Dave Thurman (5:48 pm)

One of the big news items this winter (and let's face it it this is a down time for Buckeye football news) is the move of Jake Stoneburner to tight end, which had been rumored for quite some time, but was only recently substantiated.  Naturally there are divergent opinions on this subject, with some fans quite angry, hoping that Stoneburner would become a big downfield target, blending a rare package of size and speed.  And, many felt he would be a great option in the corner of the end zone, being employed kind of like Terrelle Pryor was in the Fiesta Bowl against Texas. 

Well I, for one, am quite excited by the possibilities of this change of position, and feel it might well signal the beginning of a new era in which Tressel begins to use the tight end as a viable offensive weapon, and not just a glorified tackle. 

Just how little has the tight end been used in our recent offensive scheme?  Is it just our imagination or have we truly failed to utilize this position adequately?  Well, take a look at the past three years and judge for yourselves:

2008 - All of 11 catches by the tight end (6 to Nichol; 5 to Ballard)! Brandon Smith did catch 8 balls but those were all out of the backfield as a fullback.

2007 - A whopping total of 32 catches (16 to Nichol; 13 to Ballard; and    
3 to Smith) which actually gave us momentary hope for the future!

2006 - 15 catches by our tight ends (13 to Nichol; 2 to Ballard)

To put that in perspective, consider that Travis Beckum of Wisconsin caught 75 balls by himself in 2007 (his last healthy season as he missed much of 2008 due to injury).

Obviously we have not maximized this position and it hasn't all been due to a lack of talent.  Ballard, in particular, has wonderful hands and should have been used more, but will never be considered a speed-merchant.  Jake Stoneburner, on the other hand, has excellent speed, and would likely be the fastest tight end in OSU history.  Putting a big time athlete like him at tight end would certainly seem to be for the purpose of adding another weapon to the OSU arsenal.  That gets my blood pumping in eager anticipation.

Truth is, I have nightmares in which I see Kellen Winslow Jr. cutting across the middle for another big gain during the 2003 National Championship Game.  His size and speed made him a terrible mismatch when lined up against any linebacker, even the speedy Cie Grant.  USC used Fred Davis the same way during his senior season, and the aforementioned Travis Beckum tormented the Big Ten with over 130 catches during his sophomore and junior seasons.

That's why I like this move.  We need to get Jake on the field and there is a glut of talent at wideout.  On the other hand, tight end has only one experienced returner and we need to start utilizing this position, realizing that linebackers aren't usually equipped to be great pass defenders. 

So, here's hoping 2009 will be remembered as the year we rediscovered the tight end!

Dave Thurman (11:27 am)

The recent arrest of Alex Boone flew under the radar since it was during the week of National Signing Day, but coupled with his early alcohol-related trouble it presents a pattern that helps explain his inconsistent play the past four years. Needless to say he could have been a great one, and has cost himself a whole lot of money.

Honestly I have never been so glad to see a group of offensive linemen leave as I am this year, since this was an underachieving bunch that kept the Buckeyes from winning a national title, in my opinion. When the head coach has to begin to work with a senior-laden group to teach technique and try and get them fired up you know there are big problems.

As a kid I could remember my mother reading me the story entitled The Little Engine That Could. Well, this was a big line that couldn't: 

- Boone could't stay focused and sober
- Rehering couldn't stay away from the buffet
- Person couldn't remember the snap count
- And, Skinner and Mitchum couldn't stay healthy

Many reams of paper have been used to try to explain why Ohio State couldn't win the big game the last three years. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the truth is that the offensive line let the team down over and over again.

I, for one, am glad to see these guys go, and a new crop make its way onto the scene. I am excited about guys like Marcus Hall, Jack Mewhort, Corey Linsley, and Sam Longo. Of course I am not completely sold on Jim Bollman, but I doubt he's going anywhere.

Here's hoping when 2013 rolls around that we aren't saying the same things about this line that we have concerning the class of '09!

David Thurman (4:46 pm)

Is it too early begin thinking about the 2009 Buckeye football team, just a week removed from "The Game"? Of course not! At least if you are an obsessed Ohio State fan like me - and you are probably are if you're reading this column! So let's take a look at a projected roster and a way-too-early prediction on next season's record:

QB: Terrelle Pryor starts and with a month of bowl game practices and a full spring to work on mechanics, he might become a true superstar. Behind him as a talented but unproven commodity in Joe Bauserman.

HB: Dan Herron looks ready to be a big time player, and with Jaamal Berry and Carlos Hyde on the way, this may be tailback by committee. There's no Beanie (who will definitely go pro) but this group might cause big problems for defensive coordinators.

FB: Lots of youngsters like Martin, Boren, and Homan will throw their names into the hat, and Brandon Saine may play some at fullback as well, providing a pass threat out of the backfield. Truth is, though, I see a lot of ace formation in 2008.

