Ohio State Buckeyes Thread
Ohio State Buckeyes Thread
It's this simple. The winner of the Ohio State-USC showdown will be playing for the national title; the loser will be playing in the Rose Bowl. The early call, because of the experience, is a Buckeye win, but if USC wins, then put Jim Tressel and the boys here and Wisconsin in the Fiesta. Eventually the Badgers need to break through and get to a BCS game again, right? They've been on the verge for years and now have the team to break through. If USC beats Ohio State, then it'll probably be the Buckeyes vs. either Oregon or Arizona State. If it's the Badgers vs. the Trojans, it would be the first matchup of the two since 1966 when USC won, 38-3. If only it could be as good a matchup as the 1963 classic Rose Bowl when the Badgers mounted an epic comeback only to fall short in a 42-37 loss.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
FedEx BCS National Championship
Jan. 8 / 8 p.m. Miami Gardens, Fla. FOX
*BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2
Way-Too-Early Projection: Ohio State vs. Florida
Top 5 Others Considered: 1) USC, 2) Georgia, 3) Oklahoma, 4) LSU, 5) West Virginia
The way-too-early scenario (that might/will suddenly change at some point this summer): No one goes unbeaten; Ohio State beats USC in L.A. to build up enough style points to overcome one acceptable Big Ten loss to be the begrudging choice by the voters as the nation's No. 1 team; Florida loses twice, but beats Georgia and wins the SEC championship. Repeat that exact scenario except replace Ohio State with USC (who'll lose one Pac-10 game) and Florida with Georgia, and you might have it.
Jan. 8 / 8 p.m. Miami Gardens, Fla. FOX
*BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2
Way-Too-Early Projection: Ohio State vs. Florida
Top 5 Others Considered: 1) USC, 2) Georgia, 3) Oklahoma, 4) LSU, 5) West Virginia
The way-too-early scenario (that might/will suddenly change at some point this summer): No one goes unbeaten; Ohio State beats USC in L.A. to build up enough style points to overcome one acceptable Big Ten loss to be the begrudging choice by the voters as the nation's No. 1 team; Florida loses twice, but beats Georgia and wins the SEC championship. Repeat that exact scenario except replace Ohio State with USC (who'll lose one Pac-10 game) and Florida with Georgia, and you might have it.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
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Buckeyes land CB commitment
Posted: Tuesday June 24, 2008 05:52AM ET
The scarlet and gray will have a Brown tint next year. Corey Brown, a senior football player at Gateway High School, announced yesterday afternoon he will attend Ohio State University. Brown, a 6-foot-1, 186-pound receiver-defensive back, was recruited by the Buckeyes to play cornerback. He is ranked among the top 100 players in the country by rivals.com and gives Ohio State its third recruit from the class of 2009. Dorian Bell, a linebacker and Brown's teammate at Gateway, and Jeannette running back Jordan Hall chose Ohio State in the spring. The Buckeyes also landed Jeannette star quarterback Terrelle Pryor from the class of 2008.
Posted: Tuesday June 24, 2008 05:52AM ET
The scarlet and gray will have a Brown tint next year. Corey Brown, a senior football player at Gateway High School, announced yesterday afternoon he will attend Ohio State University. Brown, a 6-foot-1, 186-pound receiver-defensive back, was recruited by the Buckeyes to play cornerback. He is ranked among the top 100 players in the country by rivals.com and gives Ohio State its third recruit from the class of 2009. Dorian Bell, a linebacker and Brown's teammate at Gateway, and Jeannette running back Jordan Hall chose Ohio State in the spring. The Buckeyes also landed Jeannette star quarterback Terrelle Pryor from the class of 2008.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Never too early to talk Buckeyes: Preseason publications target OSU for title game
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By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS - Being ranked No. 2 in the middle of June does not mean much in college football when the start of the season is still 10 weeks away, but it gets the conversation started in earnest.
In one of the first national preview magazines to hit the market, Ohio State is ranked second in the country, behind recent nemesis Florida, and the Buckeyes boast five preseason first team All-Americans, more than any other school.
Phil Steele's 2008 College Football Preview claims that it is the "most accurate" of the preseason publications over the last nine years, and reminds its readers that in 2002, its pick for the No. 1 surprise team was Ohio State, and the Buckeyes went on to win the national championship.
SEE: : OSU-UM past scoresThis year, Steele likes Ohio State's 19 returning starters, the most of any team in the early top 25. He also thinks that after taking his team to the national championship game the past two years and losing, this year Ohio State coach Jim Tressel could get back in the picture holding the glass football. The major challenges appear to be road games against Southern Cal and Wisconsin.
"This could be Tressel's best team yet," Steele said. "Their road trip September 13 to USC looks like a national title semifinal game, but they are talented enough to knock off the Trojans."
John Porentas, a Toledo native and St. Francis de Sales graduate who is editor of the popular Ohio State fan site theozone.net said that talent assessment is likely accurate, and after winning three straight Big Ten championships, the Buckeyes will be subjected to extremely high expectations.
"Last year was basically looked at as a year with some major rebuilding to do, and they went out and won the Big Ten again and made the championship game," he said. "There was less expectation and it was looked on as a good year, despite the two losses. This year, expectations are through the roof, and two losses would be a disaster."
Steele likes Ohio State linebackers James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins as first-team All-Americans. In his unit rankings, which gauge the talent/strength/depth of each area on a team, OSU was rated best in the nation at linebacker, just ahead of USC, and the only Big Ten team in the top 15. Penn State, once referred to as "Linebacker U" was rated 27th at the position.
Ohio State's defensive backs were considered the second-best group in the country behind Oregon, while the Buckeyes defensive line ranked third in the nation as a unit.
Steele rated Ohio State the strongest team in the country at running back, where junior Chris "Beanie" Wells was a first team All-American pick. Wells was ranked ahead of Georgia's sensational sophomore Knowshon Moreno. Michigan State's Javon Ringer (6th) and Wisconsin's P.J. Hill (12th) were the only other Big Ten backs in the top 15.
[CENTER][url=http://javascript<b></b>:NewWindow(600,400,'/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/templates/zoom.pbs&Site=TO&Date=20080618&Category=SPORTS16&ArtNo=806180409&Ref=H9');]
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Wells, often mentioned as a serious Heisman Trophy candidate, is joined on that OSU backfield depth chart by speedy sophomore Brandon Saine, senior Maurice Wells (no relation), and redshirt freshman Dan "Boom" Herron, who even the stoic Tressel raves about.
