Duane Long (Blog Discussion)

[RB07OSU]

I've always liked Duane...I think his only real downfall is he gets a little overzealous with his Ohio DE and QB love. For instance, he had Clay Belton as the #3 player in the state for almost the entire ('08?) recruiting class...at that point, he had MAC offers. At DE, he is annointing "the best DE in Ohio in recent memory" every year...he said this about Rose, Martin, Fellows, and it is coming with Steve Miller. While all those guys are debatable and probably on the same level, his wording needs to reflect that...but that's just being nitpicky, I like Duane and he has seen a lot of football.

 

[westbuck04]

I've always liked Duane...I think his only real downfall is he gets a little overzealous with his Ohio DE and QB love. For instance, he had Clay Belton as the #3 player in the state for almost the entire ('08?) recruiting class...at that point, he had MAC offers. At DE, he is annointing "the best DE in Ohio in recent memory" every year...he said this about Rose, Martin, Fellows, and it is coming with Steve Miller. While all those guys are debatable and probably on the same level, his wording needs to reflect that...but that's just being nitpicky, I like Duane and he has seen a lot of football.

To be fair, EVERYONE seems to be sold on Miller as the the next big thing. It isn't just Duane.

I agree with your premise, though. There always seems to be a recruit or two every year that Duane salivates over, but never even sniffs an OSU offer. Or he'll start hyping a kid way too early, and he'll never develop, ie Derrick Bryant, Darrell Mason, Delbert Ferguson.

 

[osugrad21]

I see what you guys are saying, but personally I like that. Too many insiders play the 50/50 role. Its good to have a few guys willing to go out on the limb...and admit if they miss.

 

[westbuck04]

I see what you guys are saying, but personally I like that. Too many insiders play the 50/50 role. Its good to have a few guys willing to go out on the limb...and admit if they miss.

No doubt.

I like Duane a lot, BTW. He knows what he's talking about and, frankly, was the only reason to venture over to BN before he left...

 

[akronbuck]

duane reports like THE WAY IT SHOULD BE

I've like Duane since I started a thread about Beanie Wells on bucknuts and I had those tools on bucknuts questioning me about Beanie. Posting all negative stuff and the tools on no clue nuts giving me stuff. I told them all to get lost and gave them addresses and locations too the RV/tail-gating parties at Ohio state games that I attend. None of them showed up but, it would have been funny if they did. I hate tools on a PC acting like they know the truth. Duane/Biatacha,,,sp were the only ones on that site that backed me up. I just ,I was correct I also. corrected bucknuts on D'andrea. They said, he committed to Nebraska. I knew he was all OHIO STATE. Our families know eachother. Then again They said I was wrong.:tongue2:

 

[lord vegas]

DUanes biggest issue has always been his fascination with size/body type over production/can the kid play a lick.

The pro football HoF is chock full of players Duane would of deemed not good enough for OSU because they aren't 6.4

Duane would tab Uncle Ricco (good size/rocket arm/throw ball over mountain) over Drew Brees.

Throw in the fact he makes most of his evals based on measurements and 5 plays from a rivals highlight clip.

I could make you think I'm the "next Lebron James" from my highlight clip.

The NFL is notorious for using 'protype' builds for positions. Why, because the data says kids with those attributes have a higher success rate. Can't really knock DL for that. Pretty much every big time college program and NFL team does the EXACT same thing and their paid to know. The only coaches who take buches of flyers are coaches who have to because they can't land the protypes. For every one special kid that bucks the trend theres a ton who fail. If your building a team Diddy your not going to take a team of "exceptions to the rule". You might take a flyer or two but the coach who thinks that they can build a team on exceptions probably has a losing record.

And pretty much every talent evaluation that you see out there is based on highlights and game films from some of the video services if the kid isn't local to who's reporting it.

 

[buckfitty]

Duane gives you his honest, educated opinion and you can take it or leave it. Lots of mud gets thrown at him but he never lowers himself to mudslinging. I have NEVER heard him say a bad word on any of the other guys in this buisness. I respect the hell out of that and him. I started coming to Bucknuts many years ago, when there werent any other sites. He was spilling the good info back then and still is. He is the one who hooked me and it surely wasnt because he was wrong alot. I knew more than any of my friends about our beloved Buckeyes instantly. He doesnt try to be Nevada. He gives you his evaluation and what he hears. He admits when he is wrong. I think its funny that people continually try to drag him into the frey and he just dont seem to give a shart. Ill read his stuff as long as he publishes it and be all the wiser for it.

