Bucksline Washington Pre-Game Show 9-27-2025 Hour 2

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:09):
Welcome back to the Best Buckeye Coverage pregame show. Matt McCoy,
Jeff Logan, Bill Conley with you. The buck Eyes about
to play a three thirty game on Channel ten. They're
taking on the Washington Otskis in their first ever matchup
as Big ten opponents. Now, obviously, the last time they
played each other was the Rose Bowl in twenty nineteen,

(00:30):
which was urban Meyer's last game. We had that email
that we referenced and Jeff, you were talking about it,
thinking how things you know, here we are what six
years later? How that was the game where symbolically urban Meyer,
after winning the Rose Bowl over Washington, handed the whistle
over to essentially turning the keys of the program over

(00:53):
to Ryan Day. And yes, I know you know as
our email or on Thursday night pointed out the struggles
against Michigan, but that that has seamlessly been a unbelievable
transition for Ohio State. I mean, they've been in a
national title game, they won a national title under Ryan Day.
I get the Michigan thing, but he's seventy three and ten,

(01:16):
so yeah, and that has gone really well.

Speaker 2 (01:19):
Nobody has a better one win loss record from twenty
fourteen when the college football playoff things started, and that
includes a lot of the Urban Meyer era. I understand that.
But Ryan Day has been able to continue that. And
it's not just with Urbans players. This is now his
breed of cats that are part of this football program.

Speaker 3 (01:39):
He seems like one of those coaches he can adapt
to the situation and then or what it is, you know,
the nil thing.

Speaker 4 (01:47):
You know, he had no problem in justin that thing.

Speaker 1 (01:49):
Yeah, I'll say this too, about about Ryan Day when
when they won the national title and look, you know
November thirtieth last year, it was hard to defend him
for people that have been all over him. Whatever happened
that Saturday happened, and the Michigan thing is real and

(02:10):
he's got to figure it out, no question about it.
I get all of that for all fans that are
frustrated with him. But I've never been happier for a
coach than I was for him when they won that
national championship because and you guys know him on a
personal lever level better than me. I just know him
through the media, and he's a good guy in the media.

(02:30):
I even know him less now because of my new role.
I'm not at press conferences, but people that do know
him and are close to him, like Roy and you
guys and others that I know that deal with him
Buckeye Nation. No matter what you think of him, he
is a really good guy. He's the kind of guy

(02:51):
you want representing your program. So from that standpoint, Jeff,
I get the frustrations when things don't go well, but
I was genuinely happy for him and the job that
he's done since he took over, since that whistle in
that Washington gave was turned over to him. I you know,
are there complaints, Sure, but you shouldn't have a lot

(03:12):
of them. Will you talk about that culture. The culture
that he has right now at Ohio State is I
would challenge against any other program in the country.

Speaker 2 (03:22):
If you cannot be happy or at least satisfied with
what the results have been, then you have a problem.

Speaker 4 (03:31):
Yeah, it's not Ryan Day.

Speaker 2 (03:32):
It's seriously now. And when November comes around, does it?
He'd get out up absolutely and it should be.

Speaker 1 (03:42):
Can I ask you a question. I didn't intend to
go in this direction, but a couple of weeks ago
I mentioned Nick Saban earlier. I'll mention him again that
he said, Ohio State has a Michigan problem in that
they are psychotic about Michigan.

Speaker 5 (03:57):
Do you agree with that it's gotten too far?

Speaker 1 (04:01):
Yes, yes, And I think what he was referring to
is what happened to Ryan Day after that loss, and
you know, we know they had to have police protection
and all that stuff out there and the threats against him,
And I think that's where Nick Saban was coming from
on that. Yeah.

Speaker 2 (04:15):
And there's going to be that culture that's going to
be out there that is going to continue to be
a problem as far as Ohio State is concerned, until
you change the tide and you got to win well.

Speaker 3 (04:27):
And this whole playoff system has six or seven years
under its belt because let's face it, guys, we all
want to beat Michigan. Well, beat the heck out Michigan.
If you had to make a choice be Michigan or
make it to the playoffs, it's not even close.

Speaker 4 (04:40):
You want to make the playoffs, yeah, right, yep.

Speaker 1 (04:42):
And you know, winning the national championship last year was
certainly wonderful. It's time for our Zettler Hardware players to
watch segments the Buckeyees face Washington. Zettler Hardware with locations
in Powell and Pickerington, Guys, I want to start with
the quarterbacks. Demon Williams on the season seventy three percent
and a half completion percentage. He has six touchdowns, no picks,

(05:03):
seven hundred and seventy eight yards passing two hundred and
twenty rushing. He's the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of
the Week, had a five touchdown team last week, completed
eighty percent of his passes against Washington State. If you're
going to deal with a quarterback like that Bill Conley
from a defensive standpoint, what are keys? What are things

(05:24):
that that Matt Patricia defense has to do to make
things difficult on him?

Speaker 3 (05:29):
Well, one thing for sure, they had him in The
running back J Coleman are the two I think you
have to stop because first of all, Coleman is a
second leading receiver on the team and Williams is the
second league rush on the team. So I mean they
both are big play types of guys and guys that
can keep the thing alive. Now, they got good receivers

(05:50):
to and all that, but the key thing, if you
had to pick the guy you had to stop, you
got to be the quarterback being able to you got
to put pressure on in passing situations. Those situations you
know for sure he's got to throw the football, but
if it's set third and short, you have to account
him on the run too. And so one of the
things which I'm sure the defense has worked on this

(06:11):
week is the quarterback runs are called quarterback runs that
Washington does.

