Ohio State Buckeyes Football: Still the Biggest and Best of the Big Ten

I was thinking about the inaugural Big Ten Football Championship Game. 

It really won't be much of a game if the Ohio State Buckeyes are not playing in it.  Let's face it—  they are the dominant, preeminent force behind Big Ten football.

Without Ohio State, there is no Big Ten swagger.  Imagine the conference without them.  There would not be much to talk about.

In fear of being obtuse, I still must say they are the best of the Big Ten.  They once again proved it last night.

The Buckeyes roster possesses the best overall athletic talent in the Big Ten Conference.  No other team in the conference has what they have. 

However, they do not display it the way they should.  They don't feature it the  way they should. They don't coach it the way they should.

Therein lies the problem.

Remember the line, "The only person or thing that can hold Michael Jordan under 30 points is Dean Smith?" 

Funny, but that also applies to the Ohio State football Buckeyes.  They won't blame it on Dean Smith but on a "too-controlling" coaching staff. 

The only thing that can hold the Buckeyes under 30 points is the offensive coaching staff.

All hate working for a micro-manager.  Have you ever had one?  No one enjoys being micro-managed.  Why are they micro-managing their talent? 

When will they learn to trust what they have been able to recruit?  They're wearing scarlet and gray for a reason.   They are good enough to be Buckeyes. 

Treat them like the special athletes they are.  Give them the freedom to make plays.  Remove the constraints.  Don't restrict them.

Why in the name of Tom Harmon, Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch, and "Hopalong" Cassady would a talent like Braxton Miller only throw seven passes in a game? 

Why on 3rd-and-goal do we not see a pounding, bruising 240-pound tailback, a.k.a. Carlos Hyde, on the field? 

Help me understand why.

And don't get me wrong—I think Jordan Hall gives his all.  But is he really the best option on punts and kickoffs?  I'm not saying he's doing a bad job, but is there someone on the team that might do a better job. 

After all, Chris Fields and Corey Brown (the receiver) are much faster, even though the latter has turned into "No Hands Brown."   How did that pass hit him in the facemask? 

Don't worry, Corey.  We still love you.  I think we can remedy that problem by having a few more passes thrown your way.  Seven passes total.

And where's T.Y. Williams and why are we not seeing more of Mr. Ryan Shazier?  Something positive happens when Ryan is on the field.  I'm sick of this seniority junk.  Play the best man. 

Give the team the best opportunity to win.  If their coaching staff had done that from the get-go, the Buckeyes would probably be undefeated at this point.  They never should have lost the games they lost. 

I guess coaches have to find their way, too. 

Do you see the same thing I'm seeing?  How can a coaching staff look us in the eye and actually say that the competition is so close at quarterback that we don't know who will be the starter?

We punished Wisconsin.  We manhandled 6'5" and 325.  It meant nothing to Jon Simon and company. 

I don't want to sound arrogant or cocky, but the Big Ten championship still has to come through Columbus.  We still have something to say about it. 

I hope the coaching staff realizes that and will govern themselves accordingly.