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I just read an article about JK Dobbins and how much he's impressed ... and it got me fired up for the Buckeyes.

Haskins and Martell will battle it out, but I see both getting reps during the season

http://www.sportingnews.com/ncaa-footbal...xd13lzrz3hpafgm



Ohio State QB competition: Sizing up Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell
Bill Bender @BillBender92


Ohio State's quarterback battle heading into 2018 is a two-way race between Dwayne Haskins and Tate Martell, but at least Urban Meyer has experience with this kind of depth chart drama in Columbus.

When Braxton Miller suffered a shoulder injury in fall camp in 2014, Meyer had to pick between Cardale Jones and J.T. Barrett. In 2015, Miller eventually switched positions while Jones and Barrett battled again before splitting time in the regular season. This QB battle is different, though: The winner will have no starts under his belt, and he will take over a program with national championship aspirations. He'll also be a Heisman Trophy candidate.

MORE: Big Ten conference primer

That's life as the starter at Ohio State. Sporting News will break down some of the key quarterback battles in the FBS and what to expect. Today, a look at Ohio State's QB roster.
Ohio State QB competition

Who's out?

J.T. Barrett, who started for Ohio State for most of the last four seasons, is gone. He's the Big Ten's all-time leader in touchdown passes (104) and set the Buckeyes up for a national championship run in 2014 before leading a College Football Playoff run in 2016 and Big Ten championship in 2017. He also finished 4-0 against rival Michigan as a starter. These are big shoes to fill.

Joe Burrow. The redshirt-junior and former Ohio Mr. Football announced on Tuesday he is transferring from the school. He had attempted 39 passes in mop-up duty in his career with the Buckeyes.

Who's in?

Dwayne Haskins. The redshirt-sophomore filled in for Barrett against Michigan and led the Buckeyes to a 31-20 win. He finished 40 of 57 for 565 yards, four touchdowns and one interception last season.

Tate Martell. The redshirt-freshman from Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas didn't play last season, but he's a highlight-reel player.

MORE: Meyer, Nick Saban finally have signing day competition

What makes this battle unique?

The contrast of styles. Haskins (6-3, 214) appeared comfortable in Meyer's offense in high-pressure situations against Michigan. Burrow (6-3, 215) has a big arm and has waited three years for this opportunity. Both are good fits in this offense. Martell (5-11, 205) has drawn loose comparisons to Johnny Manziel based on his high-school highlights, and it's the viral quality of his style of play that makes him enticing. The winner is an automatic Heisman Trophy candidate. ​That's the appeal of this battle.

Three more questions

How much will the spring game matter? Haskins and Burrow put on a passing clinic in last year's spring game. Haskins finished 26 of 37 for 293 yards and three touchdowns. Burrow finished 14 of 22 for 262 yards and three touchdowns. Burrow actually had the lead on Haskins for the backup job before suffering a broken hand in fall camp. The competition between those two amps up this spring, especially with Martell in the mix.

Will somebody transfer? This has already been answered. Meyer has managed to hold on to valuable backup quarterbacks through his six-year reign in Columbus, including Kenny Guiton, behind Miller and Jones, behind Barrett (and vice versa), but he couldn't keep Burrow — who will have the graduate transfer rule applied to him — on board.

What will help decide the battle? Barrett played for three different offensive coordinators and three different quarterback coaches. There is continuity on the offensive staff with co-offensive coordinators Kevin Wilson and Ryan Day, and all three quarterbacks are entering their second season with those coaches. That should give each quarterback a fair chance to win the job. The quarterback who meshes with the coaches best will probably start on Sept. 1 against Oregon State.


What does that mean? Meyer is expecting a quarterback who can produce more than 4,000 yards of total offense and 40 total touchdowns.

Who wins?

We'll give Haskins the edge, but expect Martell to get a chance to force the issue, especially now that Burrow is gone.

Haskins looked really good in that game against TUN. He looks to be a good pocket passer. I haven't watched Martell play, so I can't comment on him.

I am jacked for the Buckeyes, though. We should have a very good team again. I love watching Ohio State football!

I hope Haskins is terrible and is too inaccurate to hit the side of a barn from the inside.

Even if we had a 5 year old at qb, we would still beat the Terps.

