Roundtable Wednesday: Who Has Been The Surprise Player Of 2016?

Here at Pistols Firing, we use Slack to communicate back and forth. Sometimes this is constructive. Other times we riff for 20 minutes on Mike Gundy’s golf game. We’re going to try and do an informal roundtable every Wednesday about whatever is going on this week and post it here.

It’s going to be pretty slangy and GIF-y and not meant to be anything serious. We’re just here to talk about OSU the way we all do in real life. If you need to brush up on any of the contributors, you can do so here.

Kyle Porter (Publisher): Who has been the most surprisingly good player for OSU this season?

Thomas Fleming (Xs and Os): Cole Walterscheid and Devante Averette. No one knew who Walterscheid was before this season and he has exploded onto the scene. And Averette was primarily a special teams guy but has really played well at LB.

Carson Cunningham (Podcasting): Chris Lacy. He’s really making up for the loss of Ateman. Never heard him talk.

Justin Southwell (Chief Uni Officer): I think it has to be Justice Hill. Our running game has improved from last year. We can chalk that up to a freshman running back. We expected the RBs to be better this year, but I wouldn’t have thought it was because of Hill. It’s surprising but even more exciting.

Sam Aldrich (Head of Hoops): A second for Justice Hill. I can’t believe a true freshman 3-star has completely changed the running game. Where would our offense be without him?

Porter: I’m going Matt Ammendola. OSU’s touchback percentage has risen from 23 percent to 30 percent and OSU already has more than half as many touchbacks this season as last. He’s three yards better than Benny G. on kickoffs this year which you know Gundy loves.

Caleb Deck (Intern): I agree with Lacy, also Jhajuan Seales has surprised me. I mean, we’ve had high hopes for Seales in the past, but he has struggled to live up to it. He was a 2-star coming out of high school I believe and he showed flashes his freshman year but his off-field issues have hampered him and I have been down on his potential. He already has as many catches and TDs as his entire season last year and only 40 less yards, which he will probably surpass by halftime next game.

Kyle Boone (Head of Recruiting): I like Justice Hill. I was riding the train 11 months ago. I had a feeling he was going to be a good player, but I really didn’t expect him to take over the No. 1 spot like he has. He’s by far OSU’s best option at tailback, and like Carson mentioned, he’s the elixir of the running game. It’s pretty amazing.

Carson: Why did Gundy hold kick-off tryouts with Ammendola standing on the sideline? He’s been impressive. He must’ve heard him talk.

Aldrich: He must have overslept his 8:30 org. chemistry class and word got around.

Porter: Been there! We won’t do specific players for this next question, but what position has been surprisingly bad?

Aldrich: Cornerbacks, no hesitation. Just abysmal.

Fleming: Secondary. By far the worst in my opinion.

Caleb: Definitely corners. Big plays have been killer and I don’t think that reflects on the safeties as heavily as it does on cornerbacks.

Fleming: Safeties have been pretty good, but yeah corners are not very good. And they play off almost too often. Frequently Gave UT easy yards on curl attachments.

Boone: The cornerbacks specifically. They’ve been undisciplined but also has a lot to do with the coverages they’ve been assigned. OSU provided more safety help last game which limited the big plays, somewhat. Still, the cornerbacks have been a little less productive than what we’ve come to expect.

Porter: I have been mildly frustrated with the linebackers at times because it often feels like the middle of the field is wide open. However, that might be a scheme issue. It’s corners for me as well. OSU is No. 123 in the nation in long pass plays (30+ yards) given up. Only Florida State (!!!!!!) and Rice are worse.

Boone: 

Caleb: Yeah, linebackers have confused me this year. It has seemed a bit porous at times but I think it’s scheme as opposed to talent. Each guy has been productive and impressive individually, just seems to be off as a whole .

Southwell: I understand that the Big 12 is going to have good quarterbacks, and they’re going to score a lot of points. But I’d love to see the DBs challenge that more than what we’ve seen. It can be done.

Porter: Lastly, who ends up with a better overall career between Joe Randle and Justice Hill?

Boone: 

Porter: ?

Southwell: Justice Hill is off to a great start. If he stays all four years, then it’s game over.

Aldrich: 40 TDs for Randle his Soph/Junior years is pretty tough to beat. But if he stays all four years.. #JusticeForAll

Fleming: Yeah if he is a four-year guy he’ll leave as one of the best in recent memory. Plus with the backs they’re getting next year they’ll have one of the best RB position groups in the conference.

Carson: *searches for gavel emoji* Randle only played three years but was incredibly productive. Long ways to go but Hill’s off to a fantastic start.

Caleb: I love Hill but I think the amazing incoming talent could become an issue for his stat line. He may end up splitting time with Brown, Hubbard, King and who knows who else could be coming in that time (Kyle B. probably knows….). I definitely think he has the talent to do it, but he could end up sharing more than Randle had to.

Carson: Randle was a really good receiver, too. Gundy said he had the best hands on the team as a freshman. Nearly 1,000 career receiving yards. Motion to call Justice “The Gavel.”

Boone: Second. ✌️

Porter: That’s pretty strong.

Southwell: