2010 Ohio Bobcats Game Preview
written by: BB73, Buckeyeskickbuttocks, Bucklion, Bucky Katt, DaddyBigBucks, JCOSU86, and jwinslow
Preface
The last time Ohio State faced the Bobcats was two years ago, when a Beanie-less squad struggled but earned the program's 800th all-time victory with a 26-14 decision.
Ohio tied for the MAC Eastern Division title last year, and fell to Marshall by a 21-17 score in the Little Casesar's Pizza Bowl. The also won the Eastern Division in 2006, and appeared in the GMAC bowl, where they fell 28-7 to Southern Mississippi. The only other bowl appearances for Ohio were a '62 Sun Bowl loss to West Texas A&M and a '68 Tangerine Bowl defeat at the hands of Richmond, 49-42.
The best years of Bobcat football came in the days of two long-time head coaches, Don Peden (one of the the founders of the Mid-American Conference, whom their stadium is named after) and Bill Hess. Peden was at the helm from 1924 to '46, and had a career record of 122-46-11 (.721). During his tenure, there was a 9-0 mark in '29, when Ohio outscored their opponents by a combined 305-7 (only Ohio Wesleyan got on the board in a 21-7 contest). They also went 8-0-1 in '30, and 8-0 in '35.
Bill Hess was the head man from '58-77, with a 103-92-4 (.537) overall record. The highlight of those years was the 10-0 slate in 1960, when the Bobcats were named 'Small College National Champions', outscoring their opponents by a 27-3 average. The other notable year was 1968, when a 10-1 mark resulted in a final ranking of #18 in the Coaches Poll and #20 in the AP. That was the only year in which Ohio finished the season with a ranking, and the team happened to be outshone within the state by the National Champion Buckeye 'Super Sophs' of Kern, Tatum, etc.
Other notable head coaches at Ohio include Carroll Widdoes, who was 42-36-5 (.536) from '49-'57. Before that, Widdoes was 9-0 at Ohio State during the 'Civilian Championship' year of 1944 (Army won the MNC with Blanchard and Davis), and 7-2 in his final Buckeye year of '45. His career mark of 16-2 at tOSU gives Widdoes the highest winning percentage in Buckeye history (.889).
Jim Grobe led the Bobcats to an even record of 33-33-1 from '95 until 2000, before leaving for Wake Forest. Former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich took over Ohio in 2005, and has gone 33-32, including a 1-1 mark so far this season.
Against current members of the Big Ten conference, Ohio has an all-time mark of 6-37-1, which includes a combined 0-6 record against MSU and PSU in games before they joined the Big Ten. That also includes four losses to the pre-Big Ten Buckeyes between 1899-1902. The only recent contests between the two teams were a 40-16 tOSU victory in 1999, and the 26-14 Buckeye win in 2008.
Ohio has a 3-2 record against Illinois, including a 20-17 win in Champaign in 2006, their most recent win over a BCS Conference team. Mid-American East Division titles in 2006 and 2009 are the only championship years for the Bobcats since the 1968 squad.
Against the other team in Ohio from an AQ conference (Cincinnati), Ohio has a 23-23-4 alltime mark, but the teams last met in 1981.
Date and TimeOhio tied for the MAC Eastern Division title last year, and fell to Marshall by a 21-17 score in the Little Casesar's Pizza Bowl. The also won the Eastern Division in 2006, and appeared in the GMAC bowl, where they fell 28-7 to Southern Mississippi. The only other bowl appearances for Ohio were a '62 Sun Bowl loss to West Texas A&M and a '68 Tangerine Bowl defeat at the hands of Richmond, 49-42.
The best years of Bobcat football came in the days of two long-time head coaches, Don Peden (one of the the founders of the Mid-American Conference, whom their stadium is named after) and Bill Hess. Peden was at the helm from 1924 to '46, and had a career record of 122-46-11 (.721). During his tenure, there was a 9-0 mark in '29, when Ohio outscored their opponents by a combined 305-7 (only Ohio Wesleyan got on the board in a 21-7 contest). They also went 8-0-1 in '30, and 8-0 in '35.
Bill Hess was the head man from '58-77, with a 103-92-4 (.537) overall record. The highlight of those years was the 10-0 slate in 1960, when the Bobcats were named 'Small College National Champions', outscoring their opponents by a 27-3 average. The other notable year was 1968, when a 10-1 mark resulted in a final ranking of #18 in the Coaches Poll and #20 in the AP. That was the only year in which Ohio finished the season with a ranking, and the team happened to be outshone within the state by the National Champion Buckeye 'Super Sophs' of Kern, Tatum, etc.
Other notable head coaches at Ohio include Carroll Widdoes, who was 42-36-5 (.536) from '49-'57. Before that, Widdoes was 9-0 at Ohio State during the 'Civilian Championship' year of 1944 (Army won the MNC with Blanchard and Davis), and 7-2 in his final Buckeye year of '45. His career mark of 16-2 at tOSU gives Widdoes the highest winning percentage in Buckeye history (.889).
Jim Grobe led the Bobcats to an even record of 33-33-1 from '95 until 2000, before leaving for Wake Forest. Former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich took over Ohio in 2005, and has gone 33-32, including a 1-1 mark so far this season.
Against current members of the Big Ten conference, Ohio has an all-time mark of 6-37-1, which includes a combined 0-6 record against MSU and PSU in games before they joined the Big Ten. That also includes four losses to the pre-Big Ten Buckeyes between 1899-1902. The only recent contests between the two teams were a 40-16 tOSU victory in 1999, and the 26-14 Buckeye win in 2008.
Ohio has a 3-2 record against Illinois, including a 20-17 win in Champaign in 2006, their most recent win over a BCS Conference team. Mid-American East Division titles in 2006 and 2009 are the only championship years for the Bobcats since the 1968 squad.
Against the other team in Ohio from an AQ conference (Cincinnati), Ohio has a 23-23-4 alltime mark, but the teams last met in 1981.
Date: Saturday, September 18th, 2010
Time: 12:00 pm EDT Kick-off
Location: Ohio Stadium - "The Horseshoe" (Columbus, OH)
Constructed: 1922 (Renovated in 2001)
Seating Capacity: 102,329 (Originally 66,210)
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Events:
Time: 12:00 pm EDT Kick-off
Location: Ohio Stadium - "The Horseshoe" (Columbus, OH)
Constructed: 1922 (Renovated in 2001)
Seating Capacity: 102,329 (Originally 66,210)
Playing Surface: FieldTurf
Events:
Broadcast Information:
TV Broacast: Big Ten Network: Eric Collins (Play-by-play), Chris Martin (Analysis), and Charissa Thompson (Sideline)
Radio Broadcast: Ohio State Radio Network (WBNS 97.1 FM TheFan in Columbus): Paul Keels (Play-by-play), Jim Lachey (Analysis), and Marty Bannister (Sideline)
2010 Ohio Bobcats Preview
The Buckeyes come off their big win over the Hurricanes by welcoming the Ohio Bobcats for a noon game on Saturday. The Hurricanes were a reasonably good offense with a good QB and some speed at the skill positions. In contrast, it is too early in the season to deem the Bobcat offense as officially awful, but the signs are not especially good in Athens thus far. After putting up a modest 331 yards against FCS team Wofford in week 1, they managed just 183 yards total last week against a Toledo team that had given up 518 yards to Arizona the week before. Offensive coordinators Tim Albin and Gerry Gdowski have some serious work to do, and injuries and inconsistency won't help their cause much.
The numbers support the fact that there are a number of issues with the Bobcat offense in 2010. Despite having the luxury of an FCS opponent in the opening 2 weeks, the Bobcats rank 116/120 teams in total yards per game with just 257. They rank 108th in passing (136.5 YPG) and 79th in rushing (138 YPG). Despite playing 2 weaker opponents defensively, they also rank just T84th in scoring with 23 points per game. They haven't made many first downs (30, T98th) and have been atrocious at moving the chains on 3rd downs as well (30.8%, T92). The bottom line is this offense just hasn't been very good, despite veteran leadership at a number of positions. The Bobcats have a tall order trying to recover against one of the nations best front 7s this weekend.
The numbers support the fact that there are a number of issues with the Bobcat offense in 2010. Despite having the luxury of an FCS opponent in the opening 2 weeks, the Bobcats rank 116/120 teams in total yards per game with just 257. They rank 108th in passing (136.5 YPG) and 79th in rushing (138 YPG). Despite playing 2 weaker opponents defensively, they also rank just T84th in scoring with 23 points per game. They haven't made many first downs (30, T98th) and have been atrocious at moving the chains on 3rd downs as well (30.8%, T92). The bottom line is this offense just hasn't been very good, despite veteran leadership at a number of positions. The Bobcats have a tall order trying to recover against one of the nations best front 7s this weekend.
