2009 Team Rumblings

[MililaniBuckeye]

Carter may work up to #3, depending on whether Hartline comes back.

Hartline is likely gone...I'd say Taurian Washington could be the guy to slide into the Hartline's spot.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

Hartline is likely gone...I'd say Taurian Washington could be the guy to slide into the Hartline's spot.

I had Washington high based on his spring game performance, but somehow it hasn't translated into more pt. Assuming Hartline and Small are gone, I have Posey, Sanzo and Washington in the top three. Stoneburner, Thomas or Carter can all easily leap Washington.

 

[billmac91]

I had Washington high based on his spring game performance, but somehow it hasn't translated into more pt. Assuming Hartline and Small are gone, I have Posey, Sanzo and Washington in the top three. Stoneburner, Thomas or Carter can all easily leap Washington.

I'm crossing my fingers we get Lamaar into a Harvin type role where he primarily plays slot, but motions into the backfield for 5-7 carries a game.

 

[TheIronColonel]

I dunno, I can't see a non-homer justification for putting OSU in a preseason top ten. Top 15? Maybe. We're a long way from the spring game, and those performances will change a lot of perceptions. I certainly think we've got the talent to run the table in the conference, but I'm not entirely convinced we'll be able to hang with USC in the 'Shoe next year. I want to believe, though...

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

I'm crossing my fingers we get Lamaar into a Harvin type role where he primarily plays slot, but motions into the backfield for 5-7 carries a game.

That could him or Jordan Hall or both. Heck even Berry can beat LBs and catch the football. It'll be fun to see what they do with that.

I dunno, I can't see a non-homer justification for putting OSU in a preseason top ten. Top 15? Maybe. We're a long way from the spring game, and those performances will change a lot of perceptions. I certainly think we've got the talent to run the table in the conference, but I'm not entirely convinced we'll be able to hang with USC in the 'Shoe next year. I want to believe, though...

We should have a top five defense, despite losing JL and MJ. Despite Freeman's production, Moeller will be a huge upgrade in speed and tackling imo. That along with Gibson, Heyward, Williams and Hines all about to enter the prime of their career adds huge potential to this defense. And then you got a boatload of veterans too in Coleman, Russell, Chekwa, Homan, Worthington, Denlinger and Larimore. I really can't see how this defense would not do well next season.

 

[bukIpower]

I hate to say it, but I think Mandel is much closer than Schlabach. This team loses 28 seniors PLUS Beanie and whomever else to the NFL draft PLUS it's been rumored that we will probably see some transfers between now and the start of next season. This team has WAY too many questions to automatically be ranked in the top 10... #6 seems rediculous to me at this point. We can't rely on Beanie anymore to take every other snap, and we have a lot of shoes to fill. I can see us ranked between 12-15 maybe, but it certainly doesn't pain me whatsoever to see us outside of Mandel's top 15. Besides, these guys writing these "too early" lists aren't taking these lists seriously whatsoever and neither should we.

If some of these guys progress like we imagine they can, our offensive and defensive lines could easily be the most improved units next year. Our potential depth next year on the OL (with one of J.Boren, Browning, Cordle, or Shugarts on the bench plus our freshmen coming in) puts a big smile on my face. Our DL loses only one in their 2-deep, played a hell of a game against Texas, and are gonna get a big boost from Fellows, Simon, & Co. If Small and/or Hartline leave for the draft, this will be the big break some of our WRs need to get into the rotation (T.Washington, Schwartz, Stoneburner, L.Thomas, and our incoming froshes). I'm a little bit worried about our situation at CB, but with 6 new DBs coming in, it's hard to feel bad about our future at the position. If this team can rally around Pryor and we have some guys in the shadows right now step up big time, we could have another really good year.

Interested to see who ends up being the leaders/captains of this team next year. Pick 2 on D: Homan, Spitler, Wilson, Coleman, Russell. Pick 2 on O: ...Ballard...Cordle...Hartline(if he chooses to come back)...Pryor(as a sophomore)?

With our lines being better than last year you have your answer if we should be in the top 10 or not. We return 7 starters on defense (8 if you count Dwashington from 07'), and we'll be better on offense so certainly top 10 is warrented.

A more experienced TP, better equipped oline, although not as experienced more explosive Wr's, and a nice RB stable should improve our overall output. Sure losing Beanie sucks, but with him leaving I think it gives TP a chance to really flourish. Not as much I-formation and more Shotgun should give TP a better feel for his game IMO.

As far as freshman next year making an immidiate impact... I look for Carlos Hyde to really come up big I just really was impressed by his HS tapes. Of course Carter should be able to see some playing time with his reputation for running extremely good routes as well as having great hands. Berry could step in also and be another option at RB. Dorian Bell should also see the field (if not a part timer, like AJ in 02'). The sleeper though has to be Corey Brown.

 

[Sportsbuck28]

You know, its really interesting just how good this 08 class is, I mean look at how many of them are projected to start next year.

TP
Posey
Flash
Adams
Brewster
Shugarts
Boren (I'll count him here since it was his transfer year)
Williams

And possibly Sabino and who knows in the secondary...

