Clifford suspended (Washington OK to play) In Championship

[MililaniBuckeye]

Originally Posted by buckeyesin07

I'm not sure I would agree with the AP's calling Clifford a "top reserve," having only played in 4 games and made 8 tackles (most of which were on special teams).

Including the failure-to-wrapup gaff that allowed the NW kickoff returner to get loose and score their only TD and ruining the shutout.

[Taosman]

So the story is the two were in a fight?
With other people or was it with each other?
And Clifford is really trying to get a continuing seat in Tressel's dog house. Too bad.

[NastyDogg72]

This is no means a slight on Washington because I feel he is a good cover corner but to those who are worried that this is like the sky falling in I just wanted to give you an excerpt from the December 17th Sporting news with a Big 10 coaches perspective on tOSU defense. From page 34

"The defensive line is big and physical. Vernon Gholston is a stud, the best end in the league. Coaches I talk to at Ohio State tell me they can't block Cameron Heywood in practice. ... The linebackers speak for themselves. James Laurinaitis can run and is physical. I think he overshadows the guys on the outside. Those guys are pretty good, too. ... I like the secondary, but I'm surprised Donald Washington starts at corner. He's not very fast or athletic. But he's surrounded and protected by a lot of good players back there."

Couldn't find the story online so that is why I posted it. Now this is only one coaches perspective but I don't think we should go into total meltdown about this. If you were going to rank the players on the defense 1-11 with 1 being the most important to 11 being the easiest to replace Washington would be 11. Once again not a slight against Washington's skills just a comment on how deep we are at that position and how strong we are at all of the others. I am getting less and less worried about this with every passing moment. With our coaches and our personnel by Jan. 7th this could not only be a non issue it could be a huge positive. Chekwa or Amos will step up - 99.9% positive.

[IronBuckI]

Originally Posted by Taosman

So the story is the two were in a fight?
With other people or was it with each other?
And Clifford is really trying to get a continuing seat in Tressel's dog house. Too bad.

not violent would suggest that there was no fight.

[Taosman]

And Shaun Lane has been solid when he played.
We definitely have enough bodies to put in there.

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by NastyDogg72

This is no means a slight on Washington because I feel he is a good cover corner but to those who are worried that this is like the sky falling in I just wanted to give you an excerpt from the December 17th Sporting news with a Big 10 coaches perspective on tOSU defense. From page 34

"The defensive line is big and physical. Vernon Gholston is a stud, the best end in the league. Coaches I talk to at Ohio State tell me they can't block Cameron Heywood in practice. ... The linebackers speak for themselves. James Laurinaitis can run and is physical. I think he overshadows the guys on the outside. Those guys are pretty good, too. ... I like the secondary, but I'm surprised Donald Washington starts at corner. He's not very fast or athletic. But he's surrounded and protected by a lot of good players back there."

Couldn't find the story online so that is why I posted it. Now this is only one coaches perspective but I don't think we should go into total meltdown about this. If you were going to rank the players on the defense 1-11 with 1 being the most important to 11 being the easiest to replace Washington would be 11. Once again not a slight against Washington's skills just a comment on how deep we are at that position and how strong we are at all of the others. I am getting less and less worried about this with every passing moment. With our coaches and our personnel by Jan. 7th this could not only be a non issue it could be a huge positive. Chekwa or Amos will step up - 99.9% positive.

Great points...

Just imagine that we replaced the name "Donald Washington" with the name "Jim Cordle". Think about the implications of that for a second.

Moral of the story: It could have been worse.

[wadc45]

And let's put to bed any speculation that there are other players involved because that is just not true. I personally verified that with two people who would know.

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by wadc45

And let's put to bed any speculation that there are other players involved because that is just not true. I personally verified that with two people who would know.

Precisely why I put the word "imagine" in a large font. I wanted it clear that it was just an example to prove that things could be worse and nothing more.

[MaizeandBlue]

just saw this on sportscenter thought i would get on BP.

what teams rules did they violate? grades bad?

[DaddyBigBucks]

Originally Posted by MaizeandBlue

just saw this on sportscenter thought i would get on BP.

what teams rules did they violate? grades bad?

Nothing has been officially released, or will be.

(and all speculation that results from this question will be deleted)

[spotpass]

Originally Posted by DaddyBigBucks

Great points...

Just imagine that we replaced the name "Donald Washington" with the name "Jim Cordle". Think about the implications of that for a second.

Moral of the story: It could have been worse.

that's what I'm thinking...it's not like they're gonna put Tank out there to fill the spot

[tyrus]

Originally Posted by DaddyBigBucks

Great points...

Just imagine that we replaced the name "Donald Washington" with the name "Jim Cordle". Think about the implications of that for a second.

Moral of the story: It could have been worse.

Jim Cordle doesnt have the hips to play CB.

[LordJeffBuck]

Originally Posted by NastyDogg72

This is no means a slight on Washington because I feel he is a good cover corner but to those who are worried that this is like the sky falling in I just wanted to give you an excerpt from the December 17th Sporting news with a Big 10 coaches perspective on tOSU defense. From page 34

"The defensive line is big and physical. Vernon Gholston is a stud, the best end in the league. Coaches I talk to at Ohio State tell me they can't block Cameron Heywood in practice. ... The linebackers speak for themselves. James Laurinaitis can run and is physical. I think he overshadows the guys on the outside. Those guys are pretty good, too. ... I like the secondary, but I'm surprised Donald Washington starts at corner. He's not very fast or athletic. But he's surrounded and protected by a lot of good players back there."

Couldn't find the story online so that is why I posted it. Now this is only one coaches perspective but I don't think we should go into total meltdown about this. If you were going to rank the players on the defense 1-11 with 1 being the most important to 11 being the easiest to replace Washington would be 11. Once again not a slight against Washington's skills just a comment on how deep we are at that position and how strong we are at all of the others. I am getting less and less worried about this with every passing moment. With our coaches and our personnel by Jan. 7th this could not only be a non issue it could be a huge positive. Chekwa or Amos will step up - 99.9% positive.

As far as DW not being "very fast or athletic" (not your words, I know), I really can't think of anything more stupid than that comment. Washington is one of the more "fast and athletic" guys on the team; here are his high school stats - 4.5 forty. 4.12 shuttle, 40" vertical, two-time state long jump champion (he placed second as a senior). My guess is that Washington is even more "fast and athletic" now that he has been in the OSU S&C program for a while, but what do I know....?

Cornerback is arguably the most important position on any defense (a pass-rushing DE is the other) - that's why so many CB's are "over-valued" in the NFL draft. To lose a starting CB - any staring CB - is a big loss to a defense. Losing one of Washington's calibre should not be underestimated - he's certainly not the "easiest to replace" on defense. I'd place Washington fourth behind Gholston (pass-rushing DE), Jenkins (lock-down CB), and Laurinaitis (spiritual leader of the D). Although Chekwa has occasionally been impressive in the nickel packages, he is clearly a step down from Washington, and I have real doubts about O'Neal, Amos, Lane or anyone else as his replacement at nickel back.

[unionfutura]

when the news first broke it sounded like he was gone for good, not just this game. Now hearing that a little talk will take place between Eugene and the staff. It's the typical where are your priorities at type of meeting when kids get into trouble.

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Originally Posted by unionfutura

when the news first broke it sounded like he was gone for good, not just this game. Now hearing that a little talk will take place between Eugene and the staff. It's the typical where are your priorities at type of meeting when kids get into trouble.

I would hope getting suspended from a shot at playing in the BCS Title game would be a strong lesson for both of these guys.