I cannot emphasize enough how glad I am to be rid of JT Barret. Great kid, wish him the best but he was a terrible QB that regressed in his time here. Every season he was a worse passer, no ability to drive the ball, downfield throws....horrendous. When he got hurt during the Michigan game....I was thinking it was Cardale all over again.....we were on a championship course with the same situation.

Haskins arm gives me hope for this team to legit contend for a championship. I think he is the reason all of the WR's came back, I believe that they know they are going to have a chance to absolutely ball out with Haskins throwing the ball.


Even with the inexperienced QB, this is a championship caliber team with Bosa looking to ball out for the draft. They are poised for a playoff run this season.

I just didnt like how our offense seemed so confined at times with JT. It was like we were playing in a 10 yard box .. run, run, run. It put a lot of pressure on the playmakers and the D.

Yeah he stopped airing it out and it just killed us. Urban really used the width of the field well in the last few years.

I will miss JT as he is the perfect leader in my mind. I used to see his car in the track/football campus parking lot during my morning sprints (~5 am). He was a first in, last out type of guy for 5 years. That was the exact type of QB we needed.

Queue TO crying .gif

To heck with the QB gossip, I want to see more Nick Bosa. Kid potentially is going to be better than Joey.

Lol, absolutely not.

Joey Bosa was the best true Freshman I have ever seen at any position in my 25 years of watching OSU football. He was absolutely dominant in the Michigan State game with the playoffs on the line.....Dominant.

As his time passed in year two they won a championship.


In his third year he saw double and sometimes double teams AND got chipped. He was THE focus of every offense. Some people complained about production. He gets taken #3 overall, he sits out the ENTIRE camp and has 10.5 sacks as a rookie.


I hope Nick can be 1/2 of the player Joey was because to date that's about what I've seen. He is a good player, but Joey Bosa was a generational OSU talent.

After watching Joey really close as a Buc, I do admit he's not there yet. However, I think Nick already is 1/2 the player Joey was and on his way above that. A lot of people think he's going to be the #1 overall pick in 2019. many tackle for losses and same explosive step as Joey.

#2 in Big Ten sacks. #3 in tackle for loss. Nick isn't doing too bad aye.

Don't get me wrong, he is a great player. I hope he has a huge season and does go #1 overall. I just don't see the same type of dominance that Joey was putting in week in and week out.

If Nick isn't quite Joey, or gets there a bit later, I believe a number of teams could be really happy with that and elated to draft him.

We might be one of them. We have done worse with our DL busts.

I don't know if I agree w/your assessment of the Bosa's, bro.

I think both are studs, but Nick looks to have a bit more burst than Joey. I think the dude is going to be sensational in the NFL.

And to clarify.........that is not a knock on Joey. He's a great player. I wanted either him or Jalen Ramsey at 3 in the draft after we made the trade w/the Iggles.

Both Bosa's are great, but Nick might end up being a bit more explosive in the NFL.

I think this year we will see. It is very possible that the depth that the Bucks have had, hid him away so to speak. I just remember Joey having a much more meaningful impact in my mind and that may be because he played more.

He was playing opposite of Sam Hubbard, which was another good player.

We'll see how that effects Nick.

Ohio State's DL is going to be terrifying.

If Haskins can take control of the offense, this has a chance to be a special squad.

Looking forward to Buckeye football there D and RB's are going to be fierce and if Haskins comes thru they have some very very talented WR's ... GO BUCKEYES

I wish the Buckeyes had a stronger non-conference schedule.

The game against TCU should be half decent. TCU does have a very good offensive line (so the Buckeyes shouldn't be in the TCU backfield on every snap)

They changed the location to Jerry's World. (AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas)

This will likely be the only non-conference game that the Buckeyes won't be favored by at least a dozen points.

But they'll still be favored by over a touchdown.

Of course this means:

OSU win = "big deal"
OSU loss = "catastrophe"

Schedules are made almost a decade in advance. I think after this series, we begin a 2 year series with Oregon

That certainly is an issue because strength of schedule is so often talked about when considering which teams belong in the playoffs.

Yeah, it should go without saying, but we scheduled with Oregon when Chip Kelly was still their coach.

TCU is good though. Gary Patterson is a great coach who knows what he's doing.

scheduling is such a fine line; you want to be challenge, but also try to win AND gain points by the playoff committee ... plus, you never know who's going to be good 5 years down the road.