Quarterbacks
QB #5 Phil Bates (6-2, 226, JR, Iowa State University, Omaha, NE)
QB #8 Boo Jackson (6-1, 205, SR, Lompoc HS, Gardena, CA)
The QB situation appears to be a bit of a mess. Boo Jackson was the starter in 2008, was supplanted by Theo Scott after being hurt last year and was beaten out by Phil Bates for the job this season. However, Bates got injured early in the opener, and Jackson has been filling in since that time. Jackson's numbers are not good at all, but Bates (1 for 5, 4 yards) didn't exactly light the world on fire when he was in there passing the ball either, though he did have 48 yards rushing on just 6 carries. Bates is a duel threat type QB who fits it well with Coach Solich's system. He played QB and WR in his limited time at Iowa State, and ran for 166 yards on just 24 carries while playing the QB position. He has good size and reasonable speed, he just needs to get more work in game situations for the Bobcats. He does have some time logged at Iowa State under center, however, so he is not in awe of the situation. It will be important for the Bobcats to get him back to full strength soon, because they need his versatility and big play ability on the ground.
Jackson has played extensively the first 2 games but it is unclear how much he will play going forward, depending on the health of Bates. He threw for the 2nd most yards in school history in 2008, completing over 60% of his throws for 2355 yards and 19 TDs to 12 INTs. Last year he got hurt after 2 relatively unimpressive outings and watched Theo Scott run the offense the rest of the season. This year he has not been especially impressive in 2 outings either, rushing for just 34 yards on 22 carries and tossing 3 picks last week against Toledo, 4 on the season already, while amassing just 234 yards passing. Jackson is a veteran of the program and has some success in the past, but one wonders if he has reached his ceiling, and how high it really is, based on his performances the past 2 seasons.
QB Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus Ohio State QBs
Jackson: 24/39 (61.5%), 234 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs, 99.9 rating; 22/34, 1 TD
Pryor: 29/52 (55.8%), 480 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs, 158.7 rating; 28/130, 1 TD
Pryor didn't have the best game passing last week against a high quality defense, but he made plays in the running game and didn't turn the ball over, allowing the Buckeyes to win the turnover battle by a large margin and keying the big Buckeye victory. It is difficult to rate Bates based on his very limited playing time, but it appears he is an explosive runner that may need to work on his accuracy in the passing game. Expect the Buckeyes to try and contain him in the backfield and force him to beat them in the air downfield. If Jackson plays, the Bobcats have a proven player, but not one that should trouble the Buckeyes much. He was 9 of 25 for 86 yards and 3 INTs in 2008...will he be much better this year against the Buckeye D? The first 2 games say probably not.
Edge: Ohio State
Running Backs
TB #26 Vince Davidson (5-11, 194, SR, South Brunswick HS, Dayton, NJ)
Davidson is another program veteran who has seen limited duty the past 3 seasons. He gained 47 yards in 2007, 170 in 2008, and 260 last season, and he also has 2 career TDs and 12 career receptions. He was part of the regular RB rotation in the middle of last year, but his carries tapered off as the season progressed, resulting in just one touch in the bowl game. He had 17 carries for 70 yards in the opener and 12 for just 22 yards last week against Toledo. He is a decent back with relatively good size and agility, but he is not the type of gamebreaker that the better offenses in the MAC seem to have.
Backing up Davidson is freshman Ryan Boykin (#20). He redshirted last season, but gained almost 1800 yards his senior year of high school. He has good size (6-1, 221) and can run with some power. He had a good opener, gaining 61 yards on 9 carries and scoring a TD, but did not get a carry last week. Junior Dallas Brown (#23) rounds out the chart. He had 5 carries for 34 yards and a score in the opening contest.
RB Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus Ohio State RBs
Davidson: 29/92 yards, 0 TDs, 3.2 YPC; 2 rec/29 yards, 0 TDs, 14.5 YPR
Boykin: 9/61 yards, 1 TD, 6.8 YPC; 0 rec/0 yards, 0 TDs, 0.0 YPR
Saine: 21/110 yards, 2 TDs, 5.2 YPC; 3 rec/36 yards, 1 TD, 12.0 YPR
Herron: 21/110 yards, 1 TD, 5.2 YPC; 2 rec/56 yards, 0 TDs, 28.0 YPR
Most of the yardage was amassed the first week for the Bobcats, who rushed for 230 against Wofford. Against Toledo they gained just 46. Davidson and Boykin appear to be decent players, but this team is built on running the football and it doesn't appear they are especially explosive in the backfield, though it is certainly early in the year yet. The Buckeyes have a nice split between Saine and Herron, with Berry waiting in the wings. Basically this one is no contest, as the Bobcats have yet to prove themselves against FBS competition running the football.
Edge: Ohio State
Wide Receivers
WR-F #15 Riley Dunlop (6-2, 191, JR, Lakota East HS, Liberty Township, OH)
WR-X #11 Terrence McCrae (6-4, 198, SR, Connellsville HS, Vanderbilt, PA)
WR-Z #7 LaVon Brazill (5-11, 191, SR, Lake Worth HS, Lantana, FL)
This area of the football team has some talent and depth. Brazill was named 2nd team All-MAC as both a receiver and return man last season, and he is one of the most explosive special teamers in the nation, which should get the Buckeyes' attention after last week. As a receiver, he made 11 starts in 2009 and was second on the team last season in receptions (53) yards (702) and TDs (6). A leg injury has slowed him this season thus far, but he did have 6 catches for 25 yards last week against the Rockets as well as 2 carries for 5 yards. He is dynamic and explosive and can get open downfield. McCrae is another explosive receiver who made a couple of starts and had 35 receptions for 545 yards and a team-leading 9 TDs in 2009. He had one reception in the opener and caught 3 passes for 32 yards last week. Dunlop started 2 games last season before injuries cut his year short at the halfway mark. He is another veteran player with good size and he runs good routes. He had 4 receptions for 53 yards and the team's only receiving TD to date last weekend.
The top reserve is senior Steven Goulet (#87). He started 3 games last season and the opener this year. He had 31 career receptions entering the season, and he caught 2 passes in each of the first 2 games. He can play both the F and Z positions. Also adding depth is junior Jerry Gross (#16), sophomores Bakari Bussey (#17) and Tyler Futrell (#81) and freshman Mario Dovell (#19). Bussey caught 2 passes for 35 yards in the opener.
WR Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus Ohio State WRs
Dunlop: 5 catches, 57 yards, 1 TD, 11.4 YPR
McCrae: 4 catches, 36 yards, 0 TDs, 9.0 YPR
Brazill: 6 catches, 25 yards, 0 TDs, 4.2 YPR
Posey: 8 catches, 146 yards, 2 TDs, 18.3 YPR
Sanzenbacher: 6 catches, 150 yards, 1 TD, 25.0 YPR
There isn't a ton of star power here for the Bobcats, but Brazill and McCrae are dangerous downfield and there is plenty of quality depth and veteran leadership. The Buckeyes, on the opposite side, lack depth but have 2 front line players at the top of the chart. The Bobcats will probably have to throw the ball quite a bit Saturday, so the receivers will have a chance to prove themselves against a quality Buckeye secondary. If Pryor can get back into a rhythm throwing the ball, the Buckeye receivers have already demonstrated they are as good as anyone.
Edge: Ohio State
Tight Ends
TE #88 Jordan Thompson (6-4, 247, SO, Parkway HS, Rockford, OH)
The Bobcats are pretty deep at this position as well. Thompson started every game last season, catching 7 passes for 109 yards. He is more of a blocker had has good size and agility to help open up the running game. The backup and second TE is senior Nathan Caldwell (#45). He also has good size (6-5, 248) and is a very capable blocker. He caught a pair of passes last season and looks less likely to be involved in the passing game as a receiver.
TE Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus Ohio State TEs
Thompson: 1 catch, 12 yards, 0 TDs, 12.0 YPR
Stoneburner: 4 catches, 49 yards, 0 TDs, 12.3 YPR
The Bobcats have the TE as a regular position in the offense and will go to 2 TEs quite a bit. Thompson and Caldwell are more involved in blocking than receiving, and they are both good blockers. Stoneburner is a converted WR who should get more opportunities downfield. The Buckeyes went away from that last week...we'll see what this week brings.
