2008 Buckeye Football Season

[DaddyBigBucks]

... I'm surprised there's not a bit more criticism of the DT play...

Considering that every person who is optimistic about improvement from the DTs has stated plainly that they need to improve, I have to wonder if we're reading the same board.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Can you please define NC caliber play? Does that mean best in the nation or good enough not to fuck up our chances at an NC?

Good enough that another team can't impose its will on us i.e. Illinois and LSU. The rest of the team is good enough (besides maybe QB), that should be enough.

I'm hoping they can consistently collapse the pocket against the pass and consistently control the center/guard gaps against the run. Pressure with a 4 man rush is something we simply must have to be an elite defense.

That allows the blitz to be more effective when you use it, should allow some press man to man coverage for what would seem the first time in years and alow you to disguise your coverages better because you can drop 7 and still get heat. All of this together should lead to more INT's, TFL's and lower opponent time of possesion.


All that said, they could be the '85 Bears next year and it won't matter if the QB is turning it over too much and leaving them in bad spot after bad spot.

I guess I am being pessamistic but the lasting image for me was TB and the run D sucking wind at the end of last year. Then I tune in the spring game and see more of the same for whatever thats worth. That leaves me concerned that an otherwise potentially great year might get spoiled ala 1995 by a fatal flaw (or two) in an otherwise outstanding team.

Hopefully I am just being too negative and they go all 1973 on everyone.

 

[Dryden]

Hopefully I am just being too negative and they go all 1973 on everyone.

You? Negative?

No way! :p

 

[Silent Nature]

Season Preview of 2008 Signing Class

Here's my contribution to BuckeyePlanet.com with my article about the preview of 2008 signing class. It's a great way to get your fix in for the hype towards to the season opener!

Now, get to know more about Ohio State's newcomers!

Season Preview of 2008 Signing Class

Name: Terrelle Pryor
Position: QB
Height: 6'6''
Weight: 235
Hometown: Jeannette, PA
He is a very athletic QB that runs 4.4 with great size. The coaches need to work with his throwing technique and reading coverage. If they can do it with Troy Smith, then they can do it with him. He should be used as a weapon in the redzone or 3rd/4th down situations for his freshman year. After a long recruiting season he had, he can finally focus on getting a headstart with the team and get to know the playbook. Jim Tressel is most likely going to use Pryor in a similar way that Florida used Tim Tebow in his freshman season. However, do not expect to see Pryor to start over Todd Boeckman. Yes, Pryor may have a lot of hype, but at least, let him get to know the offense and find his role on the team before starting to have any expectations for him.

 

[OhioState49]

Your site is really coming together. Keep it up I can't wait to see the finished results!

 

[Silent Nature]

Your site is really coming together. Keep it up I can't wait to see the finished results!

Thanks for the support. I'll keep working on the site to gain more content. It's a juggling act with the job, summer classes, and the website that dedicates everything to Ohio State football!

Also, I will be able to host the backgrounds I made in Graphics forums on the site as well to provide OSU fans plenty of free "high quality" backgrounds.

:osu:

 

[OhioState49]

Sounds like you have a good plan.

 

[Bleed S & G]

Here's my contribution to BuckeyePlanet.com with my article about the preview of 2008 signing class. It's a great way to get your fix in for the hype towards to the season opener!

Now, get to know more about Ohio State's newcomers!

Season Preview of 2008 Signing Class

Hey man, you may want to read over your site, I'm like 4-5 recruits down the page and their are a couple grammar errors that stick out and it's Ray Small not Ray Smalls

 

[Gatorubet]

Hey man, you may want to read over your site, I'm like 4-5 recruits down the page and their are a couple grammar errors that stick out and it's Ray Small not Ray Smalls

Pointing out examples might be more helpful. Sometimes it is hard to catch it if you've written it. Your brain just glosses over the error and/or fills in the missing part.

 

[Cajunbuck]

You? Negative?

No way! :p

I agree wholeheartedly with Jaxbuck. I think our recruiting / development of aggressive, big, and extremely quick DL's is below standard. THIS is the area in my opinion that we should be recruiting speed. SEC teams place a premium on these positions and so does the NFL. I was at the national title game this year and there was absolutely no comparison. Penetration with 4 is the answer to our defensive woes and it is without a doubt what won us the 2002 title.
I would go one step further in also questioning the current crop of kids on our o-line as well. Barton(now gone) and Boone looked like blowhards out there as did Rehring. I am excited about the new recruits coming in for these positions but they need to compete against top-notch DL's in practice to be prepared. I think the DL positions are where our conference in general needs attention. Our O-linemen have the opportunity to double up on most teams but when faced with quality across the entire front they get pushed around. I'm sure that Heacock and Tress have got to be aware of this and are addresssing it, who wouldn't? The film is out there for everyone to see. Here's to super improvement this next year!

