2009 tOSU WR discussion (official thread)

[utgrad73]

Sanzo is a nice slot guy who can get open in space but he's not going to be the big playmaker at WR for us. That should belong to Mr. Posey, there's a reason he was ranked right below Julio Jones and AJ Green his senior year in HS. He's a playmaker and he will boost our WR corps, I don't think the Brians fit well into the spread offense scheme with Pryor. Running 4-5 WR sets with the likes of Posey, Washington, Sanzo, Thomas and maybe Carter(I'm not a big fan of Small, he's been far overrated, and is pretty much getting pub from statements made about him in HS); with Pryor and Herron/Berry in the backfield looks scary for defenses(and not just B10 defenses).

Sanzo may still be the slot guy, he could also be our secret weapon. We are too quick to dismiss him. I also see him as a leader among the WRs. He has two years of experience, two games against scUM, and is due for a breakout year. No doubt Posey and Carter will be huge, but watch out for the sneeky fast route runner who catches everything. The skill level across the board is just amazing this year.

 

[pnuts34]

Sanzo may still be the slot guy, he could also be our secret weapon. We are too quick to dismiss him. I also see him as a leader among the WRs. He has two years of experience, two games against scUM, and is due for a breakout year. No doubt Posey and Carter will be huge, but watch out for the sneeky fast route runner who catches everything. The skill level across the board is just amazing this year.

I totally agree, I didn't mean to seem like I was knocking Sanzo, but it seemed like some others were trying to anoint this kid our next great WR. I agree he will be a great weapon in the slot getting open in space, because of his experience. And you need guys like that on a team to be successful. i also see him being more of a leader in the receiving corps. I'm only down on Ray Small, a guy who has tons of potential but doesn't seem like he wants to work for it. I get sick of hearing almost every time he touches the ball, that he was anointed the best WR in Glenville and supposed to the next Ted Ginn Jr!

 

[utgrad73]

I totally agree, I didn't mean to seem like I was knocking Sanzo, but it seemed like some others were trying to anoint this kid our next great WR. I agree he will be a great weapon in the slot getting open in space, because of his experience. And you need guys like that on a team to be successful. i also see him being more of a leader in the receiving corps. I'm only down on Ray Small, a guy who has tons of potential but doesn't seem like he wants to work for it. I get sick of hearing almost every time he touches the ball, that he was anointed the best WR in Glenville and supposed to the next Ted Ginn Jr!

Sanzo has the work ethic thing going. Maybe that example will push the others. Ray has loads of potential and much to prove IMHO.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Sanzo is a nice slot guy who can get open in space but he's not going to be the big playmaker at WR for us.

Did you watch him last year? He made a lot of big time plays given the limited amount of opportunities. Being 6'4" or running a 4.3 doesn't make you a big playmaker.

 

[pnuts34]

Did you watch him last year? He made a lot of big time plays given the limited amount of opportunities. Being 6'4" or running a 4.3 doesn't make you a big playmaker.

I never said anything about size. But you're being a bit of an over eager fan if you think he had a lot of big time plays. He had a couple. Once again I'm not knocking the kid, he has a lot of good intangibles that you want in a "glue guy" for a team. But he's not going to be a gamechanger where teams double team every play. I doubt Pete Carroll has his DBs watching film on Sanzo and getting sorry man. He's a good college player who hopefully can lead some of our younger WRs.

 

[GrizzlyBuck]

Once again, I'm really excited about this group of players;

Posey really passes the look test, as does TWash, both bring good size and good to excellent speed. Both don't seem to shy away from going over the middle, but with their size/speed combination are deep threats as well.

I'm interested to see where Sanzo and Small work into the rotation, both bring a bit different skill sets, Sanzo has good speed and catches almost everything thrown his way, while Ray brings good speed and is very slippery. Both also have had some problems however as Ray has not been the picture of consistency, even when able to keep himself out of the doghouse and Dane seems to take more than his fair share of bone shattering hits. Will these guys see the field a lot at the same time or end up playing the same spot and splitting time?

Carter is a pretty big body who seems to have the ability to get open (albeit against HS competition, good HS competition though and some All-Star competition also) and seems like his dad in that he catches everything close, even if they do only catch touchdowns

Flash and Jackson bring game breaking speed to the mix and it will be interesting to see if they can make themselves factors through hard work.

Ballard has great ability to catch the ball in traffic, and could be used as a pass catcher in running situations to great avail. Stoney should create some huge mismatches, if the coaches open up the playbook and take advantage of his skills.

With my Rose colored glasses in place, I think this group has a depth of talent not seen, maybe ever at WR at tOSU, but this has to be transferred onto the field as it is a very inexperienced group as well.

It will be fun to watch how the playing time is earned and divvied up, and how well the coaches and TP are able to share one ball with so many talented guys. Will we see more 4 and 5 receiver sets, will Stoney be used in some two TE running type situations to set up mismatches, will Flash be used out of the TB spot, with Stoney at TE, then both split wide, to make the opposing coaches have to make a Paterno run

Ah Spring, a time when young, old, as well as middle-aged men's fancies go to the important things in life, like College football

 

[generaladm]

Once again, I'm really excited about this group of players;

(good insight..)

