2005 - Can You See It?

[MililaniBuckeye]

Carmen, did you actually watch the game? USC would've smoked us at least as badly as they did Oklahoma. Next year may be a different story, but this year we are nowhere near USC's class.

You and I are usually on the same page, but your post there leads me to beileve you've taken one too many hits on the rugby field. You really think USC would put 55 up on us? To tell you the truth, I think we'd hold USC to around 20 points on a neutral field, especially with the way we played defense the last 7 1/2 quarters of the season. I also think our offense could put up a TD or two on their defense, along with a long Nugent FG or two. USC would most likely win, but we'd play them reeeaaalll tough.

 

[brutus2002]

I agree with Mili. The talent on okie is very overrated. Our top 3 receivers are the best I have seen in the country the last two games...yes even better than USC's top 3. We are alot better than Okie on special teams. I think USC would have beaten us by 10-13 points on a nuetral field. The main reason is because of the running game. If we get that straightened out we will make it to the Rose Bowl for the NC game next year.

 

[Carmen Ohio]

Carmen, did you actually watch the game? USC would've smoked us at least as badly as they did Oklahoma. Next year may be a different story, but this year we are nowhere near USC's class.

Yes, and I saw at least four gift touchdowns (more if you count the mindless play of the middle linebacker on Smith's two TDs), an immobile OU quarterback making bad decisions and a horrible defensive scheme. Did you see the holes White had all night if had the ability to pull the ball down and run. One of the teams that gave USC the most trouble was Virginia Tech with Randall's escability. Do you really think Leinart would have that much time to pass against Ohio State? Not the Ohio State that was embarrassed by Iowa, but the team we came to be at the end of the year. I'm not bantering with you, in fact in a way we agree. The point of the post is optimism for next year.

 

[BucksinFL]

Can I ask a question?

Do you feel that our recruiting from year to year is consistant enough to sustain a dynasty? Why shouldnt we expect to be in a situation for an 8-4 type year every couple of years is my question....

I mean granted we more than likely will never lose 14 players to the NFL at one time ever again, but still USC is a recruiting machine....

I don't see our recruiting as being as good as theirs in order to have a phenom dynasty although I would love it if it were....

Im just askin' guys....

I feel we have the coaching with JT and co. that can coach with ANYONE in the nation, but the overall talent at USC is extremely impressive....

 

[rocketman]

Do you feel that our recruiting from year to year is consistant enough to sustain a dynasty? Why shouldnt we expect to be in a situation for an 8-4 type year every couple of years is my question....

I mean granted we more than likely will never lose 14 players to the NFL at one time ever again, but still USC is a recruiting machine....

I don't see our recruiting as being as good as theirs in order to have a phenom dynasty although I would love it if it were....

I'd say that our recruiting potential is at best second to USC. I mean, how many recruits have to chose between USC and OSU? Quite a few of those top recruits...wasn't Ted Ginn one of those?

 

[IrontonBuck]

Southern Cal was AWFUL for about 10 years. There is nothing automatic about winning.

 

[BucksinFL]

I'd say that our recruiting potential is at best second to USC. I mean, how many recruits have to chose between USC and OSU? Quite a few of those top recruits...wasn't Ted Ginn one of those?

True, I just think we need a more electrifying offense to garner these type of recruits, but I kind of like what JT is doing..

Its basically "if you dont want to be a buckeye, then don't" type of attitude and I like that....

I think he also goes for mental toughness in the players he recruits and kind of gets the guys he wants...

Im thankful to have a coach that building OSU into a dynasty is his dream....

 

[brutus2002]

The player that IMO is gonna electrify people next year is Erik Haw. Erik caught a 5 yard pass in the Big 33 game and took it too the house. The only player that was even close to Haws speed was Ginn(Ginn was obviosly faster). I don't think there is another player on OSU or any other B10 school as quick as Haw except for Ginn.

Erik will probably be around 220 pounds at the beginning of next season. If we run the spread offense and throw to this kid on swing passes and run misdirection with him we are gonna be unstoppable on offense.

I think you are gonna see a different Devon Lyons. In 4 WR sets he will be the only true SE out of our receiver corps. The kid is gonna be another big suprise.

We need better play from out TE's. Rory Nicol needs to establish himself and become an important part of the offense. The kid got open but dropped some passes. Look for Rory to make some noise.

Alex Barrow and Vernon Gholston are gonna shock the world next year on defense. Both of these kids were very underrated coming out of H.S. Alex Barrow was in Hennes and Morellis face every down at the Big 33 game. These two are gonna be stars.

IMO we will make it to the NC game if we run the spread offense. We will have the best WR's in the country. We need to come out firing the first game of the season. The only question mark is the running game. We need to land a couple studs in this class and we will be fine. I don't see us losing more than 2 games and a NC is a realistic possibility as well.

 

[BucksinFL]

The player that IMO is gonna electrify people next year is Erik Haw. Erik caught a 5 yard pass in the Big 33 game and took it too the house. The only player that was even close to Haws speed was Ginn(Ginn was obviosly faster). I don't think there is another player on OSU or any other B10 school as quick as Haw except for Ginn.

Erik will probably be around 220 pounds at the beginning of next season. If we run the spread offense and throw to this kid on swing passes and run misdirection with him we are gonna be unstoppable on offense.

I think you are gonna see a different Devon Lyons. In 4 WR sets he will be the only true SE out of our receiver corps. The kid is gonna be another big suprise.

We need better play from out TE's. Rory Nicol needs to establish himself and become an important part of the offense. The kid got open but dropped some passes. Look for Rory to make some noise.

Alex Barrow and Vernon Gholston are gonna shock the world next year on defense. Both of these kids were very underrated coming out of H.S. Alex Barrow was in Hennes and Morellis face every down at the Big 33 game. These two are gonna be stars.

