Tag: Justin Fields

Justin Fields says he hopes to be out of knee brace by Fiesta Bowl

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has been nursing a sprained MCL, but he says he hopes to be out of the knee brace for the Fiesta Bowl.

We all knew Justin Fields was a little banged up coming into the Big Ten Championship Game. He seemed somewhat like superman in Ann Arbor after a lineman rolled up on his knee in the second half only to come back a few plays later and roll out for a 30 yard touchdown pass to Garrett Wilson.

However, Fields didn’t seem all that comfortable Saturday against Wisconsin. Although, he finished the game with 299 yards passing on 19 completions and three touchdowns, the OSU quarterback wasn’t on his game in the first half missing some throws he typically makes. Fields was only 7-14 in the first half with no touchdowns and a costly fumble, but righted the ship in the second half going 12-17 with the three scoring strikes.

I had the chance to ask Justin if the knee was bothering him during the game and if it had an affect on the passing game. Here’s what he said:

“I feel like it did, but I’m not making excuses for the missed throws of course. But I definitely feel like it did, so hopefully next game I won’t have to wear that knee brace.”

Justin Fields

It seems like Fields is pretty confident he’ll be 100 percent going into the Fiesta Bowl against Clemson. Let’s hope he’s right and a few weeks of rest will give the sprained MCL time to heal.

He and the team will need it against the undefeated, and No. 3 seeded defending national champion Clemson Tigers.

 

 

 

Georgia football: Bulldogs must have better bowl game, off-season

The Georgia Bulldogs fell to the LSU Tigers 37-10 in the SEC Championship Game. LSU dominated and UGA’s offense never got rolling. Jake Fromm and Georgia receivers couldn’t get in sync all game (more on the receivers later). All of this felt like a …

The Georgia Bulldogs fell to the LSU Tigers 37-10 in the SEC Championship Game. LSU dominated and UGA’s offense never got rolling. Jake Fromm and Georgia receivers couldn’t get in sync all game (more on the receivers later).

All of this felt like a accumulation of Georgia’s weaknesses and errors adding up over the course of the season. But make no mistake about it. Georgia had a despicable off-season in 2018-2019 following the 2018 SEC Championship Game defeat to Alabama. Kirby Smart and the Bulldogs must bounce back better following the crushing loss against LSU.

Last year, following the 2018 SEC title game UGA’s Deandre Baker started the off-season slide when he won the Jim Thorpe Award. Baker set a tone for the off-season that was not ideal. Following winning the award Baker was quoted saying this:

“I’m playing in the Sugar Bowl,” Baker said, per Jake Rowe of 247Sports. “…I just wanted to finish it right with my teammates, that’s all.”

Baker went on to sit out Georgia’s bowl game against Texas: a multi-score defeat to Texas. Players who are going to sit out the bowl game need to decide soon and be honest about it. Coaches need to prepare with the guys they’ve got and start building momentum for 2020. Regardless of who shows up, Georgia needs a win to be making progress as a program.

Baker’s decision was one of the least notable things of the 2018-2019 off-season.

Receivers Mecole Hardman Jr., Riley Ridley, RB Elijah Holyfield, and tight end Isaac Nauta all declared for the NFL early following the Sugar Bowl loss. Georgia lost Justin Fields in a transfer to Ohio State. Fields would’ve looked mighty good in Georgia red and black this season.

Every player has the right to declare for the NFL early, but for many it is not the best choice. There’s no going back. Some players family situations prevent them from being in school. That being said, Holyfield and Nauta would’ve been served better staying in Athens. Each would’ve had large roles in the offense. Neither is set up for NFL success now. Players should do what’s best for them and their families at the end of the day.

Kirby Smart secured yet another talented recruiting class, but that was the least of UGA’s 2018-2019 off-season worries. Seven Georgia players were arrested in 2019 before the Dawgs suited up to play Vanderbilt. WR Jeremiah Holloman proved to be the most costly of UGA’s arrest-related off-season losses. Georgia never made up for his loss and struggled to stretch teams down the field, especially in loses to South Carolina and LSU. Fromm missed Holloman’s back shoulder fade ability as well.

