TTUN
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Some New Comments From Justin Boren
Read through this article available via The Sporting News. Considering how both Justin and Zach Boren were both born and bred to root for That Team Up North, this is going to make THE GAME all that much more interesting starting in 2009.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The 2008 Ohio State Recruiting Class: Who Will Contribute As Freshmen?
On August 3rd, Ohio State will officially begin its preparations for the 2008 season. With the first game against Youngstown State less than four weeks away, the incoming freshmen recruits will need to maximize their respective opportunities to impress the coaching staff and move up the depth chart.
Ohio State signed twenty players with the 2008 recruiting class. How many of these players will earn playing time, and how many will redshirt? To answer this question, it can help to look at Jim Tressel’s history at Ohio State with his recent recruiting classes.
In a previous article, I wrote about how Ohio State signed only eighteen players in 2005 yet fifteen of these players have either become starters or contributors to Ohio State. Of the players signed in 2005, the following seven players earned playing time as true freshmen in 2005: OT Alex Boone, CB Malcolm Jenkins, LB James Laurinaitis, DB Jamario O'Neal, WR Brian Robiskie, RB Maurice Wells, and DE Lawrence Wilson.
In 2006, out of a twenty man recruiting class, the following seven players earned playing time: TE Jake Ballard, CB Kurt Coleman, DB Aaron Gant, LB Ross Homan, DL Robert Rose, WR Ray Small, and RB Chris Wells.
The 2007 recruiting class was relatively small by most standards, with only fifteen signees. Of the fifteen players signed, nine players earned playing time: DB Eugene Clifford (who has recently transferred to I-AA Tennessee State), DL Cameron Heyward, LB Jermale Hines, LB Brian Rolle, RB Brandon Saine, WR Dane Sanzenbacher, DB James Scott, WR Devon Torrence, and WR Taurian Washington. While many players earned playing time on special teams (Clifford, Hines, Rolle, etc), others played extensively (Cameron Heyward led all freshmen in minutes played, Brandon Saine would have played more if not for an injury in mid-season).
Some points to be made before looking at this year's true freshmen:
1. The best players will play - Among the names listed above or below, you will find players who were highly-touted by recruiting services (such as 2006's Chris Wells, Rivals.com's # 3 ranked high school player that year) as well as players who were not highly ranked by recruiting services (2005's James Laurinaitis, Brian Robiskie). As long as the player shows up at Ohio State and is willing to compete, the coaching staff will reward that player with playing time. All of the high school accolades are meaningless in the coaches' eyes. It all matters what happens on the football field.
2. Special teams are an area to gain playing time: One of the little-known facts about 2002's national championship team involves their first opponent that year, Texas Tech. Texas Tech received the opening kickoff, and the Texas Tech returner was hit almost immediately by a true freshman linebacker by the name of Bobby Carpenter. Considering the emphasis Coach Tressel makes with special teams, this is an area where a true freshman can play right away.
3. Being redshirted does not mean the end of the world - If you look back on some of the players from previous Ohio State recruiting classes, many of the familiar names to fans were redshirted as freshmen: WR Brian Hartline, CB Donald Washington, LB Thaddeus Gibson, etc. If a player is redshirted, quite commonly it is an opportunity for the player to become better acclimated to the demands of football and college life, while also hopefully excelling on the scout team so as to be ready for the following spring.
Let's look at the incoming freshmen by position group:
Quarterback: Terrelle Pryor was the last and highest profile signee of the class. One could argue Pryor has been the highest profile signee in the Jim Tressel era, and possibly of all time, at Ohio State. With Todd Boeckman in his final year of eligibility, most believe Pryor will be used in a fashion similar to Tim Tebow was used two years ago at Florida – in short yardage and goal line situations. I will be surprised if Pryor does not see appreciable playing time against Youngstown State and Ohio University, Ohio State’s first two opponents.
Running Back: Jermil Martin was signed as a fullback candidate out of Cleveland Glenville. Considering how Ohio State lacks a true fullback on the roster and has been trying other players at the position (such as senior LB Curtis Terry), it is possible Martin may earn playing time this season. At a listed 227 lbs, Martin is not as heavy as the traditional fullbacks on previous Ohio State teams, so Martin could be a redshirt candidate.
Wide Receiver: Ohio State signed DeVier Posey, Jake Stoneburner, and Lamaar Thomas. Throughout his tenure at Ohio State, Coach Tressel has shown a willingness to use true freshmen wideouts (Chris Gamble in 2001, Ted Ginn, Jr. in 2004, Brian Robiskie in 2005). Of the three, Thomas may get the earliest chance for playing time as a kick returner due to his reputed speed (former Maryland state champion in the 55 and 100 meters). Stoneburner enrolled in the spring and could cause matchup problems with his size (6'5") on the outside; some have speculated he may eventually move to tight end. Posey has good size (6'3", 205 lbs) and speed (4.5 in the 40). Considering Ohio State will lose Brian Robiskie and possibly Brian Hartline after this season, it would not surprise me if all earn some playing time this season.
Tight End: Ohio State signed Nic DiLillo out of Madison, OH. Ohio State will lose TEs Rory Nicol and Brandon Smith after this season, so signing a tight end was important for Ohio State with this recruiting class. Considering how Nicol, Jake Ballard, and Smith are all ahead of him on the depth chart, DiLillo could be a redshirt candidate.
Offensive Line: The foundation of this recruiting class - "The Block O", as it was dubbed in recruiting terms. Mike Adams, Michael Brewster, and J.B. Shugarts all enrolled early for spring practice. Of the three, only Shugarts played in the spring game (Adams needed surgery and is recuperating, and Brewster was in the midst of a recuperation from a surgery during the spring). Considering how Ohio State will definitely lose three starters from its offensive line after this season (Alex Boone, Steve Rehring, and Ben Person), all three will be given ample opportunities to win playing time this fall.
Defensive Line: Garrett Goebel, Willie Mobley, Shawntel Rowell, Keith Wells, and Nathan Williams were signed by Ohio State this past February. While Coach Tressel has played true freshmen before on the defensive line in his tenure (2004's Vernon Gholston, 2005's Lawrence Wilson, last season with Cameron Heyward), most of the defensive linemen signed under Coach Tressel have been redshirted (2002's Quinn Pitcock, 2004's Nader Abdallah, 2005's Todd Denlinger and Doug Worthington, 2006's Dexter Larimore). It will bear watching on who, if any, gain playing time from this group this season.
Linebacker: This is probably the deepest area on the Ohio State team, from the seniors down to the freshmen. Etienne Sabino and Andrew Sweat both enrolled early for spring practice. Even with the stacked depth chart, it would not surprise me if both Sabino and Sweat earn playing time. I would look for Sabino on special teams, and Sweat may get playing time at fullback as well as special teams.
Defensive Backs: Zach Domicone, Travis Howard, and Orhian Johnson were all signed. Of the three, Howard seems most likely for playing time as a true freshman. Both Domicone and Johnson played quarterback in high school, and both may need a redshirt year to become better acclimated to playing full-time defensive back.
Kicker: The first commitment to the 2008 recruiting class, Ben Buchanan would seem to be a likely redshirt candidate with the return of starting P A.J. Trapasso and PK Ryan Pretorius. Buchanan could be a dual threat as a punter and placekicker starting in 2009.
August 30th will be here before we know it for the opening game against Youngstown State. I will be curious to look back on this article after the season to see which freshmen played for Ohio State in 2008.
Ohio State signed twenty players with the 2008 recruiting class. How many of these players will earn playing time, and how many will redshirt? To answer this question, it can help to look at Jim Tressel’s history at Ohio State with his recent recruiting classes.
In a previous article, I wrote about how Ohio State signed only eighteen players in 2005 yet fifteen of these players have either become starters or contributors to Ohio State. Of the players signed in 2005, the following seven players earned playing time as true freshmen in 2005: OT Alex Boone, CB Malcolm Jenkins, LB James Laurinaitis, DB Jamario O'Neal, WR Brian Robiskie, RB Maurice Wells, and DE Lawrence Wilson.
In 2006, out of a twenty man recruiting class, the following seven players earned playing time: TE Jake Ballard, CB Kurt Coleman, DB Aaron Gant, LB Ross Homan, DL Robert Rose, WR Ray Small, and RB Chris Wells.
The 2007 recruiting class was relatively small by most standards, with only fifteen signees. Of the fifteen players signed, nine players earned playing time: DB Eugene Clifford (who has recently transferred to I-AA Tennessee State), DL Cameron Heyward, LB Jermale Hines, LB Brian Rolle, RB Brandon Saine, WR Dane Sanzenbacher, DB James Scott, WR Devon Torrence, and WR Taurian Washington. While many players earned playing time on special teams (Clifford, Hines, Rolle, etc), others played extensively (Cameron Heyward led all freshmen in minutes played, Brandon Saine would have played more if not for an injury in mid-season).
Some points to be made before looking at this year's true freshmen:
1. The best players will play - Among the names listed above or below, you will find players who were highly-touted by recruiting services (such as 2006's Chris Wells, Rivals.com's # 3 ranked high school player that year) as well as players who were not highly ranked by recruiting services (2005's James Laurinaitis, Brian Robiskie). As long as the player shows up at Ohio State and is willing to compete, the coaching staff will reward that player with playing time. All of the high school accolades are meaningless in the coaches' eyes. It all matters what happens on the football field.
