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Washington picked the right "O"
Dave and Drew Thurman (4:04 pm)

The holiday known as National Signing Day was an absolute whirlwind for Buckeye Nation, and most of us are still recovering from yesterday. With signings, commitments and drama, most of us are still wrapping our minds around this very solid 2012 class. To give some perspective, we have joined with a group of Buckeye Blogs to take a closer look at how this class will play out in the future and the impact they could have. You can check out opinions on the same questions from The Buckeye Battle Cry, The Buckeye Blog, Buckeye House Call, Men of the Scarlet and Gray, and Our Honor Defend.

Anyway, here are our thoughts:

Who are you most excited to see in scarlet and gray?

Dave: Adolphus Washington.  Even though Noah Spence was more highly rated I think Washington is going to be special.  More than that he was the top-ranked Ohio prospect according to many experts and hails from Cincinnati, which has been an area where Ohio State has found little success in recent years.  I was overjoyed to get this pass rush specialist.  Even with the return of Nathan Williams, I look for a couple of the freshmen ends to play, and help beef up the anemic Buckeye pass rush.

Drew: The easy answer here is one of the defensive lineman or running backs, who have tons of hype coming in. I'm going have to go with Jamal Marcus though. Urban Meyer praised the kid more than about any other prospect yesterday, and considering his track record with evaluating talent, I'm sold. His film is incredibly impressive, and his athleticism is through the roof. With the depth at linebacker currently, especially at outside linebacker, I'm looking forward to seeing what he can provide. I am little biased because of my ongoing enjoyment of solid linebacker play, and with this year's horrendous unit (sans Ryan Shazier), I'm ready to see Linebacker U re-emerge.
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Michael Chung (4:38 pm)

Reports are surfacing that the Indianapolis Colts are interested in hiring Jim Tressel as head coach. Owner Jim Irsay has already invested two interviews.

Sources have cited that Tony Dungy believes Jim Tressel will get the head-coaching job while other sources are stating that Tressel will definitely not be the next head coach.  It is clear that the Buckeye’s former headman has his supporters and detractors.

Already, the same criticisms thrown at Tressel when he became Ohio State’s head coach are again resurfacing: the jump is too great and Tressel would be overmatched.  This was the same thinking when Tressel left Youngstown State to replace John Cooper.  What happened next?  Tressel’s ten year run is unarguably one of the best ten year periods in Ohio State football.

Bob Hunter also believes Tressel can succeed.  He writes in the Dispatch: “Although Tressel has no NFL experience, he is sharp and has had a lot of on-the-field success, in part because he is highly organized and good at managing details, coaching coaches and seeing the big picture, which is what head coaches do.”

He goes on to write regarding Tressel’s lack of NFL experience, “That doesn’t automatically mean that he would be successful in the NFL, but it does make you wonder why people would think that a guy who effectively ran the multimillion-dollar corporation we know as Ohio State football couldn’t run an NFL team in Indianapolis.”

But not only should Tressel get a head coaching job, I will argue that the Colts and the NFL need him.  Here is why:
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Offensive line commits from 2002-2010 (Via Rivals)
Ken Kohl (5:27 pm)

[Ed. Note] This is the second part of Ken's inside look at Jim Bollman and the offensive line issues at Ohio State. The first part can be read here.

“It was the best of lines, it was the worst of lines..”
- my sincerest apologies to Charles Dickens. 

In this case, the two cities are not London nor Paris, but Columbus and Iowa City. This is a follow up, as suggested by reader TexasBuckeye comparing the development of offensive linemen at Ohio State and the University of Iowa. I’d like to acknowledge data for the “inputs” from Rivals.com and for the “outputs” from The Football Cube. These were the sources for college recruit rankings and NFL draft rounds.

For the college recruiting years of 2002 - 2010, Ohio State recruited 22 linemen while Iowa recruited 24 linemen. Obviously, the schools had additional linemen on their rosters (walk-ons) but these numbers represent the higher profile recruits. You know, where coaches actually identify a need. Above is a table that shows the Rivals ranking and number of recruits for each school during this period. As expected, Ohio State has been bringing in higher quality linemen, according to Rivals. 

What did the NFL think of all this?  For the NFL portion, I used the drafts of 2007-2011 since they closely aligned with the 2002 - 2010 recruiting classes. OSU had 4 draftees and they averaged being drafted in the “4th and a half round”. Iowa’s five draftees averaged being drafted in the 4th round, so they fared slightly better
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Michael Chung (1:53 pm)

Ohio State has two brand new coordinators for offense and defense.  From the looks of their resumes, they are two top-notch coaches.  Both have had a lot of success and Buckeye nation is hoping that their expertise will contribute to a National Championship.  