How does UGA have a better off-season this time? Jake Fromm staying would help, but don’t count on that. If he leaves, it may be Georgia’s turn to land a talented QB transfer like D’Eriq King of Houston. Kirby Smart needs borderline players to return and/or not transfer.

Players leave programs and that’s a reality of college football in 2019. Smart must land more recruits. UGA’s class of 2020 is extremely talented, but the Dawgs only have fifteen commitments. They will look add about ten more. Smart needs to land a talented tight end in this class. Darnell Washington or Theo Johnson would be huge for UGA. It’s the most talented tight end class in years.

Lastly, Georgia must stay out of trouble. 2-3 arrests would be excellent in comparison to seven. Yes, last off-season all seven weren’t all serious offenses, but they hurt the team.

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Ohio State beats Wisconsin in Big Ten Championship Game: 5 things we learned

Ohio State battled back to take control in the second half of the Big Ten Championship Game to beat Wisconsin. Here’s 5 things we learned.

Ohio State went to Indianapolis, got punched in the face, and had to punch back. It was really the first time this team has had to play from behind with a ton of adversity.

Nothing seemed to be going right for the Buckeyes in the first half, and many left this team for dead. But it didn’t matter. Ohio State stayed within itself and made the necessary adjustments to reel the game back in and take full control late to enjoy all the confetti falling.

At the end of it all, the program secures its third-straight Big Ten title, and likely punched its way to a top two seed in the College Football Playoff.

All credit to Wisconsin for playing tough and having a great game plan, but it wasn’t enough. Here’s three things we learned from what we saw Saturday night in Indianapolis.

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The Ohio State defense is not completely unflappable

This is now the third week in a row where we saw some leaks in the Buckeye defense. Things won’t always be perfect of course, but there are ways to move the ball against this team, and you’ll see other try to replicate some things Wisconsin, Michigan, and Penn State did against what had been the best defense in the country all year.

Now, it’s still a very good defense that’ll make stops, but there’s a little bit of concern on some communication and tackling issues that need to be addressed. It was great to see that unit buckle down in the 2nd half, but there needs to be a little improvement before the College Football Playoff hits.

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Next … Dobbins the grinder

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Ohio State’s step-by-step journey to a 13-0 season

Ohio State ran its record to 13-0 with a victory over Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship.

Ohio State has run the table through the first 13 games of its 2019 season. A look at how the Buckeyes kept their mark unblemished and demolished a series of opponents in the process.

Ohio State 45, FAU 21

Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Justin Fields, who saw limited action as a freshman last season sitting behind Jake Fromm at Georgia, threw four touchdown passes and ran for a score in his first game for Ohio State, leading the fifth-ranked Buckeyes over Florida Atlantic. The Buckeyes score on their first four possessions, including a 51-yard run by Fields.

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Ohio State faces largest deficit of the season, down 21-7 at half to Wisconsin

Ohio State looked stagnant and faced their largest deficit of the season yet will enter halftime down just 14-7.

Ohio State has its work cut out for it against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. The Badgers came to play. Two things dominated the first half. Ohio State’s inability to get off the field on third and long, and the Buckeyes’ inability to solve the Wisconsin defense. Both of those led to Ohio State’s largest deficit of the season at the break.

Another interesting development is little mention of Chase Young. Any game without his impact on it may not turn out well for the nation’s best team.

That said, here’s a rundown of how the half went for Ohio State.

To start, Wisconsin won the coin toss and chose to receive, wanting to blast Ohio State in the mouth early knowing that Ohio State would return the fair. Well, the Badgers did just that.

They, after a pair of first downs, gave the ball to Jonathan Taylor for a 44-yard touchdown. They went five plays and under three minutes to take a quick 7-0 lead.

Then, the mighty Ohio State offense took the field for the first time. Sadly, the Buckeyes didn’t succeed on a fourth and 7 after driving for a few first downs. It was justified attempt though as a field goal at that point would’ve been at least a 50-yarder.

Wisconsin punted on their next drive, pinning Ohio State within its own ten yard line.

J.K. Dobbins quickly changed that and then Austin Mack made his presence felt with a stellar 34-yard gain. Ohio State’s second drive started off well yet a third and ten stalled another drive as Fields was pressed and sacked out of field goal range.