2. Special teams are an area to gain playing time: One of the little-known facts about 2002's national championship team involves their first opponent that year, Texas Tech. Texas Tech received the opening kickoff, and the Texas Tech returner was hit almost immediately by a true freshman linebacker by the name of Bobby Carpenter. Considering the emphasis Coach Tressel makes with special teams, this is an area where a true freshman can play right away.
3. Being redshirted does not mean the end of the world - If you look back on some of the players from previous Ohio State recruiting classes, many of the familiar names to fans were redshirted as freshmen: WR Brian Hartline, CB Donald Washington, LB Thaddeus Gibson, etc. If a player is redshirted, quite commonly it is an opportunity for the player to become better acclimated to the demands of football and college life, while also hopefully excelling on the scout team so as to be ready for the following spring.
Let's look at the incoming freshmen by position group:
Quarterback: Terrelle Pryor was the last and highest profile signee of the class. One could argue Pryor has been the highest profile signee in the Jim Tressel era, and possibly of all time, at Ohio State. With Todd Boeckman in his final year of eligibility, most believe Pryor will be used in a fashion similar to Tim Tebow was used two years ago at Florida – in short yardage and goal line situations. I will be surprised if Pryor does not see appreciable playing time against Youngstown State and Ohio University, Ohio State’s first two opponents.
Running Back: Jermil Martin was signed as a fullback candidate out of Cleveland Glenville. Considering how Ohio State lacks a true fullback on the roster and has been trying other players at the position (such as senior LB Curtis Terry), it is possible Martin may earn playing time this season. At a listed 227 lbs, Martin is not as heavy as the traditional fullbacks on previous Ohio State teams, so Martin could be a redshirt candidate.
Wide Receiver: Ohio State signed DeVier Posey, Jake Stoneburner, and Lamaar Thomas. Throughout his tenure at Ohio State, Coach Tressel has shown a willingness to use true freshmen wideouts (Chris Gamble in 2001, Ted Ginn, Jr. in 2004, Brian Robiskie in 2005). Of the three, Thomas may get the earliest chance for playing time as a kick returner due to his reputed speed (former Maryland state champion in the 55 and 100 meters). Stoneburner enrolled in the spring and could cause matchup problems with his size (6'5") on the outside; some have speculated he may eventually move to tight end. Posey has good size (6'3", 205 lbs) and speed (4.5 in the 40). Considering Ohio State will lose Brian Robiskie and possibly Brian Hartline after this season, it would not surprise me if all earn some playing time this season.
Tight End: Ohio State signed Nic DiLillo out of Madison, OH. Ohio State will lose TEs Rory Nicol and Brandon Smith after this season, so signing a tight end was important for Ohio State with this recruiting class. Considering how Nicol, Jake Ballard, and Smith are all ahead of him on the depth chart, DiLillo could be a redshirt candidate.
Offensive Line: The foundation of this recruiting class - "The Block O", as it was dubbed in recruiting terms. Mike Adams, Michael Brewster, and J.B. Shugarts all enrolled early for spring practice. Of the three, only Shugarts played in the spring game (Adams needed surgery and is recuperating, and Brewster was in the midst of a recuperation from a surgery during the spring). Considering how Ohio State will definitely lose three starters from its offensive line after this season (Alex Boone, Steve Rehring, and Ben Person), all three will be given ample opportunities to win playing time this fall.
Defensive Line: Garrett Goebel, Willie Mobley, Shawntel Rowell, Keith Wells, and Nathan Williams were signed by Ohio State this past February. While Coach Tressel has played true freshmen before on the defensive line in his tenure (2004's Vernon Gholston, 2005's Lawrence Wilson, last season with Cameron Heyward), most of the defensive linemen signed under Coach Tressel have been redshirted (2002's Quinn Pitcock, 2004's Nader Abdallah, 2005's Todd Denlinger and Doug Worthington, 2006's Dexter Larimore). It will bear watching on who, if any, gain playing time from this group this season.
Linebacker: This is probably the deepest area on the Ohio State team, from the seniors down to the freshmen. Etienne Sabino and Andrew Sweat both enrolled early for spring practice. Even with the stacked depth chart, it would not surprise me if both Sabino and Sweat earn playing time. I would look for Sabino on special teams, and Sweat may get playing time at fullback as well as special teams.
Defensive Backs: Zach Domicone, Travis Howard, and Orhian Johnson were all signed. Of the three, Howard seems most likely for playing time as a true freshman. Both Domicone and Johnson played quarterback in high school, and both may need a redshirt year to become better acclimated to playing full-time defensive back.
Kicker: The first commitment to the 2008 recruiting class, Ben Buchanan would seem to be a likely redshirt candidate with the return of starting P A.J. Trapasso and PK Ryan Pretorius. Buchanan could be a dual threat as a punter and placekicker starting in 2009.
August 30th will be here before we know it for the opening game against Youngstown State. I will be curious to look back on this article after the season to see which freshmen played for Ohio State in 2008.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Auburn: Possible BCS Championship Sleeper?
With all of the college football preview magazines out in full force, I noticed the usual suspects listed for the top spots: Georgia, Florida, Ohio State, USC, Oklahoma. A couple teams listed as possible BCS crashers, such as West Virginia or Missouri. And the more I looked at the various schedules these teams played, I noticed how Auburn was not being listed as a possible BCS challenger.
There are so many factors that need to be considered for a team's chances of winning a mythical national championship (sorry, but until we have a playoff system, nobody knows who is truly # 1 in our present system that is voted upon.). First and foremost, the team has to have the talent. Equally important, the team has to have good coaching. The schedule is a critical factor. The last two, injuries and luck, are important but cannot be counted upon. Let me explain why Auburn may be able to get to the BCS Championship Game because of these reasons:
1. Talent: Auburn is never at a loss for talent, as evidenced by their popularity in the NFL Draft year after year. Auburn's running game is traditionally very good, and the team has moved to a spread offense that they used with great effectiveness against Clemson in last year's Chick-Fil-A Bowl. The offense returns nine starters, but will be breaking in Kodi Burns into the probable starting QB spot for the new offense. The defense returns seven starters and is usually very fast along the defensive line and at the linebacker spots. The talent is there for Auburn to compete.
2. Coaching: Tommy Tuberville has some of the best teams in the country year after year yet never seems to get his name listed among the top coaches in the country. New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin installed the spread offense in time for Auburn to run it against Clemson; just think how much better they will be with a whole offseason to truly study it. New defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads comes from Pitt. Rhoads was the defensive coordinator of a Pitt team that shut down West Virginia last December in their quest for the BCS Championship. Auburn is well-coached.
3. The schedule: Here is why I think Auburn may be a title contender. Looking at the schedule, most of the big games are at home. Also important - Auburn does not play Florida this year, unless they play Florida in the SEC Championship. Let's go through the schedule quickly, and you'll see what I mean about the games Auburn should be favored to win (where I've placed a (W) next to their opponent~
August 30 Louisiana-Monroe (W)
Sept 6 Southern Miss (W)
Sept 13 @ Mississippi State (W): Even though Auburn lost to Mississippi State last season, I think they will be too much for Mississippi State this time.
Sept 20 LSU: Biggest game of the season for both teams at this point. Both should be 3-0, and these games usually go right down to the wire. I will take Auburn because it's at home, but only because it's at home for Auburn.
Sept 27 Tennessee: Another big game at home for Auburn. Auburn has won the last three times they have played Tennessee. I will again take Auburn at home for this one.
Oct 4 @ Vanderbilt (W)
Oct 11 Arkansas: Does anyone think Tuberville will be anxious to play against Arkansas now that Bobby Petrino is there? Me too. Auburn in a close one at home.
Oct 23 @ West Virginia: Probably the best Thursday night game on ESPN this season. Even though it's at West Virginia, I like Auburn here in a close one.
Nov 1 @ Ole Miss (W): Houston Nutt is a good coach, and he'll turn Ole Miss around eventually, but Auburn should have too much for them even though this game is at Ole Miss.
Nov 8 Tennessee-Martin (W)
Nov 15 Georgia: By this point, Georgia will have played all of their SEC East opponents. Last season, Georgia handled Auburn 45-20. I think Tuberville may have his guys looking for some payback at home for this one. Auburn in a close one.
Nov 29 @ Alabama: Nick Saban should be getting Alabama closer to a victory in this series. This could be the type of game for college football fans like last December 1st was - if Alabama wins here, it could knock Auburn out of BCS contention. I will go with Auburn in another close one.
If Auburn can survive that tough schedule, they will be the SEC West Champion and getting ready for the SEC East winner on December 6th.
Points 4 (Injuries) and 5 (Luck): Every team needs to avoid point 4 and have lots of point 5. If Auburn can do both, they could be in Miami on January 8th, 2009.