Edge: Even
Offensive Line
LT #79 A.J. Strum (6-5, 293, JR, Franklin Regional HS, Delmont, PA)
LG #64 Vince Carlotta (6-4, 302, SO, Roger Bacon HS, Cincinnati, OH)
C #65 Skyler Allen (6-3, 290, SO, Fork Union HS, Mechanicsville, VA)
RG #77 Eric Herman (6-4, 317, SO, Central Catholic HS, Oregon, OH)
RT #78 Joe Flading (6-4, 290, JR, Anderson HS, Cincinnati, OH)
This group has several younger players that have decent size and agility. Most have starting experience, though many are at different positions in 2010. Flading is the most talented and experienced of the group, having been named 3rd team All-MAC last season. He made 8 starts at RT and was a good, strong blocker. Herman redshirted in 2008 and started 10 games at RG in 2009. He has good size and is a punishing interior blocker. On the left side, Strum and Carlotta split starts at LG in 2009, with Strum starting 9 games and Carlotta 2. This year, Strum moves out to play LT and Carlotta mans the LG spot. Both are capable but the left side might be more of a liability than the right side. Allen played very sparingly in the middle last year, so he is learning the nuances of the position at the college level as he plays. This unit will have to significantly increase their level of play if the offense is going to be successful, as they have had trouble running and throwing the ball thus far in 2010.
The reserves include a pair of seniors in Alex Mitchell (#68) in the middle and George Batsakes (#72) at RT, as well as freshmen Ryan McGrath (#60) at LT, Mark Smith (#52) at LG, and John Lechner (#66) at RG. Lechner is a monster (6-5, 332) who could be a future star.
OL Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus Ohio State OL
This line has some talent, especially in Flading, but the players are relatively inexperienced and the blocking has not been that good, considering the struggles in the passing game and the bottom falling out of the running game last week against Toledo. The Buckeyes should be able to pressure the QB and make some plays against the run in the backfield unless the line shows marked improvement. The Buckeye line is the best it has been in years and perhaps will lead them into making a championship run.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
There are some pieces here, and the Bobcats have plenty of program veterans who can provide leadership, but the signs have not been good in Athens in 2010 thus far. The inability to move the ball virtually at all against a Toledo team that gave up 500+ yards to Arizona was a very discouraging sign. The QB situation is in a state of flux for health reasons and the skill position players mostly appear to be average. The line hasn't played all that well either, so the blocking must improve significantly. Solich has been a successful coach, leading Ohio to the MAC championship game last year and to a bowl game. The losses from last season appear to be significant, however, and they have yet to show they have found adequate replacements for a number of positions. This is a bad time for the Bobcats to be running into the Buckeye defense.
Overall Offensive Rating: D
2010 Ohio Bobcats Defensive PreviewQB #5 Phil Bates (6-2, 226, JR, Iowa State University, Omaha, NE)
QB #8 Boo Jackson (6-1, 205, SR, Lompoc HS, Gardena, CA)
The QB situation appears to be a bit of a mess. Boo Jackson was the starter in 2008, was supplanted by Theo Scott after being hurt last year and was beaten out by Phil Bates for the job this season. However, Bates got injured early in the opener, and Jackson has been filling in since that time. Jackson's numbers are not good at all, but Bates (1 for 5, 4 yards) didn't exactly light the world on fire when he was in there passing the ball either, though he did have 48 yards rushing on just 6 carries. Bates is a duel threat type QB who fits it well with Coach Solich's system. He played QB and WR in his limited time at Iowa State, and ran for 166 yards on just 24 carries while playing the QB position. He has good size and reasonable speed, he just needs to get more work in game situations for the Bobcats. He does have some time logged at Iowa State under center, however, so he is not in awe of the situation. It will be important for the Bobcats to get him back to full strength soon, because they need his versatility and big play ability on the ground.
Jackson has played extensively the first 2 games but it is unclear how much he will play going forward, depending on the health of Bates. He threw for the 2nd most yards in school history in 2008, completing over 60% of his throws for 2355 yards and 19 TDs to 12 INTs. Last year he got hurt after 2 relatively unimpressive outings and watched Theo Scott run the offense the rest of the season. This year he has not been especially impressive in 2 outings either, rushing for just 34 yards on 22 carries and tossing 3 picks last week against Toledo, 4 on the season already, while amassing just 234 yards passing. Jackson is a veteran of the program and has some success in the past, but one wonders if he has reached his ceiling, and how high it really is, based on his performances the past 2 seasons.
QB Rating: D
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus Ohio State QBs
Jackson: 24/39 (61.5%), 234 yards, 1 TD, 4 INTs, 99.9 rating; 22/34, 1 TD
Pryor: 29/52 (55.8%), 480 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs, 158.7 rating; 28/130, 1 TD
Pryor didn't have the best game passing last week against a high quality defense, but he made plays in the running game and didn't turn the ball over, allowing the Buckeyes to win the turnover battle by a large margin and keying the big Buckeye victory. It is difficult to rate Bates based on his very limited playing time, but it appears he is an explosive runner that may need to work on his accuracy in the passing game. Expect the Buckeyes to try and contain him in the backfield and force him to beat them in the air downfield. If Jackson plays, the Bobcats have a proven player, but not one that should trouble the Buckeyes much. He was 9 of 25 for 86 yards and 3 INTs in 2008...will he be much better this year against the Buckeye D? The first 2 games say probably not.
Edge: Ohio State
Running Backs
TB #26 Vince Davidson (5-11, 194, SR, South Brunswick HS, Dayton, NJ)
Davidson is another program veteran who has seen limited duty the past 3 seasons. He gained 47 yards in 2007, 170 in 2008, and 260 last season, and he also has 2 career TDs and 12 career receptions. He was part of the regular RB rotation in the middle of last year, but his carries tapered off as the season progressed, resulting in just one touch in the bowl game. He had 17 carries for 70 yards in the opener and 12 for just 22 yards last week against Toledo. He is a decent back with relatively good size and agility, but he is not the type of gamebreaker that the better offenses in the MAC seem to have.
Backing up Davidson is freshman Ryan Boykin (#20). He redshirted last season, but gained almost 1800 yards his senior year of high school. He has good size (6-1, 221) and can run with some power. He had a good opener, gaining 61 yards on 9 carries and scoring a TD, but did not get a carry last week. Junior Dallas Brown (#23) rounds out the chart. He had 5 carries for 34 yards and a score in the opening contest.
RB Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus Ohio State RBs
Davidson: 29/92 yards, 0 TDs, 3.2 YPC; 2 rec/29 yards, 0 TDs, 14.5 YPR
Boykin: 9/61 yards, 1 TD, 6.8 YPC; 0 rec/0 yards, 0 TDs, 0.0 YPR
Saine: 21/110 yards, 2 TDs, 5.2 YPC; 3 rec/36 yards, 1 TD, 12.0 YPR
Herron: 21/110 yards, 1 TD, 5.2 YPC; 2 rec/56 yards, 0 TDs, 28.0 YPR
Most of the yardage was amassed the first week for the Bobcats, who rushed for 230 against Wofford. Against Toledo they gained just 46. Davidson and Boykin appear to be decent players, but this team is built on running the football and it doesn't appear they are especially explosive in the backfield, though it is certainly early in the year yet. The Buckeyes have a nice split between Saine and Herron, with Berry waiting in the wings. Basically this one is no contest, as the Bobcats have yet to prove themselves against FBS competition running the football.
Edge: Ohio State
Wide Receivers
WR-F #15 Riley Dunlop (6-2, 191, JR, Lakota East HS, Liberty Township, OH)
WR-X #11 Terrence McCrae (6-4, 198, SR, Connellsville HS, Vanderbilt, PA)
WR-Z #7 LaVon Brazill (5-11, 191, SR, Lake Worth HS, Lantana, FL)
This area of the football team has some talent and depth. Brazill was named 2nd team All-MAC as both a receiver and return man last season, and he is one of the most explosive special teamers in the nation, which should get the Buckeyes' attention after last week. As a receiver, he made 11 starts in 2009 and was second on the team last season in receptions (53) yards (702) and TDs (6). A leg injury has slowed him this season thus far, but he did have 6 catches for 25 yards last week against the Rockets as well as 2 carries for 5 yards. He is dynamic and explosive and can get open downfield. McCrae is another explosive receiver who made a couple of starts and had 35 receptions for 545 yards and a team-leading 9 TDs in 2009. He had one reception in the opener and caught 3 passes for 32 yards last week. Dunlop started 2 games last season before injuries cut his year short at the halfway mark. He is another veteran player with good size and he runs good routes. He had 4 receptions for 53 yards and the team's only receiving TD to date last weekend.