Anybody but the SEC!

Go Bucks!

 

[jwinslow]

I agree wholeheartedly with Jaxbuck. I think our recruiting / development of aggressive, big, and extremely quick DL's is below standard.

The ultra athletic DTs don't exactly grow on trees up here in the midwest.

However, like much of your post, I think you're being a bit extreme. I'd say Wells, Williams, Mobley, Simon & especially Fellows fit the bill for very athletic bigs. Goebel as well, but not as quick as those guys.

Barton(now gone) and Boone looked like blowhards out there as did Rehring.

That's a bit hyperbolic. I thought they did a pretty solid job outside at OT, including against a major talent in Jackson. The interior was where OSU struggled.

Then again, facing two top-5 DT talents will do that to you... including one whose suspension was lifted just in time for the postseason.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

I think our lack of depth caught up to us. Did anyone feel comfortable with our 2nd stringers on either side of the line? Both starting lines looked whiped out in the second half. With the talent and depth we're building, those days are about to come to an end.

 

[Bleed S & G]

Pointing out examples might be more helpful. Sometimes it is hard to catch it if you've written it. Your brain just glosses over the error and/or fills in the missing part.

Agreed but I didn't want to come off as a dickhead copy and pasting all of his mistakes over here..

1. In high school, he can move the line at will to open up large gaps for the running backs.
2. Ohio State already have a nice depth at WR position,
3. Some people says that he will become the best WR on the team, but it is way too early to tell. Ohio State got two consistent receivers in Robiskie and Hartline, along with Ray Smalls
4. (This one just dosen't sound right to me) He was rated as #1 inside LB in the nation on Rivals.com. With the deep core of LBs this year, he may redshirt or rotate in throughout the game for experience. He already has good vision and techniques to work with to improve even more.
5. The opponents will cringe if they knew why the players call him ?Flash? because they won?t call him that for nothing.
6. He got some great speed and agility for his size and can be an important role player for the redzone offense, especially with Terrelle Pryor. It is a double-edged sword for the defense to focus on stopping Pryor and Stoneburner. It can be very difficult to do at the same time, if used correctly. The defense does not want to even mention about DeVier Posey once he hits his peak.
7. He seems to be an ?under the rader? player at the moment so let?s wait it out and see how he fares.
8. (Dosen't sound right to me) His dream was to play for Ohio State because it did not even take him long to commit to Ohio State.

I didn't go down the entire page this time


BB73 edit - PMs would be a good option for pointing out any issues with the other site's content

 

[Cajunbuck]

The ultra athletic DTs don't exactly grow on trees up here in the midwest.

So you're saying we're at a disadvantage to Southern teams? Don't let ESPN / Pat Forde hear you say that, their suspicions will be confirmed. OSU has to do what they have to do to compete nationally. (And I think they are trying to do that.)

However, like much of your post, I think you're being a bit extreme. I'd say Wells, Williams, Mobley, Simon & especially Fellows fit the bill for very athletic bigs. Goebel as well, but not as quick as those guys.
That's a bit hyperbolic. I thought they did a pretty solid job outside at OT, including against a major talent in Jackson. The interior was where OSU struggled.

I would just say that what happened in the last two title games was extreme. I have stopped trying to find bright spots in either of those games. They are what they are IMO. We got whipped badly in lots of areas. I was there, felt and watched the pain.

Then again, facing two top-5 DT talents will do that to you... including one whose suspension was lifted just in time for the postseason.

They would have beaten us without Ricky-Jean. That suspension was set before LSU's season ever started, he paid his dues.

jwinslow, I just think that we have to be realistic about our shortcomings recently and so does our coaching staff. We have some areas to address and now we probably have a little bit of a mind game going on with veteran players especially when it comes to an SEC opponent.

I do think the worm will turn though. I desperately want a rematch with Florida.

I am very nervous about expectations this year.

 

[Taosman]

Winslow is right about the interior of the offensive line getting blown up in the BCS game. 2 Super defensive tackles can make a decent line look bad.
And interestingly enough, both those guys are from Louisiana. But one has character issues and was forgiven for a shot at the National Championship...funny how that always seems to happen.
I seem to recall that in 2001 no one thought our defensive line was world class. It took all those guys coming back for their senior year that made the difference. I think if anything it's maturity that is a teams ace in the hole when it's time to step up. That could make all the difference this year.