WR: Brian Hartline (complaining aside) is an excellent big play receiver who can catch the tough passes, too, and hopefully he will return for his senior year. Dan Sazenbacher is quickly becoming a fan favorite with his hands of glue and his willingness to take the big hit. Beyond those two, Ray Small might finally shine if he can get his act together off the field, and DeVier Posey got some helpful experience this year and has the tools to be special. Plus, don't discount Lamaar "Flash" Thomas, Jake Stoneburner or the four incoming freshmen. Once again, this is a good if not great group.  

TE: I love Jake Ballard and like most Buckeye fans think he has been under utilized. However behind him there is no experience and either Nic DiLillo, who redshirted this season, or incoming freshman Reid Fragel, will have to step up quickly, at least to block!

OL: Possibly the biggest question for 2009 is can a line that loses three senior starters get better? I think the answer may be yes. Obviously Alex Boone will be missed, though he never maximized his immense talent. I'm not sure that Steve Rehring or Ben Person will be, since they often whiffed on blocks and had trouble remembering the snap count. Here's who I am betting on when we open up next year against Navy: J.B. Shugarts (LT); Jim Cordle (LG); Mike Brewster (C); Justin Boren (RG); Bryant Browning (RT). Personally, I would prefer Browning at guard, and if Mike Adams comes on, that might happen. Beyond on those six, only Conner Smith has much experience, and if Marcus Hall commits, he might see some immediate playing time. In my opinion, the line will be about equal to this year, unless a new coach is hired to teach better fundamentals and put a fire under the big guys.

Overall I think the offense scores more points due to the progression of Pryor, and the fact that the play calling almost has to get more creative without Beanie.

DL: The weakest link in 2008, the line did get better as the year went on, and I look for more improvement in 2009. At end, Gibson is ready to become dominant, and Nathan Williams might be special, too, if he can gain a little bit more strength to go along with his quickness and tenacity. Lawerence Wilson will probably return, and he is solid, and Solomon Thomas is making strides. The player that really causes me consternation is Rob Rose who I thought would be a superstar. He's not, and probably never will be, but the light may go on for him in his senior season. This could be a really good group. At tackle, we still need some big, mean run-stoppers but have a good group returning in Cameron Heyward (could 2009 be his year?), Dexter Larimore and Todd Denlinger. I am also excited to see Garrett Goebel get his first snaps next year. Of course I am not discounting the possibility of Melvin Fellows or Johnny Simon making a big splash. Regardless, the line will be improved from this year's version and that is a good thing.

LB: Saying goodbye to James Laurinaitis and buddy Marcus Freeman is tough, becuase they made a lot of tackles in their career, and provided plenty of highlights. But the cupboard is not bare. Ross Homan was finally healthy in '08, played well, and could move to the middle. Austin Spitler has waited his chance, and is a good run stuffer, but may lack the speed to play every down. Of course some Florida seed is waiting in the wings, in the person of Etienne Sabino and Brian Rolle. Both are hard hitters, and I project Sabino as a sure starter and future star. Beyond those four, are two guys who can play outside linebacker or nickel back in Tyler Moeller and Jermale Hines. I love Hines, who is listed as a safety, and was also impressed in Moeller in the last two games of the season. Of course, all of these guys know there will be a fight with potential superstars Dorian Bell and Storm Klein among four incoming linebackers in the class of '09. Plus, don't forget Andrew Sweat, who was too good to redshirt this season, as the real Linebacker U keeps churning them out! Personally, I think this group will give up a few more big plays than the past couple of years due to inexperience, but may be better in coverage and against the spread, due to increased speed. I hope Heacock doesn't put Homan and Spitler on the field together, however, or the speed factor goes out the window. My early prediction is Sabino, Homan, and Moeller in the opener.

DB: There is a lot to like about this group, but the loss of Malcolm Jenkins is a tough pill to swallow. He ranks up there with Shawn Springs and Antwon Winfield in my book, and will be missed. The starters seems obvious; rapidly improving Chimdi Chekwa and Donald Washington at cornerback, and ready-for-prime-timer Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell at safety. Washington worries me a little since he seemed to digress after his off the field problems which sent him to the doghouse, but he has plenty of talent and experience (supposedly he he is contemplating going pro which would be a big mistake). Losing '07 recruits Eugene Clifford and James Scott thins the ranks at corner, where healthy Andre Amos would help, but some believe he may leave school. At nickel, the aforementioned Hines us a hitting machine, and I love his nasty attitude. Further depth will come from Aaron Gant, and there is plenty of room for redshirts like Travis Howard and Orhian Johnson to get into the rotation, but they may be quickly passed by the boatload of talent Tressel has recruited this year. A guy like C.J. Barnett may see the field immediately due to lack of numbers here. On paper this is the strength of the '09 defense if everyone returns, and should make passing a dangerous proposition for the opposition.

So, the defense should be about equal to this year's squad if some leaders emerge from the senior class to fill the shoes of Jenkins and Laurinaitis.

What about special teams? A Tressel led team never considers this an afterthought, and with departure of Trapasso and Pretorius some might be concerned, but not me. I think Pettrey is a superior kick to Pretorius right now, and feel confident that either Jon Thoma or Ben Buchanan can be a solid punter. Long-snapper Jake McQuaide did a nice job this year and he has two years of eligibilty left.