Speaker 2 (06:16):
It's all we're Ohio State on their scout team. Who's
a wide receiver. Yes, that they brought him over to
identify as as Desmond Ormon Williams and let him be
that guy to give him that look. So hopefully they
got some good looks, you know, during the week about

(06:37):
what that's all about. But it's really difficult to emulate
exactly what that's going to be in game situation.

Speaker 3 (06:42):
I think first down is so important this week. You
can't let him have second medium or second short, right,
have to make it second.

Speaker 5 (06:53):
And along keep them behind the chain exactly.

Speaker 1 (06:55):
What about Coleman Billet running back. You know, nine touchdowns rushing,
one receiving. As you mentioned, he's their second leading receiver.
He's averaging six point eight yards of carry eight catches
for one hundred and fifty yards three hundred and forty
seven yards rushing. So yeah, Williams is great, but he's
got weapons besides him.

Speaker 3 (07:15):
Yeah, and this guy's two hundred twenty pounds, which is
good size for running back. And that's why I talked
early in this show about having to get to the football.
Our defense got to really run the ball. I mean
to hit that guy, hit him, hit him, hit him,
swing him. The second half, he didn't want that ball
because I've seen a guy run over people and go
over top of people. This guy is a good football player.

(07:35):
We have got to negate his big play potential.

Speaker 2 (07:38):
Yeah, they're averaging fifty five points a game, and they've
played absolutely nobody, no doubt Ohio State. In their opener
obviously against Texas. Seems like two months ago that we
played that Texas game. But Ohio State wins that game
fourteen to seven in a low scoring affair. Everybody thought
it would be a little bit different than that, you know,
in the last two games, or maybe you know throwout

(07:59):
game as well. So I still think we're trying to
identify how really good this Ohio State football team is
as it relates to all of the new players that
are associated with it, especially on the defensive side. Are
we as good as what it appears? And I think
Washington too is not one hundred percent sure how good

(08:20):
they are and how good their quarterback is. His numbers
are unbelievable in terms of efficiency, third down conversions, no interceptions.
You know, they have done everything really really well against
no One And this will be a this will be
a stern test for both sides.

Speaker 1 (08:36):
Do they spy this guy?

Speaker 4 (08:39):
Have to pass the situations? Yeah? Now the fortune thing.

Speaker 3 (08:42):
I think we're athletic with our linebackers especially. I think
that's going to be really important because sometimes you can
put a linebacker on it and spy him on a quarterback.
But linebacker be as good as that guy. Yeah, the ball,
but I think our linebackers have speed to do that.

Speaker 1 (08:58):
Sunny styles R L. Reese, I would imagine Caleb Downs
will have responsibilities in that at times too, maybe Jaylen McClain.
So yeah, they also have a star receiver that has
a first round grade, Denzel Boston sixteen catches two hundred
and forty nine yards. Talking about their quarterback, Ohio States quarterback.
We touched on this a little bit in the first hour,

(09:18):
but Julian's saying in that first true road game. You
look at him statistically, you know he had a modest
game against Texas, But I think that is explainable. First
of all, I see modest game like it's a bad game.
I don't think it was a bad game. Statistically, yes,
statistically modest gate. I thought he handled everything great and

(09:41):
did what they asked him to do. I think Bill,
this is a game where he's probably gonna have to
do more on the road. What are the keys for
Julian saying today?

Speaker 3 (09:49):
Well, I think first of all, a lot didn't play.
Calling has to do it. I think we hit it early.
But is communication. You have to make sure communicate. I
mean there can't be a bust on offensive line, pass
protection or something like that, or a check off that
has to be made. So I think communication is number
one and number two. Don't force the ball when there's

(10:10):
nothing there, right.

Speaker 2 (10:12):
Don't don't turn it over, which it results if you
start forcing the ball in there, you know we're not
getting it to Jeremiah enough times. Let's see if we
can get him involved in the game, and if he's
double covered, I'm going to try and squeeze it in
a tight window. You can't do that on the road
and get away with it. So they've got to be
very careful. Three interceptions kind of scar his statistics a

(10:33):
little bit, none of which have been game changers. But
you know you've got three and they got none. You know,
we got to do a better job on that. And
you want to be perfect on anything on the road.
It is not turned the ball with the zero on
the turno. Don't give away a possession by making a

(10:54):
silly mistake and give a team a chance.

Speaker 3 (10:57):
Yeah, and one thing about them, they're probably thinking, you know,
we're pretty good, but we know we haven't played at
Texas yet. You know, how's our speed compared to how
State team speed? How's our front compared to the House
State front? And that's what you've been looking for early
in the ball game.

Speaker 5 (11:13):
It's easy to be cocky until you get smacked in
the mouth. That's right, I mean.

Speaker 1 (11:17):
That that h What is that? Mike Tyson's old like,
it's great to have a game plan until you get
punched in the mouth.

Speaker 2 (11:23):
Yeah, and I and I expect Washington to come in
with a high level of confidence, but also deep down
in their soul and understanding they're going upgainst the number
one team in the country that won the national championship
a year ago. And there's there's a reason that they're
they're heralded as such that they have results, they have
proven that they can do it. And this is a
team that went six and seventy year ago. You know,

(11:45):
they've gone you know, nine and seven under this new coach.
Point there's no parades for nine and seven.

Speaker 4 (11:54):
Yeah, exactly.

