Trouble in Paradise: Is Ohio State Vulnerable without J.T. Barrett?

The Ohio State Buckeyes have undoubtedly been the best team in college football ever since they won the inaugural college football playoff championship with a third string quarterback. Thanks to the perceptive eye of coach Urban Meyer, the Buckeyes have become one of the most proficient teams on offense (38 points per game, tied for 15th in NCAA) and defense (15.1 points allowed per game, 9th in NCAA). However, no matter how resilient the Buckeyes have proven to be this season, the untimely suspension of breakout quarterback J.T. Barrett has unveiled a chink in the Buckeyes seemingly impervious armor. Although backup quarterback Cardale Jones isn't a push over by any means, his discombobulated statistical woes have been head scratching to say the least.

In his first two games of the season, Jones went from completing 52.6% of his passes against Virginia Tech in game one to completing 66.7% of passes in his second start against Hawaii. While Jones certainly has the size and athleticism of a great overall player, his decision making from game to game has been a frustrating blemish on this quarterbacks otherwise flawless resume. Although Jones has tried to utilize his physicality to bull doze opposing defenses via the rush, it hasn't been nearly as effective for him as it was last season when he was still a relatively unknown third string passer. This lack of versatility and consistency from Jones could allow an underrated Minnesota Gophers team to pull off the ultimate upset on the road.

While Gophers quarterback Mitch Leidner has been an average passing threat at best, he has a dual threat rushing attack that is more than capable of picking up the slack. Although freshman running back Rodney Smith gets the lions share of the carries, freshman Shannon Brooks has proven that there is more than one tenacious youngster on the Gophers rushing squad that can be as equally prolific at busting through merciless Big Ten defenses. Between his eye popping seven yards per rush attempt and his ability to get to the end zone consistently (three rushing TD's in four games), Brooks is the spark that allows the Gophers to remain competitive especially when their passing game inevitably fails to get the offense going.

However, the question remains of whether the Gophers can take advantage of J.T. Barrett's absence and dethrone the Buckeyes while garnering a huge win that would put them one step closer to bowl eligibility. Realistically, the Gophers will still have to be at their best even without Barrett orchestrating this high scoring offense. Even though Cardale Jones hasn't been nearly as productive this season, he is still a superior passer compared to the Gophers current starter. On top of that, the Buckeyes have a formidable rusher in Ezekiel Elliot and a physically sound defense, a nearly unstoppable tandem that has prevented even the most well-coached teams from succeeding. And yet, despite all of these glaring advantages, the Gophers are a pesky albeit stubborn team that may have just enough spunk to hand Ohio State their first loss of the season.

 

College Gameday Preview: Miami Hurricanes vs. Duke Blue Devils

While this matchup may seem like a stepping stone for a Duke Blue Devil team that's on the rise (6-1), the woeful Miami Hurricanes (4-3) will look to redeem themselves on the road after losing to Clemson 58-0 at home. Despite this demoralizing shut out, the Hurricanes have proven that they can make up for their defensive shortcomings from time to time thanks to sophomore quarterback Brad Kaaya. Although Kaaya's 10 touchdowns to 2 interceptions ratio may seem indicative of a game manager, Kaaya is at his best when he is able to get the ball down the field (8.06 yards per passing attempt). However, this aggressive downfield mentality is only effective when Kaaya's receiving corps is able to exploit opposing defenses coverages, which has been to be more of a headache than it should be. 

 For the scrappy and tenacious Blue Devils, going up against a pure pocket passer plays right into their defenses hands as their potent pass rush has proven to be relentless since the start of the season. On top of that, Duke has one most opportunistic secondaries in the game (5 INT's, 6 TD's), which makes the prospect of Kaaya being the Hurricanes savior all the more unlikely. 

If the Hurricanes hope to have any chance of being victorious, they'll have to find a way to hold Duke's dynamic passer Thomas Sirk to minimal gains in both of the passing and rushing game. Unfortunately for Hurricanes, Sirk has become a master at utilizing the read option, which caters perfectly to Duke's run and pound mentality (180.4 rushing yards per game, 56th in NCAA). However, Duke isn't solely reliant upon their rushing game to wear down a defense. Although Sirk's 60.1% completion percentage and 6.71 passing yards per pass attempt won't wow anybody, his confidence in his ability to get the ball down field when a opportunity presents itself has been a huge part of how this team deflates an opposing teams confidence. Thanks to a stout and consistent offensive line, Sirk almost always has enough time to make these big passes all over the field, especially to senior wide receiver Max McCaffrey (14.4 yards per reception, 360 yards and 3 TD's). 

In the end, the prospect of the Hurricanes potentially upsetting the Duke Blue Devils seems like a wishful pipe dream at best. While Brad Kaaya certainly has the arm and ability to get his offense going, he has had trouble going up against disciplined defenses that are effective at interrupting his rhythm via a potent pass rush. While Duke's nagging weakness of getting their offense going in the 1st half may open up a small window for the Hurricanes to gain the upper hand initially, they don't have enough playmakers or resilience to outlast a Blue Devil Defense that is ranked 6th in the nation in points allowed per game (14.1).