Ohio State's vault full of experience and talent on the offensive line made that unit the second-highest rated in the nation. Senior Alex Boone (6-8, 312) was designated first-team All-American at tackle, while Steve Rehring, a 6-7, 335-pound senior, was selected as the fifth-best guard in the country.
Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman was ranked the seventh best in the country, behind top-rated Tim Tebow of Florida, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, and second-ranked Curtis Painter of Purdue. Brian Robiskie was rated No. 11 at wide receiver.
Porentas said it would be tough to make a case against any of the five Buckeyes that were first-team picks in Steele's preseason All-American group.
"It would be hard to argue with any of them, because skill-wise, they could all be in the NFL right now," he said.
"Ohio State would have been a very talented team if those guys had left and gone to the pros, but what makes it a really exceptional team is that now they have loads of talent, plus experience. You can't overstate what that's worth."
[CENTER][url=http://javascript<b></b>:NewWindow(600,400,'/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/templates/zoom.pbs&Site=TO&Date=20080618&Category=SPORTS16&ArtNo=806180409&Ref=AR');]
By MATT MARKEY
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
COLUMBUS - Being ranked No. 2 in the middle of June does not mean much in college football when the start of the season is still 10 weeks away, but it gets the conversation started in earnest.
In one of the first national preview magazines to hit the market, Ohio State is ranked second in the country, behind recent nemesis Florida, and the Buckeyes boast five preseason first team All-Americans, more than any other school.
Phil Steele's 2008 College Football Preview claims that it is the "most accurate" of the preseason publications over the last nine years, and reminds its readers that in 2002, its pick for the No. 1 surprise team was Ohio State, and the Buckeyes went on to win the national championship.
SEE: : OSU-UM past scoresThis year, Steele likes Ohio State's 19 returning starters, the most of any team in the early top 25. He also thinks that after taking his team to the national championship game the past two years and losing, this year Ohio State coach Jim Tressel could get back in the picture holding the glass football. The major challenges appear to be road games against Southern Cal and Wisconsin. "This could be Tressel's best team yet," Steele said. "Their road trip September 13 to USC looks like a national title semifinal game, but they are talented enough to knock off the Trojans."
John Porentas, a Toledo native and St. Francis de Sales graduate who is editor of the popular Ohio State fan site theozone.net said that talent assessment is likely accurate, and after winning three straight Big Ten championships, the Buckeyes will be subjected to extremely high expectations.
"Last year was basically looked at as a year with some major rebuilding to do, and they went out and won the Big Ten again and made the championship game," he said. "There was less expectation and it was looked on as a good year, despite the two losses. This year, expectations are through the roof, and two losses would be a disaster."
Steele likes Ohio State linebackers James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins as first-team All-Americans. In his unit rankings, which gauge the talent/strength/depth of each area on a team, OSU was rated best in the nation at linebacker, just ahead of USC, and the only Big Ten team in the top 15. Penn State, once referred to as "Linebacker U" was rated 27th at the position.
Ohio State's defensive backs were considered the second-best group in the country behind Oregon, while the Buckeyes defensive line ranked third in the nation as a unit.
Steele rated Ohio State the strongest team in the country at running back, where junior Chris "Beanie" Wells was a first team All-American pick. Wells was ranked ahead of Georgia's sensational sophomore Knowshon Moreno. Michigan State's Javon Ringer (6th) and Wisconsin's P.J. Hill (12th) were the only other Big Ten backs in the top 15.
[CENTER][url=http://javascript<b></b>:NewWindow(600,400,'/apps/pbcs.dll/misc?url=/templates/zoom.pbs&Site=TO&Date=20080618&Category=SPORTS16&ArtNo=806180409&Ref=H9');]
Wells, often mentioned as a serious Heisman Trophy candidate, is joined on that OSU backfield depth chart by speedy sophomore Brandon Saine, senior Maurice Wells (no relation), and redshirt freshman Dan "Boom" Herron, who even the stoic Tressel raves about.
Ohio State's vault full of experience and talent on the offensive line made that unit the second-highest rated in the nation. Senior Alex Boone (6-8, 312) was designated first-team All-American at tackle, while Steve Rehring, a 6-7, 335-pound senior, was selected as the fifth-best guard in the country.
Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman was ranked the seventh best in the country, behind top-rated Tim Tebow of Florida, the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner, and second-ranked Curtis Painter of Purdue. Brian Robiskie was rated No. 11 at wide receiver.
Porentas said it would be tough to make a case against any of the five Buckeyes that were first-team picks in Steele's preseason All-American group.
"It would be hard to argue with any of them, because skill-wise, they could all be in the NFL right now," he said.
"Ohio State would have been a very talented team if those guys had left and gone to the pros, but what makes it a really exceptional team is that now they have loads of talent, plus experience. You can't overstate what that's worth."
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Is Jim Tressel the country's best recruiter?
Comments
By OSUeyesFan
July 8, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Hey John if you can look at rosters and determine who is better you must be a genius. Why don’t you look at the number 1 draft picks during the tressel-carroll era? My guess is the NFL is better evaluator of talent than you.
By Joe
July 8, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
Tressel is better and that will be proven Sept. 13
By stelz
July 8, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
I would include Georgia and Alabama with Notre Dame, USC and Florida in the recruiting wars.
By stelz
July 8, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
I would include Georgia and Alabama with Notre Dame, USC and Florida in the recruiting wars.
By stelz
July 8, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
I would include Georgia and Alabama with Notre Dame, USC and Florida in the recruiting wars.
By stelz
July 8, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
I would include Georgia and Alabama with Notre Dame, USC and Florida in the recruiting wars.
By Rick
July 8, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Not only can Tressel recruit as good as any coach in America, I recently read where his team has an average GPA of 3.2 Comparisons of Tressel & Carroll can only be assessed in relative terms.
By d-town
July 8, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
For Tressel to get the recruits he gets at a cold weather school, he IS the best. Carroll and Meyer have the warm weather and honies working for them. Carroll does do a good job out of state, look at McKnight and NFL draftee Fred Davis, hes from TOLEDO!!
By Chuck
July 8, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
No…He’s the biggest crook.