TCU will help our case IMO

I love me some Horn Frog games. Love OSU, but we like some other colleges as well, TCU among them. Just need a bit more consistency.

Unless you're Alabama, who literally didn't beat anyone en route to a national championship. Didn't even play for their conference title.

Sorry, that still hurts. People are quick to point at the Buckeyes and that horrible loss to Iowa, and it was, but man, put that aside, Alabama got in without any actual quality wins.

I really hate these early season big time match ups that are played on neutral fields. College football atmospheres are the best in all of sports, and you literally take that factor out when you do this. So stupid.

I am really excited for this upcoming season. I think Ohio State is going to be really good.

Good point about the neutral site stuff in the first 1-2 weeks ... I agree, I don't want to see LSU vs Florida State (or whatever) at Dallas stadium (or whatever)

Half the reason I like watching is the home stadiums

Zach Smith fired by Ohio State: Buckeyes football news
Updated 8:04 PM; Posted 6:55 PM
https://www.cleveland.com/osu/2018/07/ohio_state_fires_receivers_coa.html


By Bill Landis, cleveland.com
CHICAGO -- Ohio State on Monday night announced the firing of receivers coach Zach Smith.

Smith, who had been on Urban Meyer's staff since 2012, had an order of protection filed against him by his ex-wife in Delaware County, Ohio last Friday. Reports on Monday detailed past allegations of domestic abuse against Smith from his ex-wife in 2009 when he was on Meyer's staff at Florida, and in 2015.

Smith was never charged in either incident, but is facing a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespass from an incident last May in which he drove his car into the driveway of his wife's apartment in Powell, Ohio during a custody exchange of their 13 year-old-son.

"Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has announced the termination of wide receiver's coach Zach Smith," an OSU spokesperson said in a statement. "Coaching staff adjustments will be announced at a later date."

The team declined comment earlier on Monday when the order of protection and details from the 2009 incident were reported by Brett McMurphy. Eleven Warriors reported details from another allegation of domestic abuse against Smith from 2015.

Ohio State announced raises for all of its assistant coaches last February, including a $40,000 raise for Smith, the lowest-paid assistant on staff. He was set to make $340,000 this season. If he was terminated with cause, Ohio State would not have to pay Smith that salary.

The following language falls under cause for termination in all of Ohio State's assistant coach contracts:

"Commission of or participation in by coach any act, situation, or occurrence, or any conduct which, in Ohio State's judgement, brings coach and/or Ohio State, into public disrepute, embarrassment, contempt, scandal, or ridicule."

The language goes on to include "acts of violence that may or may not warrant arrest by the relevant authorities."

The grandson of the late former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce, Smith got his coaching start as a graduate assistant under Meyer at Florida in 2005. He also worked at Marshall and Temple under former Meyer assistants Doc Holliday and Steve Addazio, respectively.

Smith was the last remaining assistant coach from Meyer's original 2012 Ohio State staff.

Seriously?

Some of those custody fights get pretty nasty and stupid rules like this get put in place.... always a shame for the kids...

BRIAN HARTLINE IS OHIO STATE'S BEST OPTION TO REPLACE ZACH SMITH, FOR NOW
By James Grega on July 23, 2018 at 8:39 pm

https://www.elevenwarriors.com/ohio-stat...h-smith-for-now


CHICAGO – Ohio State announced the firing of wide receivers coach Zach Smith on Monday night, leaving a vacancy on Urban Meyer's coaching staff just more than a month from the season opener against Oregon State.

Since the season is so close to kicking off, Meyer likely won't have time to hire Smith's immediate successor, which leaves quality control coach and former Ohio State receiver Brian Hartline as the most logical choice. According to Lettermen Row's Austin Ward, that is already the route Ohio State is planning to take.

Hartline was officially added to Meyer's staff in March of 2017 after his seven-year NFL career came to an end in May of 2016, when he was released by the Cleveland Browns. He spent the first six years of his professional career with the Miami Dolphins, compiling back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons in 2012-13.

Hartline, who played for the Buckeyes from 2005-08, is an Ohio native who played his high school football at Canton GlenOak, a staple in the most tradition-rich football county in the state. His already established relationship with the current wide receiver unit and playing experience makes a promotion, at least on an interim basis, a no-brainer for Ohio State.