This group does make one think about all of the possibilities for different formations/combinations, partly because there are a lot of unknowns, but also because of the diversity, and the ever present threat of TP making things happen on his own. The set that I keep envisioning is 4 WR with Posey and TWash on the edges, and Sanzo and Small in double slots. Put Flash (or maybe JHall) as an ace back, and the defense would have to match with a dime, or risk putting a LB on one of our fastest players. That not only gives us tons of options for routes, but creates wide open lanes for TP to run. I don't know if there's a LB in the country who could beat TP to the edge if there's no contain. Sub Ballard or Stoneburner for a slot, and put Boom/Saine/Berry in the backfield, and we could still run or pass effectively. One guy who was getting rave reviews from the coaches during fall camp, but never touched the ball during the season, was Grant Schwartz. I wonder if he will be in the mix this year. Regardless, I'm sure the coaches have been having a grand old time drawing up plays for this offense.

 

[ThirdGenBuckeye]

This group does make one think about all of the possibilities for different formations/combinations, partly because there are a lot of unknowns, but also because of the diversity, and the ever present threat of TP making things happen on his own. The set that I keep envisioning is 4 WR with Posey and TWash on the edges, and Sanzo and Small in double slots. Put Flash (or maybe JHall) as an ace back, and the defense would have to match with a dime, or risk putting a LB on one of our fastest players. That not only gives us tons of options for routes, but creates wide open lanes for TP to run. I don't know if there's a LB in the country who could beat TP to the edge if there's no contain. Sub Ballard or Stoneburner for a slot, and put Boom/Saine/Berry in the backfield, and we could still run or pass effectively. One guy who was getting rave reviews from the coaches during fall camp, but never touched the ball during the season, was Grant Schwartz. I wonder if he will be in the mix this year. Regardless, I'm sure the coaches have been having a grand old time drawing up plays for this offense.

He had a couple thrown his way late in the YSU game so maybe we'll see him early in the season again.

 

[Bucks21]

Duane has been saying that Schwartz is burried on offense but if he would switch back to defense he could compete for a safety spot.

 

[southcampus]

If your definition of a "playmaker" is a guy that has an obvious deep threat, then yes, Sanz will never be a playmaker.
To me, a playmaker is just like it sounds; a guy that makes plays. Sanz has the ability to do that. We saw glimpses of it last year with his uncanny ability to get open. When we were backed up in the redzone against PSU, Sanz got open and had a huge gain. Against the M*ch*gan cum dumpsters, he was able to get open on for another big play.
It seemed like whenever a play broke down, Sanz was the guy Pryor turned to. When you have a guy like Terrelle who keeps a play alive, a guy like Dane is the perfect receiver. He never gives up on his routes and always seems open. I expect big things from him this year.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

But he's not going to be a gamechanger where teams double team every play. I doubt Pete Carroll has his DBs watching film on Sanzo and getting sorry man. He's a good college player who hopefully can lead some of our younger WRs.

Like I said, given how little we passed the ball, Sanzo made a lot of big plays. Penn State, scUM, Wisconsin were all good games. Suffering that concussion against UW was a bit of a setback.

The part I quoted is a lot different than being a playmaker. We all know he's not Calvin Johnson. Gonzalez didn't get double teamed and "get DB's sorry" watching film. Was he not a playmaker?

I think you're a little overeager to downplay what Sanzenbacher is capable of and what he's accomplished.

 

[brutus2002]

A playmaker is a guy who gets smoked by a db and holds onto the ball...thats Dane. A gamebreaker is Santonio Holms or Ted Ginn who could take it to the house on any play. Two words that mean two obviously different things. I Love Dane Sanzenbachers heart and toughness. He needs to be on the field to lead by example. He is a leader!!!!!!!! The kids got a set of balls bigger than the folks talking smack about him.

 

[utgrad73]

A playmaker is a guy who gets smoked by a db and holds onto the ball...thats Dane. A gamebreaker is Santonio Holms or Ted Ginn who could take it to the house on any play. Two words that mean two obviously different things. I Love Dane Sanzenbachers heart and toughness. He needs to be on the field to lead by example. He is a leader!!!!!!!! The kids got a set of balls bigger than the folks talking smack about him.

Hopefully those balls won't interfere with his route running.

His heart is in the game and it shows, he CAN play football. From here on out, Dane needs to be the WR leader - if he steps up there then he'll complete his mission at tOSU.

 

[pnuts34]

I like the clarification, Sanzo is definitely a playmaker! He'll be a leader for the WRs, hopefulyl, and he should be a starter int he slot. Now that we're done with that, where does a guy like Flash Thomas fit in the WR mix? I hear a lot of 4 WR sets with Twash, Posey, Small and Sanzo, but whats up with Flash?

 

[matcar]

I like the clarification, Sanzo is definitely a playmaker! He'll be a leader for the WRs, hopefulyl, and he should be a starter int he slot. Now that we're done with that, where does a guy like Flash Thomas fit in the WR mix? I hear a lot of 4 WR sets with Twash, Posey, Small and Sanzo, but whats up with Flash?

Yes, I think the point is that it would be highly beneficial if we had a burner. We haven't had one since Roy Hall and TGII hugged in the BCS. It's a problem we have the tools to solve...