Savante
The Ruler's Back
PRE-SEASON & GAME ONE - CINCINNATI - PRE-GAME
I love the blog system on this board, and I've been looking for a place to jot down my thoughts about the team and the game. If you enjoy my thoughts, please let me know, and if you have any suggestions feel free to leave them here or e-mail me. After each game, I'll be posting about each of the things I've been watching for, the players I've been watching, the battles that I've observed, and my predictions. I'm not afraid to eat a little crow, either!
Top Five Things I'll Be Watching For:
5. Increased Substitution
One thing that many practice reports seem to mention is the increased depth all across the board. The defense especially has player after player that could start for most teams -- the second team at LB is Thomas Matthews, Anthony Schlegal and Marcus Freeman! That's insane. I look for substitution to occur more often, with less of a dropoff in play to happen when it does. This will help young players gain experience and keep everyone fresher. Depth can do wonderful things to a team.
4. Improved Special Teams play
The punt team, kickoff team and punter and kicker really don't need to improve at all -- they've all been playing at All-American level lately. What I would like to see is an improved return game. I don't like the idea of Santonio Holmes returning punts and kicks (he's our only proven offensive threat), so hopefully Ashton Youboty and Ted Ginn can step in and take over the return game. Ginn especially could make it explosive.
3. Evolved Passing Attack
Not to knock on Craig Krenzel (I love the guy), but our passing attack wasn't great the last two seasons. This year, I'd love to see it evolve. Because Krenzel was a better leader than passer, many deep passes were thrown out of the book because of the arm strength needed to throw them, and many short passes that required accurate, bullet passes were also nixed. This year, I want a passing attack that spreads the field for the run game. We shouldn't be running to set up the pass, it should be throwing to set up the run. I'd love to see deep passes, short passes, medium.. slants, flies, crosses, ins.. last year, we were too predictable in our passing and it's got to stop.
2. Improved OL play
It's insane that 4 OSU OL from last year had a chance at playing in the league, with current lineman Nick Mangold and Rob Sims having a very good shot, but we couldn't run the ball well or pass block. It'll be interesting to see how the new guys step in and create space for the backs and give time for the QBs. Indications are that our OL is slimmer and more athletic, which, in the long run, could keep them fresher and still opening holes right when we need them.
1. OSU's defensive backfield vs. UC's passing attack
After a few years of recruiting the DBs heavily, we have maybe our most overall talented corps -- Dustin Fox, EJ Underwood, Donte Whitner, Nate Salley, Tyler Everett, Ted Ginn and Ashton Youbouty all have big play potential and great coverage potential. UC's passing isn't spectacular, but they have a good QB who spreads the field nicely. Chances are that all six of these guys (in addition to a few others) will see the field. Hopefully, our improved play at DB will stop teams from being able to run the spread on us, and match our pass defense right with our ability to stop the run.
Top Five Players To Watch:
5. Ted Ginn, Jr.
Simply put, the man. This guy will become our greatest player possibly as soon as next year. Talented, great head on his shoulders, and great intelligence. I'll be watching to see where he ends up, be it at punt/kick returner, wide receiver or nickel back. Expect Ginn to see the field in all four situations and hopefully have a big return to start out the year.
4. Quinn Pitcock
Taking over for Tim Anderson, Pitcock is likely a future All-American. He's very quick for his size, and many find defensive tackles at his height (6 feet, give or take) to be ideal. Pitcock needs to prove that he can succeed against both the run and the pass, something I expect him to do in a big way on Saturday.
3. Roy Hall
Reports out of Buckeye camp have Hall looking like a freak in the vein of David Boston and Michael Jenkins, some of our bigger receivers. Since Santonio Holmes isn't the biggest player in the world, it'd be nice to see Hall step up across from him. He has good hands and a great combination of size and speed that would draw heat off of Holmes better than nearly any receiver on the Buckeye roster. Hopefully, he has the strength to break the press, and the speed to beat the corners that can help our young quarterbacks pick apart the UC defense.
2. Mike Kudla/Jay Richardson
Taking over for Will Smith, one of these guys HAS to step up and put heat on the QB. Kudla is the starter, but with injury status, it's unknown if he'll be 100% for the game, so Richardson is up there in case he gets the start. Both men are gigantic, strong and quick freaks, so either one could easily break out and fill Will Smith's shoes better than expected. UC does have a weakness on their line, and a big day from either of these guys could kill their pass attack and set the OSU defense off on the right foot.
1. Lydell Ross
If Ross can stay healthy and trim, there is little doubt that he can have a senior season reminiscient of Jonathan Wells' explosion. He's fast, he has decent size and he's very talented (in addition to dropping a bit of excess weight), so expect this game to be a microcosm of Ross' season. If he hits holes hard, looks decisive and turns two yard runs into five yard runs, it's going to be a good year for him. If not, he might not have the starting job for long.
