WR Ted Ginn, Jr. (All B1G, All-American)

[Bestbuck36]

Gayle Sayers.


Ginn is so fluid in his movements and scores in multiple ways. Ginn is also soft spoken off the field which is also like Sayers.

 

[buckzip]

He has played in what 5-6 games.
Let's have this discussion again next year.

 

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

He has played in what 5-6 games

.. and that's the scary part

 

[Buckeye513]

No one. Theodore is like no other we've seen.

 

[brutus2002]

Gayle Sayers but faster.

 

[jwinslow]

Note: before you all get upset, know that i worship Ginn at least three times a day

Barry Sanders and Dante Hall are still in a class of their own for dancing and fleet feet.

Ginn has unbelievable fluidity in his moves, and his balance, speed and vision allows him to make plays that no other current player can make, but he is a different breed from Sanders and Hall. Barry Sanders is a human pinball. Dante is like playing NCAA with a custom player with 99's for speed, agility and acceleration while playing on JV difficulty. Ginn can do amazing things too, but it is his vision and unmatched speed along with balance that allows him to destroy defenders.

Just wanted to clarify. I think Hall and Ginn are more similar, but still totally different styles of player. Hall couldn't make the plays that Ginn could make breaking tackles, whereas I think Ginn can occassionally mimic Hall's fleet feet. Sanders just can't be touched. But he was a RB anyway.

I really think he has to have a class of his own. If we get to see him play defense and also be able to lay the wood, we will have witnessed probably the greatest player to play the game in the last 15-20 years.

 

[chuck_jax]

Nothing wrong with Deion

Deion? I don't know either. And making the Sanders comparison doesn't leave me feeling entirely comfortable.

Deion's collegiate career was absolutely amazing. OK, he isn't the best tackler, but the crazy speed, moves, and blinding electricity only come around once every 10 years or so.

Deion Sanders
Charles Woodson
Rocket Ishmael
Cornelius Green!

Ginn MAY suprass all of them in the attribute for which they became famous. Difficult to say, because Ginn hasn't seen the field on defense, but the resume is certainly there.

 

[MegaWoody]

Teddy Ginn: If it ain't broke...

I am old enough to remember Billy Simms, who won the Heisman at Oklahoma as a Junior. He was a lock to win it the following year as the unstoppable speedster in Barry Switzer's wishbone offense. But Barry and Company decided that Billy could be 'even better' if he was a little heavier and a little stronger in his Senior season. So they bulked him up and improved his performance in the weight room. It didn't work. He was slower, less agile and, while great, not good enough to repeat as Heisman winner.

Why the history lesson?

I am more than a little disturbed by all this talk of moving Ted Ginn to defense, putting some weight on him to make him a bigger hitter, etc. etc.

Just what flaws are we trying to correct in Teddy Ginn's portfolio as a Buckeye football player?!? Why, in the name of all that's holy, do we think we need to improve his play?!? When God gives us a beautiful sunrise, do we think we could design a better one ourselves?

Well, He (along with Mr. and Mrs. Ginn Sr.) has given us an unbelievable athlete who can do more damage to opposing teams on offense and kick returns than any player we've had at tOSU in my lifetime. That's good enough for me. I don't want him playing defense, where he doubles his injury exposure and could lose a step on offense or kick returns late in the game.

Our last Heisman candidate was Chris Gamble. I don't think we improved his chances of winning it by playing him 100+ plays a game simply because he could do it. He should have remained primarilly an offensive weapon and come in at corner only in very special circumstances. Over-using him on defense didn't win him the Heisman and, IMHO, didn't ultimately serve the best interests of the team in 2003. Remember the Wisky game?

TG Jr. is a God-given miracle of a player who we know from experience can absolutely terrorize Division 1 defenses and special teams coaches. That's plenty good enough for me. If he wants to gain a little weight while closely monitoring what it does to his speed and quickness, that's fine with me. I trust his judgment. But doubling his injury exposure and tiring him out by making him race opposing receivers all day is ludicrous, particularly when we already have so many other great DBs on the roster.

