Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, September 3, 2015
A scare for Ohio State last night, as QB Cardale Jones was rushed to the hospital with migraines. He?s OK. And, that?s great for the Buckeyes, as they prep to play Virginia Tech on Monday. Jones is still awaiting word on if he or J.T. Barrett will start.
My guess: Barrett gets the call.
Florence Jones, Cardale's mother, told The Toledo Blade via text message that her son was taken to an emergency room in Columbus, Ohio, and that he should be fine as it was "just a headache."
Update: A school spokesperson said Jones was released from the hospital following the examination and he is doing fine today.
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This report says Rutgers coach Kyle Flood defied an order when he contacted a professor. Keep an eye on this, as it could have grave consequences for Flood. This is the last thing the building Scarlet Knights needed.
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When BTN visited Maryland camp, Perry Hills was the apparent leader in a three-man QB derby. Turns out, he won the job. No shock.
Quite a rise for Hills, a starter in 2012 who was third-string entering last season. Now, he?s the man.
?You can imagine how the guys within the program feel about him, because he went out and competed and won the job. It wasn?t a popularity contest based on anything,? Randy Edsall said. ?He?s a competitor. He?s tough. And I think he really understands exactly what we?re doing offensively, and I think those are the reasons he grew.?
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The Minnesota offensive line is good. But, it could be better. The constant shuffling does not help matters.
When TCU visits, the front will line up thusly: Jonah Pirsig will start at right tackle; Connor Mayes at right guard; Brian Bobek at center; Jon Christenson at left guard; Josh Campion at left tackle. Left tackle Ben Lauer is back after minor knee surgery. This unit has to get a push in the ground game.
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Speaking of offensive lines, Penn State?s has something to prove. Tackle Andrew Nelson knows that.
"Last year, I think a lot of our struggles stemmed from execution because of poor communication," Nelson told Pennlive.com earlier this week. "That's something that's really taken the next step during camp."
We shall see. The front can?t allow 44 sacks, like it did last year. And it must get a push in the ground game. In not, the offense could short-circuit once again.
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History is on Ohio State?s side as it opens 2015 on the road as defending national champion.
Cleveland.com notes that defending champs have opened on the road 21 times since 1950, the year the coaches poll joined the Associated Press (and a few other bodies) in naming a national champion. The record? Defending champs are 16-5 when opening on the road. So-again–history is on Ohio State's side.
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I have to admit: I was a bit shocked when senior QB Connor Cook was not named one of Michigan State?s three captains.
Mlive.com says Michigan State has 23 seniors heading into this season, 20 of the fifth-year variety, including captains Shilique Calhoun, Darien Harris and Jack Allen. Also, Cook is one of 10 seniors on the leadership council. Still, he was not voted a captain by his peers. And Cook is a guy who could leave campus as arguably the program?s greatest QB. I don?t care how you spin this, it is strange that Cook isn?t a captain.
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Good video from HawkCentral.com, with the Des Moines Register?s Chad Leistikow and Rick Brown discussing why 2015 feels different for the Hawkeyes. Time will tell. The first month will tell us a lot, especially about the offense.
Purdue has a stern test when it visits Marshall on Sunday. And the defense will be on the spot trying to slow down an always potent Thundering Herd attack.
Check this out: Marshall, which was 13-1 last season, averaging 45.6 points, 287.3 passing yards and 271.9 rushing yards per game. Purdue, 3-9 last season, ranked 97th among 125 FBS schools in scoring defense, 91st in rushing defense and 80th in total defense. Let?s see what the Boiler defense is made of.
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A big key to Northwestern?s defense clicking: Improve what was the worst pass rush in the Big Ten in 2014.
NU's defense finished last in the Big Ten with 17 sacks, while more than half the conference's teams had at least 29 in 2014.
"The sack total was a little misleading only because we hit the quarterback and caused two or three interceptions and we didn't get credit for sacks," defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz told InsideNU.com.
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Maybe I am drinking the Kool-Aid, but I think Indiana?s defense will be better. And the linebacking corps has a shot to lead the way.
The entire front seven has matured, coming off of a season where lack of experience was a vulnerability.
?I do think this is the best front seven we?ve had since I?ve been here,? LB TJ Simmons said. ?I think it?s because of our experience.?
The Hoosiers target for the 2015 season is to not allow more than 21 points per game, Simmons said, and the goal for the front seven is to not allow more than 2.5 yards per rush. In 2014, the Hoosiers allowed 34 points per game and 5.1 yards per rush.
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About Tom Dienhart | BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section. |
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