HARTLINE'S CREDENTIALS
Ohio State wide receiver (2005-08)
Seven-year NFL veteran
Current Ohio State quality control coach
Should the Buckeyes make Hartline the interim wide receivers coach, he would likely have an entire season to make a case to be kept on permanently by Meyer, especially after the last few seasons in which the receiver play has come under much scrutiny. A productive year from the unit, with a first-year starter at quarterback behind center, could be enough for Meyer to remove Hartline's interim tag despite his inexperience as a coach.

At age 31, Hartline would be the youngest position coach on staff and the youngest assistant Meyer has had at Ohio State since Smith, who joined Meyer's staff in 2012 at the age of 28.

If Hartline doesn't work out, Meyer would immediately begin the search for a full-time replacement shortly after the upcoming season ends. If not Hartline, Ohio State has plenty of options.

One option Ohio State could entertain is bringing back Joker Phillips, who spent the 2016 season as an offensive quality control coach for the Buckeyes. The former Kentucky head coach (2010-12) has experience coaching at the NFL and college level and currently serves as the wide receivers coach for Luke Fickell at Cincinnati.

A more likely option, however, would be to pursue Billy Gonzales, who is currently the co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach at Florida. With a possible scenario of Ryan Day or Kevin Wilson soon leaving for a head coaching job, a spot could come open for Gonzales to take over the wide receiver unit as well as offensive play-calling duties.

Gonzales served as the wide receivers coach at Florida under Meyer from 2005-09 and also has experience coaching in the Big Ten, having spent the 2012 season at Illinois. Before moving with Dan Mullen back to Gainesville, Gonzales was the offensive coordinator at Mississippi State from 2013-17.

Another name from Meyer's Florida past that could become an option is Zach Azzanni, who spent one season coaching wide receivers in Gainesville in 2010, and is currently the receivers coach for the Denver Broncos in the NFL. Azzanni spent the first 17 years of his coaching career in the college ranks, before leaving Tennessee in 2017 to take the wide receivers coaching job with the Chicago Bears. Azzanni also spent two years as a graduate assistant under Meyer at Bowling Green from 2001-02.

Two names that could factor in as long-shot scenarios include Santonio Holmes and Corey Dennis. Holmes was seen around the facilities throughout the offseason, even on the sidelines in coaching gear for the 2018 Spring Game, working with the wide receivers. Dennis, who is also Meyer's son-in-law, played wide receiver at Georgia Tech and has served as a graduate assistant on Meyer's staff each of the last two seasons. Keenan Bailey, who currently serves as a graduate assistant working primarily with the receivers, could also be an option.

I don't have all the details, but the dude pulled into her driveway in an exchange of their son? Man, that sounds lame!

Ohio State WR coach Zach Smith was fired Monday less than 11 hours after I uncovered multiple domestic violence allegations against him from 2015 and 2009.

Ohio State announced Monday evening Smith was terminated by Coach Urban Meyer. Smith, the grandson of former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce, had been the only remaining assistant on Meyer’s staff after Meyer took over at Ohio State in 2012.

Smith, 34, was arrested Oct. 26, 2015 by the Powell (Ohio) Police Department on felony counts of domestic violence and felonious assault against Courtney Smith, I learned.

The report indicates Courtney Smith, 33, suffered unspecified injuries and “she has been a victim of sustained physical abuse by (Zach Smith).”

The 2015 case has not been resolved and remains open.

The couple divorced Sept. 1, 2016.

On Friday, a domestic violence civil protection order was filed against Zach Smith by Courtney Smith, the Delaware (Ohio) County police told me.

The domestic violence civil protection order served to Zach Smith is for five years, unless reversed by a judge in an Aug. 3 hearing, a police spokesperson said. The protection order issued Friday prohibits Zach Smith from getting within 500 feet of his ex-wife.

The ruling states: “the court finds that (Courtney Smith) is in immediate and present danger of domestic violence and for good cause the following temporary orders are necessary to protect the persons named (Courtney Smith and her children Cameron, 8, and Quinn, 6) in this order from domestic violence.”

Besides his 2015 arrest, Smith also was arrested in 2009 when he was a Florida assistant under Meyer. On June 21, 2009 Smith was arrested for aggravated battery on a pregnant victim. Courtney Smith was 8-10 weeks pregnant at the time.

