If "the talent is there," as Urban said, I'm wondering why this group of WRs are so unprepared. Is the lack of preperation due to last year's position coach, Stan Drayton, this year's position coach, Zach Smith, a combination of the two, or perhaps the turmoil of last year?
Because our best receiver last year had 14 catches? That may have something to do with it. Also, we went from good WR coach (Hazell)->RB Coach (Drayton)-> Newbie (Z. Smith). There will be some smoothing out.
Good points, URBZRENEWAL.
Go Bucks!
I don't think that Urban has alot to work with except M. Thomas and maybe D. Smith. The rest of the WR crew is pretty average and I don't think I see any game changers at all. I've been praying for a great class of WR/playmakers but besides Marshall and Baugh I am worried. I feel that Gibson, Quick, Foster should be some of our biggest targets for 2013 class, IMO.
I think last year they were all just extremely young or inexperienced...or not that talented. Ty Williams couldn't catch. Philly Brown was the only player with any game experience at all (until Posey returned) and he couldn't catch. Verlon Reed got a lot of hype but was new to the position, and he wasn't very fast and unfortunately got hurt early on. Chris Fields isn't very fast and has always been a backup. Our only bright spots were Smith and Spencer and they were true freshmen.
Or maybe it's because we never threw the ball so they didn't get the reps they needed.
14 catches lead the team! We need help big time hopefully M. Thomas spring game wasn't a fluke or Philly learns to catch the ball.
Did you watch OSU's games last year? I would say the problem has something to do with the fact that they were playing Bauserman at quarterback and then a true freshman and thus the offense was awful, especially the passing game.
Bauserman may have had the worst season, I've ever seen a Buckeye QB have last year, and Jim Bollman's offensive scheme was ignorant. 3 different position coaches in 3 years. I think it is tough to judge the WR's on the roster till after the new coaching staff sees them through most of August's practices.
I think it was a big mix of youth, inexperience, and Walrusball last year that led to our leading receiver having 14 catches. Not to mention Posey playing just 3 games...if he were not suspended at all, or if he did nothing after tatgate and was suspended for just 5, he'd have had more than 14 catches. Though who knows how much more because of Walrusball...hopefully new offense means more reps for receivers, and means development. I find it hard to believe that there would be inadequate talent for wide receivers at Ohio State.
Class of 2010.
I dont think we have a Devier Posey type talent on the roster currently, we have a plethora of decent competent receivers that I think can still thrive in a wide open Urban Meyer offense. Nobody will be scared of our WR's but I think theyre good enough to move the ball down the field when u mix in Jordan Hall, Stoneburner, option plays and smart playcalling so the defense doesnt know whats coming at them, we're no longer a predictable vanilla offense. Hey Im not bashing the Tressal era, I love Vanilla but every now and then you gotta mix in some cookies and cream or something haha
Tom Herman will find a go to guy and feed him the ball.
In his years as an OC at Iowa State and Rice he has only once had a year where he didn't have a receiver lead the team with 50 or more catches. That year he had one with 43, one with 39 and one with 38. He also has had a receiver catch more than 100 balls twice. He will get the ball to Smith, Spencer, Brown and Stoney.
vacuuming sucks
Agree with Maestro. They will figure out their weapons and use them endlessly. It's not like Bollman not knowing how to use talent.
They have never had a GOOD WR Coach. Routes were as terrible As Hazell was.
Tressel's ego would not allow him to hire qualified seasoned coaches offensively.
The proof is what Meyer walked into.
djbuck13
I would argue Meyer's statement is a combination of several things:
Or, Urban could be completely literal with what he said and have no hidden agenda behind his statements. I'll give him more credit than that...
"What we do in life echoes in eternity"
Because we put all our eggs in the Posey basket last season. Also was an extremely young and inexperienced group. All freshman and 2 sophomores.
Run_Fido's favorite word is strawman.
Thank you all for jogging my memory. Come to think of it, a lot of different variables went into the creation of an unprepared WR group, the least of which was lack of talent, namely:
Call me crazy, but with Urban at the helm, and Tom Herman as the refeshingly new OC, I'm confident the WRs will be prepared before the season starts. Note: Zach Smith is the next inexperienced WR coach, but he's familiar with how Urban wants things done, and he's Earle Bruce's grandson. What's not to like?
Are we there yet?!
Go Bucks!
Go Bucks!
