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- Thread starter Buckskin86
- Start date
There are two things about that Sports InterAction link to consider:
1. The title of the bet is "2007 Fiesta Bowl BCS Championship" which of course should be a red flag seeing as how the national championship isn't at the Fiesta Bowl this year with the current BCS format.
2. The total odds for all teams listed exceeds 100%.
Notre Dame 7.00 (7-to-1 is 14.285%)
Ohio State 7.00 (7-to-1 is 14.285%)
Oklahoma 8.00 (8-to-1 is 12.5%)
USC 9.00 (9-to-1 is 11.11%)
West Virginia 11.00 (11-to-1 is 9.09%)
Florida State 11.00 (11-to-1 is 9.09%)
Texas 13.00 (13-to-1 is 7.692%)
LSU 13.00 (13-to-1 is 7.692%)
Florida 13.00 (13-to-1 is 7.692%)
UCLA 16.00 (16-to-1 is 6.25%)
Miami Florida 19.00 (19-to-1 is 5.263%)
== 104.7 ... %, and that's just the Top-11 teams. I guess 2006 is a bad year to be "the field."
1. The title of the bet is "2007 Fiesta Bowl BCS Championship" which of course should be a red flag seeing as how the national championship isn't at the Fiesta Bowl this year with the current BCS format.
2. The total odds for all teams listed exceeds 100%.
Notre Dame 7.00 (7-to-1 is 14.285%)
Ohio State 7.00 (7-to-1 is 14.285%)
Oklahoma 8.00 (8-to-1 is 12.5%)
USC 9.00 (9-to-1 is 11.11%)
West Virginia 11.00 (11-to-1 is 9.09%)
Florida State 11.00 (11-to-1 is 9.09%)
Texas 13.00 (13-to-1 is 7.692%)
LSU 13.00 (13-to-1 is 7.692%)
Florida 13.00 (13-to-1 is 7.692%)
UCLA 16.00 (16-to-1 is 6.25%)
Miami Florida 19.00 (19-to-1 is 5.263%)
== 104.7 ... %, and that's just the Top-11 teams. I guess 2006 is a bad year to be "the field."
Upvote
0
Not that I think USC is gonna fall off them map this year, but giving them 9:1 odds after losing their entire backfield and several other key pieces is comical to me.
Upvote
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BuckBojangles
Jooooooonyer
I don't think this was posted yet. Preview
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=775 align=left bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=10></TD><TD vAlign=top width=635><STYLE><!--span.spelle {}span.grame {}--></STYLE>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=775 align=left bgColor=#ffffff border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=10></TD><TD vAlign=top width=635><STYLE><!--span.spelle {}span.grame {}--></STYLE>
[FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif][SIZE=-1]2006 Ohio State Buckeyes
[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif][SIZE=-1]
<!--body text -->[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1] <TABLE id=table1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE id=table2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=397>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Ohio State Buckeyes[/FONT]
Preview 2006[/SIZE][/FONT]</TD>[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]<TD bgColor=#ffffff>- 2006 OSU Offense Breakdown
- 2006 OSU Defense Breakdown
- 2006 OSU Depth Chart
- 2006 OSU Further Analysis
- 2005 OSU Preview </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1]By[FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif][SIZE=-1] [/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif][SIZE=-1]Pete Fiutak[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]
If you were wondering what kind of a monster Ohio State has become under head coach Jim Tressel, take a look at the respect the 2006 team is getting after losing an array of future NFL stars.
[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]
Seriously, who loses five number one draft picks, the entire defensive back seven, the number one receiver, and two tremendous offensive linemen and is supposed to be better than the year before? [/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]It's partially due to the lack of a true number one team to start the season, and it's partially due to quarterback Troy Smith and an offense that should light up most defenses like a Christmas tree, but it's mostly due to the recruiting. Ohio State is one of the select few that can lose players like A.J. Hawk, Donte Whitner, Bobby Carpenter, Santonio Holmes, Nick Mangold, Ashton Youboty, Anthony Schlegel, Nate Salley, and Rob Sims, and immediately replace them with athletes just as strong, just as fast, and just as talented.
Of course, it's asking too much for all the new starters to immediately play like first round draft picks, but the expectations have gone out of control after winning fifty games, including four of the last five against Michigan, a national title, three BCS games, and four straight bowl games under Tressel. Simply put, anything less than a national title will be seen as a disappointment in Columbus.
No pressure there. [/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]<TABLE id=table3 cellSpacing=4 width=170 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Head coach: Jim Tressel
6th year: 50-13
21st year overall: 185-70-2[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Ten Best OSU Players
1. [/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]Q[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]B Troy Smith, Sr.
2. WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr., Jr.
3. DT Quinn Pitcock, Sr.
4. RB Antonio Pittman, Jr.
5. OT Alex Boone, Soph.
6. OT Kirk Barton, Jr.
7. CB Malcolm Jenkins, Soph.
8. C Doug Datish, Sr.
9. LB Marcus Freeman, Soph.
10. DT David Patterson, Sr. [/SIZE][/FONT]</TD></TR>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]<TR><TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TABLE id=table5 width=160><TBODY><TR><TD align=left width=146 bgColor=#cc0000 colSpan=2>
Notre Dame W 34-20[/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE]
sans serif]<TABLE id=table7 cellSpacing=4 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><IFRAME name=I1 marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://view.atdmt.com/RSC/iview/cllgfnwb0180000011rsc/direct/01?click=" frameBorder=0 width=300 scrolling=no height=250 allowTransparency leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">document.write('
');</script><noscript></noscript></IFRAME></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[/FONT]
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>sans serif][SIZE=-1]2006 Ohio State Buckeyes
sans serif][SIZE=-1]
<!--body text -->[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1] <TABLE id=table1 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE id=table2 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=397>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Ohio State Buckeyes[/FONT]
Preview 2006[/SIZE][/FONT]</TD>[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]<TD bgColor=#ffffff>- 2006 OSU Offense Breakdown
- 2006 OSU Defense Breakdown
- 2006 OSU Depth Chart
- 2006 OSU Further Analysis
- 2005 OSU Preview </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[/SIZE]
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE][/FONT]
[/SIZE][/FONT]
sans serif][SIZE=-1] [/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif][SIZE=-1]Pete Fiutak[/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]
If you were wondering what kind of a monster Ohio State has become under head coach Jim Tressel, take a look at the respect the 2006 team is getting after losing an array of future NFL stars.
[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]
Seriously, who loses five number one draft picks, the entire defensive back seven, the number one receiver, and two tremendous offensive linemen and is supposed to be better than the year before? [/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]It's partially due to the lack of a true number one team to start the season, and it's partially due to quarterback Troy Smith and an offense that should light up most defenses like a Christmas tree, but it's mostly due to the recruiting. Ohio State is one of the select few that can lose players like A.J. Hawk, Donte Whitner, Bobby Carpenter, Santonio Holmes, Nick Mangold, Ashton Youboty, Anthony Schlegel, Nate Salley, and Rob Sims, and immediately replace them with athletes just as strong, just as fast, and just as talented.
Of course, it's asking too much for all the new starters to immediately play like first round draft picks, but the expectations have gone out of control after winning fifty games, including four of the last five against Michigan, a national title, three BCS games, and four straight bowl games under Tressel. Simply put, anything less than a national title will be seen as a disappointment in Columbus.
No pressure there. [/SIZE]
6th year: 50-13
21st year overall: 185-70-2[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Ten Best OSU Players
1. [/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]Q[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]B Troy Smith, Sr.
2. WR/KR Ted Ginn Jr., Jr.
3. DT Quinn Pitcock, Sr.
4. RB Antonio Pittman, Jr.
5. OT Alex Boone, Soph.
6. OT Kirk Barton, Jr.
7. CB Malcolm Jenkins, Soph.
8. C Doug Datish, Sr.
9. LB Marcus Freeman, Soph.
10. DT David Patterson, Sr. [/SIZE][/FONT]</TD></TR>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]<TR><TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TABLE id=table5 width=160><TBODY><TR><TD align=left width=146 bgColor=#cc0000 colSpan=2>
2006 Schedule
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]CFN Prediction: coming[/FONT]
</TD></TR>[/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/2[/FONT]</TD>[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]<TD align=left width=119>[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Northern Illinois[/FONT]</TD></TR>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/9[/FONT]</TD>[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]<TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Texas[/FONT]</TD></TR>[/SIZE][/FONT]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]16[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Cincinnati[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/23[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Penn State[/FONT]</TD></TR>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/30[/FONT]</TD>[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Iowa[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/7[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Bowling Green[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/14[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Michigan State[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/21[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Indiana[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/2[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]8[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Minnesota[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]11/4[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Illinois[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]11/11[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Northwestern[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]11/1[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]8[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=119>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Michigan [/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT][/SIZE][/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TABLE id=table6 width=160><TBODY><TR><TD align=left width=146 bgColor=#cc0000 colSpan=2>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]CFN Prediction: coming[/FONT]
2005 Schedule
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]CFN Prediction: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10-1
2005 Record: 10-[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]CFN Prediction: [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10-1
2005 Record: 10-[/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]2[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Preview 2005 predicted wins[/FONT] [/FONT]
</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]3[/FONT]</TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Miami Univ.[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 34-14[/FONT]</TD></TR>[/FONT]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/10[/FONT]</TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Texas[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] L 25-22[/FONT]</TD></TR>[/FONT]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/17[/FONT]</TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]San Diego St[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 27-6[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]9/24[/FONT]</TD>[/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Iowa[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 31-6[/FONT]</TD></TR>[/FONT]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/8[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Penn State L 17-10[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/15[/FONT]</TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Michigan St[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 35-24[/FONT]</TD></TR>[/FONT]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/22[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Indiana[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 41-10[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]10/29[/FONT]</TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at Minnesota[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 45-31[/FONT]</TD></TR>[/FONT]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]11/5[/FONT]</TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Illinois[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 40-2[/FONT]</TD></TR>[/FONT]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]11/12[/FONT]</TD>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]<TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Northwestern[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica] W 48-7[/FONT]</TD></TR>[/FONT]<TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]11/19[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]at [/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Michigan W 25-21[/FONT]</TD></TR><TR><TD align=left width=27>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]1/2[/FONT]</TD><TD align=left width=123>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Fiesta BowlNotre Dame W 34-20[/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[SIZE=-1]
But the makings are there for this team to get the job done. If it's not the number one team going into the season, it'll be in just about everyone's top three. It has a high profile showdown at Texas which could mean a rock-solid number one ranking with a win, and a loss would come early enough that a national title shot would still be a possibility by winning out. The secondary is full of big, fast athletes that looked like seasoned veteran throughout spring ball. The linebacking corps replaces the legendary trio of Hawk, Schlegel and Carpenter with seven talented options to form a great rotation. And then there's the offense.
Smith is expected to be this year's Vince Young. After two years of clutch performances in several big games, and with his knowledge of the Buckeye offense that will allow for more spread formations, it's all there to have a Heisman caliber season. He has Ted Ginn Jr. to throw to, and Antonio Pittman along with superstar recruit Chris Wells in the backfield. To make Buckeye haters even more nervous, the line might be the best yet in the Tressel era with two tremendous tackles and enough depth to form a solid second team.
Of course, with everything going for them, the Buckeyes will have to avoid a 2004-like letdown if there are problems early on. That team was much like this year's version; it was loaded with talent, but it had to replace a slew of stars. Experienced teams loaded with veterans win close games; teams with plenty of new starters, even talented ones, tend to have issues when things get tight.
And that's where Smith is supposed to come in. If he really is VY part two, he'll be the leader who gets the team out of jams and makes all the big plays he has to. Fortunately for OSU, he won't have to do it too often because of ...
[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]Smith is expected to be this year's Vince Young. After two years of clutch performances in several big games, and with his knowledge of the Buckeye offense that will allow for more spread formations, it's all there to have a Heisman caliber season. He has Ted Ginn Jr. to throw to, and Antonio Pittman along with superstar recruit Chris Wells in the backfield. To make Buckeye haters even more nervous, the line might be the best yet in the Tressel era with two tremendous tackles and enough depth to form a solid second team.
Of course, with everything going for them, the Buckeyes will have to avoid a 2004-like letdown if there are problems early on. That team was much like this year's version; it was loaded with talent, but it had to replace a slew of stars. Experienced teams loaded with veterans win close games; teams with plenty of new starters, even talented ones, tend to have issues when things get tight.
And that's where Smith is supposed to come in. If he really is VY part two, he'll be the leader who gets the team out of jams and makes all the big plays he has to. Fortunately for OSU, he won't have to do it too often because of ...
The Schedule: Let's cut to the chase here. Games against Northern Illinois, Cincinnati, Bowling Green, Indiana, Minnesota, at Illinois, and at Northwestern will be mere formalities unless all the planets are aligned absolutely perfectly. Considering Wisconsin has beaten the Buckeyes in the last two meetings and that Purdue should be better, missing those two from the Big Ten slate isn't a bad thing. At Texas on September 9th is the one the world is waiting for, and at Michigan State will be much tougher than expected. The other two potential battles are in Columbus against Penn State and Michigan. In other words, if the Buckeyes can get by the Longhorns and survive a trip to Iowa, things are as favorable as can be reasonably asked for.
Best Offensive Player: Senior QB Troy Smith. Michigan fans liked to joke that Smith was the second best pro quarterback in Ohio behind Carson Palmer after the Buckeye star got suspended for taking money from a booster. Ohio State has had all the laughs recently in the last two wins against the Wolverines thanks to Smith after he completed 40 of 60 passes for 541 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, 282 rushing yards, and two touchdowns.
Best Defensive Player: [/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Senior DT Quinn Pitcock. While he doesn't get a lot of headlines and his stats are hardly eye-popping, the 6-3, 295-pound senior is one of the nation's best tackles. He's strong enough to occupy two blockers without a problem, and quick enough to force the action in the backfield.
Best Offensive Player: Senior QB Troy Smith. Michigan fans liked to joke that Smith was the second best pro quarterback in Ohio behind Carson Palmer after the Buckeye star got suspended for taking money from a booster. Ohio State has had all the laughs recently in the last two wins against the Wolverines thanks to Smith after he completed 40 of 60 passes for 541 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions, 282 rushing yards, and two touchdowns.
Best Defensive Player: [/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Senior DT Quinn Pitcock. While he doesn't get a lot of headlines and his stats are hardly eye-popping, the 6-3, 295-pound senior is one of the nation's best tackles. He's strong enough to occupy two blockers without a problem, and quick enough to force the action in the backfield.