According to a Gainesville (Fla.) Police Incident report, Courtney, then 24, stated her husband Zach, then 25, “picked her up by grabbing her T-shirt and threw her against the bedroom wall located upstairs in their apartment.”

Courtney told officers Zach arrived at the residence “with an unknown female co-worker that he was partying with” and Courtney “refused to have the unknown female, who Zach kept referring to as ‘baby,’ spend the night at their residence.”

Courtney stated “a verbal argument took place over the female and questions of infidelity arose. Courtney stated Zach was intoxicated and she took the female to her house. … Courtney stated when she returned to her residence, a heated argument ensued in the upstairs bedroom. Courtney stated she tried to get Zach out of her bed, which he refused and then forcefully grabbed her.”

The report said “Zach advised (officers) he works for UF Florida Gators as an assistant coach for the football team. Zach stated that he brought the female (co-worker) home because she was upset from breaking up with her boyfriend. … Zach stated that Courtney yelled at him and denied picking her up and throwing her into a wall. Zach had a visible red mark on his right bicep that he claimed was a result of breaking up a fight downtown at a club.”

The report said: “(The officers) observed that Courtney’s shirt had been stretched just above her right breast. Courtney’s account of the incident was consistent with the redness to Zach’s right bicep because she advised that she attempted to hit him while he was picking her up.

“From the statements made on scene, (the officers) determined Zach was the primary aggressor.” He was then handcuffed and arrested.

Eight days later, Courtney decided not to press charges, according to the report.

After my first report Monday morning, Ohio State issued a statement that it was “a personal matter and we don’t typically discuss such matters publicly. We are continuing to monitor."

About 10 hours later after my initial report and an hour after my second report, Ohio State’s stance changed drastically, announcing Smith had been terminated. Smith would have earned $340,000 this season as the Buckeyes' WR coach and recruiting coordinator.

Meyer, who has had Smith on his staffs at Florida and Ohio State for 11 seasons, is scheduled to speak Tuesday at Big Ten’s media days in Chicago.

https://www.facebook.com/TheBrettMcMurphy/posts/2027190667304987

Ohio State names Brian Hartline as interim wide receivers coach

https://www.10tv.com/article/ohio-state-names-brian-hartline-interim-wide-receivers-coach


COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer announced Thursday that former Buckeye receiver and seven-year NFL veteran Brian Hartline will be the team’s interim wide receivers coach.

Hartline is in his second year with the program after serving in a quality control position with the wide receivers last season.


In addition to naming Hartline, Meyer also elevated third-year program assistant Corey Dennis to a senior quality control position working with the wide receivers and quarterbacks. Dennis was working alongside offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Ryan Day this season after working for two seasons with the wide receivers as a graduate assistant coach.

“As I said in Chicago, I am very confident with the individuals on this coaching staff and both Brian and Corey are quality young men,” Meyer said. “I anticipate both of them doing well with their new responsibilities.”

Hartline joined the staff after retiring from the NFL having played in 104 games with 73 starts and with 344 career receptions for 4,766 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Hartline played for the Buckeyes from 2005 through 2008 and was a part of four Big Ten championship teams while playing an integral role Ohio State reaching consecutive BCS National Championship games in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, he caught a career-best 52 passes for 694 yards and six touchdowns. Hartline’s career numbers include 90 catches, 1,429 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Hartline graduated from Ohio State in 2007 with his degree in communications. He and his wife, Kara, have a young son, Brayden.

good for hartline

Glad for hardline... crazy situation...

Brett McMurphy
‏Verified account @Brett_McMurphy

Text messages I have obtained, an exclusive interview w/the victim & other information I have learned shows Ohio State coach Urban Meyer knew in 2015 of domestic abuse allegations against a member of his coaching staff despite his denial last week


Pretty in-depth report attached ... Urban may be in some trouble here

Do you think Izzo and Dantonio also knew?

If Urban knew, I doubt he'll be around for long.

I'm sorry to sound uncaring, but what does it matter if Meyer knew in 2015 or not? Like, what is he supposed to do? Just fire him? How does that help anything or stop the domestic violence?

The cops knew back in 2015...they didn't do anything either!

I like the man and wish him plenty of luck. He deserves some good to fall his way IMO.