Predictions for 2014 season

[Coqui]

 

[cjmik_75]

This is the first time in years that we have been a bit under the radar heading into camp. I have to say: I like it. It reminds me of 2002 when no one saw us coming.

Gone are the constant questions...the 24 hour hype cycle...the endless challenges from outsiders and the F-5 media [Mark May]storm. We are on the down low as the team heads into camp. It's kinda nice, right? We've settled in as a top program and it seems the rest of the CF world has interpreted that media indifference and lack of off the field headlines to mean we are slipping.
I see OSU picked to fade. I see MSU getting what little love the press affords the Big Ten..and it seems just about everyone has forgotten about Braxton, Meyer, and the talent that is in place at Ohio State. There are even calls for PSU to beat us....has there really been a 7 TD swing between Columbus and Happy Valley?

Those folks have a reckoning coming.

Don't Talk. Act.

We have a new found luxury heading into this season. It isn't about tats and NCAA investigations. It isn't about a new head coach and replacing Tressel. It isn't about Urban moving in and turning the program back around. It isn't about off field nonsense. It's finally just about football again in Columbus. No talk..just work. No pressure to beat our drum or defend our own...just heads down, shoulder to the wheel and the playbook. It's one issue..one topic for discussion: improve. Beyond that..it's simply about the work. Nothing else to talk about.

Don't Say. Show.

E+R=O. I dig it. The events in front of this team are practice reps, new plays, new schemes and the battle for spots on the depth chart. The outcome will be determined by their reaction to FOOTBALL events..not by their reaction to press coverage and news items that are occurring outside the locker room and off the field. When many of the (E)vents the team is confronted with aren't about football...no matter how well we (R)eact..it is tough to make the (O)utcome about winning football games.

It's remarkable how well Urban and the team have done to translate the circus into wins. Certainly some of the events the team was processing were about football..but it has been years since they were ALL about football. Now we don't have to say anything about the NCAA, about our President's poor soundbites, about new coaches, about limitations and extreme expectations. Many are expecting OSU to fall into the Big Ten pack..assuming the conference is weak and it's flag bearer is finally giving in to that gravitational pull toward average.

But we don't tolerate average in Columbus. Nature hates a vacuum, Meyer hates average.

Only SEC teams can sustain quality, right? Surely OSU has had their time and can't stay good, right?

Wrong.

But no one is asking us this time around, the media trucks and hype wagons passed us by in search of comments from Bama, Florida State, Oregon, Auburn, Stanford..even MSU, UCLA and Oklahoma. We are a bit off the radar for the first time since...perhaps..2002.

It's been a bit of a zoo ever since Cie Grant forced that final errant pass in the desert. We don't have to answer those questions about the pressure to win them all or how hard will it be to take all comers seriously since we are so much better than everyone on our schedule. What about Mo C's eligibility? What about the NCAA? How hard is it to start the year ranked #1? Oh hai, NCAA again. Can you win them all? Did everyone pay for their cars? Can Fickell keep the wheels turning? Can Urban fix it? Will Hyde play?

For Ohio State this year it's not what we say...it's what we do, because no one is asking us to say a thing. And since there isn't a lot of talk coming from within or around the program right now..that tells me a lot of work is being done. We are focused on showing them Ohio is here, not stopping the work to take questions and tell them.

Don't Promise. Prove.

Surprise bitches....scoreboard!

Let's Ride.

O-H!

 

[LordJeffBuck]

In 1975, I was absolutely certain that Ohio State would win a national championship with two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin.

In 1998, I was absolutely certain that Ohio State would win a national championship with Andy Katzenmoyer and the Silver Bullet defense.

In 2006, I was absolutely certain that Ohio State would win a national championship with Heisman winner Troy Smith and a high-powered offense.

In 2002, I was absolutely certain that Ohio State would lose five games with Craig Krenzel running the show (and they almost did!)

This year, I wasn't convinced that Ohio State was a national title contender with Braxton Miller ... and I'm also not convinced that Ohio State is out of national title contention without Braxton Miller.

This should be an interesting season.

Let's get it started!

 

[Onebuckfan]

This will be a thrill ride this year if my heart holds out..for those who its NC or nothing your gonna miss a Great entertaining season!

