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Originally Posted by MONTbigBuck
Good points Rb07. Most of the knowledgable contributors at BP undoubtably read this stuff for the entertainment value and as a barometer for how we are doing in recruiting. Still I think it is natural to feel slighted or disrespected when things are said that don't fit our own perceptions as Buckeye fans. But that's where the drama should end. Everyone should keep in mind that the objective is to win football games, and ultimately national championships, and not mythical recruiting titles.
Coach Tressel has been here long enough to more than prove himself as an expert at building and rebuilding a roster. Moves are made to benefit the football team, not impress Tom Luginbill. I think it is actually beneficial to have a Homan or Boren at fullback. Guys who will consider it an honor to pull on the uniform, relish the roll of smacking a LB in the hole, and overall make the unglamourous contributions to our team that are needed. A 5-star recruit that ends up at FB because he couldn't win a Rb spot wouldn't necessarily help you win more, and could be damaging to team chemistry. The recruiting services always seem to love TE's that are really Glorified receivers, but in our offense may not turn out to be adequate blockers. Recruiting services will never do cartwheels over the Ballard, Fragel types, but to staff this type of player is indespensable. Same with DT's. In the Recruiting publication world the top 2-3 guys that get fawned over always seem to be penetrators that could be "the next Warren Sapp". Solid guys that can control the middle don't get any love. I for one feel great about the Bellamy pickup. The fact that he earned his offer first-hand early in the process, under tight scholarship parameters, and with other options still out there, to me speaks volumes. Who cares if some 2-bit calls him a low 3-star.
To me it is really about building a complete roster, which is something that I feel Coach Tressel is as great as any in football in doing. In 4 years when some of the class of 08 are seniors, and many of this years class are juniors, we could likely be playing for another national championship. If Shaq Rowell and Adam Bellamy are holding the point of attack and winning the battle against some LSU type that is playing power football, then we will all be glad that we have a couple of big immovable run-stuffer types on the roster. No one will be worried that these guys were low 3-stars, or that some recruitnik thought we were bottom fishing. It's about winning real games.
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Great post. I agree completely. I think your point about getting contributors, team guys, guys who will not pout if they are never starters and who will contribute on special teams is very important.
We only had 72 scholarship players last year (and a number of them redshirted) and I never felt like we were at much of a disadvantage depth wise. The truth of the matter is that with all of the camps and combines and the advances in high school weight training, these freshman are coming in way ahead of where they did just 5 years ago. Especially when you consider that they can show up in the spring or, at the latest, in June. When you add in the couple non-scholarship contributors (Boren, Bauserman, etc.) I almost feel like it makes sense to not try to load up with too many guys who are dead set on making careers in the NFL. Too many of these guys and you end up seeing a ton of transfers and infighting and what not.
You need to have some 5 star guys to compete for National Championships. Guys like Beanie, Teddy, Whitner, Mo C., etc. Hopefully Mike Adams, Terrelle Pryor, Etienne Sabino, etc. can be those guys. You need to have stars and you need to have enough talent that you have good players at every position and plenty of depth so there is competition. However, when a team like USC has 10 4-5 star RBs, it is just over kill. You also need to surround the stars with a lot of good solid players who work hard and play tough, physical football and who are willing to contribute in any way they can.