The Silver Bullet: Father & Son Bias on the Buckeyes
 
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Drew Thurman (3:03 pm)

Hopefully you already checked out our weekly post, Know the Opposition, that gives you an in-depth look at the Marshall team that will be entering Ohio Stadium tonight. The one problem is that we don't really break down the Buckeyes in those posts, so we decided go a step further and highlight what to look for from the Scarlet and Gray. So here ya go, five things to watch tonight...

1) Will Terrelle Pryor showcase improved mechanics and consistent passing?

It's the question everyone is asking - Was the Pryor we saw in the Rose Bowl a fluke or the future? He will be under the microscope tonight, and rightfully so. For the Buckeyes to have a realistic shot at a championship run, Pryor needs to be a quarterback and not just an athlete. He needs to make the easy throws actually look easy, completing a higher percentage of passes. He doesn't need to be Peyton Manning out there, but he does need to become a quarterback. If fall practice was any indication, this transformation seems to be happening, but we need to see it in action. Tonight Pryor needs to show fans that the Rose Bowl wasn't a one time event. 

2) How does the secondary look?

A big concern heading into the season is the secondary. Those fears became even more of a reality as guys like Chekwa, Torrence, and Johnson have all been banged up in fall practice. Chekwa and Torrence both have hamstring problems, which could linger for the entire season. Not exactly a positive at a position that is all about speed. Tonight watch to see how well Chekwa and Torrence start and stop. The other big thing to take note of in the secondary is the battle at strong safety between C.J. Barnett and Orhian Johnson. Many believed that Johnson would take over the spot as he became healthy, but Tressel insisted this week that Barnett has been impressive. So watch to see who holds their own at SS.
 
 
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Will DeVier Posey be a 1,000 yard receiver in 2010? We think so.
Dave and Drew Thurman (8:03 am)

Thursday night around 7:30 PM, the pigskin will fly off the tee and the much anticipated 2010 season will finally begin.  Nobody knows for sure what all will take place, but here are a few predictions to sink your teeth into and ponder, and disagree with in the remaining hours before kickoff.

1. Terrelle Pryor will throw for over 2500 yards and 25 touchdowns, but finish second to John Clay in voting for Big Ten POY.

Pryor's mechanics and throwing ability is always going to receive some scrutiny, but his consistency will improve in 2010. Tressel has already given Pryor the green light to air it out more this season, and with the weapons around him these seem like very attainable numbers. As good as this year could be for Pryor though, we feel he falls short of the Big Ten POY. He simply has too many weapons around him, and we all know these honors go to guys who have to put the team on his shoulders all year long.   

2.  Either Jamaal Berry or Jordan Hall will take a kickoff to the house.

We just learned that Berry and Hall will be returning kickoffs, so expect some fireworks. The last few years have been pretty mediocre in terms on special teams, especially in the return game, and these two youngsters should provide a much needed spark.

3.  Despite all the good tailbacks in the backfield, Brandon Saine will separate himself from the pack and total over 1,200 yards of total offense.

Saine's versatility provides matchup nightmares for opposing defenses, as we learned last year. The Buckeyes have too many tailbacks for an 1,000 yard rusher in 2010, but Saine's hands out of the backfield will help him accumulate around 1,200 yards of total offense. It should be a great senior campaign for Saine.  

4.  Jake Stoneburner will NOT catch more than 30 balls this year.

Stoney is definitely going to make the tight end position relevant again in Columbus, but there are simply too many talented playmakers on offense. Our guess is that he is a two catch a game guy, which would leave him just shy of the 30 reception mark.

5.  Ohio State will receive the first half kickoff in every game but one.

Yes, we all know Tressel's strategy - he likes to get the ball first. Most opposing coaches have no problem with this, most probably think he is partially insane. There always seems to be one coach who wants to outsmart Tressel and take the ball first, like it's the key to the Buckeye game plan. Typically it's a desperate coach like Ron Zook. Mark it down, it will happen! 
 