As for returns, I think we may have two special players in Ray Small and Lamaar Thomas, and once again, if Small doesn't get in his own way, he might put some real fear into opposing punters in '09.

Well, that's a look position by position but what about the final record? My way-to-early prediction is 11-1 in the regular season with a loss coming to USC (home) or Penn State (away). We could easily lose another one as upsets happen with young teams, but I am optimistic - at least for now, with months to go before I start worrying!

What do you think? Let us know, as we all gaze into the looking glass wearing out Scarlet and Gray colored glasses!

Dave Thurman (1:15 pm)

What a strange year 2008 has been for the Buckeye faithful. As I look back over this past season, there are a number of things that rate as strange, shocking or absurd:

1) 10-2 with a historic, one sided victory over Michigan still being considered disappointing due to preseason rankings and expectations.

2) True-freshman Terrelle Pryor totally unseating 6th-year senior and returning all-Big Ten quarterback Todd Boeckman...and, receiving snaps from another true freshman, Mike Brewster.

3) Three games without a single offensive touchdown!

4) Struggling to score at home against weak teams such as Purdue and Ohio, but putting up over 40 on the road against decent teams like Michigan State and Northwestern.

5) Statistical oddities like: 272 yards of total offense against Ohio, 49 yards passing against Illinois; 10th in Big Ten in passing yards; 24 total sacks on the entire year (with only one coming from Lawerence Wilson, the tabbed replacement for Vern Gholston); and, 65 total rushing yards from Brandon Saine, considered a budding superstar at tailback.

6) Although a vertern unit averaged only 340 yards per game on offense (about 60 per game less than the '06 and '07 teams did during the regular season), suprisingly they committed less turnovers (only 13) and had less penalty yards (41.7 per game) than the pervious two squads. Go figure!

As Johnny Carson used to say, "That's weird, wacky stuff."

So, how can we summarize 2008, and what does it tell us about the future?

First of all, it ended up being a decent season when it could have been an unmitigated disaster. We saw a senior laden Michigan team basically tank it last year, at least until their bowl game when they won one for departing coach Lloyd Carr. After the USC humiliation, with media and fans totally down on the Buckeyes, and some players disgruntled with the quaterback change, this team could have lost 4-5 games. The win at Wisconsin was huge, and while the season was disappoiting in lieu of the lofty expectations, 10-2 with revenge against Illinois, and a fifth straight victory over "that school up north" can't be considered a terrible season. A share of the Big Ten title means four in a row, and that is not to be taken lightly.

While I believe we should have defeated Penn State, it may be a blessing in disguise that we didn't, because I don't think this team is ready to play a top 5 squad in a bowl game. What Buckeye Nation didn't need was another one-sided loss in a big BCS bowl game.

So, while the 2008 will not go down as one of Tressel's best, it proved again that good defense and special teams allow a team to stay in most every game and keep upsets at a minimum.

As far as the future: Although the bowl game may have some impact on 2009, I think we can get a pretty good idea about next season from looking back on the past 12 games. Actually next season should be very interesting as there will be a lot of young talent on the field. It may be one of the fastest Buckeye squads ever, and if a few key vacancies are filled, it could be an excellent team. However, a great deal rests on who calls next year's plays and whether or not Bollman is demoted or asked to leave altogether.

Later this week I'll take a look at a projected roster and a way-too-early prediction on next season's record. Before then, enjoy some turkey and mashed potatoes, lift up a word of thanks, and be glad you aren't a Michigan or Notre Dame fan!

Dave Thurman (2:23 pm)

The national media isn't too hyped about the OSU-Michigan game this year, and there will not be the kind of nationwide coverage or exposure we are used to, but there is still plenty of great reasons to tune in and be pumped about this contest. Since Ohio State is going for an unprecedented fifth straight win against "that school up north," I have chosen my Top 5 reasons to get excited about the 2008 edition of "the Game."

1) It is the greatest rivalry in sports: It doesn't matter where "The Game" is played, what time kick-off is scheduled, or how good the teams are perceived to be, the fact is when these two teams go at it you are watching the most storied rivalry in all of sports. But don't just take my word for it. In balloting conducted by ESPN.com, the annual Ohio State-Michigan football game was named as the greatest sports rivalry of the 20th century. That's right, better than Yankees-Red Sox, North Carolina-Duke, or Cowboys-Redskins. Count on hard hits, memorable plays, and all out effort when these two lace up the cleats!

2) Upsets happen!: I shutter as I write this since the Bucks will be huge favorites this year, but there have been some memorable upsets, just as you would expect in this kind of rivalry. Here's three that stick out in my mind:

- 1969: Michigan 24, Ohio State 12 - A year after winning the national title and riding a 22 game win streak the Buckeyes were confident and nobody gave Michigan much of a chance. However Bo got the best of his mentor this day which still ranks as one of the greatest upsets in Big Ten history.

- 1987: Ohio State 23, Michigan 20 - a 5-4-1 Buckeye squad came limping into Ann Arbor after three straight losses that cost Earl Bruce his job, but sent the head coach out with a suprise win.

