-
Follow us on Twitter @buckeyeplanet and @bp_recruiting, like us on Facebook! Enjoy a post or article, recommend it to others! BP is only as strong as its community, and we only promote by word of mouth, so share away!
- Thread starter slickman
- Start date
Golferdow01
East-Coast Living
BuckeyeNation27 said:
Exactly what I was gonna say...it's the ESPN Coaches Poll...think of it like the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl...see the correlation?
Upvote
0
scarletandgrey
Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult!
you mean some with some southern speed...:pNJ-Buckeye said:sure hope we get some fast LBs soon...
Upvote
0
Cleveland PD
11/11
Next in line-backer
Friday, November 11, 2005
Ohio State will have three starting spots to fill at linebacker next season with the graduation of A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel. Here are the five current Buckeyes with the best chances to fill those three spots:
James Laurinaitis, freshman, 6-3, 231:
Son of a professional wrestler and the only Buckeye from Minnesota, chose the Buckeyes over Minnesota, UCLA, Oklahoma and Notre Dame. Has played on special teams and on a few defensive snaps. Listed as the top backup to Bobby Carpenter at strongside linebacker.
John Kerr, junior, 6-1, 246:
The St. Ignatius grad was the leading tackler for Indiana as a freshman in 2002, sat out 2003 as a transfer, did not see game action last season, and has played in all nine games as a backup and on special teams, making 10 tackles. Listed as the top backup to A.J. Hawk at weakside linebacker.
Mike D'Andrea, junior, 6-3, 248:
High school All-American recruited with Hawk and Carpenter has battled injuries for three seasons. Has seen only bits of special teams action this year while recovering more slowly than expected from knee surgery. Still listed as the top backup to Anthony Schlegel at middle linebacker.
Marcus Freeman, sophomore, 6-2, 230:
Played in all 12 games as a freshman and was being groomed to replace Bobby Carpenter next year. But he has been out since hurting his knee in the opener against Miami (Ohio) and having surgery. The Buckeyes plan to redshirt him, which could pay off down the road.
Curtis Terry, sophomore, 6-2, 220:
The Glenville grad was a starter on special teams as a freshman and has played in all nine games this season, making one tackle. Hasn't been forgotten in the scramble coming to fill these spots.
- Doug Lesmerises
11/11
Next in line-backer
Friday, November 11, 2005
Ohio State will have three starting spots to fill at linebacker next season with the graduation of A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel. Here are the five current Buckeyes with the best chances to fill those three spots:
James Laurinaitis, freshman, 6-3, 231:
Son of a professional wrestler and the only Buckeye from Minnesota, chose the Buckeyes over Minnesota, UCLA, Oklahoma and Notre Dame. Has played on special teams and on a few defensive snaps. Listed as the top backup to Bobby Carpenter at strongside linebacker.
John Kerr, junior, 6-1, 246:
The St. Ignatius grad was the leading tackler for Indiana as a freshman in 2002, sat out 2003 as a transfer, did not see game action last season, and has played in all nine games as a backup and on special teams, making 10 tackles. Listed as the top backup to A.J. Hawk at weakside linebacker.
Mike D'Andrea, junior, 6-3, 248:
High school All-American recruited with Hawk and Carpenter has battled injuries for three seasons. Has seen only bits of special teams action this year while recovering more slowly than expected from knee surgery. Still listed as the top backup to Anthony Schlegel at middle linebacker.
Marcus Freeman, sophomore, 6-2, 230:
Played in all 12 games as a freshman and was being groomed to replace Bobby Carpenter next year. But he has been out since hurting his knee in the opener against Miami (Ohio) and having surgery. The Buckeyes plan to redshirt him, which could pay off down the road.
Curtis Terry, sophomore, 6-2, 220:
The Glenville grad was a starter on special teams as a freshman and has played in all nine games this season, making one tackle. Hasn't been forgotten in the scramble coming to fill these spots.
