CBS Preseason Top-25 (Big 10 #2,6,9)

[BuckeyeNation27]

I don't have any problem with the rankings (except iowa being 2 obviously. they might be good but theyre no 2)....but i have one beef. how is iowa the Co-Big Ten Champions? They had the same record as scUM but they lost to scUM. meaning scUM was better. shouldnt that give them the out right B10 Title?

 

[TheMile]

There's no way we don't get the #2 spot (I would argue we deserve the #1 spot until USC plays someone) if we emerge undefeated next december.

No kidding. OSU has strength of schedule and name recognition on its side. Should OSU go undefeated, there's no doubt you should be #2, and probably #1. The only thing that could possibly hold OSU back, is, unfortunately, the media's and coaches' view of the Clarett and Smith incidents. That would be absurd, but isn't outside the realm of possibility.

Iowa poses the biggest threat for sure.

For sure? In my opinion, you're underestimating home field advantage with respect to Michigan and Iowa. Kinnick, the Horseshoe, and Michigan Stadium are all huge advantages for their respective teams. I'll be surprised if you guys lose to Iowa and if Iowa loses to us. I expect the closest game of the three Big Ten matchups will be OSU at Michigan.

I don't have any problem with the rankings (except iowa being 2 obviously. they might be good but theyre no 2)....but i have one beef. how is iowa the Co-Big Ten Champions? They had the same record as scUM but they lost to scUM. meaning scUM was better. shouldnt that give them the out right B10 Title?

That's just the Big 10's rule. If you've got the best record in the Big 10, you're its champion. Period. Tiebreakers like head-to-head matchups apply to who gets the automatic BCS game, however.

 

[jwinslow]

Can someone give The Mile a medal for continuing to show up with thoughtful posts disagreeing with the very homeristic, anti-scUM posts like mine above? Huge props to The Mile for enduring our jabs and usually coming out looking better for it (tho sadly mistaken at times in her choice for who will win ).

I think you are very right, The Mile. Iowa away from home and Michigan at home will be a different story. I am merely more worried about Iowa because they thrashed us hardcore (tho there are millions of differences between last year's game and this years), whereas UM does not scare me. However the thought of having another potential Mike hart caliber back in Grady could mean that each would take 10 carries, which would make them a lot fresher in teh 2nd half against our tired legs. Plus obviously any time The Game is at home its a huge plus (as long as Jonathan Wells isn't around).

In the end no tOSU fan would ever overlook the scUM game. The combination of Tressel and Hermann however has us buck fans a little overconfident. Here's to hoping that the buckeye team will not make the same mistake (I do not think JT will allow that).

 

[Dryden]

Ferentz added another top 10 recruiting class

WTF?

I went back through Hodge, Lemming, Rivals, and Insiders to 1993, and Iowa has been ranked only once, anywhere, by any outlet! In 2003, Lemming gave the Hawkeyes a 25th place nod. That's it for their recruiting over the last 12 years, until this year!

Dodd is an idiot.

 

[TheMile]

Thanks for the kind words. BTW, I'm an engineer and alumnus of Michigan. If you've ever seen the North Campus there, you'd know I'd have to be a guy, either Asian or Caucasian, not a "her".

I am merely more worried about Iowa because they thrashed us hardcore (tho there are millions of differences between last year's game and this years), whereas UM does not scare me.

Fair enough; I can understand that perspective. My perspective is that OSU played Iowa before your team hit its stride, so the blowout was an aberration. I've got to tell myself that to justify 37-21, you know.

The combination of Tressel and Hermann however has us buck fans a little overconfident.

Can't argue with that. :ohwell:

 

[jwinslow]

Lol, I didn't even realize I referred to you as a her, TheMile. Whoops, I guess that had something to do with one of the only civil UM posters on ESPiN's bored being a woman. My apologies.

I think Iowa was before we hit our stride, too. Zwick clearly was hurt, had 1 receiver to pass to (that was double covered), no OL, no run game, DL not yet dominant, etc. I think their lack of DL will play a huge role in next year's game, plus it being in the Shoe. We're gonna gain a lot of respect for our stadium if we can knock of those two teams at home in sept.

However it's a little scary to think that Drew Tate got better as the year progressed. Perhaps it was more of him having a team around him, but the kid can flat out play. That play where he threw the pass despite having his helmet ripped off by UM defender trumps pretty much all other tough-guy plays I saw last year.

 

[daddyphatsacs]

Someone forgot to tell that dipshit that Iowa plays us in the Shoe this season. We've lost 2 games in the Shoe under Tressel, both to teams that were much better than us (2001 Illinois, and pre-meltdown 2004 Wisky). Talent wise we are better than Iowa, they lose all 4 starters along the D Line, just ask this years bunch if that affects you. Tate is back, but his stellar performance against OSU was a mixture of one of his best day's with one of our defenses' worst days in the last 5 years. It will not happen again, especially in a very rowdy Horseshoe. Did I mention that a scent of revenge will be in the air?

I'll bet 100 bucks to anyone that Iowa will not beat OSU in the Shoe next year.

 

[BuckeyeInTheBoro]

Let me be the first to propose a match race between Ted Ginn Jr. and USC's Reggie Bush.

OK... invent a time machine.... go back in time about 6 months and propose it... then you'll be the first.

 

[Naplesbuckeye]

Roth and Babbineaux were great players....Tate is a good one but their defense lost too much...Are Hodge and Greenway still there? I think that they are!