There are so many factors that need to be considered for a team's chances of winning a mythical national championship (sorry, but until we have a playoff system, nobody knows who is truly # 1 in our present system that is voted upon.). First and foremost, the team has to have the talent. Equally important, the team has to have good coaching. The schedule is a critical factor. The last two, injuries and luck, are important but cannot be counted upon. Let me explain why Auburn may be able to get to the BCS Championship Game because of these reasons:
1. Talent: Auburn is never at a loss for talent, as evidenced by their popularity in the NFL Draft year after year. Auburn's running game is traditionally very good, and the team has moved to a spread offense that they used with great effectiveness against Clemson in last year's Chick-Fil-A Bowl. The offense returns nine starters, but will be breaking in Kodi Burns into the probable starting QB spot for the new offense. The defense returns seven starters and is usually very fast along the defensive line and at the linebacker spots. The talent is there for Auburn to compete.
2. Coaching: Tommy Tuberville has some of the best teams in the country year after year yet never seems to get his name listed among the top coaches in the country. New offensive coordinator Tony Franklin installed the spread offense in time for Auburn to run it against Clemson; just think how much better they will be with a whole offseason to truly study it. New defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads comes from Pitt. Rhoads was the defensive coordinator of a Pitt team that shut down West Virginia last December in their quest for the BCS Championship. Auburn is well-coached.
3. The schedule: Here is why I think Auburn may be a title contender. Looking at the schedule, most of the big games are at home. Also important - Auburn does not play Florida this year, unless they play Florida in the SEC Championship. Let's go through the schedule quickly, and you'll see what I mean about the games Auburn should be favored to win (where I've placed a (W) next to their opponent~
August 30 Louisiana-Monroe (W)
Sept 6 Southern Miss (W)
Sept 13 @ Mississippi State (W): Even though Auburn lost to Mississippi State last season, I think they will be too much for Mississippi State this time.
Sept 20 LSU: Biggest game of the season for both teams at this point. Both should be 3-0, and these games usually go right down to the wire. I will take Auburn because it's at home, but only because it's at home for Auburn.
Sept 27 Tennessee: Another big game at home for Auburn. Auburn has won the last three times they have played Tennessee. I will again take Auburn at home for this one.
Oct 4 @ Vanderbilt (W)
Oct 11 Arkansas: Does anyone think Tuberville will be anxious to play against Arkansas now that Bobby Petrino is there? Me too. Auburn in a close one at home.
Oct 23 @ West Virginia: Probably the best Thursday night game on ESPN this season. Even though it's at West Virginia, I like Auburn here in a close one.
Nov 1 @ Ole Miss (W): Houston Nutt is a good coach, and he'll turn Ole Miss around eventually, but Auburn should have too much for them even though this game is at Ole Miss.
Nov 8 Tennessee-Martin (W)
Nov 15 Georgia: By this point, Georgia will have played all of their SEC East opponents. Last season, Georgia handled Auburn 45-20. I think Tuberville may have his guys looking for some payback at home for this one. Auburn in a close one.
Nov 29 @ Alabama: Nick Saban should be getting Alabama closer to a victory in this series. This could be the type of game for college football fans like last December 1st was - if Alabama wins here, it could knock Auburn out of BCS contention. I will go with Auburn in another close one.
If Auburn can survive that tough schedule, they will be the SEC West Champion and getting ready for the SEC East winner on December 6th.
Points 4 (Injuries) and 5 (Luck): Every team needs to avoid point 4 and have lots of point 5. If Auburn can do both, they could be in Miami on January 8th, 2009.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
The End Of The John Cooper Era
While my friend Mr. Seymour has asked me to stop revisiting these painful memories, I can assure you that this is the last article from bucknuts.com that describes the painful ending of the John Cooper Era at Ohio State. Some of the areas that this article made me remember were:
- The 1999 Kickoff Classic where Gary Berry took horrible angles on trying to tackle Miami's James Jackson. I also remember thinking Ohio State LB Jason Ott should have been nicknamed Jason "Out", as he was seemingly out of position continually.
- The 2000 loss to Minnesota. The night before this debacle, I was offered the opportunity to go to this game and had to turn it down (how fortunate that turned out). I was at "The Holy War" game between Cleveland St. Ignatius and Lakewood St. Edward with the lovely Mrs. Minnich & my new in-laws. St. Ignatius continually thrashed and abused St. Edward's quarterback - you all may have heard of his name. His name was Troy Smith, and I believe he went on to do some good things at the college level.
- The 2001 Outback Bowl. Not only was I hung over on New Year's Day, I had actually awakened to watch the final embarassment of Ohio State's season in losing to Ryan Brewer and South Carolina.
Monday, July 21, 2008
A Look Back At Ohio State's Recruiting Class Of 2005
With all of the interest and enthusiasm Ohio State fans and college football fans in general have in following recruiting, I thought it would be good to take a look back at the recruiting class Coach Tressel and his staff signed in February 2005. This recruiting class was rated behind Michigan's and Iowa's in the Big Ten when it was signed, and was considered to be the #12 rated class in the country. By comparison, USC had the top rated class that year.
In many recruiting classes, there are the rules of thirds applied - a third will start as the coaching staff would hope, a third will contribute in some fashion, and a third will either fail to develop, transfer, or be lost to injury. As you read this below, you will see Coach Tressel and his staff have done a very good job of maximizing the contributions of this 18 man class they signed back in February 2005. The coaching staff completely nullifies the rules of thirds with this class - an impressive job of talent evaluation and talent development, as you will read.
I. The Starters
1. Alex Boone, OT: Boone committed to Ohio State out of Lakewood St. Edward prior to his junior season of high school. The top player in the state of Ohio, Boone earned playing time as a true freshman in 2005. Boone contemplated declaring for the NFL Draft last season but came back, along with several of his classmates. Being a near four year starter, I believe Boone has lived up to his early scholarship offer as a high school sophomore.
2. Jim Cordle, C: Cordle enrolled early in 2005 for spring practice. Cordle suffered a broken foot in 2005, prompting a redshirt year so he has one more year of eligibility. Cordle took over for Doug Datish at center last season, and had a solid season. With two more years of eligibility, Cordle should be starting barring injury.
3. Todd Denlinger, DT: Denlinger redshirted in 2005 and has two years of eligibility remaining. Denlinger played some in 2006, but played extensively last season as part of the defensive line rotation Coach Heacock utilizes.
4. Brian Hartline, WR: Hartline redshirted in 2005 and has two years of eligibility remaining. Hartline emerged as a contributor in 2006 as both a receiver and as a very good special teams member; some of his biggest plays were against Indiana and Iowa that season. Hartline emerged as Todd Boeckman's primary target on third down last season. Hopefully, he will stay for 2009.
5. Malcolm Jenkins, DB: Jenkins earned his scholarship offer from Ohio State with a good performance in a summer football camp. Not highly touted coming out of NJ, Jenkins emerged as a starter in 2005 and is widely considered to be one of the top defensive backs in the country.
6. James Laurinaitis, LB: Laurinaitis is another player who was not highly-touted coming out of Minnesota, but has emerged as an All-American at MLB. Laurinaitis played as a freshman behind Bobby Carpenter, but earned most of his playing time as a result of Carpenter's injury in the Michigan game. Laurinaitis surprised many by coming back for his senior year when he was projected as a first round draft choice in the 2008 NFL Draft.
7. Brian Robiskie, WR: A late addition to the recruiting class, Robiskie was not highly-touted yet earned playing time in 2005. Robiskie was Ohio State's leading receiver last season and should be again this coming season. Robiskie is more of a possession receiver, yet has shown the ability to come up with some clutch plays.
8. Anderson Russell, DB: Like Malcolm Jenkins, Russell earned a scholarship offer through the Ohio State summer football camp. Russell was a wishbone running back in high school who was also offered by Duke but chose Ohio State and moved to defensive back. Redshirted in 2005, Russell has two years of eligibility remaining.
9. Donald Washington, DB: Like Brian Robiskie, Donald Washington was a late addition as a defensive back. Washington redshirted in 2005 but emerged as a starter in 2006. Washington has had some off the field issues, but has been a solid player at defensive back. Washington has two years of eligibility remaining.
10. Doug Worthington, DL: Worthington redshirted in 2005 and has two years of eligibility. Worthington is probably a better fit at DE but moved to an interior DL position as Ohio State needed help in that area.
11. Lawrence Wilson, DE: The last player to sign with Ohio State, Wilson earned playing time as a true freshman in 2005. Wilson broke his leg last season against Youngstown State and was redshirted, so he has two years of eligibility remaining but I doubt Wilson stays after this coming season if he plays well.
II. The Contributors
12. Andre Amos, DB: Amos redshirted in 2005 and has two years of eligibility remaining. Amos had a good spring game and may earn more playing time with the off the field issues surrounding Donald Washington. Maybe Amos will play more in 2009 as a 5th year senior.
13. Jamario O'Neal, DB: O'Neal was the first player to commit to Ohio State midway through his sophomore year of high school and had high expectations that so far he has not reached. O'Neal is also facing some potential discipline this coming year, along with Donald Washington. Hopefully, O'Neal will play well in his final year of eligibility.
14. Austin Spitler, LB: Spitler redshirted in 2005 and has two years of eligibility remaining. Primarily a backup at MLB behind James Laurinaitis, Spitler has primarily played on special teams and may see time at fullback this season. Spitler should be a potential starter next season.