The top reserve is senior Steven Goulet (#87). He started 3 games last season and the opener this year. He had 31 career receptions entering the season, and he caught 2 passes in each of the first 2 games. He can play both the F and Z positions. Also adding depth is junior Jerry Gross (#16), sophomores Bakari Bussey (#17) and Tyler Futrell (#81) and freshman Mario Dovell (#19). Bussey caught 2 passes for 35 yards in the opener.
WR Rating: B
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus Ohio State WRs
Dunlop: 5 catches, 57 yards, 1 TD, 11.4 YPR
McCrae: 4 catches, 36 yards, 0 TDs, 9.0 YPR
Brazill: 6 catches, 25 yards, 0 TDs, 4.2 YPR
Posey: 8 catches, 146 yards, 2 TDs, 18.3 YPR
Sanzenbacher: 6 catches, 150 yards, 1 TD, 25.0 YPR
There isn't a ton of star power here for the Bobcats, but Brazill and McCrae are dangerous downfield and there is plenty of quality depth and veteran leadership. The Buckeyes, on the opposite side, lack depth but have 2 front line players at the top of the chart. The Bobcats will probably have to throw the ball quite a bit Saturday, so the receivers will have a chance to prove themselves against a quality Buckeye secondary. If Pryor can get back into a rhythm throwing the ball, the Buckeye receivers have already demonstrated they are as good as anyone.
Edge: Ohio State
Tight Ends
TE #88 Jordan Thompson (6-4, 247, SO, Parkway HS, Rockford, OH)
The Bobcats are pretty deep at this position as well. Thompson started every game last season, catching 7 passes for 109 yards. He is more of a blocker had has good size and agility to help open up the running game. The backup and second TE is senior Nathan Caldwell (#45). He also has good size (6-5, 248) and is a very capable blocker. He caught a pair of passes last season and looks less likely to be involved in the passing game as a receiver.
TE Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus Ohio State TEs
Thompson: 1 catch, 12 yards, 0 TDs, 12.0 YPR
Stoneburner: 4 catches, 49 yards, 0 TDs, 12.3 YPR
The Bobcats have the TE as a regular position in the offense and will go to 2 TEs quite a bit. Thompson and Caldwell are more involved in blocking than receiving, and they are both good blockers. Stoneburner is a converted WR who should get more opportunities downfield. The Buckeyes went away from that last week...we'll see what this week brings.
Edge: Even
Offensive Line
LT #79 A.J. Strum (6-5, 293, JR, Franklin Regional HS, Delmont, PA)
LG #64 Vince Carlotta (6-4, 302, SO, Roger Bacon HS, Cincinnati, OH)
C #65 Skyler Allen (6-3, 290, SO, Fork Union HS, Mechanicsville, VA)
RG #77 Eric Herman (6-4, 317, SO, Central Catholic HS, Oregon, OH)
RT #78 Joe Flading (6-4, 290, JR, Anderson HS, Cincinnati, OH)
This group has several younger players that have decent size and agility. Most have starting experience, though many are at different positions in 2010. Flading is the most talented and experienced of the group, having been named 3rd team All-MAC last season. He made 8 starts at RT and was a good, strong blocker. Herman redshirted in 2008 and started 10 games at RG in 2009. He has good size and is a punishing interior blocker. On the left side, Strum and Carlotta split starts at LG in 2009, with Strum starting 9 games and Carlotta 2. This year, Strum moves out to play LT and Carlotta mans the LG spot. Both are capable but the left side might be more of a liability than the right side. Allen played very sparingly in the middle last year, so he is learning the nuances of the position at the college level as he plays. This unit will have to significantly increase their level of play if the offense is going to be successful, as they have had trouble running and throwing the ball thus far in 2010.
The reserves include a pair of seniors in Alex Mitchell (#68) in the middle and George Batsakes (#72) at RT, as well as freshmen Ryan McGrath (#60) at LT, Mark Smith (#52) at LG, and John Lechner (#66) at RG. Lechner is a monster (6-5, 332) who could be a future star.
OL Rating: C-
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus Ohio State OL
This line has some talent, especially in Flading, but the players are relatively inexperienced and the blocking has not been that good, considering the struggles in the passing game and the bottom falling out of the running game last week against Toledo. The Buckeyes should be able to pressure the QB and make some plays against the run in the backfield unless the line shows marked improvement. The Buckeye line is the best it has been in years and perhaps will lead them into making a championship run.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Offensive Analysis
There are some pieces here, and the Bobcats have plenty of program veterans who can provide leadership, but the signs have not been good in Athens in 2010 thus far. The inability to move the ball virtually at all against a Toledo team that gave up 500+ yards to Arizona was a very discouraging sign. The QB situation is in a state of flux for health reasons and the skill position players mostly appear to be average. The line hasn't played all that well either, so the blocking must improve significantly. Solich has been a successful coach, leading Ohio to the MAC championship game last year and to a bowl game. The losses from last season appear to be significant, however, and they have yet to show they have found adequate replacements for a number of positions. This is a bad time for the Bobcats to be running into the Buckeye defense.
Overall Offensive Rating: D
Defensive Coordinator Jimmy Burrow enters his 6th season at Ohio. After some growing pains upon his hire and change of schemes (from 3-4 to 4-3), the Ohio defense has steadily became one of the better MAC defenses. Last season the Bobcats led the nation in takeaways with 37, and 7 starters return from that unit, including leading tackler MLB Noah Keller (155) and the team leader in INTs, strong safety sophomore Gerald Moore. Burrow began his coaching career in 1981 at Washington State. After one year as TE Coach, he moved to the defensive side of the ball coaching DBs for the next five season. He then joined Iowa State's staff as secondary coach in 1987. Burrow stayed with the Cyclones eight seasons. In 1994 he was named co-defensive coordinator. From there, Burrow took a job as an assitant coach at Ames High School in Iowa from 1995-2000, the last two seasons of which he was the head coach. During this time, Burrow was also an assistant on the Iowa Barnstormers Arena Football League team. He returned to the college game in 2001, serving as a graduate assistant at Nebraska, before moving to North Dakota State along with then Husker Coordinator Craig Bohl. During his playing days, Burrow was a second team All Big Eight DB with the Cornhuskers. He was drafted by the Packers in the 1976 draft, but ended up playing most of his career in the Canadian Football League.
It may be a little early for a statistical comparison, it only being two games in to the season. Here are those stats nonetheless:
Stats......|.Pts..|Tot Yds.|Rush..|Pass..|INT...|Fumbl.|Sacks.|3rd D.|.pct.|1st Ds|TDs R|
Ohio.......|.15.0.| 216.0..|161.0.|.55.0.|4-69..|.5-3..|.1-11.|9-30..|.30%.|..26..|..3..|
Ohio State.|.15.5.| 275.5..|.82.0.|193.5.|5-154.|.4-2..|.3-24.|11.29.|.38%.|..30..|..0..|
...........|TDs P|RedZone|.pct.|Tds...|.pct.|.TOF.|
Ohio.......|..1..|.4-7...|.57%.|.3-7..|.43%.|30:34|
Ohio State.|..1..|.1-4...|.25%.|.1-4..|.25%.|27:00|
It must be noted, Ohio State's scoring defense average is skewed because of 3 TDs coming against the special teams. The defense itself has actually only given up 10 points this young season (5 per game). Perhaps a quick review of the areas above which Ohio leads Ohio State is instructive as to why one should put little emphasis on early season statistics. Ohio has given up an average of 216 yards total defense per game. Lost in that, however, is that Ohio has played Wofford and Toledo while Ohio State has played Marshall - who showed last Friday that they may be better than the 45-7 beating they took in the opener, and Miami of Florida which may well be the class of the ACC. Look for these numbers to change dramatically over the next several weeks. Nonetheless, Ohio's pass defense - while not truly a 55 yard per game unit - is still pretty darn good, and certainly strong enough to be among the top MAC units once leauge play begins. Ohio struggled a bit against the run last season, however, and those struggles are indicated again, albeit just two games thus far.
