This is my first post on Eleven Warriors!! I'm happy to join you guys on here.
I never thought we would be this good this quick. I admit, I saw this years team as another 9-3 or 8-4 teams. So, I am really surprised by our improvement over the course of one year. I know we still have two games left in this season, but I am can't wait for next season. Our talent is incredible and we're only going to get better. We're going to have Hyde as our feature back with Rod Smith running, Bri'onte Dunn getting carries (btw he was beast carrying the ball yesterday), and Warren Ball who is a big shifty power back. If he can stay healthy, he will be challenging Dunn for carries. Not to mention Hall. No disrespect to Hall, but the back we have this year run like the traditional OSU backs. He may have to make a permanent move to Wide Receiver after he completely heals. And this isn't even counting Philly Brown who is getting carries, Ezekiel Elliot, a Meyer recruit, Taivon Jacobs who will likely see hand-offs on jet sweeps, and Jalin Marshall who is growing into a running back by the day. And, the best running back in recent OSU history, Braxton Miller. How the hell are we going to get anyone else the ball?
I'm very excited to see what Urban continues to do with our program. My concern next year is the defense. If you take a look at our current depth chart http://grfx.cstv.com/schools/osu/graphics/pdf/m-footbl/2012-two-deep.pdf we are going to be very young on defense next year. On our D-line were possible losing all 4 starters Williams, Simon, Goebel, and a very good chance Hankins too. Although I'm very excited to see Spence, Washington, Schutt, Pittman, Miller, Bennett, and Bosa have their shot. Our LBs were losing Boren, and Sabino and a lot of young guys haven't stepped up. At DB were losing Howard, Johnson, and possibly Roby to the draft. Our offense were only losing Fragel and Stoneburner next year. Although the year after that we will be losing 4 starters on our O-line which is a bummer .
Honestly though, can we really be that much worse of defense? Yeah we are losing some starters, but this has not been the year of the Silver Bullets. I can only believe that with a turnover in talent we can only be better. We lose some great players and leaders, but I'm willing to think someone will step up that is a leader and more talented.
I don't think Roby leaves yet, but maybe I'm just being optimistic. I think Hankins is gone for sure. Every mock draft i have seen has him pretty high in the first round. I would love for him to come back but he should go pro and get paid while he can because you never know what will happen in the future. Linebacker makes me nervous. The fact that Grant isn't good enough to beat out our fullback really says alot about where he is. Its a shame to because the guy is a physical beast, the dude looks the part. Mike mitchell honestly could start next year if we Urbs gets him. Offense I think Decker has gotten enough experience to be able to step in for fragel ( Maybe Dorian Johnson if we get him). I agree that Hall could see a move to a slot receiver. Were going to be stacked at RB next season.
I am more excited to see how the DL develops next season. Last year we shifted some of our depth over to OL to counter our weakness there. I feel like that hurt us when Williams, Simon and Bennett were all fighting injuries. Next season (Barring a bunch more injuries) we should be a lot more stable in the early going just due to better depth.
Did anybody get sick to their stomach watching Trey Depriest in that Alabame uni? Jordan Hicks is having a great carreer at Texas, also. I can only imagine what could have been.....
^^^^ Watched 2nd half of the Alabama/LSU game, and I didn't see DePriest make a single play. Though he was on the field, no doubt.
I think Linsley could be an all-american next year. I am pleasantly suprised with his improvement. Did anybody notice how much they have been pulling him on run plays? He has been straight up blowing people up. I think he is having a much better season than Brewster had last year.
A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men
Next year we will have hyde and hall a senior, smith a junior, dunn a sophomore, zeke and ball a freshmen. Then u have marshall who will probably get carries along with sweep plays. With all this depth do u think we land any good RB in the 2014 class? U cant get that many guys the ball.
MATT20, while I agree with you about LB depth being a concern, keep in mind that Boren was a STUD LB in high school. He was widely considered to be one of the top LB prospects coming out of high school. I don't know that I would expect Grant to beat him out just yet. I am surprised that UFM didn't push harder for LB's in his first recruiting class, but I guess he didn't know just how limited our depth was at that position. Hopefully we can get a few for 2013.