Speaker 1 (11:55):
Nor I mentioned the first hour they gave him credit
for kind of holding the you know, putting the thumb
in the dike last year because they had so many
people leave jed Fish. But this is a big year
for him. Now, okay, now you've got your players in that.
We gave you your mulligan because we understand you got
to get something done this year. So this is you know,
he talked about it being the biggest game maybe of

(12:17):
the year, and maybe he's looking at himself in the
mirror that you know, this is a big game for me.

Speaker 2 (12:21):
And if you look at their schedule, it's kind of
interesting because after the Ohio State game, they got to
travel to the East Coast and play at Maryland. All right,
so they've got that travel bug. That's part of that.
Then Rutgers comes out and plays them on the eighteenth
of October. They go back east to play at Michigan
that I think is going to be an interesting game.
Then they've got Illinois, Wisconsin, and Oregon at the end

(12:43):
of the season. They don't have an easy schedule at all. No,
not at all. And I think this, if this Husky
program can finish the year eight and four, get into
a really good bowl game. I don't think eight and
four gets them in the playoffs by any stretch of
the imagination. But if they're able to pull off wins
against Ohio State on the road against team up north,

(13:05):
and if they could somehow figure out a way to
beat Oregon, now you're talking about a playoff team. Yeah,
So the schedule's there for them to be able to
take advantage of it if they're good enough.

Speaker 1 (13:14):
Yeah. Regarding Julian saying, you know, statistically, he's you know,
pass efficiency, all those things among the national leaders seven
hundred and seventy nine yards, eight touchdowns, three interceptions, good, good, good.
But he is also those advanced stats that if Roy
Hall was here, he'd be, you know, saying, drive him crazy.
But from an stats standpoint, he is the highest graded

(13:40):
passer in all of college football on throws of twenty
yards or more. And I bring that up because another
one of those advanced stats that's been floating around this
week is the way watching it is played defense so
far this year over sixty percent man demand coverage and

(14:00):
with Ohio State's weapons and with a passuming he does
not play to carry O Davis, their best defensive back,
who is doubtful now with his rib and leg injuries.
Do they do that again? And if they do, Bill
is Ohio State gonna try to take advantage with some
of those big plays. And Okay, if you can cover

(14:21):
Jeremiah Smith and Carnell Tate one on one, have at it.
But we're gonna take our shots.

Speaker 3 (14:25):
Yeah, it depends on our past protection. If our pass
protection holds up thing, send the whole you know, the
whole kit and kaboodle. They're not going to get there
and we can we can block them. If we do that,
we're going to have We're gonna make enough big plays
ourselves that they're going to have to play zone.

Speaker 2 (14:39):
Yeah, if they're if in their DNA, if that's what
they want to do is play sixty percent Manda man
I think they will try and do that until they can't.
If Ohio State makes them pay for that, then you'll
start to see them go to that two deep zone
or go to a shell where they've got three deep
and just try and keep everything in front of them.
But you're going to have to beat them a couple

(15:00):
times to take them out of that.

Speaker 3 (15:01):
Yeah, they knew early in their schedule that they could
play man against those teams and have some success. Yeah,
they don't know if they can against us. Yeah, right,
that's the question.

Speaker 1 (15:10):
Yeah, Colorado State, UC Davis and Washington State are one thing.
Teams like Ohio State are certainly another. What about the
bill your favorite position? In the tight ends? They've been
very involved for Ohio State in the past game today
for Julian saying, do you expect them to be involved
as what we always talk about the wide receivers, but

(15:30):
those tight ends have been weapons.

Speaker 4 (15:32):
Yeah. I think for two reasons.

Speaker 3 (15:33):
Number one is you can always use them pass protection
that if they are blissing a lot and coming after us.
And also the guys you can throw the ball to
to keep drives alive, so you don't have to throw
initially downfield twenty yards to get a first down possession. Guys,
especially on our own side of the fifty, running backs
out of the backfield or tight ends are the people

(15:55):
you got to get the ball to.

Speaker 1 (15:56):
Yeah, and they've been very involved in the run game too,
and talk about moving the chains, Jeff. A lot of
those short yarded situations. We pointed out Ohio State's had
four tight ends in there. And one of the things
that Ohio State failed in even though they won easily
against OHIOU, that I think they probably have addressed over

(16:17):
the last two weeks was red zone offense. When they
get into the red zone, especially against a team like
Washington that has been very good. We'll see how they
do against the Ohio State defense. But they're putting up
points fifty five a game. You better cash in with
six instead of three more often than not in these
situations today, no doubt.

Speaker 2 (16:36):
I mean, Ohio State thirteen out of fifteen on third
down or excuse me, on red zone scores, but only
ten of fifteen have been touchdowns. And you've got to
cash in, especially on the road when you're doing that.

Speaker 3 (16:46):
Yeah, And the other side of the ball, Washington's red
zone defense hasn't been great. I mean the other teams,
what eight for eight or something like that. HM.

Speaker 1 (16:56):
Well, without question, we're talking about their offense. And I
don't want to say their defense is terrible, but their
offense is the strength of their football team. Ohio State
is going to have opportunity to score. They just you know,
are going to have to take advantage of it as well.
The Buckeye running game today, We'll get into that a
little bit when we come back. Will Bow No Seattle.