- 2001: Ohio State 26, Michigan 20 - Jim Tressel's first team was given little chance of beating the 11th ranked Wolverines on their home turf, but just as JT has promised 310 days before in Value City Arena, the Scarlet and Gray made their fans proud with a big upset victory.

Anyways, realizing that the underdog often plays pver their heads in this rivalry, it is worth tuning in. 

3) A chance to see if we can stop the spread - even a bad spread!: I have yet to see Ohio State look good against the spread offense. In fact I was in Champaign on Saturday, and watched the Illini chew up huge chunks of turf, moving the ball easily most of the day. Thanks to turnovers and a blocked punt, the Bucks controlled the game, but once again, looked very shaky against the spread. Michigan doesn't have the athletes to run this offense well, but you still have to be a little nervous considering Heacock's track record against the spread.

4) A Big Ten title on the line: Lest we forget, this game gives the Bucks a chance to claim four straight Big 10 titles (two shared and two outright). That's nothing to sneeze at, and if you know anything about Ohio State football tradition, winning the Big Ten is always priority number one. That was true of Woody and Earl, and it's now true of Tressel. The ball has to bounce right to win a national championship, but a Big Ten title can be earned on the field, and that is what the Buckeyes are playing for this Saturday.

5) The chance to see Rodriguez get it handed to him: Be honest, you'd love to see "Dick Rod" humbled in his first appearance in this storied rivalry. Other than "Chuck Wagon" Charlie Weis, I can think of no coach I'd rather see on the opposite sideline at the end of a one-sided Buckeye victory. Considering Tressel's penchant for keeping blowouts from getting out of hand, and the fact that rivalry games are usually hard fought, I doubt this will be a lopsided contest, but we can wish, and tune in with the fervor of a small child on Christmas morning.

Anyways I can't wait for kickoff this Saturday at noon and whether the nation is watching or not, it's still "The Game," and there's nothing that compares with it anywhere else in the world!

Dave Thurman (9:03 am)

Many Buckeye fans are searching for answers as to why the ’08 team has struggled at times and not been nearly as successful as anticipated. After all there was a boatload of returning starters including lots of seniors from a team that was in the National Championship Game two seasons in a row.

Obviously this is a complex issue, but if you want a simple answer I’ve got one for you.  Take a look at some recent near misses in recruiting, particularly from the class of ’07. If you remember (and I wish I could forget) the early days of January, 2007, proved to be a black period that followed a whole lot of sunshine. The ’06 season featured a wire to wire #1 ranking, a Heisman trophy for Troy Smith, and the front cover of every sports journal and magazine published. Then came January, featuring an embarrassing loss to Florida on the national stage, followed by a couple of weeks when all the recruiting news was bad. Looking back on those near misses it appears that if OSU signed the players they thought were in the bag, then the weaknesses on this year’s team might be erased.

Let me show you what I mean.

Defensive Line:  Without doubt this has been the area in which the Buckeyes have fielded the least talent this year. But look at the prospects from the ’07 class:

-  Joseph Barksdale (pictured above) – Supposedly a silent verbal out of Detroit, he was coveted as a defensive tackle, but pulled a stunner on the Bucks by choosing LSU. He has since been converted to the offensive line and starts for the Tigers, but I have no doubt he would be plugging the middle for the Bucks. A five star recruit according to Scout he goes 6’5” 315, and would look great in Scarlet and Gray.

- Josh Brent – Ranked just slightly below Barksdale, OSU thought they had a decent shot at this big guy who signed with Illinois. Brent now starts at defensive tackle for the Illini, and has done a pretty good job of stopping the run and getting into the backfield.

- Antonio Jeremiah – A big and highly rated d-lineman from Columbus (now at 318 lbs.), he signed with the Spartans of Michigan State due to qualifying issues, and is playing some but not starting.

-  Devon Still – An end coming out of high school, he has since bulked up to 300 lbs. and moved inside, but is not getting any game action at Penn State. 

- Ben Martin – Considered a sure thing to don the Scarlet and Gray this five star end from Cincinnati shocked the recruiting world by signing with Tennessee. Currently he is listed as second team and though he logs a lot of minutes, Martin is yet to have the impact most predicted.

Note: The Bucks did sign Cameron Heyward who has been a fine player, as well as undersized Solomon Thomas who is trying to bulk up in order to play.  Overall, though, OSU has suffered from a lack of “big-uglies” in the middle.  Check out those excellent SEC teams and you’ll see huge, powerful tackles stuffing the run and freeing up the linebackers to make plays. I wish the Bucks had a few guys with nicknames like Hoss, Bubba, and Butterbean!

Offensive Line: Talent may not be the problem here but consistency and production has been. So who did OSU miss out on?

- Anthony Davis – This five star stud was another dreaded “silent verbal,” but at the last minute decided on staying close to home and signing with Rutgers. He has been a starter pretty much from day one, and was a Freshman All-American last year.

- Kristopher O’Dowd and Nick Claytor – I throw these two together because I don’t how much chance the Bucks had but they did recruit both heavily.  O’Dowd signed with USC and starts at center for the powerful Trojan line, while Claytor opted for Georgia Tech, and now starts at tackle.