- Doug Lesmerises
Upvote
0
Cleveland PD
11/11
Leaving a hole even they can't easily plug
Friday, November 11, 2005Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- They've been talked about as the best group of linebackers in the country. In nine games, Bobby Carpenter, Anthony Schlegel and A.J. Hawk have combined for 194 tackles and 16.5 sacks. Thursday, Hawk was named as a finalist, along with Alabama's DeMarco Ryans and Penn State's Paul Posluszny, for the Butkus Award as the top linebacker in the country.
If there's one thing Ohio State's three senior linebackers haven't done well this year, it's take a break.
"They never want to come out, ever," said freshman linebacker James Laurinaitis. "And that's good. If I was a starter, I wouldn't want to come out. Those three guys . . . deserve to be where they're at. So we don't expect them to come out. It was the fourth quarter [in a 41-10 game] against Indiana and A.J. was complaining about coming out. They want to be out there anytime they can."
Saturday against Northwestern, the linebackers will be among nine senior starters on defense, offense and special teams playing at Ohio Stadium for the final time. Remember them well. No hole on the 2006 Buckeyes will be more difficult to fill than the crater left in the heart of the Ohio State defense, literally and figuratively, by the graduation of the linebackers.
"We knew that going into the season," said linebackers coach Luke Fickell. "You hope you can really work with those young guys and get them some serious playing time, but you can't always do it.
"This [loss] is going to happen, and it's going to happen here real shortly. But we think we've got some guys that are ready to step up, they just haven't been tested yet."
A few of the five main candidates to start next season actually have been tested, though. Two of the players listed second on the depth chart have started in the Big Ten - John Kerr while a freshman at Indiana, before he transferred, and Mike D'Andrea last season before he hurt his knee.
Another injured candidate for next season is sophomore Marcus Freeman, who hasn't played since hurting his knee in the season opener. He dresses for games now only as an emergency fill-in, with the Buckeyes hoping to redshirt him and bring him back with sophomore eligibility next year.
Two other young players - Laurinaitis and sophomore Curtis Terry from Glenville - have made their marks primarily on special teams.
Of the group, Freeman and Laurinaitis appear to have the most potential.
"Talk to anyone on this team and they realize James is going to be a great player. He's got it mentally and physically," Hawk said.
Kerr and D'Andrea have the most experience, though D'Andrea's nearly two-year absence after knee surgery makes him a question mark.
"John has done a great job," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "He's been playing behind A.J. and he's learning a lot. He's one of those full-speed guys, and we're glad he's here."
With playing time so precious, Fickell bears down in practice on the backups to take advantage of some of the best teachers they'll ever have.
"It's not just seeing how they play, but how they practice, how they study, how they approach the games," Fickell said. "[Watching] that to me is more important sometimes than even the game reps they're not getting."
While the loss of Hawk, Carpenter and Schlegel may not be the most enjoyable topic for Buckeye fans, it should make for a fascinating spring practice.
"There's a lot of talent, and you don't know who's going to play next year," Hawk said. "I think it will be fun to watch and see the battles going on to see who's going to take the jobs, because we have plenty of guys who can play."
And that's without considering incoming freshmen who could fight for playing time next fall, with high school linebackers Ross Homan and Tyler Moeller among the Buckeyes' oral commitments, and Euclid's Thaddeus Gibson still considering Ohio State.
"A.J. Hawk came in and started for us as a freshman and he was just fine," Fickell said.
Hawk won't be just fine Saturday. He said his mother has been worried about Senior Day for weeks and the tears she expects to shed. Buckeye fans can handle that type of emotion, as long as they aren't crying next year over the linebackers who have moved on.
"We know they'll be fine," Schlegel said. "Because as older guys we bring them in and talk to them and say, 'Come watch film with me and see what I'm seeing.' You've got to leave the program better than it was when you came here. And I think that's who we are as people and that's what Coach Tressel teaches as far as helping the young guys. That's what Ohio State is all about."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4847
11/11
Leaving a hole even they can't easily plug
Friday, November 11, 2005Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- They've been talked about as the best group of linebackers in the country. In nine games, Bobby Carpenter, Anthony Schlegel and A.J. Hawk have combined for 194 tackles and 16.5 sacks. Thursday, Hawk was named as a finalist, along with Alabama's DeMarco Ryans and Penn State's Paul Posluszny, for the Butkus Award as the top linebacker in the country.
