Eleven Warriors

[Media Day Photos]

No bowl, no problem. Urban Meyer is in town.

Eleven Warriors has you covered as we inch closer to kickoff of the 2012 season. We do the mental heavy lifting so you don't have to.

Temporary king 

by Chris Lauderback • Monday, August 13th

Luke Fickell always aspired to become the head coach at Ohio State but not in a manner that called for him to replace his mentor amid turmoil and inherit a team without key contributors, all under the cloud of impending NCAA sanctions. At a dark time in OSU history, Fickell accepted the challenge and eventually came out the other side. 

A Backup to Believe In

by Johnny Ginter • Monday, August 13th

Okay, so none of us want to see Braxton Miller get hurt in any way, shape, or form. But aren't you just a little curious, just a teensy bit, to see what your 2012 backup quarterbacks can do for you on the field? Today we take a little stroll down memory lane, and then look in depth at our number one number two Ken Gution, and the backup plan to our backup plan to back up our backup plan, Cardale Jones. And Justin Siems, who's always happy to be here.

OPening the Floodgates

by Chad Peltier • Monday, August 13th

Ohio State's 2011 offense set the bar extremely low for the 2012 Buckeyes. Such an anemic passing offense was a statistical aberration compared to Tressel's offenses and far worse than what Herman and Meyer are used to. Using trends from Ohio State's offenses over the last decade as well as Meyer's first year at Florida, we might expect roughly 2200 yards passing and 2400 yards rushing for the season. 

The Departed

by Ramzy Nasrallah • Tuesday, August 14th

The recruiting haul of 2008 is mostly gone, with only fifth-year seniors Ohrian Johnson, Etienne Sabino, Travis Howard, Garrett Goebel, Nate Williams, Zach Domicone, Jake Stoneburner and Ben Buchanan still remaining. And that's much of the reason why despite coming off of a miserable 6-7 campaign Ohio State hasn't been forced to rebuild much of anything beyond its coachings staff.

Meyer's Men

by Dave Sokol • Tuesday, August 14th

The eventual hiring of Urban Meyer saved the 2012 recruiting class and helped build towards an extremely bright future. The class, which was moving towards mediocrity before the Meyer hiring, helped establish an even stronger foundation for the Buckeyes down the road. Not only will this class add to Ohio State's depth, but many true freshman will see the field in their first season in Columbus. These recruits will thrive in Meyer's "The best player will play" philosophy. 

Eleven Years Ago: The Dawn of the Tressel Era

by Joe Beale • Wednesday, August 15th

In Jim Tressel's first season at the helm, Ohio State fans saw some of the things that would propel their program to heights rarely known before, as well as some lows that no one could have foreseen. They also saw the fulfillment of a promise made some 310 days before, and a hint of OSU's forthcoming dominance in the rivalry.

Silver Bullets Post-Heacock

by Alex Gleitman • Wednesday, August 15th

Jim Heacock has called the shots for the Ohio State defense since 2005, but stepped down after last season. Will the Silver Bullets struggle to adjust under new operation or will it be business as usual for what is traditionally the Buckeyes' strongest unit?

Get Your Coffee Ready: Don't Sleep on These Players

by Jeff Beck • Wednesday, August 15th

Heading into the 2012 season, some positions are set but doors to others are hanging wide open. Urban Meyer has made it clear players who give four to six seconds of relentless effort will play regardless of their tenure in the program. A few individuals have latched on to this philosophy, hoping to prove you don't need to be known coming into the season, as long as you're a household name coming out.

A Crash Course In Urban Game Planning

by Ross Fulton • Thursday, August 16th

Ever wonder what goes into the staff's game plan each week? If you have, be ready to get your answers as we take you inside college football game week preparation at large, as well as give you a look at how Urban Meyer will game plan at Ohio State based off what he has done in previous stops.

SPecial Units Win Championships

by Alex Gleitman • Thursday, August 16th

A common phrase is "offense wins games, defense wins championships", but does that really hold true? Urban Meyer may partially agree, but would say special teams holds even more importance in his team's success. Take a look inside at how Meyer's teams have had season-changing special teams play, how the Buckeye special unit have performed of late, and who is handling those duties midway through camp.

