Hello, everybody. Welcome to the Buckeye weekly podcast. I am Tony Gerdeman. Here as always with Tom or Tom. How's it going?
Well, Tony, I was watching, I don't know, one of the football games on Saturday and a commercial came on that, you know, had the CBS Sports music and Ohio State and Indiana kickoff Saturday 3:30pm. And I went, oh crap is that next weekend, which seems like something that someone who has had a countdown to that game on his podcast since January, would have a better grasp on but it was like I thought I had another weekend before we were gone every weekend. But no, Tony, apparently not apparently, football coming sooner than maybe expected.
Yeah, I think after the show, I'm gonna go ahead and set my DVR for this coming weekend and get all those games in. And I probably remove all of the games from last year. I don't think I need them anymore. I think it's safe to go ahead and delete Ohio State vs. Rutgers. If I need to go back to that, I can perhaps just go back to my copious notes from my notebooks.
Yeah, I think hopefully, you know, hopefully that's not a game. We're talking about too much, at least for a while. Better clear off that DVR space for Michigan, East Carolina. Oh, baby. It is. Is that working days this week? I didn't I forgot to look.
Actually, I don't believe we can DVR that game. I believe it is on peacock. So I guess that's good. In that sense. I just hopefully, this peacock stuff is available on demand as well. And hopefully I you know, it would be great if like NBC and I have no idea if NBC and Peacock, like aren't militant about the games being on YouTube, when people would just throw the games up on YouTube, because that's the best way to watch Michigan if you're not watching it live. It's fast forwarding through the huddles, and through the chit chat, and things like that. So yeah, I'm, I'm interested to see how this whole TV network impacts me personally, with rewatching of Michigan, which we both do.
So I just want to make sure I'm understanding this. So Michigan is going to be the first week game on a new network that has never shown big 10 games before and they're playing a lower level team at home. And they're a big favorite. Right. I just want to make sure I'm understanding the situation. Is that is that all accurate?
What could possibly go wrong, Tom? Yeah, I believe that is I believe that is accurate. I'm just looking, scrolling here to see. Yes. 12pm. Peacock, East Carolina, at Michigan. Now. I don't believe I don't believe Michigan is I don't think it's a concern. Also, I remember after that game, when everybody petitioned for Appalachian State, we should be allowed to give them AP votes. I don't think it's worried about that. At least Carolina. I don't I don't think that's going to be something with it. No petition, no GoFundMe, nothing like that is going to get them any AP votes.
Well, yeah, well, they're an FBS team, so that you won't need to petition and also I didn't even think about the fact Well, this time this is totally different from the other thing that I might have been applying earlier because this team should North Carolina, whereas the other time it was from Oh, somewhere down, down in some holler down there somewhere. Yeah, no, I think I think there's nothing to worry about. It should be fine. Michigan had its head coach the last time so it's really this is totally different situation.
As we wait for people to come in, we will we are doing our welcome everybody. Those of you have joined us. We're doing our Ohio State, Michigan tale, the tape, something we've been doing for the entirety of this podcast. So I don't know if it's like the seventh one maybe that we've done over over the years. And so feel free to throw in your questions, your super chats, we will get to them. As probably after we do all of the comparison in the contrasting of Ohio State and Michigan position by position. Later in the season, we'll pit them against each other and things like that. This is just basically determining the rooms individually who has the better rooms. But I don't know we should probably save it for that when we talked about the coaches but Michigan crazy stuff going on with the lack of head coaches and the plethora of head coaches going on right now is interesting.
Yeah, Harbaugh was suspended he won't he there was going to be an agreement he was going to be suspended for four games and then No, no, no, that's totally out of out of pocket. That's totally unacceptable. We're gonna self impose a three game suspension, which is totally different because of it's one game less. But because it's one game less than we have four guys. We want to have the interim coaches. We're going to do this in the weirdest way possible. And we're going to have four interim coaches head coaches, for three games, and I don't Wanna like I don't want to totally be bagging on this idea because it is kind of a cool idea to give a bunch of different guys a chance to be a head coach for a game and like Sean Morris can be head coach for a game and they're going to they're going to sort of space it out. And everyone will get the opportunity to then say, oh, you know, when you're looking for a job down the line, yeah, I have been an interim head coach, and it was in Michigan. It's a big program. And okay, so this is great. And, you know, that was certainly something Ryan day when he was the interim head coach, when Urban Meyer was suspended or unpaid administrative leave, or whatever, whatever the technical term was back in 2018. That was certainly, you know, a nice little dry run for Ryan day before he took over the program on the whole. So that's cool. But the UNLV game Tony, first half interim head coach, Jay Harbaugh, second half interim head coach, Mike Hart. Somehow, even when Jim Harbaugh is doing something that's like, oh, that's kind of a neat way to do it. And it's kind of a nice way to, you know, maybe do it, do a solid for some of your assistant coaches, he still somehow finds a way to make it weird. And I just, everyone's good at something and making it weird seems to be his thing.
I think that's his love language. Basically. That's what he that's the way he gets through to people. Yeah, it is bizarre. But I do also think it's like when Bobby Bowden would have to suspend a bunch of players over the course of three or four games from previous season this is essentially what maybe Jim Harbaugh is doing as well because Sure, I'm more believe it's suspended for the first game so he couldn't coach the first game so you've got to get a piecemeal it here and there when you run a renegade program time. You got to do what you can
remember Florida State FSU back then was free shoes University. And that was why and Tony, you have them on allowed meet. I think that's got to be the the new, like across deck for this. And yes, just let's get this on the record. Yes, that turns out there was more than just hamburgers. I know. I'm surprised too. But it turns out some of that was maybe being downplayed a little bit. But yes, there was a bunch of stuff involving COVID, which was 20, arguably serious, more serious than hamburgers.
I still wish, I wish to things. Sports Illustrated as a magazine was still around. And if it was, then like Michigan wins the national championship this year. Because you know, the cover would be it would just say Burger King, with a picture of hardball holding a trophy. And it would be spectacular. Maybe not for the Buckeye fans. But for those of us who appreciate a good Sports Illustrated cover,
all right, yes, that would that would be great. And, boy, you look back I just saw someone tweeting about the like a non Ohio State affiliated person tweeting out the how deep it went. Ohio State Jim trestles Sports Illustrated cover and it's like you look at that now. And it's like, Guy failed to report a thing that's functionally now legal, like a boy that in terms of things that used to seem like a real big deal, but some people that not necessarily as much now, that sort of towards the topic list. We do have a SuperJet Tony, from Brian McGerr. Not only is Jim Harbaugh good being weird, he's good at being Ryan days, daddy. I mean, and we'll get to we will get to the head coach rankings a little later on the show. I mean, he does have he does have scoreboard back to back years. I don't you know, I don't think that's an arguable thing. So thoughts
it? Yeah, no, it's definitely not an arguable thing. He is. Jim Harbaugh is to one and yeah. Against Ryan day. So yeah, the two wins in a row are undeniable, we will eventually get to the court to the head coach rankings. But let's go ahead and start with the quarterback rankings, Tom. And I'll even give you first dibs here to see how you think about how this thing is gonna go.
