Buckeyes in 2005

[AKAKBUCK]

do u guys really think that boone will start this year...

In a perfect World he wouldn't have a chance... but if he's one of the best 5..he's playing...

I honestly think you'll see quite a bit of him by midway through...

[Naplesbuckeye]

If you have a season like this one with several undefeated teams than we better hope and pray that we are top 8 or so comming in. If we play close games as we always have it is going to be tough to climb over people if we start to far back. People use to think that preseason ratings don't mean anything...Granted Auburn scheduled some patsies but we are seeing what can happen if you don't start out high!

On the related note I think 4 to 6 is fair if all things are equal. I would site USC as #1 because of Bush,Leinart and Jarrett and then Florida or someone else. Oklahoma will get the Plain states vote as they will have most of their defense, OL and Peterson back next year with the Texas stud playing his first year. That leaves us and Michigan (Henne and Hart) for #3, #4, or 5. Miami will be ranked high as well as they always are.

[bucknut11]

Yes, I fully expect for Boone to be starting. Not at the beginning, perhaps, but he will start before the season's over. Rerhing started as a frosh. Boone's an animal.

I don't think there's any way we're ranked in the top 10. The media will remember how we collapsed this year and we will be docked for that. They don't bother to research as closely as we do either, which means they won't realize we're primed to explode. To them, there are too many questions for this team going into 2005. Yes, the potential is there and I seriously think we can make a run at a NC, but we won't start #2 for sure. Remember, in 2002, OSU was preseason #13 and we climbed to the top. I can see a similar thing happening in 2005.

[jlb1705]

I don't see Boone starting right away. If I had to guess though, I'd say he sees Sims-Mangold circa 2002-type action. Then again, I'm not a coach, so I could be completely wrong, he could come out and start the first game and dominate.

[DA-Bucks]

"I agree that there are too many questions in the running and kicking games. Also, who is going to step up at the other CB position besides Youboty? I think the #2 ranking is based on name and reputation alone. I'm extrememly proud that's the case, but I don't think it's deserved yet. I'd put them in the the 11-15 range."

I disagree with that completely. Of course there will be questions. Who replaces Nuge and Turano is the biggest of them. I don't see the Running game as questionable as other people... I think we'll be in the top 40 in Rushing next year (for us that's good).

Look at the top ten list and tell me, outside of USC, who doesn't have questions?

10. Oklahoma - Jason White, their best receivers, their defensive leaders, they lose a ton, but still retain Peterson.
9. Iowa - Loses the meat of their defensive line (thank god) (3 starters gone, Roth, Robinson and Babineaux). Does Hodge go pro?
8. Texas A&M - Not a top 10 team imho. Texas, OU will be better.
7. Tennessee - Loses just about their entire starting offensive line, starting Tailback, top 10 team for sure.
6. Texas - No Benson, ineffective Passing game. Best receiver gone. They lose their top DT, LB, and Safety.
5. M**higan - How effective will Henne be without tossing up prayers to Edwards? Who replaces Shazor, Curry, Marlin Jackson, AA Bass, and their punter Finley.
4. LSU - Depends a lot on Saban staying. Loses staring QB, and some defensive starters. A lot of young talent returning, but still replacing a QB is a big deal.
3. Florida - New Coach and system, how long will it take Florida to adjust?
2. OHIO STATE
1. USC

All these teams have serious rolls to fill and it just comes down to who does it best. I think we are in great position here as we lose the least among most of these teams and improve in several areas. I definately think a top 5ish ranking is appropriate.

[Sloopy45]

bukIpower: "3. Florida, 2. OHIO STATE, 1. USC"

I can see this: Florida and OSU have a ton of talent, and both (sort of) underachieved this year. I think USC's status should be determined whether or not Leinart leaves for the NFL.

"I'm more than thrilled to be that high, but should we be?"

I don't see why not. In my mind, we have only have two question marks: 1.) we know that Troy Smith is the starter and a serviceable QB, but is he a star? Can he, over 12 games, shine on a team loaded with talent? In my eyes, Troy only had one good game this year (granted, it was a GREAT game & it was by far the biggest one of the year), but I haven't seen any consistency or that he'll be a stud (yet). I think that's a big question. Troy (at worst) will be decent, but the Buckeyes will be a Top 15 team if he doesn't develop into a weapon onto himself, and will be playing in the Rose Bowl if he turns out to be a star.