[/SIZE]
Key player to a successful season: Sophomore PK Ryan Pretorius and redshirt freshman PK Aaron Pettrey. Ohio State hasn't had to worry about field goals for several years with Mike Nugent and Josh Huston among the best in the nation. Can Pretorius and Pettrey be as clutch? If not, the offense might have to open it up just a little bit more in close games.
The season will be a success if ... The Buckeyes play for the national title. The schedule is too favorable and the Texas games comes just early enough that anything less than a game on January 8th, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona will be a major disappointment.
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]The season will be a success if ... The Buckeyes play for the national title. The schedule is too favorable and the Texas games comes just early enough that anything less than a game on January 8th, 2007 in Glendale, Arizona will be a major disappointment.
Key game: Sept. 30 at Iowa. Of course everyone is jacked up for the Texas game on September 9th, and the Michigan game is always one of the must-see games of the year, but Iowa has the type of team that can win the Big Ten title, and has a good enough schedule that it can reasonably dream about playing for a national title. If the Buckeyes aren't razor-sharp, national championship and Big Ten title dreams can go bye-bye.
[FONT=verdana, arial,sans serif]<TABLE id=table7 cellSpacing=4 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><IFRAME name=I1 marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://view.atdmt.com/RSC/iview/cllgfnwb0180000011rsc/direct/01?click=" frameBorder=0 width=300 scrolling=no height=250 allowTransparency leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">document.write('
2005 Fun Stats:
- Sacks: Ohio State 44 for 291 yards - Opponents 18 for 110 yards
- Second quarter scoring: Ohio State 111 - Opponents 41
- Time of possession: Ohio State 32:00 - Opponents 28:00
[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]The Last Time Ohio State…
…played in a bowl game…2005 (Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame)
…missed a bowl game…1999
…pitched a shutout…2003 (Northwestern)
…was shutout…1993 (Michigan)
…scored 50 points…2002 (San Jose State)
…went undefeated…2002
…won a conference title…2005 (share, Big Ten)
…had a 3,000-yard passer…1998 (Joe Germaine)
…had a 1,000-yard rusher…2005 (Antonio Pittman)
…had a 1,000-yard receiver…2002 (Michael Jenkins)
…had a first-round draft choice…2006 (LB A.J. Hawk, DB Donte Whitner, LB Bobby Carpenter, WR Santonio Holmes and C Nick Mangold)
[/FONT]
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>- Sacks: Ohio State 44 for 291 yards - Opponents 18 for 110 yards
- Second quarter scoring: Ohio State 111 - Opponents 41
- Time of possession: Ohio State 32:00 - Opponents 28:00
[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]The Last Time Ohio State…
…played in a bowl game…2005 (Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame)
…missed a bowl game…1999
…pitched a shutout…2003 (Northwestern)
…was shutout…1993 (Michigan)
…scored 50 points…2002 (San Jose State)
…went undefeated…2002
…won a conference title…2005 (share, Big Ten)
…had a 3,000-yard passer…1998 (Joe Germaine)
…had a 1,000-yard rusher…2005 (Antonio Pittman)
…had a 1,000-yard receiver…2002 (Michael Jenkins)
…had a first-round draft choice…2006 (LB A.J. Hawk, DB Donte Whitner, LB Bobby Carpenter, WR Santonio Holmes and C Nick Mangold)
[/FONT]
Upvote
0
BuckBojangles
Jooooooonyer
Offensive Preview
Ohio State Buckeyes
Preview 2006 - OSU Offense[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE]- 2006 Ohio State Preview | Defense Breakdown | Depth Chart | Further Analysis[/SIZE][/FONT]
What you need to know ... [SIZE=-1]Good-bye Tressel ball, and hello Tressel ball with a kick. QB Troy Smith should make the spread offense sing making big play after big play with his legs as well as his arm. The receivers are big, fast, and talented with Ted Ginn Jr. appearing to be ready to blossom into a superstar wideout. The backfield is full of talent with star freshman Chris Wells ready to push possible All-Big Ten runner Antonio Pittman. The line might be the best in the Jim Tressel's six years in Columbus with a world of talent, especially at tackle.[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1] <TABLE id=table2 cellSpacing=6 width="30%" align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">
[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Troy Smith will forever have a place in the hearts of Buckeye fans for his performances against Michigan over the last two seasons, and now he has to lead the potent offense to a national title level. Knowing the offense, he'll put up huge numbers as both a runner and passer. Justin Zwick could start and keep the offense humming. While he doesn't have too much mobility, he's arm is strong enough to keep the passing attack moving. Todd Boeckman and Robbie Schoenhoft are nice reserves who'll need time to be groomed for next year's battle for the starting job.The key to the unit: Smith has to use all his experience to make the offense even more effective. The young number three and four backups need meaningful playing time.
Quarterback Rating: 9.5Projected Starter
- Troy Smith, Sr. - 149-237, 2,283 yds, 63%, 16 TD, 4 INT, 136 carries, 611 yds, 4.5 ypc, 11 TD
Could Smith be this year's version of Vince Young and be a do-it-all star who carries his team to a title? After being suspended for the season opener and coming off the bench for the Texas game, he took over and was fantastic showing off an accurate arm along with tremendous rushing skills. He's not a bomber, but he's a great decision maker who's great at making big plays and is icy cool in the clutch. A perfect fit for the read-option offense, he'll be a statistical machine who could be a front-runner for the Heisman if he can pull off a win at Texas.
Top Backups
- Justin Zwick, Sr. - 42-58, 359 yds, 72%, 1 TD, 1 INT, 12 carries, 25 yds, 2.1 ypc
The superstar recruit has now turned into a more-than-reliable backup. He's 6-4 and 225 pounds with a decent arm and good accuracy, but he doesn't have the magical quality of Troy Smith. He has taken to the role as the number two man, but he'll still see plenty of action in mop up duty and if Smith falls into any sort of a rut.
- Todd Boekman, Soph. - 5-7, 67 yds, 71%, 1 TD
Boekman has been in the mix for a few years and knows the offense. He's a big, talented passer who saw a little bit of time in the opener against Miami University. While he has the edge in experience, he'll have to battle with Rob Schoenhoft for the number three job.
[/SIZE]Running Backs
This should be interesting. Antonio Pittman emerged as a star last season with eight 100-yard games, but it's possible he's the team's third best back. Quick Maurice Wells was a bit tentative as a true freshman, but he could be a superstar if he figures out what he's doing. The real excitement is over top recruit Chris Wells, who could do for this year's team what Maurice Clarett did in 2002. [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]The key to the unit: The two young Wells have to be reliable enough to get meaningful carries to keep Antonio Pittman fresh. More big runs would be nice.
Running Back Rating: 8.5Projected Starters
- Antonio Pittman, Jr. - 243 carries, 1,331 yds, 5.5 ypc, 7 TD, 17 catches, 161 yds, 9.5 ypc
Pittman was always a decent producer, but he wasn't a touchdown maker with only one career score up until late October of last year. Then he turned it on ripping apart Minnesota for 186 yards and two touchdowns and ended up scoring at least once in each of the final five games. While he won't run over anyone, the 5-11, 195-pound junior has a nice blend of speed and power with a home run hitting ability. He proved he can be a durable workhorse last year with 243 carries, but he likely won't have to carry so much of the load again with other backs to help him out.
- Fullback Stan White, Sr. - 3 catches, 21 yds, 7 ypc
The 6-3, 242-pound White isn't flashy and he isn't going to catch the ball, but he's a heck of a lead blocker and can occasionally catch the ball. He'll combine with Dionte Johnson for the job.
Top Backups
- Maurice Wells, Soph. - 61 carries, 199 yds, 3.3 ypc, 1 TD, 1 catch, 1 yard
A superstar high school recruit, Wells looked good as a freshman, but he wasn't eye-popping and was a bit too indecisive. He has the speed and quickness to get to the corner and potentially rip off big runs, but he needs to show that he can tear of yards in chunks. Getting him to grow as a receiver to get him in space will be a must as the year goes on.
- Chris Wells, Fr.
Considered by some as the nation's top running back prospect, the 6-1, 225-pound freshman has speed, power, and a killer instinct around the goal line with 47 touchdowns along with 4,073 rushing yards over his final two years at Garfield High in Akron. Expected to be a do--it-all back with the strength to run inside and the quickness to bounce outside, he might quickly turn into the key back in the attack. He looked great in the spring game with 94 rushing yards.
- Erik Haw, Soph. - 14 carries, 61 yds, 4.4 ypc, 1 TD, 2 catches, 6 yds
Will he be lost in the shuffle? He has the measurables with size and 4.3 speed, but he looked a bit lost when he got his carries last season. He has to be lights out in practices to work into the number two job.
- Fullback Dionte Johnson, Jr.
A bigger option than Stan White, the son of former Buckeye great Pepper Johnson will be used solely as a blocking fullback. That doesn't mean he can't be effective with the ball in his hands; he just won't get the chance.
[/SIZE]ReceiversSantonio Holmes left early for the NFL, but that wasn't a shock. It's also not a major surprise that Ted Ginn Jr. now appears ready to be a superstar number one target. Anthony Gonzalez can do a little of everything well and should thrive in the number two role. Big receivers like Roy Hall, Brain Hartline and Brian Robiskie will combine to form a good rotation. The tight end will be used more in the passing game this year with good, big receivers in Marcel Frost and Rory Nichol.The key to the unit: Ginn needs to adequately replace Holmes, and Gonzalez has to adequately replace Ginn. The big young backups have to come through early on.
Receiver Rating: 8.5Projected Starters
[SIZE=-1]- Ted Ginn Jr., Jr. - 51 catches, 803 yds, 15.7 ypc, 4 TD, 12 carries, 83 yds, 6.9 ypc, 1 TD
What was wrong with Ted Ginn? That was the cry early last year when one of college football's top all-around players failed to make any top all-around plays. As it turned out, he just needed a little time to breakout, and then he showed off his skills tearing off some big punt returns and growing into a dangerous receiver finishing off with an eight-catch, 167-yard, one touchdown day against Notre Dame. The light has appeared to go on and he should be the All-America, number one target he was expected to blossom into last season.
- [/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Anthony Gonzalez, Jr. - 28 catches, 373 yds, 13.3 ypc, 3 TD
The unnoticed big play target last year, Gonzalez goes from being a quick number three receiver to a potentially dangerous number two man. He isn't afraid to make the tough catch and has grown into a great route runner. While he's not known for his deep speed, he has the wheels to hit a few home runs.
- Tight end Marcel Frost, Jr. - 7 catches, 70 yds, 10 ypc
A good go-to option, Frost will combine with Rory Nichol to get more overall production from the tight ends. He has deceptive speed for a 6-5, 255-pound target with good hands.
Top Backups
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]- Roy Hall, Sr. - 16 catches, 134 yds, 8.4 ypc
A big, medium-range target, Hall had a nice first three games catching 11 passes, but then his production fell off the map. At 6-3 and 240 pounds, he has the size to create big mismatches will all the focus on Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez. [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]
- Brian Hartline, RFr.
Back from a leg injury, he's one of the X factors in the receiving corps. He's one of the team's fastest players and has big-time size at 6-3 and 180 pounds playing behind Anthony Gonzalez. He'll be the number one target two years from now.- Brian Robiskie, Soph. - 1 catch, 13 yds
Potentially a strong possession receiver, the 6-3, 190-pound sophomore has nice speed playing behind Ted Ginn. He's a good route runner with decent upside.[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]
- Tight end Rory Nicol, Soph.
Kept out last year with a leg problem, the 6-5, 260-pound sophomore will be back as a dangerous safety valve who'll create major mismatch problems. He's a little more of a blocker than Marcel Frost and almost as athletic a receiver.[/SIZE]
Offensive Linemen[SIZE=-1]It's amazing the Buckeyes have had the success they've had over the last few seasons without the benefit of a killer offensive line. Despite struggling at times this spring, this year's group has the potential to be the best by far in the Jim Tressel era if all the parts play as well as expected. Alex Boone is an All-American waiting to happen at left tackle, while Kirk Barton is on the verge of All-Big Ten stardom on the other side. There's a little bit of movement to get the best players on the field with starting tackle Doug Datish taking over at center to get Boone on the field. The depth is big and athletic with enough options to play around with several different combinations.[/SIZE]The key to the unit: Be consistent. This could be the Big Ten's best offensive line if it plays up to its potential.
Offensive Line Rating: 9
[FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif]<TABLE id=table3 cellSpacing=4 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><IFRAME name=I1 marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://view.atdmt.com/RSC/iview/cllgfnwb0180000011rsc/direct/01?click=" frameBorder=0 width=300 scrolling=no height=250 allowTransparency leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">document.write('');</script><noscript></noscript></IFRAME></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[/FONT]Projected Starters
- OT Alex Boone, Soph.
Considered by some to be the best Buckeye lineman prospect in over a decade, the 6-8, 315-pound sophomore has first round draft pick written all over him. He had a nice first season in the program, and now the spotlight is on to see if he can up his game and be the type of devastating all-around blocker the offense can revolve around.
- OG Tim Schafer, Sr.
A part-time defensive lineman over the course of his career, the 6-5, 290-pound senior is better for the offensive side. He's a tough, physical blocker, but he also might be the weakest link on the line. Consistency will be his key.
- C Doug Datish, Sr.
Datish was a solid tackle last season and now will move to the middle to replace Nick Mangold. The 6-5, 295-pound senior can also play guard if needed, but his experience, smarts and attitude make him a perfect leader at center.
- OG T.J. Downing, Sr.
A bit unsung on last year's front five, the 6-5, 305-pound senior had a nice season as the starter at right guard. He's not the most athletic lineman around, but he has decent feet and can be a punishing run blocker
- OT Kirk Barton, Jr.
While not the prospect Alex Boone is on the other side, Barton has impressive size at 6-7 and 325 pounds and can move. Even though he's more of a pass protector than a mauling run blocker, he should be an All-Big Ten performer as he continues to improve on the right side.
Top Backups
- OT/OG Jon Skinner, Soph.
The top recruit of a few years ago hasn't made much of an impact yet. Even so, he has all the tools with good athleticism in an extremely strong 6-5, 300-pound body. He can play either tackle or guard.
- O[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]G Kyle Mitchum, Soph.