By kurt
July 8, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this
Pete Carroll—-isn’t he a stunt man for Richard Gere ? Just another “pretty boy” With UCLA in the dumps,Carroll ought to clean up on the best picks ALL the time
By Bob540
July 7, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
Context, everyone. Recruiting in Florida or California should be a no-brainer. Texas is close behind. Then, Pennsylvania, Ohio and a few other big football-talent states. If Tressel coached in CA or FL, no question he’d get even better talent than he has now because of in-state advantage. Texas likely has more talent, year-in-and-year-out, but Tressel matches or exceeds. Tressel and company do an OUTSTANDING job locking down Ohio and getting top talent from across the country. He is great
By jsam
July 7, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
We will find out on Sept 13th that Jim Tressel is by far the absolute best.
By Priestman
July 7, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this
“OSU” is the best recruiter, any coach who coaches OSU gets the cream of the crop. From Woody, to Cooper to Tressel. Only problem is they can’t win the big one, with those recruits. With that said, at least they are playing for the big one, not many programs can claim that. Better to play the big game and lose then not play the big one at all.
By Rob
July 7, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
Yeah, and if Jim lived in California he would have just the same, if not more
By VegasBurk
July 7, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
Hey slurpeeman,
Not sure if you forgot, but Clarett’s stories were pretty much all shown to be lied. OSU did not get into any trouble because of Mo. Mo got into trouble himself - making excuses, taking cars and money from boosters and then the inevitable decline into booze, potentially drugs and of course, robbery.
I don’t recall Tressel getting ANY NCAA recruiting violations since he started.
By John
July 7, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
I haven’t seen where USC has been found guilty of any thing. Much the same way OSU was never found guilty over all that crap MC said
By chandler
July 7, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
Jim Tressel is hands down the best. I live in So Cal and if you check the roster for USC they are mostly home grown kids it’s not like Carrol is cleaning up around the country. He (Carrol) gets the ones he is supposed to get, Tressel gets the tough recruits.
By slurpeeman
July 7, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
Hmmm. Tressel isn’t as dirty a Carroll? He operates with “honor and integrity”?
Wonder what Maurice Clarett would say about that?
By Dan
July 7, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
Well it’s pretty easy to see that Jim Tressel is the best recruiter in College Football. Pete Carroll has violated NCAA rules and regulations several times (Reggie Bush, Matt Leighter, Etc.) Jim Tressel is the only coach in NCAA football that has kept the high standards, and honor at his school. Ohio State is known as The School to play for, compete fairly with honor and integrity and win championships.
By Kurt Amen
July 7, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
It’s pretty easy to recruit by throwing wads of cash and new cars at high school athletes
By Scott
July 7, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
The best judge of who is a better recruiter is record. It’s not about who has more guys in the NFL because that’s not a college coach’s job. It’s about winning games. Carroll is 76-14 at USC with a 5-2 Bowl record and 6 Pac-10 titles. Tress is 73-16 at OSU with a 4-3 bowl record and 4 Big 10 titles. I’d say that’s pretty darn close. And the fact that Tress can’t use the weather and climate as a draw gives him a slight edge.
By Scott
July 7, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
The best judge of who is a better recruiter is record. It’s not about who has more guys in the NFL because that’s not a college coach’s job. It’s about winning games. Carroll is 76-14 at USC with a 5-2 Bowl record and 6 Pac-10 titles. Tress is 73-16 at OSU with a 4-3 bowl record and 4 Big 10 titles. I’d say that’s pretty darn close. And the fact that Tress can’t use the weather and climate as a draw gives him a slight edge.
By Scott
July 7, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
The best judge of who is a better recruiter is record. It’s not about who has more guys in the NFL because that’s not a college coach’s job. It’s about winning games. Carroll is 76-14 at USC with a 5-2 Bowl record and 6 Pac-10 titles. Tress is 73-16 at OSU with a 4-3 bowl record and 4 Big 10 titles. I’d say that’s pretty darn close. And the fact that Tress can’t use the weather and climate as a draw gives him a slight edge.
By Bill
July 7, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
If you base it purely on high school rankings than yeah, Pete has been doing better. However, there isn’t a team in the nation with more NFlers on it than the Buckeyes right now. Tressell is dominating right now.
By Andrew
July 7, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
If you go off of who is where then yes Carroll and maybe Meyer are better, but where would you rather go to school in So Cal, Florida or in Columbus, Ohio.
I would say that Tressel is the best recruiter because he is getting kids to go to the land of frumpy sweaters during the winter instead of So Cal or somewhere warm.
By John
July 7, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
NO check out Pete Carroll and USC roster then look at OSU you will see that Pete is alot better
Comments
By OSUeyesFan
July 8, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
Hey John if you can look at rosters and determine who is better you must be a genius. Why don’t you look at the number 1 draft picks during the tressel-carroll era? My guess is the NFL is better evaluator of talent than you.
By Joe
July 8, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this
Tressel is better and that will be proven Sept. 13
By stelz
July 8, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
I would include Georgia and Alabama with Notre Dame, USC and Florida in the recruiting wars.
By stelz
July 8, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this
I would include Georgia and Alabama with Notre Dame, USC and Florida in the recruiting wars.
By stelz
July 8, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
I would include Georgia and Alabama with Notre Dame, USC and Florida in the recruiting wars.
By stelz
July 8, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this
I would include Georgia and Alabama with Notre Dame, USC and Florida in the recruiting wars.
By Rick
July 8, 2008 9:21 AM | Link to this
Not only can Tressel recruit as good as any coach in America, I recently read where his team has an average GPA of 3.2 Comparisons of Tressel & Carroll can only be assessed in relative terms.
By d-town
July 8, 2008 8:47 AM | Link to this
For Tressel to get the recruits he gets at a cold weather school, he IS the best. Carroll and Meyer have the warm weather and honies working for them. Carroll does do a good job out of state, look at McKnight and NFL draftee Fred Davis, hes from TOLEDO!!
By Chuck
July 8, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this
No…He’s the biggest crook.
By kurt
July 8, 2008 7:35 AM | Link to this
Pete Carroll—-isn’t he a stunt man for Richard Gere ? Just another “pretty boy” With UCLA in the dumps,Carroll ought to clean up on the best picks ALL the time
By Bob540
July 7, 2008 11:05 PM | Link to this
Context, everyone. Recruiting in Florida or California should be a no-brainer. Texas is close behind. Then, Pennsylvania, Ohio and a few other big football-talent states. If Tressel coached in CA or FL, no question he’d get even better talent than he has now because of in-state advantage. Texas likely has more talent, year-in-and-year-out, but Tressel matches or exceeds. Tressel and company do an OUTSTANDING job locking down Ohio and getting top talent from across the country. He is great
By jsam
July 7, 2008 8:55 PM | Link to this
We will find out on Sept 13th that Jim Tressel is by far the absolute best.