Final Verdict:

Hurricanes 17 Blue Devils 35

Game Preview: Baltimore Orioles (40-34) vs. Cleveland Indians (33-40)

In the final game of the three set against the Cleveland Indians, the surging O's look to pick up the sweep at home while building upon their three game winning streak (have won 17 of last 22). The Indians hope to perceiver against a offensively tenacious Orioles squad to avoid the sweep while simultaneous trying to climb out of the deep hole in their Al Central division (The Indians are 11 games back of the first place Kansas City Royals).

What O's need to do to win:

Attack early and often. Although the Orioles have never faced 30-year major league rookie Toru Murata, they need to startle this pitcher early to have a chance to chase him in the opening innings. Luckily, the Orioles specialize at grinding down pitchers as they can force the opposition to make a great pitch in order to get a well deserved out.

What Indians need to do to win:

Similarly, the Indians will have to attack Tillman from the opening pitch if they hope to score some runs. Tillman has proven to be inept as a starting pitcher and can give up runs in a hurry if he loses his rhythm. If the Indians fail to score within the first third in the game, their chances at stealing a win on the road will drop dramatically as Tillman tends to settle in as the game wears on.

Final Verdict.

While this game may not be as defensive minded as the previous one, it will undoubtedly showcase the capabilities of an Orioles offense that has deflated the morale of several ball clubs throughout the month of June. Although the Indians have a relatively decent chance at avoiding the sweep, their decision to introduce a major league rookie will ultimately be their undoing. Final Score: O's 8 Indians 6  

Rapid Reaction: O's 4 Indians 0

In the first game of their double header, the Orioles displayed their dominant versatility in terms of pitching and hitting. Ubaldo Jimenez (W 7-3, 8 IP, 4 H, 7 K) easily pitched his best game of the year against a woeful Indians team that has lost six out of their last ten games. Offensively, the O's didn't score a multitude of runs, but they had big home run hits from Jimmy Paredes who hit a two run shit in the third (ninth homer of the year) and a clutch solo shot from the red hot Manny Machado (15th homer of the year).

What I liked:
Ubaldo seems to reaffirm that this is his year with every start he makes. While he may not be an ace (yet), he has clearly come into his own as a low strike zone assassin who can now throw strikes seemingly on command. Manny Machado continues to be a monster at the plate, and Jimmy Paredes continues to inflate his hitting and on base percentage with one well timed hit after another.

What I didn't like:
Bauer appeared to start off strong with two strong innings, especially during the second inning where he struck out the side. Although Bauer only gave up four runs through seven innings, it was four too many for a team that has struggled to manufacture runs this year. Worse still, Cleveland catcher Yan Gomes struggled to corral several wild albeit manageable pitches. It gave the O's easy scoring opportunities and ultimately shifted the momentum towards a Baltimore offense that has been relentless at the plate.

MVP: Ubaldo Jimenez, Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

LVP: Yan Gomes, Catcher, Cleveland Indians

Baltimore Orioles (39-34) vs. Cleveland Indians (33-39) Preview (Game #2)

Although a rain drenched Camden Yards was unable to accommodate a pivotal game 2 between the Indians and Orioles last night, it actually was a blessing in disguise. While Chris Tillman was supposed to take the mound yesterday, it was hard to imagine that his luck of garnering favorable run support would last much longer. For the Indians, they undoubtedly had some trepidations of their own as they were planning on starting rookie Cody Anderson. Since then, this game two matchup has taken on a completely different look with two efficient starting pitchers in the O's Ubaldo Jimenez (6-3, 3.40 ERA) and the Indians Trevor Bauer (6-4, 3.86 ERA). Given that yesterdays matchup had all the fixings of an offensive drag race, today is a prime example of a game that could be predicated on well executed pitching and timely defensive plays.

What O's need to do to win:

Today, the O's will need to find some consistency in their pitching if they hope to win the first game of the double header. Luckily, Ubaldo has provided that in spades as he has held the opposition to three earned runs in his last three starts. Along with that, the Orioles need to find a way to fluster a starting pitcher that as been all over the place in terms of his last few starts. At his most confident, Bauer is a lights out pitcher that can throw confidently in the strike zone. At his worst, Bauer can struggle with his pitching command which results in a high walk rate(1.33 WHIP). Having center fielder Adam Jones back in the line up could do wonders in helping disrupt this finicky pitcher early on.

What Indians need to do to win: 

For the Indians, they need to force Jimenez to throw legitimate strikes before taking a strong cut at one of his many deceptive pitches. While Jimenez may not have the fastball that he had when he played for Cleveland, he has done an incredible job of developing his breaking and off-speed pitches, particularly when it comes to attacking the bottom of the strike zone. Although the Indians are familiar with Jimenez as a pitcher, they haven't seen the versatile Jimenez that stands before them now. If they hope to get a much needed win on the road, they'll have to be patient at the plate.

