Are the Young Bucks Underperforming?

[DaddyBigBucks]

I agree with your premise...however, IMHO, the perception of rebuiling or reloading will depend on the performance of the new QB.

Bingo...

I was going to say much the same, but punted when I realized that the multi-quote thing isn't working (for me) right now.

One guy says "rebuilding as it were"...
another says "..not in the traditional sense".

I bet they mean almost exactly the same thing.

Let's face it people; you don't lose Troy Smith and chart the same course. Is it POSSIBLE that whoever starts next year will have a monster year. Ok, yeah, I'm enough of a homer to admit it's a possibility. But for the love of Hannukah at least admit the probability that we will not be National Champions with a first year starting QB.

It happens, but there are 119 Div. IA teams trying for the same thing. Let's not be so spoiled that we expect it every year.

 

[osugrad21]

Example: Colt McCoy and Texas

 

[daddyphatsacs]

Example: Colt McCoy and Texas

Or you could even argue Booty at USC, though they lost much more than Leinart last season.

 

[martinss01]

Not so fast on next years team...Don't right them off just yet.

I have to disagree with you. With the talent Tressel is recruiting, he have amazing depth. We won't be seeing rebuilding years, at least not in the traditional sense of the word.

One guy says "rebuilding as it were"...
another says "..not in the traditional sense".

I bet they mean almost exactly the same thing.

Example: Colt McCoy and Texas

looks like i don't have to reply after all

 

[exhawg]

I don't see next year as a rebuilding year. Most of the defense will be back and the offense will have most of the OL, Pittman, Wells, and some good WR's (regardless if any go early). The only position that has to be replaced is QB, but I'm sure Smith and Zwick would have loved to be thrown into next years offense rather than the WTF offense that JT was running back then. It took JT half of the 2004 season to figure out what to do with the offense, and both QB's have looked good (for the most part) since. Of course I don't subscribe to the "Troy is the best thing since sliced bread theory" either so my opinion about next year will be tainted by that.

 

[AJHawkfan]

But for the love of Hannukah at least admit the probability that we will not be National Champions with a first year starting QB.

It happens, but there are 119 Div. IA teams trying for the same thing. Let's not be so spoiled that we expect it every year.

Agreed. National Championship teams are extremely special. Regardless of who is starting, I would never consider us to be the probable national champions. Having a first year QB does make it tough to win the NC, but it has been done. Tee Martin following Peyton Manning is the first example that comes to mind.

Anyway, back to the point at hand, we're undefeated, ranked #1 and are in the top 3 in the nation in scoring defense. It's tough for me to suggest anyone is underperforming.

 

[WaitingforKickoff]

I don't see next year as a rebuilding year. Most of the defense will be back and the offense will have most of the OL, Pittman, Wells, and some good WR's (regardless if any go early). The only position that has to be replaced is QB, but I'm sure Smith and Zwick would have loved to be thrown into next years offense rather than the WTF offense that JT was running back then. It took JT half of the 2004 season to figure out what to do with the offense, and both QB's have looked good (for the most part) since. Of course I don't subscribe to the "Troy is the best thing since sliced bread theory" either so my opinion about next year will be tainted by that.

I agree that next year won't be a building year based on how well a number of young players have performed. We can just go down the list.
On offense:
Brian Robiskie: has a good frame, a great knowledge of the game and is continuously getting better.
Brian Hartline: has top speed, great with the ball after the catch, and will be the most physical WR that we've had for a while.
Ray Small: has a very nice burst of speed. Very similar to the last guy who wore #4.
Chris Wells: after Smith, the next Buckeye to win the Heisman
Boone and Rehring: dominant left side

On defense:
Malcolm Jenkins: we've heard about how he shutdown Boatneng in the HS all star game. And now we are seeing him shutting down some of the best WRs on the college level. Simply a fantastic athlete.
Vernon Gholston: he has performed beyond our most optimistic expectations. The scary thing is that he is having his breakout season as a sophomore. Think of what he will do the next two seasons!
James Laurinaitis: all I can say is...only a sophomore
Donald Washington and Andre Amos are getting better every week. Anderson Russell will be healthy next year to go with an experienced O'Neil.
Rose/Wilson is looking like a pretty scary combo to me.
Denlinger looks like he can be a star.

And you add all that to some of the veterans such as Gonzo, Barton, Pittman, Terry/Freeman, there's a serious case to be made that next year's squad has less "rebuilding" to do in terms of the number of personnel changes than this year's squad.

Of course, as Grad pointed out earlier, it all comes down to how well the QB reins the horse.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

...but is far from enough to declare Amos an indisputable underperformer.

Looks like "indisputable" is being disputed. Amos being in the two-deep in his RS-frosh year, behind a probable all-conference and possible All-American, is hardly underperforming...

 

[akronbuck]

Amos no way underperforming. I love him as a player and once he gets all the tricks down.

NFL BOUND

Ahmad plummer didn't start until he was a junior so was he an underperformer or was OSU secondary that loaded with talent like they are now

 

[RugbyBuck]

Not a corner, but Will Allen didn't start until Doss left. He wasn't an underachiever when he got on the stage. Amos will be the same way.

 

[Onebuckfan]

That is the trouble with 'touting', so and so is highly touted in HS. Then we're immediately calling
them under-performers when they don't meet OUR expectations. The majority of recruits work hard and are trying to reach their potential. Its not their fault when recruiting services et. al. see one film and declare the player the next great thing. Its not fair to the player JZ is one example of a player having to live up to unfair expectations. another was Ron Powlus at ND, there was no way he could live up to the unfair expectations.

 

[cincibuck]

How could you lose Hawk, Carpenter, Youbouty, Kudla, Schlegle et al and be better this year? They some how have pulled it off, ergo these corners must be doing something right. Maybe it's because Pitcock has been extraordinary anbd the other QBs don't have any time to exploit the corners. The only drop off I have witnessed is in sure tackling. It seems to me that sometimes this years CBs and LBs have given up more yards after the first hit than last year's crew... NIU's Garret being a prime example... but I haven't seen that in the last few games.

If you want to look for an area for disappointment look at the loss of Frost at tight end. Nichol has played well, but its a drop off in overall talent.

 

[ant80]

Agreed. National Championship teams are extremely special. Regardless of who is starting, I would never consider us to be the probable national champions. Having a first year QB does make it tough to win the NC, but it has been done. Tee Martin following Peyton Manning is the first example that comes to mind.

Anyway, back to the point at hand, we're undefeated, ranked #1 and are in the top 3 in the nation in scoring defense. It's tough for me to suggest anyone is underperforming.

How about Rex Kern, 1968...

 

[lvbuckeye]

anyone who thinks the young DBs are underperforming needs to have their head examined.

take this bullshit thread to BN where it belongs.