2006 All-Big 10 Team

[ScriptOhio]

Ginn or Gonzalez? Lemme tell you this as a fan of the opposition. When Smith unleashes the ball and you can't immediately see on the TV screen who it's for, I'm hoping Ginn. He might drop it. Gonzalez won't.

Gonzalez is just as dangerous in the open field as Ginn and just as likely to outrun a DB. Just cause Ginn can outrun the DB faster doesn't change the fact that the guy is still beat. Gonzalez is the better route runner, has the better hands, and IMO, is tougher when going over the middle. Ginn might be more athletic, but he's not the better receiver.

I totally agree. Gonzales is also a better blocker downfield.

 

[osugrad21]

Ginn or Gonzalez? Lemme tell you this as a fan of the opposition. When Smith unleashes the ball and you can't immediately see on the TV screen who it's for, I'm hoping Ginn. He might drop it. Gonzalez won't.

Gonzalez is just as dangerous in the open field as Ginn and just as likely to outrun a DB. Just cause Ginn can outrun the DB faster doesn't change the fact that the guy is still beat. Gonzalez is the better route runner, has the better hands, and IMO, is tougher when going over the middle. Ginn might be more athletic, but he's not the better receiver.

Completely agree on most points...but I think more is made of Teddy's drops than Gonzo's. He has had his share of drops this year also. Also, I don't see Gonzo as the same open-field threat...dangerous, yes, but Teddy is special in that regard.

Pure WR...Gonzo. Guy that makes everyone else better...Ginn.

 

[TimSpencer's QB]

First off, I would resign immediately for getting into an empty set with 4 intramural WRs...



I know what you are saying though...however, is Gonzo as dangerous without Ginn? Questionable, but imo, no. Is Ginn as dangerous Gonzo? Imo, yes.

Gonzo is the more polished WR...but when it comes to breaking a game, Ginn takes that battle.

I guess its whatever floats your boat.

Ginn gets the gamebreaker nod but don't discount Gonzo's ability in that area. It's kind of masked in the slot but he has those skillz. I'm just saying that Gonzo is better overall receiver, more reliable and more versitile.
In a single receiver set I think Gonzo would be more successful than Ginn. But both are very good in their own right.

Yeah, if I had to take the field with intramural players I would be looking for a new profession quickly.

:cheers: :osu4:

 

[akronbuck]

all I can remember about those 2 great wr's is that Gonzo was always the money man in those 3rd and long or those tough as heck catches across the middle. Ginn was the long or slant threats and gonzo were them all. Robiske/hartline/hall are also, in those Gonzo type of threats. Ginn could have been to but, with all those different threats its kinda hard to really judge which, wr had the routes called for him. Must be nice to be a QB at OSU AND HAVING A CHANCE TO PICK.

 

[NightmaresDad]

Glad to see Ginn on 2nd team and not just put on 1st team b/c of name recognition.

I know we all love Gonzo, but don't underestimate the beneficial effect that Ginn's deep threat (and YAC ability) has for our other receivers to get open.

 

[osugrad21]

Sporting News

Troy Smith heads All Big Ten team

Posted: November 21, 2006

Associated Press

Quarterback Troy Smith, who led No. 1 and unbeaten Ohio State to its first outright Big Ten title since 1984 and has the Buckeyes poised to play for the national championship, was named the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year in polls by coaches and media released Tuesday.
Michigan defensive end LaMarr Woodley was named the conference's Defensive Player of the Year in both polls, as well as the top defensive lineman by the coaches.

Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema, who led the 10th-ranked Badgers to their first 11-victory regular season, was named Coach of the Year.
The Badgers' P.J. Hill -- who leads the Big ten in rushing, all-purpose yards and scoring -- was named Freshman of the Year by both the coaches and the media, as well as first-team all-conference by the media and a second-team selection by the coaches.
Smith, also a great running threat for the Buckeyes, threw a school-record 30 TD passes, the third-highest total in Big Ten history. He completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,507 yards with only five interceptions in 12 games and helped the Buckeyes beat Michigan last week in a showdown between the top two-rated teams in the country.
Woodley led the Big Ten with a career-best 11 sacks and was third with 15.5 tackles for loss. He was one of the leaders on a Michigan defense that allowed only 43 yards per game rushing. The coaches also selected his Wolverine teammate Jake Long as offensive lineman of the year.