 
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Drew Thurman (11:18 pm)

We are just one week out from the Buckeyes finally being back in action again. This time next week I hopefully will be writing a recap about how well the team looked against Marshall, and how few concerns there are heading into the Miami (FL) game. At this point there seem to be a few more question marks than most of us would like and next week will provide some much needed answers.

The next seven days will be brutally slow, and while you wait, here are some of the things you should be reading.

1) The Buckeyes released the first depth chart of the season today.

Most the reaction around the web has been pretty apathetic about it, but it actually offered quite a few insights. First, a ton of youngsters have made their presence known throughout the two-deep. True freshman like Jonathan Hankins, Christian Bryant, Corey Brown, and Andrew Norwell all find themselves on the list. That doesn't even include the bevy of redshirt freshman and sophomores who help make up a big portion of the depth chart.

Second, the Buckeyes are obviously not near as deep at defensive end as we would like. Adam Bellamy finds himself backing up Cameron Heyward, showing how thin the position really is. Honestly though, the only other option would be Melvin Fellows. With Solomon Thomas behind Nathan Williams and Keith Wells now gone, there really are no other experienced options. Outside of Heyward, Williams and Thomas there is not another upperclassmen on the defensive line depth chart. Something that could hurt down the stretch.

Then there is C.J. Barnett jumping Orhian Johnson on the depth chart at safety. This was the only real surprise, unless you have been under a rock and didn't hear that Sweat has jumped Sabino. There has been some panic because of the Barnett's size and lack of experience, but all those in the know claim this all due to Johnson being injured.

Another note at safety is that Christian Bryant has bypassed Nate Oliver on the two-deep at Star.
 
 
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Drew Thurman (12:05 pm)

The Big Ten Network has been previewing the season team by team, which included Ohio State this week. As bland as the coverage on the BTN can be at times, I will tune into about anything that spends an hour talking about the Buckeyes. One of the things that caught my attention was Gerry DiNardo's comments about Ohio State's need for a big time running back. It also caught the attention of ESPN's Adam Rittenberg.

"DiNardo brought up a good point about the need for Ohio State to have a dominant running back again, and how it will keep defenses guessing against quarterback Terrelle Pryor."

Now I'm going to try to put my bias on hold because I don't hold DiNardo in real high esteem. I've often said that those who can't coach, commentate. And those who can't commentate, commentate on the Big Ten Network. Not only that, but DiNardo did pick Penn State to win the conference last year.

Okay with that out of my system, does DiNardo have a point? Will running back by committee hurt the Buckeyes down the stretch?

Simply, the answer is no.
 
 
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Is this the best passing attack in Tressel's tenure? (Photo via upi.com)
Drew Thurman (10:45 am)

When Tressel told the media that Pryor could throw the ball 25-35 times a game this fall, everyone took note. This sudden trust in Pryor's ability to air it out left most of us laughing, especially considering he has only thrown more than 30 attempts in a game twice during his career. Don't get me wrong, I love the spoken confidence in TP, but wonder in crunch time how quickly Tressel will go back to the running game. For instance, Troy Smith attempted just over 23 passes a game his senior season in what was the most balanced offense in Tressel's tenure. So is the Sweater Vest dreaming?

Well, by all accounts so far this fall, Tressel is sticking to his word. Not only is Pryor airing it out in practice often, but the weapons around him seem ready to breakout the Buckeye offense this year; an offense that was managed and contained a year ago until the Rose Bowl. So the question is - why the sudden change of heart for Tressel?

Most have compared this to Smith's senior year when Tressel finally trusted the quarterback enough to lead the offense. Others have attributed this to Tressel's worries about how good this defense will really be this year. While both of those options could be partially true, I think there is another reason we can't overlook. I think Tressel realizes the amount of weapons he has around Pryor, and that this is the most diversely talented offense in his near decade with the Buckeyes. On any given play or formation Pryor has 4-5 different options to throw the ball to. That is a much different world than the ones some of the former Buckeye quarterbacks have lived in.