It may be a little early for a statistical comparison, it only being two games in to the season. Here are those stats nonetheless:
Stats......|.Pts..|Tot Yds.|Rush..|Pass..|INT...|Fumbl.|Sacks.|3rd D.|.pct.|1st Ds|TDs R|
Ohio.......|.15.0.| 216.0..|161.0.|.55.0.|4-69..|.5-3..|.1-11.|9-30..|.30%.|..26..|..3..|
Ohio State.|.15.5.| 275.5..|.82.0.|193.5.|5-154.|.4-2..|.3-24.|11.29.|.38%.|..30..|..0..|
...........|TDs P|RedZone|.pct.|Tds...|.pct.|.TOF.|
Ohio.......|..1..|.4-7...|.57%.|.3-7..|.43%.|30:34|
Ohio State.|..1..|.1-4...|.25%.|.1-4..|.25%.|27:00|
It must be noted, Ohio State's scoring defense average is skewed because of 3 TDs coming against the special teams. The defense itself has actually only given up 10 points this young season (5 per game). Perhaps a quick review of the areas above which Ohio leads Ohio State is instructive as to why one should put little emphasis on early season statistics. Ohio has given up an average of 216 yards total defense per game. Lost in that, however, is that Ohio has played Wofford and Toledo while Ohio State has played Marshall - who showed last Friday that they may be better than the 45-7 beating they took in the opener, and Miami of Florida which may well be the class of the ACC. Look for these numbers to change dramatically over the next several weeks. Nonetheless, Ohio's pass defense - while not truly a 55 yard per game unit - is still pretty darn good, and certainly strong enough to be among the top MAC units once leauge play begins. Ohio struggled a bit against the run last season, however, and those struggles are indicated again, albeit just two games thus far.
Defensive Line
DE #36 Stafford Gatling, (6-4, 239, Sr.)
DT #95 Ernie Hodge, (6-2, 292, Sr.)
NT #62 Marcellis Williamson, (6-1, 340, Sr.)
DE #51 Dak Notestine, (6-3, 250, Sr.)
Senior NT Marcellis Williamson is a load in the middle looking to build on a somewhat up and down 2009 which nonetheless saw him make 45 stops, with 6.5 behind the line with 1.5 sacks. The big fella has 9 tackles with half a TFL thus far in 2010. Returning at the other tackle position, Hodge brings legitimate size and All MAC abilitiy. More of a run stuffer then a pass rusher, the senior has overcome early off the field problems to become a team leader. He has recorded 5 tackles with 1 coming behind the LOS thus far. The ends are both smaller and more reliant on speed than power. Notestine led the team with 6.5 sacks last season, while also making 10 stops behind the line. The 6-4 senior played several snaps at WR in high school and has developed in to an All MAC performer at end. In this young season, the senior has been all over the place and is second on the team in tackles with 13, with 1.5 TFLs. Finally, Ohio has a fourth senior starting on the other end. Over the early portion of his career, Gatling didn't do much to establish himself as an asset. However, he had a solid junior campaign where he got stronger in terms of performance as the year progressed. He can improve as a pass rusher, but displays a good motor. If he can build on that improvement seen in 2009 this season, Ohio will be quite happy. The early indication is positive, as Gatling is 3rd on the team in tackles with 12 and also has 1.5 TFls.
Ends #90 Tremayne Scott, (6-4, 249, So.) and #99 Curtis Meyers, (6-2, 257, Jr.), and tackles, #93 Neal Huynh, (6-3, 279, So.) and #98 Jeff King, (6-1, 269), Jr., provide depth on the line. Meyers suffered an ACL tear in 09, but has made his way back and has seen action in both contests this season. He has 6 stops and a pick. Huynh is not quite as large as the men in front of him, but brings more speed to the interior when he's in. He has 4 tackles in two games thus far. Scott has also seen action in both contests this season while recording 5 tackles. King, however, has not yet recorded any defensive statistics.
DL Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus OSU DL
While Ohio's linemen have recorded more tackles overall, there's little comparison in terms of talent. There is not one D-Linemen in the Ohio State two-deep which would not be an absolute stud in the MAC. Led by senior Cam Heyward, the Buckeyes unit has done a great job causing disruption, even if not making the sack. Despite lower overall tackling numbers, the Buckeyes front line has more TFLs. The Buckeyes enjoy superior athleticism and are not afraid to disguise blitzes and coverages which include linemen dropping into coverage which resulted in two picks against the Hurricanes last week, including an 80 yard return by Heyward. As the rushing numbers attest, the Buckeyes have been better limiting opposing ball carriers, while the Bobcats have been relatively gutted by Toledo and Wofford to the tune of 161 yards per contest. Ohio should expect improvement with those numbers over the course of the season, but it is a tall order to see that improvement this week. While Ohio State might suffer some post Miami let down, there's little hope Ohio will be able to contain Pryor if he chooses to run, and surely at least one of Ohio State's 5 game ready tailbacks will be ready to play Saturday. It'll be interesting to see if the Buckeyes come out as they did against Marshall, looking to dispose of the Bobcats early, or if the game looks more like the 2008 affair. Much will be learned by watching the line(s) when answering those questions.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
SLB #22 Shannon Ballard, (5-11, 193, Sr.)
MLB #47 Noah Keller, (6-1, 227, Sr.)
WLB #30 Eric Benjamin, (5-11, 211, Jr.)
Keller is simply a tackling machine. The MAC's defensive player of the year recorded 11 tackles per game, two sacks and a pick to go along with 9 tackles for loss and a couple forced fumbles. A high energy guy, Keller capped off 2009 with 17 tackles against Marshall in the bowl game, after recording 16 against Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game. Obviously, Keller isn't afraid to bring the wood, but has also proven quite able in coverage. As expected, the leader of the defense is first on the team in tackles thus far with 20. He has one sack, has forced a fumble and blocked a kick. Expect to hear his name often on Saturday. On the strong side, senior Shannon Ballard looks more like a cornerback than a linebacker. Nonetheless, Ballard earned spot starts in 2009 and despite what may appear to be a size disadvantage has proven to be a sound open field tackler. It shouldn't come as a surprise he can go step-for-step with most TEs, but a bigger pass catching TE might enjoy an advantage. Ballard has 6 stops thus far. Benjamin is the only junior among the front seven and enters the starting line up in place of the out-going All MAC star, Lee Renfro. Mostly a special teams performer thus far, Benjamin was fairly consistent when on the field and could develop in to a force now that he's at the top of the depth chart. He has 11 stops in the early 2010 season.
Depth at LB comes from #46 Alphonso Lewis, (6-1, 206, So.), #14 Jay Edwards, (6-0, 228, Jr.), and #44 Chad Clemens, (5-11, 214, Sr.). Clemens leads the reserves with 11 tackles and is a force on the special teams where he blocked two kicks in the bowl game against Marshall. He is able to play each of the LB positions, but is Benjamin's primary back up. Lewis, while bigger than Ballard, is still only safety size. Nonetheless he's a sure tackler when he gets the chance and should become the starter once Ballard graduates. He has four tackles thus far and a team leading 2 for loss. Edwards' biggest problem may be the fact that he plays behind Keller. A former running back, he'll be expected to fill very big shoes in 2011. He has yet to record a tackle in 2010.
LB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus OSU LBs
The Bobcats may possess the strongest LB corps in the MAC and Keller, as his numbers attest, is a force in the middle. However, the unit does little to help generate pressure on QBs and early indications suggest that the group could help out more in run support. The Buckeyes, as with the D-Line, enjoy talent upgrades at every position, and go several men deeper on the bench. While the Buckeyes anticipate redshirting Eteinne Sabino, there's little question #6 would be "the Man" (taking nothing away from Keller) if he were in Athens. Ross Homan leads the Buckeyes with 14 tackles, while Brian Rolle continues to make plays all over the field. While the Buckeyes have faced primarily passing attacks thus far, whether it's nickleback/star Tyler Moller or Andrew Sweat on the field, Ohio doesn't have comparable talents. Again, the Bobcats will be among the best MAC units and Ohio fans will probably feel this review is under-informed. But as against the bigger, faster Buckeyes the comparison simply isn't that close, even if Keller ends up leading all players in tackles - which is a pretty safe bet.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #9 Julian Posey, 5-11, 187, Sr.
FS #42 Steven Jackson, 6-2, 198, Sr.
SS #13 Gerald Moore, 6-1, 191, So.
CB #4 Omar Leftwich, 6-1, 190, Jr.