 

[Dryden]

I'll say it has to be Llllloyd who didn't choose Troy. He probably only voted for his own players. Seeing that Woodley and Hall are the only unanimous choices further suggests that could be the case.

The problem for the coaches is that they only really have to break down seven other teams, and they don't have time to watch every game. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Joe Tiller and Bret Bielema voted for someone other than Troy - they likely haven't seen him play outside of some common opponent film since 2004.

Hall being a unanimous choice is funny though. Did the coaches watch The Game? He went from Top 10 pick to late 2nd round faster than you can say "Ernest Shazor."

 

[tedginn05]

The problem for the coaches is that they only really have to break down seven other teams, and they don't have time to watch every game. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Joe Tiller and Bret Bielema voted for someone other than Troy - they likely haven't seen him play outside of some common opponent film since 2004.

Hall being a unanimous choice is funny though. Did the coaches watch The Game? He went from Top 10 pick to late 2nd round faster than you can say "Ernest Shazor."

Any coach that is in their right state of mind, no matter how many games they watch, knows that Troy Smith is the best QB in just not the Big Ten, but the NCAA.

 

[OH10]

My opinion is that Ginn and Gonzalez should have both been 1st team All Big Ten. Really, who else at that position came up big this year? You can discout the stats of the Purdue receivers, and Manningham was hurt during a strong portion of the Big Ten season.

As far as "who is more deserving?", I'd go with Ginn. His presence opened up the underneath stuff for guys like Gonzo and Hartline, while create one-on-one matchups for Robiskie. Also, a number of times throughout the season, Ginn had his man completely burned but Troy missed him on the long pass. He could have easily hauled in about 4-5 bombs this year if those passes had been on point. Not a knock on Troy at all, because he was under pressure on those plays, but Ginn was open a lot.

 

[BuckTwenty]

The problem for the coaches is that they only really have to break down seven other teams, and they don't have time to watch every game. It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Joe Tiller and Bret Bielema voted for someone other than Troy - they likely haven't seen him play outside of some common opponent film since 2004.

Good call. That's also one of the first things I was thinking when I saw that- maybe either Wisconsin or Purdue didn't vote for Troy because neither of them played us head-to-head this year.

Then again, Purdue ALSO didn't play scUM, so that kills the theory that Purdue didn't vote for players that they didn't play. However, that doesn't count out Wisconsin and Bret Bielema...

 

[crazybuckfan40]

First off why is Alex Boone not on the honorable mention list. I know he was banged up a few games, but it showed how bad our line struggled without him. If I am not mistaken honorable mention means that at least 1 coach votes for you. I can't believe that noone voted for Boone.

As for Ginn vs Gonzo debate:

I have made this point in determing wheter Gonzo should go pro or not.

If you don't double Ginn on every play or have someone else to his side he is going to beat you. Not many in college football have that speed. Ginn doesnt need the great route skills to beat his man. Also keep in mind what Ginn's stats might of looked like if Smith had hit Ginn on a couple more of those plays when he was behind the defender. I can at least think of 5 probably. I know there was the underthrow against PSU where King intercepted it and I believe there was at least 2 against Ill. I know that you can't hit them all, but it is plays like that that strike fear into the defense. Also keep in mind that we were playing Robo on the outside and putting Gonzo in the slot leaving him against safeties and lbs. Gonzo will beat them all day.

Now I am not saying Gonzo isnt good, but there is no question IMO who the number one receiver on this team is. The one that opens everything up for the rest of the team.

I would say Ginn/Gonzo first team recievers, mainly for the fact that Mario had his injury and didnt play all season.