By Priestman
July 7, 2008 8:05 PM | Link to this
“OSU” is the best recruiter, any coach who coaches OSU gets the cream of the crop. From Woody, to Cooper to Tressel. Only problem is they can’t win the big one, with those recruits. With that said, at least they are playing for the big one, not many programs can claim that. Better to play the big game and lose then not play the big one at all.
By Rob
July 7, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
Yeah, and if Jim lived in California he would have just the same, if not more
By VegasBurk
July 7, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
Hey slurpeeman,
Not sure if you forgot, but Clarett’s stories were pretty much all shown to be lied. OSU did not get into any trouble because of Mo. Mo got into trouble himself - making excuses, taking cars and money from boosters and then the inevitable decline into booze, potentially drugs and of course, robbery.
I don’t recall Tressel getting ANY NCAA recruiting violations since he started.
By John
July 7, 2008 6:24 PM | Link to this
I haven’t seen where USC has been found guilty of any thing. Much the same way OSU was never found guilty over all that crap MC said
By chandler
July 7, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this
Jim Tressel is hands down the best. I live in So Cal and if you check the roster for USC they are mostly home grown kids it’s not like Carrol is cleaning up around the country. He (Carrol) gets the ones he is supposed to get, Tressel gets the tough recruits.
By slurpeeman
July 7, 2008 5:11 PM | Link to this
Hmmm. Tressel isn’t as dirty a Carroll? He operates with “honor and integrity”?
Wonder what Maurice Clarett would say about that?
By Dan
July 7, 2008 4:40 PM | Link to this
Well it’s pretty easy to see that Jim Tressel is the best recruiter in College Football. Pete Carroll has violated NCAA rules and regulations several times (Reggie Bush, Matt Leighter, Etc.) Jim Tressel is the only coach in NCAA football that has kept the high standards, and honor at his school. Ohio State is known as The School to play for, compete fairly with honor and integrity and win championships.
By Kurt Amen
July 7, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this
It’s pretty easy to recruit by throwing wads of cash and new cars at high school athletes
By Scott
July 7, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
The best judge of who is a better recruiter is record. It’s not about who has more guys in the NFL because that’s not a college coach’s job. It’s about winning games. Carroll is 76-14 at USC with a 5-2 Bowl record and 6 Pac-10 titles. Tress is 73-16 at OSU with a 4-3 bowl record and 4 Big 10 titles. I’d say that’s pretty darn close. And the fact that Tress can’t use the weather and climate as a draw gives him a slight edge.
By Scott
July 7, 2008 4:09 PM | Link to this
The best judge of who is a better recruiter is record. It’s not about who has more guys in the NFL because that’s not a college coach’s job. It’s about winning games. Carroll is 76-14 at USC with a 5-2 Bowl record and 6 Pac-10 titles. Tress is 73-16 at OSU with a 4-3 bowl record and 4 Big 10 titles. I’d say that’s pretty darn close. And the fact that Tress can’t use the weather and climate as a draw gives him a slight edge.
By Scott
July 7, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this
The best judge of who is a better recruiter is record. It’s not about who has more guys in the NFL because that’s not a college coach’s job. It’s about winning games. Carroll is 76-14 at USC with a 5-2 Bowl record and 6 Pac-10 titles. Tress is 73-16 at OSU with a 4-3 bowl record and 4 Big 10 titles. I’d say that’s pretty darn close. And the fact that Tress can’t use the weather and climate as a draw gives him a slight edge.
By Bill
July 7, 2008 3:51 PM | Link to this
If you base it purely on high school rankings than yeah, Pete has been doing better. However, there isn’t a team in the nation with more NFlers on it than the Buckeyes right now. Tressell is dominating right now.
By Andrew
July 7, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this
If you go off of who is where then yes Carroll and maybe Meyer are better, but where would you rather go to school in So Cal, Florida or in Columbus, Ohio.
I would say that Tressel is the best recruiter because he is getting kids to go to the land of frumpy sweaters during the winter instead of So Cal or somewhere warm.
By John
July 7, 2008 3:42 PM | Link to this
NO check out Pete Carroll and USC roster then look at OSU you will see that Pete is alot better
a.k.a. GSXR 750
The Ohio State Buckeyes could very well be headed to the program’s third consecutive appearance in the BCS Championship Game.
They are loaded.
And that fact is reflected in NBCSports.com’s preseason college football All-American team.
Five Buckeyes - running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, offensive tackle Alex Boone, middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, outside linebacker Marcus Freeman and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins – are on the first-team unit.
Undoubtedly, in an era that has featured multiple Big Ten titles and domination of heated rival Michigan, there is something missing for Ohio State. In the biggest game, they have been shooting blanks. But also undoubtedly, Ohio State has the firepower to reach Miami’s Dolphin Stadium and get another crack at No. 1.
They are loaded.
And that fact is reflected in NBCSports.com’s preseason college football All-American team.
Five Buckeyes - running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, offensive tackle Alex Boone, middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, outside linebacker Marcus Freeman and cornerback Malcolm Jenkins – are on the first-team unit.
Undoubtedly, in an era that has featured multiple Big Ten titles and domination of heated rival Michigan, there is something missing for Ohio State. In the biggest game, they have been shooting blanks. But also undoubtedly, Ohio State has the firepower to reach Miami’s Dolphin Stadium and get another crack at No. 1.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
-
horsemen_
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1488
- Joined: Thu Mar 21, 2002 3:30 pm
- Location: Edwards Air force base Ca
Gixxer if you want to be a true die hard fan i found a few items you can add to you ohio st room lol
linkto buy
or 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes "National Champions" 10K Ring!
link to buy
old school 1984 Ohio State Buckeyes "Big Ten / Rose Bowl" Champions 10K Gold and Diamond Football Ring
linkto buy its real cheap Price: $2,795.00
linkto buy
or 2002 Ohio State Buckeyes "National Champions" 10K Ring!
link to buy
old school 1984 Ohio State Buckeyes "Big Ten / Rose Bowl" Champions 10K Gold and Diamond Football Ring
linkto buy its real cheap Price: $2,795.00
jasonb31 wrote:I see it the other way because the people try harder in college unlike their highly paid elders who cry when they get a bruise and then want to re-negotiate their contract.
right on. in college they are playing to set the tone for the rest of their life. in pros, they already have the contract.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
College football
2008 magazine preseason predictions (defending champion in parenthesis)
Athlon Lindy Phil Steele Sporting News
ACC Atlantic (BC) Clemson Clemson Clemson Clemson
ACC Coastal (Va. Tech) Va. Tech* Va. Tech* Va. Tech* Va. Tech*
Big East (WVU) W. Virginia* W. Virginia* W. Virginia* W. Virginia*
Big Ten (Ohio St.) Ohio St. Ohio St. Ohio St. Ohio St.