15. Maurice Wells, RB: Like Jamario O'Neal, Wells was highly-touted coming out of high school but has not had developed into anything more than a role player. Wells contemplated transferring after the 2006 season but stuck it out in Columbus. Wells' role this season will be primarily as a change of pace back who can catch the ball out of the backfield, and may even get time on special teams as a kick returner.
III. The Departures
16. Freddie Lenix, LB: Lenix never qualified for Ohio State academically. Lenix was going to enroll at Cincinnati, but supposedly failed to qualify there as well.
17. Rob Schoenhoft, QB: Schoenhoft transferred to Delaware after the 2007 season. Schoenhoft had some playing time against Youngstown State in the 2007 opener, but saw less time to Antonio Henton (also a transfer) as the season progressed. With the signing of Terrelle Pryor, and a supposed position move to TE, Schoenhoft left the program with Coach Tressel's blessings and understanding.
18. Ryan Williams, DE: Williams transferred to San Diego State after the 2006 season. Williams redshirted in 2005 and also suffered a knee injury that limited his playing time options. A California native, it did not surprise me that Williams left the program a few years ago.
CONCLUSION: Out of 18 players, Coach Tressel and his staff have 11 starters, 4 contributors, and only 3 players who are neither playing or contributing. As I wrote up above, to have 15 of 18 signees playing or contributing, a 83% success rate, is a tribute to Coach Tressel and his staff's talent evaluation and talent development.
In many recruiting classes, there are the rules of thirds applied - a third will start as the coaching staff would hope, a third will contribute in some fashion, and a third will either fail to develop, transfer, or be lost to injury. As you read this below, you will see Coach Tressel and his staff have done a very good job of maximizing the contributions of this 18 man class they signed back in February 2005. The coaching staff completely nullifies the rules of thirds with this class - an impressive job of talent evaluation and talent development, as you will read.
I. The Starters
1. Alex Boone, OT: Boone committed to Ohio State out of Lakewood St. Edward prior to his junior season of high school. The top player in the state of Ohio, Boone earned playing time as a true freshman in 2005. Boone contemplated declaring for the NFL Draft last season but came back, along with several of his classmates. Being a near four year starter, I believe Boone has lived up to his early scholarship offer as a high school sophomore.
2. Jim Cordle, C: Cordle enrolled early in 2005 for spring practice. Cordle suffered a broken foot in 2005, prompting a redshirt year so he has one more year of eligibility. Cordle took over for Doug Datish at center last season, and had a solid season. With two more years of eligibility, Cordle should be starting barring injury.
3. Todd Denlinger, DT: Denlinger redshirted in 2005 and has two years of eligibility remaining. Denlinger played some in 2006, but played extensively last season as part of the defensive line rotation Coach Heacock utilizes.
4. Brian Hartline, WR: Hartline redshirted in 2005 and has two years of eligibility remaining. Hartline emerged as a contributor in 2006 as both a receiver and as a very good special teams member; some of his biggest plays were against Indiana and Iowa that season. Hartline emerged as Todd Boeckman's primary target on third down last season. Hopefully, he will stay for 2009.
5. Malcolm Jenkins, DB: Jenkins earned his scholarship offer from Ohio State with a good performance in a summer football camp. Not highly touted coming out of NJ, Jenkins emerged as a starter in 2005 and is widely considered to be one of the top defensive backs in the country.
6. James Laurinaitis, LB: Laurinaitis is another player who was not highly-touted coming out of Minnesota, but has emerged as an All-American at MLB. Laurinaitis played as a freshman behind Bobby Carpenter, but earned most of his playing time as a result of Carpenter's injury in the Michigan game. Laurinaitis surprised many by coming back for his senior year when he was projected as a first round draft choice in the 2008 NFL Draft.
7. Brian Robiskie, WR: A late addition to the recruiting class, Robiskie was not highly-touted yet earned playing time in 2005. Robiskie was Ohio State's leading receiver last season and should be again this coming season. Robiskie is more of a possession receiver, yet has shown the ability to come up with some clutch plays.
8. Anderson Russell, DB: Like Malcolm Jenkins, Russell earned a scholarship offer through the Ohio State summer football camp. Russell was a wishbone running back in high school who was also offered by Duke but chose Ohio State and moved to defensive back. Redshirted in 2005, Russell has two years of eligibility remaining.
9. Donald Washington, DB: Like Brian Robiskie, Donald Washington was a late addition as a defensive back. Washington redshirted in 2005 but emerged as a starter in 2006. Washington has had some off the field issues, but has been a solid player at defensive back. Washington has two years of eligibility remaining.
10. Doug Worthington, DL: Worthington redshirted in 2005 and has two years of eligibility. Worthington is probably a better fit at DE but moved to an interior DL position as Ohio State needed help in that area.
11. Lawrence Wilson, DE: The last player to sign with Ohio State, Wilson earned playing time as a true freshman in 2005. Wilson broke his leg last season against Youngstown State and was redshirted, so he has two years of eligibility remaining but I doubt Wilson stays after this coming season if he plays well.
II. The Contributors
12. Andre Amos, DB: Amos redshirted in 2005 and has two years of eligibility remaining. Amos had a good spring game and may earn more playing time with the off the field issues surrounding Donald Washington. Maybe Amos will play more in 2009 as a 5th year senior.
13. Jamario O'Neal, DB: O'Neal was the first player to commit to Ohio State midway through his sophomore year of high school and had high expectations that so far he has not reached. O'Neal is also facing some potential discipline this coming year, along with Donald Washington. Hopefully, O'Neal will play well in his final year of eligibility.
14. Austin Spitler, LB: Spitler redshirted in 2005 and has two years of eligibility remaining. Primarily a backup at MLB behind James Laurinaitis, Spitler has primarily played on special teams and may see time at fullback this season. Spitler should be a potential starter next season.
15. Maurice Wells, RB: Like Jamario O'Neal, Wells was highly-touted coming out of high school but has not had developed into anything more than a role player. Wells contemplated transferring after the 2006 season but stuck it out in Columbus. Wells' role this season will be primarily as a change of pace back who can catch the ball out of the backfield, and may even get time on special teams as a kick returner.
III. The Departures
16. Freddie Lenix, LB: Lenix never qualified for Ohio State academically. Lenix was going to enroll at Cincinnati, but supposedly failed to qualify there as well.
17. Rob Schoenhoft, QB: Schoenhoft transferred to Delaware after the 2007 season. Schoenhoft had some playing time against Youngstown State in the 2007 opener, but saw less time to Antonio Henton (also a transfer) as the season progressed. With the signing of Terrelle Pryor, and a supposed position move to TE, Schoenhoft left the program with Coach Tressel's blessings and understanding.
18. Ryan Williams, DE: Williams transferred to San Diego State after the 2006 season. Williams redshirted in 2005 and also suffered a knee injury that limited his playing time options. A California native, it did not surprise me that Williams left the program a few years ago.
CONCLUSION: Out of 18 players, Coach Tressel and his staff have 11 starters, 4 contributors, and only 3 players who are neither playing or contributing. As I wrote up above, to have 15 of 18 signees playing or contributing, a 83% success rate, is a tribute to Coach Tressel and his staff's talent evaluation and talent development.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Ohio State, The SEC, & A Closer Look At 0-9
A recent article caught my attention regarding how Ohio State should not be in this year's BCS Championship Game. One of the key points that the article made was how Ohio State's loss to LSU last year in the BCS Championship Game dropped Ohio State's overall bowl record to 0-9 against teams in the SEC. While nobody can dispute the historical fact that Ohio State is 0-9 against SEC opponents in bowl games, I believe a couple things should be pointed out for the sake of balance:
1. The majority of the bowl losses to the SEC occurred under John Cooper's tenure as Ohio State's head coach: If you read below, you will see which SEC team defeated Ohio State, in which bowl game and year, and what the score was. While it is convenient for people around the country to bash Ohio State or Jim Tressel as ill-prepared to handle the mighty SEC, you can see Jim Tressel only is responsible for three of the nine losses. Two of Coach Tressel's came in the BCS Championship Game - as an Ohio State fan, I completely believe I would rather be losing in the BCS Championship Game than not be in the game at all. And another thing ~ no matter how bad Ohio State was defeated the last two seasons, neither game was as bad as what Oklahoma suffered to USC (55-19) in 2005 (a 36 point differential, compared to Ohio State's 27 point loss to Florida or 14 point loss to LSU). Last time I checked, Oklahoma had lost their last 4 BCS Bowl Games, yet I fail to see too many articles supporting a ban of Oklahoma from BCS consideration.
1. The majority of the bowl losses to the SEC occurred under John Cooper's tenure as Ohio State's head coach: If you read below, you will see which SEC team defeated Ohio State, in which bowl game and year, and what the score was. While it is convenient for people around the country to bash Ohio State or Jim Tressel as ill-prepared to handle the mighty SEC, you can see Jim Tressel only is responsible for three of the nine losses. Two of Coach Tressel's came in the BCS Championship Game - as an Ohio State fan, I completely believe I would rather be losing in the BCS Championship Game than not be in the game at all. And another thing ~ no matter how bad Ohio State was defeated the last two seasons, neither game was as bad as what Oklahoma suffered to USC (55-19) in 2005 (a 36 point differential, compared to Ohio State's 27 point loss to Florida or 14 point loss to LSU). Last time I checked, Oklahoma had lost their last 4 BCS Bowl Games, yet I fail to see too many articles supporting a ban of Oklahoma from BCS consideration.
