I am just curious to why we have been missing on so many OL recruits? Am I in a small group that feels like they just don't want to come to OSU? Do they know Bollman is gone and Herman is one of the best OL coaches in the country? I think that the 2014 OL haul has to be very special or we could be in some trouble. (Edit Warriner not Herman)
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Good topic but it would probably be better suited in the recruiting forum.
http://www.elevenwarriors.com/forums/recruiting
[Ed - Topic moved. Good call.]
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
Also might help if you knew who the OSU o-line coach was...
Does it really matter? Anyone is better than Bollman.
"Attack the Strong, Trample the Weak, Hurdle the Dead!"
-Former OSU S&C Coach Lichter
They brought in Boren, Elflein, O'connor, and decker the previous year. O'Connor is the only one who is gone and Boren looked promising at center in the little minutes he played this past year. They will be fine on the oline, and Warriner is the oline coach Herman is the ocoordinator
don't forget Dodson
Boren, Elflein, O'Connor, Decker, Dodson = a top 8 OL class in the nation for 2012 IMO
Boren is a Boren, do I need to go any farther? Ha. He was very underrated IMO and should be a better Cory Linsley for us.
Elflein seemed to be a bit underrated as well, but also seems like he could use some work on things, worst case he becomes a career backup like Underwood?
O'Connor was an UA AA and had 3 year starter written all over him possibly a future All Big Ten OL
Decker has 3 year starter written all over him as well. And IMO I think he was the top dog for this great OL haul. Should be a future All Big Ten OL, possibly an National AA.
Dodson, the 2nd best OL in this haul IMO. Could also be a 3 yr starter and seems to be a great LT prospect. Should eventually be an All Big Ten AA as well, possibly an National AA.
Time will tell with this OL haul, but as we have already seen O'Connor has transerred. I see the rest of this class sticking around except for maybe Elflein with playing time issues. but other than this class will be the future of our OL.
This class was a top 5 OL class in the nation for 2012 IMO, but to recruiting services this class wouldnt have been a top 5 class. 1st Bucknuts, 2nd is Rivals, 3rd is Scout, 4th is ESPN, 5th is 247 Composite
Elflein:64th G/ 3 star
NR
31st G/ 3 star
26th G/ 4 star
54th G/ 3 star
Boren: 25th G/ 3 star
37th G/ 3 star
80th G/ 3 star
45th G/ 3 star
30th G/ 3 star
Dodson: 22nd T/ 4 star
16th T/ 4 star
24th T/ 4 star
81st T/ 3 star
23rd T/ 4 star
O'Connor: 23rd G/ 3 star
12th T/ 4 star
17th G/ 3 star
8th G/ 4 star
12th G/ 4 star
Decker: 28th T/ 4 star
23rd T/ 4 star
14th T/ 4 star
63rd T/ 3 star
19th T/ 4 star
According to the 247 composite. We landed (2) 3 stars, (3) 4 stars. Sounds like a solid OL haul to me. But I think not going by ratings, OSU had a top 8 haul IMO. I say top 5 and not higher up due to the OL classes that Auburn, Florida (only 2 guys), Michigan, ND, Stanford, Texas, & USC ahead of us, with Bama, Georgia, LSU, Oklahoma, Rutgers slightly behind us.
#Buckeyes
But this is a valid question. So many oline recruits chose ND and scum over our beloved tOSU. Even LSU!
Because we don't play a pro style offense. Many recruits look at how the school will showcase their skillset. If you are a slot receiver, or a shifty running back, Urban's offense works. Because much of Urban's offense revolves around movement, and running the ball, the O-Line does less pro-style blocking, and more pulling, and movement. The recruits will come, if they see the consistency of Warrier, but its more of how the offense suits them and their skill set.
As the NFL moves more and more toward Pistol/Spread read option schemes, this will change and we'll see recruits outlook on the best place to showcase their talent for the NFL.
I agree with Chicago here, it's more the style of offense. Particularly if these recruits are coming from a high school that is more of a traditional I- formation power run program. The large amount of pulling/traps utilized in a power spread that the lineman may be asked to perform, means they'll want lineman with some quickness to them. Think of the Denver Broncos line when they finally managed to win superbowls, agile though somewhat undersized (by NFL standards) OL that were very good at a zone blocking scheme.
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^^^What you guys said, and having umpteen linemen probably doesn't help.
Pro Style Offense?
All Urban has to say is: Please see: Pouncey, Mike & Pouncey, Maurkice (sp?). Both 1st rounders.
We know nothing about Dodson,Boren,Elflein, and O'Conner left. After 4 of the 5 starting Lineman graduate after 2013-14 we will have some serious holes to fill. We need a special 2014 OL recruiting class IMO.
It's definitely an area of concern, but not dire by any strecth. Picking up two this year to go along with the 4 from last year is big. Having the ability to move some of the DL commits over if it is req'd helps, but I would be shocked if the OL isn't a big area addressed next year.... In addition to Marcelys Jones.