IMO we will make it to the NC game if we run the spread offense. We will have the best WR's in the country. We need to come out firing the first game of the season. The only question mark is the running game. We need to land a couple studs in this class and we will be fine. I don't see us losing more than 2 games and a NC is a realistic possibility as well.

Thanks for the great post Brutus. You know more than I do about these players seeing as I live in FLa and I get the FLa talent shoved down my throat here. I hear great things about Haw, but my question is this...

Why didn't haw see any playing time last year? Was it his choice to redshirt or was he just not ready?

 

[Dryden]

Why didn't haw see any playing time last year? Was it his choice to redshirt or was he just not ready?

Tressel was asked this question a dozen times every week at his luncheons and on his AM1460 call-in show, and he had initially hinted that Haw could get PT depending on what happened - so it apparently wasn't an issue with ability, grades, behaviour, etc.

It appeared to be more along the lines that JT figured Ross, Hall, Pittman, and Joe were really enough, and things got so bad so quickly that it was decided it wasn't worth burning Haw's RS to turn around a 3-3 season with Indiana and Penn State upcoming, particularly since the o-line wasn't helping.

 

[osugrad21]

Why didn't haw see any playing time last year? Was it his choice to redshirt or was he just not ready?

I've heard numerous reports of being slightly fragile thus far...

 

[RugbyBuck]

You and I are usually on the same page, but your post there leads me to beileve you've taken one too many hits on the rugby field. You really think USC would put 55 up on us? To tell you the truth, I think we'd hold USC to around 20 points on a neutral field, especially with the way we played defense the last 7 1/2 quarters of the season. I also think our offense could put up a TD or two on their defense, along with a long Nugent FG or two. USC would most likely win, but we'd play them reeeaaalll tough.

It's been a couple of days, but I don't think I was really talking about the final score. What I meant was that SC was on a roll like few teams I have seen. I felt it as soon as they scored to tie it at 7. I said that it was about to turn into an ass-kicking and no one I was with took it seriously. I don't know that we would've been able to do much more to stop it or to put up more than 19. That's not a knock on the Bucks. Everything came together for SC against OU. That doesn't happen very often and you don't want to be in the way when it does.

Maybe it's that I just saw two games played the way we've come to expect the Bucks to play and still feel a little burnt by the way the season started. I am hopeful that they will carry this momentum into next year. I think we will torch Texas and get on a roll from there.

Yes, and I saw at least four gift touchdowns (more if you count the mindless play of the middle linebacker on Smith's two TDs), an immobile OU quarterback making bad decisions and a horrible defensive scheme. Did you see the holes White had all night if had the ability to pull the ball down and run. One of the teams that gave USC the most trouble was Virginia Tech with Randall's escability. Do you really think Leinart would have that much time to pass against Ohio State? Not the Ohio State that was embarrassed by Iowa, but the team we came to be at the end of the year. I'm not bantering with you, in fact in a way we agree. The point of the post is optimism for next year.

The thing that has been missing most of the year and that I'm still not completely sold on after scUM and the Alamo is our pass rush. I think Lienart would've done pretty well against us on that particular night. Five tds? I don't know, probably not, but I don't think the game would've been close. If we get them next year in the NC, I see a replay of our performance against Miami. Our defense should be stellar next year and the offense should be greatly improved.

 

[Carmen Ohio]

The thing that has been missing most of the year and that I'm still not completely sold on after scUM and the Alamo is our pass rush. I think Lienart would've done pretty well against us on that particular night. Five tds? I don't know, probably not, but I don't think the game would've been close. If we get them next year in the NC, I see a replay of our performance against Miami. Our defense should be stellar next year and the offense should be greatly improved.

You make a valid point as far as it goes. Our main objective against Michigan and Oklahoma State was obviously to stop the run and let the Henne and Woods try to beat us.

 

[RugbyBuck]

Yes, and that (stopping the run), of course, is how it should be. Sorry that I came out of the box a little strong in response to your original post, by the way. Still hung over from watching the game, I guess.

 

[slickman]

Do you feel that our recruiting from year to year is consistant enough to sustain a dynasty? Why shouldnt we expect to be in a situation for an 8-4 type year every couple of years is my question....


I feel we have the coaching with JT and co. that can coach with ANYONE in the nation, but the overall talent at USC is extremely impressive....

To chime in on the recruiting front, I think there were some gaps that took this year to fill with experience along the offensive and defensive lines. The lines win and lose the games. Forget about the skill guys. They are all made to look good and horrible by the play of the lines and by the looks of it, Coach Tress is really loading us up at the point of attack. I really liked last year's and this year's hauls on both sides of the bin. That redshirt year is pretty important for those guys so they can really work hard on technique and add girth(mass).

You give a guy like Zwick time to sit in the pocket and he's going to look like Leinart. If Smith has time we don't even need a running back because he can get outside, shake an LB and pick up 7 easy. Zwick could probably plow for 4 or 5 but his health is better served by the utilization of a running game.

The speed and skill along our edges has been great everywhere except in our own backfield and this year's struggles will turn out to be a blessing down the road as Tressel really evolved the offense to work no matter what was happening up front.

I've watched the Michigan game almost a dozen times and I love hearing my man Gary belt out, "Tressel is on fire calling plays right now!!"

His hand stayed hot and the execution was still there against The Cowboys. Some of those third down conversions to Ginn to keep drives going were as exciting to me as TDs because we haven't really done too much of that in Tressel's tenure.

I say forget rankings in recruiting, just keep filling the O-Line and D-Line and defensive backfield with top notch recruits and we win ballgames easier and easier.


The reasons to be excited going into next year are extremely tangible versus last year. We've already gotten a glimpse of how good we can be. Plus. I always think Tressel plays possum with his teams.