2007 tOSU Football Outlook

[Best Buckeye]

Actually I think Mr. BUcknuts perspective could be pretty close or even a little low. How much were we all questioning the defense with 9 new starters earlier and look where we are. It is just not prudent to try to outguess JT. Or out coach him,or out motivate him.....

 

[BearBuck27]

I know I might be in the minority but Whaley straight up took the second center spot form Cordle so I would not be suprised at all to see him start at center next year.

From what I've seen, Cordle has taken over as backup center when the 2nd string O-Line comes in.

 

[BrutusBobcat]

The depth of rotation that the staff has used this year is going to keep paying dividends in 2007. Of course, just as we saw this year, the nature and strengths of the team will change. We'll see a shift from DL dominance to LB dominance among the front seven. The back four will probably be even stronger in pass coverage, but may not be as strong in run support as the '06 team.

What I feel very confident in is the ability of the coaching staff to adjust the schemes and game plans to the strengths of the personnel which they have available. On the offensive side, this is going to mean relying less upon the QB and more on a dominant and physical running game. I fully expect that we'll be more of a run first, field position and clock control type of team. The run will be used to set up the pass, and I see more of a short to medium type of a passing attack employed, due to Boeckman (likely starter, IMO) not having Troy's arm strength, and due to the returning crop of receivers being more of what I'll label the possession type (I'm including TEs here, which I think will be utilized more often as receivers). Gonzo would be the only one who has shown to be a proven deep threat, although that's not been his main game. Small has that potential as well.

I'm not sure that the premise of the article, "better or worse", really covers things correctly. There will be a qualitative change, as many people have already noted. For example, the DL may be bigger/faster/stronger/more experienced on the edges, but will certainly see a drop off inside. WR is another position where "better or worse" doesn't do the conversation justice. Losing Ginn is huge, just as losing Holmes was last year. The WRs will play a different role. One thing I like very much about some of the guys coming back there is how well they block downfield. Hartline comes immediately to mind as a guy who has just flat layed people out.

Fortunately, on Nov. 18 we will have our full 2006 team, and HenneHart will still be a junior.

(BTW, my WAG about those two is that Hart goes league and that Henne stays)

 

[DaytonBuck]

Henne and Hart going out having never won The Game would make my decade

 

[Best Buckeye]

Henne and Hart going out having never won The Game would make my decade

And Massey and MM and some others as well.

 

[osugrad21]

Canton

Ohio State is flying under the radar
document.title = "Ohio State is flying under the radar";Wednesday, August 1, 2007
By Todd Porter
REPOSITORY SPORTS WRITER

CHICAGO During a break between interviews, Ohio State Head Coach Jim Tressel pointed his large-bodied players in the direction of lunch. It was mid-morning at the Big Ten media days, and Kirk Barton, Marcus Freeman and Vernon Gholston ? a combined 812 pounds of suits and ties ? were hungry ... again.

They?ve been that way since walking off the field Jan. 8 after the national championship game.

Florida embarrassed then-No. 1-ranked Ohio State, 41-14, in the BCS title game.



Cont...

 

[Best Buckeye]

CFN : This writer thinks the Bucks will lose 2 or three games. A lot of people think that Purdue, Penn State and MIch will give us a lot of trouble.
Basically because they don't think that the offense will measure up against the play of these teams. That in a nutshell is what will determine the season for the Bucks. Who will step up and who will carry our fortunes on our back. Will Boeckman do the job? If he doesn't and we have unstability at the QB position that would hurt our chances immensely. We need to have one QB that performs consistantly.
The O line has to grow quickly into a cohesive unit. If this doesn't happen we would be in big trouble. I don't foresee that, we have more than enough to do the job.
The WR's should be more than sufficient to do the job. all they have to do is progress.
We have the RBs we need.
All we need is for the team to click to be successful.

CFN:
What Will Happen
- Wisconsin will get out to a 9-0 start before losing to Ohio State in Columbus. The Badgers will bounce back to hand Michigan its first defeat of the year before beating Minnesota in the season-finale to go 11-1 and off to the Rose Bowl. Michigan will also finish 11-1 (helped by a win over Ohio State).
- Ohio State will start out hot thanks to its defense, and then will suffer a collapse at Purdue in a shootout. Losses at Penn State and Michigan will make Jim Tressel?s team an also-ran (but it?ll bounce back in a big way in 2008).
- Wisconsin, Michigan, Penn

 

[Napoleonbuck]

Why do people always forget that Purdue basically lacks anything resembling a defense?

Would we outscore Purdue in a shoot-out? Probably not, but it won't be a shootout because our defense will be able to stop them a lot easier than their defense will be able to stop us.

 

[Buckeye86]

Why do people always forget that Purdue basically lacks anything resembling a defense?

Would we outscore Purdue in a shoot-out? Probably not, but it won't be a shootout because our defense will be able to stop them a lot easier than their defense will be able to stop us.

Purdue was a favorite "darhorse" pick to win the Big Ten a couple years ago because they had a ton of returning starters and no Ohio State or Michigan on the schedule... I don't think they even ended up with a winning record that year. Until Purdue proves they can get it done, color me skeptical. At the same time, we shouldn't take anybody lightly, especially on the road, but I'm with you in that if we play our game I don't see them posing much of a problem.

 

[Best Buckeye]

Purdue was a favorite "darhorse" pick to win the Big Ten a couple years ago because they had a ton of returning starters and no Ohio State or Michigan on the schedule... I don't think they even ended up with a winning record that year. Until Purdue proves they can get it done, color me skeptical. At the same time, we shouldn't take anybody lightly, especially on the road, but I'm with you in that if we play our game I don't see them posing much of a problem.

And that is why Purdue is highly thought of again this year. I believe they have 9 returners on both sides of the ball.
Against Ps , the d's being somewhat even we will have to have our Offense improve to the point where we beat their offense.
Against Mich. It should come down to can our offense beat their defense by the time The Game rolls around.

 

[Buckeye86]

And that is why Purdue is highly thought of again this year. I believe they have 9 returners on both sides of the ball.
Against Ps , the d's being somewhat even we will have to have our Offense improve to the point where we beat their offense.

But going back to Napoleonbuck's comment, I don't think Purdue's defense is even close to being on the same level as ours.

And like I said, two years ago Purdue had something like 21 returning starters and they had a terrible year, so that alone does not convince me that they will be any good.

 

[coastalbuck]

EDSBS has us 14th. Funny read though... link

the Ohio State defense features the jacked-to-bejeezus Vernon Gholston at end, Andy ?Brent Musburger craves my musk? Laurainitis at linebacker, and Malcolm Jenkins at cornerback.

 

[Zurp]

EDSBS has us 14th. Funny read though... link

I disagree with what this implies:

Offensively, there?s running. And more running. And whoa, golly, we?ll bet on some wacky qb draws, too

But we've had that discussion on this board. I'm sure it isn't over, yet.

I liked this sentence:

The fine Chris Wells is the opposite of fun for defenses at running back

 

[t_BuckeyeScott]

But going back to Napoleonbuck's comment, I don't think Purdue's defense is even close to being on the same level as ours.

And like I said, two years ago Purdue had something like 21 returning starters and they had a terrible year, so that alone does not convince me that they will be any good.

Agreed - You usually have a bunch of returning starters when none of them are any good (they don't go to the NFL).

 

[DaddyBigBucks]

cfn.scout.com (collegefootballnews.com) is running a hypothetical "play-off" involving EVERY div. IA team. They have Ohio State losing in the 3rd round to Oklahoma State.

LINK