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.
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