If there's one thing Ohio State's three senior linebackers haven't done well this year, it's take a break.
"They never want to come out, ever," said freshman linebacker James Laurinaitis. "And that's good. If I was a starter, I wouldn't want to come out. Those three guys . . . deserve to be where they're at. So we don't expect them to come out. It was the fourth quarter [in a 41-10 game] against Indiana and A.J. was complaining about coming out. They want to be out there anytime they can."
Saturday against Northwestern, the linebackers will be among nine senior starters on defense, offense and special teams playing at Ohio Stadium for the final time. Remember them well. No hole on the 2006 Buckeyes will be more difficult to fill than the crater left in the heart of the Ohio State defense, literally and figuratively, by the graduation of the linebackers.
"We knew that going into the season," said linebackers coach Luke Fickell. "You hope you can really work with those young guys and get them some serious playing time, but you can't always do it.
"This [loss] is going to happen, and it's going to happen here real shortly. But we think we've got some guys that are ready to step up, they just haven't been tested yet."
A few of the five main candidates to start next season actually have been tested, though. Two of the players listed second on the depth chart have started in the Big Ten - John Kerr while a freshman at Indiana, before he transferred, and Mike D'Andrea last season before he hurt his knee.
Another injured candidate for next season is sophomore Marcus Freeman, who hasn't played since hurting his knee in the season opener. He dresses for games now only as an emergency fill-in, with the Buckeyes hoping to redshirt him and bring him back with sophomore eligibility next year.
Two other young players - Laurinaitis and sophomore Curtis Terry from Glenville - have made their marks primarily on special teams.
Of the group, Freeman and Laurinaitis appear to have the most potential.
"Talk to anyone on this team and they realize James is going to be a great player. He's got it mentally and physically," Hawk said.
Kerr and D'Andrea have the most experience, though D'Andrea's nearly two-year absence after knee surgery makes him a question mark.
"John has done a great job," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said. "He's been playing behind A.J. and he's learning a lot. He's one of those full-speed guys, and we're glad he's here."
With playing time so precious, Fickell bears down in practice on the backups to take advantage of some of the best teachers they'll ever have.
"It's not just seeing how they play, but how they practice, how they study, how they approach the games," Fickell said. "[Watching] that to me is more important sometimes than even the game reps they're not getting."
While the loss of Hawk, Carpenter and Schlegel may not be the most enjoyable topic for Buckeye fans, it should make for a fascinating spring practice.
"There's a lot of talent, and you don't know who's going to play next year," Hawk said. "I think it will be fun to watch and see the battles going on to see who's going to take the jobs, because we have plenty of guys who can play."
And that's without considering incoming freshmen who could fight for playing time next fall, with high school linebackers Ross Homan and Tyler Moeller among the Buckeyes' oral commitments, and Euclid's Thaddeus Gibson still considering Ohio State.
"A.J. Hawk came in and started for us as a freshman and he was just fine," Fickell said.
Hawk won't be just fine Saturday. He said his mother has been worried about Senior Day for weeks and the tears she expects to shed. Buckeye fans can handle that type of emotion, as long as they aren't crying next year over the linebackers who have moved on.
"We know they'll be fine," Schlegel said. "Because as older guys we bring them in and talk to them and say, 'Come watch film with me and see what I'm seeing.' You've got to leave the program better than it was when you came here. And I think that's who we are as people and that's what Coach Tressel teaches as far as helping the young guys. That's what Ohio State is all about."
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4847
Upvote
0
IronBuckI
Calmer than you are.
What a great article. I don't think A.J. actually started a single game as a freshman, but I could be wrong. He did get significant p.t. though.
