Once is Not Enough (from summer practice thread)

[Meyer]

I can't remember an Ohio State team that had so many great kids on it. I'm talking personalities. If that counts for anything that could be our ace in the hole card. I love this group. When it all comes together it will be something to see.

True that. Not to bash any of our former players, but the last class to come through here didn't have "it."

 

[generaladm]

True that. Not to bash any of our former players, but the last class to come through here didn't have "it."

Surely, you aren't talking about the entire 08 class. If Malcolm Jenkins didn't have "it", then I've never seen "it". I agree, there were some members of recent teams who were missing something basic (commitment, desire, hunger, mean streak?), but it only takes a couple players at key positions to affect the whole team. This year's squad does have a good attitude that they want to prove themselves on the field, and seem excited to get out there, but they're going to need a lot more than enthusiasm to bring home 4 Big Ten titles, 2 NC game apps, 2 Fiesta Bowl apps, and 4 straight against TSUN. I think they have the talent to do it, but I think in the process they will find out how impressive the 08 class' resume really was.

 

[Meyer]

Surely, you aren't talking about the entire 08 class. If Malcolm Jenkins didn't have "it", then I've never seen "it". I agree, there were some members of recent teams who were missing something basic (commitment, desire, hunger, mean streak?), but it only takes a couple players at key positions to affect the whole team. This year's squad does have a good attitude that they want to prove themselves on the field, and seem excited to get out there, but they're going to need a lot more than enthusiasm to bring home 4 Big Ten titles, 2 NC game apps, 2 Fiesta Bowl apps, and 4 straight against TSUN. I think they have the talent to do it, but I think in the process they will find out how impressive the 08 class' resume really was.

The class, as a whole, didn't have "it." A few parts of the whole did, but the talent, commitment, toughness, and desire weren't there in a lot of places... I basically WAS talking about the entire '08 class, minus a few guys. I'd say that we didn't have "it" in many more ways than we did. And sure, the '08 class resume was impressive but, really, how impressive was it? They always left us looking for and expecting more; waiting for the moment that the light switch would turn on. It never happened. They won games that they were supposed to win and lost the big ones (which were supposed to be close and would have been if we weren't missing something), and it really wasn't even close until the Texas game. That screams out weakness to me in some (or several) way. I am not scared to say that this class will fare better than the class of '08 based on what I can see in terms of dedication, personality, TALENT, commitment, leadership, desire, and toughness. I'm willing to accept any repercussions from saying that, but I'm confident that this class has "it." And "it" means bringing home a National Championship.

 

[NateG]

and it really wasn't even close until the Texas game.

That is because of the emergence of players like TP and Brewster. The 2 top recruits in the Big Ten for 08. I believe the hangover effect shoved that "it" factor out of some of the 08' class. Pryor is the main player that is bringing "it" to this team. I believe that "it" is confidence for most of the players. They all have talent at this level but confidence shows in the winning of games they should and the way they lost the big games.

 

[Meyer]

With preparedness comes confidence. They are putting in the work that it takes to be prepared and, therefore, confident going into every game. You can see how excited these guys are to get better and get to work. We might have the most talent that I've ever seen here and the commitment, desire to win, and leadership to match.

 

[BB73]

The class, as a whole, didn't have "it." A few parts of the whole did, but the talent, commitment, toughness, and desire weren't there in a lot of places... I basically WAS talking about the entire '08 class, minus a few guys. I'd say that we didn't have "it" in many more ways than we did. And sure, the '08 class resume was impressive but, really, how impressive was it? They always left us looking for and expecting more; waiting for the moment that the light switch would turn on. It never happened. They won games that they were supposed to win and lost the big ones (which were supposed to be close and would have been if we weren't missing something), and it really wasn't even close until the Texas game. That screams out weakness to me in some (or several) way. I am not scared to say that this class will fare better than the class of '08 based on what I can see in terms of dedication, personality, TALENT, commitment, leadership, desire, and toughness. I'm willing to accept any repercussions from saying that, but I'm confident that this class has "it." And "it" means bringing home a National Championship.

The '06 team is the only college football team to ever win a pair of AP #1 vs AP #2 matchups in the same season and not win a national title.

The '07 team was ranked #11 in the preseason and reached the BCS Title game.

For those who are 'looking for and expecting more', it will extremely difficult to be satisfied.

 

[Onebuckfan]

The '06 team is the only college football team to ever win a pair of AP #1 vs AP #2 matchups in the same season and not win a national title.

The '07 team was ranked #11 in the preseason and reached the BCS Title game.

For those who are 'looking for and expecting more', it will extremely difficult to be satisfied.

AMEN!

 

[NateG]

I'm sure he meant in lack of Big game wins. After OSU scUM of 06, OSU lost its last 5 games against top 5 teams. So that class went 3-10 against top 10 teams if you count ND's AP rank of 9th.

And the 08 squad was supposed to vie for the title again and lost all three big games.