Well, I think you have to look at JJ McCarthy being sort of a proven commodity at this point. And when I say proven commodity, I don't mean He's incredible. I think JJ McCarthy does stuff that he does really well. I think JJ McCarthy has stuff that he stuff that he does, where it's you know, you get the sense sometimes the coaching staff doesn't entirely trust him. But you've also seen it from JJ McCarthy and he went down to Columbus and beat Ohio State last year, and he won the big 10 last year and he got to the college football playoff. And then once he got to college football playoff, mumble mumble mumble voice trails off and then they then they had an offseason. And so I think you have to look at the proven commodity right now and say you probably take that over the two guys in Ohio State's quarterback room because I think we both have a sense that Kyle McCord and Devin brown whoever it ends up being and we did a whole show about who we thought it was probably going to be a little earlier this afternoon. But whichever one it ends up being, it's a five star quarterback it's a guy being coached by Ryan day, in a in a Ryan day offense, and with a plethora of skilled talent around them and you get the sense of they're probably going to be fine. And I would even say, I'm fairly confident that Ohio State's quarterback is going to have shinier statistics than JJ McCarthy does. And it's quite possible if we revisit this by the end of the year, you know, if we do another one of these the week of the Ohio State Michigan game, that we're picking the Ohio State quarterback, but right now you just I think I know what you're gonna get with the Ohio State quarterbacks. But right now you kind of know sort of what the floor is with JJ McCarthy. So I think you got to go with Michigan to the quarterback room, at least for the moment.
Yeah, I would agree with that. But even even Cade McNamara beat Ohio State and took Michigan to the playoffs. So I mean, that's No, that's no guarantee that JJ McCarthy is all that good, but 22 touchdowns, five interceptions last year. Obviously a playmaker. Still, you would expect him to be more consistent, although as we know, here on the show, the theory is that the longer a quarterback is with Jim Harbaugh, the worse he gets. So it'll be interesting. Interesting to see if JJ McCarthy just blows that theory out of the water this year. I expect him to be just fine and really good and really productive. It is interesting to me that if you just look at the course of his season last year, completed 80% of his past is in August and September, completed 71.6% of his passes in October, and November completed 50% of his passes. That's something that we used to see with Braxton Miller, and JJ Barrett, JT Barrett, the worse the weather gets, the worse the accuracy gets things get a little out of whack. And then of course, you get to the postseason, and he had three of his five interceptions in one in the big 10 championship game two in the in the playoff game, I'm not sure what will happen with those interceptions after they were picked off. Nobody knows. It's a long time ago who could possibly remember, but he's a playmaker. That one of the things that I and again, this is this is all we're all both saying that it's Michigan here. But the more he threw the ball, the worse things got for Michigan, essentially, he threw the ball more than 25 times in five games. Rutgers was the only time that he did that. And it wasn't a seven point game. And in the fourth quarter, so like, if he's throwing the ball, that's not always a great thing. If if he's throwing the ball a bunch, that's not a great thing. And that includes the the Indiana game, which was a seven point game, but of course, we that was that was the MyChart Caesar game. So everything that happened there is you don't hold that against Michigan, but I think there's there's this is Michigan. I'm interested see how much better JJ McCarthy gets. In terms of Ohio State Tom, as I said last week, it's going to be there'll be some irony and some interest in a bunch of stories written if Ryan day ends up choosing Devon brown to start overcome a chord as Devin Brown is kind of the JJ McCarthy of that quarterback room. The the big arm loose cannon mobile guy compared to Kyle McCord, and of course, Ryan day chose Kyle McCord over JJ McCarthy and recruiting. So there'll be a little bit of story there if they go with Devin Brown.
Yeah, and I think, you know, we I think we're both sort of still leaning McCord over brown in terms of who that's more likely to be. And you know, the McCord McCord McCarthy discourse is going to be probably lively throughout the year if those guys are if those guys are both the starting quarterback for Ohio State and Michigan, because Ohio State basically chose Kyle McCord over JJ McCarthy. That's just kind of they were in the same class that in Ryan day, had both of them wanted to go to Ohio State and Ohio State said, okay, you know, JJ McCarthy, you know, let us let us think about it, let us sleep on it, basically, and then calm record and committing. So, you're gonna have the discourse around that. I do. You know, I think this is probably way too soon. Last year, there were lots of Michigan fans who couldn't wait to tell you that, you know, Ryan day very clearly got it wrong, because JJ McCarthy was good. And no one thought, you know, it wasn't like JJ McCarthy didn't have an offer from Ohio State. Ryan day, just thought McCord was a better fit for his offense. So this year is the year that we will potentially find that out. One thing that I think is a huge, huge, huge issue for Michigan potentially is so who's behind JJ McCarthy because Kate McNamara is currently on pace to score exactly 25.5 points with Brian ferentz in Iowa. And the answer. Tony, do you know Davis Warren was one of the backups last year and he really did not do a whole heck of a lot. He was had a 56 yard pass against Hawaii. And then was for for eight for 33 yards otherwise, so not exactly a proven commodity there. Do you know who else is in the battle for the backup quarterback job at Michigan right now?
I believe right now as a jack title and Alex orgy. Yes. And
you know it sounds like from the reporting out of Michigan that title was maybe the most likely guy to push Davis Warren right now. And if Jack Tuttle's name sounds familiar, he was a quarterback at Indiana. I think the last time Ohio State was at at Indiana, Jack Tuttle was the quarterback if you remember how that game went, if Jack trouble starting for Michigan this year, that's probably not great news. And in the other thing you might know checked out before is he was another quarterback who Ryan day was looking at at one point, he did not end up offering Jack title but he did end up offering Jack Tuttle's High School Wide Receiver teammate, a gentleman by the name of Chris olave. A so ready I'm gonna do my Paul Harvey now you know, the rest of the story.
One other quick thing about the quarterbacks and the all big 10 nature of which of these guys is going to be getting that award? As we as we've said, you'd have to go back to just once since 2012 Has there been an all big 10 quarterback that didn't come from Ohio State and that was 2015 with Connor cook. Do you know the last all big 10 First Team All big 10 quarterback for Michigan time.
Did Chad henne win it at some point like 2004 Chad any maybe?
About 2007 Chad henne was the last time the coaches named Michigan quarterback First Team 2010 Denard Robinson, the media named him named but that 2007 Chet, anything that must have been well before the Ohio State game where he could no longer throw the football.