Final Verdict:

While this matchup will be an intriguing one from start to finish, the end result will come down to which pitcher breaks first. Although Bauer has the potential to be a great starter, his consistency issues could put him in a rough spot early on. Combine that with an Orioles offense that has flourished on a regular basis (along with the return of their productive leader Adam Jones) and you have the makings of a game that will start competitive early but could boil down to one big hit down the stretch. Final Score: Indians 4 Orioles 6

Game Preview: Baltimore Orioles vs. Cleveland Indians (Game #2)

While it may be farfetched to suggest that the Baltimore Orioles are destined for their 3rd playoff berth in four seasons, this smash mouth offense has proven that it can overcome even the most intimidating run deficits. Although the starting pitching has had it's moments of brilliance and unspeakable melt downs, the Orioles have provided starting pitcher Chris Tillman with ample run support (season average of 6.47 runs per game).

The Matchup:
Thus far, the Orioles suspect starting rotation has found it's groove when it comes to pitching against the Cleveland Indians (haven't allowed the Indians to score more than 3 runs in four meetings this season). On top of that, The Orioles offense has found ways to score against the Indians in the later innings of the ball game, stifling any confidence the Indians have attempted to create for themselves.

What O's need to do to win:
The O's key to success is to play their style of baseball which is predicated on a high-powered offense that can score at any time. Combine that with a clutch bullpen that is capable of baffling even the most prolific hitters (especially with Zach Britton closing) and you have a team that is designed to be aggressive at the plate and lights out on the mound. While Chris Tillman's 6.22 ERA is definitely a cause for concern, Cleveland's offensive output is decent at best (21st in MLB in runs per game). If Tillman can get into a groove as he did the last time he pitched against the Indians (6.3 IP, 2 ER) the Orioles dynamic offense should take care of the rest.

What Indians need to do to win:
Simple. Be aggressive at the plate against Tillman and hope that rookie pitcher Cody Anderson can quiet a red hot Orioles offense. Although Anderson's first start in the majors was impressive (7.2 IP, 0 ER, 4 SO against Rays), it's hard to predict how a young pitcher will react against a team that loves to play at home. Along with that, this Cleveland offense needs to score runs quickly and consistently if they hope to keep the home team at bay.

Final Verdict:
The Cleveland Indians high risk yet high reward decision to allow a rookie pitcher to take the mound will make for a interesting matchup. Despite the inexperience, it allows the Indians to use deception to their advantage by forcing the Orioles to figure out this new starter on the fly rather than relying on past experiences to help them score early. However, the Orioles line up in recent weeks has proven that they can hit 1-9 effectively given the opportunity. Regardless of the unknown nature of the starting pitcher,it seems safe to say that the Orioles can't be bet against until someone finds the blueprint for slowing down this potent offense. Final Score: Indians 5 O's 8.

Update: Game Postponed due to inclement weather. Double Header to be played tomorrow at 1:35 & 7:05 respectively.

Can The Orioles Bounce Back From Their Inconsistent Woes?

Just when it seemed that the Orioles had found their rhythm, they once again found themselves in several sticky situations thanks to their finicky bullpen.  Before they were demoralized by the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Orioles had won four of their last five games thanks largely in part to their dominant offense which continuously found ways to hit big when it mattered most. Unfortunately, what the Orioles needed to win wasn't so much their powerhouse hitters. They needed their formidable bullpen of yesteryear which was responsible for the Orioles one run winners as well as their flawless success in extra innings.  While the Orioles offense has transformed into one of the best in the league, their lackadaisical pitching has become a cause for concern.  Although the Orioles are still 10 games over .500, if they hope to make the post season and beyond, they'll have to figure out how to rework their bullpen to give them maximum efficiency from game to game.

Despite the Orioles recent travesties, they still have a chance to obtain a wild card spot for the second consecutive year.  The Tampa Bay Rays just snapped a 6 game losing streak, making the fight for second place in the AL East more competitive than ever.  However, with that encouraging notion in mind, the Rays will undoubtedly find a way to win again due to their dynamic bullpen which elevated them to a consistent level of success in the first place.  While there is still plenty of baseball left to be played, the Orioles need to treat their current situation like it's the last week of the regular season.  From here on out, every victory counts and every loss simple attributes to the Orioles becoming an underwhelming disappointment.  I'll admit that despite the despondence I currently feel for my beloved Orioles, I still have hope that they can defy the odds and become an under the radar favorite to make a splash in the post season.  Although the Orioles on base percentage leaves something to be desired (.314, 17th in the MLB), their slugging percentage, runs and batting average all fall within the top six in the majors.

It's hard to imagine the Orioles succumbing to their failures when they have so much else going for them.  Between the offensive explosiveness that is Chris Davis' hitting proficiency and a young Manny Machado providing consistent hitting efficiency, the Orioles have an all star cast that is more than capable of surprising the world of baseball.  While my heightened optimism may have something to do with my undying devotion to the Orioles, I simply can't concede that last years Cinderella success was just a fleeting one hit wonder.  Ever since Cal Ripken's departure, the Orioles became the laughing stock of the MLB year in and year out.  Now, the city of Baltimore has been given a reason to hope that their reinvigorated baseball franchise can finally have the last laugh.  If Buck Showalter can continue to utilize the offense effectively while shifting around the bullpen to find a relatively consistent framework for success, the Orioles could be more than capable of making a dominant tail end of the regular season run.  After all, it's not over till it's over.