Think back to 2007 when Todd Boeckman's only two real options were Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline. Though Robiskie had a solid season, Tressel depended solely on the running game and Beanie Wells when things mattered most. Pryor is blessed with much more talent around him, and defenses will have to be a lot more creative in 2010. I think its this reason Tressel has confidence handing over the keys to the offense. Pryor's not getting a Chevy Cobalt, he's getting a Jaguar.
 
 
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Drew Thurman (8:10 am)

We make fun of housewives getting their kicks watching Joan Rivers over analyze red carpet attire on E!, but today thousands of Buckeye fans will do something just as hilarious. As pictures get posted this evening of the players reporting to camp, grown men with wives and children will flip through hundreds of pictures of the players carrying suitcases and McDonald's cups. Most of this can be credited to how anxious most fans are about the season finally starting, but it does sound a little awkward nonetheless. Here at The Silver Bullet we aren't pointing any fingers, in fact, we kind of got carried away with this whole thing the last few years.

Anyways, what has always made today enjoyable is to get a look at the players you don't see that often. There will obviously be a ton of pictures of guys like Pryor and Heyward, but unless they look hungover or have an amputated leg I really could care less. I'm just glad they showed up. There is always a worry that some of the offensive linemen might check-in looking like Rosie O'Donnell, but Tressel's recent workout plan seems to be working. So, the guys I care to see are the freshman, the third stringers, the future of the team. It's always fun to get the first look at the newbies, even if they will be redshirting or getting mop-up duty during the season.

This year it will be especially interesting to take note of the freshman class entering fall camp. Even though this is an experienced team, one that should be ready for a championship run, there are some very important freshman storylines that should be watched in the coming weeks. The 2010 class may have a more important role than you might think...    
 
 
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Drew Thurman (3:34 am)

It's been a decade of dominance for the Buckeyes, especially at the linebacker position. From Wilhem to Hawk to Laurinaitis, there has been some serious hardware collected in the 2000's. Those names don't even include consistent players like Cie Grant, Robert Reynolds, Bobby Carpenter, and Marcus Freeman. It's hard to imagine anyone in the country boasting a better combination of quantity and quality.

As Buckeye fans we love watching the linebacker position, and at times they become the rock stars of the team. Any given Saturday in the fall, the Shoe is filled with overzealous fans still wearing jerseys with the numbers 47 and 33 on them. Yet the star of this year's linebacking core, Ross Homan, hardly gets the recognition he deserves. I mean seriously, the team shop doesn't even sell his jersey.

Understandably, both Terrelle Pryor and Cameron Heyward grab most of the limelight, but in many Buckeye circles even Brian Rolle gets more publicity than Homan. No offense to Rolle, but after last year it's pretty clear that he is the second best linebacker on this team. Homan's stat sheet was easily the most impressive of any defensive player on the roster. He led the team with 108 tackles (57 solo compared to Rolle's 37), while recording five tackles for loss and a ridiculous five interceptions. He was a 2nd-Team Big Ten performer and is easily a front runner for 1st Team in 2010. So, where is the love for Ross Homan?       
 
 
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The 'Nuge'
Dave Thurman (8:42 am)

In our ongoing series we have already looked at the following positions: wide receiver, linebacker, offensive line, defensive backs, fullbacks & tight ends, defensive line, and quarterback.

Through the years Ohio State has been blessed with some tremendous kickers, punters and returners.  Since there is such diversity in these positions, it is difficult to rate them, but here is my attempt at the top ten all-time Buckeye specialists:

10. Garcia Lane - A dangerous punt returner, Garcia actually took two to the house in one game against Purdue in 1983.  Although he was a fine defensive back, Lane is probably best remembered as a special teams' demon.

9.  B.J Sander - Although he didn't come into his own until his senior year (2003), it was such a great season that Sander was selected as the Ray Guy award winner as the nation's best punter.

8.  Neal Colzie - A fabulous defensive back who was just as good in the return game, Colzie averaged a Buckeye record 14.3 yards per punt return for his career including a couple of touchdowns. 

7.  Vlade Janakievski - An all-time fan favorite, Vlade was a walk-on from the soccer team who played on some high scoring squads, and kicked 172 extra points and 41 field goals in his career, before opening up a popular deli on Lane Street.