(17:18):
More on that coming up. It's the best Buckeye coverage
pregame show on news radio six to ten DO WTVN

(17:48):
and your ABC six game day weather service to the
Flag Ladies Flag Store sunshine, a high of eighty today,
it'll be clear down to fifty four tonight, more sun
in eighty two tomorrow and partley cloudy and eighty on Monday.
Right now, we have seventy nine degrees at Buckeye Lake
and eighty two at your severe weather station. News Radio
six to ten WTVN, Welcome back to the best Buckeye

(18:16):
coverage pregame show. About an hour and ten minutes away
from the kickoff of Ohio State and Washington as the
Buckeyes try to snap the Huskies twenty two game home
winning streak next week, if you hadn't heard, the Buckeye
home game their only home game, they're in a stretch
of three out of four on the road. Their only
home game for a while is going to be the

(18:37):
Minnesota game, and it's a primetime kickoff. It'll be seven
point thirty next week when the Buckeyes take on the Gophers.
Right now, Minnesota is tied at twenty one in the
third quarter of their game against Rutgers today and the
other Big Ten game going on right now, Illinois with
a seventeen to ten third quarter lead on usc Will
keep you updated on those as the day goes on.

(18:59):
Time the Black Eyes play, it was kind I don't
want to say, because he played really well against Grambling State,
but you know, Grambling State, who knows. And same thing
with Ohio you you know, I know it's only Ohio
you but the last time we saw Ohio State play,
Jeff bo Jackson really you know chined he you know,
he is Ohio State. He's only played two games, but

(19:22):
he leads Ohio State and rushing and CJ. Dollison and
James People's both played three games. He has two hundred
and seventeen yards rushing twelve yards per carry. Do you
think we're going to see the young freshman on the
road have a role today against Washington.

Speaker 2 (19:37):
I do, and I don't think it matters whether he
starts or not. I think all three of the guys
will play in the game. I just think he has
earned the opportunity. I don't care what you did against Grambling,
that doesn't mean anything. But the way he elevated himself
and appeared to be able to get to the second
level much better than the other two guys in the

(19:57):
Ohio game. I just think that this this is a
guy that I've seen from the very beginning that has
it and the ability to be able to make people
miss and get to that second level.

Speaker 3 (20:08):
I really like his acceleration too through the line of scrimmage.
I mean he'll he'll kick it into a second gear.
Another thing, you know, I think the Buckeys will use
him out of the backfield, throw the ball to him
some because that's the guy.

Speaker 4 (20:22):
He catches in the open field.

Speaker 3 (20:23):
Like you said, Jeff, he can make guys miss, make
a big play.

Speaker 1 (20:27):
They talk about getting skinny through the hole. I saw
a couple of the all twenty two shots from the
end zone with him, and that that's a good description
because like the hole was very minute, but there was
a hole and he squirt it through it and then
bam he's out the gate. And you know, not to
say that James people and CJ. Donaldson can't do that.

(20:49):
I just haven't seen it yet a bill from them,
and I we did see it a little bit from
Bo Jackson. Yeah.

Speaker 3 (20:54):
Bo Jackson has shown the ability so far to run
through those arm tackles they go slow him down.

Speaker 1 (20:59):
Is time a possession a stat today that you think
is meaningful?

Speaker 4 (21:05):
It could be.

Speaker 3 (21:06):
It could be, and what we're talking about if their
offense can keep the ball the majority of the time,
it could be trouble for us. Sometimes it doesn't mean anything.
If you're making big plays. Time possession is really not important.

Speaker 1 (21:19):
Right if Ohio States hitting those forty yard bombs or
whatever and scoring a lot, I just say that because
you have the efficiency so far of that Washington offense
and if they start converting some third downs there, maybe
that is something you need to pay attention to. And
obviously for Ohio State standpoint in terms of keeping them ball,

(21:40):
that ground game is very important to keep that clock
moving and control possession and control the tempo of the game,
I guess.

Speaker 2 (21:47):
And it's really interesting because you know, Ohio State has
the capacity to be a big play, quick strike team
without a doubt, especially if we get a bunch of
man coverage. The downside of that is, if you score
really quickly, you're getting in your defense right back, you know,
and not that that's not your strength. We don't need
to protect our defense the way that Washington needs to

(22:08):
protect their defense.

Speaker 5 (22:09):
So this literally.

Speaker 1 (22:10):
Comes to see the time of possession is probably more
important for Washington than Ohio State.

Speaker 5 (22:14):
No doubt.

Speaker 2 (22:15):
And I think time of possession can be really misleading
in certain kinds of games, especially if you're a quick
strike team and that sort of thing. But from Washington standpoint,
they have to win the time of possession and they
have to be at least fifty percent on third down conversions.
And you know they're right now, theyre't seventy five percent,

(22:37):
So you know, to cut them a third from what
they've been able to do is going to take a
great effort by the defense.

Speaker 3 (22:43):
Yeah, our defense, let's face it, we're really good third
down defense. Twenty six percent and letting other teams keep
the ball. Possession of the ball, so time possession penalty
sometimes are deceiving because just spends on the flow of
the game and things like that. But I agree with
both of you that really for Washington, they want to
keep the ball away from us.

Speaker 1 (23:03):
Jeff, what have you seen talking about the three headed
monster at Ohio State? I think going forward is going
to have it running back. We talked about Bo Jackson,
how he's earned some time, But the guys that have
played the majority of the snaps are CJ. Donaldson and
James Peoples. What have you seen from them and where
is their strengths? I guess for Ohio State at this point.

Speaker 2 (23:22):
You know, I think I think they're very comparable. I
think they their styles and everything compliment one another. I
don't think there's a big drop off or a change.
And I think one of the Bo Jackson thing does
give you that change of pace guy. So whether or
not you have two guys in there or three, I
just think having a change of pace guy in that
backfield does make some sense.

