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All-Jim Tressel Era Team

bassbuckeye07;1941573; said:
Whose top ten is better...Tress or Coop?

just to throw some names out there George, Pace, Boston, Winfield, Springs, Galloway, Glenn, the big Kat, Vrabes, Germain, Diggs


Damn we get good talent here no matter the coach looks like

On individul talent? Coops hands down.
 
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like all, but Brian Hartline and Gonzo are missing
I think I favor the primary deep threat/Touchdown WRs over the slot and "key 3rd-down pick-up" WRs. Thus, I tend to overlook Gonzo and Hartline in favor of Ginn, Holmes and Jenkins. Of course, in football its hard to pick a top-10 of individuals since it takes 11 men at any one time to succeed.

Anyone right now could say, "you forgot (Insert any starter from 2001-2010)" and I would say: Yes, you are correct. Remember Nugent. And Will Smith. And Malcolm Jenkins. And Carpenter. And Heyward. And Doss...

We did well in the last ten years.
 
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1) Troy Smith* -- The best QB in tOSU history. Would be one of the best Buckeyes of all-time if he had beaten Florida. All American, Big Ten MVP, Davey O'Brien, Walter Camp, & Heisman award winner
2) AJ Hawk* -- The most dominant LB to play at LB U since Spielman. 2-time All-American, Lombardi award winner
3) Ted Ginn Jr. -- The most electrifying player to ever wear S&G. Set the bar for every playmaker to come at OSU.
4) Mike Doss -- Fearless leader of our 2002 National Championship team. 3-time All-American
5) James Laurinaitis* -- The embodiment of what it is to be a Buckeye. 3-time All-American, Lott, Nagurski, and Butkus award winner
6) Will Smith* -- Ruled the line. All-American
7) Craig Krenzel -- Without Craig, there is no 2002 National Championship. His decision making was second to none at his position and made Tresselball possible. 2-time Academic All-American, Draddy award winner
8) Malcolm Jenkins* -- The best shut-down DB in the Tressel era. All-American, Thorpe award winner
9) Beanie Wells -- If only he would have stayed healthy and had played for four years here, he's easily top 3-4. Talent-wise, the best RB we've had here since Keith Byers. All-American
10) Chris Gamble -- The best 3-way player in modern college football history. Would be higher on this list if he would have stuck around.

It is so incredibly tough to get this down to 10 players. Between the NCAA violations and only 1 year of work behind his name, I can't put Maurice Clarett on this list, but it hurts to not have Nuge*, Mangold, LeCharles Bentley, and Santonio Holmes on this list.

*= Member of Ohio State's all-time team
 
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in no order, the first 10 I thought of:

MoC
Troy Smith
Beanie
AJ Hawk
Laurinaitis
Gamble
Jenkins
Santonio
Mangold
Ted Ginn

I love me some Krenzel, but I was looking at pure talent. I also left off Doss because I consider him Coop's for some reason.
 
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This is the era that I was born and raised in as far as OSU football goes being that I am 19... this list will probably end up being a combination of best/favorite Buckeyes.

1. Maurice Clarett - As we all know he flamed out, but he was the single biggest impact player Tressel ever had.
2. Troy Smith - Heisman speaks for itself IMO. If he had won the NC he would be #1, easily, but I just can't put him there without the ring.
3. A.J. Hawk - The single most dominant Buckeye on the defensive side of the ball I've ever seen.
4. Craig Krenzel - I'd run out of adjectives trying to describe him... came up big when we needed it the most. The most fitting memory I have of him is in the NC game when he got absolutely lit up by Sean Taylor and John Vilma, I mean just flat out DESTROYED on a draw play, and he popped right back up and ran the next play without even the slightest hint that he just got murdered.
5. Dane Sanzenbacher - People are probably going to question this, but Dane is my favorite player to ever don the S&G. He is the embodiment of what it means to be an Ohio State football player, and the way he laid his body on the line week in and week out speaks for itself. Knew the ball was going to him on every 3rd down and yet teams still couldn't stop him. He's the quinnessential example of what a student athlete should be, and an excellent ambassador for the football team and the University. One of the best route runners in the game... you could put Neon Deion on him out there and Dane would find a way to get that little sliver of space to throw his body in to make the catch.
6. James Laurinaitis - 3-time All-American, outstanding football player. He was a captain as a junior... I think that speaks volumes about his character and how much he meant to the team considering the amount of other times junior's were captains under Tressel.
7. Mike Doss - One of my favorite moments was seeing Doss when they were awarding us the crystal football after the NCG. He was the leader of that team... 3-time All-American, and a guy who rightfully will go down in Buckeye lore.
8. Ted Ginn - Just electric. Outside of Reggie Bush, the most electric player with the ball in his hands that I've seen since I started watching CFB. Great hands, world-class speed, plenty of highlights and plenty of wins as a result... I will forever remember the 04 Michigan State game when Teddy single-handidly won that game. One of the rare cases where you see a WR able to will his team to victory on his back.
9. Will Smith - Outstanding defensive lineman. The most dominant one of the era under Tressel.
10. Chris Gamble - 3-way player that played big in big moments... I had difficulty choosing on this last spot, but the amount that he played and how important he was to us that year got him on here.