1978 Sugar Bowl Alabama 35 Ohio State 6 - Woody Hayes
1990 Hall Of Fame Bowl Auburn 31 Ohio State 14 - John Cooper
1993 Citrus Bowl Georgia 21 Ohio State 14 - John Cooper
1995 Citrus Bowl Alabama 24 Ohio State 14 - John Cooper
1996 Citrus Bowl Tennessee 20 Ohio State 14 - John Cooper
2001 Outback Bowl South Carolina 24 Ohio State 7 - John Cooper
2002 Outback Bowl South Carolina 31 Ohio State 28 - Jim Tressel
2007 BCS Championship Florida 41 Ohio State 14 - Jim Tressel
2008 BCS Championship LSU 38 Ohio State 24 - Jim Tressel
2. Florida fans should get on their hands and knees and thank the gods for UCLA in 2006: And the reason why is USC was ranked ahead of Florida and headed to play in Tempe against Ohio State until UCLA upset the Trojans. Even Michigan, whom Ohio State defeated that season, was ranked ahead of Florida prior to USC's loss to UCLA, and then the coaches and media voted Florida ahead of Michigan to give Florida its title shot. What is my point, you ask? That the SEC superiority displayed by Florida over Ohio State in the 2007 BCS Championship Game would never have happened if not for some unlikely assistance from voters and a surprising USC choke job in their rivalry game.
3. Ohio State was not supposed to be playing for the title in 2007: After losing so many key players (Troy Smith, Ted Ginn Jr, Anthony Gonzalez, Antonio Pittman), Ohio State was picked to finish third in the Big Ten behind Michigan and Wisconsin. By comparison, LSU was routinely picked to play for the BCS Championship Game last season - like Ohio State, they were truly fortunate that both West Virginia and Missouri lost their last game of the regular season, allowing them to move up to play.
4. How "neutral" are these bowl sites for Ohio State?: Even more fortunate for LSU- how about playing for the BCS Championship Game in your home state? How about the last time an SEC team even played north of the Mason-Dixon line was 1991? I will give credit to Tennessee for scheduling a home and home with Ohio State for 2018 and 2019, but even then, those games are in September. Let's see how dominant a SEC team is in late November in Ohio Stadium, when it is raining or snowing.
I will concede that right now, from top to bottom, the SEC is the toughest conference in college football. That being said, some of the arguments I have made regarding Ohio State when compared to the SEC should also be considered when people start arguing about keeping Ohio State out of the BCS Championship Game - rest assured, if Ohio State loses to USC on September 13th, SEC fans will have nothing to worry about as it relates to another BCS Championship Game by Ohio State.
A Look Back At 1997 & 1998 For Ohio State Football
The Mind Of Minnich has returned from Corolla, NC, with more barley, hops, sand, and seafood to be filtered out. A wonderful vacation for the entire Minnich clan. I apologize for any delinquency in not posting anything new in well over a week.
I have posted a link to another good article on bucknuts.com that reflects on the years 1997 and 1998. Some of the most memorable yet equally frustrating events of the John Cooper era during those seasons.
I have posted a link to another good article on bucknuts.com that reflects on the years 1997 and 1998. Some of the most memorable yet equally frustrating events of the John Cooper era during those seasons.
- The Ohio State/Penn State game in Happy Valley of 1997
- Stanley Jackson's horrible play versus Michigan in 1997 that sent Michigan to the Rose Bowl and on to a share of the national championship with Nebraska
- The 1998 Michigan State game. Sean Dusek was at that game and refuses to ever attend another Ohio State/Michigan State game as a result of that horrible loss.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Some Quick Thoughts On Rich Rodriguez, WV, and Michigan
The announcement yesterday of Rich Rodriguez agreeing to pay the $4 million buyout penalty to West Virginia left me wondering - Why didn't he just do this six months ago? With all of the negative publicity Rodriguez has endured over this issue, only to wind up paying what his West Virginia buyout clearly indicated, makes me also question why Michigan left Rodriguez twisting in the wind all this time.
I have included a few snippets on this issue that I found interesting. This article from Michael Rosenberg shows there is at least one member of the Detroit media who does not care for Coach Rodriguez's tendency to use what some may refer to as colorful vocabulary. Another article from ESPN asks a very legitimate question about this whole issue: Was there really anyone involved in this mess that can say they truly won?
Going forward, Coach Rodriguez can now concentrate exclusively on Michigan football. As Pete Fiutak of collegefootballnews.com says in this article, just wait until Michigan struggles (and I predict loses) to Utah on August 30th, and then things will really start to get ugly in this whole relationship between Rodriguez and the people of Ann Arbor. West Virginia may start looking very inviting at that point.
I have included a few snippets on this issue that I found interesting. This article from Michael Rosenberg shows there is at least one member of the Detroit media who does not care for Coach Rodriguez's tendency to use what some may refer to as colorful vocabulary. Another article from ESPN asks a very legitimate question about this whole issue: Was there really anyone involved in this mess that can say they truly won?
Going forward, Coach Rodriguez can now concentrate exclusively on Michigan football. As Pete Fiutak of collegefootballnews.com says in this article, just wait until Michigan struggles (and I predict loses) to Utah on August 30th, and then things will really start to get ugly in this whole relationship between Rodriguez and the people of Ann Arbor. West Virginia may start looking very inviting at that point.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Good walk down memory lane
I found this article that I found enjoyable and hope you will too. For all those who wring their hands and lament how Ohio State has lost the last two national title games, take a quick look at yesteryear and revisit the 1990s to get a better idea on how good Ohio State fans have it nowadays. Enjoy.
Bucknuts article on 1990s Ohio State football
Bucknuts article on 1990s Ohio State football
Monday, July 7, 2008
Who Could Be Emerging Players For Ohio State In 2008?
While many magazines are debating the merits of Ohio State earning its third straight trip to the BCS Title Game, and others are discussing Chris Wells as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate, I started thinking about players on the team who are not necessarily well-known by the national media who may make sizable contributions to Ohio State this coming season.
Two years ago, a linebacker by the name of James Laurinaitis emerged at the beginning of the 2006 season. Laurinaitis had earned playing time as a freshman in 2005, primarily in the Michigan game when starter Bobby Carpenter suffered a broken foot. Laurinaitis won the starting job in 2006 at the Mike LB spot, and became a household name with his performance against Texas in the second game of the 2006 season.
1. # 3, Brandon Saine, RB: I truly debated putting Saine on this list for the simple reasons that Saine had some notable moments (end of Washington game, first few series of the BCS Title Game versus LSU) in his freshman year. Saine has exceptional speed (Ohio high school record holder in the 100), and could be used by the coaching staff in a variety of ways (RB, slot WR, kick returner). Considering he did not play in a few midseason games last season due to an injury, Saine earns my vote as the probable Ohio State breakout player of 2008.
2. #1, Daniel "Boom" Herron, RB: This may be a surprise to some people. Herron redshirted last season, but earned accolades from both the coaching staff and his teammates for his performances on the scout team. While Chris Wells will get the bulk of the carries for Ohio State, it would not surprise me if Herron gets a substantial number of carries to offset Chris Wells' workload.
3. #90, Thaddeus Gibson, DE: Another possible surprise on the "emerging" list. Gibson redshirted in 2006, and played primarily as a pass rusher in 2007, having a big game versus Wisconsin late in the season. Gibson moved from linebacker to defensive end this spring, and was the top selection in the Ohio State spring game by his teammates. Gibson had a very good spring conditioning season and could play a lot in obvious passing downs this season.
4. #14, Joe Bauserman, QB: While Todd Boeckman is the starter, and Terrelle Pryor has been recruited for the future, Joe Bauserman will probably be the primary backup this coming season at quarterback. Originally recruited years ago, Bauserman chose to play minor league baseball for Pittsburgh before returning to Ohio State as a walk-on. Bauserman had a very solid spring and impressive spring game, and should get playing time this fall.
5. #51, Ross Homan, LB: Homan was one of the top recruits in 2006, along with Chris Wells. Homan played as a true freshman, but suffered a foot injury last season that limited his effectiveness. Considering how James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman, and Curtis Terry are all seniors, Homan will get chances to increase playing time this season and beyond.
6. #26, Tyler Moeller, LB: Redshirted in 2006, and moved to safety as a freshman in 2007, Moeller has returned to his natural linebacker spot and was impressive in spring practice. Moeller is not as big as most linebackers on the OSU roster, but has earned a reputation for being in the right place at the right time and is a good hitter.
7. #36, Brian Rolle, LB: Similar to Tyler Moeller, there was concern about Rolle's lack of size. As a freshman last season, Rolle made a big impact on special teams with some hard hits. I predict he will again be a big factor on special teams this coming season.
8. #70, Bryant Browning, OL: Browning is slated to compete for Kirk Barton's vacant right offensive tackle position. While Browning held the spot during spring practice, he will need to continue to work hard to hold the job as Ohio State recruited several highly-touted linemen this winter.