A top recruit a few years ago, Mitchum has to start to play like like. He'll get the backup spot at right guard behind T.J. Downing, but he's expected to eventually become a rock on the line. Eventually.
- OT Steve Rehring, Soph.
The question is where he'll be a key reserve. At 6-8 and 329 pounds he has the frame to become a top tackle, but he's strong enough to also play guard. He was knocked out last season with pneumonia, and now he's back to 100% starting out the year at left tackle behind Alex Boone.
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Ohio State Buckeyes
Preview 2006 - OSU Offense[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE]- 2006 Ohio State Preview | Defense Breakdown | Depth Chart | Further Analysis[/SIZE][/FONT]
What you need to know ... [SIZE=-1]Good-bye Tressel ball, and hello Tressel ball with a kick. QB Troy Smith should make the spread offense sing making big play after big play with his legs as well as his arm. The receivers are big, fast, and talented with Ted Ginn Jr. appearing to be ready to blossom into a superstar wideout. The backfield is full of talent with star freshman Chris Wells ready to push possible All-Big Ten runner Antonio Pittman. The line might be the best in the Jim Tressel's six years in Columbus with a world of talent, especially at tackle.[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1] <TABLE id=table2 cellSpacing=6 width="30%" align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Returning Leaders
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Passing: Troy Smith
149-237, 2,282 yds, 16 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Antonio Pittman
243 carries, 1,331 yds, 7 TD
Receiving: [/FONT]
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Passing: Troy Smith
149-237, 2,282 yds, 16 TD, 4 INT
Rushing: Antonio Pittman
243 carries, 1,331 yds, 7 TD
Receiving: [/FONT]
[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]T[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica][SIZE=-1]ed Ginn Jr.
51 catches, 803 yds, 4 TD
[/SIZE][/FONT]</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]51 catches, 803 yds, 4 TD
Star of the offense: Senior QB Troy Smith
Player that has to step up and become a star: Junior TE Marcel Frost
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore OT Alex Boone
Best pro prospect: Boone
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Smith, 2) WR Ted Ginn Jr, 3) RB Antonio Pittman
Strength of the offense: Experience, speed, quarterback
Weakness of the offense:
Player that has to step up and become a star: Junior TE Marcel Frost
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore OT Alex Boone
Best pro prospect: Boone
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Smith, 2) WR Ted Ginn Jr, 3) RB Antonio Pittman
Strength of the offense: Experience, speed, quarterback
Weakness of the offense:
[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Proven number two running back, proven tight end[/SIZE]
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]Quarterbacks[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Troy Smith will forever have a place in the hearts of Buckeye fans for his performances against Michigan over the last two seasons, and now he has to lead the potent offense to a national title level. Knowing the offense, he'll put up huge numbers as both a runner and passer. Justin Zwick could start and keep the offense humming. While he doesn't have too much mobility, he's arm is strong enough to keep the passing attack moving. Todd Boeckman and Robbie Schoenhoft are nice reserves who'll need time to be groomed for next year's battle for the starting job.The key to the unit: Smith has to use all his experience to make the offense even more effective. The young number three and four backups need meaningful playing time.
Quarterback Rating: 9.5Projected Starter
- Troy Smith, Sr. - 149-237, 2,283 yds, 63%, 16 TD, 4 INT, 136 carries, 611 yds, 4.5 ypc, 11 TD
Could Smith be this year's version of Vince Young and be a do-it-all star who carries his team to a title? After being suspended for the season opener and coming off the bench for the Texas game, he took over and was fantastic showing off an accurate arm along with tremendous rushing skills. He's not a bomber, but he's a great decision maker who's great at making big plays and is icy cool in the clutch. A perfect fit for the read-option offense, he'll be a statistical machine who could be a front-runner for the Heisman if he can pull off a win at Texas.
Top Backups
- Justin Zwick, Sr. - 42-58, 359 yds, 72%, 1 TD, 1 INT, 12 carries, 25 yds, 2.1 ypc
The superstar recruit has now turned into a more-than-reliable backup. He's 6-4 and 225 pounds with a decent arm and good accuracy, but he doesn't have the magical quality of Troy Smith. He has taken to the role as the number two man, but he'll still see plenty of action in mop up duty and if Smith falls into any sort of a rut.
- Todd Boekman, Soph. - 5-7, 67 yds, 71%, 1 TD
Boekman has been in the mix for a few years and knows the offense. He's a big, talented passer who saw a little bit of time in the opener against Miami University. While he has the edge in experience, he'll have to battle with Rob Schoenhoft for the number three job.
[/SIZE]Running Backs
This should be interesting. Antonio Pittman emerged as a star last season with eight 100-yard games, but it's possible he's the team's third best back. Quick Maurice Wells was a bit tentative as a true freshman, but he could be a superstar if he figures out what he's doing. The real excitement is over top recruit Chris Wells, who could do for this year's team what Maurice Clarett did in 2002. [FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]The key to the unit: The two young Wells have to be reliable enough to get meaningful carries to keep Antonio Pittman fresh. More big runs would be nice.
Running Back Rating: 8.5Projected Starters
- Antonio Pittman, Jr. - 243 carries, 1,331 yds, 5.5 ypc, 7 TD, 17 catches, 161 yds, 9.5 ypc
Pittman was always a decent producer, but he wasn't a touchdown maker with only one career score up until late October of last year. Then he turned it on ripping apart Minnesota for 186 yards and two touchdowns and ended up scoring at least once in each of the final five games. While he won't run over anyone, the 5-11, 195-pound junior has a nice blend of speed and power with a home run hitting ability. He proved he can be a durable workhorse last year with 243 carries, but he likely won't have to carry so much of the load again with other backs to help him out.
- Fullback Stan White, Sr. - 3 catches, 21 yds, 7 ypc
The 6-3, 242-pound White isn't flashy and he isn't going to catch the ball, but he's a heck of a lead blocker and can occasionally catch the ball. He'll combine with Dionte Johnson for the job.
Top Backups
- Maurice Wells, Soph. - 61 carries, 199 yds, 3.3 ypc, 1 TD, 1 catch, 1 yard
A superstar high school recruit, Wells looked good as a freshman, but he wasn't eye-popping and was a bit too indecisive. He has the speed and quickness to get to the corner and potentially rip off big runs, but he needs to show that he can tear of yards in chunks. Getting him to grow as a receiver to get him in space will be a must as the year goes on.
- Chris Wells, Fr.
Considered by some as the nation's top running back prospect, the 6-1, 225-pound freshman has speed, power, and a killer instinct around the goal line with 47 touchdowns along with 4,073 rushing yards over his final two years at Garfield High in Akron. Expected to be a do--it-all back with the strength to run inside and the quickness to bounce outside, he might quickly turn into the key back in the attack. He looked great in the spring game with 94 rushing yards.
- Erik Haw, Soph. - 14 carries, 61 yds, 4.4 ypc, 1 TD, 2 catches, 6 yds
Will he be lost in the shuffle? He has the measurables with size and 4.3 speed, but he looked a bit lost when he got his carries last season. He has to be lights out in practices to work into the number two job.
- Fullback Dionte Johnson, Jr.
A bigger option than Stan White, the son of former Buckeye great Pepper Johnson will be used solely as a blocking fullback. That doesn't mean he can't be effective with the ball in his hands; he just won't get the chance.
[/SIZE]ReceiversSantonio Holmes left early for the NFL, but that wasn't a shock. It's also not a major surprise that Ted Ginn Jr. now appears ready to be a superstar number one target. Anthony Gonzalez can do a little of everything well and should thrive in the number two role. Big receivers like Roy Hall, Brain Hartline and Brian Robiskie will combine to form a good rotation. The tight end will be used more in the passing game this year with good, big receivers in Marcel Frost and Rory Nichol.The key to the unit: Ginn needs to adequately replace Holmes, and Gonzalez has to adequately replace Ginn. The big young backups have to come through early on.
Receiver Rating: 8.5Projected Starters
[SIZE=-1]- Ted Ginn Jr., Jr. - 51 catches, 803 yds, 15.7 ypc, 4 TD, 12 carries, 83 yds, 6.9 ypc, 1 TD
What was wrong with Ted Ginn? That was the cry early last year when one of college football's top all-around players failed to make any top all-around plays. As it turned out, he just needed a little time to breakout, and then he showed off his skills tearing off some big punt returns and growing into a dangerous receiver finishing off with an eight-catch, 167-yard, one touchdown day against Notre Dame. The light has appeared to go on and he should be the All-America, number one target he was expected to blossom into last season.
- [/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Anthony Gonzalez, Jr. - 28 catches, 373 yds, 13.3 ypc, 3 TD
The unnoticed big play target last year, Gonzalez goes from being a quick number three receiver to a potentially dangerous number two man. He isn't afraid to make the tough catch and has grown into a great route runner. While he's not known for his deep speed, he has the wheels to hit a few home runs.
- Tight end Marcel Frost, Jr. - 7 catches, 70 yds, 10 ypc
A good go-to option, Frost will combine with Rory Nichol to get more overall production from the tight ends. He has deceptive speed for a 6-5, 255-pound target with good hands.
Top Backups
[/SIZE][SIZE=-1]- Roy Hall, Sr. - 16 catches, 134 yds, 8.4 ypc
A big, medium-range target, Hall had a nice first three games catching 11 passes, but then his production fell off the map. At 6-3 and 240 pounds, he has the size to create big mismatches will all the focus on Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzalez. [/SIZE][SIZE=-1]
- Brian Hartline, RFr.
Back from a leg injury, he's one of the X factors in the receiving corps. He's one of the team's fastest players and has big-time size at 6-3 and 180 pounds playing behind Anthony Gonzalez. He'll be the number one target two years from now.- Brian Robiskie, Soph. - 1 catch, 13 yds
Potentially a strong possession receiver, the 6-3, 190-pound sophomore has nice speed playing behind Ted Ginn. He's a good route runner with decent upside.[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]
- Tight end Rory Nicol, Soph.
Kept out last year with a leg problem, the 6-5, 260-pound sophomore will be back as a dangerous safety valve who'll create major mismatch problems. He's a little more of a blocker than Marcel Frost and almost as athletic a receiver.[/SIZE]
Offensive Linemen[SIZE=-1]It's amazing the Buckeyes have had the success they've had over the last few seasons without the benefit of a killer offensive line. Despite struggling at times this spring, this year's group has the potential to be the best by far in the Jim Tressel era if all the parts play as well as expected. Alex Boone is an All-American waiting to happen at left tackle, while Kirk Barton is on the verge of All-Big Ten stardom on the other side. There's a little bit of movement to get the best players on the field with starting tackle Doug Datish taking over at center to get Boone on the field. The depth is big and athletic with enough options to play around with several different combinations.[/SIZE]The key to the unit: Be consistent. This could be the Big Ten's best offensive line if it plays up to its potential.
Offensive Line Rating: 9
[FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif]<TABLE id=table3 cellSpacing=4 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><IFRAME name=I1 marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://view.atdmt.com/RSC/iview/cllgfnwb0180000011rsc/direct/01?click=" frameBorder=0 width=300 scrolling=no height=250 allowTransparency leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">document.write('
- OT Alex Boone, Soph.
Considered by some to be the best Buckeye lineman prospect in over a decade, the 6-8, 315-pound sophomore has first round draft pick written all over him. He had a nice first season in the program, and now the spotlight is on to see if he can up his game and be the type of devastating all-around blocker the offense can revolve around.
- OG Tim Schafer, Sr.
A part-time defensive lineman over the course of his career, the 6-5, 290-pound senior is better for the offensive side. He's a tough, physical blocker, but he also might be the weakest link on the line. Consistency will be his key.
- C Doug Datish, Sr.
Datish was a solid tackle last season and now will move to the middle to replace Nick Mangold. The 6-5, 295-pound senior can also play guard if needed, but his experience, smarts and attitude make him a perfect leader at center.
- OG T.J. Downing, Sr.
A bit unsung on last year's front five, the 6-5, 305-pound senior had a nice season as the starter at right guard. He's not the most athletic lineman around, but he has decent feet and can be a punishing run blocker
- OT Kirk Barton, Jr.
While not the prospect Alex Boone is on the other side, Barton has impressive size at 6-7 and 325 pounds and can move. Even though he's more of a pass protector than a mauling run blocker, he should be an All-Big Ten performer as he continues to improve on the right side.
Top Backups
- OT/OG Jon Skinner, Soph.
The top recruit of a few years ago hasn't made much of an impact yet. Even so, he has all the tools with good athleticism in an extremely strong 6-5, 300-pound body. He can play either tackle or guard.
- O[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]G Kyle Mitchum, Soph.
A top recruit a few years ago, Mitchum has to start to play like like. He'll get the backup spot at right guard behind T.J. Downing, but he's expected to eventually become a rock on the line. Eventually.
- OT Steve Rehring, Soph.
The question is where he'll be a key reserve. At 6-8 and 329 pounds he has the frame to become a top tackle, but he's strong enough to also play guard. He was knocked out last season with pneumonia, and now he's back to 100% starting out the year at left tackle behind Alex Boone.
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Defensive Preview
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Ohio State Buckeyes[/FONT]
Preview 2006 - OSU Defense - 2006 Ohio State Preview | Offense Breakdown | Depth Chart | Further Analysis[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE][/FONT]What you need to know ... Ohio State loses a slew of superstars and top NFL draft picks from the nation's number five defense, but it's unlikely to slip much with a tremendous array of athletes ready to step in. There's no reason whatsoever to worry about the back seven that has to replace all its starters. The secondary looked fantastic at times this spring with enough 4.4 speedsters to keep the NFL scouts drooling, but it has to come up with more than the six interceptions last year's crew helped pick off. The linebacking corps has seven good options to rotate with a good mix of hard-nosed run stoppers to speedy outside defenders. The line needs to come up with a steady pass rush, but that's nitpicking; All-America tackle Quinn Pitcock and the boys will be a rock against the run.
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]<TABLE id=table2 cellSpacing=6 width="30%" align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">
[SIZE=-1]This might be a bit of a no-name front four, and there aren't any sure-fire proven pass rushers, but this should be a rock against the run. It all starts in the middle with All-America candidate Quinn Pitcock at tackle, while David Patterson will be a solid running mate moving inside after starting last year at end. There'll be a nice rotation at each spot if sophomore ends Alex Barrow and Vernon Gholston become players. Lawrence Wilson might be the end who solves the pass rushing issues.The key to the unit: Get in the backfield from all four spots. Stopping the run won't be an issue, so there has to be plays made in the backfield on a consistent basis from anyone who's not double-teamed.
