• Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
  • Consider registering! Fewer and higher quality ads, no emails you don't want, access to all the forums, download game torrents, private messages, polls, Sportsbook, etc. Even if you just want to lurk, there are a lot of good reasons to register!

2009 tOSU Offensive Line Discussion (official thread)

Jump to latest Follow Reply
Sort by date Sort by votes
Ohio State Buckeyes offensive linemen Jim Cordle and Mike Brewster block out adversity so they can block on Saturday
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer
November 21, 2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State's center was injured, so the injured former center decided to give it a shot. Mike Brewster rolled his ankle during practice for Purdue severely enough that the Buckeyes thought he wouldn't be able to play, so Jim Cordle cut short his recovery from arthroscopic ankle surgery.

"I rushed, but I kind of felt like I had to," Cordle said this week. "I wasn't expecting to practice that week. I was going to practice the next week. We maybe pushed it a little bit but that's what I had to do. I don't regret it at all because it hurts right now, but oh well. It's going to hurt."

By Michigan week, linemen always hurt. Five weeks ago the Buckeyes' season nearly crumbled after the offensive line's problems helped lead to an upset loss at Purdue, with a limited Brewster playing center and a rusty Cordle struggling in a brief appearance at tackle. Yet today Ohio State is looking to clinch an outright Big Ten title against the Wolverines thanks in part to both the center and the old center.

Brewster's ankle isn't completely healed and won't be until after the season. The tendinitis in Cordle's knee hurts even more than his ankle. Yet the Ohio State offensive line has been leading the way through a difficult November because the sophomore center is finding his way and the senior left tackle never got lost while moving away from center and starting at three other places on the offensive line.

"He's given up a lot," Jim Cordle Sr. said of his son's frequent position changes. "My wife and I had mixed feelings about it, but to him, it doesn't matter."
Click to expand...

Ohio State Buckeyes offensive linemen Jim Cordle and Mike Brewster block out adversity so they can block on Saturday | Ohio State Buckeyes - cleveland.com - - cleveland.com
 
Upvote 0
Big props to the offensive line for the complete turn-around they have had this season.

They are not only blowing up defenses/creating holes for the RBs and time for Pryor to pass, but they're also no longer making critical mental mistakes, such as costly false starts or holds.
 
Upvote 0
FOOTBALL POSTSEASON
Block watch: Line is finally healthy
Thursday, December 17, 2009
By Tim May
The Columbus Dispatch

boren_585.jpg

NO LONGER UP ON BLOCKS (top): Justin Boren, blocking Michigan's Obi Ezeh on a Terrelle Pryor run, has been limited in practice most of the season because of a nagging knee injury. (Kyle Robertson, Dispatch)

The Ohio State offensive line, much-criticized and banged up through the middle of the season, could be at its peak when the Rose Bowl kicks off Jan.1.

That's what happens when players get healthy and are able to practice together. The linemen have been able to do just that for the past week or so, which hasn't been a common occurrence this season. Left guard Justin Boren was bothered by a knee tweak most of the year, center Michael Brewster played despite a severe ankle sprain, and tackles Jim Cordle, Mike Adams, J.B. Shugarts and Andrew Miller all spent time on the banged-up list.

With a 10-day break from hard workouts after the win over Michigan that ended the regular season, the limps have gotten less noticeable, Cordle said, although he stopped short of saying the group is 100 percent healthy.

"We're real close," Cordle said. "When you have a guy hurt who may only be banged up but can't practice, that's not good. It's just not the same."

But the past few days, for example, "Boren has been practicing the whole practice, which he hasn't done all season," Cordle said. "Now, with all of this practice time together, we should have a great Rose Bowl."
Click to expand...