After watching the NC this year it was clear just how important it is. I was in the camp that thought a good O-Line would get beat by a good D-Line, that game started to change my perception.
My point is to compete for NCs we need great o-line classes not good ones. We simply have not had great classes.
LT 74 Jack Mewhort*** .............................................6-6, 312, Sr.
76 Darryl Baldwin**................................................. 6-5, 300, Jr.
LG 78 Andrew Norwell*** .........................................6-6, 310, Sr.
73 Antonio Underwood** ........................................ 6-2, 306, Jr.
C 71 Corey Linsley*** ...............................................6-3, 295, Sr.
50 Jacoby Boren*.......................................................6-2, 287, So.
RG 79 Marcus Hall*** .................................................6-5, 315, Sr.
57 Chase Farris*.........................................................6-4, 290, So.
RT 68 Taylor Decker* .......................................................6-7, 313 So 66 Kyle Dodson.................................................................6-6, 310, Fr.
Based on last year this is our two deep. I imagine Elflien fights for some time at guard. Lisle fights for some time at Tackle. I don't think were as bad 2 deep as people think. Lisle is one of the top tackles in the nation. Gardner can develop into a solid guard like Marcus Hall. I think last year we put our eggs in certain players basket too early like Pocic rather than recruiting Bivins hard early on.
I think people are worried about the year after...
I know hence why i mentioned some about the two deep. Meyer has praised Baldwin and Boron for their play. Decker is gonna be a beast at tackle and almost started this yr as a true freshman. Dodson and Lilse will fight out for a tackle and Baldwin could move into guard. The other guard is going to be battled out by Elfien, Underwood, Gardner, and Farris. Munger is another guy that could suprise at guard. Kid was an animal on the O line in his highlight type. We definately need a big OL haul next year though after losing 4 seniors
I think we are agreeing with each other, but you just are showing that it's not as dire of a situation....
As of today, the '14 OL will look something like this: OT- Decker, Dodson, Lisle OG- Elfein, Boren, Gardiner. That is why at least one of Price/Munger will have to switch to OL. It is also why OSU coaches have been going real hard to grab another OL this season. Imo, we have to land at least one elite OL prospect in '14 who can actually come in and start as a freshman, because the thin numbers and the nature of the game make it almost certain that we'll need them on the field. Good news is that OSU seems to be in on plenty of top talent along the OL for '14, and I think another good year from the OSU line in '13 will help to establish Wariner's name as one of the top OL coaches around.
Some good points by CC and Nathen, as the potential lack of depth on the OL is cause for concern; however, we're also prone to overinterpret short-term patterns.
For the most part, Alabama has built its recent powerful OLs with a heavy inclusion of former 3-star recruits. This past season was a bit of a departure from that, as sophomore Cyrus Kouandijio was a 5-star and both B. Jones and Fluker were 4-stars, although two major performers on that line - Steen and Warmack (all SEC) were 3-stars. Now, going into next year, though, with the exception of the returning Kouandijio, several projected starters are 3-stars.
Well, in Ohio State's case, we don't know yet how some of the 3-star/4-star kids will develop - Baldwin, Boren, Elflein, Farris, Tim Gardner (2013) as well as potential DL/OL swing players Price or Munger. On top of that, Decker, Dodson, and Lisle were/are big time recruits, as coveted as Fluker and Barrett Jones were coming out of h.s. Let's see how they develop.
And it's too early to start drawing big conclusions about Urbz's spread offense discouraging pro-style OLmen. Kids choose schools for myriad reasons. If Urbz loses a couple of OL tragets during one recruiting season, do we think that's a big enough small size from which to generalize?
The problem with the comparison is that Fluker was apparently raw, but was fast and big enough to become great. Not so Elflein, Boren and probably Gardner. Baldwin is a stop gap guy.
Gotta look at why they are 3 stars, and the problem with our Tressel recruit backups is that they are largely 3 stars because they have a low ceiling.
Fido's best point is Barrett Jones, because he (brains, heart and weights) is who Farris or Gardner could be if the stars align. That's great, but we also need a potential O Pace (or at least K Stringer), so we need to go get Knox or Tunsil, not Elflein.
I really hope we can land some OL for the 2014 class because after this upcoming season, we lose a ton. For 2014, I imagine we have Dodson, Boren and Decker at 3 spots. Hopefully some of the 2nd stringers can get some PT so we aren't going in totally green
We don't just need a solid OLINE haul, we need a great one. It is abundently clear that college ball is won in the trenches, even more than the NFL. We nailed the elite DLINE side, we have a quality OLINE haul. Again, if we want to compete solidly NC level, we need elite OLINE as well. I think that is made abundently clear by the past winners and their OLINE DLINE depth.
I'm happy with who we got, they are solid talent. I just lament the fact we didn't get the more likely elite guys. Anyone of these guys could flop or overproduce, we all know that, but it is nice to have guys that have a higher chance of success, the elite now.