Top Five Battles:
Honorable Mention: Kyle Turano vs. Josh Huston, Punter
5. Tyler Everett vs. Donte Whitner, Strong Safety
This one, to me, is really a surprise that there even is a battle. Everett looked to be the type of guy that coaches love -- versatile, speedy and solid. Nice size, nice tangibles.. but lacking that extra spark that made him a star, or even a starter. Whitner, on the other hand, is a completely different type of player. He's quick, but built very solid, and many speculate he'd be a better corner than safety. Whitner doesn't have the measureables that Everett does, but he makes plays and appears to be a much more solid and consistent performer. Last season was a good indicator that Whitner is probably a better safety in run support, but will have a tough time covering tall receivers and tight ends. As a result, the big questions here are if Everett has earned the job through his play, or simply through his size advantage against a Cincinnati team that passes often, and how long he can keep it for.
4. Tony Pittman vs. Erik Haw, Freshman Running Back
Lydell Ross is, without a doubt, the number one running back. Maurice Hall is pretty safe as the number two. Both Haw and Pittman, two highly recruited freshman running backs, has shown glimpses of the future -- Haw in the jersey scrimmage, Pittman in the spring game. Next year, these two will be our only scholarship running backs with the loss of Clarett, so a previous easy decision to redshirt at least one becomes a lot more complicated. Both guys probably need quite a bit of game time to become ready to be the man next year. The big question is if OSU regards the backs on the same level, or if one has a leg up on the other. Pittman may have an advantage, with his supposed fantastic vision, and the fact that he enrolled early, but Haw has the better measurables in size and speed. Both will probably play, but the one that plays more may be able to provide good insight into OSU's future plans at the position.
3. EJ Underwood vs. Chris Gamble, Dustin Fox's Sidekick
True, it's not an actual battle, but the heat will be on Underwood this weekend. Cincy is certainly a passing team, and E.J. has been getting rave reviews for his coverage abilities. If he can step up and play more consistently than Gamble, the defense as a whole will be much improved. Early indication is that he will, and that can only help the team. Gamble, for all his talent, really hurt the safeties of the team by forcing them to help on blown coverages. It's hard to criticize him, as he brought us a National Championship, and was one of the most talented Buckeyes in a long time, but more consistent coverage by EJ can force Gino to throw at Dustin Fox, and that's a good thing.
2. Mike D'Andrea vs. Anthony Schlegal, Middle Linebacker
Although D'Andrea has been named the starter, this battle is far from over. Speculation runs rampant that D'Andrea's pass coverage abilities are superior to Schlegal's, so it makes sense that against a team that passes so often, D'Andrea would be the starter. On running downs, however, there's a fair chance that we'll see both guys in on a 3-4 defense, with D'Andrea playing the edge. D'Andrea has failed, so far, in his first two years, to live up to his vast potential, but his time in the film room has apparently ended his underachieving. Without a doubt, these are two of the baddest and most athletic MLB's here since Katzenmoyer, and to have the choice between the two of them is something no coach would ever turn down. This Saturday might be a great indication of who will play more overall, as both men will see time and get a chance to prove themselves.
1. Justin Zwick vs. Troy Smith, Quarterback
Is it any surprise? Zwick may be the starter, but Smith will play and play often. Both QBs are equally talented and will be looking to make their mark. Zwick may be more accurate, but Smith has a stronger arm and is a much better scrambler. Reports about the battle conflict greatly. Some say that Zwick has the job because of his head, some because of his accuracy, some because of his consistency. Until now, only speculation could really exist about why Zwick will get the first chance to prove himself, but finally, the Buckeye Nation will get a chance to decide who they like better for themselves.
PREDICTION:
Tressell coached teams are usually much, much more prepared than their opponents in the opening game. I know that Dantonio knows our schemes, but likely, our defense has changed enough under Snyder to combat this. Since Dantonio has only been head coach at UC for a little while, chances are his defensive philosophy hasn't changed too much. I look for OSU to exploit this and come out a lot stronger than the Bearcats, who just don't have the talent to compete.
Ohio State 38, Cincinnati 13
Key Players:
Justin Zwick - 12 of 19, 200 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Troy Smith - 10 of 20, 180 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Lydell Ross - 18 carries for 82 yards, 1 TD
Erik Haw - 8 carries for 55 yards, 1 TD
Santonio Holmes - 6 receptions for 112 yards, 1 TD
Roy Hall - 3 receptions for 25 yards
Bam Childress - 2 receptions for 30 yards
Quinn Pitcock - 3 tackles, 2 sacks
Simon Fraser - 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
AJ Hawk - 11 tackles
Mike D'Andrea - 10 tackles
EJ Underwood - 3 tackles, 2 passes deflected, 1 INT
Dustin Fox - 6 tackles, 1 pass deflected
I love the blog system on this board, and I've been looking for a place to jot down my thoughts about the team and the game. If you enjoy my thoughts, please let me know, and if you have any suggestions feel free to leave them here or e-mail me. After each game, I'll be posting about each of the things I've been watching for, the players I've been watching, the battles that I've observed, and my predictions. I'm not afraid to eat a little crow, either!