It's great that the Seniors are making sure that the other players are in there studying film with them. I know that Pitcock wasn't very interested in film study in High School, then he got to tOSU and Tim Anderson took him under his wing, and taught not only to watch the film, but what to look for when studying film.
I think that I shared some anxiety with quite a few people that were concerned with the underclassmen's lack of p.t.. I really do hope that it's simply due to the seniors never wanting to come out, rather than having to have them out there every play.
It's great that the Seniors are making sure that the other players are in there studying film with them. I know that Pitcock wasn't very interested in film study in High School, then he got to tOSU and Tim Anderson took him under his wing, and taught not only to watch the film, but what to look for when studying film.
I think that I shared some anxiety with quite a few people that were concerned with the underclassmen's lack of p.t.. I really do hope that it's simply due to the seniors never wanting to come out, rather than having to have them out there every play.
Upvote
0
That particular quote by AS not only made some hairs stand on the back of my neck, and not only provides another window into what JT is all about as a coach/person, but also shows what a true leader as well as an understanding of what it is to be a true team leader, that AS is.
This time of year is always bittersweet for me since we are close to The Game which also signifies the end of Buckeye football on the field for awhile. This year it is even more so, since the end of one of the best LB units in all of CFB ever, is quickly approaching. I guess all that I can do, or any of us, is enjoy the show for 3 more games knowing that the AS's on the team are striving to "leave the program better than it was when he came here".
Upvote
0
Fickell is correct about AJ starting as a frosh, for at least 1 game.
From Hawk's official bio:
ohiostatebuckeyes
2002 (Freshman):
Played behind Cie Grant at the weak-side linebacker spot ... recorded 26 tackles, 13 solos and the same number of assists ... had 3.5 tackles-for-loss and two interceptions, including one he returned 34 yards for a score against Kent State ... made his first career start against Penn State and intercepted Zach Mills on the Nittany Lions' first possession ... five tackles against Penn State, Kent State and Wisconsin were his top efforts.
Upvote
0
stagtennis
Rose Bowl Bound!!!!
Yes, it is true. I was at the 2002 PSU game and Hawk satrted in place of an injured Cie Grant.
Despite Hawk being the lowest rated of our 2002 LB recruits, there was still a lot of anticipation for him coming in as a frosh. I saw hi performance in the Big 33 game, and i knew that he was going to have a sdecent career at OSU. Obviously, i never thought he would be this great but I knew he would be good.
The guy plays so smart and so fast. He's already fast, but when you cobine his mental approach to the film room and on gameday, that just makes him even faster. The only LB at the college level that made such an impact was Spielman.
Despite Hawk being the lowest rated of our 2002 LB recruits, there was still a lot of anticipation for him coming in as a frosh. I saw hi performance in the Big 33 game, and i knew that he was going to have a sdecent career at OSU. Obviously, i never thought he would be this great but I knew he would be good.
The guy plays so smart and so fast. He's already fast, but when you cobine his mental approach to the film room and on gameday, that just makes him even faster. The only LB at the college level that made such an impact was Spielman.
Upvote
0
Cleveland PD
Linebackers will make picks
Thursday, November 17, 2005Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- There's an NFL scout out there who knows exactly what he would like to do with Ohio State senior linebacker A.J. Hawk.
"I'd like to put him in my trunk and drive away with him," said the scout, who works for an AFC team. "I love the guy. If we had a pick in the top four, I'd stand on the table for him. He's not as good as advertised, he's better, which is very rare. He's tough, he's rugged, he's fast - maybe he's an inch short, which doesn't bother me a lick. We measured him at 6-feet, but I don't care. Ray Lewis is only 6-feet tall."
When Ohio State and Michigan get together, each side knows they'll be facing as many individual talents as they've seen all season. Saturday in Ann Arbor, the Buckeyes will put 12 potential 2006 NFL picks on the field, between their seniors and juniors who could leave school early. Ohio State could at least be looking at its second-largest draft haul since the draft was reduced to seven rounds in 1994. In 2004, 14 Buckeyes were selected, while in both 1999 and 2002, eight Ohio State players were picked.