Defensive Line Rating: 8Projected Starters
- DE Lawrence Wilson, Soph. - 2 tackles
Wilson popped up at end with David Patterson moving to tackle full-time. A tall 6-6 specimen, Wilson is the speed rusher the line desperately needs. It'll be his job to be a disruptive force in the backfield and be a big play defender.
- DT David Patterson, Sr. - 24 tackles, 4 sacks, 7.5 TFL
Part end, part tackle, the 6-3, 285-pound senior should be a strong interior pass rusher and could move around where needed. He's a strong run stopper with enough experience to be a leader of the front seven.
- DT Quinn Pitcock, Sr. - 28 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFL
One of only two returning starters, Pitcock should be one of the Big Ten's best defenders and an All-American candidate. He has the speed to be a dangerous end, but at 6-3, 295 pounds he's a true tackle. While he's not flashy and he isn't going to get his name called a lot, he'll require two blockers on every down.
- DE Jay Richardson, Sr. - 11 tackles, 2 sacks
A big, serviceable end, the 6-6, 276-pound senior will be decent against the run, but any sacks he comes up with will be by accident. He works hard to get into the backfield, but he's not fast and he isn't going to make sacks in waves. Even so, he's a good leader who's always going full-tilt.
[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]Top Backups
- DE Alex Barrow, Soph. - 3 tackles
While he wasn't ever considered a high-end prospect and he still needs plenty of work, he has been good in practices and has grown into a solid combination of size and speed. At 6-4 and 255 pounds, he should be good against the run, and he should be a better pass rusher than Jay Richardson.
- DT Joel Penton, Sr. - 12 tackles, 1.5 TFL
A near-perfect backup tackle, the 6-5, 290-pound senior is strong, active, and comes into games with a major attitude. While he has added plenty of weight over the last few years, he's still quick enough to potentially be a better pass rusher.
- DE Vernon Gholston, Soph. - 1 tackle
Problems with injuries limited him last year, but the 6-4, 260-pound sophomore has a world of upside. Once healthy, he'll be a key part of the rotation as a much bigger option than Lawrence Wilson.
LinebackersWhile you don't get better by losing A.J. Hawk, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter, the Buckeye linebacking corps might not take a huge dip in overall production with a tremendous cast of talents. Marcus Freeman, true freshman Ross Homan, and JUCO transfer Larry Grant would form one of the nation's most talented linebacking trios if it was just them, then factor in John Kerr and Mike D'Andrea in the middle, surprise starter James Laurinaitis on the strongside, and speedster Curtis Terry in a backup role, and there will be no need to shed any tears for losing an All-NFL group.The key to the unit: Everyone has to stay healthy. Freeman and D'Andrea have to prove they can hold up, and Homan and Grant have to be at least half as good as their hype.
Linebacker Rating: 8Projected Starters
- Marcus Freeman, Soph.
The superstar recruit of a few years ago appeared ready to make a huge impact even with all the stars in last year's linebacking corps, but he suffered a knee injury and missed the season. He's 230 pounds and fast, fast, fast on the weakside. This might sound like blasphemy, but if he's 100% healthy, he might be almost, almost, as good as A.J. Hawk was on the weakside. He has that kind of talent.
- John Kerr, Sr. - 14 tackles
One of the Big Ten's most active tacklers making 114 stops in 2002 as an Indiana Hoosier, Kerr was lost in the shuffle as a Buckeye. He's not tall and he's not fast, but he's a tough hitter who should be great at plugging holes and amassing stats. If you want big plays, look to the other linebackers. Kerr will be a rock who simply makes plays.
- James Laurinaitis, Soph. - 9 tackles
Laurinaitis came from out of nowhere to grow into a contributor as last season went on. While he's not nearly the athlete many of the other Buckeye linebackers are, and he could have major problems holding off Larry Grant, he has good toughness on the strongside.
Top Backups
- Mike D'Andrea, Sr.
One of the most team's most heralded recruits over the last several years, D'Andrea has never had any luck staying healthy. He has the talent, the 6-3, 248-pound size, and speed, but he hasn't progressed as much as he should've. While he has a high-octane motor and he certainly doesn't lack for effort, he needs to have a big season or his career will go down as a major disappointment.
- Curtis Terry, Jr. - 2 tackles
A speedster on the outside. he's more like a big defensive back at 6-2 and 220 pounds playing behind James Laurinaitis on the strongside. While he should be fantastic in pass coverage and good as a pass rusher, he has to prove he can hold up against the run.
- Ross Homan, Fr.
The team's top defensive recruit this year is expected to find a spot somewhere. He's big enough to play in the middle, and fast enough to be a huge weakside linebacker. At 6-2 and 242 pounds, he's an imposing figure with unlimited range.
- Larry Grant, Jr.
Originally a running back coming out of his school, the 225-pound JUCO All-American has 4.4 speed and should make a big impact on the outside. He was unstoppable for City College of San Francisco and should add an instant dash of attitude and athleticism to the corps.
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]D[/FONT]efensive BacksEveryone is focusing on replacing all the star linebackers, but all four starting defensive backs are also gone. This is Ohio State, so there are tall, 4.4 speed defenders to burn. In one of the surprises of spring ball, the group looked like it was full of seasoned veterans instead of a green group of newcomers. Corner Malcolm Jenkins is the best looking new starter with size and lock-down speed, but he's not the only big-time athlete ready to shine. Sophomores Nick Patterson and Jamario O'Neal would be the fastest corners on most teams, but they're safeties at Ohio State. Expect good competition this fall for every job but Jenkins' spot at left corner.The key to the unit: Don't try to be unbelievable right away. The Buckeye secondary should be able to get by on its athleticism against just about everyone, so as long as there's not a lot of gambling going on and everyone can do what they can to develop, everything should be fine.
Secondary Rating: 8Projected Starters
- CB Malcolm Jenkins, Soph. - 37 tackles, 2 broken up passes
The team's new star defensive back, the 6-1, 180-pound Jenkins has excellent speed and is a tough one-on-one defender taking over for Tyler Everett. He has 4.4 speed winning the New Jersey state title in the 200 and 400 meter dash. Now he should pull it all together and quickly grow into an All-Big Ten talent.
- FS Nick Patterson, Soph. - 6 tackles
Patterson is locked in a battle with Brandon Mitchell for the starting free safety spot. At 6-2 ad 210 pounds, he has great size with 4.4 speed and athleticism. He ended up seeing a little bit of time as a redshirt freshman on special teams and has been a big hitter in practices.
- SS Jamario O'Neal, Soph. - 2 tackles
O'Neal got on the field as a true freshman as a special teamer, and now he has to replace Donte Whitner. He's fast enough to see a little time as a kick returner and could be moved to corner if needed. He is a physical tackler who has all the tools to grow into the job over the next few years.
- CB Antonio Smith, Sr. - 6 tackles, 1 broken up pass
While he's not that big, the 5-9, 195-pound senior is tough enough to have seen time at strong safety and quick enough to grow into a role at right corner. He's going to have to battle hard to keep the starting job coming out of spring ball, but he should put up some good numbers with teams staying away from Malcolm Jenkins.
Top Backups
- FS Brandon Mitchell, Sr. - 12 tackles, 1 interception
Mitchell is neck-and-neck with Nick Patterson for the starting free safety job. He's one of the team's most experienced defensive backs with eight career starts and plenty of time as a reserve. He's 6-3 and 205 pounds with excellent speed, but he's not as physical as Patterson.
- SS Anderson Russell, RFr.
Yet another speedy Ohio State defensive back, Russell is a physical hitter who'll be a major part of the mix after having a great spring. While he doesn't have the combination of skills that Jamario O'Neal has, he's good enough to grow into a starter.
- CB Donald Washington, RFr.
A very smart, very athletic corner, he's a taller option than Antonio Smith on the right side than Antonio Smith with better speed and leaping ability. All he needs it a little bit of experience.
[FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif]<TABLE id=table3 cellSpacing=4 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><IFRAME name=I1 marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://view.atdmt.com/RSC/iview/cllgfnwb0180000011rsc/direct/01?click=" frameBorder=0 width=300 scrolling=no height=250 allowTransparency leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">document.write('');</script><noscript></noscript></IFRAME></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[/FONT]Special Teams[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]As long as Ryan Pretorius and Aaron Pettrey can be adequate field goal kickers, the OSU special teams will be excellent. A.J. Trapasso is on the verge of being an all-star punter once he becomes a bit more consistent. Ted Ginn Jr. is one of the elite kick returners in college football averaging 29.6 yards per kickoff return and 10 yards per punt return last season. The coverage units are great.[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]The key to the unit: One of the young placekickers doesn't have to be Mike Nugent or Josh Huston, but being reliable within 40 yards will be a must.
Special Teams Rating: 8Projected Starters
- PK Ryan Pretorius, Soph.
It'll be a battle all fall between Pretorius and Aaron Pettrey to try to replace the steady Josh Huston. While Pettrey has a the better leg and could be used on the bombs, Pretorius was the steadier of the two this spring.
- P A.J. Trapasso, Soph. - 43 punts, 1,738 yds, 40.4 yards per kick, 19 inside the 20
Trapasso had a tremendous first season considering he was a freshman. He showed he could air it out with a 76-yard blast, but he also showed he could consistently hang it up in the air and place it inside the 20. He wasn't always on, but that will change after a year of experience.
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Preview 2006 - OSU Defense - 2006 Ohio State Preview | Offense Breakdown | Depth Chart | Further Analysis[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]
[/SIZE][/FONT]What you need to know ... Ohio State loses a slew of superstars and top NFL draft picks from the nation's number five defense, but it's unlikely to slip much with a tremendous array of athletes ready to step in. There's no reason whatsoever to worry about the back seven that has to replace all its starters. The secondary looked fantastic at times this spring with enough 4.4 speedsters to keep the NFL scouts drooling, but it has to come up with more than the six interceptions last year's crew helped pick off. The linebacking corps has seven good options to rotate with a good mix of hard-nosed run stoppers to speedy outside defenders. The line needs to come up with a steady pass rush, but that's nitpicking; All-America tackle Quinn Pitcock and the boys will be a rock against the run.
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]<TABLE id=table2 cellSpacing=6 width="30%" align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="100%">
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Returning Leaders
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Tackles: Malcolm Jenkins, 37
Sacks: David Patterson, 4
Interceptions: Brandon Mitchell, 1[/FONT]
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica]Tackles: Malcolm Jenkins, 37
Sacks: David Patterson, 4
Interceptions: Brandon Mitchell, 1[/FONT]
Star of the defense: Senior DT Quinn Pitcock
Player that has to step up and become a star: Senior DE Jay Richardson
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore CB Malcolm Jenkins
Best pro prospect: Pitcock
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Pitcock, 2) Jenkins, 3) LB Marcus Freeman
Strength of the defense: Speed and athleticism
Weakness of the defense:
Player that has to step up and become a star: Senior DE Jay Richardson
Unsung star on the rise: Sophomore CB Malcolm Jenkins
Best pro prospect: Pitcock
Top three all-star candidates: 1) Pitcock, 2) Jenkins, 3) LB Marcus Freeman
Strength of the defense: Speed and athleticism
Weakness of the defense:
[/SIZE][/FONT][SIZE=-1]Pass rushing ends
[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][/FONT]Defensive Line[SIZE=-1]This might be a bit of a no-name front four, and there aren't any sure-fire proven pass rushers, but this should be a rock against the run. It all starts in the middle with All-America candidate Quinn Pitcock at tackle, while David Patterson will be a solid running mate moving inside after starting last year at end. There'll be a nice rotation at each spot if sophomore ends Alex Barrow and Vernon Gholston become players. Lawrence Wilson might be the end who solves the pass rushing issues.The key to the unit: Get in the backfield from all four spots. Stopping the run won't be an issue, so there has to be plays made in the backfield on a consistent basis from anyone who's not double-teamed.
Defensive Line Rating: 8Projected Starters
- DE Lawrence Wilson, Soph. - 2 tackles
Wilson popped up at end with David Patterson moving to tackle full-time. A tall 6-6 specimen, Wilson is the speed rusher the line desperately needs. It'll be his job to be a disruptive force in the backfield and be a big play defender.
- DT David Patterson, Sr. - 24 tackles, 4 sacks, 7.5 TFL
Part end, part tackle, the 6-3, 285-pound senior should be a strong interior pass rusher and could move around where needed. He's a strong run stopper with enough experience to be a leader of the front seven.
- DT Quinn Pitcock, Sr. - 28 tackles, 1 sack, 3 TFL
One of only two returning starters, Pitcock should be one of the Big Ten's best defenders and an All-American candidate. He has the speed to be a dangerous end, but at 6-3, 295 pounds he's a true tackle. While he's not flashy and he isn't going to get his name called a lot, he'll require two blockers on every down.
- DE Jay Richardson, Sr. - 11 tackles, 2 sacks
A big, serviceable end, the 6-6, 276-pound senior will be decent against the run, but any sacks he comes up with will be by accident. He works hard to get into the backfield, but he's not fast and he isn't going to make sacks in waves. Even so, he's a good leader who's always going full-tilt.
[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1]Top Backups
- DE Alex Barrow, Soph. - 3 tackles
While he wasn't ever considered a high-end prospect and he still needs plenty of work, he has been good in practices and has grown into a solid combination of size and speed. At 6-4 and 255 pounds, he should be good against the run, and he should be a better pass rusher than Jay Richardson.
- DT Joel Penton, Sr. - 12 tackles, 1.5 TFL
A near-perfect backup tackle, the 6-5, 290-pound senior is strong, active, and comes into games with a major attitude. While he has added plenty of weight over the last few years, he's still quick enough to potentially be a better pass rusher.
- DE Vernon Gholston, Soph. - 1 tackle
Problems with injuries limited him last year, but the 6-4, 260-pound sophomore has a world of upside. Once healthy, he'll be a key part of the rotation as a much bigger option than Lawrence Wilson.
LinebackersWhile you don't get better by losing A.J. Hawk, Anthony Schlegel and Bobby Carpenter, the Buckeye linebacking corps might not take a huge dip in overall production with a tremendous cast of talents. Marcus Freeman, true freshman Ross Homan, and JUCO transfer Larry Grant would form one of the nation's most talented linebacking trios if it was just them, then factor in John Kerr and Mike D'Andrea in the middle, surprise starter James Laurinaitis on the strongside, and speedster Curtis Terry in a backup role, and there will be no need to shed any tears for losing an All-NFL group.The key to the unit: Everyone has to stay healthy. Freeman and D'Andrea have to prove they can hold up, and Homan and Grant have to be at least half as good as their hype.
