A lot has been said since Meyer's hiring about OSU having a lack of playmakers, and how OSU needs to recruit so many and there are none on the current roster. I'm going off the top of my head, but if I recall, the most playmakers one Florida team had on offense was 5 with Tebow, Demps, Rainey, Harvin, and Hernandez. The current OSU roster has Braxton, Hyde, Philly, Smith, Hall, and will be adding Marshall and Elliott, not to mention many other talented guys who I haven't even mentioned (like spencer, Rod, and fields, oh had to mention them).
Now I'm not going to compare players cause many of the guys at UF were home run threats and many of the OSU guys may not be, and if that is lack of playmakers then I guess I can agree. But to me a playmaker is a guy who makes a big play when needed, no matter if it is picking up a tough 3rd and 2, or taking a punt return to the house
I guess what I'm getting at is that, in 2013 at least, OSU has plenty of playmakers. Going forward into 14 and beyond, it's hard to determine, but do people think this gets a little, or a lot overblown considering 2012 OSU scored 37+ points a game?
And to make it clear, I'm talking about 2013, not really beyond next year
The Florida guys you named were elite playmakers, and in most cases, 1st round NFL talent... as of now only Braxton is an elite college level playmaker in that category of our guys you named...and I don't think any are obvious NFL 1st rounders (again, at this stage). I do think Urban will find more of the Galloway, Ginn type players we've been missing in the last few years.
D. Anthony
Only 2 out of the 5 UF players had 1st rd talent (Harvin & Hernandez). Just b/c Josh McDaniels and the Broncos picked Tebow in the 1st round does not mean he had 1st rd talent. This has been confirmed by McDaniels firing and Tebow's inevitable path to the CFL.
But Tebow was an elite college playmaker much like Braxton. At this point in time would you predict Braxton to be a 1st round draft pick? No, and much like Tebow he, as of now, will be a great college QB, but won't be a 1st round pick. Does that mean that Tebow wasn't an elite talent, no, but his skill set just didn't transfer over to the pros.
Best test is if another conference's fan can name your playmakers. You can name Smith, Hall, etc. because you are an OSU fan. Ask a UF fan to name our playmakers and I bet they only name Braxton. He is the only person that belongs in the list of the former UF players at this point. Hopefully they break out and change that, but to date they have not played to that level of playmaking.
Here's to hoping they BLOW IT UP next year like their talent level dictates they can.
I guess I hadn't considered that, but if I asked you who the playmakers for 2010 Auburn were after Cam how many could you name on offense? Or even Bama 2012 after Lacy and Cooper?
Hernandez was taken in the 4th round, Demps wasn't drafted since he was trying for the olympic team, Rainey was taken in the 5th. Tebow was taken in the first, whether he should have or not. I know some of these guys had some character issues, but those aren't 1st round talents based on college production.
I agree Braxton is the clear number 1 guy, but Hyde is a legitimate player and many fans of college football know who he is. After that I can agree with you, although I would say many know Devin Smith if only for his #1 sportscenter grab
I dont disagree, but Cam won the NC with their D. Cam was absolutaly rediculous, he had to carry the offense by himself. His coach would have been saying the same thing, where are my playmakers to help the guy out. I don't want to expect Braxton to come back from a 3 TD deficit over and over again, Auburn won it all with that, but they are the exception to the rule.
You want to cover all your basis, meaning you need multiple playmakers to have a higher chance of success.
Edit:
The offense will be fine...as long as injuries don't plague that side as it did for the defense last year. With additions of Marshall, EzE and others this offense will be more explosive. I'd look for some of these 2013 guys to come in and play in the Fall. Along with the others returning who will have another year with Urban's offense under their belts....They'll be just fine...:-)
I've heard this and that about the defensive expectations for next year on other threads. Let's wait till after Spring and the later part of fall before we start the "the world's coming to an end" talk bc of inexperience. Youth is a great thing to have....not to mention depth...which OSU's defense has now. They didn't last year...there's enough depth now at LB to put Grant at DE if he continues to flounder at Mike LB (as Alex and others here at 11W have pointed out). The Defense will surprise some people I think in 2013....we'll see I suppose.