Big 12 North (Missouri) Missouri Missouri Missouri Missouri
Big 12 South (Oklahoma) Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma* Oklahoma
C-USA East (UCF) E. Carolina Memphis E. Carolina UCF
C-USA West (Tulsa) Tulsa* Tulsa Tulsa Tulsa
MAC East (Miami) Miami Miami BGreen Miami*
MAC West (C. Michigan) C. Mich* C. Mich* C. Mich Ball St.
Mtn West (BYU) BYU BYU Utah BYU
Pac-10 (USC) USC* USC* USC* USC*
SEC East (Tennessee) Florida Georgia* Florida Georgia
SEC West (LSU) Auburn* LSU* Auburn* LSU*
Sun Belt (Fla. Atlantic) Fla. Atlantic Fla. Atlantic Fla. Atlantic Fla. Atlantic
WAC (Hawaii) Fresno St.* Fresno St.* Boise St.* Fresno St.
No. 1 (LSU) Florida Georgia Florida Georgia
*2007 prediction correct
2008 magazine preseason predictions (defending champion in parenthesis)
Athlon Lindy Phil Steele Sporting News
ACC Atlantic (BC) Clemson Clemson Clemson Clemson
ACC Coastal (Va. Tech) Va. Tech* Va. Tech* Va. Tech* Va. Tech*
Big East (WVU) W. Virginia* W. Virginia* W. Virginia* W. Virginia*
Big Ten (Ohio St.) Ohio St. Ohio St. Ohio St. Ohio St.
Big 12 North (Missouri) Missouri Missouri Missouri Missouri
Big 12 South (Oklahoma) Oklahoma Oklahoma Oklahoma* Oklahoma
C-USA East (UCF) E. Carolina Memphis E. Carolina UCF
C-USA West (Tulsa) Tulsa* Tulsa Tulsa Tulsa
MAC East (Miami) Miami Miami BGreen Miami*
MAC West (C. Michigan) C. Mich* C. Mich* C. Mich Ball St.
Mtn West (BYU) BYU BYU Utah BYU
Pac-10 (USC) USC* USC* USC* USC*
SEC East (Tennessee) Florida Georgia* Florida Georgia
SEC West (LSU) Auburn* LSU* Auburn* LSU*
Sun Belt (Fla. Atlantic) Fla. Atlantic Fla. Atlantic Fla. Atlantic Fla. Atlantic
WAC (Hawaii) Fresno St.* Fresno St.* Boise St.* Fresno St.
No. 1 (LSU) Florida Georgia Florida Georgia
*2007 prediction correct
a.k.a. GSXR 750
DE Lawrence Wilson, 6-4, 274, Jr., Ohio State. Scout's take: "Saw him a couple of times as a freshman, then saw him in the spring before last fall, before he got hurt in the first game of the season. Still have my notes: 'Wilson better than Gholston?' The complete package. He can stop the run, and his size and wingspan -- he's 280 pounds, for goodness sake -- are impossible for those poor (offensive) tackles."
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Glenville pass rusher joins OSU's 2009 class
Staff Report
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
COLUMBUS — Defensive end Jonathan Newsome, a senior-to-be from Cleveland Glenville High School, accepted a scholarship from Ohio State on Tuesday, June 24, becoming the 23rd member of the team's 2009 recruiting class.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Newsome had 13 sacks as a junior last season and is rated as the ninth-best prospect in Ohio. He had offers from Illinois, Michigan State and Louisville.
"He'll play a combination defensive end-outside linebacker at Ohio State," said Bill Kurelic, recruiting analyst for Bucknuts.com. "He's an outstanding pass rusher."
Staff Report
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
COLUMBUS — Defensive end Jonathan Newsome, a senior-to-be from Cleveland Glenville High School, accepted a scholarship from Ohio State on Tuesday, June 24, becoming the 23rd member of the team's 2009 recruiting class.
The 6-foot-3, 230-pound Newsome had 13 sacks as a junior last season and is rated as the ninth-best prospect in Ohio. He had offers from Illinois, Michigan State and Louisville.
"He'll play a combination defensive end-outside linebacker at Ohio State," said Bill Kurelic, recruiting analyst for Bucknuts.com. "He's an outstanding pass rusher."
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Ohio State adds four more standouts to 2009 recruiting class
COMMENT: What do you think of the OSU recruiting class?
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has landed four more coveted players in the 2009 recruiting class — including two top-100 national prospects — giving the program 22 verbal commitments among seniors-to-be.
Bolstering an already loaded class, cornerback Justin Green of Louisville, Ky., and fullback Carlos Hyde of Naples, Fla., committed Sunday, while cornerbacks Corey Brown of Monroeville, Pa., and Bradley McDougald of Dublin, Ohio, came on board Monday.
"Right now, it's the No. 1 class in the country and I don't see it falling out of the top five," said Bucknuts.com recruiting analyst Duane Long.
Green (5-11, 178), a state sprint champion, is the sixth-ranked cornerback nationally and 67th-best player overall, according to Rivals.com. He also played wide receiver and running back and racked up 2,000 all-purpose yards.
His brother, Marcus Green, was a standout defensive tackle for the Buckeyes and still lives in Columbus.
Hyde (6-1, 240) is the second-ranked fullback in the nation but is more than just a blocking back, having rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last season. He turned down offers from Florida, Florida State and Miami.
Brown (6-1, 180) is rated as the fifth-best "athlete" nationally and is the 73rd-ranked player overall. He had offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Pitt.
McDougald (6-1, 181) stars at Dublin Scioto High School and had offers from Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.
OSU has gotten a surge in early commitments. That's been attributed to recruits fearing there would be no scholarships available should they wait.
The Buckeyes are still in the running for other top prospects and could sign as many as 28 under a new Big Ten rule, but they'd have to get down to the NCAA maximum of 25 before the start of fall practice in 2009.