With the clock under two minutes in the first and the Badgers up seven, Ohio State punted for a touchback. The quarter ended 7-0 with Wisconsin on its own 41.

Wisconsin continued to march down the field, completing a difficult third and long en route to entering Ohio State territory yet again. A missed Jonathan Taylor third down set up a fourth and five which Wisconsin converted on.

Jack Coan then ran in a 14-yard touchdown to extend Wisconsin’s lead to 14. It certainly wasn’t the first 21 minutes that Ohio State had dreamed up as it saw itself in the largest deficit of the season early in the second.

That said, early in the second, Taylor, a potential first-round, did surpass 6,000 career yards.

Ohio State got the ball back with around ten minutes left in the half. After three pitiful attempts, Ohio State faked a punt and was able to pick up a first down where the offense finally started to gain some steam.

Two 20-plus yard gains put Ohio State on 1st and goal. Justin Fields eventually fumbled, something Ohio State has had a clear problem with this season. With under four minutes left though, the Buckeyes were able to get the ball back.

Ohio State drove, with a few third-down conversions, and put points on the board before half. But just when you thought it had some momentum going headed to the locker room with under one minute in the half, Jonathan Taylor ripped off a big run. Then Wisconsin had another big play through the air and scored a TD just before half to go up 21-7.

The Buckeyes are now left looking for answers and will need to make some adjustments to find a way to win this one. Ohio State is in serious jeopardy of losing its grip on what has been a fantastic season.

With LSU win, Oklahoma is all but guaranteed to go to the College Football Playoff

It’s happening. Who knows what crystal ball Lincoln Riley had looked into, but he was right—win and you’re in.

It’s happening.

Who knows what crystal ball Lincoln Riley had looked into, but his 2019 Oklahoma team can start making reservations for a week long trip to attend the College Football Playoff.

The now No. 6 ranked Sooners are sure to rise to at least No. 4 come Sunday at 11 a.m. CT thanks to LSU’s 37-10 win over Georgia in the SEC Championship.

Oklahoma was hopeless after losing 47-41 at Kansas State on Oct. 26. The Sooners needed chaos, and chaos is what they got.

Alabama suffered two losses. Oregon lost to Arizona State. Penn State got beat by Minnesota. Georgia got beat by LSU.

All while, the Sooners rattled off five-straight wins. Only one was a comfortable win at Oklahoma State, but they were wins—including a 30-23 overtime thrilling win over Baylor in the Big 12 Championship.

The next destination is still up in the air, but all sights right now are on Atlanta for the Peach Bowl and a date with Joe Burrow and LSU or Justin Fields, Chase Young and Ohio State.

That will officially be announced on Sunday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN.

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Ohio State vs. Wisconsin Big Ten Championship Game preview: 5 reasons the Buckeyes win

Ohio State handled Wisconsin pretty handily the first time around, now it has to beat the Badgers one more time in the Big Ten Championship.

The first one was so nice, they’re playing it twice.

Ohio State outlasted and outmanned the Wisconsin Badgers the first time around 38-7, and now it’s tasked with beating them again in the Big Ten Championship Game Saturday. They say it’s hard to beat a good team twice in one season, but the reality is, we’ve not really seen that in the Big Ten, or with the Buckeyes for that matter.

Either way, Wisconsin does have one of the best running backs in the country, a physical brand, and the culture to pick itself off the proverbial mat to try and make this one a game this time. Oh, and there’s a championship and trophy on the line, so getting up to play this one shouldn’t be an issue.

Here’s five reasons the Buckeyes win Saturday in Indianapolis

Deep and wide

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Ohio State football: The three key players needed in the postseason

Ohio State has made it this far on the backs of three dynamic players. It’ll need those three to still come up big in the postseason.

Ohio State beat Michigan to continue its dominance against that team up north. It finished an undefeated regular season and now has a chance to win consecutive Big Ten Championships. Is it realistic that this could end in a picturesque season? Imagine Ryan Day hoisting the trophy alongside Dobbins, Fields, and Young. Here are three reasons why Ohio State could win it all this year which boils down to the three best players on Ohio State’s team. 

