Eleven Warriors

As a long time Buckeye and Browns fan, I have been continually disappointed with the Browns lack of initiative to build a pipeline from the OSU NFL factory. It makes sense both on a financial and emotional standpoint. OSU has a track record of solid ROI concerning NFL players and Ohio is a Buckeye state significantly moreso than a Brownie state. To increase revenue and grow your fan base, bring the Buckeye fan base along for the ride to the professional level. To wit, going back over the past ten years to review the data, the Browns almost intentionally have gone against tapping a renewable resource to plug into the franchise's mainline. Look at this:

02-LeCharles Bentley(first rd talent) went to the Saints with the 44th pick of the 2nd rd, Browns took Willie Green and Andre'Davis in the 1st and 2nd.

03-M.Doss(2nd rd/Indy), C.Grant(3rd/NO), M.Wilhelm(4th/SD), D.Nickey(5th/Tenn)- All special teamers and solid backups. Browns took Jeff Faine in the 1st, Chaun Thompson in the 2nd, and Chris Crocker in the 3rd, Lee Suggs in the 4th.

04-Motherload of talent Smith/Gamble/Jenkins 1st rd,Hartsock & Scott in the 3rd,Allen in the 4th, Clarke & Olivea in the 7th. Browns took Winslow in the 1st and Sean Jones in the 2nd, bunch of scrubs with the picks after.

05-Nugent and D.Fox 2nd and 3rd rd. Browns B.Edwards and B.Pool 1st and 2nd.

06-Hawk,Witner,Carp,Holmes,Mangold 1st rd,Youboty 3rd,Sims 4th. Browns took Wimbley 1st, Jackson 2nd, J.Harrison 5th.

07-Ginn Gonzo 1st, Pittman 4th, Smith 5th. Browns took J.Thomas, Quinn, E.Wright 1,1,2.

08-Gholston 1st,L.Grant in the 7th. Browns took no one with their five picks starting in the 4th rd.

09-Jenkins Beanie 1st, Laurinaitis Robo 2nd, Washington Hartline 4th. Browns took Mack, Robo, Massaquoi.

10-Thaddeus 4th, Coleman 7th. Browns took Haden 1st, Ward Hardesty 2nd, McCoy 3rd. 

11-Heyward 1st, Chekwa 4th, Hines 5th, Rolle 6th, Browns took Taylor 1st, Sheard Little 2nd, ghosts in the latter rounds.

-These aren't all the picks just a select few from every year*

Glancing quickly at the above list a few things stick out, the Browns have chosen to never pick ONE player from the plethora that is OSU defensive backs and solid linebackers. They took the poor mans version of Michael Jenkins in Robo and nobody was surprised when a not quick or fast WR didn't pan out because he couldn't create separation vs quicker/faster NFL db's.

-Where the hell is the Cleveland scouts coming back with reports of: "look fellas, we have picks in these rounds, we need to try to come away with a few home grown players bc there is a proven track record of success and it will bring more Buckeye fans to our side."

Just a frustrated Browns rant on a slooow day at the office, but I'd love to have seen Hawk, Ginn, Smith, Coleman, Jenkins, one of any in a Browns uniform instead of Brian Robiskie or Simon Fraser.

Dear St. Nick,

I only have nine gift requests...

9-O.J. stops being afraid to hit. You are a more athletic Nate Salley.

8-Barnett/Bryant learn how to consistently cut the angle in half and break down to make the tackle. Whitner mode please.

7-Shazier/Sabino/Klein:Get well soon, play.fast., be the opposite of suck(lose 10-15 lbs.)

6-Big Hank/Simon/Williams: Stay healthy.

5- "...yard penalty on the offense, #76, repeat third down." Sorry, that sequence haunts my dreams.

4-Stoney goes all Hernandez.

3-Boren gets utilized as more than just a fullback.

2-J.Berry's hammy's stay healthy for just one year. Let Urban get his hands on you. Sandusky'd?

1-B.Miller find your inner Troy Smith (pre award banquet h.a.m.fest).

As you already know, my record is spotless this year. Get to it. 