9. #5, Taurian Washington, WR: While teammates Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline are the primary receivers, Washington enters 2008 with opportunities to earn more playing time. Washington played some as a true freshman, scoring against Youngstown State, and had a good spring game.
10. #7, Jermale Hines, LB: Hines played some as a freshman last season, despite not being in fall camp due to issues regarding his test scores and GPA. Hines suffered a knee injury during the 2008 spring game, but it was not believed to be so serious that he would miss time during the 2008 season.
Two years ago, a linebacker by the name of James Laurinaitis emerged at the beginning of the 2006 season. Laurinaitis had earned playing time as a freshman in 2005, primarily in the Michigan game when starter Bobby Carpenter suffered a broken foot. Laurinaitis won the starting job in 2006 at the Mike LB spot, and became a household name with his performance against Texas in the second game of the 2006 season.
1. # 3, Brandon Saine, RB: I truly debated putting Saine on this list for the simple reasons that Saine had some notable moments (end of Washington game, first few series of the BCS Title Game versus LSU) in his freshman year. Saine has exceptional speed (Ohio high school record holder in the 100), and could be used by the coaching staff in a variety of ways (RB, slot WR, kick returner). Considering he did not play in a few midseason games last season due to an injury, Saine earns my vote as the probable Ohio State breakout player of 2008.
2. #1, Daniel "Boom" Herron, RB: This may be a surprise to some people. Herron redshirted last season, but earned accolades from both the coaching staff and his teammates for his performances on the scout team. While Chris Wells will get the bulk of the carries for Ohio State, it would not surprise me if Herron gets a substantial number of carries to offset Chris Wells' workload.
3. #90, Thaddeus Gibson, DE: Another possible surprise on the "emerging" list. Gibson redshirted in 2006, and played primarily as a pass rusher in 2007, having a big game versus Wisconsin late in the season. Gibson moved from linebacker to defensive end this spring, and was the top selection in the Ohio State spring game by his teammates. Gibson had a very good spring conditioning season and could play a lot in obvious passing downs this season.
4. #14, Joe Bauserman, QB: While Todd Boeckman is the starter, and Terrelle Pryor has been recruited for the future, Joe Bauserman will probably be the primary backup this coming season at quarterback. Originally recruited years ago, Bauserman chose to play minor league baseball for Pittsburgh before returning to Ohio State as a walk-on. Bauserman had a very solid spring and impressive spring game, and should get playing time this fall.
5. #51, Ross Homan, LB: Homan was one of the top recruits in 2006, along with Chris Wells. Homan played as a true freshman, but suffered a foot injury last season that limited his effectiveness. Considering how James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman, and Curtis Terry are all seniors, Homan will get chances to increase playing time this season and beyond.
6. #26, Tyler Moeller, LB: Redshirted in 2006, and moved to safety as a freshman in 2007, Moeller has returned to his natural linebacker spot and was impressive in spring practice. Moeller is not as big as most linebackers on the OSU roster, but has earned a reputation for being in the right place at the right time and is a good hitter.
7. #36, Brian Rolle, LB: Similar to Tyler Moeller, there was concern about Rolle's lack of size. As a freshman last season, Rolle made a big impact on special teams with some hard hits. I predict he will again be a big factor on special teams this coming season.
8. #70, Bryant Browning, OL: Browning is slated to compete for Kirk Barton's vacant right offensive tackle position. While Browning held the spot during spring practice, he will need to continue to work hard to hold the job as Ohio State recruited several highly-touted linemen this winter.
9. #5, Taurian Washington, WR: While teammates Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline are the primary receivers, Washington enters 2008 with opportunities to earn more playing time. Washington played some as a true freshman, scoring against Youngstown State, and had a good spring game.
10. #7, Jermale Hines, LB: Hines played some as a freshman last season, despite not being in fall camp due to issues regarding his test scores and GPA. Hines suffered a knee injury during the 2008 spring game, but it was not believed to be so serious that he would miss time during the 2008 season.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Eugene Clifford in trouble AGAIN
Reports out of Cincinnati are implicating Eugene Clifford with an assault charge. Considering Eugene's previous issues with a marijuana suspension prior to enrolling at Ohio State, a suspension for the national championship game versus LSU, and a rumored suspension around the time of the April 2008 spring football game, this may be goodbye from Columbus for Eugene Clifford.
Does Darrell Givens Have Second Thoughts About Penn State?
Internet rumors are circulating that one-time Maryland DB Darrell Givens is reconsidering the verbal commitment he gave to Penn State. Givens originally gave a verbal commitment to Ohio State the day after Ohio State's spring football game on 04/19/2008, then decommitted from Ohio State to commit to Penn State after attending a Penn State football camp in May.
At the time of Givens' commitment to Penn State, Givens cited the possibility of earlier playing time as a reason for switching to Penn State from Ohio State. Considering the number of defensive backs already on the roster, as well as how many defensive back prospects Ohio State has taken with its 2009 recruiting class, that certainly makes sense from Darrell Givens' perspective.
With all due respect to Darrell Givens, I cannot blame the coaching staff for supposedly moving on after Givens retracted his verbal commitment to Ohio State and committed to Penn State. From everything I have read, Coach Tressel and the staff wholeheartedly encourage any of the recruits to visit other schools BEFORE committing to make sure that they are comfortable with the final decision. Players such as Vlad Emilien have recently said that they have not felt pressured to commit despite the apparent numbers crunch in scholarships.
Do I feel badly that Givens may now have remorse over his decision? Certainly. Do I believe he could possibly have contributed to Ohio State's future success? Absolutely. Most importantly - do I believe Givens has learned what the definition of "commitment" now means? Without a doubt.
At the time of Givens' commitment to Penn State, Givens cited the possibility of earlier playing time as a reason for switching to Penn State from Ohio State. Considering the number of defensive backs already on the roster, as well as how many defensive back prospects Ohio State has taken with its 2009 recruiting class, that certainly makes sense from Darrell Givens' perspective.
With all due respect to Darrell Givens, I cannot blame the coaching staff for supposedly moving on after Givens retracted his verbal commitment to Ohio State and committed to Penn State. From everything I have read, Coach Tressel and the staff wholeheartedly encourage any of the recruits to visit other schools BEFORE committing to make sure that they are comfortable with the final decision. Players such as Vlad Emilien have recently said that they have not felt pressured to commit despite the apparent numbers crunch in scholarships.
Do I feel badly that Givens may now have remorse over his decision? Certainly. Do I believe he could possibly have contributed to Ohio State's future success? Absolutely. Most importantly - do I believe Givens has learned what the definition of "commitment" now means? Without a doubt.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Why Michigan Will Struggle In 2008
Even though I am a huge Ohio State fan, I want to make it abundantly clear that I have tremendous respect for the University of Michigan as a higher institution of learning as well as for its storied football program. Year after year, Michigan has been one of the premier football programs in the country, and its battles with Ohio State have earned THE GAME with the reputation of being the top rivalry in the country. If you haven't done so yet, I highly recommend reading these books on Bo Schembechler. Not only are both books very informative and entertaining, I believe you can truly grasp why Bo Schembechler was Woody Hayes' prize disciple. Even more importantly from a Michigan perspective ~ you actually learn the depth of respect and love Bo had for Woody Hayes, and how Bo built the Michigan program along the lines of Woody Hayes' Ohio State teams.
Now let me address the subject at hand - Michigan will struggle in 2008. I do not believe they will have a winning record, ending their consecutive bowl appearance at 33. I may be wrong, but even if Michigan does make it to a bowl game, it will not be a New Year's Day bowl game. The probable destination would be the Motor City Bowl.
I can feel the e-mails lining up as I write this. Let me elaborate and explain why Michigan is going to struggle:
Point 1 ~ The personnel is not in place to run the spread option: Yes, Coach Rodriguez is a good coach. He turned around West Virginia, and he will do a great job at Michigan once he gets his personnel in place to run the spread option offense effectively. Please reread the italicized line again ~ once he gets his personnel in place. The personnel on hand for multiple generations was recruited to play Bo Schembechler-type football.
Let's look at this key point further. Spread option offense 101: The quarterback gets the snap from center in the shotgun formation, and fakes the ball to the running back. This movement will keep the linebacker from committing to the quarterback, in the event of a play action pass or the quarterback will keep the ball themselves on a waggle or bootleg around the end. Sounds just like Pat White of West Virginia, right? Here's the problem for Michigan this year - the probable starting quarterback (Steven Threet) is not very mobile. If I am a linebacker on the opposition, I am going to sell out against the run because I am either going to tackle the running back or get to the quarterback. The lack of a mobile quarterback makes the spread option offense much easier to defend.
If Terrelle Pryor had signed with Michigan this year, the spread option offense would have been that much more effective. Michigan fans point out that incoming recruit Justin Feagin may win the starting job, but that's asking a lot of a true freshman to come into Michigan and lead a brand new offensive scheme that is lacking...