 

[Naplesbuckeye]

I dropped Bucknuts last year because of the Negative tone but I always liked reading Duane.

When he started his new venture I thought he was too critical but he has balanced it out a bit since the last few months.

His blog is quick and easy to read and I will continue to read it.

 

[RB07OSU]

To be fair, EVERYONE seems to be sold on Miller as the the next big thing. It isn't just Duane.

I agree with your premise, though. There always seems to be a recruit or two every year that Duane salivates over, but never even sniffs an OSU offer. Or he'll start hyping a kid way too early, and he'll never develop, ie Derrick Bryant, Darrell Mason, Delbert Ferguson.

Agreed and I think he will be, but bigger than Ben Martin? In terms of hype and potential, he is tough to beat...depends on his junior year I suppose. On Ben Martin, he did have a serious injury his freshman year, so I guess it's tough to say if he has underachieved or just hasn't been the same after his injury. For the record, I thought he was 3 and done as well. Then Rob Rose was rated the top DE in the country his senior year...so I'm just saying while Miller is going to be a stud likely, it's tough to be leaps and bounds ahead of guys like Rose and Martin.

 

[cdiddy70]

Fair well thought out response vegas.

I submit that my golden rule when projecting a player is productivity.

If a player isn't productive in H.S. his chances of being productive in college are remote.

I realize that you need a balance. Sammy Sausage may have been a helluva DT in HS but if is 5-9, 180 he doesn't project.

My gripe with some scouts is the fascination with measureables above prodictivity.

One nit. NFL scouts watching nearly every snap a kid takes and a crap-ton of practice film.

 

[stxbuck]

DUanes biggest issue has always been his fascination with size/body type over production/can the kid play a lick.

The pro football HoF is chock full of players Duane would of deemed not good enough for OSU because they aren't 6.4

Duane would tab Uncle Ricco (good size/rocket arm/throw ball over mountain) over Drew Brees.

Throw in the fact he makes most of his evals based on measurements and 5 plays from a rivals highlight clip.

I could make you think I'm the "next Lebron James" from my highlight clip.

Actually, Duane's view on QBs is quite the opposite from what you say. He always complains that MAC level dart throwers don't get enough love compared to 6'5 rocket launcher types, and criticizes schools for passing up on these kinds of guys-MAC QBs.
In regards to linemen, you are correct-but that is how everyone-from the NFL on down evaluates D-linemen especially.

 

[DontHateOState]

I do like Duane because he throws his opinion out there and stands behind it. But I liked him a lot more before he started his own blog. I think he comes off as negative because there's only so much you can write about on a daily basis. His arguments almost become "cliche" after a few weeks.

And the Carlos Hyde saga of posts is absolutely hilarious in hindsight.

Day 1: "Hyde will be the Buckeye starter by end of year."

Day 2:" Hyde is huge loss for Buckeyes."

Day 3: "Do we even want Hyde in Columbus?" uhhh, what?

 

[Taosman]

DL makes a very good point on Hyde. That being a year out of football will hurt his chances anywhere and is probably the kiss of death for his chance here. (Rod Smith)

 

[BigJim]

I do like Duane because he throws his opinion out there and stands behind it. But I liked him a lot more before he started his own blog. I think he comes off as negative because there's only so much you can write about on a daily basis. His arguments almost become "cliche" after a few weeks.

And the Carlos Hyde saga of posts is absolutely hilarious in hindsight.

Day 1: "Hyde will be the Buckeye starter by end of year."

Day 2:" Hyde is huge loss for Buckeyes."

Day 3: "Do we even want Hyde in Columbus?" uhhh, what?

DL makes a very good point on Hyde. That being a year out of football will hurt his chances anywhere and is probably the kiss of death for his chance here. (Rod Smith)

Yeah, it's a pretty obvious observation to me.

 

[itownbuckeye]

DL makes a very good point on Hyde. That being a year out of football will hurt his chances anywhere and is probably the kiss of death for his chance here. (Rod Smith)

while not qualifying does hurt Carlos' chances, Duane's point does not really make sense considering that Hyde is likely to attend & play for a prep school. Duane did not make any mention of this option and what effect it might have.