Yours Truly,

Douglas Buckles

Hindsight may be 20/20 but many were calling these potential mistakes before they came to fruition. In order for a successful season to occur, a few items were apparent but ignored. OSU had to stay healthy which did not happen with Nate Williams affecting the entire defense. Joe Bauserman could not see the field as a serious contributor. Tyler Moeller had to make plays. Christian Bryant had to be put in a position to make plays. Shazier's speed had to be on the field.

Bauserman started, and replaced Miller, throughout the first handful of games. This delayed Miller facing his growing pains as too many fans became enamored with Baus' one game vs one of the worst defenses in the country. "Keep Miller on the bench to learn, Baus can have a steady hand for the offense..." was the jist of the blubbery that spewed forth from too many Gray and Scarlet faithful.

Moeller did not make plays.

Bryant did not learn how to properly break down on tackles.

Shazier was kept behind Sweat and Klein because the coaches are loyal to leadership? and slow average tacklers who lack explosive power in small spaces. Both suck at shedding blocks, both suck at the majority of lb requirements. Sweat was repeatedly touted for his leadership but was never called out on making any game changing plays. Shazier would have led the team in tackles by a long shot had he started all year.

It is disappointing the staff never earned their paychecks by putting Miller and Shazier out there from day one and coaching them every step of the way. Best 11 on the field is always proclaimed but seldom the truth when it comes down to it.

Moeller didn't make the plays that were expected of him so Bryant should have been moved to the star and Moeller should have moved to the strong with Barnett playing center field.

Innovation is born of necessity and it was necessary to have players put in position to succeed on both sides of the ball.

Fickell needs let go because he lacked the cajones to seize the moment as they say. He mismanaged timeouts and games consistently.

Bollman does not need dissertated upon.

Heacock has always been overrated as a def coor. who was been the beneficiary of having talent on the defensive side of the ball but never having the ability to unleash chicanery upon opposing offenses with a plethora of pressure packages that would dictate momentum to the other side.

Stoneburner, Hall, Fragel, and Smith were the victims of incompetency.

None of this is breaking news I just had to rant to get the frustrations of the year off of my chest. I hate this staff and would rather Vrabel be the only one retained because of his overall defensive knowledge and sac to call out the staff for subpar preparation when it is obvious.

In closing, it is played out to defend any part of the coaching staff and I hope Meyer makes our wishes and dreams come true.

Yeah Bucks.

Based off their film review of this past week's game, Nebraska's defensive staff may anticipate OSU's offensive brain trust to prepare for another dose of blitzkrieg at breakneck pace until the Bucks show the ability to handle it. They may assume that, to slow down the pass rush the Bucks might try to throw screens early and often. What I fear Nebraska might do, is put in a Zone/Zone blitz scheme where they show blitz but drop in order to blanket Stoney and Smith while having the ability to come up and gang tackle on screens. I hope that osu's offensive coaches have two options in place and are instructing the players and preparing accordingly. 'Boys if they are blitz happy, we are going to give them a steady diet of screens and quick hitters. If they want to show blitz and drop back, we will run down hill at them with Hall, Hyde, and Boren out of the gun keeping the hits off Braxton. Either way they want to play defense we are going to take our shots down field to Smith and Stoney and they are going to make plays on the ball for us.' I fear we are going to see nothing but designed qb keepers and dave's putting the young qb in third and long's and asking him to convert. Staff has to put the players in positions to make plays. I am not entirely confident of that happening for the third week in a row.

The defense needs put Shazier in for Sweat or Klein and start sending sending Sabino and Shazier to put the offense in consistent third and longs. Then send Moeller on third down while dropping enough to cover your assets. Go after punts, go for it on fourth down. Someone tell Fickell he should be coaching as if his sac were on fire because he has his dream job and is watching it get pulled out from under him, all because he will not embrace his natural instincts as a defensive player and use his three pronged team to attack the opposition at all times.

I will never apologize for having standards. I expect the coaching staff of my beloved Buckeyes to be one step ahead of the other coaching staff in every matchup because there should be no offensive or defensive attack that we cannot adopt, or adapt to, because we have the best football coaches and some of the best football players in the country. Well we do not have the best football coaches, but we sure as hell should. Nic Siciliano in charge of the quarterbacks for the Ohio State University? That is some bulllshit! Second rate should never be acceptable.

The Miami game and Michigan State game fall squarely on the coaching staff's shoulders. Preparation before execution.