Posey is the older brother of Ohio State WR Devier Posey and has the ability to be the best corner in the Mid American Conference. While he struggled with lower leg problems limiting his production last season, he brings senior leadership and all the tools to lock his man down. Like his brother, Posey possesses good hands and can be deadly once the ball is in his hands. He already has 3 pass break-ups this season, to go along with 4 tackles and a 38 yard fumble return. Posey v. Posey will be one to watch this Saturday. The other corner is manned by Leftwich, a JUCO transfer who brings physicality to the position, though he may be better suited for free safety. Still, the former Fort Scott Community College stand out has good range and brings very good size to the position. He has 4 tackles and half a TFL thus far. Jackson, like Posey, bring senior leadership. He was off to a good 2009 before his season came to an early end due to a knee injury and has had other injury troubles during his career as well. He is better when the ball is on the ground and has 12 tackles this season. He needs to be more consistent, however, when the ball is in the air. Moore, just a sophomore, was outstanding as a frosh where he recorded 6 picks and made 68 tackles. Barring injury or the like, he has the potential to go down as the best Ohio has ever had at the position. Unfortunately, Moore suffered a foot injury in the opener which made him questionable against the Rockets last week and he has not yet recorded any numbers as a result. The Bobcats hope he can return this week, but as of this writing, that is up in the air. Ohio is better with him on the field.
Backuips are corners: #31 Kenny Jackson, (5-9, 168, Jr.) and #18 Travis Carrie, (6-0, 203, So.), and safeties: #29 Donovan Fletcher, (6-0, 201, Sr.), and #6 Hilton Dawson, (6-0, 207, Sr.). Fletcher has been filling the void left by Moore and is himself a starter caliber player. The Senior has proven able in relief this season, recording 8 tackles and a 14 yard INT. Carrie has 4 tackles this season so far and finds himself as the option at nickel. He had a brilliant freshman season, but ended up redshirting last last season. Built like a safety, he can handle the edge just fine. Dawson has 5 stops while Kenny Jackson has one stop. Both have played in each contest this season.
DB Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus OSU DBs
Ohio's secondary is solid and like the other units will state a strong case as being the best in the MAC. As mentioned, the unit is better when Moore is on the field, but the dropoff with Fletcher is far from extreme. The group takes some chances, but has also achieved results, gaining quite a few INTs over the last several seasons, including 20 last year. Hidden in this, however, is that Ohio hasn't exactly played well against teams which are among the better passing attacks. They're good, no question, but don't expect them to limit the Buckeyes to 55 yards as the current average implies. Ohio State enjoys the services of outstanding DBs of their own, including Walter Camp defensive player of the week Chimdi Chekwa, who recorded two interceptions against the Canes. The Buckeyes suffered a bit of a blow when new starting safety CJ Barnett left the game with a knee injury which is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. He was quickly establishing himself as the Buckeyes next great safety before the injury and there's no reason to think he's going to suffer long term. He'll be replaced by Orhian Johnson - the projected starter coming out of spring camp. Both schools' secondaries are solid units and are capable of creating turnovers and delivering timely big hits. Ohio State's unit, however, gets the edge owing to enjoying an overall talent level which is higher than Ohio's. The Buckeyes are also quite a bit deeper at the position, and that depth possess a higher degree of potential than does Ohio. The nature of the beast as between MAC and Big Ten football, really, as the Bobcats will be just fine in league play.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Ohio has everything it takes to be an outstanding MAC defense. Ohio's stop forces have made steady improvement since Burrow joined the staff and there's little reason to anticipate a drop in production any time soon. That notwithstanding, the Buckeyes should be able to find room to run as well as room to throw if they come ready to play as they did against Marshall and Miami. Pryor didn't look quite as good passing the ball against the Canes as he did against the Herd, but was productive through the air even if inaccurate. Pryor relied on his legs more against the Canes, and if he did so against the Bobcats would gain yards in chunks but you should anticipate that the junior goes back to work on his pocket presence this week more than he looks to run. It's hard to gain much insight from the early numbers, as there is little hope that the Ohio secondary will limit the Buckeyes to 55 yards through the air, though we can be sure the ball hawking group will take advantage of any mistakes. Ohio State should aim to make Ohio one dimensional as soon as possible, putting the game on the arm of Boo Jackson who threw 3 picks the last time Ohio made a visit to the 'Shoe. Jackson saw some success scrambling in 2008 and Ohio State will need to keep an eye on him this go around as well. Posey v. Posey will be an interesting match up as both brothers possess a high level of skill, and quite naturally, know each others "game." You will hear Keller's name called frequently, but when the dust settles (err.. the rubber pellets?), Ohio State should be well ahead on the scoreboard and the standard statistical categories.
Overall Defensive Rating: C+
2010 Ohio Bobcats Special Teams PreviewDE #36 Stafford Gatling, (6-4, 239, Sr.)
DT #95 Ernie Hodge, (6-2, 292, Sr.)
NT #62 Marcellis Williamson, (6-1, 340, Sr.)
DE #51 Dak Notestine, (6-3, 250, Sr.)
Senior NT Marcellis Williamson is a load in the middle looking to build on a somewhat up and down 2009 which nonetheless saw him make 45 stops, with 6.5 behind the line with 1.5 sacks. The big fella has 9 tackles with half a TFL thus far in 2010. Returning at the other tackle position, Hodge brings legitimate size and All MAC abilitiy. More of a run stuffer then a pass rusher, the senior has overcome early off the field problems to become a team leader. He has recorded 5 tackles with 1 coming behind the LOS thus far. The ends are both smaller and more reliant on speed than power. Notestine led the team with 6.5 sacks last season, while also making 10 stops behind the line. The 6-4 senior played several snaps at WR in high school and has developed in to an All MAC performer at end. In this young season, the senior has been all over the place and is second on the team in tackles with 13, with 1.5 TFLs. Finally, Ohio has a fourth senior starting on the other end. Over the early portion of his career, Gatling didn't do much to establish himself as an asset. However, he had a solid junior campaign where he got stronger in terms of performance as the year progressed. He can improve as a pass rusher, but displays a good motor. If he can build on that improvement seen in 2009 this season, Ohio will be quite happy. The early indication is positive, as Gatling is 3rd on the team in tackles with 12 and also has 1.5 TFls.
Ends #90 Tremayne Scott, (6-4, 249, So.) and #99 Curtis Meyers, (6-2, 257, Jr.), and tackles, #93 Neal Huynh, (6-3, 279, So.) and #98 Jeff King, (6-1, 269), Jr., provide depth on the line. Meyers suffered an ACL tear in 09, but has made his way back and has seen action in both contests this season. He has 6 stops and a pick. Huynh is not quite as large as the men in front of him, but brings more speed to the interior when he's in. He has 4 tackles in two games thus far. Scott has also seen action in both contests this season while recording 5 tackles. King, however, has not yet recorded any defensive statistics.
DL Rating: C
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus OSU DL
While Ohio's linemen have recorded more tackles overall, there's little comparison in terms of talent. There is not one D-Linemen in the Ohio State two-deep which would not be an absolute stud in the MAC. Led by senior Cam Heyward, the Buckeyes unit has done a great job causing disruption, even if not making the sack. Despite lower overall tackling numbers, the Buckeyes front line has more TFLs. The Buckeyes enjoy superior athleticism and are not afraid to disguise blitzes and coverages which include linemen dropping into coverage which resulted in two picks against the Hurricanes last week, including an 80 yard return by Heyward. As the rushing numbers attest, the Buckeyes have been better limiting opposing ball carriers, while the Bobcats have been relatively gutted by Toledo and Wofford to the tune of 161 yards per contest. Ohio should expect improvement with those numbers over the course of the season, but it is a tall order to see that improvement this week. While Ohio State might suffer some post Miami let down, there's little hope Ohio will be able to contain Pryor if he chooses to run, and surely at least one of Ohio State's 5 game ready tailbacks will be ready to play Saturday. It'll be interesting to see if the Buckeyes come out as they did against Marshall, looking to dispose of the Bobcats early, or if the game looks more like the 2008 affair. Much will be learned by watching the line(s) when answering those questions.
Edge: Ohio State
Linebackers
SLB #22 Shannon Ballard, (5-11, 193, Sr.)
MLB #47 Noah Keller, (6-1, 227, Sr.)
WLB #30 Eric Benjamin, (5-11, 211, Jr.)