Point 2 ~ An offensive line that is familiar with the spread option offense: This was going to be a problem even before Justin Boren left Michigan in the spring (Before Michigan fans start with all of the traitor comments, remember something - Boren was honorable mention All Big Ten last season. Don't pretend that the kid all of a sudden became a stiff because he left Michigan for Ohio State.). Steven Schilling returns as the lone offensive line starter from last season, and Ohio State's Vernon Gholston made the guy look like a turnstile for most of the game. With an inexperienced quarterback, running back, wide receivers, and offensive line struggling with a new offense, that is going to lead to...
Point 3 ~ Pressure on the Michigan defense: There is a tremendous amount of optimism with the new Michigan defensive staff. While there is talent on this side of the ball, and I believe the new strength and conditioning coach will have the entire Michigan team in better shape than before, even the best of defenses get tired out if they are continually on the field. For points 1 and 2 above, I am predicting lots of three and out offensive series for Michigan this coming fall. Michigan will need to rely on its defense to keep them in the game, but even the best defenses get tired when they play against...
Point 4 ~ Quality Opponents: Here is where the predictions start to come into full circle. Let's look at Michigan's opponents, one by one, and you'll see why I am predicting 4-8 in 2008 for Michigan...
Game 1 vs Utah: Utah is a MWC contender with a quality returning quarterback with hopes and dreams of crashing the BCS. The Rich Rodriguez era starts off with a loss due to the lack of offense in The Big House. 0-1.
Game 2 vs Miami (OH): While Miami (OH) should contend for the MAC this year, I look for Michigan to eke out a close one in The Big House in the 4th quarter. 1-1.
Game 3 @ Notre Dame: This is a tough one to predict. I am leaning towards Notre Dame purely on the home field and revenge factors. 1-2.
Game 4 vs Wisconsin: Wisconsin will be coming off a bye week and looks like the kind of team that will just wear the Michigan defense down with their power running game. 1-3.
Game 5 vs Illinois: While Illinois will struggle with the loss of Rashard Mendenhall, the Illinois defensive speed will be too much for the Michigan offense to overcome as it is still struggling to assert itself. 1-4, and the natives are getting ansty about their bowl eligibility that Minnich predicted would be in jeopardy.
Game 6 vs Toledo: Redemption comes in the form of Toledo. Michigan wins this one on depth alone. 2-4.
Game 7 @ Penn State: Penn State is eager for this one. The annoying Nittany Lion roar that occurs seemingly every thirty seconds only adds salt to the wound of ending the long steak of Michigan dominance over Penn State. 2-5.
Game 8 vs Michigan State: Look out for Coach Dantonio. The true Jim Tressel disciple, he has been counting this one down since last year's choke job in East Lansing and he wants this one bad. 2-6, and Michigan is now on life support for bowl eligibility.
Game 9 @ Purdue: Joe Tiller smells the blood in the water. He will savor his opportunity to end the bowl streak in his final game versus the Wolverines. 2-7, with the Rich Rodriguez/West Virginia lawsuit now in full force in the courtrooms.
Game 10 @ Minnesota: Purely for pride...Michigan wins The Little Brown Jug over Minnesota. 3-7.
Game 11 vs Northwestern: The last home game of the year, Michigan wins over Northwestern in a close one. 4-7.
Game 12 @ Ohio State: THE GAME takes on even more significance next year when Coach Rodriguez gets talent better suited for his beloved spread option offense. This one will be over by mid-3rd quarter but Ohio State fans better savor the flavor, because next year Coach Rodriguez will be ready. THE GAME takes place 141 days from July 3rd. Michigan ends its season 4-8.
I am sure the Michigan fans will be all out in force for this post - again, this is written with tremendous respect for Michigan's program. Will Michigan once again be The Victors? Certainly, but that year is not 2008.
Now let me address the subject at hand - Michigan will struggle in 2008. I do not believe they will have a winning record, ending their consecutive bowl appearance at 33. I may be wrong, but even if Michigan does make it to a bowl game, it will not be a New Year's Day bowl game. The probable destination would be the Motor City Bowl.
I can feel the e-mails lining up as I write this. Let me elaborate and explain why Michigan is going to struggle:
Point 1 ~ The personnel is not in place to run the spread option: Yes, Coach Rodriguez is a good coach. He turned around West Virginia, and he will do a great job at Michigan once he gets his personnel in place to run the spread option offense effectively. Please reread the italicized line again ~ once he gets his personnel in place. The personnel on hand for multiple generations was recruited to play Bo Schembechler-type football.
Let's look at this key point further. Spread option offense 101: The quarterback gets the snap from center in the shotgun formation, and fakes the ball to the running back. This movement will keep the linebacker from committing to the quarterback, in the event of a play action pass or the quarterback will keep the ball themselves on a waggle or bootleg around the end. Sounds just like Pat White of West Virginia, right? Here's the problem for Michigan this year - the probable starting quarterback (Steven Threet) is not very mobile. If I am a linebacker on the opposition, I am going to sell out against the run because I am either going to tackle the running back or get to the quarterback. The lack of a mobile quarterback makes the spread option offense much easier to defend.
If Terrelle Pryor had signed with Michigan this year, the spread option offense would have been that much more effective. Michigan fans point out that incoming recruit Justin Feagin may win the starting job, but that's asking a lot of a true freshman to come into Michigan and lead a brand new offensive scheme that is lacking...
Point 2 ~ An offensive line that is familiar with the spread option offense: This was going to be a problem even before Justin Boren left Michigan in the spring (Before Michigan fans start with all of the traitor comments, remember something - Boren was honorable mention All Big Ten last season. Don't pretend that the kid all of a sudden became a stiff because he left Michigan for Ohio State.). Steven Schilling returns as the lone offensive line starter from last season, and Ohio State's Vernon Gholston made the guy look like a turnstile for most of the game. With an inexperienced quarterback, running back, wide receivers, and offensive line struggling with a new offense, that is going to lead to...
Point 3 ~ Pressure on the Michigan defense: There is a tremendous amount of optimism with the new Michigan defensive staff. While there is talent on this side of the ball, and I believe the new strength and conditioning coach will have the entire Michigan team in better shape than before, even the best of defenses get tired out if they are continually on the field. For points 1 and 2 above, I am predicting lots of three and out offensive series for Michigan this coming fall. Michigan will need to rely on its defense to keep them in the game, but even the best defenses get tired when they play against...
Point 4 ~ Quality Opponents: Here is where the predictions start to come into full circle. Let's look at Michigan's opponents, one by one, and you'll see why I am predicting 4-8 in 2008 for Michigan...
Game 1 vs Utah: Utah is a MWC contender with a quality returning quarterback with hopes and dreams of crashing the BCS. The Rich Rodriguez era starts off with a loss due to the lack of offense in The Big House. 0-1.
Game 2 vs Miami (OH): While Miami (OH) should contend for the MAC this year, I look for Michigan to eke out a close one in The Big House in the 4th quarter. 1-1.
Game 3 @ Notre Dame: This is a tough one to predict. I am leaning towards Notre Dame purely on the home field and revenge factors. 1-2.
Game 4 vs Wisconsin: Wisconsin will be coming off a bye week and looks like the kind of team that will just wear the Michigan defense down with their power running game. 1-3.
Game 5 vs Illinois: While Illinois will struggle with the loss of Rashard Mendenhall, the Illinois defensive speed will be too much for the Michigan offense to overcome as it is still struggling to assert itself. 1-4, and the natives are getting ansty about their bowl eligibility that Minnich predicted would be in jeopardy.
Game 6 vs Toledo: Redemption comes in the form of Toledo. Michigan wins this one on depth alone. 2-4.
Game 7 @ Penn State: Penn State is eager for this one. The annoying Nittany Lion roar that occurs seemingly every thirty seconds only adds salt to the wound of ending the long steak of Michigan dominance over Penn State. 2-5.
Game 8 vs Michigan State: Look out for Coach Dantonio. The true Jim Tressel disciple, he has been counting this one down since last year's choke job in East Lansing and he wants this one bad. 2-6, and Michigan is now on life support for bowl eligibility.
Game 9 @ Purdue: Joe Tiller smells the blood in the water. He will savor his opportunity to end the bowl streak in his final game versus the Wolverines. 2-7, with the Rich Rodriguez/West Virginia lawsuit now in full force in the courtrooms.
Game 10 @ Minnesota: Purely for pride...Michigan wins The Little Brown Jug over Minnesota. 3-7.
Game 11 vs Northwestern: The last home game of the year, Michigan wins over Northwestern in a close one. 4-7.
Game 12 @ Ohio State: THE GAME takes on even more significance next year when Coach Rodriguez gets talent better suited for his beloved spread option offense. This one will be over by mid-3rd quarter but Ohio State fans better savor the flavor, because next year Coach Rodriguez will be ready. THE GAME takes place 141 days from July 3rd. Michigan ends its season 4-8.
I am sure the Michigan fans will be all out in force for this post - again, this is written with tremendous respect for Michigan's program. Will Michigan once again be The Victors? Certainly, but that year is not 2008.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Ranking Ohio State's 2008 schedule, from toughest to easiest
Here are some quick thoughts and views on the upcoming Ohio State schedule. I'm going to rank these games as I see them, from games that Ohio State could possibly lose to games where Ohio State will be an overwhelming favorite:
I. Toughest Games ~ These are the games where Ohio State could lose and will probably be the underdog.
1. Game 3, September 13th, 8pm EST (ABC), @ USC: What more do I have to say about the stakes on this one? Both teams will be in the top 5, and postgame, it will not surprise me if the winner vaults to number one in the polls.