If it ain't broke (and in TG's case it certainly ain't) DON'T F**K AROUND WITH IT!

 

[Welsh0913]

I agree, although a little bit of weight might not hurt. His weapons are his legs, we shouldn't take that away.

 

[gost8]

I don't think it would hurt to play him on defense once in a while but I agree with you. Leave him on offense. Too much of a weapon on every play and to take that away would be crazy. Even if he doesn't get the ball he takes coverage away from Santonio and Gonzales. I think O'Neal makes an immediate impact in the defensive backfield and we won't need Ginn there anyway.

 

[BB73]

Here are Billy Sims stats for 1978 and 1979:

.....................................year.yards..car..avg.TD
1. Billy Sims..............JR RB 1978 1,896 256 7.41 22
2. Quentin Griffin.......SR RB 2002 1,884 287 6.57 15
3. Adrian Peterson.....FR RB 2004 1,843 314 5.87 15
4. Greg Pruitt............JR RB 1971 1,760 196 8.98 18
5. Billy Sims..............SR RB 1979 1,670 248 6.73 23

Charles White in 1979, when a Trojan stopped a Sooner from joining Archie as the only two-time Heisman winner, just like this year:

Charles White...........SR RB 1979 2050 332 6.17 19

White basically won the Heisman because he got more carries.

 

[BucksinFL]

I don't think it would hurt to play him on defense once in a while but I agree with you. Leave him on offense. Too much of a weapon on every play and to take that away would be crazy. Even if he doesn't get the ball he takes coverage away from Santonio and Gonzales. I think O'Neal makes an immediate impact in the defensive backfield and we won't need Ginn there anyway.

But take a second to imagine Ginn, Youboty, Salley, Whitner all in our backfield with Everrett and Underwood in nickle and dime situations. Well, I don't know about Underwood but can you imagine that secondary? Along with 3 experienced linebackers that are good in zone coverage? Excuse me while I salivate.

 

[gost8]

But take a second to imagine Ginn, Youboty, Salley, Whitner all in our backfield with Everrett and Underwood in nickle and dime situations. Well, I don't know about Underwood but can you imagine that secondary? Along with 3 experienced linebackers that are good in zone coverage? Excuse me while I salivate.

I don't know how to answer that. Although I am sure Ginn would be fine as a DB, I have not seen him play the position yet. I find it hard to say he would be a great DB because he has great speed. As was said in the original post, it is tough to play both ways, along with special teams. IMO leave him where he is.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

If he wants to gain a little weight while closely monitoring what it does to his speed and quickness, that's fine with me. I trust his judgment. But doubling his injury exposure and tiring him out by making him race opposing receivers all day is ludicrous, particularly when we already have so many other great DBs on the roster.

This arguement will be discussed all off season and while I agree that putting Teddy Ballgame on the defensive side will expose him to injury, lets just keep in mind that for the early part of the season he was strictly a DB until the staff decided they needed him on the offensive side.

I would think that it will be the same next year, you will see him in the same role, but he will be sprinkled in on defense. He was the national defensive player in the nation as a senior in high school, the kid is a natural corner and he thinks of himself as a corner first.

Next year we have one proven corner and we need someone to replace Fox on the other side, IF one of the younger pups does not step, Teddy will be more than needed on that side of the ball. I don't think he will ever play 100 + plays a game, but I think Coach T will utilize him on defense when the situation dictates it. He is to talented.

He has dominated every level in football and track, he is truely a gifted player and the sky is the limit. There are no players to compare him with because he is unique. He could put on a few pounds to get stronger and it will not be a negative.

I say use him where needed and enjoy the next few years.

 

[Oricus]

IMHO I think Gamble turned out to be a better cornerback than a wide receiver. If you're going to cite one time he got burned in his career, then you should also cite all the good plays he made at cb too. Besides he's in the NFL at cornerback.

With that said, I agree to keep him on the offensive side of the ball. He's elusive, a headache for other coaches, and just simply a play maker. Being on offense is the best chance to get the ball in TG's hands. But the coaches know more than myself so I'll leave them up to make those types of decisions.