Yeah, that was that was your Chad henne shoulder was just torched. And I mean, he he did what he could but man that was not. That was not a good Chad henne season. That might have been a little bit of coasting on you're coasting on your previous reputation because he you know, even as a true freshman in 2004 might have been a redshirt freshman. I think it was a true freshman either either. He and Mike Hart were Yeah, he might not think were true freshmen in 2004. They had a heck of a year that year. That would have been the year you know, I mean, he was very good and in 2006 as well, obviously. Yeah. 2007 That might have been a little bit of a Lifetime Achievement Award. But yeah, Denard Robinson is as big 10 quarterback of the year that's I mean, that's interesting. He was he was great in that in that offense. It was 2000 10s That would have been last year rich rod I guess. So yeah, I mean he was great in that offense and really dynamic I just don't I just don't think him of him as a I don't think of him as a quarterback because you think of him as a you know extremely efficient rich rod running the ball quarterback. We have a quick a Super Chat quick one from from Brian McGuire who says Alex orgy is an absolute freak. He is one of the Michigan backup quarterbacks we have seen him a little bit in the ends of the ends of games in previous years, but not really any kind of meaningful snaps and he's someone that you've sort of seen it floated that he might be in like the kick return picture maybe for them so he's you know, when you when you look at him as a quarterback, he's you know, think about the quarterbacks who have been in the kick return picture for Ohio State like the last one we can think of was Troy Smith, I guess right? So you know, I mean, that's you've got to be a pretty good athlete to both be a quarterback and also in that in that role, didn't they use him as a goal line quarterback at times last season? Am I remembering that right?
I don't recall that but yeah, that might that might be right. But yeah, I've heard other people talk about Alec Georgie how all of the athleticism is there and the arm? Obviously not a Joe Milton arm. I mean, nobody has the Joe Milton arm. We know that. But yeah, we'll get to see I'm sure we'll get to see him quite a few times this year. Let's move to running backs Tom, where there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Ohio State has, overall the better running back room. However, this is a lot like from opoli You know, where only one of those guys can carry it at the time only one of those guys can fit the narrow path between the tackles essentially and carry the ball. I think Ohio State's five running backs could all start at Ohio State and be 1000 yard rushers. And from one end to the other there better than Michigan's depth. But how far down the well are you going? How far down the depth chart are you going? And how often do you need to get to that third running back because if we're just talking about the top two treyvion Henderson in mind, Williams are fantastic. But Blake quorum Trumps everybody and Donovan Edwards what he showed last year, may eventually outshine Blake quorum, maybe not maybe this year, who knows? But I think when you're talking about The who's going to be carrying the ball? I think that's what you weigh here. And for me, I'm gonna go Michigan because Blake Coram when he's at his best is really stinking good. And I think he along with any all big 10 trophies, he should also have his name on to Joe Moore awards.
Yeah. And he's he's someone who is as solid of running back as they have had up there in a long, long time and Edwards to Edwards is, you know, I'm sure I don't need to explain to a podcast full of Ohio State fans. What kind of a potential big play running back Donovan Edwards is. This is again, a little bit like the quarterback spot where you've got to look at what what do you really know? Because I think there's there's a possibility that Ohio State ends the year ahead of Michigan in this spot where at least even with Michigan in this spot, if you have a healthy treyvion Henderson we've talked about this before, all the stuff you are hearing about treyvion Henderson this year is all the stuff you were hearing about JK Dobbins 2019 When JK Dobbins ended up running for 2000 years he's not chicken pregnant hunters is not going to run for 2000 yards this year. But that's because they're gonna be divided in carries a little bit more than they did back in 2019. Mine you know, I think he could I think you could very easily have 1000 1200 yards out of treyvion Henderson 700 800 yards out of mine Williams 300 400 yards at a someone else whether that's to train them Dallin Hayden, no is Evan Pryor is does Evan Pryor end up being that third guy, the depth in the Ohio State running back room is unquestionably better than Michigan's and I think a year from now and this is I think, as we're talking about this, pay attention to how many of the guys we're talking about for Michigan are draft eligible because boy howdy Is it a lot. And I think the tail of the tape at the running back room is probably going to look pretty different a year from now. But right now I'm with you, I think you've got to go with the top two guys are going to be you know if your top two guys are both in the 800 to 1200 yard range, or potentially much more than that, and it was much more than that for Michigan last year. You got to kind of look at the top two and being better at the fourth runningback spot. Yeah, that's that's great. But that's not a deciding factor to me.
Yeah, I still think Ohio State's two guys will be in that 800 to 1200 range. But right now the most proven guy is Blake Corp. Now what happens if one of their two top guys go down and then that number three guy shoots up is that CJ Stokes? I don't know. Is he there you know kolel Mullings. We know he can throw the ball and we know he can do other things like that but I think it would take somebody to one of those top two guys to be injured for Ohio State to take this but I do think these are I think this is a lot closer than maybe some people think in terms of everybody loves Blake Corbin Donovan Edwards Don't Don't sleep on what's going on at Ohio State receivers time yeah. Did you have something last left on the running?
Yeah, well the super the Super Chat was just brand new gear real quick saying that Alex orgy runs like Bo Scarborough which is probably a little bit of hyperbole, but you know, not you know, he runs hard.
Like bozkurt Scarborough,
we can we can only hope. The, you know, as far as the running back rooms, let's see what a healthy treyvion Henderson looks like. Let's see what a you know, Healthy Mind Williams looks like because you saw flashes from both of those guys. But they were both hurts so much last year. They really they really went through their depth at the running back room last year. So you know, a healthy treyvion Henderson and in mind Williams, I think they could out rush Blake Coram and Donovan Edwards. I think it's a possibility. I'm not necessarily I'm not predicting that. But I'm saying that that's a possibility. So you know, the idea that this is like far and away, Michigan? Absolutely. You know, it's Michigan. But I don't know that I'm you know, I wouldn't say 100% chance that it's Michigan at the end of the year to one place, I would say I am 100% Confident of where things are going to be at the end of the year. Tony. Speaking of transitions, let's talk about wide receivers. And this feels like this doesn't need to even be a particularly long conversation even if we include the tight ends in here.
Yeah, and we will include the tight ends here. We Yeah. If you the question that I have for you, Tom. And we don't even need to go through all of the names. You know, Cornelius Johnson, Roman Wilson are back from Michigan. Looks like maybe Tyler Morris is there a new Z he called like free passes last year as a true freshman. If I maybe free for 22 which is the exact same that Michael Thomas had his freshman year. But of course as a sophomore Michael Thomas redshirted so this comparison is no longer valid. Very different players anyway, but those three guys and Cornelius Johnson had a great game against Ohio State. He basically had the same numbers that Julian Fleming had last year. And Ohio State fans are almost like Julian Fleming I wish he would just slide over. So Cornell take and play, you know, that sort of thing where people are ready for the new thing and current in Julian Fleming healthy this year should be in line for an even better year. But given who Michigan has at receiver, how many Ohio State receivers would start at Michigan this year?