So 12-1 in 06 then 11-2 in 07 and 10-3 in 08. That's a disappointing decline with all the talent that was here.

 

[Meyer]

I'm not really talking about the '06 team. And I guess my expectations are too high, but I want championships. All I am saying is that the class that just graduated didn't have what it takes and that has been proven. I happen to believe that this class will.

What should I be looking for and expecting? Losses in the big games?

 

[NFBuck]

So 12-1 in 06 then 11-2 in 07 and 10-3 in 08. That's a disappointing decline with all the talent that was here.

It was. But what was lacking in those years that precipitated that decline? I can think of two very big things off the top of my head: Good, consistent OL play and good, consistent QB play. Look, Boeckman was a great kid, a true Buckeye, but he was not a great, or at times, even a good QB. The 2007 team reached a BCSCG because of a meth-tastic season around college football in which they happened to be one of the last one standing. 2008, well, many of us had our concerns going in and unfortunately, most of our worst fears came true. TB continued his slow decline behind porous OL play and ran into a buzzsaw in LA. From there, it was clear that the rebuild or "reload" was on. The season was handed to a raw true frosh and it turned out slightly better than you would expect under those circumstances.

This year, there is more talent on the OL than I can remember and we have a QB who is as talented as any in recent memory, has the work ethic to maximize that potential and apparently has the will to win and leadership abilities that you just cannot teach. In all honesty, I have no idea how this season will turn out. I think I predicted 10-3 in the season prediction thread, but I think they could just as easily run the table. Youth and inexperience scare the hell out of me. But talent can be a great equilizer. How ever this season turns out, it's gonna be ahelluva lot of fun to watch. That much I know.

 

[muffler dragon]

I'm not really talking about the '06 team. And I guess my expectations are too high, but I want championships. All I am saying is that the class that just graduated didn't have what it takes and that has been proven. I happen to believe that this class will.

What should I be looking for and expecting? Losses in the big games?

Four straight Big Ten Football Champions.

You shouldn't be disappointed.

 

[OregonBuckeye]

Four straight Big Ten Football Champions.

You shouldn't be disappointed.

"But I want an oompa-loompa now, daddy!"

:tongue2:

 

[OState29]

"But I want an oompa-loompa now, daddy!"

:tongue2:

Are you calling him a bad egg?

 

[Meyer]

lol, rag on me all you want, I just don't like losing and I'm never going to accept it or be okay with it when it's happening consistently. If you think that's bad then I don't know what to say. The main point is that I see something in this class that we didn't have the last few years.

Maybe last years class wasn't the only part of the Buckeye family missing the killer instinct? I'm glad our quarterback doesn't think like y'all do.

 

[DaveyBoy]

The '06 team is the only college football team to ever win a pair of AP #1 vs AP #2 matchups in the same season and not win a national title.

The '07 team was ranked #11 in the preseason and reached the BCS Title game.

For those who are 'looking for and expecting more', it will extremely difficult to be satisfied.

BB, I think 2731 has hit a nerve that many of us feel. While the resume appears outstanding (2 NC appearances and 4 BTT) there was clearly something missing from the team the past 3 seasons.

I'll probably go to my grave feeling that the 2006 Buckeyes would have beaten Florida 6 or 7 times out of 10 had we been able to play 'em. That was a huge lost opportunity that we won't ever get back.

Let's face it, we were more talented than every team we faced in the BigTen since 2006. There can't be any question about that. Yet we still managed to lose a home game each year...sounds fantastic but how fantastic is it really ? The BigTen has been horribly down the past 2 seasons. In fact, the past 2 seasons have probably been the 2 worst seasons for the BigTen that I can ever remember as far as quality, talent, and depth.

There have been only 2 games since 2006 in which our competition was probably more talented...LSU and USC. We got handily beat in both. I don't like that trend. I'll give the team credit that it fought back hard in Q4 vs LSU...but why did it take so long to wake up? The USC game was simply a beatdown from the beginning of the 2nd quarter on...the team mostly caved into a shell and looked horribly unmotivated and forceful.

How has this happened? I'm not sure. But I can't help but think that Tressel's best qualities of developing family values and personal accountability are interpreted by some or even many in the program to be "pay your dues, say the right things, and you will be rewarded in the end with playing time and the chance to be a leader". That is a great lesson for many things in life but it does have its downfalls when you're facing an opponent that marches to a different drum...."play every play like it's last and coach every game like it's the biggest game of your life".

I saw a lot to like in the Texas Fiesta Bowl. Our team came out swinging and kept swinging longer than they did vs LSU. They gave out late in the 3rd quarter but still found a little something extra to take the lead again. My fear is that with Texas and Mack Brown, Jim Tressel has a clone and that the encouraging performance in January will not be repeated vs USC on September 12. But I'm going to approach it optimistically and count on the fact that the current group of leaders doesn't have the downfalls of SOME of the past group.