[Saw31]

Originally Posted by MililaniBuckeye

I'm not quite sure I'd say we'll be "improved" over last year's squad, but rather we may be just as good by the end of the season as we were at the end of last season. To me, the key is avoiding the "slow start" we had last season. Now, you'd think that since our two losses last season were caused by the offense taking time getting back into sync because of Smith coming in late, we would be better since we'll have him from day one...which should be the case. Still, to avoid any stumbling, the defense will have to come out with guns blazing, young or not. Here's how I see our defense:

DL: I think we shift Patterson down to tackle along side Pitcock, and have Wilson and Richardson at the ends. I'd like to think that P&P would be just as good in the middle as Pitcock and Green were last year. I think Wilson will be nearly as good at the start of the season as Kudla was at the end of this past season. Richardson was rotating in for Patterson at the end of last season, so I think he'll be as good as the start of this season. Thus, I think the DL can be at 90-95% of our Michigan and Fiesta Bowl game DL right at the start of the season. We'll definitely need that in Austin.

LB: While Laurinaitis won't give us the flexibility that Carp did (both LB and rush DE), he'll be close to what Carp was as a LB...he played well in The Game and the Fiesta Bowl, so not really that much of a dropoff. D'Andrea may take a game or two to get spun up, but if he remains healthy he could even be an improvement over Schlegel (keep in mind D'Andrea was the starter over Schlegel in 2004 before getting hurt). Lastly, while Freeman can't possibly replace Hawk, he won't be that much of a dropoff...he's so good that the staff was trying to get him on the field any way they could before he got hurt. Our LB corps may take a few games to get warmed up, but by the end of the season we'll again have the best LB corps in the conference.

CB: Jenkins will be a significant improvement over the hip-pointer Youboty and about 98% as good as the pre-hip pointer Youboty. Amos will be an improvement over Everett. I'm thinking by the end of the season they could be the best CB duo in the conference.

S: Here's the biggest mystery on the defense. Mitchell should be a starter, but who will be his deep running mate? O'Neal? Patterson? Welch? To me, this is the area that could end up biting us in the ass the most on defense. If our safeties turn out fine, then this defense will flat out rock...if they don't, then we'll have some problems.

We don't even have to cover much about the offense. We do lose two big-time starters in Mangold and Holmes and another good starter in Sims, but I think we'll manage fine there. I also think that whoever steps in for Hamby at TE will be an upgrade (Frost and B. Smith played quite well). Our WR corps will be excellent, with Ginn and Gonzo along with whomever is our #3 (Hall, Dukes, Lyons, Robiskie, Hartline, etc.). And nothing needs to be said about a backfield of Smith, Pittman, C Wells, M Wells, and Haw.

No matter what record we finish with in 2006, it's going to be one hell of an exciting season. I'm drunk and tired, so I don't know how this is going to read...I guess I'll find out in the morning.

Originally Posted by Steve19

A couple of thoughts to support Saw and Mili...

Jim Tressel seems to be really good at getting kids to understudy the 1's. There's a LOT of talent left. We keep seeing this reload pattern, and I think we will see it again next year.

I think we can safely assume that we will avoid the slow start. Not having Smith lead the offense from the first game created all kinds of confusion (how long did this board debate Smith or Zwick this year?) and inconsistencies because Justin was such a different quarterback and was best suited to a different offense. If you look at the early games, lots of three and outs. Not so later. This has all kinds of consequences. The defense was on the field longer and got more tired. Team morale suffered due to unfulfilled expectations and two quick losses.

Great posts Mili and Steve19...My contention that we will be "improved" is exactly what you two have hit upon. I do not think we will see the "slow start" next year. Having an experienced offense with proven leaders will be a tremendous advantage for us (I'm hinting at the game in Austin here)...And if we can get out of the gates quickly, it will help this young defense get their legs under them. I think we can safely assume we will, once again, be very good at the end of the season. Tressel's teams have been excellent in that regard. The schedule sets up nicely for us, aside from the trip to Texas, and I think again, if we can get out of the starting blocks quickly next season, "improvement" (record wise at least) is very possible...I have to believe this offense will be able to cover some of the early season blemishes the young defense may have. We should be capable of out scoring people or just plain playing a game of smash mouth "keep away" with our backfield in the event the young D struggles some early. But again, as we've seen with every Tressel team, I would expect the defense to be right there where it needs to be by season's end...We've rotated so many guys in there, I just can't imagine the D not being solid once we hit the meat of the schedule. Most of these guys have seen significant PT and that experience is invaluable...

I'm really excited to see some of the young guys go full time. Jenkins is going to be a star IMO. I've been anxiously awaiting O'Neal's full time contributions since he was a sophomore in HS. The front four have me excited as well. If we can find a few pieces to the puzzle early (safeties), we may be looking at a very exciting ride next year...

Side note: I have no worries about the offense going into next year. Full confidence...That sure is a strange feeling for me, to say the least. I can't remember the last time I looked toward a new season not worrying about the offense... It's great to be a Buckeye!!