| 21 September 2010
I wanted to go back over the game to look at Mike Adams again. I noticed a few other things which I will note here.
The Manchild has arrived. Buckeye fans have long been waiting on Mike Adams to become "the next Orlando Pace." I took notice of Adams in the first two games and saw a player who was just playing on another level. This game I went back and watched every play he was in the game. Color me impressed.
I did not try to grade him. Only the coaching staff knows exactly what his assignment was on each play. I would love to see that grade and I would love to see the grades for Adams in his first two years. I saw him beaten twice in this game. He was beaten on an inside move in the third quarter by the end but it amounted to nothing as the play was a nice gain to the right. He gave up a sack but I am going to give that one to scheme as the end crashed down inside and a linebacker blitzed from deep. It is a play that I saw him pick up a couple of other times in
the game. He did not see it this time. I saw him not hustling on one series in the third quarter. I don't know if a coach or a player spoke to him but he came back out with the same intensity that he has played with all season. I think that has been a huge thing for Mike. It happens with the physically gifted on a regular basis. Growing up they are so much better than everyone they go up against that they develop bad habits. They don't have to play hard to be better. I see a player who is lighter, a good 20 lbs I would say, and a player who is playing to the whistle consistently. On a couple of scrambles Pryor got away because Adams was staying with his block. Last year those plays would have been sacks or tackles for loss. I see a player who is much more technically sound. In his pass pro he is getting his hand off the ground and in striking position very quickly. He is getting his butt down and ready to handle business. Two touchdown runs were behind Adams and Boren. It is odd that a kid who was rated so high based on his future as a backside protector has always been better at the college level as a run blocker.
We have these makeover shows on television. Mike Adams is a successful makeover. At this rate of improvement Adams is going to be a first day draft pick and left tackle is nowhere near the question mark that it was. I am much more confident against the Alabama defense with Adams playing this well.
Just when I was about to let go of the missed block on the third down play down inside the redzone where one brush block sets up a touchdown, I watch this game again and what do I see? I see the same play just about three plays earlier executed properly that popped for about twenty yards. Connor Smith does everything well. He pushes the rushing end then gets out in front and throws a block. The next time we try the play he doesn't do that.
Jake Stoneburner is playing good football beyond catching the ball. I was one of those questioning whether he would be good enough as an inline blocker. He is holding his own and I am impressed with his effort.
Jon Newsome impressed me. He finds the ball. I always thought that body would fill out into a defensive end. He has not gotten any bigger. Since we have more great defensive linemen coming in and the best class ever in 2012, and seem to be having trouble getting LBs to come this way, I think "recruiting" him for linebacker is in the best interest of Newsome and the team.
I thought Storm Klein had a really good game. I don't know if he was in the doghouse or it was about injury, him being back on the field is a good thing. I think we might find him to be a key player against Wisconsin. I like our odds with him against John Clay than I do Brian Rolle.
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