Keller is simply a tackling machine. The MAC's defensive player of the year recorded 11 tackles per game, two sacks and a pick to go along with 9 tackles for loss and a couple forced fumbles. A high energy guy, Keller capped off 2009 with 17 tackles against Marshall in the bowl game, after recording 16 against Central Michigan in the MAC Championship Game. Obviously, Keller isn't afraid to bring the wood, but has also proven quite able in coverage. As expected, the leader of the defense is first on the team in tackles thus far with 20. He has one sack, has forced a fumble and blocked a kick. Expect to hear his name often on Saturday. On the strong side, senior Shannon Ballard looks more like a cornerback than a linebacker. Nonetheless, Ballard earned spot starts in 2009 and despite what may appear to be a size disadvantage has proven to be a sound open field tackler. It shouldn't come as a surprise he can go step-for-step with most TEs, but a bigger pass catching TE might enjoy an advantage. Ballard has 6 stops thus far. Benjamin is the only junior among the front seven and enters the starting line up in place of the out-going All MAC star, Lee Renfro. Mostly a special teams performer thus far, Benjamin was fairly consistent when on the field and could develop in to a force now that he's at the top of the depth chart. He has 11 stops in the early 2010 season.
Depth at LB comes from #46 Alphonso Lewis, (6-1, 206, So.), #14 Jay Edwards, (6-0, 228, Jr.), and #44 Chad Clemens, (5-11, 214, Sr.). Clemens leads the reserves with 11 tackles and is a force on the special teams where he blocked two kicks in the bowl game against Marshall. He is able to play each of the LB positions, but is Benjamin's primary back up. Lewis, while bigger than Ballard, is still only safety size. Nonetheless he's a sure tackler when he gets the chance and should become the starter once Ballard graduates. He has four tackles thus far and a team leading 2 for loss. Edwards' biggest problem may be the fact that he plays behind Keller. A former running back, he'll be expected to fill very big shoes in 2011. He has yet to record a tackle in 2010.
LB Rating: C+
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus OSU LBs
The Bobcats may possess the strongest LB corps in the MAC and Keller, as his numbers attest, is a force in the middle. However, the unit does little to help generate pressure on QBs and early indications suggest that the group could help out more in run support. The Buckeyes, as with the D-Line, enjoy talent upgrades at every position, and go several men deeper on the bench. While the Buckeyes anticipate redshirting Eteinne Sabino, there's little question #6 would be "the Man" (taking nothing away from Keller) if he were in Athens. Ross Homan leads the Buckeyes with 14 tackles, while Brian Rolle continues to make plays all over the field. While the Buckeyes have faced primarily passing attacks thus far, whether it's nickleback/star Tyler Moller or Andrew Sweat on the field, Ohio doesn't have comparable talents. Again, the Bobcats will be among the best MAC units and Ohio fans will probably feel this review is under-informed. But as against the bigger, faster Buckeyes the comparison simply isn't that close, even if Keller ends up leading all players in tackles - which is a pretty safe bet.
Edge: Ohio State
Secondary
CB #9 Julian Posey, 5-11, 187, Sr.
FS #42 Steven Jackson, 6-2, 198, Sr.
SS #13 Gerald Moore, 6-1, 191, So.
CB #4 Omar Leftwich, 6-1, 190, Jr.
Posey is the older brother of Ohio State WR Devier Posey and has the ability to be the best corner in the Mid American Conference. While he struggled with lower leg problems limiting his production last season, he brings senior leadership and all the tools to lock his man down. Like his brother, Posey possesses good hands and can be deadly once the ball is in his hands. He already has 3 pass break-ups this season, to go along with 4 tackles and a 38 yard fumble return. Posey v. Posey will be one to watch this Saturday. The other corner is manned by Leftwich, a JUCO transfer who brings physicality to the position, though he may be better suited for free safety. Still, the former Fort Scott Community College stand out has good range and brings very good size to the position. He has 4 tackles and half a TFL thus far. Jackson, like Posey, bring senior leadership. He was off to a good 2009 before his season came to an early end due to a knee injury and has had other injury troubles during his career as well. He is better when the ball is on the ground and has 12 tackles this season. He needs to be more consistent, however, when the ball is in the air. Moore, just a sophomore, was outstanding as a frosh where he recorded 6 picks and made 68 tackles. Barring injury or the like, he has the potential to go down as the best Ohio has ever had at the position. Unfortunately, Moore suffered a foot injury in the opener which made him questionable against the Rockets last week and he has not yet recorded any numbers as a result. The Bobcats hope he can return this week, but as of this writing, that is up in the air. Ohio is better with him on the field.
Backuips are corners: #31 Kenny Jackson, (5-9, 168, Jr.) and #18 Travis Carrie, (6-0, 203, So.), and safeties: #29 Donovan Fletcher, (6-0, 201, Sr.), and #6 Hilton Dawson, (6-0, 207, Sr.). Fletcher has been filling the void left by Moore and is himself a starter caliber player. The Senior has proven able in relief this season, recording 8 tackles and a 14 yard INT. Carrie has 4 tackles this season so far and finds himself as the option at nickel. He had a brilliant freshman season, but ended up redshirting last last season. Built like a safety, he can handle the edge just fine. Dawson has 5 stops while Kenny Jackson has one stop. Both have played in each contest this season.
DB Rating: B-
Head-to-Head: Ohio versus OSU DBs
Ohio's secondary is solid and like the other units will state a strong case as being the best in the MAC. As mentioned, the unit is better when Moore is on the field, but the dropoff with Fletcher is far from extreme. The group takes some chances, but has also achieved results, gaining quite a few INTs over the last several seasons, including 20 last year. Hidden in this, however, is that Ohio hasn't exactly played well against teams which are among the better passing attacks. They're good, no question, but don't expect them to limit the Buckeyes to 55 yards as the current average implies. Ohio State enjoys the services of outstanding DBs of their own, including Walter Camp defensive player of the week Chimdi Chekwa, who recorded two interceptions against the Canes. The Buckeyes suffered a bit of a blow when new starting safety CJ Barnett left the game with a knee injury which is likely to keep him out for the rest of the season. He was quickly establishing himself as the Buckeyes next great safety before the injury and there's no reason to think he's going to suffer long term. He'll be replaced by Orhian Johnson - the projected starter coming out of spring camp. Both schools' secondaries are solid units and are capable of creating turnovers and delivering timely big hits. Ohio State's unit, however, gets the edge owing to enjoying an overall talent level which is higher than Ohio's. The Buckeyes are also quite a bit deeper at the position, and that depth possess a higher degree of potential than does Ohio. The nature of the beast as between MAC and Big Ten football, really, as the Bobcats will be just fine in league play.
Edge: Ohio State
Overall Defensive Analysis
Ohio has everything it takes to be an outstanding MAC defense. Ohio's stop forces have made steady improvement since Burrow joined the staff and there's little reason to anticipate a drop in production any time soon. That notwithstanding, the Buckeyes should be able to find room to run as well as room to throw if they come ready to play as they did against Marshall and Miami. Pryor didn't look quite as good passing the ball against the Canes as he did against the Herd, but was productive through the air even if inaccurate. Pryor relied on his legs more against the Canes, and if he did so against the Bobcats would gain yards in chunks but you should anticipate that the junior goes back to work on his pocket presence this week more than he looks to run. It's hard to gain much insight from the early numbers, as there is little hope that the Ohio secondary will limit the Buckeyes to 55 yards through the air, though we can be sure the ball hawking group will take advantage of any mistakes. Ohio State should aim to make Ohio one dimensional as soon as possible, putting the game on the arm of Boo Jackson who threw 3 picks the last time Ohio made a visit to the 'Shoe. Jackson saw some success scrambling in 2008 and Ohio State will need to keep an eye on him this go around as well. Posey v. Posey will be an interesting match up as both brothers possess a high level of skill, and quite naturally, know each others "game." You will hear Keller's name called frequently, but when the dust settles (err.. the rubber pellets?), Ohio State should be well ahead on the scoreboard and the standard statistical categories.
Overall Defensive Rating: C+
South Carolina and Texas A&M. Those are the only two schools who allowed more touchdowns in 2009 (3) on Kickoff and Punt Returns than Ohio State has so far this year (2). Trouble is, the Gamecocks and the Aggies had 13 games to do it, it has taken OSU 2 games. The Buckeyes are on track to allow 13 return TDs and 19.5 TDs total on Special Teams. That would obliterate the record. That being said, look for improved Special Teams play, because word is out that the poor play of the (not so) Special Teams has gotten Coach Tressel's attention and extra work has been put in by the units.