Boy are they're in a three or whether they in a three wide receiver set? Yeah, yeah. Okay, so you got Cornelius Johnson. You got Roman Wilson. No more Ronnie bell that that's going to hurt a little bit losing him. It sounds like Tyler Morris might be the next guy up there. Darius Clemens may be like he's been banged up, I think a little turn camp. So yeah, boy, over Cornelius Johnson Broman Wilson, and let's say Tyler Morris. I've got Marvin Harrison Jr. I've got Mecca boca. I've got Julian Fleming. I think I'm probably going to put Xavier Johnson in there. I'm probably going to put Cornell Tate and I mean, I think you're probably at least five guys. And then you know, you're getting down to Jaden Ballard and guys like that, who, you know, maybe where we're, you know, maybe, maybe, maybe not. But there's just there's not it's not a proven commodity yet. And you don't have the people talking about them the way that they're talking about Cornell Tate. And just you know, I'm sure there's a decent sized Michigan audience on this one as well. So in case you missed it last week, Marvin Harrison, Jr. was talking on Tuesday, last week, last last week, last Tuesday night after practice, and said very frankly, Colonel Tate, who was a true freshman last year for Ohio State this year, is ahead of where Harrison was a year ago. And Tony said, do you mean two years ago when you were a freshman? He's like no, this time last year. So that seems you know, you never this is this is a great time of year for everyone to be very, you know, happy talking everything. And everyone's great and everything is awesome as the as the song goes, but that feels like you don't say that unless you mean it. And if they have a fourth wide receiver, you know if the fourth or fifth wide receiver at Ohio State is in that kind of neighborhood, like oh, boy, you know, no offense. We also what Michigan's did in the passing game against Ohio State last year, but you know, they haven't done that very consistently. So yeah, I don't feel like this is a particularly long conversation.
Yeah, I think you could even throw Jaden Ballard in as a z over over Tyler Mars. And that would just ask the other question, how many Michigan receivers would start for Ohio State Tom?
Mr. Blue Tarski 0.0. I mean, and you know, there are guys who are probably in the rotation, but I don't you know, I don't think you're going to have too many Michigan fans going in and then a no no, Marvin Harrison Jr. and a mecca Ibuka would definitely sit the bench in Ann Arbor. I absolutely. Yeah, just this this feels like this is a pretty easy one. You know, for me, super chat from Jordan Kappeler. If you are the OSU quarterback, what would be your win loss record, you must have a minimum of 20 pass attempts to help you. I'll give you an offensive line of all Orlando paces.
You know what, I can throw a bunch of 5050 balls with Orlando paces. But also. Yeah, so 2050 50 balls. And honestly, if you have all Orlando paces, you could just throw all of those passes into the sideline out of bounds into the ground, you can go over 20 every game and you're going to be okay with that run again. Now, time you do need to be able to keep the line keep the defense from crowding and just expecting the roads. So you do need to throw downfield sometimes, but as long as those balls go out of out of bounds and nobody's in danger of intercepting them, I think you're going to be okay.
I think you just got to find yourself. I mean, if we're going back to the 90s for Orlando pace, I think we're going back to the 90s and find me mum find me and Michael Wiley who I can hand the ball to and throw the ball downfield for me. I think that's I think that's my game plan and you got to go east west a little bit and no jet jet motion and that kind of stuff. You can you can use the whole field which
passes. Yes. Yeah.
That's I think that's I think that's where, you know, I mean, it worked for Dwayne Haskins, just those little those little pop passes and, you know, the ball goes forward, you know, six inches in the air and then you get a 70 yard touchdown out of it. So I can do I think the real I think the real question is behind an offensive line of Orlando paces. Could I get a Heisman invitation? And the answer is maybe, I think the actual answer on this is, you know, you go through the Ohio State schedule. I feel like I'm bowl eligible, you know, like you're you're winning you're, you're you're winning. Youngstown State you're winning Western Kentucky, you're beating wreckers you're beating Indiana, like just the talent around you is so good and the defense is going to be good enough that the defense is Pro. I mean, this is this is basically what Iowa did last year. So they went to, so
can you be Spencer Pietrus?
More even more than even more than I'd want to? Yes. Yes.
And then of course, you know, tight ends part of that receiver group, but obviously, Michigan has two good ones close to Loveland, AJ Barner. Ohio State has Cade Stover. So but overall as a group, you're not touching anything that Ohio State is doing. With that time with the offensive line. Let me explore the room on this one for you for a minute because on one hand, you've got a team that brings back a pair of talented guards, but had to go into the portal looking for a left tackle a center. There's questions about what's going on at right tackle and the left tackle that they went out west to get didn't play there last year. But then you also have Ohio State, you should sure to the same teams. It's ridiculous. It's amazing.
It is amazing. And you know, I think you've got to look at where they started. You know, you're feeling really good about both guard positions. Ohio State, Donovan, Jaxon, Matt Jones, Michigan, you got Zack center. You got Trevor Keegan like those are four just rock solid, great guard spots. You've got you know, Drake Nugent is probably the starter at center. Yeah, Hinton and Jones at the right at the right tackle spot. The Darius Henderson maybe Carson Barnhart at the left tackles button. You know, I think Michigan is it feels like the reports out of Michigan camp are less certain than the reports out of Ohio State camp like I think we kind of know who Ohio State starters are. And I think that's probably partly a function of we know, because we know, and partly a function of, you know, Michigan is basically like the Soviet Union in the 1970s in terms of operational secrecy. You know, they call it fort Schembechler up there, and it's, you know, you can you can every once in a while, get some information out, but, you know, how trustworthy is inflammation? How much are your people just kind of getting gassed up? Like, I don't know, one thing that I thought was really interesting looking at the offensive line was, there were reports that I've read about the interior of the Michigan defensive line, really holding its own or doing pretty well against the interior of the Michigan offensive line, which, you know, you can look at that and say, well, they've got both of their guards back. So that's probably great news for the interior of the Michigan defensive line. Or you can say, well, they've got a new center. And sometimes if the new center is a little shaky, that might be a little bit of concern. On this one, I'm giving it to Michigan just based on last year, I mean, two years in a row, they've won the Joe Moore award. So you kind of you know, this is not a sure thing for Ohio State by any means this year. But this is one that I think is maybe closer than you think I think if you go back and watch last year's table to tape show, I think I basically said Michigan next like it wasn't it wasn't much of a conversation this year. I think the Michigan offense line is going to be good, but they might take a little bit of a step back. And then boy, Tony, they've got a lot of upperclassmen in that line this year, too. And, you know, I mean, there's another team in the state of Michigan has tried to kind of rebuild itself to the transfer portal. And sometimes it works. And sometimes it doesn't. i The more I looked at this, the more I was like, This is gonna be pretty good Michigan team. Boy, I wonder what the 2024 Michigan team is going to look like, because it's going to be different.