Linebacker Rating: 8Projected Starters
- Marcus Freeman, Soph.
The superstar recruit of a few years ago appeared ready to make a huge impact even with all the stars in last year's linebacking corps, but he suffered a knee injury and missed the season. He's 230 pounds and fast, fast, fast on the weakside. This might sound like blasphemy, but if he's 100% healthy, he might be almost, almost, as good as A.J. Hawk was on the weakside. He has that kind of talent.
- John Kerr, Sr. - 14 tackles
One of the Big Ten's most active tacklers making 114 stops in 2002 as an Indiana Hoosier, Kerr was lost in the shuffle as a Buckeye. He's not tall and he's not fast, but he's a tough hitter who should be great at plugging holes and amassing stats. If you want big plays, look to the other linebackers. Kerr will be a rock who simply makes plays.
- James Laurinaitis, Soph. - 9 tackles
Laurinaitis came from out of nowhere to grow into a contributor as last season went on. While he's not nearly the athlete many of the other Buckeye linebackers are, and he could have major problems holding off Larry Grant, he has good toughness on the strongside.
Top Backups
- Mike D'Andrea, Sr.
One of the most team's most heralded recruits over the last several years, D'Andrea has never had any luck staying healthy. He has the talent, the 6-3, 248-pound size, and speed, but he hasn't progressed as much as he should've. While he has a high-octane motor and he certainly doesn't lack for effort, he needs to have a big season or his career will go down as a major disappointment.
- Curtis Terry, Jr. - 2 tackles
A speedster on the outside. he's more like a big defensive back at 6-2 and 220 pounds playing behind James Laurinaitis on the strongside. While he should be fantastic in pass coverage and good as a pass rusher, he has to prove he can hold up against the run.
- Ross Homan, Fr.
The team's top defensive recruit this year is expected to find a spot somewhere. He's big enough to play in the middle, and fast enough to be a huge weakside linebacker. At 6-2 and 242 pounds, he's an imposing figure with unlimited range.
- Larry Grant, Jr.
Originally a running back coming out of his school, the 225-pound JUCO All-American has 4.4 speed and should make a big impact on the outside. He was unstoppable for City College of San Francisco and should add an instant dash of attitude and athleticism to the corps.
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]D[/FONT]efensive BacksEveryone is focusing on replacing all the star linebackers, but all four starting defensive backs are also gone. This is Ohio State, so there are tall, 4.4 speed defenders to burn. In one of the surprises of spring ball, the group looked like it was full of seasoned veterans instead of a green group of newcomers. Corner Malcolm Jenkins is the best looking new starter with size and lock-down speed, but he's not the only big-time athlete ready to shine. Sophomores Nick Patterson and Jamario O'Neal would be the fastest corners on most teams, but they're safeties at Ohio State. Expect good competition this fall for every job but Jenkins' spot at left corner.The key to the unit: Don't try to be unbelievable right away. The Buckeye secondary should be able to get by on its athleticism against just about everyone, so as long as there's not a lot of gambling going on and everyone can do what they can to develop, everything should be fine.
Secondary Rating: 8Projected Starters
- CB Malcolm Jenkins, Soph. - 37 tackles, 2 broken up passes
The team's new star defensive back, the 6-1, 180-pound Jenkins has excellent speed and is a tough one-on-one defender taking over for Tyler Everett. He has 4.4 speed winning the New Jersey state title in the 200 and 400 meter dash. Now he should pull it all together and quickly grow into an All-Big Ten talent.
- FS Nick Patterson, Soph. - 6 tackles
Patterson is locked in a battle with Brandon Mitchell for the starting free safety spot. At 6-2 ad 210 pounds, he has great size with 4.4 speed and athleticism. He ended up seeing a little bit of time as a redshirt freshman on special teams and has been a big hitter in practices.
- SS Jamario O'Neal, Soph. - 2 tackles
O'Neal got on the field as a true freshman as a special teamer, and now he has to replace Donte Whitner. He's fast enough to see a little time as a kick returner and could be moved to corner if needed. He is a physical tackler who has all the tools to grow into the job over the next few years.
- CB Antonio Smith, Sr. - 6 tackles, 1 broken up pass
While he's not that big, the 5-9, 195-pound senior is tough enough to have seen time at strong safety and quick enough to grow into a role at right corner. He's going to have to battle hard to keep the starting job coming out of spring ball, but he should put up some good numbers with teams staying away from Malcolm Jenkins.
Top Backups
- FS Brandon Mitchell, Sr. - 12 tackles, 1 interception
Mitchell is neck-and-neck with Nick Patterson for the starting free safety job. He's one of the team's most experienced defensive backs with eight career starts and plenty of time as a reserve. He's 6-3 and 205 pounds with excellent speed, but he's not as physical as Patterson.
- SS Anderson Russell, RFr.
Yet another speedy Ohio State defensive back, Russell is a physical hitter who'll be a major part of the mix after having a great spring. While he doesn't have the combination of skills that Jamario O'Neal has, he's good enough to grow into a starter.
- CB Donald Washington, RFr.
A very smart, very athletic corner, he's a taller option than Antonio Smith on the right side than Antonio Smith with better speed and leaping ability. All he needs it a little bit of experience.
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Special Teams Rating: 8Projected Starters
- PK Ryan Pretorius, Soph.
It'll be a battle all fall between Pretorius and Aaron Pettrey to try to replace the steady Josh Huston. While Pettrey has a the better leg and could be used on the bombs, Pretorius was the steadier of the two this spring.
- P A.J. Trapasso, Soph. - 43 punts, 1,738 yds, 40.4 yards per kick, 19 inside the 20
Trapasso had a tremendous first season considering he was a freshman. He showed he could air it out with a 76-yard blast, but he also showed he could consistently hang it up in the air and place it inside the 20. He wasn't always on, but that will change after a year of experience.
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Further Analysis
[FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif]Ohio State Buckeyes[/FONT]
Preview 2006 - Further Analysis [SIZE=-1]By[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1] John Harris [/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=-1]- 2006 Ohio State Preview | Offense Breakdown | Defense Breakdown | Depth Chart [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]<TABLE id=table3 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=2 width=350 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffcc>Scout.com Insider Notes
[/SIZE][/SIZE][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]By Steve Helwagen
Bucknuts.com[/FONT] 1) The number one positive is the return of Troy Smith at quarterback. For his first 1-1/2 years as a regular, Smith seemed to live off being an athlete playing quarterback. But as the 2005 season evolved, Smith became a true quarterback. Look at the final drive at Michigan. Instead of running with the football – which he would have in the past – he stayed live in the pocket and found Anthony Gonzalez for the play that probably defined OSU’s season. Without that, they may not have beaten Michigan and certainly would not have gone to the Fiesta Bowl to play Notre Dame. Smith had 300 yards against Michigan and 342 against ND. OSU coaches and fans want to see what he does over a 13-game slate as a senior, and he is the unquestioned leader of the team.
2) Two members of Jim Tressel’s offensive brain trust – coordinator/line coach Jim Bollman and quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels – were each hospitalized recently after experiencing heart problems. Bollman and Daniels are each veteran coaches and two of Tressel’s most trusted advisors. It remains to be seen how quickly they will be able to get back into the swing of things and what impact that may or may not have on the Buckeyes in 2006. Tressel calls the plays, certainly, but he relies very heavily on those two coaches, in particular, in formulating game plans.
3) No team in at least the last decade has won the national championship after losing as many as nine starters on defense from the previous season. Yes, that is a bit of an arcane fact, but it is a fact nonetheless. Moreover, OSU went through a similar situation in 2004 when it lost a ton of talent on both sides of the ball (14 OSU players – a record for a 7-round draft – were taken in the 2004 NFL draft). That 2004 defense at least had A.J. Hawk. This one does not. But this 2006 Ohio State team has an offense and a quarterback who can erase or overcome some defensive mistakes. That 2004 team did not.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>1<SUP>st</SUP> and Ten – Did someone find the owner’s manual? – During the opening game of 2005, head coach Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes showed a myriad of sets, formations and plays centered around Miami University’s defensive focus on Ted Ginn, Jr. It was almost as if Tressel understood that he could utilize Ginn, Jr. like the queen on a chess board – defenses had to know where he was at all times, as he could strike from anywhere, anytime. His alignment drew maximum attention, but somewhere along the line, in the first six games of the year, or so, teams realized that Ginn, Jr. just wasn’t going to be the focus of the offense. Defensive coordinators became more concerned with the dual threat skills of QB Troy Smith and the receiving acumen of WR Santonio Holmes. Ginn, Jr. didn’t command the respect that should be afforded an electric talent like TGJ. But, the lack of use, in some respect, forced Ginn to have to become a more complete receiver, not an alignment/formation anomaly. He became more comfortable going across the middle, along with learning how the little nuances in becoming a true perimeter receiver. In three of the last four games, Ginn, Jr, was magnificent – against Illinois, Michigan and Notre Dame, Ginn had 21 catches for 394 yards and was blossoming into a star. It’s akin to when Nolan Ryan could finally throw his curve ball slower than 88 miles per hour; his managers/pitching coaches wouldn’t let him throw early in his career because it was too fast. Before he could throw the curve ball effectively, hitters were forced to hit 100 mph all the time. It was hard, but you knew what was coming. Then, he developed his breaking ball and he dropped a 12 to 6 on you at 85 mph, while you were looking for 100 mph gas. Suffice it to say, you were, well, you were toast. Same with Ginn. If the Buckeyes kept throwing him perimeter bubble screens or quick hitches, you still would struggle stopping it, but you knew what was coming. Now? He polished his route running in the spring and can now be a threat anywhere on the field, deep, intermediate, short, sideline, seam, 5, 10 or 50 yards downfield. Tressel may not have used Ginn, Jr. like we all wanted to use him, but it might’ve been the best tonic for a young receiver ready to be a star.
2<SUP>nd</SUP> and Seven – P’s and Q’s – Talk about feeling lonely. Last year’s huddle was dominated by first round NFL draft picks and All-Big Ten talent. David Patterson and Quinn Pitcock were surrounded, and it had to feel oh so good. Flash forward one year, no more Hawk, Whitner, Schlegel or Carpenter - Patterson and Pitcock have become the leaders and the focal points for this Ohio State defense. Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock gets the maximum out of his middle guys, but he wants guys who are tough, quick and aggressive. He’d probably like to see these two take a bit more of the point of attack brunt this fall to allow some ‘green’ linebackers to run free to the football. But, with these two, he does know that they’ve got the quickness to penetrate like a one gap tackle should do. If the Buckeyes mind their P’s and Q’s, they should be strong up the middle in 2006.
[FONT=verdana, arial,
sans serif]<TABLE id=table2 cellSpacing=4 width=300 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><IFRAME name=I1 marginWidth=0 marginHeight=0 src="http://view.atdmt.com/RSC/iview/cllgfnwb0180000011rsc/direct/01?click=" frameBorder=0 width=300 scrolling=no height=250 allowTransparency leftmargin="0" topmargin="0"><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">document.write('');</script><noscript></noscript></IFRAME></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>[/FONT]3<SUP>rd</SUP> and Three – Rebuild or reload? – The biggest question around Columbus and in Big Ten circles this past winter and spring had to be how well the Buckeye back four would perform in 2006, after losing Donte Whitner, Ashton Youboty, Nate Salley and Tyler Everett. As soon as Youboty and Whitner made the break for the NFL a year early, the cause for concern alarm went off loud and clear in the Midwest. But, at a place like Ohio State, blue chip recruits replace first round draft picks, that’s just the way it works. Malcolm Jenkins looks like former OU star CB Derrick Strait, wearing #2 with good ball skills and good size. He could end up being the next first round cornerback on this squad. There will be a battle at the safety spots, but that should <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = ST2 /><ST2:LISTS w:st="on">ensure</ST2:LISTS> a fierce competition from the first day of fall camp to the opener against Northern Illinois. The only difference in this year’s crew and last year’s is uncertainty. Most every one knew what they would get from the aforementioned quartet, and what they wouldn’t get. No one can be sure with inexperience of this magnitude. It’s hard to argue with the athletic ability and physical gifts, but will they fill the void? Rebuild or reload? We’ll see when September 9<SUP>th</SUP> rolls around.
4<SUP>th</SUP> and One – Shhhh, no one knows – You know how you feel when you have a secret. Just a big, fat juicy one. People around you talk and gossip about a certain situation, but you’re the only one who knows the real deal. As a Buckeye fan, is that how you feel about being a fan of RB Antonio Pittman? Most of the nation heralds Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch or Michael Bush, but would you trade the explosive Pittman for any of those other guys? He’s quicker to the hole than any of the three. His breakaway speed is breathtaking. If he gets a seam, he’s gone. Now, you can’t question how good that trio is, but most people are missing the boat on Pittman. Think DeAngelo Williams without the injuries. He still has to prove that he can run between the tackles week in and week out and not be a bounce runner or just a guy who flourishes outside the numbers. But, you don’t run for over 1,300 yards and seven touchdowns at a place like Ohio State and remain a secret for too long. So, go ahead, Buckeye fans, tell everyone, let everyone know now – Antonio Pittman, it’s a name to remember.
Preview 2006 - Further Analysis [SIZE=-1]By[/SIZE][FONT=verdana, arial, sans serif][SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1] John Harris [/SIZE][/SIZE][/FONT]
[SIZE=-1]- 2006 Ohio State Preview | Offense Breakdown | Defense Breakdown | Depth Chart [/SIZE]
[SIZE=-1][SIZE=-1]<TABLE id=table3 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=2 width=350 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ffffcc>Scout.com Insider Notes
[/SIZE][/SIZE][FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]By Steve Helwagen
Bucknuts.com[/FONT] 1) The number one positive is the return of Troy Smith at quarterback. For his first 1-1/2 years as a regular, Smith seemed to live off being an athlete playing quarterback. But as the 2005 season evolved, Smith became a true quarterback. Look at the final drive at Michigan. Instead of running with the football – which he would have in the past – he stayed live in the pocket and found Anthony Gonzalez for the play that probably defined OSU’s season. Without that, they may not have beaten Michigan and certainly would not have gone to the Fiesta Bowl to play Notre Dame. Smith had 300 yards against Michigan and 342 against ND. OSU coaches and fans want to see what he does over a 13-game slate as a senior, and he is the unquestioned leader of the team.
