If Only for A Season: Offense
Remember the days of pancakes?In our continuing attempt to plod through the Buckeye football and hoops dry season, we are constantly challenged to “create our own shot”, as Jason calls it, in an attempt to bring you daily content.
It sounds easy enough but that’s not always the case due to things like DVR’s full of The Hills and East Bound and Down, wives/girlfriends, jobs and whatnot. Anyhoo, I’m hoping I’ve stumbled on something worth kicking around for fun this Tuesday and next.
The idea is to evaluate this season’s prospective offensive and defensive units and then decide which former player – inside the last 20 years – you would choose to join this year’s team for one run at the title. So you don’t blow my grand plan of milking two posts from one idea, let’s try to stay focused on the offense this week. And for all you haters, remember this is just for fun in hopes of making the off season go one day faster. Now let’s get to it.
Looking at the projected ‘09 offensive starters, it seems the most likely positions to plug in a great would be at offensive line or receiver but maybe you’d prefer to go off the map and plug in a QB like Troy and make Pryor an ultra back/receiver of epic proportions or maybe you aren’t sold on Herron and Saine in the backfield? Let’s take a quick glance at each area of opportunity.
Running Back
While the ‘09 unit appears to have a fairly solid two headed monster in Boom and Zoom, along with some youngsters who might challenge for some charity carries come fall, adding Eddie George would obviously make the offensive line look a lot less sieve-ish and keep teams from keying on Pryor.
If you do go the running back route it would be next to impossible to pass on Eddie but maybe you like the sleekness of the current offense and prefer to plug in Pittman or Wiley? Or maybe you smoked too much tree as a youth and think adding Clarett to the mix would be the magic formula? If nothing else, it would provide a guy to share the media focus with TP. Whatever, I’ll put the stop sticks on that school of thought. Clearly, if you go RB, you go Eddie.
Offensive Line
This seems like a no-brainer position to capitalize on when you look at the current crop of linemen who failed to impress last season coupled with the fact nobody appeared to truly step up this spring with the exception of Boren. Pardon me for being less than ecstatic about guys like the “versatile” Cordle, Browning and the (once upon a time) next great one, Mike Adams. That’s not to say these guys won’t finally put it together or that some freshman won’t emerge but how could you not sport a quarter chub if you had the chance to add Orlando Pace to this group?
Imagine the confidence Pryor would gain knowing his blindside would never be of concern as he looked downfield to Ray Ray, Posey, Dane or Flash etc. The running game would also once again have it’s bread and butter off left tackle taking even more pressure off Pryor. It’s hard to argue against taking Pace as the one upgrade when you consider the other pieces in place.
Wide Receiver
I know we’re all pretty excited about the potential and depth this year’s crop of wideouts brings to fall camp but I think a case can be made for adding a veteran pimp on the edge to give Pryor a proven partner through the air.
Imagine Pryor dropping back and having a huge target like David Boston ripping through the secondary. Or again, maybe you want to stick with the speed theme of this year’s skill players and select Terry Glenn, Ted Ginn Jr. or Santonio Holmes. You can’t really go wrong with any of these cats although I’d personally take Boston because the dude was a physical beast among boys.
No matter who you chose, you’d now have a receiving corps deeper than Jack Handey.
Quarterback
I know it’s probably taboo to even list QB on the list but what if you put Troy Smith under center affording the luxury of using Pryor as the ultimate all purpose player? We know he can run, we’ve seen him show the potential to be a first round draft pick at receiver, he’s got the size to go over the middle and there’s no reason to think he couldn’t return punts or kickoffs. I’m not advocating such a move – just throwing it out there. There’s arguably not a more versatile player in all of college football so it’s at least worth a flyer to see what anyone thinks.
My Choice
In the end, I think this imaginary exercise comes down to either offensive line or receiver. It’s hard to fathom passing up Eddie but I have enough confidence in Boom/Saine plus there’s just too many question marks up front and on the edge. Pairing the choices to either upgrade the line or at wideout, for me, it comes down to two players. The obvious and only choice up front is Pace while several players come in to play if deciding on a receiver.