Correct me if I'm wrong.....didn't they have Drayton coaching wide receiver's last year?...Drayton has/is a running back coach.
I have to disagree with Urban and probably most of the posters. I think the wide receivers are the most unproven, but not the most unprepared. Obviously I haven't seen practice everyday this spring but as many others have pointed out I think it has to do more with the QB situation and offensive playcalling of at least last season (probably more) that has led the receivers to be so unheralded and unproven.
I think that Devin Smith is going to be our best and most complete receiver. He doesn't have top flight speed but he has plenty of speed to comine with his route running (very sharp) and he is sure handed, he also isn't afraid to go over the middle or up to catch balls. I think he will emerge as the #1 target.
Philly Brown displayed his top end speed, he is a burner and he can get open, can he catch it? I think Philly has some stone hands, but I also think repitition will help that too, he only got to go deep what, three times last season? I would probably expect Philly to ring in with 25-30 catches for 400-600 yds and a few TDs, mostly on deep routes or broken routes.
Stoney is going to be a big part of the passing game, no real need to address him we know hes good.
We'll see if Michael Thomas is going to get the T-Wash label but for now I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt. Had a big spring, bought into the training program, forming a bond with Braxton. He may not be the leading receiver but look for him to come on late.
The receiver I am most intrigued with is Verlon Reed. Some of the previous posters stated he doesn't have top flight speed, or isn't an athlete..that's absurd. The kid is pure athlete, he is an intelligent player, and he was rock solid early on before the knee injury. Obviously, it depends on how he recovers but if he does I think he could climb the depth charts again. I know he really only got a shot because of Posey's suspension, transfers, and really nobody else being any good (or fresh in Smith and Spencer's case). So we should see
Overall, I've got more faith in the WRs than we've been led to believe, but that's why Coach Meyer is the Coach and I'm the fan. Also, it is that time in the off season after spring practice when everything looks so rosey to me
@Carolina Buckeye
Actually Devin Smith is very fast. He is running track as well. He may not be "quick" or shifty but he has great speed. But I agree with you he will be our most productive receiver at least next year. I guarantee that even with a new offense and so many options for Braxton, Devin will still be the guy he probably trusts most...carried over from last year.
@Colin...oh yeah absolutely I know he has some wheels on him but I would say he isn't quit as breakneck as Philly or as a Harvin/Ginn. That speed he has though, combined with his route running,...he's going to have no problem getting separation. I also agree with you, the relationship he was building with Brax will definitely carry over
Whatever happened to Carter? Chris Carter's son?
GO BUCKEYES!!
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"The height of human desire is what wins, whether it's on Normandy Beach or in Ohio Stadium." ~Woody Hayes~
It is a thin unit that basically lost a year of quality training. The thing I'm noticing about Urban is that he seems to use public forums to set the high bar. He doesn't shy away from discussing the team's weaknesses.
Duron Carter was forced to go to junior college due to academic issues, and is going to be a member of Alabama this year I believe? Shame, the kid could've been a stud
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
Triv- So once he got his grades in order, he didn't want to be a Buckeye again? Thats the first I'm hearing about him since he left and that's slightly disappointing if thats the case.
"Love my State, hate the football"
I believe we didn't offer him out of JuCo but don't quote me on that
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
Carter was redshirted last season and is currently still dealing with grade issues, did not attend Spring practice. Doesn't look as if he is going to see the field in 2012 either
Sorry Urban, Woody is still my favorite
@ Upnorth
Once he got done with Juco he transferred to Alabama, and it sounds like he immediately slipped in academics again and has not been able to play due to grades.
I hate to be critical of kids, but man, that kid is just not very intelligent...grows up with a silver spoon in his mouth and can't even get his school work done. Ridiculous. Cris has to be absolutely embarrassed.
S/O OldColumbusTown above- thought all of your points were valid.
A lot of people here are bascially saying the same thing which I agree with. There was no leadership on offense last year from the coaching staff- blame Bollman, it's easy! No really, it's easy and very justifiable to blame Jim Bollman for sabotaging several key elements of Ohio State football.
Personally though, I think the biggest reason for Meyer making these comments though is simply due to his psych background. The production from the WRs was terrible (understatement) last year and they need to be challenged. Granted, they'll be put in a much better position to succeed this year due to the new staff, but they still need to be mentall challenged to step up.
If you ain't a Silver Bullet, you're a target