Mark May tried to watch the Buckeye offense SaturdayThe depth chart is out for the Michigan State game and though there's significant difference from last week, I'm not sure how much of that will come into play. (Quick aside -- does anyone know what the bold and caps signify on the official depth chart? Dan Brown even gave up trying to figure it out.)
The offensive line sees Cordle and Person flipping sides, Cordle at right guard next to Browning and Person at left guard next to Boone. Rehring is still listed as Person's backup, and he moves with him from right guard to left, but based on what we saw against Purdue, Rehring could figure to see snaps at either guard spot or right tackle again. It's clear that the staff is trying to shake some things up, but with both Adams and Shugarts injured, their options are somewhat limited. At this point in time, I'd settle for seeing Kerr, Moses, Smith and Blankenship getting shots. Anything to get something going.
Nicol is back listed at tight end behind Ballard, but we'll probably find out more at Tressel's presser tomorrow about how ready he is to see the field again this week. Same with Boom. He's back in the #2 spot at running back after recovering from a concussion at Wisconsin.
Sanzenbacher is in as the 3rd wide receiver behind Hartline and Small, while Posey is listed as Robiskie's backup. Before getting hurt, Dane was listed as the #2 behind Robo and if previous games are any indication, that's the 3rd wide receiver on to the field in this offense, so we may be seeing Posey passing Sanzenbacher up in the pecking order.
Some of us wondered if there would be a change at kicker, but Pretorius is still listed ahead of Pettrey. I want to give the staff the benefit of the doubt on this one, but considering Thaddeus Gibson's long wait to play and the damage he has done since entering the lineup, I'm not so convinced they're on top of their game right now in regards to talent evaluation.
Cursed Lawrence Wilson was scheduled to have an MRI on Monday and his status will probably be clarified in the press conference, but the early word is that he tore his ACL. I can't even begin to express how sad I am for Wilson -- a good player that by all accounts works hard and does all of the things he's supposed to, he can't catch a break on the field. For now, he's still penciled-in as a starter at end, but assuming the ACL rumor is true, Rose would probably get the start in his place with a healthy dose of Curtis Terry and Nathan Williams providing depth. Or do you move Heyward back over?
Finally, Flash Thomas makes his first-ever appearance on an official depth chart as the 3rd man on kickoff returns. He wasn't listed at all last week, but it was Thomas and Rasta that were back for each of the two Purdue kickoffs Saturday. I liked the 36-yarder he had to start the game. I also like the fact that he's got the best young swag since Henton declared that he'd be the next Heisman winner at Ohio State.
ESPN's Bruce Feldman lists the Gophers' defense as the 2nd biggest turnaround of the 2008 season so far (behind Colt McCoy). Minnesota fans have to be ecstatic with their 6-1 start and the Buckeye win of a few weeks ago looks better and better with each passing week. Interesting how he mentioned Minnesota employed some 3-4 to slow down Juice and the Illini last weekend. Wonder if the Ohio State staff will pick up on that -- it could be killer in certain situations with the depth at linebacker in Columbus. Just imagine Laurinaitis, Homan, Freeman and Sabino lining up...
Comments
lawrence wilson.........sigh.
I read I think a comment somewhere on here that they tried to implement the 3-4 in last year's Illinois game and that's why we lost. I don't remember the game too much or if that's actually true, but I don't know if our LBs are athletic enough for the 3-4.
And I wish i could vote for "All of the above" in the poll.
There will be no 3-4, our coaching staff doesn't know how to use it. And as poorly as we play the 4-3, which they supposedly know, I don't know if that is the answer.
Anyone else done with Hartline?
done with hartline? you bet your ass I am
You need a big fat guy to play nosetackle in a 3-4 which we don't have. Except for Rehring, but I bet he would suck there too. More Passes to the tight end. I believe we did a good job on the defensive side of the ball. However the play calling and blocking, WTF?
Hartline should be out. Ben Person is an all-time momentum killer and when he is not false starting he is just getting his butt kicked or holding. Rehring is so immobile that birds often land on him during the game. I'm for playing all of the youth and speed standing on the sidelines. Our defensive strength is our secondary, so load up in the box and play man coverage. Act like a D1 program for a change!
Man, I just love how you guys are so quick to hate on guys that have given years of their lives to help this team. You'd think Rehring never made a block to hear you guys talk.
Dan ISaacs just tell me if you think #71 is in shape. He isn't even in lineman shape.
If it isn't the o-line that is slowing us down then what is it. Play calling? Cause it isn't a lack of skill.
Fine, maybe he isn't, but is that his fault, really? He's been hurt. He doesn't get to choose when he plays, the coaches do. He looked in camp to be int he best shape of his life. Not that I, at 5'8" and 160 lbs have any idea what it takes for someone 6'6" and 320 pounds to be in shape.