Note: The one lineman OSU did sign in this class was Evan Blankenship who may never see any game action!

Receiver: One more position at which the Buckeyes have underachieved this year. So who did they miss out on?

- Deonte Thompson – From the same school that produced Santonio Holmes and Albert Dukes, OSU had high hopes of grabbing this 5-star recruit. So far he has been okay, but not exactly lit up the scoreboard for the home state Gators with whom he signed.

- Ronald Johnson – This stud out of Michigan chose USC and is a big time player for the Trojans with 6 touchdowns thus far in ’08.

- J.R. Hemingway – A big, physical receiver, he opted for Michigan, where he is seeing limited playing time.

-  Leonard Hankerson – Another talented receiver from Florida he stayed in state at Miami, and is having marginal success thus far.

- Kyle Jefferson – Considered a little too thin, this Glenville grad has started for Wisconsin from the get-go but put up better numbers as a true freshman than he has this year as a sophomore.

Note: The Bucks signed Dane Sanzenbacher who has been a solid possession receiver and Taurian Washington, a spring hero, who has yet to catch a pass in a game this year. Also, worth noting, is the fact that OSU was in on a great pass-catching tight-end from Pennsylvania by the name of Rob Gronkowski, who chose Arizona at the last minute, where he has been a stud (13 TD’s in less than two years). Of course, he probably wouldn’t have had 13 catches at OSU since we rarely throw to the tight end.

I could go on and mention defensive backs like Eric Berry (Tennessee), Dionte Allen (FSU) and Major Wright (Florida), but OSU got good players at corner and safety, although Eugene Clifford and James Scott have since been kicked off the team.

The Bottom Line:  Obviously there were lots of near misses in the class of ’07 and Ohio State had to settle too often for second tier replacements, which has hurt the quality and depth of this year’s team. But when you boil it all down there were three players that the coaching staff felt sure were in the bag, and I ask you to imagine this year’s team with (drum roll please): Anthony Davis at right tackle instead of Bryant Browning; Joseph Barksdale plugging up the middle of the d-line; and, Ben Martin helping Thad Gibson put pressure on the quarterback.  Indeed, a few key misses have had an incredibly negative effect.

Dave Thurman (7:14 pm)

Schizophrenic Buckeye fans who cried for a change at quarterback a couple months ago are now posting angry threads demanding to see Todd Boeckman.Even some respected writers who cover OSU on popular websites are demeaning Terrelle Pryor’s performance and questioning the Buckeye brain trust, suggesting that the team would be better served reinserting Boeckman. I don’t get it. So, let me ask, which Todd Boeckman do you want?

- The one who threw three interceptions against Illinois?

- The one who looked like a deer in the headlights in the BCS Championship game, with three more turnovers?

- The one who threw for 110 yards and 0 touchdowns against Ohio (yes the same Bobcat team that is at the bottom of the MAC)?

- Or the one who managed 84 yards and 2 interceptions at USC (and who scored more for the Trojans than the Buckeyes)?

Hey, I admire Todd Boeckman, and thought he did a pretty good job most of 2007. Nobody would have liked to have seen him succeed this year more than me. But the fact is, with this year’s offensive line he simply isn’t a feasible option. We tried him early and he failed miserably.  Tressel made a gutsy change, and while it has been somewhat of a mixed bag, I contend that Pryor not only gives this year’s team the best chance to win, but he is also learning on the job and preparing for greatness in the future.

However, since so many people were hard on TP after the Penn State game, let’s do a little analysis.  First off, he managed to throw for 224 yards, hitting 64% of his passes against one of the best defenses in the nation.  He did that without the aid of any running game, and with Penn State defenders in his face most of the game.Outside of his costly fumble he played an excellent game, and was the best offensive player in scarlet and gray.

Would Todd have done better? Surely you jest!With Bryant Browning allowing Maybin to come free all night, Todd would have been sacked numerous times, and if past performance is any indicator, probably would have made a number of turnovers.  If you struggle against Ohio you aren’t going to be successful against Penn State!

Two things are essential for Todd Boeckman to do well: 1) Good blocking from the offensive line; 2) A solid running game. Unfortunately the 2008 Buckeye squad fails miserably in the first area, and because of that, sometimes struggles in the second.

The best chance for victory against Penn State was to possess the ball with a mix of runs and timely passes, relying on defense and special teams.And, it would have worked (in spite of a terrible performance by the o-line) had we won the turnover battle or even come out even.

Had he played, Boeckman might have hit a big pass or two, but I guarantee you there would have been sacks and turnovers, and instead of a close contest that could have been won, the Bucks would have been on the wrong side of another beat down by a top notch opponent.I don’t know about you, but I really didn’t want to hear the talking heads going crazy after another lopsided loss.

Of course, I’m sure there are a few fans out there who will suggest going with a combination of the two quarterbacks. Again, I think that is a bad idea. Two quarterback systems rarely work. Cooper tried it for a number of games with Stanley Jackson and Joe Germaine and it didn’t work.  Tressel tried it against Texas with Troy Smith and Justin Zwick and it failed.