At any rate I will be at that game!

 

[EngineerHorn]

a group of half-ass receivers

Texas has no passing game. Zip. Their own guys will admit their WRs are average at best (no Patrick Turner either to turn this trend around). They've been a run-first offense for years,

Well, I don't think our situation at wideout is quite that bad.
We lack experience big time, yes. Can't argue with you there. But the cupboard is far from bare. I don't know if y'all put much stock into recruiting rankings, but here's what we've stockpiled at wideout over the last few years:

Name class (stars-position rank)

George Walker RS-Fr (4-15)
Myron Hardy So (4-11)
Jordan Shipley RS-Fr (4-18)
Nathan Jones So (3-26)
Chris Ogbannaya RS-Fr (3-30)
Tyrell Gatwood RS-So (4-17)
Limas Sweed RS-So (4-13)
And the only senior of the bunch, Brian Carter. Can't find the stats on him.

On top of that, Billy Pittman, a 4 star athlete has moved to wideout. Quan Cosby's another 4 star athlete who's moving to receiver. Quan's story is interesting. He committed to us 3 years ago as the top (5 star) athlete in the country. He played minor league ball up until recommitting this year.

Now I'm not saying we'll get another Roy Williams out of this bunch. Far from it actually. But there's obviously a bunch of talent there. I'm pretty sure we'll be fine.

We were actually in on Fred Rouse, not Turner. Mack cooled on recruiting him after his uncle asked for a green handshake. He also scored a 10 on his ACT, so it's not like he'd have qualified anyway.


On Vince, yeah his release ain't pretty (that might have a lot to do with the way he's perceived). But he's far from a bad passer. The only thing he has occasional trouble with are the intermediate routes. He throws a nice deep ball. He was very accurate at the practice I watched a few days ago.

At TE, we lost a good one in Bo Scaife. But there's still David Thomas, who will be mentioned on everyone's AA list this summer.

At LB, Rivals.com currently has an article about Derrick Johnson's heir apparent, Aaron Harris.

At RB, yep, Selvin's injured. But he's far from unproven. Up until midway through the 2003 season, every UT fan thought Selvin was a better back than Cedric Benson. Then Benson went on a tear. There's also Ramonce Taylor, whom I suppose you could call a poor man's Reggie Bush. Averaged 10 yards/carry last year. Then there's a group of pretty highly rated backs (including the highest ranked in Texas) coming in next year. With all that said, I am expecting a dropoff in RB production from last year.

Anyone know whether Auburn's DC brings any ST focus to the team? Cuz on top of everything else, we may have at least 3 return TDs (kick and punts) by the way I saw Texas play like a high school coverage team.

No, he doesn't. But special teams play is getting a lot of attention this spring. High school coverage? More like junior high coverage. That Rose Bowl performance was awful. But also give some credit to Breaston.

Finally,

I'm refusing to buy into their hype.

Me too! I've been let down too much in the past to expect a MNC this year. But the talent's there to hopefuly pull a 1998 Tennessee (think of the parallels).


Sorry about the long post, and I'm not expecting anyone to care. Just trying to get the other side of the story out.

 

[BossBuck]

IOWA = overrated

MICHIGAN = just about right

tOSU = not bad, but headin' for the top!!!!

 

[HUBRIDER]

Gee, I see we have engineers from both MI and TX posting. Do you guys work for the same railroad? Great posts from both and thanks for your input.:)

 

[jwinslow]

Engineer continues to impress... I was a little too harsh in my analysis of certain Texas things (ie WRs), but I appreciate you looking at it objectively and borrowing a pair of scarlet tinted glasses to keep us all happy :)

Glad to hear mack turned down rouse (my mistake on turner/rouse). Good to know there are still a few out there with some integrity. Contrary to ESPiN's opinion, there are dirty coaches out there that they ignore and focus on JT, who has yet to be linked to anything.

Should be a great game in the shoe, and you guys should be better come 06 when we come visit Austin. Can you imagine the amount of people that will be watching this game? I mean direct fans alone, we're pulling from the top2 alumni bases in the nation. Add into that the excitement of Vince Young, Ted Ginn, a great early matchup between two top10 teams, a first time meeting, its gonna be incredible. I doubt there have been too many OOC games recently that can match its popularity once the TV ratings have been tabulated.

 

[ScarletFever]

Of the 3 preseason rankings I've seen thus far (espin (garbage), cnnsi) I think this is the most accurate. As everyone has "whined" about, I agree Iowa is a little overated in the poll...however make no mistake about it, Iowa is a top 10 team. The big "11" is loaded this year and as much as I want us to run the table and spank SC in the Rose, I wonder if anyone can go through that conference without a loss. Gonna be tough, but if any team can do, my money is on Tress and co..

 

[BuckeyeBill]

I have to say that I'll be sweating all three of the big games. But the thing that really worries me about UT is our QB situation. I really believe we have to have that added dimension that TS adds to the offense. Especially against a good defense. And given that it will be the first game that TS is eligible, we can't count on much from him. I'm sure JZ will start, and if he doesn't come out strong, our backup is pretty damn rusty.

I will say the one thing I'm NOT worried about is VY. tOSU has shown great ability to lock down the running game, I don't think that's about the change with a scrambling QB (although he sure lit up the highlight real with scUM in the RB!).

Is it September yet?