RB Brandon "Zoom" Saine (official thread)

[OmahaBeef]

How much playing time should Brandon get next year?

 

[OSUBucks22]

How much playing time should Brandon get next year?

I was just talking with jwinslow about this... I think it depends on the staff's plans to use him... If Pittman does leave (as is expected), then Saine is the perfect complement to Beanie in the backfield IMO... He'll be on the field in some capacity... He's too dangerous not to be...

 

[NFBuck]

If Pittman does leave (as is expected)

I'm quite interested to see how Mr. Saine will be used myself. The amount of weapons JT is amassing is ridiculous.

 

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Containing Saine won?t be easy task
Pickerington Central will look to control Ohio?s Mr. Football
Friday, December 01, 2006
Mark Znidar
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

NEAL C . LAURON DISPATCH Pickerington Central tailback Jordan Jarrell, being upended by Macedonia Nordonia defenders last week, has rushed for 2,098 yards and 27 touchdowns.
There might be a career in real estate for Pickerington Central coach Jay Sharrett should he ever decide he has had his fill of high school football.
As the Tigers have fought to the Division II championship game, Sharrett has not displayed the paranoia, short fuse and worry of his contemporaries.
His locker room has been an open house. He has smiled and shaken many a hand while showing off his product during this joy ride.
"The thing about this team we have this year that I enjoy is that they love to play football," Sharrett said. "I?m asked how they can get up week in and week out and I say they just love to play football. There are no inspirational speeches.
"That?s one of the fun things about going to this thing for the first time. I don?t want these kids to shy from it. I want them to remember all this 10 to 15 years down the road. They are living the dream of every high school kid in the state."
For the dream to have a happy ending, Pickerington Central (13-1) must pass the ultimate test against Piqua (12-2) and Mr. Football, Brandon Saine, at 7 tonight in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon.
Saine is 18 years old, but he has been the man of all seasons for the Indians. This year, he has run for 2,035 yards and totaled 36 touchdowns. Last spring, he won the 100 meters and 400 meters at the state track meet for the second straight year.
Coach Bill Nees said Saine, who has committed to play for Ohio State, is more than a star.
"Statistically, Brandon has had an outstanding year," Nees said. "On paper, he has lived up to his name, his hype and his potential, whatever you want to call it. But if you look at him on film, he?s our top blocker in picking up blitzes. He could well be our special teams player of the year. Last week, he had four tackles on special teams and two key blocks."
What Saine does best is break tackles and break open games with long runs. He ran for 135 yards on 27 carries, including a clinching 52-yard touchdown last week in a 22-9 victory over Cincinnati Turpin.
"As soon as he comes out of the huddle, the defense is looking for him," Nees said.
Pickerington Central defensive back Zach Burk said Saine is better than Jordan Mabin, a Macedonia Nordonia Mr. Football finalist who gained 57 yards against the Tigers last week.
"We have been studying film again and we have to be at our best," Burk said. "Saine has more power than Mabin. He?s definitely the best athlete we?ll have faced and he?s on our radar."
Defensive back J.D. Cecil was succinct in what the defense must do.
"What we have to do is step up and wrap up," he said.
Piqua is not a one-man gang. The defense is led by tackle Jafe Pitcock, a 6-2, 270-pound Division I college prospect whose brother Quinn starts for Ohio State.
Sharrett is concerned about three linebackers with size: 6-5, 230-pound Pete Rolf, 6-3, 212-pound David Rolf and 5-11, 223-pound Taylor Abram.
Piqua must deal with Pickerington Central tailback Jordan Jarrell (2,098 yards, 27 touchdowns), quarterback Chazz Anderson (2,004 yards passing, 12 touchdowns) and a defense that is allowing 194 yards per game and has forced 26 turnovers.
"They?ve got a great quarterback and a great running back and can mix the run and pass efficiently," Nees said. "There aren?t many teams that are running the ball against them."

 

[Buck Kid 66]

Saine on ONN. He is tearing it up two long runs one for 80 yards

 

[45Forever]

Today a state title for Saine, next up a national title at Ohio State.

 

[utgrad73]

What was the final score, total yards?

 

[Buckskin86]

26-7 Piqua

Saine had 230 yds (I think on 30 carries) and 3 TD's

But he had 202yds on 15 carries with all 3 td's in the first half

 

[utgrad73]

It's good to know that he will playing for the Buckeyes next year.:osu:

 

[rolemodel247]

just got back from the game, i'm a pickerington alum but i was certainly cheering for piqua and saine, his long runs all came from breaking atleast 2 tackles before putting on the afterburners, pitcock's little bro had the game icing play as well

 

[Buckskin86]

Tigers sing praises of Piqua standout
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Steve Blackledge
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Piqua?s Brandon Saine rushed for 226 yards and three touchdowns.


MASSILLON, Ohio ? Some day, Pickerington Central defenders will tell their children and grandchilden about the day they threw Ohio?s Mr. Football, Brandon Saine, for a loss in the Division II championship game.

It won?t be a tall tale. Eight times, the Tigers tackled the Ohio-State-bound Piqua running back for no gain or a loss.

But the Pickerington players may have selective memories in regard to Saine?s 226 yards on 32 carries, including spectacular runs of 29, 52 and 80 yards, that paved the way to the Indians? 26-7 win in Paul Brown Tiger Stadium.