ELEVEN WARRIORS ROUNDTABLE

by Elika Sadeghi • Friday, August 17th

With kickoff of the 2012 season right around the corner, the Eleven Warriors contributors sit down and look at the upcoming year. What lesser known players make a name for themselves, what Urban Meyer needs to accomplish for a successful debut season, what games make them nervous, what they're most curious to see this year, and more.

Ninety-Nine Days

by Sarah Hardy • Friday, August 17th

Before Ohio State and Michigan meet for their annual battle in 99 days, the Wolverines will have to deal with high expectations and weaknesses in their passing game and on the defensive line. Still, their ground attack and experienced secondary could carry them to a chance at a B1G title. 

the road to 4-0

by Chris Lauderback • Monday, August 20th

Objectively looking at the schedule, starting 4-0 feels like a foregone conclusion. What's less certain, however, is exactly how the Buckeyes will sweep the non-conference slate and if enough questions will have been answered for the squad to open to 5-0 when things get real on September 29th in East Lansing. Let's take a look at some of those questions. 

Urbanball: Clock and Ball Control 

by Chad Peltier • Monday, August 20th

Not only will Ohio State be running a power spread-to-run offense for the first time under Meyer, it will also be Urban's first use of the no-huddle. This stresses the defense by limiting movement and substitutions, allowing for more practice repetitions, and controlling the game tempo. However, no-huddle doesn't necessarily mean a reduced time of possession. 

Final Destination

by Ramzy Nasrallah • Tuesday, August 21st

Even though Ohio State's season ends in November, it promises to be a crucial month courtesy of three opponents who are proven thorns in their side: Illinois, Wisconsin, and of course, Michigan. There will be no bowl on the line for the Buckeyes, but that won't be relevant when the Wolverines come to town.

Destination: RedShirt

by David Sokol • Tuesday, August 21st

With a ton of incoming freshman talent in the 2012 class, many decisions will have to be made on who will redshirt and who will see the field this upcoming season. The staff has had just a few weeks to evaluate the incoming players, set the depth charts, and decide who will contribute during the 2012 season. 

The Ineligibowls

by Alex Gleitman • Wednesday, August 22nd

When Ohio State and Miami (FL) squared off last year with the NCAA black cloud over each team's head, the game was pegged "The Ineligibowl". This year the Buckeyes face two more opponents under NCAA sanctions, leaving the team with two more "Ineligibowls" in 2012.

Don't Step In It

by Jeff Beck • Wednesday, August 22nd

To avoid less than the best outcomes against opponents who appear weaker in comparison, a team must take care of business; or as we like to call it here at 11W: a team must step around it, not in it. What is "it" you might ask? "It" is that terrible, no good pile of upset that can leave a smell lingering long after the initial "stepping-in." Don't step in it; step around it.

Around the big Ten: New Offensive Philosophies and looks

by Ross Fulton • Thursday, August 23rd

There are many new faces when it comes to coaching staffs in the Big Ten for the 2012 football season. We bring you inside what the Buckeyes can expect to see from the newcomers this season when they take on the likes of Illinois, Penn State, and Wisconsin.

The Furious Five

by Alex Gleitman • Thursday, August 23rd

Last year, Ohio State went 6-7, but six of their losses came by a touchdown or less and their final mark could have easily been much better if the ball had bounced their way a few more times. This year, the Buckeyes are more experienced when it comes to both players and coaches, and they will be looking to redeem those disappointing losses against five opponents they will once again face in 2012.

BEYOND THE BUCKEYE BUBBLE

by Elika Sadeghi • Friday, August 24th

With the expectations that come along with a new head coach like Urban Meyer, what do those outside of the Ohio State media think Columbus can expect from the 2012 Buckeyes? What does Urban Meyer need to make his tenure a successful one? What are the keys to a successful second year in this new chapter of Buckeye football? We talked with media members around the country to find out.

THE END OF THE BEGINNING

by Sarah Hardy • Friday, August 24th

The football team and fans alike have been preparing for the official start of the Urban Meyer era, and although there have been changes, Ohio State will still keep the traditions that make it Ohio State. While Urban may not turn out to be a knight in shining armor, it's better to find out for real than to simply imagine the possibilities.