If they go over the limit, they'd have to juggle their numbers by having some players grayshirt (delay their enrollment by a year) or hope some graduate early from high school and enter OSU in time to be counted in the 2008 class.
"It's a lovely problem to have," Long said, "and I imagine the (OSU) coaches feel pretty confident in what these players are going to do to continue to be recruiting as hard as they are."
Henton makes transfer official
Quarterback Antonio Henton transferred from OSU and enrolled in classes at Georgia Southern on Monday. He'll have three years of eligibility left.
The Eagles, who are coming off a 7-4 season, play in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) and are looking for a starting QB after the departure of Jayson Foster, who won the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in that division as a senior last season.
COMMENT: What do you think of the OSU recruiting class?
By Doug Harris
Staff Writer
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has landed four more coveted players in the 2009 recruiting class — including two top-100 national prospects — giving the program 22 verbal commitments among seniors-to-be.
Bolstering an already loaded class, cornerback Justin Green of Louisville, Ky., and fullback Carlos Hyde of Naples, Fla., committed Sunday, while cornerbacks Corey Brown of Monroeville, Pa., and Bradley McDougald of Dublin, Ohio, came on board Monday.
"Right now, it's the No. 1 class in the country and I don't see it falling out of the top five," said Bucknuts.com recruiting analyst Duane Long.
Green (5-11, 178), a state sprint champion, is the sixth-ranked cornerback nationally and 67th-best player overall, according to Rivals.com. He also played wide receiver and running back and racked up 2,000 all-purpose yards.
His brother, Marcus Green, was a standout defensive tackle for the Buckeyes and still lives in Columbus.
Hyde (6-1, 240) is the second-ranked fullback in the nation but is more than just a blocking back, having rushed for nearly 1,000 yards last season. He turned down offers from Florida, Florida State and Miami.
Brown (6-1, 180) is rated as the fifth-best "athlete" nationally and is the 73rd-ranked player overall. He had offers from Michigan, Notre Dame, Penn State and Pitt.
McDougald (6-1, 181) stars at Dublin Scioto High School and had offers from Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa.
OSU has gotten a surge in early commitments. That's been attributed to recruits fearing there would be no scholarships available should they wait.
The Buckeyes are still in the running for other top prospects and could sign as many as 28 under a new Big Ten rule, but they'd have to get down to the NCAA maximum of 25 before the start of fall practice in 2009.
If they go over the limit, they'd have to juggle their numbers by having some players grayshirt (delay their enrollment by a year) or hope some graduate early from high school and enter OSU in time to be counted in the 2008 class.
"It's a lovely problem to have," Long said, "and I imagine the (OSU) coaches feel pretty confident in what these players are going to do to continue to be recruiting as hard as they are."
Henton makes transfer official
Quarterback Antonio Henton transferred from OSU and enrolled in classes at Georgia Southern on Monday. He'll have three years of eligibility left.
The Eagles, who are coming off a 7-4 season, play in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) and are looking for a starting QB after the departure of Jayson Foster, who won the Walter Payton Award as the best offensive player in that division as a senior last season.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
2008 Ohio State Buckeyes Preview
It would be easy for any coach in the country to be jealous of Ohio State’s ever-composed Jim Tressel, who has top-notch facilities, a rabid fan base, a supportive administration and a world of marketable tradition at his disposal. Tressel also may have his best team, top to bottom, in his eighth year as OSU head coach, with scads of returning talent on both sides of the ball.
However, he also enters this fall still trying to lick the program’s wounds of consecutive losses in the national championship game at the hands of Florida and LSU. The knock now is that the Buckeyes still aren’t dynamic enough to beat a stellar SEC team and that their conference, the Big Ten, doesn’t prepare them for bowl season.
“I think if you look at our conference top to bottom, we fared very well,” Tressel says. “I have to admit I don’t root for Michigan a whole bunch, but I was very happy when they won the Capital One Bowl there against Florida and kind of quieted things, at least for three hours.”
While the outside world remains skeptical that Ohio State can get over the hump, the players admit they are still attempting to block out the criticism.
“We’re trying to move on and put stuff like that behind us,” linebacker Marcus Freeman says. “These past two years are something we’ll never forget, but to move on and be there again at the end, you’ve got to put it behind you.”
And make no mistake — the Buckeyes can get there. Once again, Ohio State appears to be the class of its league, and 18 starters, plus every key specialist from a year ago, return, hungrier than ever.
Quarterbacks
This is going to be interesting. Sixth-year senior Todd Boeckman put together an All-Big Ten season in his first year as a starter in 2007 and has everything needed to be successful in his return engagement. He is especially adept at connecting on the deep ball and is an underappreciated athlete for someone with a 6'4", 244-pound frame. However, Boeckman is a natural risk-taker in the pocket who prefers to burn defenses with the big play. Along with his 25 touchdowns, he threw 14 interceptions, some of them coming at inopportune times. Plus, the coaches would like to offer foes a change-up and seem to have an ideal one in the form of true freshman Terrelle Pryor, a supreme athlete with mind-boggling mobility and a cannon for a right arm. Pryor could impact the position the way Tim Tebow did at Florida as a freshman. Then again, he could find himself in a third-string role behind Antonio Henton, the listed backup coming out of the spring and dual threat in his own right.
Running backs
When an Ohio State tailback returns from an All-Big Ten season, he usually becomes a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate. That certainly is the case with Beanie Wells, who rambled for 1,609 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore last season and was voted team MVP. Those who doubt Wells’ breakaway speed might want to pop in a tape of the BCS National Championship Game, when the 237-pounder left the vaunted LSU secondary in his wake on a 65-yard scoring burst on the first possession of the contest. If he performs like he did in the last six games of last season (967 yards, 6.2 per carry, 9 TDs), hardware surely will follow, and Eddie George’s single-season school record of 1,927 rushing yards could be in jeopardy. There is solid depth at the position with versatile senior Maurice Wells, speedy sophomore Brandon Saine and hard-nosed redshirt freshman Daniel “Boom” Herron all at the ready. Fullback is an entirely different story with the loss of three seniors. So far, no answers have emerged, which could result in more split-back and three-receiver formations.