Someone will no doubt point to Florida winning a national title with two quarterbacks. But in truth they didn’t have a two quarterback system.  Their man was Chris Leak and they only inserted Tim Tebow in short yardage and goal line situations. Due to Tebow’s tremendous athleticism this worked well, but it was the exception not the rule.

The problem with two quarterbacks is that neither gains confidence, as they begin to look over their shoulder, fearing mistakes, lest they be pulled from the lineup. And, if reps are shared 50/50 in practice, it means that nobody gets the advantage of feeling comfortable at the helm. Besides, it usually leads to dissension as players start taking sides, preferring one quarterback or the other.

No, the answer is not a two quarterback system, nor is it reinserting Todd Boeckman as the starter. This Buckeye team simply isn’t as good as we fans hoped, and Tressel is doing the best he can with the cards he’s been dealt.

But I’ve got news for the rest of the Big Ten. You better get us now, because Pryor is only going to get better.We may be down a little right now, but the future is bright in Columbus!

Dave Thurman (8:40 pm)

The 2008 season is barely past the half-way point (7 games down, 6 to go counting a bowl bid), and it’s time to give out some grades to our beloved Buckeyes.  In truth this is actually a difficult assignment because the team seems to lack a true identity, especially on offense, and I’m not sure we know a whole lot more than we did 4-5 weeks ago.  One thing is for sure – nothing has gone the way fans expected it.   Nevertheless here are my grades thus far:

Offense

Quarterback – C

When the season started we had a sixth-year senior at quarterback who led the team to the National Championship Game a year ago, and expectations were high.  But, three games into the season he was supplanted by true freshman Terrelle Pryor, possibly the most acclaimed recruit in OSU history.  I still think Todd Boeckman has potential, but he was not a good fit for a team with poor pass blocking, and was especially exposed when Beanie was hurt.  As for Pryor, he started like a house of fire, but lately has looked like, well, a confused freshman.  We all know he can run like a deer and has a strong arm, but as teams have schemed for him, Pryor has seemed reluctant to throw the ball, and often runs himself into trouble.  In his defense, the play calling has been pretty lousy, and his teammates haven’t helped him a whole lot.  I am hopeful he will show progress the next few weeks, and turn potential into results.

Backs – B

This is another tough position to evaluate, because in truth there is one grade with Beanie playing and another without him.  When he is even close to healthy, Wells is the best back in the nation.  With him in the lineup, the team plays with a different confidence, and knows that he may break one at any time.  Boom Herron shows great potential, but he is neither overly big nor fast.  Still, he hits the hole quickly with authority and is a solid back.  Brandon Saine has been a colossal disappointment but at least some of this may be due to injuries and missed practices.  And Mo Wells is the same as he has been for the past three years – a great guy who is a poor fit in Tressel’s system.  Meanwhile, fullback has lacked one consistent presence, relying on three players, none of whom were recruited for the position.  My favorite is Curtis Terry, but he seems to get the least reps of the trio.  Go figure!  So fullback has been okay, but nothing to write home about.  

Wide Receiver – D

This may well be the most disappointing unit on the team.  Robiskie was close to being a star in ’07, but has been inconsistent this season, at times playing like he is uninterested.  The other Brian, Mr. Hartline, hasn’t been any better, and if you believe the scuttlebutt he has caused some dissension in the locker room.  Ray Small has never put it all together, and seems to have problems off the field annually. So not one of the “big three” has delivered and given the Bucks a consistent threat.  On the other hand, I think Dane Sanzenbacher has played pretty well, and is a solid possession receiver, and I really like the potential of DeVier Posey, although he often looks like a freshman.  By the way, here’s a question for you to mull over: What ever happened to Taurian Washington, star of the spring game?  Could he be worse than what we’ve had?  At this point I’m ready to give him a try!

Tight End – B- 

Jake Ballard could be a star – I believe that with all my heart.  But in the OSU system he is little more than a glorified offensive lineman.  Both he and Nicol (who has been inured of late) are solid, doing their job, but it would be great to actually throw some passes in their direction. 

Offensive Line – C-

I know, I know, you wanted a lower grade.  But, the run blocking hasn’t been too bad, and at times has actually been pretty impressive.  Between injuries on the line and dealing with different players rotating in at quarterback and tailback, I will cut the big guys a little slack.  However, I am not sold on the right side of the line at all, and feel like Ben Person is a complete liability.  Rehring is okay as a guard, but please, for the sake of all that is good and sacred, don’t put him at right tackle again – ever!  Overall, this group should be a team strength, but whether it is poor coaching or lack of motivation, it has been a very disappointing unit.

Midterm grade for the offense: C- 

Defense

Defensive Line – C

On what was expected to be a superior defensive unit, the line has been the weakness, failing to get much pressure on the quarterback and being vulnerable to up the middle runs.  The good news is that it is still a young line, and is showing signs of improvement.  As Thaddeus Gibson becomes better acquainted with the defensive end position he looks like he will be a good one, and is the one player that consistently gets into the defensive backfield.  There isn’t one stud at defensive tackle, but a healthy Denlinger looks like he might be the best option.

