Will JT Win Another NC at tOSU?

[billmac91]

For my own benefit, I wanted to look at our roster next year to see what our chances look like. Offensively, you have to think with another year under TP's belt the unit should get better. Duron Carter coming back gives us a boost outside. I think Philly Brown will make a nice slot to make up for Sanzo graduating. DeVier Posey is without a doubt coming back. I don't care what anyone is saying right now...he needs another year to develop as well, and trying to leave this year against guys like Julio Jones, AJ Green, Chiles, Broyles, etc. just wouldn't be smart. I guess the one upside to some of these guys not living up to this years expectations, is that they will be back next year. Brewster is another guy I anticpate coming back....

QB - TP
RB - Boom/Berry/Hall
FB - Zach Boren
WR - DeVier Posey
WR - Duron Carter
WR - Corey Brown
TE - Stoneburner
LT - Mike Adams
RT - J.B. Shugarts
C - Mike Brewster
RG - Marcus Hall
LG - Mewhort/Linsley

That offense is national championship worthy. Only lose Sanzenbacher, Justin Boren, and Bryant Browning as starters. Saine is also gone.

Defensively is where it gets pretty scary. Our defensive line just got exposed and it will be weaker next year. Our secondary has struggled this year, and we have a drop-off at CB next season. Plus our best safety moves on (Jermale Hines).

DE - Nathan Williams (does he stay?) maybe Solomon Thomas
DE - Adam Bellamy/John Simon/Melvin Fellows/Keith Wells back??
DT - Jonathon Hankins/Garrett Goebel
DT - John Simon
LB - Etienne Sabino
LB - Andrew Sweat
Star - Tyler Moeller/Christian Bryant
CB - Travis Howard/Dionte Allen
CB - Dominic Clark/Doran Grant
FS - Barnett/Johnson
SS- Bryant/Johnson/Wood

There's a lot of guessing here and mostly my opinion. After Saturday night, I wonder if we consider sliding Simon to DE to beef up the line next year. Sabino fights for his PT. Does Moeller come back healthy? Does Barnett come back healthy? Who can come down and fill gaps from safety? That killed us against Wisconsin. It really appeared O.J. wanted no part of Clay in the hole.

Next year is possible. The offense will have to step up and bail the defense out at times, IMO. I'm not sure we can consistently count on that as JT really doesn't like depending on the offense to be a juggernaut.

And obviously, the Special Teams needs to be significantly better than this year.

I agree next year might be the closest we get in a while, but I also have very high expectations for Braxton and think he can really make the most out of a conservative offense.

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Couldn't get past "Riptide had an excellent post..."

 

[brutus2002]

NO...I hope I am dead wrong

 

[Merih]

Next year is definately probable. It's going to depend on if this year's defensive "depth" can become next year's "rotation." We have plenty of defensive depth this season, but it seems very few that are too good to keep from getting into the rotation.

I'm not too worried about Sabino and Sweat stepping into expanded roles. How good is Dionte Allen? How ready is Howard to become a starter (or Clarke for that matter)? How will we get both Bryant and Moeller on the field at the same time? How does Corey Brown adjust to the safety position?

But, a lynchpin of any great defense is up front. That is where I truly am worried about next year's defensive squad. Losing Thad is proving to be bigger than we thought, and this year we lose Cam. Keith Wells coming back would be huge for us. Up the middle it seems we will be fine, having Hankins + 1 year of conditioning, and Johnny Simon. Those guys backed up by Goebel, maybe sliding Bellamy down in the 3-4 look, and also sprinkling one of the freshman (possibly).

On the edge, Nate Williams will set the tone. Following the pair and a spare meme will be tough. Keith has every physical tool if he can get back here. Bellamy plays with great leverage but is an unproven commodity. Solomon has been here for ages but has yet to show that he can really set the edge in game situation.



Next spring and fall will be one of the most important set of camps in recent history. Not only is this going to guage our success for next year, but also defensively in the future. Next year, alot of young guys are going to have to play and play well. Camp is going to set the standard for us for the next few seasons.

 

[generaladm]

I agree next year might be the closest we get in a while, but I also have very high expectations for Braxton and think he can really make the most out of a conservative offense.

Good post, Bill. I really hadn't put much thought in to my comment about next season, apart from it being TP's senior year (assumed). We certainly lose more on D than I realized; losing Cam, Hines, Homan, Rolle, and Chekwa will be tough. However, the D has consistently replaced talent over the years. IMO, it's a safer bet that next year's D will play at a NC level, than to think Miller will develop to that level. That's not a slight on Brax, but a recognition that QB development is almost never a sure thing.

 

[Taosman]

The 2011 schedule and massive losses on defense will prevent a run next year. But 2002 was a surprise that no one saw coming!

 

[Mike80]

I voted for "no but there isn't anyone better" but honestly I oscillated between yes, the first no and the 2nd no. I don't believe in any way that he should be fired unless there's a serious NCAA infraction or some seriously degraded performance on the field over several years or something drastic like that.

Will Ohio State win another National Championship under Tressel? Possibly. Maybe. Winning a National title with 18-22 year-olds is a monumental task, especially given the level of competition both within the Big Ten and within the entirety of college football at the Division 1 level.

Sustained success will ultimately culminate in sustained success. Maybe this program has peaked as a perennial 10-2/11-1 team each year? Some years that's good enough to win it all. The idea, given that college football DOES NOT end in a playoff and IS all about having ONE game to decide everything, is to be in position to be in that ONE game.

As of right now, no other coach in the nation has been as consistent at getting his team in that position other than JT. Some years that means the team will lose a game or two that it shouldn't, some years that means the team will lose the games it should due to inexperience or whatever, but will still do enough good things the right way to win the majority of their games.