Top Five Things I'll Be Watching For:
5. Increased Substitution
One thing that many practice reports seem to mention is the increased depth all across the board. The defense especially has player after player that could start for most teams -- the second team at LB is Thomas Matthews, Anthony Schlegal and Marcus Freeman! That's insane. I look for substitution to occur more often, with less of a dropoff in play to happen when it does. This will help young players gain experience and keep everyone fresher. Depth can do wonderful things to a team.
4. Improved Special Teams play
The punt team, kickoff team and punter and kicker really don't need to improve at all -- they've all been playing at All-American level lately. What I would like to see is an improved return game. I don't like the idea of Santonio Holmes returning punts and kicks (he's our only proven offensive threat), so hopefully Ashton Youboty and Ted Ginn can step in and take over the return game. Ginn especially could make it explosive.
3. Evolved Passing Attack
Not to knock on Craig Krenzel (I love the guy), but our passing attack wasn't great the last two seasons. This year, I'd love to see it evolve. Because Krenzel was a better leader than passer, many deep passes were thrown out of the book because of the arm strength needed to throw them, and many short passes that required accurate, bullet passes were also nixed. This year, I want a passing attack that spreads the field for the run game. We shouldn't be running to set up the pass, it should be throwing to set up the run. I'd love to see deep passes, short passes, medium.. slants, flies, crosses, ins.. last year, we were too predictable in our passing and it's got to stop.
2. Improved OL play
It's insane that 4 OSU OL from last year had a chance at playing in the league, with current lineman Nick Mangold and Rob Sims having a very good shot, but we couldn't run the ball well or pass block. It'll be interesting to see how the new guys step in and create space for the backs and give time for the QBs. Indications are that our OL is slimmer and more athletic, which, in the long run, could keep them fresher and still opening holes right when we need them.
1. OSU's defensive backfield vs. UC's passing attack
After a few years of recruiting the DBs heavily, we have maybe our most overall talented corps -- Dustin Fox, EJ Underwood, Donte Whitner, Nate Salley, Tyler Everett, Ted Ginn and Ashton Youbouty all have big play potential and great coverage potential. UC's passing isn't spectacular, but they have a good QB who spreads the field nicely. Chances are that all six of these guys (in addition to a few others) will see the field. Hopefully, our improved play at DB will stop teams from being able to run the spread on us, and match our pass defense right with our ability to stop the run.
Top Five Players To Watch:
5. Ted Ginn, Jr.
Simply put, the man. This guy will become our greatest player possibly as soon as next year. Talented, great head on his shoulders, and great intelligence. I'll be watching to see where he ends up, be it at punt/kick returner, wide receiver or nickel back. Expect Ginn to see the field in all four situations and hopefully have a big return to start out the year.
4. Quinn Pitcock
Taking over for Tim Anderson, Pitcock is likely a future All-American. He's very quick for his size, and many find defensive tackles at his height (6 feet, give or take) to be ideal. Pitcock needs to prove that he can succeed against both the run and the pass, something I expect him to do in a big way on Saturday.
3. Roy Hall
Reports out of Buckeye camp have Hall looking like a freak in the vein of David Boston and Michael Jenkins, some of our bigger receivers. Since Santonio Holmes isn't the biggest player in the world, it'd be nice to see Hall step up across from him. He has good hands and a great combination of size and speed that would draw heat off of Holmes better than nearly any receiver on the Buckeye roster. Hopefully, he has the strength to break the press, and the speed to beat the corners that can help our young quarterbacks pick apart the UC defense.
2. Mike Kudla/Jay Richardson
Taking over for Will Smith, one of these guys HAS to step up and put heat on the QB. Kudla is the starter, but with injury status, it's unknown if he'll be 100% for the game, so Richardson is up there in case he gets the start. Both men are gigantic, strong and quick freaks, so either one could easily break out and fill Will Smith's shoes better than expected. UC does have a weakness on their line, and a big day from either of these guys could kill their pass attack and set the OSU defense off on the right foot.
1. Lydell Ross
If Ross can stay healthy and trim, there is little doubt that he can have a senior season reminiscient of Jonathan Wells' explosion. He's fast, he has decent size and he's very talented (in addition to dropping a bit of excess weight), so expect this game to be a microcosm of Ross' season. If he hits holes hard, looks decisive and turns two yard runs into five yard runs, it's going to be a good year for him. If not, he might not have the starting job for long.