Linebackers – A-

The lack of a dominant line keeps this unit from being as superior as some thought it would be, but it is hard to argue with the steadiness of senior James Laurinaitis, who just makes tackles.  Homan is becoming a beast against the run, and Freeman, while not as consistent as I would like, does make some big plays.  There is also some good young talent in reserve, and my only real beef with the linebackers is that they don’t blitz them enough.

Defensive Backs – A 

In my opinion this is the most productive unit on the 2008 squad, featuring the most consistent Buckeye, Malcolm Jenkins, who can flat out cover and plays with a bad attitude.  In addition, Chekwa has really come on as the other corner, Coleman is becoming a star, and Anderson Russell is solid.  It is a luxury to have Donald Washington and Jermale Hines to render nickel and dime coverage, and I love the way Hines hits.  One wonders if the coaching staff will bulk him up a little and play him at outside backer next year. 

Midterm grade for the defense – B+

Special Teams

Since Tressel considers special teams as important as offense or defense we will hand out individual grades here as well.

Punting – B+

A.J. Trapasso, who seems to have been in Columbus for a decade, is having his best season.  He is not quite as consistent as I would like, but has done a very good job overall.

Kicking – B

His statistics are good, but Ryan Pretorius seems to miss at key moments, and I, for one, am ready for a change.  Pettrey has a stronger leg, and I believe he offers more consistency.  That being said, he baffles me on his kickoffs, with some going eight yards deep in the end zone, and others barely making the twenty.  But in case you get too frustrated with our kicking talk to a Michigan or Purdue fan!

Returns – C-

Ray Small is dangerous on punt returns, but scares me every time he catches the ball, as he seems to field the ball much lower than other returners, and often looks downright shaky.  Keeping him out of the doghouse is key here, though, because he is by far the best the Bucks have at this job and is the reason the grade isn’t much lower.  As a bonus, Jenkins blocked a punt last Saturday which Sabino returned for a touchdown giving the Bucks two scores from the punt return team.  Kick returns, on the other hand, have been abysmal again this year, and Brandon Saine is clearly not the answer.  However, there is room for optimism after getting a dash of “Flash,” last Saturday, as Lamaar Thomas showed his speed and skills.  Here’s hoping he stays back there for the remainder of the season.

Coverage – A

The Buckeye coverage teams look like silver bullets speeding down the field led by Sabino, Torrence, Rolle and Lane.  If every unit played with this much passion the Buckeyes would be ranked in the top five.  No problems here in the first half of 2008!

Midterm grade for special teams - B

Dave Thurman (2:27 pm)

One of the most outstanding characteristics of the 2002 Silver Bullet defense was their swagger. Guys like Will Smith, Mike Doss, Chris Gamble, and Matt Wilhelm walked into the stadium with an air about them that said, "We're bad, we know it, and you can't do anything about it!" Call it confidence, cockiness, or whatever you want, but that team knew they were good and they dared the opposition to move the ball on them. The offense was often unreliable during that National Championship run, because Maurice Clarett was hurt so often, and Craig Krenzel, for all of his moxie and leadership, possessed a very average arm. So the defense took it upon themselves to make big plays, and keep the other team from scoring. It was as if they took it personally when an opponent dented the end zone.

Move ahead to the past couple of years, and the one thing I see missing from the defense, more than any other, is that swagger. We've had some great individual players like Gholston, Laurinaitis, and Jenkins, but I don't see that "take no prisoners" attitude. I think we play on our heels most of the time, waiting for the other team to make a mistake, instead of forcing errors on their part. We hope they will self destruct, and too often it doesn't happen.

Now to be fair, our defensive line is simply not as talented as that 2002 group. I'm not sure if it's lousy recruiting or poor player development or both, but this is one of the weakest defensive lines I have seen in many years. I have a hard time believing that a good coach couldn't get better results, but I also have come to the conclusion that this group isn't as talented as the D-line that helped win OSU a national title.

However, on paper, our back seven this year is as talented as any team in the nation. So why aren't they playing better? Why do they struggle to stop people on third down? How come they miss so many tackles? Above all, I think they lack that intangible I am calling "swagger." They don't have meanness, the "go for the juggler" mentality, the "in your face" confidence that is needed. Every so often I see a glimpse of it from Malcolm Jenkins, and I think Jermale Hines and Kurt Coleman are close. But by and large I see guys who lack aggressiveness and self-confidence. That is particularly true with the linebackers. While Baby Animal is a great talent, the one thing I would like to see from him is more attitude. And he's by far the best we've got. Freeman plays scared half the time, and simply doesn't hit people with bad intentions. I had high hopes from Homan, but he looks a little slow and unsure out there. When is the last time you saw him deliver a blow that rattled someone's teeth? Honestly, I'm suprised we haven't seen more of Brian Rolle because he seems to have that killer instinct the others lack. And rest assured linebackers need both toughness and attitude. More than any other position they are supposed to be mean and fearless. Look at some film of Spielman, Katzenmoyer or Hawk. Go back in the NFL archives and watch Dick Butkus, Jack Lambert and Mike Singletary. Linebackers are supposed to have a mean streak on the field. I just don't see that with this group, and I think that is part of the problem. They need to regain that swagger.

