This is the 84th in a series of 100 daily posts, a Countdown to College Football. (Sort of.)
I was going to use a previous introduction because it’s Saturday night and I’m halfway into a 12-pack because I have a family reunion next week and I have to build my tolerance back up. The problem, however, is the introduction I was going to use contained references to the Royal Wedding.
Of all the introductions and all of the gin joints and all of the countdowns in the world, I had to choose the one that happened to talk about a current event that is decidedly no longer current.
Not wanting to just give up and write an introduction to today’s countdown, I thought I would randomly search out another possibility to use, but then by the time I saw how much I had already typed, I thought this introduction would completely suffice.
In fact, it might be too good.
Don’t worry, the excellence will not continue much longer.
In today’s countdown, we have Ohio State’s greatest pass rusher, Joe Burrow’s first SEC game, a trio that could become a quartet, and a meeting in the middle at the end of November.
If you missed yesterday’s edition, you can find it right here.
Now please join us as we continue our countdown of the 100 greatest Buckeyes of The Ozone era (1996-present).
We will also preview one of the 100 most exciting games on this fall’s college football schedule, and one of the 100 things we’re most looking forward to this fall.
Plus, we’ll preview one of this season’s 100 biggest personnel matchups.
Greatest Buckeyes Of The Ozone Era
#17 Mike Vrabel, 1993-1996
If you were to remove Mike Vrabel from Ohio State’s record books, you’d shrink it by about half.
Vrabel was a 3-year starter, 3-time All-Big Ten player, 2-time All-American, and is the all-time leader in sacks and tackles for loss at OSU.
As a sophomore in 1994, Vrabel exploded on the college football scene with 12 sacks and 20 tackles for loss. He and Matt Finkes dominated the competition, and for a young freshman like me, it sure seemed like they came out of nowhere to do it.
In 1995, Vrabel set the school record with 26 tackles for loss and increased his sack total to a then-school record 13. His numbers dipped in 1996 to nine sacks and 18 tackles for loss, but they were still good enough to earn him his second consecutive Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year award.
Vrabel finished with 36 sacks for his career, which is 8.5 more than second place Jason Simmons, who he replaced in the starting lineup.
Vrabel’s 66 tackles for loss are more than anybody else in OSU history. Second place is held by linemate Matt Finkes (59.0).
Vrabel remains the only Ohio State Buckeye with more than one season of at least 10 sacks.
After a very successful NFL career, Vrabel’s coaching career brought him to Ohio State for a few years before heading back to the NFL. He is now the head coach of the Tennessee Titans.
Best Games This Fall
#17 LSU at Auburn
Joe Burrow’s first conference game as LSU’s presumed starting quarterback takes place at Auburn. This is a week three game, scheduled for a 3:30 kickoff on CBS.
It’s the game you will be watching before the Ohio State-TCU game at 8:00 pm.
This game will give you all of the information you will need to know when deciding whether the OSU coaches were right or wrong in letting Joe Burrow walk. Assuming you haven’t already come to a conclusion based on the first two weeks of the season, of course.
Auburn is a national title contender, while LSU is not. If the Tigers can somehow pull off the upset on the Tigers, then that may get the ball rolling for some fun times in the SEC. Although if there is too much confusion, everyone will just revert back to what they know and assume Alabama is the greatest thing since boiled peanuts.
What We Can’t Wait To See
#17 Ohio State Cornerback Rotation
Before there was ever a cornerback rotation at Ohio State, Kerry Coombs had been trying to make it happen. He wanted at least three cornerbacks to play, but they just couldn’t ever get a third ready.
He was hoping Doran Grant would be ready in 2012, but he wasn’t. Neither true freshman Eli Apple or Gareon Conley were ready in 2013. Conley wasn’t ready in 2014, either. In 2015, Denzel Ward saw a little bit of playing time, but it wasn’t a three-man rotation. It wasn’t until 2016 with Ward, Marshon Lattimore, and Conley that we finally saw Coombs’ dream become a reality.
We saw it again last year with Ward, Damon Arnette, and Kendall Sheffield. We are supposed to see it once again this year with Arnette, Sheffield, and Jeff Okudah. We saw these three against USC last year. The Buckeyes gave up 356 yards passing, but they were essentially harmless yards, as the Trojans only scored seven points, and none of those came through the air.
This year, that rotation could grow by one — or maybe two. With Shaun Wade and Marcus Williamson now in their second season, they are more equipped than they were a year ago to play. Five players may be too many to rotate, but Coombs had always hoped for a fourth player to jump into the mix.
Perhaps Taver Johnson can make that happen this season.
Matchup To Watch
#17 Cesar Ruiz, MICH OC vs. Robert Landers
Cesar Ruiz is a true freshman who has yet to start a game at center for Michigan. He did, however, start the final five games at right guard last season and had some flashes.
Robert Landers, meanwhile, has never started a single game for the Buckeyes, but as a fourth-year junior he has been the backup nose tackle each of the last two seasons. And knowing how often Larry Johnson likes to rotate his linemen, there is no lack of experience on Landers’ part.
At 6-foot-4 and 316 pounds, Ruiz has Landers by at least three inches and 30 pounds, but that’s nothing new for Landers.
Due to Ohio State’s Rushmen package — and also being a backup — Landers saw his snaps limited last season. He will have more opportunities this season, especially against a run-heavy attack like Michigan’s.
Can Landers’ quickness and leverage defeat Ruiz’s size and strength?
The Wolverines have yet to run the ball well against Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes, averaging just 104.8 yards rushing per game since 2012. If Landers can help keep Michigan near that average again this year, you’ve got to like Ohio State’s chances.
