I think it's been pretty well discussed on here, and most level-headed Ohio State fans would agree, that Braxton Miller might get a few decent carries on the jet sweep and maybe get a decent gain on a bubble screen. I agree with that and think he will be a non-factor in the middle and deep passing game. It's the first time he's played receiver, he's most likely not going to be adept at running good routes, and couple that with a tenacious bump at the line even in the slot (which I think Foster will do) by superior cover guys that VT has all over their backfield, and I think he will be contained for the most part.
That said, one area that he could be a wild card is the punt return. The 247 premium buckeye board leaked info today that Braxton is our #1 punt returner. That's somewhat surprising considering his health issues and the fact that he's never been asked to field punts his entire carrier. But with Jalin out vs VT, that spot is open and apparently Braxton has taken over the role. Obviously, VT isn't going to have to punt until late in the 4th quarter when the game is well out of hand, BUT in the odd case that Ohio State gets a 3 and out, Braxton could be a factor. He will probably be the best athlete on the field, and if he gets a crease he could take it.
Y'all are known for your special team prowess and that shows in the stats as well: in 2014, Virginia Tech averaged 3.07 yards on opponent punt returns and yielded no touchdowns. That's pretty damn remarkable. Since VT is so good at minimizing special teams yards, it may not make a difference who is back there. But just thought I'd share.
Can't wait til 9/7! 18 days, 28 minutes, and 7 seconds away.
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that makes directional punting critically important. The art of punting isn't about kicking it as far or high as you can. Punting is all about putting the ball where there is the least likelihood of a damaging return.
No doubt about it. You probably already know this, but Ohio State does something similar on kickoffs. They have all their defenders on only 2/3 of the field and typically kick the ball high and short of the goal line (we only have a 33.3% touchback percentage, 73rd in FBS) hoping to pin our opponent inside the 25. We do something similar with our rugby style punter.
I'm not sure what tactics VT uses on punts, but they obviously work extremely well.
Did you say rugby style punter? Hmmm...
Native Australian. Punts traditionally and rugby-style. Didn't have one blocked last year that I remember. Punts with great hang time, forcing fair catches and not allowing returns. Also excellent at getting the ball downed inside the 15. He's a real weapon. I thought he was the best punter in CFB until I saw JK Scott for Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. That guy is the best - for sure. But #2 ain't bad, and I think we have him.
As long as the returned is not wearing an Alabama jersey
The first video of him fielding punts was awful. He caught it at arms length away from his body. I don't see how he has picked up all these new skills in less than two weeks.
Yep, after seeing him in that video I'm praying they put him on PR.
That's what practice is for.
The whole Braxton Miller thing is just a smokescreen that guys going be parked on the bench from the first snap.
They better not use braxton on a gadget play....and it better not be from the movie "the little giants"
Fumbling punts is one of the worst mistakes in football. Changes field position, changes momentum, keeps the defense on the field. You better hope you have the surest hands back there.
One way to have the surest hands on punt returns
That line makes me wet myself every time I see that movie.
Trying to appease the hostile fan base with some nice hyperbole? It's appreciated, but if you've seen VTs offense over the last 6 or 7 years you'd know that unless there are drastic changes this season there will be plenty of punts.
Which is why I don't understand why we don't get the 5 star punters! We should be PunterU! Or PU for short! I don't see any reason why not.
Our 4th down QB star rating is rating is rivaling our actual QB star rating
Brewer was at his peak efficiency during the OSU game last year, I want to say something like 75% 3rd down conversion rate heading into the 4th quarter. Maybe we capture lightning in a bottle again.
I remember watching the game last year and being so frustrated that we couldn't get y'all off the field. Especially on 3rd and long. Brewer made great plays to keep things alive, but your WRs were making some really tough catches. It was a gutsy performance to say the least.
I just looked at the stats and you were 9-17 on 3rd down. Not remarkable, but a lot of those were 3rd and long and came at crucial times.
I think >50% on 3rd down is pretty remarkable for any team, especially against a top ranked team. 6 teams had over 50% conversion rate last year. You guys were one of them. It may not seem remarkable to you, but at the same time you guys were also only 25% during that game.
Don't get me wrong, it's very solid. Anything greater than 50 as you said is very good. I just was going off what someone else said that it was close to 75%.
I think he was saying 75% going into the 4th quarter. He was actually 8-13 (61.3%) which is still pretty remarkable.
Braxton Miller doesn't strike me as a punt returner. Kick returner maybe, but not a punt returner. I'll be very surprised if he returns any punts.
I'm just curious why you think that? He is the fastest player on our team, good size (6'1, 215) with serious moves.
Punt returns aren't a true show of straight line speed until you get past everyone. Kick returns are. Different qualities are needed for the two because of how blocking is set up and your position in respect to defenders. For punt returns, you will probably have to juke out one or more defenders before you can break the long gain, but on kick returns, you follow your blocking running full steam ahead to gain as many yards as possible. Just my $0.02, but I agree with the fact that Braxton might be slightly better on kick returns due to straight line speed and cuts. Not sold on shiftiness on punt returns
Touche
That's insane.
That's a crafty little maneuver.
Great play, but he really only makes one guy miss. If it was a punt, it would have been a pedestrian 5 yard return.
I'm biased but Braxton maybe the shiftiest player I've ever seen at Ohio State. His jukes are incredible.
I'm not sure where you get that Braxton isn't shift enough. He did pretty well as a QB cutting and making defenders miss; if anything I would think a PR would be easier because you don't have defenders down filed once you get past the initial point of contact, except maybe for the kicker.
Except the punter you say?
I'll take that.
To me, after sure hands the most important thing a punt returner needs is no fear. You have to know that chances are you are going to get drilled and hammered the second you touch the ball. You have to have no fear that you might get injured, fumble the ball, etc. With Braxton's injury record that could be a big issue.
So what if he's got moves like Jagger but hands like butter? I say there's more chance he muffs a punt for a turnover than he breaks a big return.
He's got a full month to work on it. They won't put him back there if he isn't capable.
That mostly describes a kick returner. There's a reason punt returners are almost always pretty small and very quick, not necessarily super fast. They're generally not eluding DLs and LBs, but smaller, athletic tacklers. Get past that first layer.
The next thing we know Miller will be punting and kicking too because...well, I've heard he's a great athlete.
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At the end of the day, there are a lot of tools in anOSU's toolbox, so you'd better be prepared for all of it.
Still, if Miller gets the ball, someone needs to be on it.
Miller also hasn't taken some open field hits. Let McKinnon get him squared up on a pint return, on Ronny Vandyke on a bubble screen.
I'm wondering how Braxton will hold up to taking hits.
pint return, is that what happens after you go to drink your beer and find a hair in it?
Seems like he's the #1 guy almost by default. Marshall, who did it last year, is suspended for the game as is his backup Dontre Wilson. Then Marshon Lattimore hurt his hamstring. Not sure they've had anyone else really practice at it.