhBgcA">Urban Meyer is back and coaching during the week. He won’t be on the sideline Saturday night, but as Gary Patterson said after the SMU game, the fact that Meyer is back coaching and game-planning means the Frogs’ don’t really have an advantage when it comes to him being off the sideline. </p>
<p id="DxJKkE">With GameDay coming in this week, there’s an “opportunity” for some signage that’s less than savory, surrounding the issues of domestic violence and Zach Smith. Let’s be better than that, please. </p>
https://www.frogsowar.com/2018/9/11/17839860/quick-look-ohio-state-buckeyesJamie Plunkett