"There's nothing that cleanses your soul like getting the hell kicked out of you."
"I love football. I think it is most wonderful game in world and I despise to lose."
Woody Hayes 1913 - 1987
I agree with the post though. To this point, none of the guys are elite playmakers except for Braxton, but they are also young. Devin Smith is a homerun threat every time he runs a route. How many times has he been wide open way down field and either was hit with the pass or over thrown???? Philly, showed a lot last year in my opinion. That guy can be an elite playmaker too. I'm not has bullish on Hall as everyone else is, but he's not a bad player. If Rod Smith can learn not to fumble, everyone in the college football world will know who he is. I liked the little I saw out of Dunn last year too. The Elliot and Marshall will make some contributions this year as well.
The Florida guys weren't all first round NFL talent though. Harvin and Tebow were, but Hernandez was a 4th round pick. Demps was a rookie free agent signing. Rainey was 5th round pick. I do think the potential is there for many on the current Buckeye offense to have similar results. To this stage in their careers they aren't elite receivers and RBs, but many of the guys were just sophomores last year. So I fully expect guys like Devin, Rod, Dunn, Heurman, Vannet, and Braxton to be very productive college players when all is said and done. Urban was right when he said there's no Ted Ginn on this team, but let's face it, He wasn't left with total garbage. He had talent on this team, and said as much when he covered the first game of the Fickell led Buckeyes for ESPN. Everything he says and does is calculated. He was being partly honest, and also trying to motivate his team. Also, by saying we need elite playmakers he was trying to attract recruits.
There are plenty of guys on this team capable of making plays, and there are several good playmakers coming in this class.
Zeke and Marshall are the true type of playmaker Urban is seeking. I believe Hyde, Smith, Brown, and Hall are good players. They aren't explosive like Harvin, Rainey, and Demps tho. Braxton is our most dynamic playmaker on the roster right now but I'd say the staff would like to limit his hits next year.
I think it depends on what your definition of playmaker is. It sounds like to most, a playmaker is someone that can "take it to the house" anytime they touch the ball. That's great and all, but rarely does that happen, even with the most freakish athletes.
My definition of a playmaker is someone that can make guys miss and turn a 3 yard gain into a 12 yard gain or get a first down on a 3rd and 18 screen pass. Those plays demoralize a defense and energize the fans and other players on the sideline. They also have the ability to happen alot more often than the "home run".
I would much rather have a team full of the second scenario and I think we have some of those guys in this class so I'm not worried one bit.
What's the difference then. They are essentially the same thing. If one can do your second scenario, then one can be the home run threat
In my scenario two, words that come to mind are "shifty" and "elusive". Someone like Braxton.
Ted Ginn would be the home run threat guy because of straight line speed, but I don't think you would ever hear him called elusive or shifty.
It's a very fine line, but I would rather have the guys I'm talking about. I would consider Braxton and possibly Philly Brown from the current roster, and definitely Jalin Marshall, Zeke Elliot, and Taivon Jacobs amongst the current recruits as playmakers. Of course Urban wants more...we all do. But remember, only 11 offensive guys are on the field at the same time and 5 of those are linemen.
One more note, Urban, the ultimate judge on talent, says we need playmakers therefore I have to side with him. If he thinks we lack playmakers then we do...
My bad on the downvote. Tried to upvote on my iPhone.
I dont even care ;)
Right I think I stated in my opening post that to me a playmaker can be a guy who runs for 80 yards and takes a punt to the house, or the guy who can eat up 5 minutes in the 4th quarter picking up tough 3rd and 3s. Hyde to me is a playmaker, regardless of whether he has 2 50+ yard runs a game
I just think the "lack" is a little overblown