Of course, at the end of the day, it comes down to coaching. Many are calling for Heacock's head, and I think the time has come to consider such drastic action. Our defense isn't aggressive enough, and good players are not making good plays. I believe a fiery, in your face coach, with a "take no prisoners" attitude could wake up this defense. I believe a new approach would lead to more sacks, more big plays, and a more intimidating presence. There was a time when teams feared facing the OSU defense. It's time to restore that sense of dread and panic. I for one am ready for some old-school swagger. How about you?

Dave Thurman (11:40 am)

It has often been said that the quarterback at Ohio State is always on the hot seat.  His is the most scrutinized and analyzed position on the field, and while it can be glamorous it can also be hazardous to one’s health and psyche.  Those with a poor self image need not apply for signal caller in Columbus. 

Returning starter Todd Boeckman can attest to all of this, as he has been under the microscope this offseason, with many fans calling for Tressel to consider benching Todd in favor of Joe Bauserman or Terrelle Pryor.  Well, I’m here to tell you it ain’t going to happen!  Not just because Boeckman is older than some starting quarterbacks in the NFL or because Tressel is stubbornly loyal, but due to the fact that Todd is a pretty darn good quarterback. 

Most first year starters at OSU experience some ups and downs and that was certainly the case in 2007 for Todd.  But overall he exceeded expectations and took a young team to the National Championship game.  Most of the year, he did a good job of dissecting the defense and throwing the deep ball, although he seemed to struggle a little against the three-deep zone.

Now I know there are plenty of critics out there who point to Todd’s performance against Illinois, which was certainly lacking, and then throw in that he played poorly against Michigan and LSU.  Before I analyze those three games, though, let me remind you of a few of the good things he accomplished last year:

-In the opener against Youngstown State, when the undersized but speedy Penguins shut down Beanie and the run, Todd threw the ball masterfully, completing 74% of his passes.

-At Washington, facing a halftime deficit and a hostile crowd, he came out and took over the game in the second half, starting with a beautiful deep ball to Robiskie.

-He threw four touchdowns against Northwestern in little more than a half of work.

-In the personal highlight of his year, Todd picked apart Penn State on the road, making a joke of the vaunted PSU whiteout.  Now remember that a couple of years earlier another touted junior quarterback, a guy by the name of Troy Smith, struggled mightily facing the Nits at night.  Most analysts thought Todd would face a similar fate, but he completed 73% of his passes that evening and threw three touchdowns to help the Bucks blow out their rivals to the east.

That’s some pretty heady stuff for a first year starter, especially when you consider that he had to deal with the early departure of the team’s two star receivers.  Lest we forget, TB had a lot more highlights than low spots during the ’07 campaign.

But there were those dreaded late season letdowns. So briefly let’s examine them one by one.

The Illinois game was a huge shock to a lot of folks, and Todd was certainly a big part of the problem with no touchdowns and three interceptions.  The truth is, however, that it might have been a different day if the defense had shown up at all, and if the referees had decided to call holding and/or review an obvious fumble by the Illini.  Ironically, the Illinois fans had a quarterback controversy of their own brewing as they entered the OSU game, with many wanting to bench Juice Williams in favor of Eddie McGee.  But then the Buckeye defense made Williams look like Vince Young, and the debate quickly subsided.

In “The Game” up at the world’s largest toilet bowl, I contend that Todd played just fine.  It was an impossible day to throw the ball, as evidenced by UM completing less than 33% of their throws for a measly 76 yards.  Todd did what he needed to do, we got the W, and that’s all that matters in my opinion.

Playing the biggest game of his life, Boeckman’s performance was a mixed bag.  He had 2 TD’s and threw 2 picks, at times looking pretty good, and at other moment’s developing happy feet that led to nervous decisions.  Still, I point to two important facts: 1) The defense had a terrible scheme which was exploited by LSU – the single greatest contributing factor in the loss; and 2) Had the usually reliable Robiskie held on to a sure TD early in the game, the Bucks might not only have eventually won, but some of the pressure would have been taken off of Boeckman, and he might have played a pretty good game.  So, I don’t think Todd played as poorly as many would have us believe.

Of course we don’t live in a could-have or might-have-been world.  When a team loses a game, the quarterback takes the most heat other than the old ball coach.  Without doubt the year didn’t end as well as Boeckman would have liked, so here’s hoping that Todd will learn from his mistakes, and become a better quarterback in ’08.

If you look down through the annals of OSU football, you will notice that senior quarterbacks who return as starters generally make large improvements and have excellent seasons.  Tressel is counting on that kind of progression for Boeckman.  No doubt, Pryor will get some chances to run the “Tebow spread” on occasion.  And, Bauserman looks like a keeper, possessing both a live arm and legs.  But make no mistake about it: TB is the starter in Columbus.  There is no quarterback controversy in Tressel’s mind whatsoever.