2) Two members of Jim Tressel’s offensive brain trust – coordinator/line coach Jim Bollman and quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels – were each hospitalized recently after experiencing heart problems. Bollman and Daniels are each veteran coaches and two of Tressel’s most trusted advisors. It remains to be seen how quickly they will be able to get back into the swing of things and what impact that may or may not have on the Buckeyes in 2006. Tressel calls the plays, certainly, but he relies very heavily on those two coaches, in particular, in formulating game plans.
3) No team in at least the last decade has won the national championship after losing as many as nine starters on defense from the previous season. Yes, that is a bit of an arcane fact, but it is a fact nonetheless. Moreover, OSU went through a similar situation in 2004 when it lost a ton of talent on both sides of the ball (14 OSU players – a record for a 7-round draft – were taken in the 2004 NFL draft). That 2004 defense at least had A.J. Hawk. This one does not. But this 2006 Ohio State team has an offense and a quarterback who can erase or overcome some defensive mistakes. That 2004 team did not.
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>1<SUP>st</SUP> and Ten – Did someone find the owner’s manual? – During the opening game of 2005, head coach Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes showed a myriad of sets, formations and plays centered around Miami University’s defensive focus on Ted Ginn, Jr. It was almost as if Tressel understood that he could utilize Ginn, Jr. like the queen on a chess board – defenses had to know where he was at all times, as he could strike from anywhere, anytime. His alignment drew maximum attention, but somewhere along the line, in the first six games of the year, or so, teams realized that Ginn, Jr. just wasn’t going to be the focus of the offense. Defensive coordinators became more concerned with the dual threat skills of QB Troy Smith and the receiving acumen of WR Santonio Holmes. Ginn, Jr. didn’t command the respect that should be afforded an electric talent like TGJ. But, the lack of use, in some respect, forced Ginn to have to become a more complete receiver, not an alignment/formation anomaly. He became more comfortable going across the middle, along with learning how the little nuances in becoming a true perimeter receiver. In three of the last four games, Ginn, Jr, was magnificent – against Illinois, Michigan and Notre Dame, Ginn had 21 catches for 394 yards and was blossoming into a star. It’s akin to when Nolan Ryan could finally throw his curve ball slower than 88 miles per hour; his managers/pitching coaches wouldn’t let him throw early in his career because it was too fast. Before he could throw the curve ball effectively, hitters were forced to hit 100 mph all the time. It was hard, but you knew what was coming. Then, he developed his breaking ball and he dropped a 12 to 6 on you at 85 mph, while you were looking for 100 mph gas. Suffice it to say, you were, well, you were toast. Same with Ginn. If the Buckeyes kept throwing him perimeter bubble screens or quick hitches, you still would struggle stopping it, but you knew what was coming. Now? He polished his route running in the spring and can now be a threat anywhere on the field, deep, intermediate, short, sideline, seam, 5, 10 or 50 yards downfield. Tressel may not have used Ginn, Jr. like we all wanted to use him, but it might’ve been the best tonic for a young receiver ready to be a star.
2<SUP>nd</SUP> and Seven – P’s and Q’s – Talk about feeling lonely. Last year’s huddle was dominated by first round NFL draft picks and All-Big Ten talent. David Patterson and Quinn Pitcock were surrounded, and it had to feel oh so good. Flash forward one year, no more Hawk, Whitner, Schlegel or Carpenter - Patterson and Pitcock have become the leaders and the focal points for this Ohio State defense. Defensive coordinator Jim Heacock gets the maximum out of his middle guys, but he wants guys who are tough, quick and aggressive. He’d probably like to see these two take a bit more of the point of attack brunt this fall to allow some ‘green’ linebackers to run free to the football. But, with these two, he does know that they’ve got the quickness to penetrate like a one gap tackle should do. If the Buckeyes mind their P’s and Q’s, they should be strong up the middle in 2006.
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4<SUP>th</SUP> and One – Shhhh, no one knows – You know how you feel when you have a secret. Just a big, fat juicy one. People around you talk and gossip about a certain situation, but you’re the only one who knows the real deal. As a Buckeye fan, is that how you feel about being a fan of RB Antonio Pittman? Most of the nation heralds Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch or Michael Bush, but would you trade the explosive Pittman for any of those other guys? He’s quicker to the hole than any of the three. His breakaway speed is breathtaking. If he gets a seam, he’s gone. Now, you can’t question how good that trio is, but most people are missing the boat on Pittman. Think DeAngelo Williams without the injuries. He still has to prove that he can run between the tackles week in and week out and not be a bounce runner or just a guy who flourishes outside the numbers. But, you don’t run for over 1,300 yards and seven touchdowns at a place like Ohio State and remain a secret for too long. So, go ahead, Buckeye fans, tell everyone, let everyone know now – Antonio Pittman, it’s a name to remember.
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BuckBojangles
Jooooooonyer
After reading through it all...
After reading through all of the CFN analysis, I'd first have to say it's a fair enough analysis without totally kissing ass to our fan base.
It's just come to shock me how many holes we have to fill. The reload jargon makes me nervous (think Reggie Germany and what was his name, Kenyon Rambo?). But knowing it's a Tressel team, I hope the D keeps it simple, plays within their given roles, and just doesn't give up the big play. Coaching will make a world of difference this year on D.
Who doesn't love our offense? Amazing.
I don't know if anything less than a National Championship will be disappointing though. I think we'll be lucky to win an NC, but it's certainly possible. If we win it this year, it may be even more special to me than in 2003. That year, it was Tressel's 2nd year. Most of the players were John Cooper players.
All of these players are Tressel's kids. Chosen by Tressel. Developed by Tressel. We were all witnesses to these classes coming in with Zwick, Smith, the linemen and later, Pittman. We've seen an internet buzz about them for a long time. It would be completely glorious to win an NC. I certainly won't mind going back to Arizona for the new year again.
After reading through all of the CFN analysis, I'd first have to say it's a fair enough analysis without totally kissing ass to our fan base.
It's just come to shock me how many holes we have to fill. The reload jargon makes me nervous (think Reggie Germany and what was his name, Kenyon Rambo?). But knowing it's a Tressel team, I hope the D keeps it simple, plays within their given roles, and just doesn't give up the big play. Coaching will make a world of difference this year on D.
Who doesn't love our offense? Amazing.
I don't know if anything less than a National Championship will be disappointing though. I think we'll be lucky to win an NC, but it's certainly possible. If we win it this year, it may be even more special to me than in 2003. That year, it was Tressel's 2nd year. Most of the players were John Cooper players.
All of these players are Tressel's kids. Chosen by Tressel. Developed by Tressel. We were all witnesses to these classes coming in with Zwick, Smith, the linemen and later, Pittman. We've seen an internet buzz about them for a long time. It would be completely glorious to win an NC. I certainly won't mind going back to Arizona for the new year again.
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Buckeyes have great expectations in 2006
By JOHN VARGO Tribune Chronicle
YOUNGSTOWN — More than a couple of publications have the Ohio State Buckeyes atop their respective preseason polls.
OSU coach Jim Tressel, who attended the football “Camp of Champions” at Cardinal Mooney High School’s athletic complex, said the early accolades do not translate into victories.
Considering the tenacious Big Ten schedule and rigorous non-conference slate with Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Cincinnati and defending national champion Texas, Tressel takes no one for granted.
‘‘Our first expectation is our kids realize we have a long way to go before we’re going to be a good team,’’ the sixth-year coach said. ‘‘We understand some people are saying we’re going to be very good.
‘‘We’ll find out if that’s true.’’
The Buckeyes’ first test is Northern Illinois. The Huskies are atop many preseason polls to win the Mid-American Conference and are ranked in the top 30.
Coach Joe Novak, who started his coaching career at Warren Western Reserve in the early 1970s, leads Northern Illinois into Ohio Stadium Sept. 2 — the opener for both teams.
Tressel does not want his players to overlook teams from the MAC, a conference that has been a formidable opponent for most Big Ten teams.
‘‘Our guys are human. They’re peeking at Texas or they’re peeking at Penn State, Iowa or Michigan,’’ Tressel said.
‘‘If you peek at some other team, a team that’s good like the ones we play in the MAC, they can knock you off.’’
Northern Illinois tailback Garrett Wolfe, a 5-foot-7, 177-pound senior, is one of those elite MAC players.
Wolfe ran for 393 yards and four touchdowns against Michigan and Northwestern last season.
‘‘Joe Novak has done a fabulous job,’’ Tressel said. ‘‘He probably has the best back in the midwest.
‘‘He’s not going to be afraid to come into a big stadium. It’s going to be a great test for us to start.’’
With the NCAA Division I-A schedules including a 12th game, teams like Ohio State are looking to the Division I-AA ranks to complete their slates.
Tressel, whose teams won four Division I-AA national titles at Youngstown State, said the Penguins will play the Buckeyes in the next couple of years.
‘‘Hopefully we’ll announce the YSU game before the season starts and all the preseason hype starts,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m expecting us to play YSU two times in the next five years.’’
Penguins coach Jon Heacock, whose brother Jim is defensive coordinator at OSU, is well aware of the Buckeyes program.
‘‘I talk to him pretty much on a weekly basis,’’ Jon Heacock said. ‘‘I think they obviously have to replace some guys, but they have guys to replace them. They may be a little younger. There’s going to be some learning curve there.
‘‘I don’t think they’ll miss too many beats. I know the job that staff does and they’ll be fine.’’
* ON SANTONIO HOLMES: According to the Associated Press, the former OSU wide receiver was arrested for a second time following the Pittsburgh Steelers making the Buckeyes standout their first-round pick.
Holmes was arrested in Columbus on a domestic violence charge earlier this month. The Florida native was also arrested for a disorderly conduct on Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach.
Holmes is the second Steeler to be in an off-the-field incident this month.
Starting quarterback Ben Roethisberger, who was injured in a motorcycle accident and not wearing a helmet, was cited for not having a valid Pennsylvania motorcycle license.
‘‘I really don’t know much about that recent situation,’’ Tressel said of Holmes. ‘‘I do know he’s a heckuva kid. As I mentioned to the Pittsburgh media, the only thing that will prove that will be time.
‘‘In my opinion, time will prove that Ben Roethisberger is a good kid too and so is Santonio Holmes.’’
* ON MAURICE CLARETT: The Former Warren G. Harding and OSU standout was indicted on two counts of aggravated robbery on Feb. 10, stemming from an early New Year’s Day incident outside a Columbus danceclub.
Tressel said he talked to his former player about his life.
‘‘I just talked to Maurice on the phone the other day,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s doing good and feels good about his direction. I’m excited about that.’’
Football plans did not enter the discussion.
‘‘We didn’t talk about that,’’ Tressel said. ‘‘We talked about life in general.
‘‘I don’t know the answer to that.’’
Buckeyes have great expectations in 2006
By JOHN VARGO Tribune Chronicle
YOUNGSTOWN — More than a couple of publications have the Ohio State Buckeyes atop their respective preseason polls.
OSU coach Jim Tressel, who attended the football “Camp of Champions” at Cardinal Mooney High School’s athletic complex, said the early accolades do not translate into victories.
Considering the tenacious Big Ten schedule and rigorous non-conference slate with Northern Illinois, Bowling Green, Cincinnati and defending national champion Texas, Tressel takes no one for granted.
‘‘Our first expectation is our kids realize we have a long way to go before we’re going to be a good team,’’ the sixth-year coach said. ‘‘We understand some people are saying we’re going to be very good.
‘‘We’ll find out if that’s true.’’
The Buckeyes’ first test is Northern Illinois. The Huskies are atop many preseason polls to win the Mid-American Conference and are ranked in the top 30.
Coach Joe Novak, who started his coaching career at Warren Western Reserve in the early 1970s, leads Northern Illinois into Ohio Stadium Sept. 2 — the opener for both teams.
Tressel does not want his players to overlook teams from the MAC, a conference that has been a formidable opponent for most Big Ten teams.
‘‘Our guys are human. They’re peeking at Texas or they’re peeking at Penn State, Iowa or Michigan,’’ Tressel said.
‘‘If you peek at some other team, a team that’s good like the ones we play in the MAC, they can knock you off.’’
Northern Illinois tailback Garrett Wolfe, a 5-foot-7, 177-pound senior, is one of those elite MAC players.
Wolfe ran for 393 yards and four touchdowns against Michigan and Northwestern last season.
‘‘Joe Novak has done a fabulous job,’’ Tressel said. ‘‘He probably has the best back in the midwest.
‘‘He’s not going to be afraid to come into a big stadium. It’s going to be a great test for us to start.’’
With the NCAA Division I-A schedules including a 12th game, teams like Ohio State are looking to the Division I-AA ranks to complete their slates.
Tressel, whose teams won four Division I-AA national titles at Youngstown State, said the Penguins will play the Buckeyes in the next couple of years.
‘‘Hopefully we’ll announce the YSU game before the season starts and all the preseason hype starts,’’ he said. ‘‘I’m expecting us to play YSU two times in the next five years.’’
Penguins coach Jon Heacock, whose brother Jim is defensive coordinator at OSU, is well aware of the Buckeyes program.
‘‘I talk to him pretty much on a weekly basis,’’ Jon Heacock said. ‘‘I think they obviously have to replace some guys, but they have guys to replace them. They may be a little younger. There’s going to be some learning curve there.
‘‘I don’t think they’ll miss too many beats. I know the job that staff does and they’ll be fine.’’
* ON SANTONIO HOLMES: According to the Associated Press, the former OSU wide receiver was arrested for a second time following the Pittsburgh Steelers making the Buckeyes standout their first-round pick.
Holmes was arrested in Columbus on a domestic violence charge earlier this month. The Florida native was also arrested for a disorderly conduct on Memorial Day weekend in Miami Beach.
Holmes is the second Steeler to be in an off-the-field incident this month.
Starting quarterback Ben Roethisberger, who was injured in a motorcycle accident and not wearing a helmet, was cited for not having a valid Pennsylvania motorcycle license.
‘‘I really don’t know much about that recent situation,’’ Tressel said of Holmes. ‘‘I do know he’s a heckuva kid. As I mentioned to the Pittsburgh media, the only thing that will prove that will be time.