Yeah, it is. And they'll just go get, I don't know, four or five offensive linemen out of the portal. But the assumption here is that I'll go with Michigan as well. But it is an assumption. And if they hadn't won the Joe Moore award last few years, and put everything together and brought everything together, you're looking at a team still trying to figure out who their two tackles are, and they've got four guys that they think can do it. It's just it's a lot of a lot of options or a lot of possibilities. But where's the solidification, the solidification of who those guys are? And, Tom, if you have four tackles, do you have to that sort of thing, and so I think I'm not gonna make the argument for Ohio State. I think it can be made, but you go with the assumption right now because, again, as I've said, as we've said about Ohio State's offensive line. Right now they're going to be starting a left tackle who has never played a position and last year was a right tackle at San Diego State. Senator is probably a redshirt freshman. right tackle is Josh Pryor first time starter who has done well in spurts but it's still he is the least unknown of the known? So I guess the most known of the unknowns, but it's still a question mark. So But you're right, the the momentum, and the the encouragement, the excitement coming from Ohio State about their offensive line is up here. The way you hear two people say talking about Michigan, it's down here in terms of the expected more than I think they're getting. But we can all go ahead and assume Michigan will figure this out because they have,
right they have plenty of times in the past. And so you just sort of it's a little bit like Ohio State with quarterbacks where it's Ryan day, it's a five star quarterback, whichever of the two guys it is like, it'll probably be fine. That's kind of where I am with Michigan. It's it's closer. Again, I'm picking Michigan. I know there are people calling us, you know, Sunshine pumpers for Ohio State in the comments, and it's like you must have just joined us because we've said Michigan a lot already. And that's on the offensive side of the ball. So I do. I think there are questions. This is probably a little bit of a step back from Michigan's offensive line from a year ago, two years ago. You know, it's entirely possible they don't win the Joe Moore award this year. That's That's my saying that's that's the extent of my hot take Miss here. Brand new gear says Michigan right tackles It started last year. And he started like half of the games, right? Am I remembering that? Right? Yeah. And the Nugent is one of the best centers in the country last year. So I mean, this is again, this is not no one is saying this is going to be a terrible Michigan offensive line. But there's a big gap between where Michigan's offensive lines have been in the past. And you know, what the floor of this year's offensive line could be?
I will say Drake Nugent a two time honorable mention. All PAC 12. Player. And that's it. So one of the best centers in the country. I mean, it was was Senator deep in the Pac 12. Last year, and I'm not putting any weight on a media vote, because I've done it before. It's usually the coach's vote that carries more weight to me, but you know, you just mentioned the difficulty that Michigan's interior offensive line is having so I think calling him one of the best centers in the country is the sunshine pumping in this conversation.
Yeah. And it's, you know, I mean, it's, I think he might Yeah, he might be but you know, again, kind of McCord might go to the Heisman ceremony, or Devin brown might go to the Heisman ceremony, he might, but we're not picking them because we haven't seen it yet. So it's kind of okay, let's, let's see it. And then don't worry. We'll do the show again, the week before the Ohio State Michigan game, and then we'll have a lot more data and we'll be able to give you much, you know, sometimes the answers end up being very different by the time we get there than when we're here. Brian says that Barnhart was a starter he didn't split time last year so Alright, so there you go. So yeah, it's it's a I mean, I think this is going to be a good Michigan offensive line but I I don't think might take a step back is exactly a hot take a file you know, in the same way that Ohio State might take a step back at quarterback after two years of CJ strap like that's a possibility. not guaranteeing it but it's possibility.
Barnhart started the second half of last year at Trinity Jones started the first half just an FYI based on my Phil Steele start chart.
All right, I thought I thought I remembered that right. Yeah, I thought they because they had some injuries and split some stuff up. So yeah, yeah. Okay. Tony, let's talk defense. What I'm sure Ohio State fans can't wait.
Yeah, let's start with the defensive line. And the way we're going to do this with Michigan's defense. Let's just consider both teams running a four to five and so Michigan does their two interior to you know to edge and one of the edges as an outside linebacker everybody's everybody's a defensive end or defensive tackle here. So for me, if you look at what's coming back, just to compare the two, two sides, Michigan is returning 12 sacks from the defensive line Ohio State's returning 15 sacks, Michigan is returning 20 tackles for loss from the defensive line Michigan Ohio State is returning 31 and a half. I think the Ohio State side of this you have potential all Americans on the interior and Mike Hall if he can stay healthy. I don't know how many Michigan fans really know about him. He was injured for much of last year but when he was healthy, he was outstanding. Tyler squibs never defensive tackle next to him is as solid potential and of course defensive ends JT Tumalo out Jack Sawyer, Kenyatta Jackson and as part of the depth and Kim curry, the depth of the Ohio State defensive line as we've said for every year we've done this is always greater than Michigan's and I think that holds true once again and I do like a lot of Michigan's pieces like Mason grant last year was fantastic. true freshman defensive tackle ism President, obviously Chris Jenkins on the inside as is really good as well. Brian McGregor. Derek Moore has had some good moments. I'll be interested to see what Josiah Stewart the transfer from Coastal Carolina can do. So they've got some good pieces, but obviously has a great pieces.
Yeah, you know, let's just look at where are we expecting these guys to get drafted this time next year? I mean, you talked about the returning production numbers and they all favor Ohio State. I don't think Michigan's got anyone who's gonna get picked ahead of JT to a Moelleux. I don't think Michigan has some really good players, especially interior the line Chris. Chris Jenkins is real good. Base. And Graham was very impressive last year. I don't think they have anyone with the ceiling of Mike Hall. I mean, for Michigan fans who might not know this, Mike Hall had what was it four sacks in are four tackles for loss in seven snaps against Michigan State and he was banged up and missed, you know, missed most of the game and still was that kind of impactful? There is I think this is a Ohio State. This is a generational, Ohio State defensive line classes are the class of 2021 where you had Jack's or your JT Tumalo. Pair fivestar. Edge rushers. You had my call. You had Tyler Williams, you got Ty Hamilton in there, you got to transfer and Taiwan Malone from Ole Miss who's going to be you know, not necessarily a starter but a very valuable, valuable rotational piece there. I think the top end for Ohio State is probably at Michigan's level or higher and the depth is probably better at Ohio State. So I am gonna go with Ohio State on the defensive line. Yeah, I
would agree there. And honestly, I don't know how much more time we need to spend on that the depth, you know, Michigan, kind of grant on a defensive tackle ratio and Benny, still waiting for these guys to do something. They could do it this year. But I'll take Ohio State, they're on the defensive line. linebacker. Go ahead, Tom.
I'm just looking at the comments and it's amazing how our intelligence or stupidity seems to swing depending on who we pick at any individual, any individual position group, we have gotten substantially smarter with Ohio State fans recently and substantially dumber with Michigan fans so can't wait to see where this all heads next.
And I was gonna wear a yellow shirt for this show, but I didn't know if that'd be super bad or super good. So let's go with the linebackers. And again, these teams basically playing two linebackers. We put Jalen Harrell with the defensive ends the whole thing with Michigan and still wasn't enough for the Wolverines. linebacker, again, you've got Iowa State returning second team all American Tommy Eichenberg. That's third year starter essentially. And Steele chambers started towards the second half of the 2021 season started all year last year. Cody Simon who has started about eight or 10 games in his career as a number three linebacker, the number four linebacker CJ Hicks who was the number one linebacker recruit in the 2022 class. And you compare that to Michigan with Jr Coulson, the middle linebacker Very good. Michael Barrett pretty good. The interesting guy there is going to be I think Ernest Hausman, the sophomore transfer from Nebraska. It's a good trio there and Jimmy roller. We saw him a little bit last year as a true freshman. But I'm still I'm still gonna go with the I think Tommy Eichenberg Steele chambers are better, more productive than their two counterparts. And I know everybody loves Jr, Coulson, Tommy Eichenberg. And I had maybe 40 or 50 More tackles? Yes, Ohio State was on the field probably more defensively than then Michigan was. So yeah, you're gonna have more tackles. But, you know, I'll take the I'll take the All American and ride Ohio State's linebacker group here in this one.
