Which Starter Last Season Is On the Biggest Hot Seat?

By Statutoryglory -09 February 2013
26 Comments
- Football

I think you have to go with Philly Brown at slot. Sure there's a chance Philly could move to the outside opposite Devin Smith, but I think it's unlikely Philly is still our slot receiver at the end of the season between Jalin, Dontre, and the return to health of Jordan Hall. Philly did lead the team in receptions but he didn't do much with those passes in terms of making guys miss and creating yards other than that one ridiculous TD run toward the end of the season. 11.2 yds per reception and 96 total yds rushing isn't going to cut it in that role and Urban has been vocal about it. Harvin averaged 16.2/rec and 9.4/rush in 08, 14.5/rec and 9.2/rush in 07, and 12.6/rec and 10.4/rush in 06 all against tougher SEC defenses. Even Steve Savoy pulled over 14yds per play running and receiving in Urban's last year at Utah. By midseason Dontre or Jalin will be our starting slot and Philly is battling Corey Brown and Mike Thomas for that other outside WR spot.

bucknutz18 on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:07pm #

Philly will start every game next season

Braxton2Devin on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:11pm #

Are you kidding me? Did you watch any of the games last year? The guy was a huge factor almost every, if not every, game that season.

themostbrian on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:25pm #

Perhaps you didn't understand the question. The poster was simply asking which starter is in the most danger of losing their starting spot - this is not a referendum on anyone's performance last year but rather a look at positional competition and depth. No need to get defensive. No one is arguing that Philly Brown wasn't a huge factor last season.

cajunbuckeye on 9 Feb 2013 - 10:30pm #

Condescend much??

An angry fan...rooting for an angry team...led by angry coaches

themostbrian on 9 Feb 2013 - 10:35pm #

Yes, probably. Sorry.

Golden Buckeye on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:11pm #

I think Philly Brown has a better chance than Devin Smith to start every game next year. And that's not a shot at Devin Smith, I think he is a great player. I just think Philly brings more to the table elusively and made many more catches. Smith was a one-play vertical threat in many of the games and I think James Clark could potentially take that role when the time comes. But I don't think any Freshman will start on OFFENSE besides a hybrid-type role later in the season potentially.

kr66osu on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:13pm #

Anyone in the secondary that isn't named Roby

BuddhaBuck on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:28pm #

If Christian Bryant and CJ Barnett don't learn to tackle and/or read the right coverages.....

Keep Calm and Ignore the Trolls.

Jake in Cali on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:31pm #

2 senior leaders with more experience than anyone else on the entire defense..they're job is safe.

Statutoryglory on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:36pm #

Urban just spent time gushing about Bryant on Thursday on the Call In show.

D. Anthony on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:28pm #

Philly is probably safe, but the entire receiving corp is on notice.

D. Anthony

Jake in Cali on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:24pm #

Statutoryglory is not totally offbase and didn't say Philly wouldn't start. Philly is our best reciever and will start every game but he will see more time at outside reciever than slot without a doubt. The numbers don't lie and he didn't show enough shake to keep playing inside, especially with Hall returning and 2 high profile signature urban slot recruits coming in (Marshal & Wilson).

CC on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:30pm #

Outside of Philly's punt return for a touchdown I didn't see too much juke from our #1 playmaker.

While I don't think his job is in jeopardy, I do think his role will be diminished. I also think all of the other receives are on the hot seat.

I agree with above, the entire secondary, hold Roby is in jeopardy.

themostbrian on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:32pm #

Our returning starters are listed below. I highlighted 4 that I think are in moderate danger but I don't think there are any returning starters in significant danger of losing their job.

Braxton Miller - ZERO danger

Carlos Hyde - Minimal danger (Jordan Hall, Rod Smith, Brionte Dunn, EZE)

Devin Smith - Minimal danger (Evan Spencer, Mike Thomas, Corey Smith)

Philly Brown - Moderate danger (Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson, James Clark)

Jack Mewhort - Minimal danger (Kyle Dodson, Evan Lisle)

Andrew Norwell - Minimal danger (Chase Farris)

Corey Linsley - Minimal danger (Jacoby Boren)

Marcus Hall - Minimal danger (Chase Farris)

Jeff Heuerman - Moderate danger (Nick Vannett, Marcus Baugh)

Ryan Shazier - ZERO danger

Bradley Roby - ZERO danger

Christian Bryant - Moderate danger (Corey Brown, Devan Bogard, Vonn Bell)

CJ Barnett - Moderate danger (Corey Brown, Devan Bogard, Vonn Bell)

themostbrian on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:39pm #

I should add that I think Philly Brown will start either way, but he could lose the job he had last year, which is the hybrid, Harvin-type, slotback role. If he does, I expect he'll move out wide and complement Devin Smith at wideout.