"He?s a powerful runner," Tigers senior safety Brian Peters said. "It took more than one guy to bring him down. Mabin may be a little more shifty, but the guy is Mr. Football."

Peters was referring to Jordan Mabin of Macedonia Nordonia, a Mr. Football finalist whom Pickerington held to 57 yards on 17 carries in a 7-3 state semifinal win.

Was Saine, a 6-foot-1, 218-pounder, really that much better than Mabin?

"He?s definitely a tough guy to tackle," Pickerington Central coach Jay Sharrett said. "We wanted to try to get as many shoulder pads on him as we could. He had 30 to 35 more pounds of muscle mass than most of our defenders.

"If he gets into a crease, he can take it to the end zone. If he?s a better running back than we are tacklers, it?s no challenge; he?s going to win."

And Saine did, just as he won the 100 and 400 meters in the state track meet the past two seasons. He?s not particularly elusive or slippery, but if he gets the corner, few defenders will catch him.

"Some games, he just gets a little bit here, a little bit there and then breaks open a long one that changes the whole momentum of the game," Piqua coach Bill Nees said.

"What a lot of people don?t know is what a team player he is. He was our special teams player of the week last week. Two weeks ago, he was held to 38 yards, but you didn?t see him sulking. He was very happy because we won."

Some have speculated that Saine might play fullback or perhaps receiver or safety at Ohio State. He doesn?t seem worried about it.

"Ohio State?s coaches told me they just want me to focus on this year," he said. "I haven?t given it much thought what?s going to happen next year. I just want to play."

Nees is willing to bet his reputation that Saine will succeed at Ohio State.

"Brandon has a burning desire to do everything successfully," Nees said. "He?s going to succeed because he has such a great work ethic. People like him can?t fail."

Asked whether the thrill of breaking the 100-meter state record, winning the Mr. Football award or leading Piqua to state football championship was a bigger thrill, Saine didn?t hesitate.

"The football title, because I?m going to get to share it with so many people."


[email protected]

http://www.columbusdispatch.com/prep/preps.php?story=dispatch/2006/12/02/20061202-E9-02.html

 

[Muck]

.../snip/...Some have speculated that Saine might play fullback or perhaps receiver or safety at Ohio State. He doesn?t seem worried about it.../snip/...

...anyone who thinks Brandon ends up at FB is absolutely insane.

 

[Ttown]

If pittman returns as he says he is I look for Saine to play D or even redshirt.

 

[bucknut11]

I was at the game last night. A few thoughts...

- Saine definitely passes the look test. Very solid. Good height. I'd say that 6'0, 210 is fairly accurate.

- Speed kills. A few defenders appeared to have an angle on Brandon on the 80 yard run. They never stood a chance. He didn't seem to be incredibly elusive (did have some nice cutbacks), but man can he run.

- Toughness. 30+ carries. Never got up slow once. Never showed any signs of fatigue/pain.

- The 52 yard score was on a fake punt. Very nice run with a good cutback.

- The weather conditions were crazy. The winds were strong enough that neither team could get a consistent passing attack. With this in mind, both teams' defenses stacked the box to stop the run (and force a wind-killed punt). Despite this, Brandon still put up 230ish yards and 3 scores.

- One thing that I didn't like was that he was stopped for 1 yard or less A LOT of times. I think I read in the paper that he went 0 yards or less 8 times, so if you add in a few 1 yard gains, at least 1/3 of his 30ish carries were for next to nothing. I know you can't expect easy running when the other team stacks 8 or 9 in the box, but if I have anything to complain about, it's that. I guess I'm spoiled after seeing Beanie moving piles at Garfield last year (and more this year).

- After the game ended, Brandon and the QB (Hemm?) were the first ones from Piqua to get over and congratulate Pick Central on a hard-fought game.

- The only time Brandon left the field was for defense. He was on all kick return/coverage teams. I saw BucyrusBuckeye (and the thread title) are mentioning that he could play defense. If not RB, I'd say WR maybe (he caught a few passes), but I don't see him playing defense.

- All in all, 230 yards and 3 scores in a STATE FINALS game is very impressive, especially when everyone in the stadium knows what is coming. It would have been interesting to see how he did if Piqua could have thrown and gotten some defenders off the LOS.

Good get for the good guys! :osu:

 

[utgrad73]

Piqua Passing Game.

All in all, 230 yards and 3 scores in a STATE FINALS game is very impressive, especially when everyone in the stadium knows what is coming. It would have been interesting to see how he did if Piqua could have thrown and gotten some defenders off the LOS.

The wind had to be a factor. In the Toledo Central Catholic first round playoff game there wasn't much wind, Hemm found Collier for three TDs while the TCC defense was keying on Saine. Brandon had about a 100 rushing yards in that game. I think the State Championship game against Pick would have been even more lopsided if they would have been able to pass.

Brandon is an offensive threat, IMO he will start next year and possibly alternate with Beanie in the backfield. tOSU has several recuits that could easily fill defensive positions in the next few years.

JT has sooo many weapons and the toughest decision he'll have is which burner to use next to score. These guys are going to kick ass. Nice problem to have.