Speaker 5 (23:44):
But you know, the the.

Speaker 2 (23:47):
Job that those two running backs CJ. Donaldson needs to do,
along with James Peoples is find a way to quit
that nanosecond of a hesitation in the hole and get
to the next level. And I just that is missing
right now. And I'm not going to sit here and
tell you that they don't have that capacity. I just
haven't seen it yet.

Speaker 3 (24:06):
Yeah, here's the question I have, the only question I
have as a group. I'm not sure how good of
past protectors they are because our guys last year were phenomenal. Yeah,
those two guys could really really pass protect But on
to the coaching staff at AJO State, hass off to
them because they're using the tight ends more for that

(24:27):
and keeping multiple tight ends in one of them can
always be used as a blocker or both of them
can be used as a blocker.

Speaker 1 (24:31):
They have shown, especially CJ. Donaldson sneaking out of the
backfield a few times as an outlet receiver for Julian
Saying as well. And it feels like to me, and
we're only three games into this, Jeff, that CJ. Donaldson
is the guy red zone near the goal line or
whatever that they're short yardage that they're going to turn

(24:54):
to because he does have maybe the experience and also
the power a little bit, maybe they trust a little
more than the other guys.

Speaker 2 (25:02):
I would agree with that. I think that, uh, you know,
they've got to be better in the red zone. They've
got to do a better job of making sure they
capitalize on those scores. And a lot of it can
come down to the execution of that running game. And
and and I got you know, I got a bulletin
for you. And I had Pete Johnson blocking for me
when when I was there, And there were still times
where there were people where you had to be your

(25:23):
own blocker and you had to create a hole you
and and so it isn't going to always look perfect
or be perfect, but you got to make a positive
play every time you get that opportunity.

Speaker 3 (25:32):
Yeah, And like we talked about bo Jackson mentioned this before.
The one thing I like about him he always gets
that extra two or three yards his head going toward
the opposing goal line.

Speaker 1 (25:41):
That's what you want.

Speaker 2 (25:42):
Well, we had we had we had situations in practice, Matt.
And this goes back to the Woody Hayes stories. And
I know coach has seen it that if you know,
if we were in a scrimmage, in a situation where
you're actually getting tackled, if if the running back that
got tackled is laying on the ground after he gets
taken down, and if his body isn't, you know, perpendicular
going straight down the field north and south, then Woody

(26:04):
would be blowing his whistle and make everybody just freeze.
And you know, you could be laying down at forty
five degrees and he'd want you right on the number
and he would go there and grab you and pick
you up off the ground and point you in the
right dreg This is how you fall, Like.

Speaker 5 (26:21):
Coach, I don't have control the light fall.

Speaker 2 (26:24):
But again to that point, yeah, that was an extra
yard or two.

Speaker 1 (26:28):
He wants you headed towards the goal exactly.

Speaker 3 (26:30):
Yeah.

Speaker 2 (26:31):
Now trying to try and convince the two hundred and
thirty five pound linebacker that's taking you down, would you
do me a favorite place me as I go down
here so that Woody will be happy?

Speaker 3 (26:41):
Well, you know what the one and you know this,
Jeff is a running back. The one thing that to
tell all great running backs is that you got to
split defenders. What that means we got two guys coming
at to you.

Speaker 4 (26:51):
Stuff.

Speaker 3 (26:52):
You got to make yourself skinny and you get through
that little crack between them. And you'd be surprised somebody's
to make big runs in extra yard doing that.

Speaker 1 (27:00):
So, if you're Washington defensively going into this game, are you, Bill,
is your focus taking Ohio States runaway or their pass away?
How are you if you're on the Washington sideline trying
to scheme for this Ohio State offense? What's your plan?

Speaker 3 (27:19):
I think you've got to get after the quarterback somehow,
I really do, because they know their secondary can't hold
up all day against our receivers. So the only thing
you can do in passing squaze, you got some way
as safe as you can to get to the quarterback
and not let him sit back here. Are you staying
with Picky apart?

Speaker 2 (27:37):
Yeah, they're gonna blitz as soon as they get off
the boat. And you don't get off the bus there,
you get off.

Speaker 1 (27:41):
The boat Washington Salegate.

Speaker 2 (27:43):
But trust me, they are gonna they're gonna bring the heat,
and they're going to try and make Julian Saying as
uncomfortable as they possibly can, uh, with the understanding that
that will expose them to possible you know, repercussions with
if Ohios taking pick up the blitzers and that sort
of thing, get him a little bit of time. His
efficiency math that you talked about throwing the ball deep

(28:04):
twenty yards or more. He's better than anybody else in
the country right now. And part of that is.

Speaker 5 (28:09):
He's got really good receivers too.

Speaker 2 (28:11):
You know, your efficiency and throwing the ball, you got
to put it there, but you got to have somebody
that's got the ability.

Speaker 1 (28:17):
To catch it. And we've got two of the bet
we've got some pretty good catcher guys. Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I mean so much.

Speaker 3 (28:23):
I'm sure the coaching staff this week has spent so
much time in the film room with Julians saying, say, listen,
this is a bliss income.

Speaker 4 (28:32):
This is the pre.

Speaker 3 (28:33):
Snap read you get, and that pre snap read will
tell you is a good chance that they're going to
overload a side or if they're a linebacker, come or
what they're going to do, and a lot of education
that for a young quarterback.