Rehring is in the program at 345, but he has to be pushing 370.
At least he's pushing something....
Mark May likes numerous bong hits...
You know, I love my Buckeyes and I will defend them at any cost. But I will say, it has been a pain to watch them this year. We have the talent, we just don't have the strategy in place to be successful. I read all comments that everyone posts here and many of us are on the same page. We can see as spectators and fans the things that could be done different, but we don't have the power to implement them.
This has been a tough year and It's nowhere near over!
No No No were you people born after 2001 or something, this is not a tough year. If you believe that, you have to ask yourself: "Self, have you lost all perspective?" We are 6-1, still well in control of our destiny for a 4th straight Big 10 title and 3rd consecutive outright Big 10 title (never done before, if you've forgotten), and with a slim outside chance at backing into the title game.
Are the Buckeyes allowed to ever lose a game? Are they allowed to ever stall on offense, maybe not drop 50 on their opponent? When did so many of us become like irrational Alabama fans, demanding a MNC each year? Yes, Tressel could be doing a better job; yes, we thought this was going to be a juggernaut team; yes, there have been some disappointments.
But this is not a "tough year."
THIS is a tough year:
http://www.waitingfornextyear....
Thanx Matt:
Perspective is hard, but necessary. I have been a Buckeye fan since I moved to columbus in 1979 (30 years)... The first couple of years under Cooper were tough years, the 10 Losses to Michigan (and 10 bowl losses) were tough years.
Since when is it bad to win... sure it is rough to watch and we are all scratching our heads, but bottom line is Tress is winning close to 80% of his games. Think about that: 8 out of 10 times Tress takes the field with the Buckeyes, they win!! It sucks to lose big games, but winning is good too and please apprecitate it while it lasts!
I don't have a problem losing a game, but after being "blowed out" 3 times in less than 2 years and not making any philosophical changes to the game plan on either side of the ball, there is a problem. The winning at this pace will not continue until or unless changes are made.
And BUCKEYENTEXAS, Ben Person is just auditioning for a job with the Browns.
We're spoiled Matt. The Tressel era has been a great one full of memorable victories, but now we're struggling to beat the Ohios and Troys of the world. PSU just embarrassed Wisconsin, the same Wisconsin that we stole a game by 3 points from just a week earlier. That's perspective for you.
You can't say this is not a tough year, comparing it to Michigan. With no due respect, we are not TTUN. We have a top 5 coach who has established his ideologies well into the program for 7 years... not some coach trying to inject a whole new look into a big tradition program. We have a roster filled with talent--scratch that, filled with experience--not a roster filled with a bunch of freshmen who have never seen snaps at the college level. To see seniors get progressively worse, following what was supposed to be a rebuilding year in 07? Michigan was supposed to get worse, we were supposed to get better.
I'm not asking for an MNC. In fact I would hate if that were the case. We are not that good. But I'm not about to settle for mediocrity. How can anyone be satisfied with the state of the team when there are such glaring problems?
I think you can say it has been a tough couple of years without being called ridiculous. my question would be whether some of you been watching over the last few years? You act as though the program has not regressed noticeably.
I think some of you confuse being disappointed with the play this year with wanting to lose bowl games or something; I have no idea what sorta logic it takes to jump from being disappointed with again being humiliated on national TV, out of the NC picture at 6-1 even though every other team with 1 loss is still in it, having one of the worst offenses in the Big ten, with "I want to go back to Cooper"
Seriously, you people actually think this is a glory time or something. Are you blind? we cannot compete with the top ten or 15 programs in the country, period. That is a great time in Buckeye history??
I agree that this is not a bad year and there are important goals left that can be achieved. I also agree that there have been tougher years, but there has not been a tougher period than this as far as national aspirations. Oh I remember the late 80's early 90's, but those teams didn't seem this far behind the rest of college football .... you guys really remember being this far behind the best 10-15 programs in the country?
It's fun and nice to bask in the 'glory' of tight wins over vastly inferior teams but when it comes to playing with the big boys, reality has to set in. We can't hang, and we have a ways to go before we can be considered one of the elite again.
When you have 20 returning starters and at least three projected first-round NFL picks, expectations should be high, and nobody should be apologizing for the poor play of this team. The only people who get a little slack are Brewster and Pryor because they are freshman being asked to step in for lackluster upperclassmen.
This isn't are "rebuilding" year. This is supposed to be a year in which this team is a top five team. Anybody honestly think they are playing like a top five team?
Jeesh fellas...