 

[buckeyboy]

This will be a thrill ride this year if my heart holds out..for those who its NC or nothing your gonna miss a Great entertaining season!

Agreed. There will be a lot of ups and downs. Enjoy the ride.

 

[Onebuckfan]

Agreed. There will be a lot of ups and downs. Enjoy the ride.

In reality. That is the best fans can hope for..entertaining games and check the w-l come play off time.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Bold Prediction:
Defensive secondary will be a strength of our team.

By the end of the year, I'd say so. Well, the offense was damn good too.

'Ship.

My dude Kizzle knew.

Ain't [Mark May] changed.

That's why @BUCKYLE is my dude.

We always win it on defense when we get the trophy and that's what is in store again this year. If Zeke can be Mo C and Barrett can be Krenzel, well hell, mark it down!

Yessir.

E!SPiN has written us off for the year.
It's gonna be fun watching them eat crow.

Yessir.

By the way, I've already received countless "condolences" and "sorry to hear" and "sucks for your season" and even laughter about the Buckeyes following this news.

I simply replied with these words.

Cannot WAIT for the Buckeyes to hit the field. People don't know, but they will.

Condolences on YOUR season. Losers.

Couldn't agree more. Some fans of other teams seem to be looking ahead and thinking they have now already won. My expectations are not changing though. This is Ohio State.

And this is now "National Champions Ohio State."

 

[OHSportsFan]

In 1975, I was absolutely certain that Ohio State would win a national championship with two-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin.

In 1998, I was absolutely certain that Ohio State would win a national championship with Andy Katzenmoyer and the Silver Bullet defense.

In 2006, I was absolutely certain that Ohio State would win a national championship with Heisman winner Troy Smith and a high-powered offense.

In 2002, I was absolutely certain that Ohio State would lose five games with Craig Krenzel running the show (and they almost did!)

This year, I wasn't convinced that Ohio State was a national title contender with Braxton Miller ... and I'm also not convinced that Ohio State is out of national title contention without Braxton Miller.

This should be an interesting season.

Let's get it started!

Whoops. Forgot to quote the big dog as I was going through this. LJB definitely deserves some credit here, as well.

Seems like OSU does alright when they come out of nowhere.

 

[Jake]

View attachment 9207

I think my prediction ended up being dead on. Maybe we should ask Wisconsin, Alabama, and Oregon?

 

[bukIpower]

I saw something similar on 11W so I figured I would strike one up here. List some things you think will happen or you would like to see in 2014.

1. I would love to see someone come in and electrify the crowd like Braxton or Teddy. I think that person will be Jalin Marshall if he stays healthy.

2. This year we will have a much more dangerous return team than in previous years with 5 special team TDs in total.

3. We will be frustrated after Navy but pleased overall for the year. Something tells me Navy will get their yards but for the year we will be a top 15 defense overall.

4. Spence will still lead the team in sacks and Bosa will match 7 sacks that he had last year but otherwise will have a rather ordinary year. I think teams will pay a lot more attention to him this year and he will have to overcome the extra blockers.

5. The MSU game will be a bigger mismatch then people think. We will win by 10+ because MSU will not be use to the recent success and regardless you don't lose that much talent on defense and be good to go.

6. Rod Smith will be a large part of the rushing attack and have a solid year running for 700. If he stays out of the dog house he will have all of the potential to be a good back.

7. First TD of the year will be a big hitter from 40+ out. My prediction is dontre gets the year started right.

8. Braxton will still lead in rushing with 1100. Eze with 800, Smith with 700 and Dontre around 700 too.

9. Apple will lead the team in INTs and a freshman DB will play a big role on defense. My pick goes to Webb.

10. We run the table rather emphatically but come up short in either the final or semi finals.

1. meh kinda but not
2. NO
3. Very right
4. Very wrong
5. right
6. lol haha
7. Smith caught a big pass but I don't think it was the first TD
8. EZE with 800? Whhhhaaat
9. again pretty off base
10. Should've picked the win but didn't want to be too much of a Homer I bet

Overall not too great really lol...

