Tressel, no doubt wondering who the slob holding theiPhone up to his face is
Those seven perfect words came from Kurt Coleman on the second and final day of Big Ten Media Days. You knew Duron would grow into something special, but Coleman's quote implies he's probably further along than we could have imagined:
"Duron Carter has looked good. You can tell he's Cris Carter's son. His hands are very, very good. But it's, I guess you would say, the things that go into making a wide receiver great. He knows if a DB is going to play me this way, I need to do this. He's good at adjusting his routes and getting to the right place at the right time. You can tell he's well-coached."
Coleman also said Dane was the number one receiver on the team at this point, which has us simultaneously dreaming of the next Wes Welker and then wondering if a Welker as your top receiver is enough to derail the Trojans.
Tackle Updates
Tressel threw out three names competing for two open tackle spots: Adams, Miller and Shugarts. Ken Gordon doesn't think Browning and Cordle are out of the mix completely, but I think he's right when he says the spots are Adams and Shugarts to lose.
So far Adams hasn't lived up to the (probably unreal) hype and Shugarts has been slowed with injuries. The Brew Crew has yet to really form for game Saturdays, but never underestimate the great motivator of seeing one of your classmates come in and have some early success.
Get It Back, Blue
One of the more interesting and surreal storylines of Media Days was hearing Tressel and the players asked if they're rooting for Michigan to get back to where they should be. Ballard had the following to say on the matter:
"I've got friends who are big-time Michigan fans and I always tell them I hope Michigan gets it turned around. They need to get back to where they used to be."
Coleman, eh, just a little bit:
"In a sense, yes, you're pulling for them. I wouldn't say 'root,' but I honestly hope everyone in the league does well, especially in non-conference and bowl games."
Tressel, for his part, was gracious, saying essentially that Michigan will be Michigan again, and soon. Which inspired headlines to reassure the faithful at home:
Breathe easy, Michigan fan. The coach of your most hated enemy is saying everything will be okay.
Comments
Dane Sanzenbacher should frame this blog entry. We would be lucky to have Dane as Wes Welker. Welker was a small white guy, but he was fairly dynamic. Maybe this season Dane can do better, but http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...
I'd like to see Cordle lose his job if the young guns are better. I'd also like to see someone claim the guard spot opposite Boren. I think Browning could succeed there, since he won't have to play El Matador.
not really surprised to hear sanzo's name mentioned as the best WR on the team as of now, but i think by the time the season rolls around posey is gonna be the guy.
i still love sanzenbacher though, what a tough little SOB. he's exactly the kind of leader i want in the WR corps, especially with all of that young talent.
also i agree with you browning, if he's going to be starting, it has to be at guard. hopefully shugarts gets better and adams somehow steps up his game
Love Dane's heart and hands but I've always been worried about his size/durability. He'll grow thicker each year and I hope he shuts me up on that front.
also i want to throw this out there about adams: i don't think he's ever going to be the lineman we want (and need) him to be. sometimes guys get the yips because of injury, and sometimes guys were able to use freakish athleticism in high school to mask problems with their game that become apparent in college.
i think adams is a bit of both. he has the potential to be great, but unless he starts showing it soon, it is going to be very difficult for him to develop into anything other than a "good" player.
i know this seems way early in the kid's career to be saying all of this, but intensity and effort are what o-line play is all about. it'd be one thing if adams was a beserker who just was out of position a lot or screwed up assignments; that can be fixed. but that's not the case, and you can't teach Mean.
Was at Media Day and talked to the guy with the iPhone, was working with Big Ten Network.com to upload videos to twitter immediately after done they were done. Apparently there is no other option for quick uploading of video online without first loading it onto a computer.
Sounds good! We know from the Spring Game that Posey, T-Wash, and Small can make this team scary, so hearing that a guy who didn't play in that game is the #1 guy right now could be really good, knowing he showed immense promise during games last season. Throw in threats like Stoneburner and Flash Thomas, and the Buckeyes have a full arsenal of WMD's.
Shugarts is a bum and has a bad attitude. He needs another year riding the pine as last years 'injury' taught him nothing about humility
Pryor to Carter.... sounds good!
We'll be lucky if Dane turns out to be a Wayne Chrebet, let alone a Wes Welker.. And no, I doubt that with him as our #1, that it will be enough to derail the Trojans.
We have a bunch of 1A's, but we certainly don't have a true #1 - e.g. Terry Glenn, David Boston, Michael Jenkins, Santonio Holmes, Ted Ginn Jr.... We all saw what happened when we had to rely on Gonzo to be the #1 in the NC game.
This season will be WR by committee...
Do you know him on a personal level? Not afraid to take a hit. Does anyone know why he sat out the spring game?
Anyone have a gut feeling about Ray Small and grades? I know he will return punts - will he be used on kickoff - where does he fit in wide out rotation?
Tressel Bwhahahahahahahahahahaha! He so funny!
To be honest, I dont' know why everyone expects anything out of Ray Small. I know he's got a lot of potential, but at this point in time, he's been around to long to still be using the word potential. Fact of the matter is he's never been great here, he doesn't want to put in the work in the classroom, obviously he's not the most ambitious in practice either or he'd be out there more. In the games you can see a lack of heart too. I just feel like Ray Small is extremely over rated.
Again, I say to that, it only takes one season to become an all time great, right Eddie George?
Id like Cordle to win the other G spot, sometimes experience goes along way, especially with a young team. Besides, pro scouts like Cordle, so there is obviously something there we with the less trained eye may not see.
Maybe Coleman meant Dane is no.1 from the veteran player aspect. no way is he more talented than Posey.
I thought I read something recently where he put on like 15 pounds this offseason, or something like that.
I agree, but George was a hard working player, Small has never proven that he is. I just have no faith that he'll ever remove his head from his anus.
Also, Didn't Eddie George have 1400 yards the year before he won the Heisman? He showed a progression. Ray Small really hasn't done anything other than a flash here and there. Of course it's not his fault he hasn't played well, it's that Jim Tressel is trashing his career.
lol "G-spot"
i agree that smalls is not a hard enough worker on the field or off the field so how can he ever be dependable???? not!!!
carter's always rule
you see where my mind is
I don't know what his problem is. It could start with his upbringing, I mean having your father make outrageous claims that Jim Tressel is trying to ruin your career tells me he may have the sense that everything is supposed to be given to him and he doesn't have to work as hard as the next guy to get it.
You're probably right Brian, I guess i'm just trying to stay positive about him.
The staring O-LINE in my opinoin will look like this:
M. Adams - J. Boren - M. Brewster - J. Cordle - J.B. Shugarts
*Opinion
i think Cordle gets RT and Browning gets RG> I dont think Shugarts has wowed anyone and Browning is a natural G.