RB Brandon "Zoom" Saine (official thread)

[Sportsbuck28]

Tressel has never been very fond of freshmen returning kicks.

He didn't seem to have too big of a problem with Ted Ginn..

 

[Oneshot]

Yes he did.

Teddy didn't return kicks until year 2.

Punts, yes. Kicks, no.

 

[Pfef73]

Yes he did.

Teddy didn't return kicks until year 2.

Punts, yes. Kicks, no.

It's not that Tressel had a problem with Ginn returning kicks in 2004, it's just that the man who was returning kicks (Mo Hall) was a senior who set the school record for career kick return yards that very season. As we all know, Tressel always goes with the upperclassman in position battles, and there was no plausible reason (subpar performance, off the field issues, etc.) to bench Hall.

 

[xcrunner]

Credit Wikipedia

And Butch Reynolds said(on Brandon Saine)...


The bar has been set higher than ever before. That is a whole heck of alot of pressure for this kid. Are we just getting hyped because we are diehard fans or can somebody from the outside interpret all of this as fan frenzy or is it really a possibility.

Yes
I'm a big track fan, and this guy is amazing. The real thing that makes me confident is that his stride really isn't that ideal, at all. And that can be fixed without TOO much trouble (Thank you, Butch Reynolds!). If he improves his stride- not to mention all the other work he'll be doing with Reynolds- he could post some serious times.
That being said, it takes not only talent, but hard work (which I believe he has) and a whole lot of luck, which he may or may not have. But there's a real good chance he's got the potential.

 

[utgrad73]

Thursday Practice - Interview with Coach Reynolds

Butch Reynolds compared Brandon to Bob Hayes. This was a serious sprinter turned WR for the Dallas Cowboys. He also said Brandon is not a track guy playing football but rather a football player with world class track speed. Coach Reynolds may have been salivating a little when he said that.

 

[BGriffBuckeye]

How often do we see this lineup on the field:

BACKFIELD:
QB: Todd Boeckman
RB: Chris Wells
APB: Brandon Saine
... and then the usual WR, WR, TE, OLmen

I read somewhere that said Brandon was playing well at the Slot and may take snaps away from Ray Small when he gets healthy, I will try and find it and post it. But still, that is one sick group and there is no telling what is going to come out of a play with guys lined up like that. Small, Torrence and Mo Wells could all probably play a role like Brandon in this situation.

 

[utgrad73]

Brandon's Role this year?

As long as he gets the ball, there's a potential threat

Don't look too much into Maurice Wells being listed as an "or" with Brandon Saine
Although the depth chart says that both players have an equal shot at playing, there is almost no doubt in my mind that Maurice Wells is the number two running back on this team. He's simply been here too long, worked too hard, and been on the short end of the stick too many times to lose out to a true freshman. Saine will get his licks, undoubtedly, but he will probably make his biggest impact as gimmick back, much like Ted Ginn was in his freshman season, being used out of the "Shot Ginn" formation. Saine may have the big play ability and the hype, but Wells will be the one getting the carries. Count on it.

Around the Oval :: An Ohio State Buckeyes Blog

 

[buckeye4ever21]

I have no doubt the Saine is the #2 RB and believe me it will only take one time for him breaking into the secondary to prove it to everyone. We will be wasting him this year if he doesn't get the ball in his hands 5-10 times. I have nothing against Mo Wells, it's just that he doesn't have the ideal abilities of a big ten RB.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I have no doubt the Saine is the #2 RB and believe me it will only take one time for him breaking into the secondary to prove it to everyone. We will be wasting him this year if he doesn't get the ball in his hands 5-10 times. I have nothing against Mo Wells, it's just that he doesn't have the ideal abilities of a big ten RB.

Saine hasn't had a carry yet in his career and the majority of Mo Wells' carries have been during clock-killing mode, and yet you have no doubt that Saine will beat out Mo Wells, despite Wells' experience and seniority...

 

[Yertle]

What is this based on? Did you watch Saine play big ten teams before? I wouldn't be so sure that he's head and shoulders above Mo Wells. Nothing against Saine, but I'm not about ready to count Mo out of the hunt yet. I'd be willing to bet Mo holds onto the #2 spot until game 7 at least. Wasn't there a bet like this last year between Pittman and Beanie? That bet was money in the back. Easiest vCash I've ever earned. Same thing here, barring injury or discipline issues, Mo Wells will have more carries than Saine this YEAR. Entire year. Saine may be getting more at the end of the season for a single game, but it won't be enough to catch Mo for the season total.

 

[buckeye4ever21]

Saine hasn't had a carry yet in his career and the majority of Mo Wells' carries have been during clock-killing mode, and yet you have no doubt that Saine will beat out Mo Wells, despite Wells' experience and seniority...

What has Mo Wells done that proves he should be #2 other than being here for more years? I'm just saying that there are special talents that come around every couple of years and seniority and work ethic should not determine playing time.

 

[buckeye4ever21]

What is this based on? Did you watch Saine play big ten teams before? I wouldn't be so sure that he's head and shoulders above Mo Wells. Nothing against Saine, but I'm not about ready to count Mo out of the hunt yet. I'd be willing to bet Mo holds onto the #2 spot until game 7 at least. Wasn't there a bet like this last year between Pittman and Beanie? That bet was money in the back. Easiest vCash I've ever earned. Same thing here, barring injury or discipline issues, Mo Wells will have more carries than Saine this YEAR. Entire year. Saine may be getting more at the end of the season for a single game, but it won't be enough to catch Mo for the season total.

He's already stronger and faster than Mo Wells. I don't know how you can say that with such confidence.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

What has Mo Wells done that proves he should be #2 other than being here for more years? I'm just saying that there are special talents that come around every couple of years and seniority and work ethic should not determine playing time.

And just what Brandon Saine shown that proves he deserves to jump over a guy who has been in the system for two full years? Mo improved over the course of last season, and if fact carried the ball 18 times for 103 yards (5.7 ypc) in the last three games he played (situations where the staff wasn't running him head-first into a stacked line). Saine may indeed turn out to be a great one, but no one here--including you--know that for a fact yet.

By the way, seniority and work ethic are indeed key factors for playing time under Jim Tressel...

 

[Yertle]

He's already stronger and faster than Mo Wells. I don't know how you can say that with such confidence.

I guess that's what makes it an interesting vBet, doesn't it? If we agreed on a particular point, then why waste everyone's time with a bet?

For example, who's going to see more time at the Mike position, JL or Spitler? Let's bet... nah.

I just don't understand the negativity against Mo Wells. The guy is a solid runner, who has proven he deserves some considerable playing time. Right now, all we're going on is hype with Saine. If hype was all it took to be a successful Buckeye, Jamo would be an all-American safety right now and Zwick would have 3 Heismans. "Hype" can point us fans in the right direction, but on-field performance is what counts in the end. Mo Wells has shown me that he is a solid #2 RB at tOSU, and Saine has shown me that he's big enough and fast enough to get a bunch of people on a message board all worked up into a frenzy even though he hasn't carried the ball against a Div-1 defense yet. I don't know, maybe I'm getting old, but I'll take the proven on-field performance.

Just to make myself clear, I'm excited to see what Saine can do, but I'm not about to demote a true Buckeye and a hard worker because this guy has potential.

 

[Brutus1]

To me, the #2 back is the guy to count on if the #1 guy goes down. I'm not sure I want Mo Wells in that situation. I don't know enough about Saine to judge him, but the thought of MW as the #1 (in the event of an injury), would make me more than a little uneasy. And no, I don't have the correct answer.