 

[Clarity]

I actually think the secondary is going to be tight; in part because of scheming less bipolar in nature, partly because of young talent, partly because of the radiating benefit of the DL. I'm more concerned about the LBs, and hope to be glowing about the likes of Perry and perhaps a newcomer like Raekwon.

Yes, but Lee.

So I'll call the undefeated regular season with the note that 1 loss wouldn't at all surprise me, 2 would, and 3 or more would just blow me out of the water.

One indeed, fair enough -- though who it was to surprised all of us, though perhaps less so after Miller went down and before we knew what we had in JT and the Cardale.

I expect to see a QB2 get early season play (perhaps more than Kenny G in 2013) to prepare them for what seems to be an inevitable game (in whole or in part) with Miller nursing an injury related to his physical style of play.

Odd that losing Miller was in some ways the necessary adversity to make this historical season also an epic story.

I agree with those who say there will be a new hype-generating game breaker (Dixon/Clark/Marshall/etc.) to add to the indefensible terror that our offense can be at times. Zeke will go over 1000 rushing, Dontre over 1000 all-purpose.

Jalin. Zeke yes, but in my wildest dreams I didn't see him closing the season out like the GOAT.

I should have said "Dontre+the game breaker from above will go over 1k", though as I type this I don't know if Wilson+Marshall did. Bet it's close.

I think we're going to talk about Bri'onte Dunn more than once as well; something is there.

Yes, an early fumble and then disappearing act for much of the season as he stayed below Samuel on the depth chart. Will Dunn transfer? I'd understand. If he doesn't, he's going to be one of those dedicated role players I like a lot and for whom I quietly pull when they get their limited opportunities.

I think VaTech is going to roll over and play dead early, and I think Navy will get a lot of yards but lose bigger than the goat in me would probably like. I think my old ass will be tired of night games before we're halfway through them. I think Hoke is done, I think MSU will have a very Tressel-like 1-2 loss somewhat-yawn-inducing year deflating some of the hype there, even though that will further entrench them as the standing #2 in the conference.

VaTech, nope. Navy, yes. Hoke, yes. MSU -- who cares (but probably yes) and meh.

I also think I'll have a very interesting December. And finally -- for the second year in a row, an SEC team will NOT win the title. Yet media perception of the conference talent gap won't catch up with the reality.

"December" was about Elise. It was interesting indeed!

Couldn't be much happier about the SEC prediction being half wrong -- media perception has caught up, and if we shut out the SEC again next year, I think it will be cemented.

While 2002 is still a bigger and more important season in my head, 2014 right now feels like my favorite season and team of all time. That said, it's still very fresh.

 

[LordJeffBuck]

There were some interesting predictions, some eerily close to the truth, others way off.

1. I would love to see someone come in and electrify the crowd like Braxton or Teddy. I think that person will be Jalin Marshall if he stays healthy.

Marshall was electric good at times, electric bad at others.

4. Spence will still lead the team in sacks and Bosa will match 7 sacks that he had last year but otherwise will have a rather ordinary year. I think teams will pay a lot more attention to him this year and he will have to overcome the extra blockers.

Spence suspended, Bosa Lombardi finalist (and should have won it).

5. The MSU game will be a bigger mismatch then people think. We will win by 10+ because MSU will not be use to the recent success and regardless you don't lose that much talent on defense and be good to go.

Nailed it. 49-37, and it wasn't even that close.

6. Rod Smith will be a large part of the rushing attack and have a solid year running for 700. If he stays out of the dog house he will have all of the potential to be a good back.

Rod Smith NEVER stays out of the doghouse. He had 101 yards and was booted from the team midseason.

7. First TD of the year will be a big hitter from 40+ out.

Nailed it. First TD was a 61-yard fumble return by Darron Lee. First offensive TD was an 80-yard pass from J.T. Barrett to Devin Smith.

8. Braxton will still lead in rushing with 1100. Eze with 800, Smith with 700 and Dontre around 700 too.

Only about 1,100 yards off on the EzE prediction. Way off on the others as well.

1 through 10, from least surprising to most surprising (at least to me)

9. This team will not win the Big Ten or even its division.

Oops!! Glad you were wrong.