Speaker 1 (28:44):
What about the offensive line, bill, how do you grade
what they have been able to do so far? And
in that environment we talked about the silent town earlier,
how much of a challenge if they are bringing the
house at them is today for those guys up front?

Speaker 3 (29:00):
I think what they've shown so far. I have been
more impressed early in the season with their offensive line
this year than I can remember in a long time,
because they've really done well running ball, blocking and also
pass protection. So I think the thing that can mess
up is the communication. If you don't have good communication

(29:20):
as you go and see problems. I don't think physically
there's any doubt our offensive line is good enough to
run the ball and also to pass protect. But I
tell you communication has got to be good. We can't
have any penalties that makes us all sudden first and
fifteen or something like that because of procedure.

Speaker 2 (29:36):
Yeah, the measuring stick for me as far as running,
I think you gotta have two hundred yards a game
rushing in today's game if you're going to be a
championship type football team. Ohio State averaging one hundred and
ninety two yards a game. Again, we've played one solid
opponent in there that kind of balances itself out against
the other two. We're throwing the ball for two hundred

(29:56):
and eighty yards a game, and I think that's a
good mix run pass. Now, if you went back to
the Texas game, we were a flip of that. We
were run, run, run, and a little bit of pass
on the outside. But have been able to really stretch
things now that you've built more confidence in your quarterback.
But if we can hang in there with that, with
five hundred yards of offense and have two hundred of

(30:17):
it come running the football, Matt, that's a recipe for success.

Speaker 1 (30:21):
Carson Hinsman the Buck Eye Center, in interviews this week,
talked about there, you know, you got to play as
a unit and on the offensive line working together, one
blown assignment and you screw it up. But he said,
we're we're we played enough together already dating back to
last year's playoff run, and now that we're pretty comfortable

(30:42):
with each other. He was getting asked about the challenge
of going on the road because it's a whole different
It's one thing to be a great pass protection unit
when you're playing at home and everything is in your
favor in the crowd's behaving. But it's another thing, Jeff,
when you're on the road and a lot of that
responsibility is on the center, is it not, Carson.

Speaker 5 (31:00):
Yep, no doubt. I mean he's got to be the
captain there.

Speaker 2 (31:03):
However, they signal and communicate with one another and then
Julian Saym's got to make sure that he gives them
the right kind of protections and the ability for them
to have the time to communicate. What I don't want
to see is delay of games because of confusion. I
don't want to see motion times. Yeah, stupid timeouts. And again,
if if you've got to take yourself out of a

(31:25):
bad play, take your time out. I understand that, but
let's not get carried away. As far as you know,
penalties are concerned in this game.

Speaker 3 (31:32):
With the mental aspect, yeah, and you know you talk
about balance on offense. Let's look at Washington to sixty again,
rushing to seventy six passes about balance as you can be.
If we can make them one dimensional in this game,
especially make them have to throw the football big advantage.

Speaker 1 (31:51):
Or cut or cut those numbers down like by one hundred.
Oh yeah, true, then okay, you're gonna be balanced. But
you're only in one hundred and fifty hundred and fifty.
I would take my chances with that too. All right,
who needs to step up for the buck Eyes and
what needs to happen for Ohio State? You know, end
this twenty two game watching it a home winning streak.
We're gonna have our flag Lady Flag Stores keys to

(32:14):
the game coming up, and also, as we always do,
some bold predictions of things that we think could be
crazy things that happen for Ohio State today. That's all
coming up next, it's the Best Buckeye Coverage Pregame Show
on news Radio six ten wtv AT. Welcome back to

(32:36):
the best Buckeye Coverage pre oh Am I doing weather here,
I guess I am doing weather, your ABC six game
Day forecast, the service to the Flag Ladies, flag shore
sunshine and a high of eighty clear skies down to
fifty four tonight sun and eighty two tomorrow and party
cloudy and eighty on Monday. Right now, we have seventy

(32:58):
nine degrees in Marion and we have eighty two at
your severe weather station, News Radio six ten WTVN and
we're back on the Best Bock Eye Coverage pregame show
thanks to our sponsors. Best buck Eye Coverage Pregame Show
is presented by T and T Equipment and our coverage
all year of the best Buckye coverage is brought to
you by temp Star Getting and Cooling Products and Classic

(33:18):
Air Schneider downs, serve pro and also Central Ohio contractors.
As we talk Buckeyes with you before we get to
the important stuff, which is the Ohio State football game,
I have to ask, because we have the Ryder Cup
on here, and Jeff, you're a resident golf expert, do
you have any explanation as to why every Ryder Cup

(33:41):
year the US is in this situation where they've dug
this enormous hole during team play, whether it's you know,
foursome's or alternate shot, whatever the format is, they're always
way behind going into Sunday and have to pull out
some miracle if they're going to win the Ryder Cup.
And it's happening again. They're down eight and a half
to three and a half. And here we are in

(34:03):
the afternoon sessions. Europe is up one and the US
is all square and all the other ones, so they
might lose more ground if I mean, there's still a
long way to go. But is there something is it
above the shoulders or is there something golf wise why
the United States struggle so much in team golf.

Speaker 2 (34:22):
That's a great question, and you use the word always.
If you look at the history of the Ryder Cup
over the twenty five years, USA is done.

Speaker 1 (34:32):
Okay, yes they have, but they the allway from this.

Speaker 5 (34:36):
I understand.

Speaker 2 (34:36):
But in the last you know, ten fifteen, twenty years,
since nineteen eighty seven when Europe won on American soil
for the very first time at right here village, right here,
all right, it has changed. Things have changed, and the
game has really been more in their favor. And I
look at this as almost like the Ohio State Michigan

(35:02):
scenario under John Cooper.