Honorable mention: Malcolm Jenkins, Beanie Wells, Michael Jenkins, Nick Mangold, Mike Nugent, Kurt Coleman
 
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TheBuckeyeBattleCry.com did a countdown of the top 25 Buckeyes of the last decade last summer. It wasn't "Tressel's best players", but since he coached from 2001 through 2010 it might as well be.

Link

It was put together based on the top 25 lists of about 5 people.

The top 10 were:

10.Michael Jenkins
9. James Laurinaitis
8. Chris Gamble
7. Malcolm Jenkins
6. Beanie Wells
5. Ted Ginn Jr.
4. Santonio Holmes
3. Mike Doss
2. A.J. Hawk
1. Troy Smith


The rest of the list with links to the articles can be found here.

Edit: Let me know if the link to the rest of the articles doesn't work.
 
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Great discussion. I like the addition of Mike Doss to that list. I can remember a sports announcer saying receivers beware...Doss is coming. So many greats. But I watch a lot of old games...just one of the greats is Orlando Pace. There were times he was totally dominant. He was fun to watch him as an offensive lineman he drove many into the ground. In that same vein with a little bit of nasty like LeCharles Bentley, makes some linemen rise to the top. All of the names in discussion are worthy of the merits received. Go Bucks.

I watched Ted Ginn in person at practice and from the stands in a few games. I don't remember many or any faster on the football field. It was spectacular to watch him run away from so many!

Buckeye Greats---Thank You to All!
 
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Buckeye86;1941620; said:
TheBuckeyeBattleCry.com did a countdown of the top 25 Buckeyes of the last decade last summer. It wasn't "Tressel's best players", but since he coached from 2001 through 2010 it might as well be.

Link

It was put together based on the top 25 lists of about 5 people.

The top 10 were:

10.Michael Jenkins
9. James Laurinaitis
8. Chris Gamble
7. Malcolm Jenkins
6. Beanie Wells
5. Ted Ginn Jr.
4. Santonio Holmes
3. Mike Doss
2. A.J. Hawk
1. Troy Smith


The rest of the list with links to the articles can be found here.

Edit: Let me know if the link to the rest of the articles doesn't work.
replace Beanie with Clarett and Jenkins with Smith and you have my top ten, not necessarily in that order.

The real shame is Terrelle had a chance to be at least top 3 with a strong senior year.
 
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jwinslow;1941628; said:
replace Beanie with Clarett and Jenkins with Smith and you have my top ten, not necessarily in that order.

I agree with those two changes (if you meant Malcom Jenkins replaced, not so sure if you meant Michael).

The interesting thing is if you look at it, look how heavy it is for early Tressel era players and light on the latter part. Malcom Jenkins, Laurinaitis and Beanie are it after 2006.

Pryor's situation aside, Cam Heyward is the only guy coming to mind as we start the next decade that is the caliber of the players on that list. Maybe I'm missing someone but it seems a very subjective case could be made for a decline in top end talent over the decade just from looking at this.

Interesting.
 
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Yup, he spoiled us with that epic 2002 class and understandably never lived up to that (as well as inheriting Cooper signees like Smith, Doss, Jenkins). Some comparable talent between the 08 & 02 classes, Brewster-Mangold, Pryor-Clarett, Shugarts-Downing, Williams-Pitcock, Adams-Sims, (talent levels not style/skills:) Sweat-Salley, Stoneburner-Datish, but ultimately too much depth (Hawk, Hall, Kudla, Troy, Holmes, Mitchell, White).

I think Nuge is in the discussion but probably gets left out due to his position.

The later years for Tressel had more Gholston, Hartline, Posey, Coleman types. Still very good players but lacking the elite talent of Smith, Holmes, Ginn, Whitner, Doss & Gamble.
Pryor's situation aside, Cam Heyward is the only guy coming to mind as we start the next decade that is the caliber of the players on that list. Maybe I'm missing someone but it seems a very subjective case could be made for a decline in top end talent over the decade just from looking at this.
I think Simon can develop into a top-20 player (and obviously has two years to surge higher), but overall I agree with you, especially since centers like Mangold and Brewster aren't going to generate much interest in these lists.
 
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I remember being drunk and watching the 2003 home opener for OSU against Washington. If I recall, you had a d-lineman or end whose first or last name was "Simon"

He literally was in on every running play Washington ran in the 2nd half and he probably finished with 3 Sacks. An amazing game, he looked like Warren Sapp in his hey-dey.


Whatever happen to that kid? Did he get drafted?
 