 

[GrizzlyBuck]

You know, its really interesting just how good this 08 class is, I mean look at how many of them are projected to start next year.

TP
Posey
Flash
Adams
Brewster
Shugarts
Boren (I'll count him here since it was his transfer year)
Williams

And possibly Sabino and who knows in the secondary...

Add in guys who may see significant time, Howard, Wells, Goebel, Stoneburner, Sweat, and Domicone and maybe Mobley as well (probably forgot some) all seem to have done well this year as true frosh or at least turned some heads on the scout team and in practice

 

[daveeb]

What do you guys think about Andrew Sweat's chances at getting significant playing time next season? JT opted against redshirting him, and he looks like a terrific talent. His tutelage under JL33, which he mentioned as being a huge bonus during his recruitment, is noteworthy. He graduated early so that he could get into camp, so he has a lot of practice time for a true sophomore.

 

[osugrad21]

CPD

One more look at 2008, a peek ahead to next fall

by Doug Lesmerises/Plain Dealer Reporter Sunday January 11, 2009, 9:34 AM

Tracy Boulian/The Plain Dealer
Columbus -- Ohio State and its 28 seniors finished this four-year run at 43-8, tying the record for most wins by a sen ior class; won four Big Ten ti tles (two shared, two out right); continued a win streak against Michigan that reached five; and lost three straight bowl games for the first time since the Buckeyes lost four straight after the 1989-92 seasons. The 24-21 loss to Texas in the Fiesta Bowl helped us learn some lessons about this team.
Two consecutive national championship losses to Florida and LSU, by 27 and 14 points, will do that to a program. There certainly wasn't a feeling of satisfaction in the OSU locker room in Glendale, Ariz., but there was a sense of pride.

After repeated blowouts on that national stage, that made sense. At least it answered the popular question of whether it's more difficult to lose a tight game or a blowout. For these Buckeyes, the blowouts were much worse.
"I'm going to be honest," left tackle Alex Boone said. "Two years ago, I cried like a little girl. Last year, I cried. But this year, a lot of people didn't think we were going to win this game, and obviously we didn't. But we showed a lot of people that we obviously don't care what they think and we're going to play to the best of our abilities.
"Ninety percent of the country thought we were going to get smoked. To play the game we played, we lost that game by 18 seconds. We showed the world you can kick us when we're down and we're still going to come at you."
That was maybe the most honest and emotional Buckeye on the team, but the more reflective seniors didn't disagree.

Cont...

 

[Piney]

That being said I don't think it matters where OSU is ranked at the start next season. If we beat USC then we are respected and ranked high. If we get our jocks handed to us again than we will be ranked low. Regardless of our starting postion our position in week three is going to be determined on the field against USC.

I dunno, I can't see a non-homer justification for putting OSU in a preseason top ten. Top 15? Maybe. We're a long way from the spring game, and those performances will change a lot of perceptions. I certainly think we've got the talent to run the table in the conference, but I'm not entirely convinced we'll be able to hang with USC in the 'Shoe next year. I want to believe, though...

I am with you Iron. While I believe OSU will have a great season to be a realist there are a TON of questions. If I was an impartial writer/voter I look at Ohio State and see No RB, No WR (if Hartline leaves) Stud LB & Stud CB GONE. And if Washington leaves than we have to replace both starting CBs. That is alot to replace and to be in the Top 10. Yes Ohio State reloads but reloading with our recent media hate means we get a #11-#15 ranking to start next season.

Then on to smithlabs post. It really doesn't matter where we are ranked in the preseason. Beat USC and we shoot up the rankings and back into the Top 5 and challenging for the National Title. It is as simple as that.

 

[ant80]

Then on to smithlabs post. It really doesn't matter where we are ranked in the preseason. Beat USC and we shoot up the rankings and back into the Top 5 and challenging for the National Title. It is as simple as that.

Hate to be the one to break it to ya, but beating USC is not so simple...

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Hate to be the one to break it to ya, but beating USC is not so simple...

He didn't say beating USC would be simple...he said that is simple to determine what we need to do to shoot up the rankings, and that would be to beat USC. In other words, there is no complicated formula or list of requirements...just beat USC.

 

[MaxBuck]

He didn't say beating USC would be simple...he said that is simple to determine what we need to do to shoot up the rankings, and that would be to beat USC. In other words, there is no complicated formula or list of requirements...just beat USC.

I don't know, it all still seems pretty confusing to me. Think I'll just pop on over to ESPN's boards and see what they say.

 

[seed702]

Vegas has tOSU anywhere from 7/1 to 10/1, with 5-8 teams they think have a better chance to win the National Championship.

With that in mind, I think we'll be just fine, and probably finish in the top 10, if not better.

Vegas builds multi-million dollar resorts, and is the entertainment capital of the world. I'd put a bit more value in their opinion over a few guys who sit behind a computer making $115k a year writing things that any one on this board could come up with. Vegas is right more than they're wrong, and they're very rarely terribly wrong. I would think putting us outside of the top 15, and we'll see come next january, is terribly wrong.