Think Russell Crowe and Gladiator, if Fickell wants to win/keep the crowd he is going to appease them. He is not in a position to intimidate a fanbase into submission ala say, Saban. That is why Miller will, hopefully, start and play until the game is decided on Saturday.

If Baus starts, all hope is lost.

Considering Fick has to feel some pressure, hopefully he coaches from an attacking standpoint and has all facets of the team go for broke. Go down swinging if you are going to go down.

Let's see a dose of Miller and Hall in the gun attacking a side of the field with Stoney, Reed, and fill-in-the blank at various target levels for Miller to go through. Sprinkle in some screens and dives to Boren to touch the ball. No huddle them out the the I with Hyde. Show that the offensive brain trust has the ability to run different plays. It is 2011 for the love of zeus.I have only met a handful of offensive linemen or coaches who I would trust to be an offensive coordinator and Bollman is not one of them.

Can I sample Shazier blitzing one first, second, and third down. He's fast and hits like a hammer. While I enjoy Simon's game, where's the badass of the defense? You cannot name him. Give Bryant his audition at 'playmaker' of the secondary since no one is taking that lead either.

Yeah Bucks.

Find it and keep it. Bauserman did work against Akron. Stanley Jackson, Steve Bellisari, Justin Zwick, Todd Boeckman all could have done the same. Bauserman is not good. I repeat he is not good. I would hope a 47 year old qb could find the tight end. Those 'scrambles' were against Akron. Boeckman had the team as well but that didn't keep him from getting his ass planted on the bench. Short term Bauserman can look as good as he wants vs scrubs but long term it is going to hurt the team. And stop comparing Miller to Pryor, the proper comparison is Miller and T.Smith. Nonsensical shenanigans.

Initial reports out of camp have the quarterback battle pairing down to the elder statesman and the young buck. This is not surprising as one is long on experience and the other long on simmering potential. That leaves Ohio State’s offensive minds two options to explore as far as ‘how’ to attack defenses with the quarterbacks in tow. The first, and obvious, is a run heavy, play action attack with Joe “the Buckeyes are going 7-5’ Bauserman. The second, and sexier, alternative is a no huddle spread attack with Braxton Miller.

If Bauserman waddles out there it has to be a run heavy attack because any defensive coordinator worth his paycheck will overload the box and dare Bauserman to win the game with his arm. Please no. If Miller comes out of the gate the opposing defensive coordinator has to acknowledge the running variable of the youngster.

The first offensive option the Buckeyes can utilize is obvious; pro I formation with Boren lead blocking for the stable of backs. This would allow clock management, field position and a tough defense to coalesce to overcome Bauserman’s lack of actual skill. This tactical theory would allow him a shot with effective play action buying him time to find Stoneburner or Hall.

The no huddle spread attack in either Trips (three WR to one side) or Aces (two WR to each side) is the other option Ohio State could explore. The fast-paced style of attack could play to the offense’s favor while turning an apparent weakness, inexperience, into a strength by forcing a talented athlete to just play.

Look at the quandary from the defensive coordinator’s perspective. If I see #14, I am walking the strong safety down over top of Stoneburner and run blitzing with the linebackers while reminding the defensive ends to sniff out screens on first and second down. On third down Bauserman is going to get blitzed because he has zero mobility and to ensure discomfort.

On the other hand, #5 has the ability to escape the rush and slash the defense. In other words, he is a threat to the defense. Imagine Miller in the gun with Berry flanking him and Hall, Stoneburner, and Brown off to one side. Picture Reed isolated on the other, I am taking the SAM backer out and asking an undersized nickel to cover Stoneburner or a slower linebacker to tackle Hall in space. Or, I am blitzing the young qb and risking his athletic ability buying him time to find the open man.

Todd Boeckman was replaced by Terrelle Pryor because USC blitzed Boeckman and Tressel realized that every team on out would follow that same successful theory (even with a healthy Beanie our beloved squad would have met the same demise). Bauserman is Boeckman’s shorter clone, both are/were bad.

The biggest reason for not embracing the no huddle is that it removes the fullback from the field of play which is less than optimal because Boren is one hell of a player. However, that is only temporary as the no huddle attack can set up the ground and pound clock-draining attack of the I formation which can be utilized, not as the offensive strategy of choice, but rather as one of the bullets in the offense’s overall assault package.