6.  Andy Groom - An integral part of the 2002 National Championship team, Andy is still number one in career punting average at Ohio State, at 45.0 yards per punt.  Considering that the '02 team won with defense first, one cannot overestimate the importance of Groom's punting, and he was rewarded by being named a first team All-American.
 
 
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Drew Thurman (3:24 pm)

In this series of profiles, we are taking a look at some of the under the radar Buckeye players who play a vital role in a championship run. Everyone knows the importance of players like Pryor, Saine, Posey, Brewster, Boren, Heyward, Homan, and Rolle. This series is not about those big names players, rather the indispensable guys that get looked over. Check out #6 Jermale Hines...

Why he is important:

With Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell now gone, it's pretty obvious why Jermale Hines is important. He is the only player on the depth chart at safety that has any experience, and you better believe the staff is counting on him for leadership. Coleman was a leader on and off the field, which will be missed, especially in the secondary. Torrence and Chekwa don't have the leadership swagger, so Hines stepping into that role could be vital. There is no doubt that the staff is pushing this too. Check out Hines' words this spring:

"It actually hit me the first day after winter workouts when we had to gather up and stretch," Hines said. He took what had been his regular position in the circle the past three years when he said safeties coach Paul Haynes yelled, "'Get in the middle.'"  

Hines will also play a huge role in how good the Buckeye defense really is. Last year he was quietly fourth on the team in tackles with 57, while also recording 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. Look for Hines to build on those numbers this season, and quite frankly, the team needs him to. Safety play was a huge part of the success of the Buckeyes in '09, especially in the turnover department, so don't underestimate how important Hines will be to this year's squad. 
 
 
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Did anyone ever throw a prettier spiral than Joe Germaine?
Dave Thurman (10:54 am)

In our ongoing series we have already looked at the following positions: wide receiver, linebacker, offensive line, defensive backs, fullbacks & tight ends, and defensive line.

Quarterback probably isn't the most famous position at Ohio State -- that would be running back, which, by the way, we are saving until last.  However, no position has been as greatly scrutinized by fans as quarterback, which means that there will probably be some strong reaction to this list.  Certainly opinions are varied when it comes to ranking the best to don the scarlet and gray at this position.  Some think that you have to start with the signal callers who led their team to a National Championships, even if they didn't put up eye catching statistics or win individual awards.  Others contend that you have to look at the numbers (completion percentage, yards, and touchdowns) as the most important consideration.  At TSB we are trying to find some middle ground, factoring in all of the above.  Anyway, here is our top ten list of greatest Buckeye quarterbacks.

10. Jim Karsotos - This gunslinger hailed from California, and put up some big numbers in the mid 80s in his two seasons as a starter.  In fact he became the first Buckeye quarterback to register two seasons of passing for more than 2000 yards.

9.  Mike Tomczak - Definitely a better passer than commentator, Mike started for three seasons in Columbus, throwing for a total of 5569 yards in his career.  He then went on to a lengthy though somewhat star-crossed NFL career.

8.  Les Horvath - The first Buckeye to win the Heisman, Les was really a halfback who played quarterback his senior season.  He rarely ever threw the ball, and it is difficult to place him higher on the list for that reason.

7.  Cornelius Greene - A brilliant runner (he rushed for 842 yards in '74 alone), Greene started three seasons, and was overshadowed by Archie Griffin, but was an excellent leader, who improved each year as a passer, and was actually voted the Big Ten MVP in 1975.  Some would contend he should be ranked higher since the team went 31-3-1 with Cornelius at the controls. 

6.  Joe Germaine - Although he did not become a full-time starter until his senior season, Joe enjoyed three fine years in Columbus, and I contend he threw the prettiest spiral of anyone on this list.  His OSU career was highlighted by a Rose Bowl win over Arizona State which he orchestrated with a great last minute drive, and he nearly led the Bucks to a perfect season as a senior, coming up just short against Michigan State.  Joe still holds the record for most yards passing in a season - 3330 in 1998.