Speaker 5 (35:04):
All Right.

Speaker 2 (35:05):
You know, great team, great players, great individuals, but for
whatever reason, couldn't get over the hump. And I think
the more effort that is spent in trying to figure
out why and try and do something different ends up
blowing up in your face. I wish we would just
let them play, and all of the the pressure that

(35:29):
has been put on them by really the captain and
the and the media to a certain degree in the
fan base really wants them to do well. But these
guys are extraordinarily talented. Just let them go play.

Speaker 4 (35:40):
I think it's the right pocket.

Speaker 3 (35:43):
I think it's the right pocket because if you take
your t's and ball marks and moving from your right
pocket to your left pocket, that makes all the difference
in the world.

Speaker 2 (35:52):
See, and I thought you were going to say that
the right pocket was because the American players are taking
money and the Europeans are not.

Speaker 1 (36:00):
Uh, who knows, who knows? It could be the right pocket.

Speaker 4 (36:04):
Yeah, let's talk about weather. Now you talk about yeah,
weather report. What's our weather report for Seattle? Looks pretty good?
It's not perfect personal happening out there. It's called sunshine.

Speaker 1 (36:15):
Yes, in Seattle, it's time. Yes a lot, was it?
What didn't you say washing in one of their on
on No Dying Enemy on Thursday Night? One of their
previous names, wasn't it something like sun Dodgers? Sun Dodgers.
They used to be the sun Dodgers because they played
in Seattle, where it's always are the schools in Seattle

(36:37):
where it's always cloudy? All right, it's time for our
flag Lady flag stores keys to the game, as the
buck Eyes get ready to take on the Washington Huskies
and try to snap that twenty two game Washington home
winning streak. Uh, why don't we start from a defensive standpoint? Bill,
We'll go that way. Matt Patricia's defensive game plan. What

(36:58):
are what are keys for Ohio State? I bring that
up because both of you feel like this is more
about Ohio State's defense against Washington's offense than the other
way around. Am I correct? Would you? So what are
the keys for the Ohio State defense?

Speaker 3 (37:12):
Well, you can't give up big plays. You absolutely can't
give up big plays. An the other one is get
off the field. Get off the field, don't let them
drive the football, no doubt about.

Speaker 1 (37:23):
Those third downs. Pay attention to the third down conversion.

Speaker 2 (37:25):
You can't ignore what they've been able to do successfully.
And if we went back and looked at every one
of the third downs, I'm going to tell you that
they're not a bunch of third and twelves. There are
a bunch of third and two's and third and threes.
So it's what you do, and coach talked about this
early on this afternoon, it's what you do on first
downs that puts you in a position to be able
to get off the field. And I think that's one

(37:46):
of the things that Matt Patricia will be challenged with
as a defensive coordinator is to make sure that he's
got the right sets out there to not allow the quarterback,
who is a very talented kid, to be able to
extend play beyond the first pressure that he gets.

Speaker 1 (38:02):
Yeah, and as a team, they're running game and again,
their competition is what it is, but they're averaging Washington
Is six yards of carry. But you look at Jonah Coleman,
they're running back and Demial Williams, their top two runners
the quarterback six point eight yards and six point five
yards of carry. If they're living up to those standards, Bill,

(38:24):
it could be a long day for Ohio State.

Speaker 3 (38:26):
Yeah, that's what we talk about. Big plays you don't
add as a quarterback. For example, let's look at his stats.
You don't average that type of yards unless you have
some big runs in right, because you're not going to quarterbacking.

Speaker 4 (38:37):
Will run sixteen yards every time you get it. Yeah,
if you won't have some.

Speaker 1 (38:40):
Big especially in a college game where sacks are part
of your rushing totals. So he's obviously making some getting
outside of the pocket. And you know, yes, he has
a lot of design runs, Jeff, but he also add
libs a lot. That was one of the reasons makes
him so good.

Speaker 2 (38:56):
But in our numbers, you've got to figure in there
that we play the number one team in the country
in Week one and with a really good defense, and
they've yet to go up against any kind of a
defensive pressure at all. So I think if you looked
at our averages in the last two games versus their
averages over their three game period of time, we might
be better off than them.

Speaker 1 (39:16):
What about Demand Williams in terms of strategy wise for
Ohio State, what what do you think Matt Patricia needs
from his defense to keep that guy in check?

Speaker 2 (39:26):
Build a cocoon around him. I mean literally, build that pocket,
build that cocoon. Don't let him get on the on
the edge, don't let him get outside. It's one thing
continuing plays from the pocket when you've got to throw
through a picket fence versus if you were able to
get out in the flat and have RPO. And I
think if if this kid is freed up to be

(39:47):
able to have run pass options, that's where I think
you could have a lot of pressure on your defense.

Speaker 4 (39:52):
I'd also some Geo ducks setting those clams.

Speaker 1 (39:58):
Yeah, Geo Ducks are lam thirty old offensively Jeff Keys
to the game for Ohio State.

Speaker 5 (40:05):
Well, don't turn it over on the road.

Speaker 2 (40:07):
We've heard that add nauseum, but that is a rule
I mean, it's just you're very lucky to win games
on the road if you don't win the turnover margin.
And right now, that is one thing Washington has done
a really good job of is making sure that they
do not make a lot of mistakes and turn the
ball over. This quarterback has yet to have a pick,
and I think if we can get a pick early

(40:28):
in this football game and make him think a little
bit more about the fact that he is no.