2. Game 6, October 6th, 8pm EST (ABC or ESPN), @ Wisconsin: Ohio State has struggled with Wisconsin throughout the Jim Tressel era (losses in 2001, 2003, 2004), more so than any other Big Ten program. Considering how tough Camp Randall is to play in for visiting teams, then throw in the fact that it's a night game, makes this game a big challenge for the Buckeyes.
3. Game 11, November 15th, TBA, @ Illinois: The last time Ohio State visited Champaign, Ohio State barely escaped with a 17-10 victory. Considering how Illinois defeated Ohio State last year in the Horseshoe, Ohio State will certainly not be lacking for motivation. Illinois has recruited well the last few seasons and will be hoping to crush Ohio State's Big Ten aspirations with this game. I won't be surprised if this is another night game, depending on how both teams are doing as the season winds down.
II. Challenging Games: Games where Ohio State should win and will be favored. Losses here would fall into the upset category.
4. Game 8, October 18th, TBA, @ Michigan State: This will surprise many people that I am ranking this game so highly. Other people besides myself recognize Coach Mark Dantonio for the program he is slowly but surely building in East Lansing. Again, Michigan State has been a troublesome program for Ohio State in the past. I look for Ohio State to pull away from Michigan State in the 4th quarter for a tough-earned win here.
5. Game 9, October 25th, 8pm EST (ABC or ESPN), Penn State: Penn State will be moving back to an offense similar in style to its successful 2005 season, with QB Darryl Clark reprising the role of Michael Robinson. Considering how Ohio State will have just come out of a tough game versus Michigan State, I look for Ohio State to have this game in hand by the beginning of the 4th quarter.
III. Comfortable Games: Games that Ohio State should win by the mid-3rd quarter. These are the ones where I start begging Coach Tressel to give Chris Wells a break and not possibly expose him to potential injury.
6. Game 7, October 11th, TBA, Purdue: In the earlier years of Coach Tressel's tenure, Purdue usually played Ohio State down to the wire. Last season, Ohio State was able to handle Purdue quite easily on national television. I look for them to do it again in the comfort of the Horseshoe in mid-October.
7. Game 12, November 22nd, TBA (probable 12pm EST start), Michigan: Nope. This is not a mistype. Ohio State had best enjoy this win over Michigan (only 142 days from now as I submit this), because once Coach Rodriguez gets his personnel into Michigan to run his spread option offense, THE GAME will again be a take-no-prisoners event. This year? Ohio State is too much for Michigan by mid-3rd quarter.
8. Game 10, November 8th, TBA, @ Northwestern: Considering how badly Ohio State has bludgeoned Northwestern the last few seasons (2005 - Ohio State 48, Northwestern 7; 2006 - Ohio State 54, Northwestern 10; 2007 - Ohio State 58, Northwestern 7), this one may be an opportune time to see Terrelle Pryor in action for the Buckeyes throughout the second half.
9. Game 4, September 20th, 1pm EST (maybe The Big Ten Network?), Troy: Again, I've already stated how Ohio State should not overlook Troy. I look for Ohio State to pull away in the second half of this one. I look for this game to be one where Ohio State comes out flat after playing such a big game against USC - it's tough to keep up the intensity week after week.
IV. Probable Blowouts: These are the games where Ohio State should be clearing its benches as the second half begins. Maybe even invoke a mercy rule if there is such a thing in college football.
10. Game 5, September 27th, TBA, Minnesota: I believe it was in the song "Big Yellow Taxi" ~ "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got till it's gone"...Seems to me quite appropos for what Minnesota did by firing Glen Mason to bring in Tim Brewster. Minnesota will again be the dregs of the Big Ten this year, and Ohio State hopefully will be calling off the dogs as the second half starts on this one.
11. Game 2, September 6th, TBA, Ohio University: Here is the game where all the players from Ohio University will show Ohio State how they screwed up by not offering them scholarships...and once they get hit a few times by James Laurinaitis, they realize that maybe playing against Kent State or Central Michigan has its advantages.
12. Game 1, August 30th, TBA, Youngstown State: If it was not for the fact that this is the home opener for Ohio State, this is the game where you leave two tickets under your windshield wiper and come back to find out you have two more tickets that someone else left. Credit Coach Tressel for these gifts to Youngstown State the last two season openers with having them on the Ohio State schedule. Coach Tressel won't want to embarass his previous school, and will do all he can do from stopping this one from getting out of hand.
I. Toughest Games ~ These are the games where Ohio State could lose and will probably be the underdog.
1. Game 3, September 13th, 8pm EST (ABC), @ USC: What more do I have to say about the stakes on this one? Both teams will be in the top 5, and postgame, it will not surprise me if the winner vaults to number one in the polls.
2. Game 6, October 6th, 8pm EST (ABC or ESPN), @ Wisconsin: Ohio State has struggled with Wisconsin throughout the Jim Tressel era (losses in 2001, 2003, 2004), more so than any other Big Ten program. Considering how tough Camp Randall is to play in for visiting teams, then throw in the fact that it's a night game, makes this game a big challenge for the Buckeyes.
3. Game 11, November 15th, TBA, @ Illinois: The last time Ohio State visited Champaign, Ohio State barely escaped with a 17-10 victory. Considering how Illinois defeated Ohio State last year in the Horseshoe, Ohio State will certainly not be lacking for motivation. Illinois has recruited well the last few seasons and will be hoping to crush Ohio State's Big Ten aspirations with this game. I won't be surprised if this is another night game, depending on how both teams are doing as the season winds down.
II. Challenging Games: Games where Ohio State should win and will be favored. Losses here would fall into the upset category.
4. Game 8, October 18th, TBA, @ Michigan State: This will surprise many people that I am ranking this game so highly. Other people besides myself recognize Coach Mark Dantonio for the program he is slowly but surely building in East Lansing. Again, Michigan State has been a troublesome program for Ohio State in the past. I look for Ohio State to pull away from Michigan State in the 4th quarter for a tough-earned win here.
5. Game 9, October 25th, 8pm EST (ABC or ESPN), Penn State: Penn State will be moving back to an offense similar in style to its successful 2005 season, with QB Darryl Clark reprising the role of Michael Robinson. Considering how Ohio State will have just come out of a tough game versus Michigan State, I look for Ohio State to have this game in hand by the beginning of the 4th quarter.
III. Comfortable Games: Games that Ohio State should win by the mid-3rd quarter. These are the ones where I start begging Coach Tressel to give Chris Wells a break and not possibly expose him to potential injury.
6. Game 7, October 11th, TBA, Purdue: In the earlier years of Coach Tressel's tenure, Purdue usually played Ohio State down to the wire. Last season, Ohio State was able to handle Purdue quite easily on national television. I look for them to do it again in the comfort of the Horseshoe in mid-October.
7. Game 12, November 22nd, TBA (probable 12pm EST start), Michigan: Nope. This is not a mistype. Ohio State had best enjoy this win over Michigan (only 142 days from now as I submit this), because once Coach Rodriguez gets his personnel into Michigan to run his spread option offense, THE GAME will again be a take-no-prisoners event. This year? Ohio State is too much for Michigan by mid-3rd quarter.
8. Game 10, November 8th, TBA, @ Northwestern: Considering how badly Ohio State has bludgeoned Northwestern the last few seasons (2005 - Ohio State 48, Northwestern 7; 2006 - Ohio State 54, Northwestern 10; 2007 - Ohio State 58, Northwestern 7), this one may be an opportune time to see Terrelle Pryor in action for the Buckeyes throughout the second half.
9. Game 4, September 20th, 1pm EST (maybe The Big Ten Network?), Troy: Again, I've already stated how Ohio State should not overlook Troy. I look for Ohio State to pull away in the second half of this one. I look for this game to be one where Ohio State comes out flat after playing such a big game against USC - it's tough to keep up the intensity week after week.
IV. Probable Blowouts: These are the games where Ohio State should be clearing its benches as the second half begins. Maybe even invoke a mercy rule if there is such a thing in college football.
10. Game 5, September 27th, TBA, Minnesota: I believe it was in the song "Big Yellow Taxi" ~ "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you got till it's gone"...Seems to me quite appropos for what Minnesota did by firing Glen Mason to bring in Tim Brewster. Minnesota will again be the dregs of the Big Ten this year, and Ohio State hopefully will be calling off the dogs as the second half starts on this one.
11. Game 2, September 6th, TBA, Ohio University: Here is the game where all the players from Ohio University will show Ohio State how they screwed up by not offering them scholarships...and once they get hit a few times by James Laurinaitis, they realize that maybe playing against Kent State or Central Michigan has its advantages.
12. Game 1, August 30th, TBA, Youngstown State: If it was not for the fact that this is the home opener for Ohio State, this is the game where you leave two tickets under your windshield wiper and come back to find out you have two more tickets that someone else left. Credit Coach Tressel for these gifts to Youngstown State the last two season openers with having them on the Ohio State schedule. Coach Tressel won't want to embarass his previous school, and will do all he can do from stopping this one from getting out of hand.
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