Ohio State’s Rebirth Under Meyer [78 Days of Summer]

Braxton Miller in a 2011 matchup against the Wisconsin Badgers

Ohio State still has to serve a bowl ban due to the whole, players selling things they made famous in exchange for money and tattoos, thing.  But on the bright side, the Buckeyes got Urban Meyer as the head coach to take over beginning in 2012 and this has a few big implications for the team.

First, the transition from pro to spread is difficult, but a lot of the players on Ohio State are already very fast and won’t have as tough a time as Michigan did.  Also, the key part of Urban Meyer’s offense is a mobile quarterback, which he magically has in Braxton Miller.  Ohio State was third in the Big Ten in rushing yards and yards per carry in the conference.

So the Buckeyes will have an easier transition, which also means that the big game between Michigan and Ohio Sate will be competitive.  Last year the Wolverines beat Ohio State for the first time since 2003.  The 2010 win by Ohio State was vacated as a result of the tattoo scenario previously mentioned.  Talk about a huge swing though in the rivalry.  Michigan wins 40-34 in Ann Arbor after losing by 30, 11, and 35 in prior years.  The big game this year is also in Columbus, a huge get for Meyer in his first year at the helm in the most important game to any program.

There are some still concerns about the passing attack this next year (Thank god for the Michigan secondary, right?) but on the bright side the Buckeyes have a lot of players returning to Columbus.  The upcoming schedule is incredibly challenging so they won’t get any breaks in the schedule and matchups against Michigan State, Nebraska, Penn State, Wisconsin, and Michigan.

Ohio State’s peak obviously won’t be realized until five years in to the future when Urban Meyer has successfully out-recruited every single coach in the Big Ten.  In addition, while the growing pains on the offense and defense won’t be significant they won’t be perfect for a few seasons.  Also, the inner circle of favorites who get preferential treatment needs to develop and that could take three years.

On the whole Urban Meyer has one of his dream jobs (including Notre Dame) and has a key part of his offense in Braxton Miller, a mobile and fast quarterback.  Sure the passing attack is a problem, but Tebow looked like a good passer at Florida for years.  With returners and one of the most prominent universities in the country Ohio State could be scary good in as few as two years.

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