Speaker 1 (40:33):
Longer playing UC Davis, Yeah, give him, give him.

Speaker 2 (40:37):
Some pressure, and I think the corners have got a responsibility.
They've got good receivers, not great ones, but they've got
some really good receivers.

Speaker 5 (40:46):
But let's break on the ball and come up.

Speaker 1 (40:47):
With a pick.

Speaker 3 (40:49):
I think the one thing we've talked about the first
session today is handling the environment. You've got to handle
a hostile environment for our office. I figure we can
execute against anybody, but get ourselves in trouble by having
penalties because we can't communicate and things like that. Let
the crowd get this defense. That's not an issue. Defense.

(41:11):
I'll play defense. They'll come after you, but we've got
to make sure we don't let the environment control us.

Speaker 1 (41:16):
CBS analyst Rick new Heizel for who actually coached at
Washington in the early two thousands. But he's the one
we talked about. Somebody sent an email that he picked
Washington upset, and one of the things he said was
regarding that environment, Julian saying, isn't going to be ready
for that environment? Well, I guess Bill, we're about to
find out out is Julian saying ready for that environment?

(41:39):
Because that's certainly going to be a key him handling
it all right, bold predictions, guys, you got anything that
jumps out at you that na at of the ordinary
things that you think are going to happen for Ohio States.

Speaker 2 (41:52):
While I'm doing this, if you could pull up what
Barry from California from la.

Speaker 1 (41:57):
Oh, Yeah, that's right, you're right, Thank you loaded in
bold prediction predictions that I think you were extraordinarily bold predictions.

Speaker 2 (42:07):
And I love when Barry participates in our little challenge.
But while you're looking up the Specs.

Speaker 1 (42:13):
Game, he said, he's got I got I have saying
being responsible for five touchdowns, Bill, you like this one?
Two tight end touchdowns? I really like it. Defense gets
three turnovers and one bonus. He says, defense gets a
safety on a holding call. Now that is and Barry,

(42:36):
if that happens, go buy a lottery ticket exactly, because
that is that does happen, but maybe like three or
four times a year in the college, let alone calling
it for a game.

Speaker 5 (42:50):
So I loved it that he was participating.

Speaker 1 (42:53):
I think.

Speaker 2 (42:53):
I think the one thing that we're going to see
in this game, just a bold prediction that just out
of the blue, is that we will get a.

Speaker 5 (42:58):
Pick six today.

Speaker 2 (42:59):
All right, Okay, Ohio State will return an interception for
a touchdown. I think that is going to happen. And
I've got Ohio State being one in the red zone
with touchdowns, not scores, but touchdowns in the red zone.
Get over the hump as far as keep our kicker
on the fricking bench, get touchdowns, make it happen down there.

(43:22):
And I don't know if that's bold enough, but one
hundred percent in the red zone is what I'm going
with scores touchly good.

Speaker 4 (43:29):
You know their punter hadn't even been on the deal jet.

Speaker 1 (43:31):
Yeah, he had two punts and they were both against
Colorado State. They haven't punted since Week one. I love that.

Speaker 4 (43:37):
Okay, here I got they have not thrown any interceptions
this year.

Speaker 3 (43:42):
Ha ha. Not today, We're going to pick him off twice, okay,
two interceptions. We are going to hold the Washington office
to no more than two touchdowns in the teens. And
next thing, we are going to have you like it
with Jeff bo Jackson will have a running touchdown and

(44:04):
a pass reception to.

Speaker 1 (44:06):
Wow, like two tds for bow and both of the
one rushing and one receiving.

Speaker 5 (44:12):
Okay, I hope both of those occur in the red zone.

Speaker 4 (44:14):
Yeah, it'd be good.

Speaker 1 (44:18):
All right, I'm I'm going to go with you know,
you mentioned Washington not punting. They only have two punts
this year. Five or more punts today for Washington, who
only has two all season. We'll give you that is
that is? That is that? Okay? Yep, five or more today.
And you talk about red zone and short yardagin The

(44:40):
last time Ohio State played, they did struggle in short
yargin in the red zone against OHIOU And I'm told
you know, they spent a lot of time working on
that and obviously getting efficient on it. I think one
of the things and I have no idea, no knowledge
of this. I could be one hundred percent wrong. But
we saw Lincoln Keenholes come in for a short yardage

(45:03):
play and pick up like six yards on a zone
read or something like that. Lincoln Keenholds will have a
touchdown run or pass today. I think they've been working
on him red zone. He's going to come in for
some kind of special play and make a play.

Speaker 5 (45:16):
I like that.

Speaker 1 (45:18):
Good with that, Absolutely good with that. One other tweet,
by the way, besides Barry, our friend Amy who is
the one that tipped us off the first week that
the towels, the towels had instructions on them and took
a picture of him, hold over your head, wave or wherever.
She has a picture of Texas A and M they

(45:39):
play Auburn and they have a towel for today's game
and she has a picture of it. It's a twelve
man towel. And she has another week another towel, but
no instructions. So the instructions on the Ohio states the
towels still really bother Amy. So anyway, we love our listeners.
Thanks everybody for listening. I'm gonna let Bill and Jeff

(46:00):
takeoffs so they can get there for the kickoff, get
home to watch it. Stay with me because coming up,
I'll update you on scores and some things from the stadium,
and then Campy is coming up with his conversation with
Clay Hall. That's all on the way on the Best
Buckeye Coverage pregame show on News Radio six ten DOUATV
at