GameDay+
 
Upvote 0
Now with the year almost over, it is time to give this group the credit they deserve. Though we were banged up through most of the year, but they really came through down the stretch against PSU, Iowa and scUM. I am really proud of these guys play...how I would rank them this year:
1. Boren: Lived up to his billing, often driving guys down the field and into other defenders. Showed a quick first step, great inital punch and gets leverage and turns the defender.
2. Miller: I might surprise some but I thought Andy was our most consistent peformer...good in both run and pass blocking.
3. Browning: Not always consistent in pass blocking but his run blocking was purely dominant. A big reason the run game excelled, especially late in the year.
4. Brewster: Had some ups and downs, likely linked with being hurt much of the year. However, Brew is improving by the day and I think it's possible to make a 1st team All-Big Ten season next year.
5. Cordle: Showed real versatility moving around the line and when he came back from injury later on in the year, I thought he looked remarkably improved at tackle.
6. Shugarts: Tough year for J.B. with the injuries, but he played with some real spirit and often was dominant in his run blocking. Sky is the limit for J.B. and I like him right where he is at right tackle.
7. Adams: Again, injuries were tough for Big Mike to battle through. I had difficulty judging his performance going back through film because the plays generally were run away from Mike. However, he seemed to more than handle himself out there and I think big things are in store for Adams still.
8. Marcus Hall: I thought Marcus looked pretty darn tough when he was out there, regardless of the fact that he is only a freshman. He is going to be tough in run blocking and a move inside could be possible with Norwell coming (possibly Henderson as well). At guard, I think Hall could be one of the nations tops. Even at tackle he could be one heck of a player.
 
Upvote 0
Article published January 01, 2010
BUCKEYES NOTEBOOK
Just in time, OSU offensive line healthy
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER

LOS ANGELES - There were times this season when the Ohio State offensive line looked more like a band of weary soldiers, limping back from battle. They needed a triage nurse on hand just to hold a meeting.

"It was awful, easily the worst year with injuries since I've been here," fifth-year senior Jim Cordle said before a final round of practices and meetings preparing for today's Rose Bowl game against Oregon.

"It seemed like we had more guys hurt than we had healthy at times. It's something you have to deal with, but it is still really frustrating because you want to be at your best," he said.

Cordle needed surgery to repair an ankle injury and missed three games. Junior guard Justin Boren missed a game with a sprained foot, while junior Andrew Miller was knocked out of the lineup with the flu and lost weight while ill.

Because of injuries and illness, the Buckeyes started six combinations on the offensive line this season. In contrast, at wide receiver, quarterback and tight end, the starters were the same every week.

Sophomore tackle J.B. Shugarts injured his leg against Penn State and then missed the next week against Iowa. Sophomore Mike Adams got hit with the flu, and sophomore center Mike Brewster battled a bad ankle sprain for more than half of the season.

"It was crazy," Brewster said. "Guys missed games, guys missed practices, and we just never had a chance to really develop the kind of chemistry you need on the line. It was like a merry-go-round, with guys falling off and other guys climbing on. We never really got settled in with one group."

The Ohio State offensive line started to find its collective footing after the team's dreadful showing in a 26-18 loss at Purdue in mid-October.

After the Buckeyes rushed for just 66 yards, Ohio State gained almost 600 rushing yards over the next two games, and closed the season's five games with 200-plus rushing yards in each contest.

"That's what you're measured by as a line, the rushing yards, and the number of sacks you allow," Boren said. "Up front, it's a war every play, and you really need to be a hundred percent to hold your own."

The Buckeyes' offensive line allowed just 18 sacks in a dozen games, and opened the way for 2,387 rushing yards for the offense.

Speaking at the final news conference before the 96th Rose Bowl, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel declared his offensive line healthy and at full strength for the first time in months.

"It will be good to see those guys at their best for this game," OSU junior running back Brandon Saine said. "They played hurt and still did a great job this season. Now that they're all healed up, that can only help this offense."
Click to expand...

toledoblade.com --
 
Upvote 0
Did Andy Miller make the trip? JT didn't mention him in the OL rotation before the game and he seemed to go AWOL after his bout with the flu.

Back on topic, after today I'm looking for big things from this unit next year. Great game guys!
 
Upvote 0
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top