• New here? Register here now for access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Plus, stay connected and follow BP on Instagram @buckeyeplanet and Facebook.

2008 vs. 2002 Position by Position Comparison (OL corps)

2002 vs.2008 OL Corp


  • Total voters
    65

ShakerBuck

Hall of Fame
Might have been better to do position by position along the line, but i put this poll up as one cohesive group


2002 2 deep
RT S. Olivea (M . Kne)
RG B. Bishop (S. Kuhnheim)
C A. Stepanovich (Mangold)
LG A. Clarke (M. Stafford)
LT I. Douglas (R. Sims)

2008 2 Deep (actual 2 deep TBD...please update if i'm off here)
RT B. Browning (J.B Shugarts or M. Adams)
RG B. Person (C. Smith)
C J. Cordle (M. Brewster)
LG S. Rehring (K. Mitchum?)
LT A. Boone (Shugarts or Skinner?)
 
2008 on depth. 2008 on potential. And when all is said and done 2008 in performance on the field.

This is another area where the 2002 team was banged up. Douglas and Clarke were never healthy and Bishop was never in top form. Any offensive woes can be traced to right here.
 
Upvote 0
2002 OLine was a very good college unit.

2008 OLine (as many as 6 of the 10 on the 2-deep) will require a new trophy case at the WHAC in five years just for the hardware they bring home.

This time I'll go with the potential.
 
Upvote 0
It's more than just the potential this time. 80% of the 2007 line is better than the 2002 line.

While the individuals on the 2002 line did mostly make it onto a NFL roster at some point, some only did so after losing 50+ lbs. that they carried during the 2002 season.

Based on the video out there of the team running during summer conditioning, this OL is in MUCH MUCH MUCH better physical condition.

No one on the 2002 line would have been mistaken for a serious Outland candidate. I would be surprised if Boone didn't make a legit run at it this year.

I could go on, but what's the point. If this one is considered close in November, OSU will not be in contention for the NC.
 
Upvote 0
I'd give the 2002 line the nod at Center and RT, the 2008 line a slight edge at the guard spots, and a big edge at LT.

The 2002 bench wasn't that bad, with Sims and Mangold both contributing in the NC game. The 2008 bench is deeper, but that's almost all based on potential.

So 2008 had the overall edge because of Boone and more depth.
 
Upvote 0
Boone and Browning(my MVP of the scarlet and gray game) are going to be our best set of tackles since Korey Stringer and Orlando Pace suited up. Rehring has the potential to dominate. Just depends how he recovers from his injury and how good of shape he's in. Cordle could arguably be the Big-10's best center this year(though Shipley from PSU is more likely to get 1st team All-Big 10) and Person should improve a lot. But above all that, we have depth!!!! We don't have walk-on's littered across the 2-deep and 3-deep. That is a huge bonus. Needless to say, I have high expectations for this group. '08 in a landslide.
 
Upvote 0
To take nothing away from Sims and especially Mangold, but in 2002 they played because there were few other options.

If any of our three incoming Frosh play it will be because they are beasts who beat out some pretty stiff competition.

Here BTW is a complete list of the OL on the 2002 roster:

* 50 Michael Stafford - Redshirt Senior
* 51 Mike Bogart - Junior
* 52 Mike Kne - Junior
* 53 Ivan Douglas - Redshirt Junior
* 55 Nick Mangold - Freshman
* 59 John Conroy - Redshirt Freshman
* 61 Ben Nash - Redshirt Freshman
* 62 John McLaughlin - Redshirt Sophomore
* 63 Adrien Clarke - Redshirt Junior
* 64 Adam Olds - Redshirt Freshman
* 66 Doug Datish - Freshman
* 69 Andree Tyree - Redshirt Freshman
* 70 Scott Kuhnhein - Redshirt Senior
* 71 Shane Olivea - Junior
* 72 T.J. Downing - Freshman
* 73 Steve Winner - Redshirt Freshman
* 76 Alex Stepanovich - Junior
* 77 Rob Sims - Freshman
* 78 Bryce Bishop - Redshirt Junior
* 79 Ryan Cook - Redshirt Freshman
 
Upvote 0
Oh8ch;1205396; said:
To take nothing away from Sims and especially Mangold, but in 2002 they played because there were few other options.
no offense to cordle and the largely untested browning, but I'm not convinced they'd beat out those two. Still time/room for improvement, especially for browning who has not even had his shot, but I don't agree with the premise that the RT & C positions are superior to 02, quite the opposite imo

There is undoubtedly more potential talent than 02, but too much of that is unrealized thus far to give them the edge right now.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
no offense to cordle and the largely untested browning, but I'm not convinced they'd beat out those two.

Not sure they would either. But the question is in reference to Adams, Shugarts and Brewster - the 2008 equivalents of the 2002 true Frosh. To get to the starting lineup they must first pass the likes of Cordle, Browning, Blankenship, and Smith. Sims and Mangold had no such obstacles. Nor are the five current starters in particular need of such help.
 
Upvote 0
That's what I get for not reading the whole thread on my phone :p

I disagree that they are not in need of help, or at least a sizeable dose of improvement (perhaps that was assumed on your part, given their youth, and fairly so), if osu is to reach their goal. They can achieve 10-2 and a bcs bid, but must step up to set the tone up front if SoCal and the NC are to be a success, unlike their last three humbling losses.
 
Upvote 0
The only player on the 08 starting five who could be considered a liability is Person (I think he had about 800 false starts last year), but I expect him to be improved. The rest of the line is solid and formidable. The 02 line I remember as being up and down, which may have been due to injuries. I do remember a few times when they failed to get a push in short yardage situations. As I pointed out in the RB comparison, the 02 used more jumbo formations than I have seen before or since. I think 08 simply has more talent and size, and will probably have more depth. Since 05, we have been blessed with enough O-line depth to rotate players at will. I expect that trend to continue this season and in the future, based on the amazing incoming talent.
 
Upvote 0
I think '02 had a couple of individual guys that would be hard to vote against but overall, even just based on last years play I'll go with '08.

Made me think about the Centers we've been blessed with this decade.

Bently to Stepanovich to Mangold to Cordle is pretty impressive.
 
Upvote 0
Jaxbuck;1205556; said:
I think '02 had a couple of individual guys that would be hard to vote against but overall, even just based on last years play I'll go with '08.

Made me think about the Centers we've been blessed with this decade.

Bently to Stepanovich to Mangold to Cordle is pretty impressive.

Don't forget Datish! Coop and JT did a great job, and with Brewster coming next, we're looking at a great 10 year run.
 
Upvote 0
Back
Top