I'll bite:

1) The offensive line begins the year shaky but Braxton masks it a bit with his athleticism. About mid-year the OL starts to be a strength after they start meshing.

Was this OL the best in the country by the end of the season? As a unit, I'd have to say "yes".

4) This is the year we see Michael Thomas become an impact WR for us. He has all the tools and appears to have put in the work. We could really benefit from his improved play and I think he adds a new element to our offense.

Thomas led the team with 54 receptions, and was second with 799 yards and 9 TDs. He was a reliable possession receiver, but he also able to turn short throws into long TDs (53 yards vs Virginia Tech; 63 yards vs Kent State; 79 yards vs Michigan State).

5) The defensive line is the best in the country and is the best that I can remember in my 26 years. Not a bold prediction but I see no way they do not dominate everyone they see in the regular season. Spence and Bosa both get into double-digit sacks and Bennett is nearly unstoppable inside. My surprise guy on the DL is that Michael Hill plays extensively and catches eyes when rotating in. Really hoping Chris Carter steps up when we need a big space-eater.

The loss of Spence hurt, but they were still near the top as a unit. Bosa was the best DL in the country, and Bennett also made some All American teams.

7) Ezekiel Elliot easily goes for over 1,000 yards of total offense. Kid is just way too talented to keep off the field and although I think that Rod might steal a few carries, I would not be surprised to see us ride EzE much like we did Hyde when we need to.

Boy, did they ever ride EzE down the stretch - 76 carries for 696 yards and 8 TDs in the post season.

9) Dontre Wilson EXPLODES this year. He has been unstoppable this off-season and will benefit from having other threats around him like Jalin Marshall, Curtis Samuel, James Clark, Johnnie Dixon, etc. I also think he goes over 1,000 total yards (including returns, receptions, and carries).

I'm beginning to wonder if Dontre Wilson will ever EXPLODE. He did have 1,064 all-purpose yards, but almost half of those were on kick-off returns. He just hasn't exhibited big play ability yet.

I think VaTech is going to roll over and play dead early...

Oops!!

I think Hoke is done, I think MSU will have a very Tressel-like 1-2 loss somewhat-yawn-inducing year deflating some of the hype there, even though that will further entrench them as the standing #2 in the conference.

Nailed it. Hoke fired after a 5-7 season, Michigan State goes 11-2 and finishes #5 in the final AP poll.

I also think I'll have a very interesting December. And finally -- for the second year in a row, an SEC team will NOT win the title. Yet media perception of the conference talent gap won't catch up with the reality.

Nailed it.

6) Our defense will not give up more than 23 points in any game

Oops!! They gave up an average of 22 points per game, and gave up 23+ nine times. The defense was improved, however, and held the best offense in the country (Oregon) to 20 in the championship game.

no idea who, but someone is going to run for 1500 yards or so.

better yet, someone else will run for 1000.

Ezekiel Elliott had 1,878 yards and J.T. Barrett had 938 yards.

We always win it on defense when we get the trophy and that's what is in store again this year. If Zeke can be Mo C and Barrett can be Krenzel, well hell, mark it down!

And if Cardale Jones can be Scott McMullen....

Beat fatty scum. beat sparty in B1G title game. Beat ORE (after (LSU or FSU in playoff, i dont think alabama will make it in) in the new national championship game

Pretty close. They beat Michigan. They won the B1G title game (not MSU, obviously). They beat an SEC team in round one of the playoff (Alabama). And they beat Oregon for the national championship.

E!SPiN has written us off for the year.
It's gonna be fun watching them eat crow.

Yep.

 

[BayBuck]

I'm all about JT but let's not forget about Cardale. I saw him run last year and he's too big a threat not to use him, as well. I can see Urban going with a Leak/Tebow-type of combo and, uh, that worked out pretty well for him. Fcuk espin.

Nice one!

 

[brodybuck21]

champs

sometimes it all just falls into place....

 

[jlb1705]

I'm too lazy to quote these references properly, but there was plenty of angst in the first half of the season about Rod Smith being booted and Dunn not seeing the field because of the supposed lack of a "big back". Elliott turned out to be a more physical runner than either of them.