Yeah, it seems like the top of Ohio State's linebacker group is probably better. This is one where the depth for Michigan? Probably not quite what it is for Ohio State. And the top for Ohio State I think is better, which, you know, I think if you ask people beforehand, where are they going to pick? You know, without thinking anything? Where are they going to pick Ohio State to have the advantage? It's gonna be on the offensive Michigan's gonna be on the defense. And here we are. And we're two units in on the defense and Ohio State's gotten both of them but Michigan got three or four on offense. So what a time to be alive is I guess my big takeaway there. It is. You know, this is this is one of these things where we're going to be talking when we talk about depth with a lot of these spots. And this is not specifically linebackers. This is kind of everywhere. Ohio State when you look at the recruiting rankings year over year, Ohio State is just every year ahead of Michigan, Ohio State is every year recruiting in the Alabama Georgia realm of the rankings and Michigan is sometimes in the you know, six to eight range and sometimes in the 18 and 23 kind of range. And for whatever reason and coach who's constantly batting his eyes at the NFL probably has something to do with this Michigan has just not been able to capitalize. And for years and years and years, it was always well, Michigan, everyone else was paying the players and were to pure and yada, yada, yada, and okay, now you can pay the players and it still hasn't happened. So, you know, I think there's when you're when we are talking about the depth, it's because Ohio State has been bringing in consistently better classes overall, which means there's just a, you know, that one or two extra good players in the class that adds up over time. And you look at the class of 2024. Someone sent me something today, and the top six players in terms of rankings are, you know, for Ohio State and Michigan combined are all Ohio State and three of them are on defense, including two defensive lineman and a cornerback so, you know, it's not just quarterbacks and wide receivers for Ohio State and recruiting, they've just they've consistently been recruiting better than Michigan over the years. And even though Michigan has won two years in a row, that gap hasn't really closed. And so at some point, you know, that's one of the things that at some point does catch back up with you.
Yeah, that's just been the situation with Michigan for years as the depth and when you're recruiting the in the seven hundreds, you're gonna be missing out on a lot of those guys and then having to process that process then replace them with transfers or, or not replace them at all and just stay thin until they're gone. And so we've seen that all over the defense for Michigan through the years. Time. Let's move to we wanted we both went linebacker, Ohio State that right is that correct? Yes, we did. Yes. So let's move to corner now and we'll separate quarter and safeties and we'll put the nickel in with the safeties. Will Johnson, I think we both are very high on him. Do Denso Berkut Ohio State Jordan Hancock Davidson. They've been noson they've got three there. I've seen stuff about maybe Mike Cena is still being a starting corner and then on patent, you know, on passing downs moving to nickel, but where are you on the Michigan corners compared to Ohio State?
Well, I was reading this this week and last week or so that they want to Harbaugh has said he wants to play Samer, still in the slot Now, does that mean that they are never going to play him outside? I don't know. But I think his preference would be to play him outside. The question is, who is that second corner for Michigan? Because will Johnson is will Johnson is Bill Johnson and he is a five star and Ohio State wanted him very much. And he went to Michigan and he has lived up to the hype. And so you know, set him aside. Okay, well, Johnson is a sure thing on one side of the field. The other side of the field is kind of question mark. It's got him in Emory and Walker sounds like he's been banged up a little during fall camp. The other guy, Josh Wallace, who's kind of in the running for that is a transfer from UMass which is like is maybe maybe there's not a real sure thing on the other side. And if it's same, we're still at same we're still but then that's going to you know, move you know, that's going to create issues then when we have the safety conversation. I'm for the purposes of this conversation taking Jim Harbaugh is where that he wants to put saying we're still in the slot. And so we're going to include him with the, with the safeties. And I think we'll Johnson and question mark is probably going to fall behind. Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock and Davis, Nick Ben Olsen and Jr. Brown. I mean, this is an Ohio State corner room that was decimated by crappy recruiting a few years ago, and then decimated by injuries last year. This year. They're deep. They're talented. They've every report we've gotten everything we've seen has been this is a really good corner room. They're getting their hands on footballs they're making plays. This is this feels like this might be the best Ohio State quarterback room since 2019. At least. And that was the year they had Jeff Okuda. Shaun Wade, I think this is I think, even with will Johnson, and will Johnson might very well be the number one overall draft pick of any of these corners. But I think you're probably you know, number one is will Johnson and then picks two, three, maybe four, maybe five are all from Ohio State. So I'm gonna I'm gonna go with the, you know, with the quality of depth here and go with Ohio State.
Yeah, I don't I would agree. I don't think it's outrageous to think for Ohio State's corners start at Michigan this year. Next to will Johnson, honestly, like it could be any of the top three you mentioned in gyre Brown as well. You throw any of those guys in there, and they're more known than what else Michigan has. So go ahead and as expected, just continue this clean sweep for the Ohio State defense, which, as everybody knows, but we talked before the show like this is gonna go a way that people aren't expecting and it's a way that is counterintuitive to how you think the seasons and how we both expect the seasons to go. But that's what happens when you just look at stuff For individually, safety, though this time for me is very interesting. I'll let you go first. I'll let you go
what? Well, Michigan just feels like you kind of know what you got there. It's rod more, it's McCurry page. We're putting Mike sane, we're still we're lumping him in there. Like those are three really good solid players. Ohio State has, you know, I'm gonna say sunny Stiles name, and every Ohio State fan is gonna go and start clapping their hands. But, you know, this is Nathan Ransome who has been good. It is jihad Carter is sounds like it's he's gonna be the free safety right now. And that's a transfer from Syracuse. And I think that's, you know, I don't have a super, super, super high level of confidence that he's definitely going to be incredible. He might be fine. He might be good. But I kind of want to see it. lathe and Ransom should be fine. Sonny Stiles is going to be in the that kind of nickel role, and I think is going to be really dynamic. But again, I kind of want to see it. I want to see, can he track with a slot receiver, you know, running across the middle? Can he you know, can he hold up against all the different things he's going to be asked to do? And there's lots of happy talk out of Ohio State about how Yeah, absolutely can and Okay, maybe we'll see, I just, you know, this is another one of these, I want to see it. So I'm gonna go with Michigan, because I feel like you kind of know what you got there with all three of their safety spots. And you don't necessarily completely know, maybe a higher ceiling but lower floor for Ohio State.