I like the thought of adding a proven burner like Glenn or Ginn but when it comes down to it, I’d take Boston over those guys to give the existing group a shot of size and attitude. Throw in the fact he’d draw a lot of double coverage and you open up the middle for an existing homerun threat like Small. Plus, Boston was seemingly always open due to his frame giving Pryor a guy he could key on when looking to convert crucial third downs.
Line or receiver? Pace or Boston? I’ll take Pace. I like the potential I see in Posey, Small and company and the glaring hole(s) on the offensive are simply too much to ignore. I mean, haven’t we been there and done that enough to make this an obvious choice?
I’m with you, Chris. It all starts up front and that is where the biggest question marks are going into next season. Orlando had a great blend of strength and athleticism, and typically wound up dominating whoever was across from him. Could you imagine Boom/Saine running the left side with Pace/Boren leading the way?
Pace…hands down. Only O-lineman I’ve ever seen throw a block on a saftey to spring a back for a td, 70 YARDS DOWNFIELD! Oh, and he could pass block too, less than a handfull of sacks against in his career at OSU!
You’re forgetting Datish on Ginn’s reverse vs. Notre Dame. Not to pooh-pooh (see below) your observation, but Orlando wasn’t the all-time savior of our O-lines – just ask a guy like me who’s old enough to have seen Lachey live. You think Pace is the baddest ass ever? Think again…
Dude, I saw Archie play, I have watched every game I could since 74, and in my opinion, Pace was the best O-Lineman I’ve seen. Lachey was a beast don’t get me wrong, I just thought Orlando was better. As for Datish, I love the guy, wish we had five of him this year, but lets be real, Paces 70yd downfield block was on a sweep going away from him, not on a reverse coming back to his side.
It should also be mentioned that the Rams drafted Pace #1 Overall and won the Superbowl that year and came within a last second field goal of winning it the next with Orlando starting at LT!
Orlando Pace is one of the best players to ever wear an OSU jersey,period!! An athletic freak to say the very least. #75 should’ve been retired the moment he left OSU. Alex Boone disgraced that jersey all four years that he was there.
yes… O-line needs the help most, so I go with Pace also. But… everyone overlooks the fullback–very important to an I-formation running game…. we havent had a dominant one in years. My favoirte played with Eddie in the backfield… Nicky Sualua–that boy opened holes the size of a mack truck for Eddie. He laid people out!
I’m going a different route here. While the TE position hasn’t been thrown to since the last ’90’s, there is no doubt Ricky Dudley would open some things up for this team down the middle, if thrown to. Dudley was a beast and caught most everything that came his way, he would also be an effective blocker for the running game and TP. The bonus would be his bball skills that could be used by Thad this season, without using another scholarship.
Nice curveball there. Very nice. Valid all the way around, especially the 2-for-1 with Bball
Anybody who picks any position besides Offensive Tackle for this little exercise is automatically disqualified. Look at any game since the MNC vs. Florida in ‘06, and you’ll see that any chances our offense had to succeed was destroyed by our tackles’ (ALL of them) inability to do anything at all.
Since the post is asking for a specific player to plug into the existing team, I guess I’ll go w/ Pace…but I’d take Lachey, or even Barton, if it meant that even one competent rush end from the backside would get blocked every once in a while. I can’t really express how effing disgusted I’ve been with the tackles’ play the last couple-few seasons.
Whoops: insert “against a quality opponent” after “any game” in the above, if you must.
I don’t think Pace is quite as obvious as some of you. The current line does look shaky but a Heisman Trophy running back can make an average line look pretty damn good. I’d take Eddie. TP also does a good job of making an average line look good with his ability to escape pressure and move outside the pocket. Designed rollouts could easily offset a crap o-line as it stands.
pace is one of the greatest o-lineman to play at any level and is going into the nfl hall of fame. i think he’s a pretty obvious pick.
Damn straight. I’ve been wondering since Troy took over for Zwick (yes, even when Todd was the starter – just like Krenzel, he was an under-rated and -utilized runner) why we aren’t calling 4-5 naked bootlegs a game.
You could leave out “inside the last 20 years,” and I would still choose Orlando Pace. For defense I’ll take Dan Wilkinson. Maybe he can help the offensive line too.
Not even a close question.
Richard McNutt (for heisman).
Yes, I know he played cornerback, and that this is the offense post.
No, I don’t care.
Did you not hear me?
McNutt. For Heisman. 2002.
