ABJ
1/5
Posted on Thu, Jan. 05, 2006
Buckeyes must adjust to losses
Offense might have to lead team next season
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sportswriter
<!-- begin body-content --> Next year will be a groundbreaking season at Ohio State.
For the first time in the coach Jim Tressel era, the offense will have to carry the team.
With the loss of six and, perhaps seven, starters on defense, including the entire linebacking corps, Tressel might have to change the strategy that has been his winning formula since he arrived in 2001. He's not likely to abandon the running game led by current sophomore tailback Antonio Pittman, but he might have to open up the offense in an effort to outscore opponents until his new defensive players bond.
``We talked about it, all the young defensive guys, about how the defense is going to struggle a little bit,'' said freshman defensive end Lawrence Wilson of St. Vincent-St. Mary. ``We'll bounce back. We'll find our identity early and have our game down by the end of the year.''
After Monday's 34-20 victory over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, Tressel and defensive coordinator Jim Heacock must find replacements for defensive end Mike Kudla, linebackers A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel, free safety Nate Salley and cornerback Tyler Everett. Strong safety Donte Whitner could announce this week that he's bypassing his senior season for the NFL Draft, and cornerback Ashton Youboty is a long shot to leave.
John Kerr, James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman and Mike D'Andrea are among the candidates at linebacker, although there is some talk that D'Andrea could move to defensive end in 2006 because of knee problems. Kudla will hand the reins to Quinn Pitcock as the leader of the defensive line, but Pitcock is not a pass-rushing threat, which could mean a breakout year for Wilson.
The offense will be star-studded and might not miss a beat even with junior split end Santonio Holmes headed to the NFL. Capped by a dominating bowl performance at Sun Devil Stadium, OSU averaged 38.3 points and 456.6 yards in its final seven games and rolled up a stunning 617 total yards against the Irish.
Quarterback Troy Smith has come into his own after 15 games as a starter (13-2 record). He completed 19-of-28 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns and rushed 13 times for 66 yards to be named offensive most valuable player against Notre Dame. Smith is drawing comparisons to Texas quarterback Vince Young, who put his game together at the end of the 2004 season.
``Troy Smith, he's just on another level,'' former OSU Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George said Monday. ``The last five or six games he played as well as any quarterback in Ohio State history. Come next year, he's going to be a Heisman Trophy candidate. He's only going to improve. But in big games, I don't know if he can get much better. That's kind of become his M.O., the big-game quarterback. Look at what he's done in the last two Michigan games and this one.''
In those three, Smith has accounted for 1,131 yards rushing and passing and seven touchdowns.
Pittman rushed for 1,331 yards this season, topping Maurice Clarett's 1,237 in 2002. Pittman scored all seven of his touchdowns in the last five games, including the game-winner against Michigan and the 60-yard clincher against Notre Dame.
The receiving corps will be explosive with Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez and senior-to-be Roy Hall, whose physical style has been compared to former OSU star David Boston. Youngsters who also could contribute include Albert Dukes and Brian Robiskie.
``I might be biased, but I think I've got the best receiving corps in the nation, with young guys who haven't had a chance to show what they can do to follow,'' Smith said.
Hall arrived at OSU with Holmes, and while he knows he might not be able to fill his shoes, he seems confident.
``Everything he knows, I know. Everything he can do, I can do,'' Hall said.
The loss of senior tight end Ryan Hamby with a knee injury in the final four regular-season games didn't rock the boat because sophomore Marcel Frost, a converted defensive lineman, showed flashes of talent.
``He has great hands, moves well for a big guy. I think he's going to stay there,'' Hall said of Frost.
Offensively, the biggest question marks will be on the line, which loses center Nick Mangold and left guard Rob Sims, who made his 40th career start against Notre Dame. Talented freshman tackle Alex Boone and sophomore tackle Steve Rehring, forced to redshirt when he contracted pneumonia, wait in the wings.
Another area of concern will be kicker, with sixth-year senior Josh Huston departing. His backup this season was freshman Ryan Pretorius, a native of South Africa.
OSU's 2006 schedule doesn't allow for growing pains because the Buckeyes visit Texas on Sept. 9 in the second game. A national championship berth in the Fiesta Bowl will be the goal, and Smith seemed ready to help the offense take them there.
``Probably for the last four or five years we've been known as a defensive team,'' Smith said. ``I'm sure we will still be known as a defensive team, even though we lose key and major guys. Now it's going to be more of a balance, the defense and the offense.''
Hall seemed ready for the challenge.
``Everybody knows when you lose a lot of defensive leaders it could be hard on the defensive side,'' Hall said. ``But talent-wise we'll be just as good next year. Guys are just going to have to grow up a lot faster and step up and take care of some business.
``Offensively we need to keep doing what we're doing. We can't come out slow. We have to come out as we finished the year, putting up points and keeping defenses honest.''