Special Teams
OHIO
P #41 Paul Hershey (6-3, 198, Jr., Fremont HS, Fremont, OH)
PK #49 Matt Weller (6-0, 208, So., Twinsburg HS, Twinsburg, OH)
KO #96 Kyle Clinton (6-1, 193, Fr., Coffman HS, Dublin, OH)
PR #7 LaVon Brazill (Sr., 5-11, 191, Sr., Lake Worth HS, Lantana, FL)
PR #18 Travis Carrie (R-So., 6-0, 203, So., La Salle HS, Antioch, CA)
KR #9 Julian Posey (5-11, 187, LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, OH)
KR #16 Ryan Clark (5-9, 169, So., Nordonia HS, Macedonia, OH)
LS #48 Jeremy LaVoie (R-So., 6-1, 218, So., Beavercreek HS, Beavercreek, OH)
Hldr #41 Paul Hershey (6-3, 198, Jr., Fremont HS, Fremont, OH)
OHIO STATE
P #17 Ben Buchanon (6-0, 195, Fr., Westerville Central HS, Westerville, OH)
PK #24 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr., McDonough HS, Annapolis, MD)
KO #24 Drew Basil (6-1, 206, Fr., Chillicothe HS, Chillicothe, OH)
PR #8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 200, Jr., LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, OH)
PR #10 Corey Brown (5-10, 170, Fr., Cardinal O'Hara HS, Upper Darby, PA)
PR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr., Harding HS, Warren, OH)
KR #3 Brandon Saine (6-1, 219, Sr., Piqua HS, Piqua, OH)
KR #4 Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200, Fr., Palmetto HS, Pinecrest, FL)
LS #96 Jake McQuaide (6-3, 234, Sr., Elder HS, Cincinnati, OH)
Hldr #14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr., Lincoln HS, Stasburg, VA)
tOSU enters the game against in-state Ohio University needing to gain some confidence in their coverage units. They resorted to pooch-punting against Miami. This cut down on big returns but almost guaranteed great field position for the Hurricanes. Devin Barclay has been fairly good, hitting 5 of 6 chip shots against Miami. Drew Basil has gotten decent depth on his kickoffs. Buchanan is averaging 36.38 yards per punt. Improvement is needed in almost every facet.
Ohio State Special Teams Rating: D
The Bobcats counter with punter Paul Hershey who took over last year for Matt Schulte who was dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons right before the Little Caesar's Bowl Game. Hershey is averaging 36 yards per punt in 2 games. Handling the return duties is LaVon Brazill, a speedster from Florida. Brazill is a preseason All-America as tabbed by The Sporting News, Phil Steele, NationalChamps.net and Consensus Draft Services. Kickoff returner Julian Posey is having a fine year and is averaging 25+ yards per return. Place kicker Matt Weller is 4-4 on FGs and is 4-5 in PATs.
Ohio Special Teams Rating: C
The Bottom line is that the Bobcats simply don't have the athletes that Ohio State has. Brazill and Julian Posey are dangerous, but the supporting cast is not up to the standards set by the Buckeyes. This should be a game in which the Buckeyes get their confidence in their special teams back.
Edge: Ohio State (on paper)
Predictions
OHIO
P #41 Paul Hershey (6-3, 198, Jr., Fremont HS, Fremont, OH)
PK #49 Matt Weller (6-0, 208, So., Twinsburg HS, Twinsburg, OH)
KO #96 Kyle Clinton (6-1, 193, Fr., Coffman HS, Dublin, OH)
PR #7 LaVon Brazill (Sr., 5-11, 191, Sr., Lake Worth HS, Lantana, FL)
PR #18 Travis Carrie (R-So., 6-0, 203, So., La Salle HS, Antioch, CA)
KR #9 Julian Posey (5-11, 187, LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, OH)
KR #16 Ryan Clark (5-9, 169, So., Nordonia HS, Macedonia, OH)
LS #48 Jeremy LaVoie (R-So., 6-1, 218, So., Beavercreek HS, Beavercreek, OH)
Hldr #41 Paul Hershey (6-3, 198, Jr., Fremont HS, Fremont, OH)
OHIO STATE
P #17 Ben Buchanon (6-0, 195, Fr., Westerville Central HS, Westerville, OH)
PK #24 Devin Barclay (5-10, 204, Sr., McDonough HS, Annapolis, MD)
KO #24 Drew Basil (6-1, 206, Fr., Chillicothe HS, Chillicothe, OH)
PR #8 DeVier Posey (6-2, 200, Jr., LaSalle HS, Cincinnati, OH)
PR #10 Corey Brown (5-10, 170, Fr., Cardinal O'Hara HS, Upper Darby, PA)
PR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #7 Jordan Hall (5-9, 195, So., Jeanette HS, Jeanette, PA)
KR #1 Dan Herron (5-10, 202, Jr., Harding HS, Warren, OH)
KR #3 Brandon Saine (6-1, 219, Sr., Piqua HS, Piqua, OH)
KR #4 Jaamal Berry (5-10, 200, Fr., Palmetto HS, Pinecrest, FL)
LS #96 Jake McQuaide (6-3, 234, Sr., Elder HS, Cincinnati, OH)
Hldr #14 Joe Bauserman (6-1, 233, Jr., Lincoln HS, Stasburg, VA)
tOSU enters the game against in-state Ohio University needing to gain some confidence in their coverage units. They resorted to pooch-punting against Miami. This cut down on big returns but almost guaranteed great field position for the Hurricanes. Devin Barclay has been fairly good, hitting 5 of 6 chip shots against Miami. Drew Basil has gotten decent depth on his kickoffs. Buchanan is averaging 36.38 yards per punt. Improvement is needed in almost every facet.
Ohio State Special Teams Rating: D
The Bobcats counter with punter Paul Hershey who took over last year for Matt Schulte who was dismissed from the team for disciplinary reasons right before the Little Caesar's Bowl Game. Hershey is averaging 36 yards per punt in 2 games. Handling the return duties is LaVon Brazill, a speedster from Florida. Brazill is a preseason All-America as tabbed by The Sporting News, Phil Steele, NationalChamps.net and Consensus Draft Services. Kickoff returner Julian Posey is having a fine year and is averaging 25+ yards per return. Place kicker Matt Weller is 4-4 on FGs and is 4-5 in PATs.
Ohio Special Teams Rating: C
The Bottom line is that the Bobcats simply don't have the athletes that Ohio State has. Brazill and Julian Posey are dangerous, but the supporting cast is not up to the standards set by the Buckeyes. This should be a game in which the Buckeyes get their confidence in their special teams back.
Edge: Ohio State (on paper)
Predictions
BB73's prediction: 38-10, Ohio State
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 45-3, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 31-7, Ohio State
Bucky Katt's prediction: 44-3, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 44-0, Ohio State
JCOSU86's Prediction: 34-0, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State
Previous Game's Results (tOSU 36 - Miami 24)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(19) jwinslow's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State (3 + 16 last week = 19)
(21) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 31-13, Ohio State (5 + 16 last week = 21)
(28) Bucklion's prediction: 31-27, Ohio State (20 + 08 last week = 28)
(33) JCOSU86's prediction: 24-17, Ohio State (14 + 19 last week= 33)
(35) Bucky Katt's prediction: 23-17, Ohio State (15 + 20 last week = 35)
(39) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 24-7, Ohio State (10 + 29 last week = 39)
(41) BB73's prediction: 23-13 Ohio State (17 + 24 last week = 41)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed.
Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 45-3, Ohio State
Bucklion's prediction: 31-7, Ohio State
Bucky Katt's prediction: 44-3, Ohio State
DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 44-0, Ohio State
JCOSU86's Prediction: 34-0, Ohio State
jwinslow's prediction: ??-??, Ohio State
Previous Game's Results (tOSU 36 - Miami 24)
Low score wins the year long battle of prediction supremacy! (Difference of actual score versus predicted score. 10 point penalty for picking the losing team.)
(19) jwinslow's prediction: 27-17, Ohio State (3 + 16 last week = 19)
(21) DaddyBigBucks's prediction: 31-13, Ohio State (5 + 16 last week = 21)
(28) Bucklion's prediction: 31-27, Ohio State (20 + 08 last week = 28)
(33) JCOSU86's prediction: 24-17, Ohio State (14 + 19 last week= 33)
(35) Bucky Katt's prediction: 23-17, Ohio State (15 + 20 last week = 35)
(39) Buckeyeskickbuttocks' prediction: 24-7, Ohio State (10 + 29 last week = 39)
(41) BB73's prediction: 23-13 Ohio State (17 + 24 last week = 41)
Adjusted scores for weeks missed. Participant must take the highest score from the week they missed.
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