Receivers
The wideouts are led by the steady tandem known simply as the Brians — Robiskie and Hartline. Robiskie played all season with a torn meniscus in his knee and still turned into a star with 55 catches for 935 yards, 11 scores and several highlight-reel plays. Hartline is sneaky-fast and possesses soft hands. He had 52 catches last season and proved he could take punishment over the middle of the field and hang on to the pigskin. Finding a third receiver who can earn the trust of the coaches and quarterbacks will be key. Look for Dane Sanzenbacher to emerge. At tight end, Rory Nicol and Jake Ballard will be almost interchangeable.
Offensive linemen
The left side is large, meaty and experienced with tackle Alex Boone and guard Steve Rehring back to move people in the trenches. Also, Jim Cordle returns at center, and Ben Person is back at right guard. Both made notable strides last season. Right tackle is the only other unsettled spot in the offense besides fullback, but youngster Bryant Browning took a large step to secure Kirk Barton’s old spot with a productive spring. The reserves up front are young and largely unproven. Ideally, the first unit will remain healthy and allow more time for development behind it.
Defensive linemen
There’s no doubt that the Buckeyes will miss stud defensive end Vernon Gholston and his 14 sacks, but several key linemen with disruptive qualities are back. Last year’s most pleasant surprise, the bullish Cameron Heyward, returns to one end spot and is expected to start on the side opposite the player he replaced last season, Lawrence Wilson. A broken leg in the opener sidelined Wilson, but he has made a full recovery and figures to be Ohio State’s best pure pass rusher this season. Inside, co-defensive coordinator Jim Heacock has the luxury of being able to rotate four players with nearly equal assets in Nader Abdallah, Todd Denlinger, Dexter Larimore and Doug Worthington.
Linebackers
There may not be a better 1-2 punch in the nation than James Laurinaitis and Freeman, swift and cunning defenders who have combined for 429 tackles, 29.5 for a loss. Laurinaitis is the headline act after winning the Butkus Award and then, stunningly, deciding to return for his senior season. “He’s got the intangibles, and that’s the most important thing,” co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell says. “He knows what he’s got to do, and if he continues to improve like he has, who knows what kind of things he can accomplish this year.” Blessed with great lateral speed and pursuit, Freeman is a perfect fit at weak-side linebacker. On the strong side, the Buckeyes likely will employ a shared approach with Curtis Terry and Ross Homan filling in for the departed Larry Grant. Up-and-coming Tyler Moeller also could fit into the picture.
Defensive backs
This is yet another area of strength. Ohio State has a wealthy stock of talent in the secondary beginning with Thorpe Award frontrunner Malcolm Jenkins, who has the makeup to be the top cover corner in the country. Jenkins also excelled at safety in nickel packages. Donald Washington is back at field corner, where he played admirably last season. Safeties Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell could not come up with an interception last season but were solid in coverage and willing tacklers, especially near the line of scrimmage. Chimdi Chekwa, who doubles as a track standout, is the most likely candidate at nickel back. He, too, is sticky in man-to-man situations.
Specialists
Ryan Pretorius and A.J. Trapasso are standouts at placekicker and punter, respectively. Aaron Pettrey is recovered from a hip injury and will be called upon to boom kickoffs and push Pretorius, a 29-year-old South African native, on placements. The Buckeyes were dismal on kickoff returns last year and also were leaky at times at covering kickoffs. Saine and Herron could provide a boost on kickoff returns, while Hartline and Robiskie bring steady hands to punt returns.
Two Minute DrillA Quick Look at the BuckeyesWhen the Buckeyes take on mighty USC on the road in prime time on Sept. 13, they’ll probably realize much of the country will be rooting for them to be eliminated from the national championship picture. So it goes for a program that lost some luster after consecutive losses in the title game. If Ohio State manages to escape Los Angeles with a win, watch out. The Buckeyes have lost only two Big Ten games in the last three seasons, and it doesn’t appear archrival Michigan is ready to challenge that supremacy just yet. However, another night test at Wisconsin on Oct. 4 looms. On paper, OSU looks like the most loaded team in the country with 18 returning starters, star power on both sides of the ball and a solid kicking game to boot. Key personnel is in place for a defense that held foes to 82.9 yards per game on the ground, a paltry 2.5 yards per rush and a third-down conversion percentage of 33.3. With James Laurinaitis at the epicenter of that defensive storm, Ohio State figures to be in every contest. Still, it would help the cause greatly if the Buckeyes could produce more takeaways. Also, it’s time for the offense to find a higher gear with running back Beanie Wells now able to dominate on the ground, a dangerous passing game and a battle-tested offensive line.
It would be easy for any coach in the country to be jealous of Ohio State’s ever-composed Jim Tressel, who has top-notch facilities, a rabid fan base, a supportive administration and a world of marketable tradition at his disposal. Tressel also may have his best team, top to bottom, in his eighth year as OSU head coach, with scads of returning talent on both sides of the ball.
However, he also enters this fall still trying to lick the program’s wounds of consecutive losses in the national championship game at the hands of Florida and LSU. The knock now is that the Buckeyes still aren’t dynamic enough to beat a stellar SEC team and that their conference, the Big Ten, doesn’t prepare them for bowl season.
“I think if you look at our conference top to bottom, we fared very well,” Tressel says. “I have to admit I don’t root for Michigan a whole bunch, but I was very happy when they won the Capital One Bowl there against Florida and kind of quieted things, at least for three hours.”
While the outside world remains skeptical that Ohio State can get over the hump, the players admit they are still attempting to block out the criticism.
“We’re trying to move on and put stuff like that behind us,” linebacker Marcus Freeman says. “These past two years are something we’ll never forget, but to move on and be there again at the end, you’ve got to put it behind you.”
And make no mistake — the Buckeyes can get there. Once again, Ohio State appears to be the class of its league, and 18 starters, plus every key specialist from a year ago, return, hungrier than ever.
Quarterbacks
This is going to be interesting. Sixth-year senior Todd Boeckman put together an All-Big Ten season in his first year as a starter in 2007 and has everything needed to be successful in his return engagement. He is especially adept at connecting on the deep ball and is an underappreciated athlete for someone with a 6'4", 244-pound frame. However, Boeckman is a natural risk-taker in the pocket who prefers to burn defenses with the big play. Along with his 25 touchdowns, he threw 14 interceptions, some of them coming at inopportune times. Plus, the coaches would like to offer foes a change-up and seem to have an ideal one in the form of true freshman Terrelle Pryor, a supreme athlete with mind-boggling mobility and a cannon for a right arm. Pryor could impact the position the way Tim Tebow did at Florida as a freshman. Then again, he could find himself in a third-string role behind Antonio Henton, the listed backup coming out of the spring and dual threat in his own right.