JK Dobbins

On the offensive side, it comes down to the ability to run the ball to open up the passing game. With Dobbins being one of only two players in Ohio State history to run for the 4,000 yards during his career, he’s been a beast. In fact, based on history, when Dobbins runs for two touchdowns and 140 yards, the Buckeyes normally win. 

While he’s been an unstoppable force in almost every game this year, it will be critical that he continues to eat up the defense with his rushing ability to create passing opportunities for Justin Fields and the passing game.

Chase Young

Young has lived up to expectations this year. So much so that he’s in the conversation for the Heisman as a defensive player. With his ability to pressure the quarterback, it has limited the time and space opposing quarterbacks have had. In the Michigan game, he didn’t statistically show out, but a lot of it factored into him being constantly double and tripled teamed. But he still took on multiple players, which allowed for others along the D-line to get into the backfield. 

Coming down the stretch, if Chase Young continues his dominance and continues to be a game-wrecker in the backfield it’ll allow OSU to slow down teams like LSU and Clemson since they have mobile quarterbacks.

Justin Fields 

At the helm of it all is Justin Fields. He has more than met expectations after the departure of Dwayne Haskins last season. So far this year Justin Fields has been incredible with his decision making with just one interception all year. He does have a tendency to hold onto the ball a little too long at times, but that’s just nitpicking at this point.

His ability to continue and make plays with a bum leg bears watching, but he’s been a warrior so far. For Ohio State to meet its ultimate goal of winning a national championship, he has to still provide that threat on the ground.

So far Field’s youth has not been in question and he has handled the big stage incredibly well. It will be interesting to see how the end of the season finishes. Maybe, just maybe, it will end with Ohio State hoisting a large trophy in New Orleans.

Jalen Hurts named Big 12 newcomer of the year

Expect anything different? Jalen Hurts earned the Big 12 newcomer of the year award after winning three Big 12 newcomer of the week awards.

Expect anything different?

Jalen Hurts earned the Big 12 newcomer of the year award after winning three Big 12 newcomer of the week awards.

Hurts joins former Sooner quarterback, Josh Heupel (1999) as the school’s second quarterback honoree and fourth total.

Leading the Big 12 in completion percentage, passing efficiency and passing touchdowns, Hurts is also second in the conference in rushing yards, trailing only fellow Heisman Trophy candidate, Chuba Hubbard of Oklahoma State.

Through the regular season, Hurts has completed 205 passes for 3,347 yards including 31 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Hurts averages 11.7 yards per pass and 278.9 yards per game.

On the ground, Hurts has gained 1,217 yards, toting the rock 196 times with 18 rushes hitting paydirt. Hurts averages 6.2 yards per carry and 101.4 yards per game.

With 12 games behind him, Hurts is responsible for 50 touchdowns (31 passing, 18 rushing, 1 receiving) ranking him first in the FBS in total touchdowns. Hurts leads Heisman Trophy favorite, Joe Burrow and Heisman Trophy candidate Justin Fields by three touchdowns.

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Ohio State’s Justin Fields wins Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year

Ohio State University’s sophomore quarterback Justin Fields has won the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year.

Ohio State University’s sophomore quarterback Justin Fields has won the Big Ten’s Offensive Player of the Year.

The former five-star quarterback started his collegiate career in Georgia and quickly transferred to Ohio State.

Under Ryan Day, Fields has found unparalleled success and has grown into one college football’s best dual-threat quarterbacks. Fields is a projected Heisman finalist as well.

Leading the Buckeyes to a perfect 12-0, Fields neared 2,700 yards through the air with 37 pass touchdowns with a mere one interception. On the ground, he added 470 yards and ten more touchdowns.

For his terrific performances, Fields has been named the Griese-Brees Quarterback of the Year. Like teammate Chase Young, he didn’t just the positional award but was also named the Graham-George Offensive Player of the Year.

The second-year stud knows this ride isn’t over. He’s prepared to play in the team’s conference championship, a rematch against Wisconsin on Saturday.

From there, the Buckeyes will hopefully take their talent down south and compete in the College Football Playoffs. If they go far in those playoffs, it’ll be on the back of star quarterback Justin Fields.