‘‘In my opinion, time will prove that Ben Roethisberger is a good kid too and so is Santonio Holmes.’’
* ON MAURICE CLARETT: The Former Warren G. Harding and OSU standout was indicted on two counts of aggravated robbery on Feb. 10, stemming from an early New Year’s Day incident outside a Columbus danceclub.
Tressel said he talked to his former player about his life.
‘‘I just talked to Maurice on the phone the other day,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s doing good and feels good about his direction. I’m excited about that.’’
Football plans did not enter the discussion.
‘‘We didn’t talk about that,’’ Tressel said. ‘‘We talked about life in general.
‘‘I don’t know the answer to that.’’
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Canton Rep
7/2
BARTON WORKING HARD
In addition to adjusting to workouts with new strength coach Eric Lichter, Ohio State offensive tackle Kirk Barton is taking a full load of summer courses.
“Let me tell you, it’s no piece of cake,” the Perry grad said. “Between the workouts and the accelerated course work in the summer, it’s a grind.”
Barton recently was named to the Outland Trophy watch list.
SMITH GRADUATION
A college football insider tells us Troy Smith is making strides beyond anyone’s imagination as he continues to study film and learn the nuances behind Ohio State’s offense. The Buckeye quarterback recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Asked if he would take cream puff classes like Southern Cal’s Matt Leinart did — including ballroom dancing — Smith smiled.
“No way,” he said. “That stuff’s not for me.”
Smith’s degree is in mass communication.
“I’m thinking about going for a second degree, but I haven’t made up my mind.”
COTTON GONE
No one who has followed former St. Vincent-St. Mary’s defensive lineman Sian Cotton at Ohio State should be surprised that Cotton left the team last week. Quietly, Buckeye coaches wondered about his work ethic.
At times, Cotton was a hard worker, but he would take too many plays off and not push himself in workouts. Before he knew it, he was buried on the depth chart.
7/2
BARTON WORKING HARD
In addition to adjusting to workouts with new strength coach Eric Lichter, Ohio State offensive tackle Kirk Barton is taking a full load of summer courses.
“Let me tell you, it’s no piece of cake,” the Perry grad said. “Between the workouts and the accelerated course work in the summer, it’s a grind.”
Barton recently was named to the Outland Trophy watch list.
SMITH GRADUATION
A college football insider tells us Troy Smith is making strides beyond anyone’s imagination as he continues to study film and learn the nuances behind Ohio State’s offense. The Buckeye quarterback recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree. Asked if he would take cream puff classes like Southern Cal’s Matt Leinart did — including ballroom dancing — Smith smiled.
“No way,” he said. “That stuff’s not for me.”
Smith’s degree is in mass communication.
“I’m thinking about going for a second degree, but I haven’t made up my mind.”
COTTON GONE
No one who has followed former St. Vincent-St. Mary’s defensive lineman Sian Cotton at Ohio State should be surprised that Cotton left the team last week. Quietly, Buckeye coaches wondered about his work ethic.
At times, Cotton was a hard worker, but he would take too many plays off and not push himself in workouts. Before he knew it, he was buried on the depth chart.
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7/4
<!-- Begin Story --> <script language="JavaScript"> var s_pageName="headline: Don't believe everything you read in preseason (20060704)"; </script> Don't believe everything you read in preseason
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="cell1" nowrap="nowrap">Tom Kubat</td> </tr> </tbody></table> Preseason football magazines are a lot like recruiting rankings. They should be read for entertainment purposes only. A lot of what's printed are just opinions. Many right, but many wrong.
After perusing this year's batch of magazines devoted to college football in general and to the Big Ten Conference in particular, here are the highlights:
1. Nationally, with quarterback Matt Leinart and tailback Reggie Bush departing Southern California, and QB Vince Young no longer terrorizing Texas opponents, this year's media darlings are Notre Dame and its quarterback, Brady Quinn, and Ohio State and its QB, Troy Smith.
2. According to the five magazines, the national championship is up for grabs and no longer the personal property of the Trojans and the Longhorns.
While the Fighting Irish finished No. 1 and the Buckeyes were No. 2 in this year's consensus voting, the experts were all over the board with their picks.
Typical of this year's balloting was Oklahoma. The Sooners received a pair of No. 1 votes, but they also were picked 9th and 10th.
3. The pressure in the Big Ten this year falls squarely on the shoulders of the Buckeyes, the unanimous pick to win the league championship.
4. While most Purdue fans might expect junior wide receiver Dorien Bryant to receive most of the individual preseason recognition, that distinction went to junior offensive guard Jordan Grimes.
Bryant was listed first-team All-Big Ten by Lindy's and Sporting News, but it was Grimes who garnered the national honors.
The 330-pound junior, who started all 13 games last year and in 2004 became the first true freshman offensive lineman to play for Purdue since Damon Lewis in 1993, made Phil Steele's All-American first team and was selected by that magazine as the No. 1 offensive guard in the nation. Lindy's ranked Grimes No. 4 nationally.
5. Steele ranked Purdue's offensive line third in the nation, behind Texas and Texas A&M.
No argument here, not with four starters returning and Uche Nwaneri, a starter in 2004, rejoining the team.
6. Bryant was justly honored by being ranked fourth among Big Ten "players who change game plans" by Sporting News.
Bryant was ranked below Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr., Penn State's Derrick Williams and Michigan's Mario Manningham.
7. In Athlon, this is what opposing coaches (anonymously, of course) had to say about the Boilermakers:
"They missed a chance to jump up in the league last season and, at a place like Purdue, that window doesn't open very often ... They seemed to lack leadership and toughness ... They're bringing in a lot of (junior college) guys on defense, but that never really works long term ... Half of (Tiller's) staff left, which is never a good sign ... The pieces are there for another good offense. Again, it's going to come down to defense."
The only exception here would be with the comment about the staff departures. Judging from what took place during spring practice, it appeared as if the revolving door spit out a much improved staff.
8. The magazines' consensus pick of a fifth-place Big Ten finish for the Boilermakers in the Big Ten seems very fair.
But, sorry, this prognosticator will wait until after two-a-day camp is over in August before taking my stab at predicting Purdue's 2006 fortunes.
Kubat covers Purdue football for the Journal and Courier. <!-- TOPIX RELATED ARTICLES --> <!-- SOURCE CALL TO SET JAVASCRIPT VARIABLES --> <!-- Get Related Links from Topix --> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- // preset the variables to keep from getting js errors if the get content fails var topixcats = [ ]; var topixcrawled = 0; // Retrive js variables from topix var topixcats = [ ]; var topixcrawled = 1; //--> </script> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- var topixID=7022; if ( topixcats.length > 0 ) { document.write('Related news from the Web
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7/4
<!-- Begin Story --> <script language="JavaScript"> var s_pageName="headline: Don't believe everything you read in preseason (20060704)"; </script> Don't believe everything you read in preseason
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="cell1" nowrap="nowrap">Tom Kubat</td> </tr> </tbody></table> Preseason football magazines are a lot like recruiting rankings. They should be read for entertainment purposes only. A lot of what's printed are just opinions. Many right, but many wrong.After perusing this year's batch of magazines devoted to college football in general and to the Big Ten Conference in particular, here are the highlights:
1. Nationally, with quarterback Matt Leinart and tailback Reggie Bush departing Southern California, and QB Vince Young no longer terrorizing Texas opponents, this year's media darlings are Notre Dame and its quarterback, Brady Quinn, and Ohio State and its QB, Troy Smith.
2. According to the five magazines, the national championship is up for grabs and no longer the personal property of the Trojans and the Longhorns.
While the Fighting Irish finished No. 1 and the Buckeyes were No. 2 in this year's consensus voting, the experts were all over the board with their picks.
Typical of this year's balloting was Oklahoma. The Sooners received a pair of No. 1 votes, but they also were picked 9th and 10th.
3. The pressure in the Big Ten this year falls squarely on the shoulders of the Buckeyes, the unanimous pick to win the league championship.
4. While most Purdue fans might expect junior wide receiver Dorien Bryant to receive most of the individual preseason recognition, that distinction went to junior offensive guard Jordan Grimes.
Bryant was listed first-team All-Big Ten by Lindy's and Sporting News, but it was Grimes who garnered the national honors.
The 330-pound junior, who started all 13 games last year and in 2004 became the first true freshman offensive lineman to play for Purdue since Damon Lewis in 1993, made Phil Steele's All-American first team and was selected by that magazine as the No. 1 offensive guard in the nation. Lindy's ranked Grimes No. 4 nationally.
5. Steele ranked Purdue's offensive line third in the nation, behind Texas and Texas A&M.
No argument here, not with four starters returning and Uche Nwaneri, a starter in 2004, rejoining the team.
6. Bryant was justly honored by being ranked fourth among Big Ten "players who change game plans" by Sporting News.
Bryant was ranked below Ohio State's Ted Ginn Jr., Penn State's Derrick Williams and Michigan's Mario Manningham.
7. In Athlon, this is what opposing coaches (anonymously, of course) had to say about the Boilermakers:
"They missed a chance to jump up in the league last season and, at a place like Purdue, that window doesn't open very often ... They seemed to lack leadership and toughness ... They're bringing in a lot of (junior college) guys on defense, but that never really works long term ... Half of (Tiller's) staff left, which is never a good sign ... The pieces are there for another good offense. Again, it's going to come down to defense."
The only exception here would be with the comment about the staff departures. Judging from what took place during spring practice, it appeared as if the revolving door spit out a much improved staff.
8. The magazines' consensus pick of a fifth-place Big Ten finish for the Boilermakers in the Big Ten seems very fair.
But, sorry, this prognosticator will wait until after two-a-day camp is over in August before taking my stab at predicting Purdue's 2006 fortunes.
Kubat covers Purdue football for the Journal and Courier. <!-- TOPIX RELATED ARTICLES --> <!-- SOURCE CALL TO SET JAVASCRIPT VARIABLES --> <!-- Get Related Links from Topix --> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- // preset the variables to keep from getting js errors if the get content fails var topixcats = [ ]; var topixcrawled = 0; // Retrive js variables from topix var topixcats = [ ]; var topixcrawled = 1; //--> </script> <script language="JavaScript"> <!-- var topixID=7022; if ( topixcats.length > 0 ) { document.write('Related news from the Web
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buckeye247
# 33
I was just reading the scUM preview at cfbnews.com and the last time we beat scUM three years in a row was back in 1961-1963. They better get ready to re-write that stat.
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Rolling out the preseason top 16 (Bruce Feldman, ESPN)
posted: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
Since fall camp is just a few weeks away and because I feel like I've been dodging too many e-mail and chat questions about what my top 10 looks like, I figured it's a good time to trot out my preseason top 16. My criteria is simple: which teams have the best chance to reach the title game.
1. West Virginia: All of the key pieces (most notably QB Patrick White and RB Steve Slaton) are back and should be better with a year of seasoning and an offseason in the Mountaineers' weight program. And unlike many other Top 25 teams, WVU's O-line isn't a major concern. The hunger is there, too. The Mountaineers have spent the last six months hearing people suggest that 2005 was a fluke. Better still, the schedule is ideal for a title run. WVU should be double-digit favorites in its first seven games before a trip to Louisville, which also probably will be its lone matchup with a top-20 team.
WVU's performance against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl was an important kickoff to the 2006 season. Yes, last year was last year, but that win planted a seed in the heads of the pollsters that the Mountaineers are legit. So WVU figures to start this season ranked in the top 10, maybe even the top six. With that ranking, the Mountaineers won't have a huge hill to climb in 2006, which is a huge plus since their schedule would be tough to overcome if they had to work their way from way back in the pack. The downside? Both Pat Forde and I are now touting them. One more guy on a laptop pumping them up and it's officially the kiss of death.
2. Ohio State: I'm a big believer in Troy Smith and feel like he has enough weapons to put up a lot of points this season. I'm also not as worried about only having two starters back on D. A handful of other Buckeyes have a good amount of game experience. Plus, there is talent there. I do think the issue will be consistency. Young guys tend to make more mistakes, which translates into blown assignments and missed tackles -- and probably a few too many big plays. (Anyone remember USC's 2005 defense?) I think they could handle an early-season loss at Texas and still make it to the BCS title game.
3. Auburn: Kenny Irons is the least-hyped great player in the country and Brandon Cox is a very solid QB. As usual, the defense will be fast and dangerous. Having Florida, LSU and Georgia on the schedule isn't such a good thing, but having all of them at home is.
4. Notre Dame: Don't be surprised if these guys put up USC-like numbers offensively with Brady Quinn piloting the air show. I doubt the Irish will be able to run it quite as well as last year's Trojans did, but they're still looking at a 1,500-yard back in Darius Walker. The defense, though, is still the problem. The D-line is decent and Victor Abiamiri can be a double-digit sack guy. But that back seven is a mess, giving up way too many big plays. Can they keep other teams under 28 points? I don't think they'll be good enough to make it to the title game.
Footnote: Notre Dame is loaded with seniors this year and there is almost no junior class left. The pressure will exist to win the title this season because 2007 could be a 7-4 kind of year. Just throwing that out there.
5. Texas: It's impossible to replace Vince Young and his leadership. Impossible. However, he rest of the offense should be very solid with a seasoned Jamaal Charles and a healthy Jordan Shipley. No worries about the defense, either. I'm just not sure that the new QBs can respond well enough to win a title this fall.
6. Oklahoma: Adrian Peterson is a great place to start and young Rhett Bomar is a dual-threat type who has quite a stash of talented wideouts. The O-line is suspect and the secondary is also unproven. Still, I think even a two-loss regular season would be disappointing.
7. LSU: The Tigers can win with either QB. Both JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn could start for 90 percent of the I-A teams. LSU does have to replace a host of linemen, but I don't know if there is any program that is deeper than this one. Nick Saban really left the place stocked for Les Miles. The bad news is dates at Auburn, at Florida and at Tennessee. The more I look at the schedule, the more I'm thinking about dropping the Tigers out of the top 10.
8. USC: Even though Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and LenDale White have left, I don't think there will be as big a drop as some think. Ryan Kalil and Sam Baker should anchor a solid O-line and the receivers are outstanding. But the running game probably won't be anywhere near as good. I do think the defense will be better now that some of those young guys have some experience. It almost has to be. Also, all of USC's toughest games are at home. But I keep thinking about how loads of things have to go just right to pull off an incredibly long winning streak. And once that goes, bad breaks tend to happen.