As most Ohio State fans know, the talent runs deepest at linebacker, with Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel all expected to appear on Sundays next season.
"If I was around average players, I think I'd be an average linebacker," Hawk said. "When I'm playing next to guys like Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel, who are you going to block? It's kind of like pick your poison."
Where to pick them?
Hawk: At the very least, he should be Ohio State's highest pick since receiver David Boston went No. 8 to Arizona in 1999 and the highest Buckeyes linebacker selection since Buffalo made Tom Cousineau the No. 1 pick overall pick in 1979.
"He's as sure of a first-round pick as you're going to get," said Rob Rang, a senior analyst at nfldraftscout.com. "He's a stud player, and he's going to do well in his workouts. Whether he's a top four or five pick, that will work it's way out because he does play a position at outside linebacker that is strong this year, and it's usually not."
Other potential first-round picks at outside linebacker include Alabama's DeMeco Ryans, Penn State's Paul Posluszy, Iowa's Chad Greenway and Florida State's A.J. Nicholson. Hawk tops the list, with ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. putting Hawk second on his list of the top 25 seniors, behind only Southern Cal quarterback Matt Leinart and one spot ahead of Ryans. Scouts Inc., a service that analyzes college players, lists Hawk third among all potentially draft-eligible players, behind Southern Cal junior tailback Reggie Bush and Leinart.
The central point reinforced by Hawk's standing is that he's not just tough, he offers plenty of physical gifts which sometimes get overlooked. One scout had his 40 time under 4.5 seconds.
"I would be very surprised if he's not the top linebacker taken," said Russ Lande, a former Midwest scout for the Browns who now produces a draft guide and Web site called gmjr.com. "He's got the top-notch athletic ability and the leadership - he's got the whole package. Rarely do linebackers go in the top five, so I would guess ninth, 10th, something like that. Somebody would have to fall in love with him to go higher than that."
That could happen.
Carpenter: There's something else that could happen, even if it's not very likely. Hawk could be the second linebacker to be drafted off his own team.
"A couple teams I talked to could see Carpenter going ahead of A.J., and before this year, that was a joke to think about," Rang said. "But because he is coming off the edge sometimes, they've seen some nice things from him as a pass rusher."
Rang compared Carpenter to linebacker Chad Brown, a former All-Pro who also got after the passer, posting 13 sacks for Pittsburgh in 1996. That Hawk-loving AFC scout was wowed by Carpenter's size in person, and he expects him to test well and be a player on the rise during draft talk in the spring.
He understands how some teams could want Carpenter ahead of Hawk, but he would never push his team that direction. Lande agreed.
"There's no question he's the prototypical specimen that you want at linebacker," Lande said of the 6-3, 255-pound Carpenter. "And he's highly competitive and talented. But I question his ability to find the ball at the time real quickly.
"I don't think he's as natural a player as Hawk, and I think that will keep him from being spectacular. He's a good player who will be a good starting linebacker in the NFL for a long time."
Schlegel: "He'll get drafted, and there's a chance it could be in the third round, though more likely it'll be in the fourth or fifth," Lande said. "He plays well between the tackles, but he's not a great athlete, so that's the thing that will hinder him."
The AFC scout figures Schlegel to go late in the draft and then stay in the league.
"He's got good toughness, and the kid plays well on Saturdays, and it's going to be difficult for a team to cut him in camp," he said. "He's not the height, weight and speed you want, but you watch him on tape, and he's a good player."
That makes three of them.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4748
Linebackers will make picks
Thursday, November 17, 2005Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- There's an NFL scout out there who knows exactly what he would like to do with Ohio State senior linebacker A.J. Hawk.
"I'd like to put him in my trunk and drive away with him," said the scout, who works for an AFC team. "I love the guy. If we had a pick in the top four, I'd stand on the table for him. He's not as good as advertised, he's better, which is very rare. He's tough, he's rugged, he's fast - maybe he's an inch short, which doesn't bother me a lick. We measured him at 6-feet, but I don't care. Ray Lewis is only 6-feet tall."