Given the more glaring need at tackle over center, im going to ignore the fact that no one mentioned Nick Mangold at center and offensive captain. Also, since everyone thinks we will be a scoring juggernaut, we probably are underestimating Mike nugent’s importance to the ‘02 team, or will there be a special teams section?
But, if it comes down to it, pace is the obvious choice to upgrade the o-line, I’ll max out my homer card by saying he was the best tackle in CFB history, hard to argue with that.
I think TP adds a big weapon to the running game that alot of us overlook when addressing this year’s running situation. So reluctantly Id have to pass on eddie as the one guy to help the offense.
I think Glenn was a better overall receiver, but applied to this years team, Boston would be the perfect fit to compliment our already formidable deep threat of Posey and Taurian “Ghostman” Washington.
Can we take body parts of players instead of the whole player? Like attaching Troy’s arm to Terrelle’s body ?
Terrelle, if you’re reading, only a joke.
My top 3 choices would ALL be lineman:
1) Orlando Pace
2) John Hicks
3) Korey Stringer
If we switched it over to defense 2 of my top 3 there would be lineman:
1) Will Smith
2)”Big Daddy” Dan Wilkinson
3) 3-6 (If you don’t know who that is you have no right to be on this site)
Wil, Chris said no defensive picks yet! Wait ’til next post.
Damn skim reading
Don’t forget to keep it “inside the last 20 years.”
Same thing I replied to Bucksfan
Even Eddie has said on numerous occasions that he could not possibly have done what he did in 1995 without Orlando Pace.
My pick is the Pancake Special, no question about it, hands down, he’s the only choice in my book if I only had one. A dominant O-lineman can make it all happen for you.
I would love to pick Pace, but I would hate to see such a phenom ruined by the coaching we’ve had there recently. I find it hard to believe that all our recruits are as bad as they are playing.
Can we replace staff instead?
Not really a fair comparison. I mean, I’d take Orlando Pace before basically everyone that has played the college game the last 25 years. I’d assume it’s just a given.
pretty much. o-lineman never get any publicity but they can be a cornerstone of a team just as much as any QB. ask the browns how important joe thomas is to them or the dolphins how important jake long is to them. if you don’t have a dominant o-line, you’re not going to have an offense capable of playing against the best defenses.
I’m going to have to agree with same here…….not sure if there is anyone I’ve seen in the last 25 years be more dominant on offense than Pace.
I remember back in the days of the “pancake man”, non-Buckeye commentators calling him the best player ever in college. I’m not so sure about that, but he was pretty damn good. No disrespect to Pearson, but he had a monster year after Eddie left.
I don’t think Boom and Zoom would have issues finding holes on the left side. Having a couple 1000 yard rushers and not to mention LiC gashing defenses would be fun to watch. Although some receivers might transfer since LiC would throw it about once a quarter for fun.
If you are going to talk about a Wide Receiver, what about Galloway? Or Cris Carter. Carter is technically just outside the 20 year limit but damn they were both great receivers.
Michael Jenkins-smart/great route-runner/great hands/big play guy/good anchor-guy……Would seem to be especially dangerous when TP breaks down and scrambles….
Or Nicky Sualua…….just because….
Just because the team would need a guy to score E off of? But in all seriousness, wish Beanie would have had the chance to run behind Nicky.
ahh- well done jason……….the all buckeye “pharmaceutical distributors and ingestors” would be a fantastic category……..Your move Marco Cooper…..
Jamar Martin!
Seriously though, remember back to that game NC game against Florida. Without o-line, the rest of that amazing offense was rendered completely useless. It doesn’t matter how great the backs, wide outs, quarterback, tight end (I miss those), fullbacks are if the o-line is incompetent.
Orlando Pace… yes please.
How about Robert Smith? or Chris Carter?
Who is Chris Carter?
(Actually, I should shut my mouth considering the number of spelling/name mistakes we make on a day-to-day basis.)
I’m sorry Cris Carter. Robert Smith was a threat to take it to the house every play and he didn’t have much help. CRIS Carter all he did was catch Touchdowns.
I get the Pace thing and agree, but what about Chris Gamble! He could solve our WR and CB problems. Gamble could also return punts! Even the great Orlando didn’t play two spots, although I would have loved to see him at DT!