Do his teams beat scUM? Yes

Does his team consistently compete for the Big Ten title? Yes

Are his teams in the discussion for the national title due to perception or past performances? Yes.

If Ohio State had cashed in either one of those other 2 MNC appearances, we aren't having this discussion right now. That said, both of those teams, especially 2006, was loaded with talent and still couldn't get it done. The best team ever (pick one 2002 Miami or 2005 USC) didn't get it done either.

ONE game decides everything and we all know ANYTHING can happen in that ONE Game.

If JT is consistent in getting Ohio State into or near that ONE game scenario, and I think Ohio State, if it holds serve, will this year as well, what's to gripe about?

JT gets the culture of the program. He has the full and unqualified support of the school administration and the vast majority of the fan base. He wins games. He wins against Ohio State's biggest rivals. He wins Big Ten championships a LOT more often than he doesn't. And to top it off, he has Ohio State consistently in the national championship discussion.

We should only be so lucky.

 

[Nicknam4]

I'm thinking 2013 will be a good year for us. 13 was the big lucky number during the 2002 season.

 

[craigblitz]

I voted no but there is not anyone better. I guess I am of the believe not only do you have to have a great team to win a NC you need a whole lot of luck to do it as well.

Since the BCS the following teams has won:

Florida (2 times)
LSU (2 times)
Texas
Miami
Florida State
Alabama
Tennessee
USC
Oklahoma
Ohio State

Out of the above programs they all have had some up and down seasons along the way. I have not spent the time to look it up but I think Ohio State has had more consistent seasons then all those teams. If not they are up there in the conversation.

Which of those schools head coach would you rather have then JT? I personally think Nick Saban is a hell of a coach, but I would rather have JT be the face of the Buckeyes. Stoops, Mac Brown...good coaches but bring nothing that JT doesn't IMO. Hell there are some teams on that list that don't have their head coach anymore for various reasons.

Face it, talent alone is not going to get it done every year, neither will coaching, neither will just luck. The fact is i think JT will have his team in a position to be part of the race more often then not. Once you are apart of the race you need talent, some breaks, few injuries, a favorable schedule and a whole lot of other intangibles to win a NC.

Very grateful to have JT here even with some of his perceived flaws history shows he is a winner and will consistently have his teams in the hunt.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

That was meant to be a humorous story, and nothing is set in stone, but I believe we have passed the halfway point in Coach Tressel's tenure as Head Coach at Ohio State. I think JT has about a five year window to make a serious NC run.

Tressel has the rest of this season and then four more seasons ('11-'14) to win one. He's done once his extension through 2014 runs out.

 

[Onebuckfan]

I'd heep Jt with his flaws because there is no coach that can guarantee NCs. Unless you want a win at all costs ie. Calapari or Carrol. I don't want that our progam is back to being elite without a cloud over it

 

[Wells4Heisman]

Neat to see the choice so clearly stated.

My own wonder is if any Big 10 team can win an NC. They are the only major conference guaranteed to have to play the NCG out of their region. They are not allowed to over sign. They are monitored by an athletic board made up of university presidents and not ADs.

And you can't ignore all the empty factories and the subsequent loss of population. It will (probably already has) become more and more necessary to recruit out of region talent to remain competitive -- and increasingly difficult for that talent to cut it academically to be eligible and remain eligible.

Good points....

but to be honest I think Tressel can get one more...

In this age of college football you need luck to get to the title game and I believe we'll get one more lucky season.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

I have to say yes. Hope springs eternal and to believe otherwise is to crawl into the fetal position and die.

That being said, cinci brings up great points about the structural impediments for the Big Ten--not that I'd ever change a thing. For me, Big Ten standards are a badge of honor! The public ivy league is far more preferable to being the wanna-be sec.

 

[NFBuck]

To answer the question, the odds are stacked against tOSU after this year, so I voted "no"...but that's a soft "no". Could very well happen if JT has 4 years after this year and Braxton Miller is the real deal. Plus the stable of RBs we'll have the next few years. The OL future is a bit of a concern for me once the Brew Crew moves on. Defense might slip a bit next year, relatively speaking, but it always bounces back. That being said, I've never been a "National Championship or bust" fan. For me, a successful season is this:

1. Beat scUM
2. Win the Big Ten
3. BCS Bowl
4. Win 10 games

Anything after that is gravy.

 

[WoodyWorshiper]

This is not a "fire Tressel" poll, but poses a serious question. The poll is also "private", so your opinion will not be known unless you post it in this thread.

If you believe that JT will win another NC at Ohio State, then the question is moot.

However, if you (like me) believe that he will not, then what to do? Tressel is an excellent ambassador for Ohio State, he runs a clean program, he is a great role model, he emphasizes academics and character development, he wins 80% of his games, and he almost always beats Michigan. Is this good enough for extended job security at a program whose fans expect (rightly or wrongly) their team to win national championships on a fairly regular basis?

Even if it isn't good enough, is there really anyone out there who is any better? Saban? Too old and has character issues. Meyer? Has health issues, and suddenly can't beat anybody, even with all that southern speed. Stoops? His NC drought is two years longer than JT's, and who has squandered more talent than him? Pat Fitzgerald or some other "young" coach? An insider like Luke Fickell?

This isn't the NFL, but college football is still a "business", and winning is the number one job responsibility of a college football head coach. And at a school like Ohio State, "winning" means national championships. If Ohio State's head coach can't win it all, can he survive? Remember, Woody and Earle and Coop are all Hall of Famers, and each of them was fired....

Cool.

A post where I don't have to say a single thing, because you said it perfectly!

It is what it is.

Peace