Yes there are two Buckeyes in Ann arbor on this site!
@John. Trey had 10 tackles. He's only a sophmore.
I think Jalin will stick at WR, but that is nitpicking. The D is going to be the question mark next year. We have physically talented players, but getting them up to speed will be crucial. Jamal Marcus, Curtis Grant, Joshua Perry and David Perkins have the tools, they just need to be mentally stronger and more prepared. Any of 2 of those 4 on the field with Ryan Damn Shazier will make the LB corps exponentially better. Adding Mike Mitchell, should it happen, could help tremendously as well. The DL will be young, but stacked. All in all, it is an exciting time to be a Buckeye fan!
i do not think that jalin will stick at WR. he will be that percy/demps/rainey this offense needs. urban will find creative ways to get him the ball. kind of like deanthony thomas and tavon austin. read option plays, screens, jet sweeps, and dive plays out of the backfield. all of that along with playing slot receiver. remember one of the years at florida meyer found out how to get the ball to all of the following on just running plays alone: tebow, harvin, demps, rainey, moody, brandon james, kestahn moore and aaron hernandez (shovel option). i dont think that he will have a problem using his weapons here!
It's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog
I only mentioned the offense for a reason, specifically our running backs, the other players who will get carries like the "Percy Harvin" role players. Jalin probably won't be a pure receiver because of his ability to make moves and dodge tacklers. He is more than likely going to play the Harvin role along with Philly Brown and Jordan Hall. Brown may have to make a permanent move to wide receiver because of his speed and ability to stretch the field. As well as Jacobs. Creating a playbook to keep all this talent on the field will be the hardest part. Depending on how they develop, Marshall, Jacobs, and Elliot will all be challenging for playing time. They can all catch well enough to play wide receiver, but run hard enough to play running back. They are all perfect fits for the Harvin role, but there are currently 2 people at that position. So we are probably 5 deep at the Harvin role, and that not even adding Corn Elder or Ryan Timmons.
First of all, welcome to 11W. I wouldn't worry about being too deep in the RB situation. Look at last year when many said the same thing. Stuff like this always works itself out and it's always been said that you can't be too deep at RB. Besides, Urban has said the best 11 guys will be on the field.
"It's just another case of there you are". ~ Doc (1918-2012)
The attrition is inevitable, but I am just about as concerned about the coaching staff remaining intact as I am about losing players to graduation/NFL. Keeping the staff intact will be huge for recruiting, continuity of schemes, continuity of details, etc. I am concerned that Withers will be gone, and depending on Meyer's assessment of Vrabel and Fickell I think there is a chance one or both could be gone. Those changes could wreak as much havoc as losing players could.
vacuuming sucks
@Maestro What leads you to believe that Withers and/or Vrabel/Fickell could be gone? Genuine question, not trying to troll. The past few weeks have seen an improvement (a vast one, some might say) in the quality of defense being played by Ohio State. Given the sweeping injuries that have plagued that side of the ball, especially at the LB position, I think that the coaches have done the best they could. Quarters was not working especially well with the personnel that currently is on the roster, so the defensive staff has made some adjustments that have done wonders. Just curious as to why you believe Meyer will clean house.
I think after the latest couple of games where the defense has actually looked pretty good with a decent Mike, Fickell and Co. should have another look. It is amazing what a true leader at MLB can do to a defense and that was what was missing. I don't see any fault with the scheme or coaching now as much as before Boren really started to fulfill that role.
Frankly, I don't know if I want Hall to come back next year. At least not to the detriment to Hyde, Smith and Dunn. Not to mention the others. If he comes back and becomes a good locker room guy and wants to be apart of a championship team, then by all means he belongs there. But an actual contributor, I think the team has surpassed him.
@BESERK, I don't think Meyer will clean house, but it is a concern. Withers will be on people's lists for HC jobs without a doubt. If the right situation presents itself he would likely move on.
The fact that Meyer felt compelled to become more involved in the defense after the IU game is certainly not a feather in Vrabel's of Fickell's caps.
I am of the opinion that stability on the coaching staff is of paramount importance for making a title run next year.
vacuuming sucks