It is about the same as people saying that Ginn is not a good returner, but if you look at all the yards we gained in field position b/c teams woudl kick short, high, or OOB to stay away from him.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

DDN

OSU's Smith gets top honors on All-Big Ten team

Heisman Trophy favorite named Big-Ten offensive player of the year.


By Doug Harris
Staff Writer

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

COLUMBUS ? Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith was named Big Ten offensive player of the year by both the coaches and media Tuesday, while eight of his teammates earned first-team all-conference recognition.
Running back Antonio Pittman, receiver Anthony Gonzalez, center Doug Datish, guard T.J. Downing, defense tackle Quinn Pitcock, linebacker James Laurinaitis and cornerbacks Malcolm Jenkins and Antonio Smith were first-team picks on the coaches' ballots, while the media made Ted Ginn Jr. a first-team selection instead of Gonzalez and put Pittman on the second-team.
Marcus Freeman, a sophomore linebacker from Wayne, earned honorable-mention honors from the coaches.
OSU had the most first-team selections with nine by the coaches and eight by the media, while Michigan had eight and seven, respectively.
Bret Bielema, who led Wisconsin to an 11-1 record in his first season, was named by the media as the conference coach of the year.
Smith led the Buckeyes to a 12-0 record and a berth in the BCS championship game. He has thrown for a school-record 30 touchdowns while completing 67 percent of his passes with just five interceptions.
He's expected to be the runaway choice to win the Heisman Trophy, and he's also a finalist for other prestigious national individual honors.
He was named Tuesday as one of three finalists for the Davey O'Brien Award, which goes to the nation's top quarterback. Hawaii's Colt Brennan and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn also are finalists.
Smith, Quinn and Rutgers running back Ray Rice are finalists for the Maxwell Award, which is given to the nation's most outstanding player.
The Buckeyes' Jim Tressel is a finalist for the George Munger coach-of-the-year award along with Rutgers' Greg Schiano and Notre Dame's Charlie Weis.
The Heisman will be awarded on Dec. 9, while the other winners will be announced on ESPN's Home Depot College Award Show on Dec. 7.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at [email protected].

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

ABJ

Buckeyes star wins Big Ten honors

QB Troy Smith named offensive player of year

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

Let the accolades begin.
Heisman Trophy favorite Troy Smith was named the offensive player of the year in the Big Ten Conference on Tuesday in separate voting of the league's coaches and media. Ohio State's senior quarterback from Glenville High School in Cleveland was the media's unanimous selection.
Smith has led OSU to a 12-0 mark and a spot in the BCS national championship game Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz. With him in command, the Buckeyes captured their first outright Big Ten title since 1984 and won back-to-back titles for the first time since they took six straight in 1972-77.
Earning his record fifth player-of-the-week honor Monday, Smith led the conference with a pass efficiency rating of 167.9, the highest since at least 1985. Only four other Buckeyes have been named the league's offensive player of the year: quarterback Joe Germaine (coaches, 1998), offensive tackle Orlando Pace (1996) and running backs Eddie George (1995) and Keith Byars (1984).
Smith is a finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year and Johnny Unitas Golden Arm awards and a semifinalist for the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien awards.
On offense, OSU center Doug Datish of Warren Howland and right guard T.J. Downing of GlenOak were selected to the first team on both lists. Running back Antonio Pittman of Buchtel and receiver Anthony Gonzalez of St. Ignatius made the coaches' first team. Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. of Glenville was tabbed first team by the media and second team by the coaches. Pittman and right tackle Kirk Barton of Perry were second team on the media sheet.
On defense, tackle Quinn Pitcock, linebacker James Laurinaitis and cornerbacks Antonio Smith and Malcolm Jenkins were voted first team by both groups. Defensive end Vernon Gholston and cornerback Brandon Mitchell made the coaches' and media's second team, while defensive tackle David Patterson of Warrensville Heights was a second-team coaches' pick.
Named honorable mention by the coaches were Barton, linebacker Marcus Freeman, defensive end Jay Richardson and punter A.J. Trapasso. Receiving the same honor from the media were Gonzalez, Patterson and Richardson.
Antonio Smith was OSU's nominee for the Big Ten sportsmanship award.
Defensive end LaMarr Woodley of Michigan was both groups' defensive player of the year and the coaches' defensive lineman of the year. Tackle Jake Long of Michigan was the coaches' offensive lineman of the year, and Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill was both groups' freshman of the year. Bret Bielema of Wisconsin was named the media's coach of the year in his first season.
Also honored were Michigan receiver Mario Manning-ham of Warren Harding (first team coaches, second team media), Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable of Massillon (second team coaches), Michigan linebacker Prescott Burgess of Warren Harding (honorable mention, both groups) and Northwestern running back Tyrell Sutton of Hoban (honorable mention, both groups).
Buckeyes. . .
? A replay of Saturday's Ohio State-Michigan game will be on ESPN Classic as an ``Instant Classic'' at 9 tonight.
? A collectible football commemorating the Buckeyes' 12-0 season and BCS title game appearance will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Go to www.nikcosports.com for information.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Dispatch

ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Big Ten names Smith offensive player of year
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

</IMG> Troy Smith is the fifth Ohio State player named Big Ten offensive player of the year.


Troy Smith?s long line of congratulations for a spectacular senior season began yesterday, when the media and the coaches of the Big Ten named the Ohio State quarterback their offensive player of the year.
Also up for several national awards, Smith seemed to secure the Heisman Trophy last week when he led No. 1 Ohio State to a 42-39 win over No. 2 Michigan, giving the Buckeyes their first outright Big Ten championship since 1984 and a spot in the national championship game Jan. 8.
"I would think he clinched the Heisman Trophy; I don?t think there?d be any question about that," coach Jim Tressel said after that game. "I think he?s the best player in college football."
The media and the coaches left no doubt they considered him the best offensive player in the Big Ten. He was the fifth Buckeye so honored and the first since quarterback Joe Germaine in 1998. The other three were tackle Orlando Pace in 1996 and running backs Eddie George (?95) and Keith Byars (?84).
Smith also was named to the first-team offense of each voting body after throwing for a school-record 30 touchdowns, including a career best-matching four in the win over Michigan.
Joining him on the coaches? first team were four other Buckeyes: junior running back Antonio Pittman, junior receiver Anthony Gonzalez and senior linemen Doug Datish and T.J. Downing.
On the coaches? first-team defense were Buckeyes Quinn Pitcock, a senior defensive tackle and finalist for the Lombardi Award; sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis, a finalist for the Butkus Award; sophomore cornerback Malcolm Jenkins; and senior Antonio Smith, a semifinalist for the Thorpe award.
The media saw things a little differently, in regard to the Buckeyes on offense. They put receiver Ted Ginn Jr. on the first team along with Troy Smith, Datish and Downing. On defense, they picked Pitcock, Laurinaitis, Jenkins and Antonio Smith.
The biggest surprise might have been Gonzalez only making honorable mention on the media?s team.
Meanwhile, despite guiding his team to an undefeated regular season for the second time in five seasons and a third conference title in that span, Tressel was not named the conference coach of the year. That honor, the Dave McClain Award, went to Wisconsin?s Bret Bielema, who in his first year guided Wisconsin to an 11-1 record, the loss coming to Michigan.
Michigan defensive end LaMarr Woodley was the media?s defensive player of the year, and Wisconsin running back P.J. Hill was the freshman of the year.
The coaches agreed on Woodley and Hill, and they also named Woodley the defensive lineman of the year and Michigan?s Jake Long the offensive lineman of the year. [email protected]

 

[Oh8ch]

With the comments I have been reading from coaches and what I have seen for myself (although I admit I have little idea how to grade an OL) I was surprised to see Downing and Datish get the honors over Barton and Rehring. And this comes from coaches who watch the film and know who is best.

Also note that of the starting 22 sixteen were from OSU and Michigan. Looks like the Big Two and little 8/9 is back in force.

Finally, note that of the 9 starters named from OSU we are likely to have 4 return - 3 if Pittman leaves. Michigan has 3 candidats to come back, but that includes Branch and Hart.