Yeah, I would agree with that. I think Mike Sanders still was, well beyond anything I could have imagined that or really, anybody should have imagined last year after moving from receiver to nickel, and I would not move him from that spot. I would keep him there and let him do exactly what he did last year, and maybe add to it. And yes, he's probably the team's best pass rusher as well. So go ahead and have him do things there as well. But he was fantastic. And I really like Rob Moore has always been around the football he finds the football current page is a bigger dude. I think it's it's an interesting comparison, when you're talking about Mike saner still, and his counterpart on the Ohio State defense is stunning styles. So you got this, you know, 510 511 guy and his 642 and a 30 pound guy and they play the same position. And they'll do actually, they they'll do all of the same pass rushing, they'll do some coverage, they'll do some very similar things, despite looking very different. And I expect this to be Latham Ransomes. best season, strong CD for Ohio State. But I'm with you, the three safeties for Michigan you just no more. And honestly, I don't even care who's behind them. I don't even know who's behind them, you know, didn't really go that deep in those days, because they're so reliable. They're you just they're there and they're always present. And Ohio State safety situation has not necessarily been that way. And they've had some injuries that they both had to deal with, that they've all had to deal with. I do think as you said, the ceiling is really high for the Ohio State safeties, if everything breaks the right way, or if they make it break the right way, but for right now, August 27. Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and cite of Michigan on this one. And most especially because we couldn't just do an Ohio State Clean Sweep and on the defense, but I do really like the Michigan safeties.
Well. And there's a comment here that the Broadmoor disrespect is astounding and like, oh, maybe maybe I blacked out and don't remember what I said. But I seem to recall saying that I was picking Michigan and Tony was picking Michigan and they were the safeties are pretty much a sure thing, like I feel.
Was it comments, perhaps in the comments, maybe he's getting some but not from us. He's great.
Yeah. Not from us. All right. super tough market. But he treasured the tour. Thank you. As always, what's up Tom and Tony G just really hope the chemistry is there with the offense. And it shows it's got really good chemistry, they're going to kick some tail this year. And on offense. Yeah. I mean, chemistry on the offensive line is probably you know, my biggest thing It feels like the quarterback wide receiver chemistry is probably going to be fine. I mean, what what element of chemistry on the offense do you think is maybe the biggest deciding factor for Ohio State this year?
I think the chemistry between the quarterback and the clock in his head, that sort of thing, that the timing, the feeling the rush, that sort of thing, where it's just natural things move well, and it doesn't look like there's they're hearing, seeing ghosts and hearing some knocking noises and things like that, defensively, the chemistry between the defensive line and everybody else, that sort of thing where they're focused on stopping the run so the rest of the defense can be focused on doing their thing as well. That Chemistry will be huge. But offensively I think until we see otherwise, I'm going to expect Ryan day offense to score 40 points a game and a pharaoh for 3500 4500 yards and all that good stuff.
Alright, and we're gonna get to some questions in a minute. So if you have questions, please go ahead and throw those in the comments, we'll take a little time and run through some of this stuff, we figured we might, you know, well, well, we'll get through the tail of tape and 30 minutes or so. And then we'll introduce some questions for a little bit. And here we are 55 minutes in so right on time, as always, but and also, if you can take a time, take a second on YouTube and hit the thumbs up button that helps other folks find the shows, I don't really understand how it doesn't matter. They just say they just say that's how it works. So therefore, it would help us if you do that, and we're gonna be doing a bunch of live shows this week. And then coming up this weekend, live postgame show after Ohio State Indiana. So make sure you're subscribed to our channel on YouTube and hit the bell so you get notified when we do these live shows. Because sometimes we have lots of notice notice like we did today. And sometimes it's kind of you know, especially end of a you know, postgame show is going to be kind of end of the game. But a lot of these you know a lot of these road trip weekends we will end up just kind of doing spontaneous live stuff. So make sure you are subscribed to our YouTube channel. And also consider subscribing to Buckeye huddle.com.
Well said, let's move to special teams because this is an area where a ton of changes for Michigan losing both their kicker and their punter. They do bring in James Turner from Louisville I believe, who has been like a three year starter four year starter, essentially. And I think he's got a COVID year that he's using this year. punter Tommy Dolman kick returner, you know? I mean, when you're talking about putting a quarterback there, you know you don't you know, you're not really solid there. We'll see what they do at punt return. But I think for me, I'm going Ohio State here even not knowing who the kicker is going to be if it's Parker Lewis, he's been an established starter at USC. If it isn't, then that guy beat out an established starter from USC hunter from Australia. I don't think we need to go any further than that. The return game at this point? I don't even know what what kind of a factor it is anymore for most teams, because they're not trying to do anything with return game. So I'm going to protest by not even ranking it.
I get it go with Ohio State here just because Michigan's replacing both their kicker and their punter. And, you know, I mean the same people who were in the comments last year, telling us about how Jake Moody was the greatest weapon in the history of football. And, you know, we would be idiots even consider not picking Michigan on that one, are now going to be telling Miss James Turner he kicked at Louisville, so he's fine. It'll be a real smooth transition. Like maybe Jake Moody was four or four or better three times and 2022. And those were not you know, this was not doing that against Hawaii that was not doing that against who do they play last year UConn. This was Penn State, Michigan State Illinois. And the Michigan State game wasn't super close. But it was close for a while. And that was because they were kicking a bunch of field goals. But Penn State, Illinois, Penn State they were I think trailing nearly in the third quarter at halftime something like that. And Illinois was a close game throughout. And so they were really leaning on moody to be able to make field goals. Maybe Turner is at that level maybe. But maybe not. And Brad Robbins was 22 You know, the first season that Brad Brown was was a punter at Michigan.
It was like 2017 or so 2016 2017.
Yeah, Brad Robins punted in a game twice your he was on Michigan's roster twice against Urban Meyer. Yes, it has been a minute. He punted in a game that JT Barrett played in. Yeah, it is a you know, those are those are big losses for Michigan, and maybe they pick up you know, maybe they just pick up right where they left off. But those were two guys who were very good, very consistent players from Michigan. And that's not just it's not just automatic, it feels automatic. When you got guys like that, who have been around forever moody. I think Moody's career started in 2018 or something like that. Those guys were just there for ever. And it is not always automatic. Just ask Ohio State fans.
So now we go to the final till the check on the tail of the tape, which is the head coach. time if we're just talking about week one, or week two, or week three. I think you gotta give the advantage to Ryan day.
But it kind of depends on which week because, you know, Sean Moore, maybe Jay Harbaugh? I don't know. But that's only half a week. Yeah, yeah. It's this is one where I think when we start you know, when we were doing this in 2018. I think we probably said Harbaugh because you didn't have any Are 2019 2018 We definitely said Urban Meyer 2019 you probably said Harbaugh 2020. You said Ryan day 21. You said Ryan day and then I don't remember what we said last year, but this year even Jim Harbaugh has beaten Ryan day two years in a row. So okay. It's Jim Harbaugh until Ryan day beats Jim Harbaugh. And there's a lot of areas where Ryan day I think is ahead of Jim Harbaugh, but on the field is the one that really counts and he has been behind Jim Harbaugh for a couple of years in a row. So I think you pretty much have to go with Harbaugh here, right?