Top Five Battles:
Honorable Mention: Kyle Turano vs. Josh Huston, Punter
5. Tyler Everett vs. Donte Whitner, Strong Safety
This one, to me, is really a surprise that there even is a battle. Everett looked to be the type of guy that coaches love -- versatile, speedy and solid. Nice size, nice tangibles.. but lacking that extra spark that made him a star, or even a starter. Whitner, on the other hand, is a completely different type of player. He's quick, but built very solid, and many speculate he'd be a better corner than safety. Whitner doesn't have the measureables that Everett does, but he makes plays and appears to be a much more solid and consistent performer. Last season was a good indicator that Whitner is probably a better safety in run support, but will have a tough time covering tall receivers and tight ends. As a result, the big questions here are if Everett has earned the job through his play, or simply through his size advantage against a Cincinnati team that passes often, and how long he can keep it for.
4. Tony Pittman vs. Erik Haw, Freshman Running Back
Lydell Ross is, without a doubt, the number one running back. Maurice Hall is pretty safe as the number two. Both Haw and Pittman, two highly recruited freshman running backs, has shown glimpses of the future -- Haw in the jersey scrimmage, Pittman in the spring game. Next year, these two will be our only scholarship running backs with the loss of Clarett, so a previous easy decision to redshirt at least one becomes a lot more complicated. Both guys probably need quite a bit of game time to become ready to be the man next year. The big question is if OSU regards the backs on the same level, or if one has a leg up on the other. Pittman may have an advantage, with his supposed fantastic vision, and the fact that he enrolled early, but Haw has the better measurables in size and speed. Both will probably play, but the one that plays more may be able to provide good insight into OSU's future plans at the position.
3. EJ Underwood vs. Chris Gamble, Dustin Fox's Sidekick
True, it's not an actual battle, but the heat will be on Underwood this weekend. Cincy is certainly a passing team, and E.J. has been getting rave reviews for his coverage abilities. If he can step up and play more consistently than Gamble, the defense as a whole will be much improved. Early indication is that he will, and that can only help the team. Gamble, for all his talent, really hurt the safeties of the team by forcing them to help on blown coverages. It's hard to criticize him, as he brought us a National Championship, and was one of the most talented Buckeyes in a long time, but more consistent coverage by EJ can force Gino to throw at Dustin Fox, and that's a good thing.
2. Mike D'Andrea vs. Anthony Schlegal, Middle Linebacker
Although D'Andrea has been named the starter, this battle is far from over. Speculation runs rampant that D'Andrea's pass coverage abilities are superior to Schlegal's, so it makes sense that against a team that passes so often, D'Andrea would be the starter. On running downs, however, there's a fair chance that we'll see both guys in on a 3-4 defense, with D'Andrea playing the edge. D'Andrea has failed, so far, in his first two years, to live up to his vast potential, but his time in the film room has apparently ended his underachieving. Without a doubt, these are two of the baddest and most athletic MLB's here since Katzenmoyer, and to have the choice between the two of them is something no coach would ever turn down. This Saturday might be a great indication of who will play more overall, as both men will see time and get a chance to prove themselves.
1. Justin Zwick vs. Troy Smith, Quarterback
Is it any surprise? Zwick may be the starter, but Smith will play and play often. Both QBs are equally talented and will be looking to make their mark. Zwick may be more accurate, but Smith has a stronger arm and is a much better scrambler. Reports about the battle conflict greatly. Some say that Zwick has the job because of his head, some because of his accuracy, some because of his consistency. Until now, only speculation could really exist about why Zwick will get the first chance to prove himself, but finally, the Buckeye Nation will get a chance to decide who they like better for themselves.
PREDICTION:
Tressell coached teams are usually much, much more prepared than their opponents in the opening game. I know that Dantonio knows our schemes, but likely, our defense has changed enough under Snyder to combat this. Since Dantonio has only been head coach at UC for a little while, chances are his defensive philosophy hasn't changed too much. I look for OSU to exploit this and come out a lot stronger than the Bearcats, who just don't have the talent to compete.
Ohio State 38, Cincinnati 13
Key Players:
Justin Zwick - 12 of 19, 200 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Troy Smith - 10 of 20, 180 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Lydell Ross - 18 carries for 82 yards, 1 TD
Erik Haw - 8 carries for 55 yards, 1 TD
Santonio Holmes - 6 receptions for 112 yards, 1 TD
Roy Hall - 3 receptions for 25 yards
Bam Childress - 2 receptions for 30 yards
Quinn Pitcock - 3 tackles, 2 sacks
Simon Fraser - 6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss
AJ Hawk - 11 tackles
Mike D'Andrea - 10 tackles
EJ Underwood - 3 tackles, 2 passes deflected, 1 INT
Dustin Fox - 6 tackles, 1 pass deflected