Statutoryglory on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:40pm #

I don't think Pittsburgh Brown would be the one with a shot at unseating a Safety. I doubt he will be able to hold off Burrows/Bell or a gimpy Bogard for the Star. Other than that, awesome chart.

themostbrian on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:43pm #

I still hold out some hope for Corey. Perhaps at the STAR. This is his last year to show it so we'll see.

cplunk on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:43pm #

I think Devin Smith is in more danger than Philly Brown. Urban used Philly in a lot of different roles and he improved over the season. He showed some YAC ability here an there, and cold be used out of the backfield, in possession roles, and on deep routes.

I love Devin, but he was a one trick pony last year. Deep is what he does, and he drops way to many passes. He seems to be either the great play or no play. I can see him ending up as that fourth WR- not the primary (Philly), not the deep threat (Marshall or Clark), not the third down possession guy (Spencer or Thomas), but the fourth guy who comes in on 4 or 5 WR sets and has the role of stretching the defense for the underneath guys and winning some deep balls.

i really like him, so I hope he steps up and I'm wrong. I just think that, even though is more talented than some of the guys I listed and has more experience than others, his skill set is the one that doesn't quite fit the roles. If he gets beat out by Clark or Marshall for that number 2 deep man role, we might not see him much.

themostbrian on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:45pm #

I would agree with you that if Devin Smith is the same guy in 2013 that he was in 2012 he will lose his starting job. I just don't think that's going to happen. He definitely needs to improve his route-running and figure out how to get open in the intermediate routes - but I just don't see anyone who can bring the deep threat like he does. Marshall is not a burner and Thomas/Spencer are more smooth possession guys. Perhaps Corey Smith is the X-factor.

cplunk on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:50pm #

Hope you're right- Devin is one of my favorite Bucks.

Last year was tough. Forty pct of his production, both in yards and in TDs, came in two games- California and Indiana.

Devin has a knack for the big play at the right time that nobody else has proven yet, though, so we'll see.

otrain2416 on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:48pm #

I don't think anyone is in danger of losing a starting roll. I think you'll see a lot more rotation at positions as the coach starts to trust the younger guys more. Just a thought too before we start inserting the young guys into starting positions remember it takes time to adjust to the game. A lot of ppl thought Michael Thomas was gonna be a starter after a huge spring game and he was fighting to rotate in.

Gametime on 9 Feb 2013 - 9:56pm #

Everyone in the WR corps other than Philly Brown is on notice. With Dontre, Clark, Corey Smith, & Wilson coming in, I could easily see any of those guys stepping in right away. We've got to remember this isn't Tressel's teams - seniority doesn't mean squat.

In the secondary, anyone not named Roby or Bryant is on notice also. I think many people are sleeping on how good Armani Reeves was coming to us & he may surprise us & steal a starting spot or sneak in time at the STAR position.

Hopefully our Offense gives people the beeknees this year so we can see these young guys all get some tick.

"Leave...Your...Mark..."

KateUptonsLowerBack on 9 Feb 2013 - 10:42pm #

Philly was an underrated MVP. Those momentum-changing returns were huge. I'd say Bryant is a potential candidate for the hot seat, given the addition of Von Bell coupled with the pass D stats of '12.

ohiowhitesnake on 9 Feb 2013 - 10:43pm #

Anyone who started at linebacker not named Ryan Shazier!

Hovenaut on 9 Feb 2013 - 11:56pm #

This is a good discussion, worth revisiting after the spring game and summer camp.

Really expect some tough battles in the secondary and edge skill spots.

"Success - it's what you do with what you got" - Woody Hayes

GlueFingers Lavelli on 10 Feb 2013 - 12:03am #

I think Corey Smith will end up a starter. I think Philly is in trouble IMO. I think unless he really wows us by week 3 expect Dontre to see time. Urban isn't the type that waits long for guys to develop. You pretty much need to stand out by the end of your sophmore season or the staff is probably looking beyond you. I'd say Devin Smith is def safe, Corey Smith probably beats out Spencer, and Philly battles it out with stud freshman.

Dustin Fox was our leading tackler as a corner.... because his guy always caught the ball.