Running backs
When an Ohio State tailback returns from an All-Big Ten season, he usually becomes a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate. That certainly is the case with Beanie Wells, who rambled for 1,609 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore last season and was voted team MVP. Those who doubt Wells’ breakaway speed might want to pop in a tape of the BCS National Championship Game, when the 237-pounder left the vaunted LSU secondary in his wake on a 65-yard scoring burst on the first possession of the contest. If he performs like he did in the last six games of last season (967 yards, 6.2 per carry, 9 TDs), hardware surely will follow, and Eddie George’s single-season school record of 1,927 rushing yards could be in jeopardy. There is solid depth at the position with versatile senior Maurice Wells, speedy sophomore Brandon Saine and hard-nosed redshirt freshman Daniel “Boom” Herron all at the ready. Fullback is an entirely different story with the loss of three seniors. So far, no answers have emerged, which could result in more split-back and three-receiver formations.
Receivers
The wideouts are led by the steady tandem known simply as the Brians — Robiskie and Hartline. Robiskie played all season with a torn meniscus in his knee and still turned into a star with 55 catches for 935 yards, 11 scores and several highlight-reel plays. Hartline is sneaky-fast and possesses soft hands. He had 52 catches last season and proved he could take punishment over the middle of the field and hang on to the pigskin. Finding a third receiver who can earn the trust of the coaches and quarterbacks will be key. Look for Dane Sanzenbacher to emerge. At tight end, Rory Nicol and Jake Ballard will be almost interchangeable.
Offensive linemen
The left side is large, meaty and experienced with tackle Alex Boone and guard Steve Rehring back to move people in the trenches. Also, Jim Cordle returns at center, and Ben Person is back at right guard. Both made notable strides last season. Right tackle is the only other unsettled spot in the offense besides fullback, but youngster Bryant Browning took a large step to secure Kirk Barton’s old spot with a productive spring. The reserves up front are young and largely unproven. Ideally, the first unit will remain healthy and allow more time for development behind it.
Defensive linemen
There’s no doubt that the Buckeyes will miss stud defensive end Vernon Gholston and his 14 sacks, but several key linemen with disruptive qualities are back. Last year’s most pleasant surprise, the bullish Cameron Heyward, returns to one end spot and is expected to start on the side opposite the player he replaced last season, Lawrence Wilson. A broken leg in the opener sidelined Wilson, but he has made a full recovery and figures to be Ohio State’s best pure pass rusher this season. Inside, co-defensive coordinator Jim Heacock has the luxury of being able to rotate four players with nearly equal assets in Nader Abdallah, Todd Denlinger, Dexter Larimore and Doug Worthington.
Linebackers
There may not be a better 1-2 punch in the nation than James Laurinaitis and Freeman, swift and cunning defenders who have combined for 429 tackles, 29.5 for a loss. Laurinaitis is the headline act after winning the Butkus Award and then, stunningly, deciding to return for his senior season. “He’s got the intangibles, and that’s the most important thing,” co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Luke Fickell says. “He knows what he’s got to do, and if he continues to improve like he has, who knows what kind of things he can accomplish this year.” Blessed with great lateral speed and pursuit, Freeman is a perfect fit at weak-side linebacker. On the strong side, the Buckeyes likely will employ a shared approach with Curtis Terry and Ross Homan filling in for the departed Larry Grant. Up-and-coming Tyler Moeller also could fit into the picture.
Defensive backs
This is yet another area of strength. Ohio State has a wealthy stock of talent in the secondary beginning with Thorpe Award frontrunner Malcolm Jenkins, who has the makeup to be the top cover corner in the country. Jenkins also excelled at safety in nickel packages. Donald Washington is back at field corner, where he played admirably last season. Safeties Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell could not come up with an interception last season but were solid in coverage and willing tacklers, especially near the line of scrimmage. Chimdi Chekwa, who doubles as a track standout, is the most likely candidate at nickel back. He, too, is sticky in man-to-man situations.
Specialists
Ryan Pretorius and A.J. Trapasso are standouts at placekicker and punter, respectively. Aaron Pettrey is recovered from a hip injury and will be called upon to boom kickoffs and push Pretorius, a 29-year-old South African native, on placements. The Buckeyes were dismal on kickoff returns last year and also were leaky at times at covering kickoffs. Saine and Herron could provide a boost on kickoff returns, while Hartline and Robiskie bring steady hands to punt returns.
Two Minute DrillA Quick Look at the BuckeyesWhen the Buckeyes take on mighty USC on the road in prime time on Sept. 13, they’ll probably realize much of the country will be rooting for them to be eliminated from the national championship picture. So it goes for a program that lost some luster after consecutive losses in the title game. If Ohio State manages to escape Los Angeles with a win, watch out. The Buckeyes have lost only two Big Ten games in the last three seasons, and it doesn’t appear archrival Michigan is ready to challenge that supremacy just yet. However, another night test at Wisconsin on Oct. 4 looms. On paper, OSU looks like the most loaded team in the country with 18 returning starters, star power on both sides of the ball and a solid kicking game to boot. Key personnel is in place for a defense that held foes to 82.9 yards per game on the ground, a paltry 2.5 yards per rush and a third-down conversion percentage of 33.3. With James Laurinaitis at the epicenter of that defensive storm, Ohio State figures to be in every contest. Still, it would help the cause greatly if the Buckeyes could produce more takeaways. Also, it’s time for the offense to find a higher gear with running back Beanie Wells now able to dominate on the ground, a dangerous passing game and a battle-tested offensive line.
a.k.a. GSXR 750
Ohio State was chosen by the media as the favor...
Published on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008
Ohio State was chosen by the media as the favorite to win the Big Ten Conference football title. The conference releases only the top three teams in its preseason poll. The Buckeyes were followed by Wisconsin and Illinois.
OSU running back Chris Wells was named preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and teammate James Laurinaitis, a senior All-American linebacker, was named preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
Published on Saturday, Jul 26, 2008
Ohio State was chosen by the media as the favorite to win the Big Ten Conference football title. The conference releases only the top three teams in its preseason poll. The Buckeyes were followed by Wisconsin and Illinois.
OSU running back Chris Wells was named preseason Offensive Player of the Year, and teammate James Laurinaitis, a senior All-American linebacker, was named preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
a.k.a. GSXR 750