When Ohio State and Michigan get together, each side knows they'll be facing as many individual talents as they've seen all season. Saturday in Ann Arbor, the Buckeyes will put 12 potential 2006 NFL picks on the field, between their seniors and juniors who could leave school early. Ohio State could at least be looking at its second-largest draft haul since the draft was reduced to seven rounds in 1994. In 2004, 14 Buckeyes were selected, while in both 1999 and 2002, eight Ohio State players were picked.
As most Ohio State fans know, the talent runs deepest at linebacker, with Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel all expected to appear on Sundays next season.
"If I was around average players, I think I'd be an average linebacker," Hawk said. "When I'm playing next to guys like Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel, who are you going to block? It's kind of like pick your poison."
Where to pick them?
Hawk: At the very least, he should be Ohio State's highest pick since receiver David Boston went No. 8 to Arizona in 1999 and the highest Buckeyes linebacker selection since Buffalo made Tom Cousineau the No. 1 pick overall pick in 1979.
"He's as sure of a first-round pick as you're going to get," said Rob Rang, a senior analyst at nfldraftscout.com. "He's a stud player, and he's going to do well in his workouts. Whether he's a top four or five pick, that will work it's way out because he does play a position at outside linebacker that is strong this year, and it's usually not."
Other potential first-round picks at outside linebacker include Alabama's DeMeco Ryans, Penn State's Paul Posluszy, Iowa's Chad Greenway and Florida State's A.J. Nicholson. Hawk tops the list, with ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. putting Hawk second on his list of the top 25 seniors, behind only Southern Cal quarterback Matt Leinart and one spot ahead of Ryans. Scouts Inc., a service that analyzes college players, lists Hawk third among all potentially draft-eligible players, behind Southern Cal junior tailback Reggie Bush and Leinart.
The central point reinforced by Hawk's standing is that he's not just tough, he offers plenty of physical gifts which sometimes get overlooked. One scout had his 40 time under 4.5 seconds.
"I would be very surprised if he's not the top linebacker taken," said Russ Lande, a former Midwest scout for the Browns who now produces a draft guide and Web site called gmjr.com. "He's got the top-notch athletic ability and the leadership - he's got the whole package. Rarely do linebackers go in the top five, so I would guess ninth, 10th, something like that. Somebody would have to fall in love with him to go higher than that."
That could happen.
Carpenter: There's something else that could happen, even if it's not very likely. Hawk could be the second linebacker to be drafted off his own team.
"A couple teams I talked to could see Carpenter going ahead of A.J., and before this year, that was a joke to think about," Rang said. "But because he is coming off the edge sometimes, they've seen some nice things from him as a pass rusher."
Rang compared Carpenter to linebacker Chad Brown, a former All-Pro who also got after the passer, posting 13 sacks for Pittsburgh in 1996. That Hawk-loving AFC scout was wowed by Carpenter's size in person, and he expects him to test well and be a player on the rise during draft talk in the spring.
He understands how some teams could want Carpenter ahead of Hawk, but he would never push his team that direction. Lande agreed.
"There's no question he's the prototypical specimen that you want at linebacker," Lande said of the 6-3, 255-pound Carpenter. "And he's highly competitive and talented. But I question his ability to find the ball at the time real quickly.
"I don't think he's as natural a player as Hawk, and I think that will keep him from being spectacular. He's a good player who will be a good starting linebacker in the NFL for a long time."
Schlegel: "He'll get drafted, and there's a chance it could be in the third round, though more likely it'll be in the fourth or fifth," Lande said. "He plays well between the tackles, but he's not a great athlete, so that's the thing that will hinder him."
The AFC scout figures Schlegel to go late in the draft and then stay in the league.
"He's got good toughness, and the kid plays well on Saturdays, and it's going to be difficult for a team to cut him in camp," he said. "He's not the height, weight and speed you want, but you watch him on tape, and he's a good player."
That makes three of them.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:
[email protected], 216-999-4748
Upvote
0