9. Michigan: Chad Henne has an array of firepower and I think Ron English, the new D-coordinator, will get more out of a talented but often underachieving bunch. Trouble is, the Wolverines have road trips to Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State. Plus, a visit from Iowa won't be any cakewalk either.
10. Miami: The D should be dominant again. The Canes will feature a loaded front seven and a trio of safeties that each could win All-America honors by 2007. That alone translates to at least nine wins. Is the O going to shine enough for UM to return to the mountain top? Only if Lance Leggett and/or Ryan Moore step up and become a star. The O-line, which now is manned by coach Mario Cristobal, also is a big question mark. Getting FSU and Va. Tech at home will help. Ironically, a mid-September trip to visit the Big East's Louisville could be the only game where Miami is an underdog.
11. Florida State: To me the Canes and 'Noles are very similar (talented young QB, loads of speed on D, weak O-line). The differences are that FSU has more speed at tailback and the Canes have more talent on D. As usual, consistency, especially on offense, is the issue. And you wonder if this will be another year where the offense keeps letting down the defense and the Rix-less legacy of Jeff Bowden continues to grow.
12. Georgia: My hunch is that blue-chip QB Matt Stafford takes the reins by October. Although whether it's Stafford or Joe Tereshinski, the Dawgs will be a ground-oriented team thanks to a great stable of backs.
13. Cal: Lots of good young players on defense and two superb RBs, but I'm not sold on the QB situation.
14. Florida: The schedule is brutal and so is the O-line. I'd argue the Gators have the toughest slate of any Top 25 team, featuring road trips to Knoxville and Tallahassee sandwiched around a four-game stretch of Bama, LSU, at Auburn and Georgia. I imagine King Text Message's reaction when he saw the schedule: "THX 4 NUTHIN JEREMY! : ("
15. Iowa: Drew Tate could make a Heisman run. So could RB Albert Young. (OK, Young probably won't make that run, but he's very good and the O-line should be better than it's been in a couple of years.) Better yet, the schedule is very manageable with OSU, ISU and Wisconsin coming to Iowa City. Only a trip to Michigan seems treacherous. I'm actually having second thoughts. Maybe I should switch them and Michigan? Nah. I can regret it later.
16. Louisville: You know they're going to score points with Michael Bush and Brian Brohm, but the Cardinals figure to give up a whole bunch, too. It is nice that they get their two stiffest tests (Miami and WVU) at home.
Just Missed the Cut: TCU, Penn State, Clemson, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Utah and Arizona State.
Rolling out the preseason top 16 (Bruce Feldman, ESPN)
posted: Wednesday, July 12, 2006 | Feedback | Print Entry
Since fall camp is just a few weeks away and because I feel like I've been dodging too many e-mail and chat questions about what my top 10 looks like, I figured it's a good time to trot out my preseason top 16. My criteria is simple: which teams have the best chance to reach the title game.
1. West Virginia: All of the key pieces (most notably QB Patrick White and RB Steve Slaton) are back and should be better with a year of seasoning and an offseason in the Mountaineers' weight program. And unlike many other Top 25 teams, WVU's O-line isn't a major concern. The hunger is there, too. The Mountaineers have spent the last six months hearing people suggest that 2005 was a fluke. Better still, the schedule is ideal for a title run. WVU should be double-digit favorites in its first seven games before a trip to Louisville, which also probably will be its lone matchup with a top-20 team.
WVU's performance against Georgia in the Sugar Bowl was an important kickoff to the 2006 season. Yes, last year was last year, but that win planted a seed in the heads of the pollsters that the Mountaineers are legit. So WVU figures to start this season ranked in the top 10, maybe even the top six. With that ranking, the Mountaineers won't have a huge hill to climb in 2006, which is a huge plus since their schedule would be tough to overcome if they had to work their way from way back in the pack. The downside? Both Pat Forde and I are now touting them. One more guy on a laptop pumping them up and it's officially the kiss of death.
2. Ohio State: I'm a big believer in Troy Smith and feel like he has enough weapons to put up a lot of points this season. I'm also not as worried about only having two starters back on D. A handful of other Buckeyes have a good amount of game experience. Plus, there is talent there. I do think the issue will be consistency. Young guys tend to make more mistakes, which translates into blown assignments and missed tackles -- and probably a few too many big plays. (Anyone remember USC's 2005 defense?) I think they could handle an early-season loss at Texas and still make it to the BCS title game.
3. Auburn: Kenny Irons is the least-hyped great player in the country and Brandon Cox is a very solid QB. As usual, the defense will be fast and dangerous. Having Florida, LSU and Georgia on the schedule isn't such a good thing, but having all of them at home is.
4. Notre Dame: Don't be surprised if these guys put up USC-like numbers offensively with Brady Quinn piloting the air show. I doubt the Irish will be able to run it quite as well as last year's Trojans did, but they're still looking at a 1,500-yard back in Darius Walker. The defense, though, is still the problem. The D-line is decent and Victor Abiamiri can be a double-digit sack guy. But that back seven is a mess, giving up way too many big plays. Can they keep other teams under 28 points? I don't think they'll be good enough to make it to the title game.
Footnote: Notre Dame is loaded with seniors this year and there is almost no junior class left. The pressure will exist to win the title this season because 2007 could be a 7-4 kind of year. Just throwing that out there.
5. Texas: It's impossible to replace Vince Young and his leadership. Impossible. However, he rest of the offense should be very solid with a seasoned Jamaal Charles and a healthy Jordan Shipley. No worries about the defense, either. I'm just not sure that the new QBs can respond well enough to win a title this fall.
6. Oklahoma: Adrian Peterson is a great place to start and young Rhett Bomar is a dual-threat type who has quite a stash of talented wideouts. The O-line is suspect and the secondary is also unproven. Still, I think even a two-loss regular season would be disappointing.
7. LSU: The Tigers can win with either QB. Both JaMarcus Russell and Matt Flynn could start for 90 percent of the I-A teams. LSU does have to replace a host of linemen, but I don't know if there is any program that is deeper than this one. Nick Saban really left the place stocked for Les Miles. The bad news is dates at Auburn, at Florida and at Tennessee. The more I look at the schedule, the more I'm thinking about dropping the Tigers out of the top 10.
8. USC: Even though Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and LenDale White have left, I don't think there will be as big a drop as some think. Ryan Kalil and Sam Baker should anchor a solid O-line and the receivers are outstanding. But the running game probably won't be anywhere near as good. I do think the defense will be better now that some of those young guys have some experience. It almost has to be. Also, all of USC's toughest games are at home. But I keep thinking about how loads of things have to go just right to pull off an incredibly long winning streak. And once that goes, bad breaks tend to happen.
9. Michigan: Chad Henne has an array of firepower and I think Ron English, the new D-coordinator, will get more out of a talented but often underachieving bunch. Trouble is, the Wolverines have road trips to Notre Dame, Penn State and Ohio State. Plus, a visit from Iowa won't be any cakewalk either.
10. Miami: The D should be dominant again. The Canes will feature a loaded front seven and a trio of safeties that each could win All-America honors by 2007. That alone translates to at least nine wins. Is the O going to shine enough for UM to return to the mountain top? Only if Lance Leggett and/or Ryan Moore step up and become a star. The O-line, which now is manned by coach Mario Cristobal, also is a big question mark. Getting FSU and Va. Tech at home will help. Ironically, a mid-September trip to visit the Big East's Louisville could be the only game where Miami is an underdog.
11. Florida State: To me the Canes and 'Noles are very similar (talented young QB, loads of speed on D, weak O-line). The differences are that FSU has more speed at tailback and the Canes have more talent on D. As usual, consistency, especially on offense, is the issue. And you wonder if this will be another year where the offense keeps letting down the defense and the Rix-less legacy of Jeff Bowden continues to grow.
12. Georgia: My hunch is that blue-chip QB Matt Stafford takes the reins by October. Although whether it's Stafford or Joe Tereshinski, the Dawgs will be a ground-oriented team thanks to a great stable of backs.
13. Cal: Lots of good young players on defense and two superb RBs, but I'm not sold on the QB situation.
14. Florida: The schedule is brutal and so is the O-line. I'd argue the Gators have the toughest slate of any Top 25 team, featuring road trips to Knoxville and Tallahassee sandwiched around a four-game stretch of Bama, LSU, at Auburn and Georgia. I imagine King Text Message's reaction when he saw the schedule: "THX 4 NUTHIN JEREMY! : ("
15. Iowa: Drew Tate could make a Heisman run. So could RB Albert Young. (OK, Young probably won't make that run, but he's very good and the O-line should be better than it's been in a couple of years.) Better yet, the schedule is very manageable with OSU, ISU and Wisconsin coming to Iowa City. Only a trip to Michigan seems treacherous. I'm actually having second thoughts. Maybe I should switch them and Michigan? Nah. I can regret it later.
16. Louisville: You know they're going to score points with Michael Bush and Brian Brohm, but the Cardinals figure to give up a whole bunch, too. It is nice that they get their two stiffest tests (Miami and WVU) at home.
Just Missed the Cut: TCU, Penn State, Clemson, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Utah and Arizona State.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
CPD
7/17/06
7/17/06
Hey, Doug!
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Got an Ohio State question? Send it in. Plain Dealer Ohio State beat writer Doug Lesmerises will choose several to answer each Sunday. Submit your question to: www.cleveland.com/heydoug. Read Doug's answers each Sunday here in the sports section. All of Doug's answers will be archived online.
Q: Hey, Doug: Looking at the early commitment lists, I notice that the Buckeyes are seemingly trailing major programs in the country. Am I being paranoid, or are they on track to land their typical top-10 class? - Tom Wancho, Cedar Park, Texas
A: Hey, Tom: You might be re ferencing a list of the top 150 recruits list from scout.com and ESPN that includes 11 Texas pledges, five each for USC, Notre Dame and Florida, and six other players that have committed to other Big Ten schools, including two for Michigan - and no Ohio State guys among the top 150.
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="http://ads.cleveland.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_jx.ads/www.cleveland.com/xml/story/s2/s2osf/@StoryAd"></SCRIPT><SCRIPT language=JavaScript1.1 src="/cgi-bin/donotcount/formatp.cgi/dhtml/jspop/jspop.ata?NAME=PAIDPOP&EXP=1"><table width=420 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr valign=bottom><td width=383>[COLOR=#436442;][FONT=Arial,sans-serif]Advertisement[/FONT][/color]
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<!-- Standard Inventory Ad; ID:3168; ad:BLJ_NJVideo_250x250; publisher:NJ; campaign:Marketing; size:250x250; (by adinterax) --><IFRAME style="width: 260px; height: 310px; border: 0px none; overflow: hidden" frameborder=0 scrolling=no src="http://ads.advance.net/RealMedia/ads/Creatives/CLEVELANDLIVE/NEXTHOME08CL11/nhiframe2.html" width="250"></IFRAME>
</td><td width=10> </td></tr><tr><td width=420 colspan=2></td></tr></table>http://ads2.udc.advance.net/RealMedia/ads/adstream_lx.ads/www.cleveland.com/xml/story/s2/s2osf/597002001/StoryAd/CLEVELANDLIVE/NextHome01a_CL_RoS_Story/blank.html/63663834663332313434626236633830?_RM_EMPTY_&
<SCRIPT LANGUAGE="JavaScript"><!--if (parseFloat(navigator.appVersion) == 0) {document.write('<IFRAME WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 MARGINWIDTH=0 MARGINHEIGHT=0 HSPACE=0 VSPACE=0 FRAMEBORDER=0 SCROLLING=no BORDERCOLOR="#000000" SRC="http://ads.cleveland.com/RealMedia/ads/adstream_sx.ads/www.cleveland.com/xml/story/s2/s2osf/@StoryAd"></IFRAME>');}--></SCRIPT>Not a great sign, but not the end of the world. Compared to a place like Texas, Ohio State takes its time in recruiting, and that's part of the plan. So far, the Buckeyes have five oral commitments: St. Edward safety Nate Oliver, Huber Heights cornerback Donnie Evege, Piqua running back Brandon Saine and two that came in this week in Warren Harding running back Daniel Herron and Toledo Central Catholic receiver Dane Sanzenbacher.
They've lost out on a few top guys, like tackle Josh Oglesby to Wisconsin, but they're in the mix on some top players that would help define the class, including Cincinnati LaSalle defensive end Ben Martin, Cincinnati Colerain defensive back Eugene Clifford, Detroit defensive tackle Joseph Barksdale and Orchard Lake (Mich.) cornerback Dionte Allen.
You can never judge an Ohio State class this early, because the Buckeyes finish stronger than they start. And it's not like schools are stealing Ohio kids from them - of the top 15 in-state players according to rivals.com, four have gone for OSU and the other 11 haven't decided. So, don't worry yet. But Ohio State does have a lot of work to do.
- Doug
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Opinions are like assholes ...
Colin Cowherd's Preseason Power-16:
1. Notre Dame
2. Ohio State
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. LSU
6. Texas
7. Auburn
8. Cal
9. Florida
10. Miami, Fla.
11. Iowa
12. Michigan
13. Florida State
14. Louisville
15. Georgia
16. West Virginia
His comments from his radio piece: Flip a coin to rank 1-3. All are good, Tressel will overcoach the defense as usual and it won't be a problem, Notre Dame should outscore anyone in spite of their defense, Oklahoma has the easiest schedule of the three. 4-7 are also a jumble, Texas has the most talent in the country returning on both sides of the ball, but a rookie QB drops them to a B+ at least. Put WVU in his Top-16 just because everybody else is doing it, doesn't think they even belong there -- overrated and will lose to Louisville, so their preseason rank is moot.
Colin Cowherd's Preseason Power-16:
1. Notre Dame
2. Ohio State
3. Oklahoma
4. USC
5. LSU
6. Texas
7. Auburn
8. Cal
9. Florida
10. Miami, Fla.
11. Iowa
12. Michigan
13. Florida State
14. Louisville
15. Georgia
16. West Virginia
His comments from his radio piece: Flip a coin to rank 1-3. All are good, Tressel will overcoach the defense as usual and it won't be a problem, Notre Dame should outscore anyone in spite of their defense, Oklahoma has the easiest schedule of the three. 4-7 are also a jumble, Texas has the most talent in the country returning on both sides of the ball, but a rookie QB drops them to a B+ at least. Put WVU in his Top-16 just because everybody else is doing it, doesn't think they even belong there -- overrated and will lose to Louisville, so their preseason rank is moot.
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