Yeah, no, I agree. He's, he's ahead of Jim Harbaugh on a lot of ways, just not on the scoreboard. And so that's the one that matters most. And so yes, I think you have to go Jim Harbaugh here and who knows what it'll be next year. But right now, you can only go Harbaugh for Michigan and even that's just a 75 to like, 85% hardball, you know, because he's not going to be there forever game. So Tom has a tally these up. We did, we did. 10 categories. Did ended up five, five, and ended up 553 of the four categories on offense went to Michigan. Four of the five categories on defense. Well, three of the four on defense went to Ohio State then you had special teams, which went to Ohio State head coach, which went to Michigan, I guess, actually, if we do have an 11th and take schedule.
Oh, boy, well, that's this might be less competitive than wide receivers. If we're doing strength, comparing schedules this year, ya know, this is this is I think, very reflective of where the rivalry is right now. And, you know, I know if we Michigan fans going yeah, they beat him by three touchdowns last year. Yeah. And they beat him by a bunch of the year before that. Uh huh. And I think I mean, how confident are you really that Michigan is going to beat Ohio State by three touchdowns this year? It's in Ann Arbor. So how hard can it be? I you know, you look at all the advanced analytics system or buddy Tyler Shoemaker, who does his own advanced analytics systems. He just did one of his, one of his podcasts, and was talking about that. And he said, his numbers have the Ohio State Michigan game like in terms of power rating, like dead tide, like in Ann Arbor, the game? I think it was like 3031 31 or something like that. I mean, it is like an absolute dead heat. There. This is this is good for the rivalry. This is very healthy for the rivalry. I'm sure Ohio State fans have not enjoyed the last two years. But going What did Ohio State go? It was 19 years and they lost twice. So 17 and two, like that's not great for the rivalry long term and, you know, having Michigan be, you know, to the point where they're not just beating Ohio State and you know, like the 90s, where they beat Ohio State and then they go to the Holiday Bowl or whatever. They're beating Ohio State and they're winning the Big 10. They've won the big 10 twice. Now they haven't done that since 2004. This is all good for the rivalry. This is a game. This is how you keep your game from becoming Florida, Florida State or you know what Alabama, Auburn is a lot of years where it's like one team is good. And one team is not. Florida, Florida State. If you remember the 90s there was this whole conversation about oh, this is replaced. Ohio State Michigan is the best rivalry in the country because it means so much. And then you look at the last 20 years and it's like well, less so. So this is this is good for Ohio State and it's good for Michigan that this rivalry is competitive again. It's good for the big 10 It's good for college football.
Yeah, absolutely. So there you have the tail of the tape. We've settled absolutely nothing for you. So fantastic. Thank you for tuning in. Yeah, I kind of thought that's how things might go. And honestly, having Michigan offensively as the pick at Ohio State defensively as the pick is it's gonna be interesting to watch because I think everybody just you just assume Iowa State's offense. And I think obviously the system that Ohio State runs, they're going to they tend to score more points. But do you think Michigan offensively is going to be more aggressive through the air this year with a second year starting quarterback returning receivers? Or do you Why would you go away from that running game?
Right this is a Jim Harbaugh team this is a Bo Schembechler disciple and I think the way they have found success is by zagging while everyone else is digging the hole sport is going towards in the direction that Ohio State's going you're spreading it out your your you know fast guys and space, all that kind of stuff thrown the ball and Michigan is kind of just Okay, we're gonna throw rock we're gonna throw rock we're gonna throw rock and that has worked so well for them. I'm gonna be interested to see what the carry numbers look like for Blake quorum this year, because he really ran a 247 I think carries last year in base See the first 11 games of the season? So I don't think you're gonna, I don't think it'd be smart for them to run him into the ground like that this year, again, against the kind of schedule that they're gonna face. But my tendency is that my is to think that they're if they throw more, that's probably good news because for Michigan because it means they trust JJ McCarthy, but I'm not really expecting that.
I think you've got to throw to win a national title in terms of at the at the end of the season. And we went through and watched all those Georgia games last year, and people like Georgia, just like Michigan, they'll just run the ball and run the ball. And that's not who they were at all. They throw the ball all over the place to throw it short. They throw it long. They get the ball out quickly, they run around. And I think you need to let JJ McCarthy cook. As we've said before, it's just last year. He burnt he burned a lot. And of course, yes, yes. He also burnt Ohio State. Yes, I get the joke. But obviously, we're looking forward to that. And we will have a Michigan Monday show every single Monday this season during the show recapping what we saw on Saturday. So from from the Michigan Wolverine, so everybody tune in for those,
either anytime, for I normally look forward to those shows that you look at the schedule this year. And it's like, Oh, it's terrible. Like we just did this last year, and you went through, like the whole month of September and was like, Well, what have we learned? I know what more of the players look like, you know, like facially. I know that. It's just that's gonna be this year as well. There's just there's just nothing there on the schedule. The first the first month is what East Carolina? UNLV Bowling Green and Rutgers I think so. I mean, boy, Rucker is clearly the best team on that of that group. I'm gonna guess maybe, I mean, I have not done a deep dive in East Carolina. Maybe this is I think they lost a bunch after all, from last year's team. So yeah, it's, we're gonna be in October and not know anything more from Michigan unless someone gets hurt. I don't think there's any data we're going to really have on Michigan that's going to be meaningful between now and mid October.
And yeah, I'm gonna have to write about it and we're gonna have to talk about it as if, boy did you see what Donovan Edwards did against those Bowling Green Falcons. He really showed them as so yeah, it's gonna be it's gonna be a long, a long month. But hey, there's also other college football going on. All right, everybody that is going to do it for the first half of this episode. That's the annual tale the tape. The next half of this episode is going to drop tomorrow and we'll be the viewer questions from the rest of this two hour session, talking mostly Ohio State and some Michigan stuff in there as well. So give that a listen. When that drops, I also want to invite you to listen to all of our podcasts, the Buckeye huddle network, including Tom's book guys tomorrow morning, which will be dropping every day. We also have a new daily college football show called The Daily huddle, which is hosted by Garrett see right. Also you can check out calculated risks. That's college football by the numbers. That's Tyler Shoemaker and Kelly Ford talking about the power rating side of college football. That's a fun show. Check that one out. Of course, Marc Givler and Tyler Shoemaker also do the college football playbook. And Marc Givler also has this call the school session, Ohio State recruiting podcast as well. So just go ahead and if you have any of that interests, you go and search for that on any of those on any of your podcast platforms of choice. You'll find them there would also invite you to become a member of Buckeye huddle.com If you have not done so if you have Thank you very much. You can find this. Also at youtube.com/bucket huddle, facebook.com/book huddle, and that will do it for this episode. Want to thank you all for tuning in. And we'll talk to you guys tomorrow.