2.) Replacing Mike Nugent: we've had one of the best kickers of all time that last three years, can TressellBall work without a stud at Placekicker?

As far as the other questions, you have to EXPECT that the RB positions, OL, and the D-Line improve DRAMATICALLY. They've got plenty of talent at this year's weak spots. To me, at this point, everything but QB and PK are sewn up and ready to compete for a National Championship in '05.

DA-Bucks: "Just think about our defense next year. I think it might be as dominating as 2002!"

No way. People don't realize how disruptive and how much of an advantage a D-Line of Smith, Anderson, Scott, and KP were. It cures a lot of ills on defense, and can turn a lot of games around. Our D-Line in '05 may be good, but it won't approach the impact that the '02 line had. I don't care who else is on the field.

You've got to realize: the '02 Buckeyes' D was one of the greatest of all time! The type that comes around once in a blue moon, like the '85 Bears or (whatever year it was) Baltimore Ravens. I had this same discussion (and bet) with Mili before the '03 season, and if you think I'm wrong, I'll put it to you this way: my DVD Collection got a tinge heavier after that bet.

Naplesbuckeye: "If you have a season like this one with several undefeated teams than we better hope and pray that we are top 8 or so comming in."

It doesn't matter where we start. This year has been an abberration. Three major conference teams NEVER go undefeated. Can you name the last time this happened? If the Bucks take care of our own business and run the table, we'll be playing for the crystal again in the Rose Bowl. Guaranteed.

And even if there was a chance of three unbeatens (if the Bucks were one of them), there's NO CHANCE of any team jumping us with Texas OoC and scUM on the schedule. You think Auburn's slate of the Citadel, La-Monroe, and Disco Tech is going to garner them more BCS points than OSU's schedule next year??

See you in Pasadena.

[DA-Bucks]

"whether or not Leinart leaves for the NFL."

I believe Leinart stated he's coming back.

What makes me optomistic about troy is having one the most productive days at QB EVER at Ohio State.... and that was in THE game. For me, that speaks volumes. Maybe it was a fluke game, but I think odds are it wasn't. He's a leader and a gamer, we'll know more after Ok State.

"No way. People don't realize how much a D-Line... "

I agree, there's no way our D-line is even close to that of 2002. However, I think we should have among the best LB corp OSU has seen. Our D-line is solid enough and our DB situation looks solid. We have at least 1 shutdown corner, 3 proven safeties (Whitner is a star), and enough talent at the other DB position to have a lot of optomism. Underwood has talent, but needs to develop his technique - too aggressive, I think he just needs to gain confidence. The possibility of Ginn Playing both ways is exciting. He'd be, at least, an above average CB... that's what we recruited him for!

Maybe they won't be as good as 2002, but I believe they could rank among the best defenses we've had here. I expect our offense to be better than 2002 and our defense to be among the nations elite. That alone makes me think we have top 5 ability.

[bucknut11]

Originally Posted by DA-Bucks

I believe Leinart stated he's coming back.

Yeah, he said that, but once he wins another NC and realizes he's a top 10 first round pick, he may be thinking a little bit differently. Money talks. Any coach, Tressel and Carrol included, would tell their star that if the time is right, then they need to go get their paycheck while it's there.

[Sloopy45]

DA-Bucks: "Maybe it was a fluke game, but I think odds are it wasn't."

Look, I don't want to knock Troy (or you for that matter, so please don't take offense to what I say), but my friend, you are drinking the Buckeye Kool-Aid! Its true that Troy had one of the best games I've ever seen an OSU QB play, but the very week before he was a deer in the headlights WITH TWO HORRIBLE TURNOVERS IN THE RED ZONE AGAINST PURDUE!!! That's seven days before the scUM game: Oh, what a short memory we have.

He hasn't put up any kind of stats this year and hasn't led a productive offense by any means. There's a lot of questions to be answered about Troy next season.

I'll give you everything you said about Troy in the scUm game: he was absolutely maginificent, and he should be the starter in '05 (without question) because of it. But it is, no matter the magnitude, JUST ONE GAME!