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BigWoof31;1941654; said:
I remember being drunk and watching the 2003 home opener for OSU against Washington. If I recall, you had a d-lineman or end whose first or last name was "Simon"

He literally was in on every running play Washington ran in the 2nd half and he probably finished with 3 Sacks. An amazing game, he looked like Warren Sapp in his hey-dey.


Whatever happen to that kid? Did he get drafted?

You're probably thinking of Simon Fraser. He was a rotation guy on the Browns for four years. Funnily enough, he signed with the Falcons in 2008 and was cut by them in 2009, which was the end of his professional career as far as I can tell.
 
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Bold = first round picks
2004 said:
01 . QB . Smith
14 . RB . Pittman (backup)

04 . WR . Holmes
05 . WR . Ginn
17 . WR . Gonzalez

22 . OC . Mangold

15 . DE . Gholston (backup)

02 . LB . Hawk
20 . LB . Carpenter

16 . SS . Whitner

12 . PK . Nugent
Which produced Tressel's second worst squad. Of course, #1, #5, #17 didn't play much until after the first 3 losses, and #14/15 barely played.
2005 said:
Departed: Nugent

Arrived:

07 . CB . Jenkins (nickel back)
09 . LB . Laurinaitis (backup)

With Pittman promoted to starter
...
2006 said:
Departed: Mangold, Holmes, Hawk, Carpenter, Whitner

Arrived:

06. RB . Beanie Wells
tBBc top-25 votes said:
25- Matt Wilhelm LB (2000-2002)

24 - Terrelle Pryor QB (2008-2009)


23 - Nate Clements CB (1999-2000)

22Nick Mangold C (2003-2005)


21 - LeCharles Bentley C (2000-2001)


20 - Bobby Carpenter LB (2004-2005)


19 - Cameron Heyward DE (2007-2009)


18 - Maurice Clarett RB (2002)


17 - Anthony Gonzalez WR (2005-2006)


16Donte Whitner S (2004-2005)


15Vernon Gholston DE (2006-2007)


14 - Antonio Pittman RB (2004-2006)


13 - Craig Krenzel QB (2002-2003)


12 - Mike Nugent K (2001-2004)


11 - Will Smith DE (2001-2003)


10 - Michael Jenkins WR (2001-2003)


9 - James Laurinaitis LB (2006-2008)


8 - Chris Gamble CB/WR (2002-2003)


7 - Malcolm Jenkins CB (2006-2008)


6 - Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells RB (2006-2008)

5 - Ted Ginn Jr. WR/PR (2005-2006)


4 - Santonio Holmes WR (2004-2005)


3 - Mike Doss S (2000-2002)


2 - A.J. Hawk LB (2003-2005)

1 - Troy Smith QB (2004-2006)
 
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Bold = first round picks
2004 said:
01 . QB . Smith
14 . RB . Pittman (backup)

04 . WR . Holmes
05 . WR . Ginn
17 . WR . Gonzalez

22 . OC . Mangold

15 . DE . Gholston (backup)

02 . LB . Hawk
20 . LB . Carpenter

16 . SS . Whitner

12 . PK . Nugent
Which produced Tressel's second worst squad. Of course, #1, #5, #17 didn't play much until after the first 3 losses, and #14/15 barely played.
2005 said:
Departed: Holmes, Mangold, Hawk, Carpenter, Whitner

Arrived:

07 . CB . Jenkins (nickel back)
09 . LB . Laurinaitis

With Pittman promoted to starter
...
tBBc top-25 votes said:
25 - Matt Wilhelm LB (2000-2002)

24 - Terrelle Pryor QB (2008-2009)


23 - Nate Clements CB (1999-2000)

22 ? Nick Mangold C (2003-2005)


21 - LeCharles Bentley C (2000-2001)


20 - Bobby Carpenter LB (2004-2005)


19 - Cameron Heyward DE (2007-2009)


18 - Maurice Clarett RB (2002)


17 - Anthony Gonzalez WR (2005-2006)


16 ? Donte Whitner S (2004-2005)


15 ? Vernon Gholston DE (2006-2007)


14 - Antonio Pittman RB (2004-2006)


13 - Craig Krenzel QB (2002-2003)


12 - Mike Nugent K (2001-2004)


11 - Will Smith DE (2001-2003)


10 - Michael Jenkins WR (2001-2003)


9 - James Laurinaitis LB (2006-2008)


8 - Chris Gamble CB/WR (2002-2003)


7 - Malcolm Jenkins CB (2006-2008)


6 - Chris ?Beanie? Wells RB (2006-2008)

5 - Ted Ginn Jr. WR/PR (2005-2006)


4 - Santonio Holmes WR (2004-2005)


3 - Mike Doss S (2000-2002)


2 - A.J. Hawk LB (2003-2005)

1 - Troy Smith QB (2004-2006)
 
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