Keep a little faith, you act like we have Tommy Bowden as a (former) head coach and the team is 2-4. I am pretty sure we had a lot of ugly wins in 2001 and nobody complained too much about how that season turned out. We still have a lot to play for and we are most definitely going trough a rebuilding process during the season and that is never easy. I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of this season turns out. GO BUCKS!
I hear what you are saying Matt and I am sorry, it has been a tough few years now that I think about it. Travel back to the Florida game. Ginn returned a kick for a touchdown, got hurt and then hell broke loose. Coaches were scratching their heads wondering "we were going to do a 5 WR set but with Ginn out, we can't now" we did not adapt to the situation and we were embarassed. LSU, Beanie rushed for over 100 yards against an SEC team even when they stacked 8 in the box, we didn't adapt to what LSU was doing and lost. Now, this year we have talent but the game plan isn't helping these guys. It's time to change some things up on offense and defense. Let's beat teams that don't belong on the field with us by 50 so we can build not only respect from other teams but confidence within our players.
As a player, if you struggle against an OU and a Purdue, you start to doubt yourself and your teammates and then you have a bigger problem on your hands.
i have to say, not scoring an offensive touchdown means its at least in the ballpark of a tough year. just bc the losses haven't piled up yet...doesn't mean they aren't waiting. the only solid team we have played so far is USC, which was ummm, not good.
keep your head in the sand though. its a good place to suffocate...
Anybody honestly think they are playing like a top 25 team? Saturday is a road game versus a team in the top 25 so they better play like a top 5 team or they will come back with a loss and ILL/PSU are still left on the schedule.
I don't see many quality victories in the "w" column, so the time has come to let it all hang out. MSU will play with intensity for 60 minutes so it will take a great effort to pull this one out.
Go Bucks!
Nice post Fakewoodyman and i also read a post saying this is not a tough year, i disagree we have not beaten a good team this year we have not even killed a poor division 1 team. As i watch Tressel tenure no doubt he is not a elite coach, our offense is horrible and the team is not nasty. Also in the good run he had you better look at assisant coaches who made him look great. Seriously in 2002 we should have lost to Purdue because vanilla offense and offense will continue to be a problem until we get a great offensive mind here. I do like Tressel but he is not in the same catergory as other top programs. I am true Bucks fan and i am tired of what i am seing and if anybody can't be honest just watch our games coaching is the biggest problem we got. I remeber the year we lost to Texas game which we should have won then watched our offense against PSU that year it was horrible because that was a great team. The proof is in pudding i don't know the number of returing starters PSU or MSU but they are improved and well coached, just watched Buckeye Weekly and heard Tressel say Pryor does not force things and gives us a chance to punt seriously College Football you better be able to score a bunch in some games because there are always going to be shootout games which Tressel has not produced but only one good year offensively and he is the OC. I hear about Heacock and Bollman well our biggest problem is offense and guess who our OC is. Tress is classy but College Football has changed and my final note Tress has gotten lucky because the Big Ten has sucked for 5 years now and 1960 football is not going work espically nationally. GO BUCKS
Well, my mid-season take as a native Ohioan in WNY is this:
Matt: This isn't so much about where we are (6-1) as how we got to this point. Honestly, 6-1 is about where I figured we'd be at this point, and after Beanie went down, it was the best I could hope for.
Having said that, I see a couple glitches with the offense. First, and foremost is the atrocious line play. Please, spare the "don't beef about 18-23 yr olds", because the problem lies with upper end of the age range; notably Boone, Person and Rehring. I've been harping for years about the 'fat-assness' of our tackles, as UF's (for starters) defensive ends exposed them. Now, we've got to worry about SEC-like rush speed from Big 10 teams? Dan, you mentioned that there was some press going around about Rehring being in the best shape of his life this year; that may be so, but n way is he in football shape, IMO.
The other beef I have is with play calling, open it up for TP for gawd's sake. I'm not looking for vertical passing game (much) at this point, but with TP, a couple nice bootlegs/sprint-outs where he can have option to run, hit tight end dragging across the field, or heaven forbid, off-side WR running deep post or slant (please let it not be Hartline).
Sorry, a third thing. Please, never, ever try to run Mo Wells between the tackles again. Screen/flair/circle pass, toss sweep, anything as long as it's toward the hashmarks.
As a fellow Muskingum College alum, I'll "give" Heacock an atta-boy this past week, but only as long as he turns his 'kids' loose and let them play as they did against Purdue. I know tha many bloggers and commentors have implored him to play like this; maybe the efforts have paid off.
We continue to win (good) but it seems to me that we are just getting by, considering what was perceived to be the talent level on this team. That's enough for now, I've taken up way too much of you time. At this point, 6-1, not bad; I'm optimistic about winning 4 of next 5 games.