I recently sat down with someone who knows and has worked with both of them.  Anthony Ceder was a graduate assistant at the University of Texas during the time that both Everett Withers and Tom Herman were on the staff.  Withers was the defensive backs coach and Tom Herman was also a graduate assistant.  A third person perspective could prove very enlightening about two of the new coaches for the Buckeyes.

Everett Withers:

Q: I am not going to ask 20 questions, flat out, what kind of coach is Ohio State getting?

AC:  They are getting a tremendous coach.  Withers is an ace recruiter, very bright. He's a great teacher of fundamentals.

Q: What are his strengths?

AC: To sum up Everett’s strengths, he is incredibly bright, very organized and detailed, tough yet inspiring.  Professionally, a secondary coach is one of the hardest jobs on a staff.  Passing schemes and new offenses are making it very hard on secondary coaches because they must adjust to it all.  With all the innovative offenses and passing schemes, one better have a coach who has mastered the details of how to be a defensive back and Everett has.  

Everett goes out of his way to make sure his players are prepared.  He was known to have extra 6am meetings with his players above and beyond the normal team meetings.  He is highly professional and a master of the defensive back position.  He knows technique inside and out and has the ability to teach it to others.

Q: You mentioned he was inspiring; can you give me an example?

AC: I believe it was after the Red River Rivalry of 2000 when we lost to Oklahoma 63-14.  Everyone was down in the dumps, including myself.  Not only had we lost to one of our biggest rivals, our secondary was decimated. Josh Heupel must have thrown 5 or more TD passes and we came into the locker room as dejected as we could be. Everett walked in the room to talk to his secondary. Everett told us that football is an unforgiving game and that we have to turn it around. The only way to make sure football does not destroy us is through toughness and resilience in the midst of challenge.  He asked us who was scared today and some raised their hands.  He apologized for putting them in a tough position as some were true freshman and told them he should not have played them. He was able to comfort our fragile confidence and inspire us to overcome our horrid situation.  I believe that year; we went on to win 7-8 straight games.
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Decker's new look. (H/T Alex from 11W)
Drew Thurman (7:10 am)

It seems you can't click the refresh button quick enough these days, as Buckeye football news is just pouring in. Again yesterday, we got major news pertaining to what this team will look like in 2012 and beyond, both good and bad. Buckeye Nation not only can welcome some new faces, but also has to say it's goodbyes to several players and coaches. Let's take a look at the additions and the unfortunate attrition.

Addition - Taylor Decker

There arguably isn't a bigger need left in the 2012 recruiting class than offensive tackle. That void got smaller as Vandalia Butler offensive tackle Taylor Decker committed to Buckeyes yesterday.

Decker originally committed to Notre Dame back in March, and seemed to have little interest in Ohio State in the midst of all of the turmoil. Meyer's hiring in November seemed to peak Decker's interest and at least made him evaluate his options again. Then when Notre Dame coaches Tim Hinton and Ed Warriner joined Meyer's staff, Decker's public shock made most believe the switch was imminent. His visit this weekend sealed the deal.

Decker is the 20th member of the 2012 class and the third offensive lineman with Jacoby Boren and Pat Elflein. He's listed at 6-8 315 pounds, and is ranked as a four star prospect by all the major recruiting services. Between Kyle Dodson, Jordan Diamond, and Joey O'Connor the staff will be looking to add at least one more offensive lineman in this class. O'Connor was the only one of the three without an offer, but he finally got that offer extended this weekend on his visit to Columbus.

Attrition - Jeremy Cash, Dominic Clarke, and Derjuan Gambrell

The Buckeyes have lost a lot of depth in the defensive backfield in the last 48 hours. First news was released that safety Jeremy Cash is seeking a transfer. Cash played in five games last year as a freshman, and it appeared he had a bright future. While no reason has been given as to his motivation to transfer, the combination of a new coaching staff and the entire defensive backfield returning next season would seem to be likely explanations. No schools have been named as his possible destination. 
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Ken Kohl (12:41pm)

[Ed. Note] We are in the process of adding several writers here at The Silver Bullet, and growing beyond just being a father-son operation. This means more content for you. So we would like to introduce Ken Kohl. Ken's been around the blog for awhile now, and we got smart and finally asked him to write. You can read all about him here.

I’ve wanted to do this for some time, probably going back 6-8 years, but it was brought to a head for me this year. In the last decade or so, I’ve been uncomfortable with Ohio State’s offensive line play.  I just haven’t bought into linemen sporting the "belly-over-belt" look that we’ve seen under Bollman. For background, I’m a Baby Boomer, and my earliest recollections of Ohio State football are Bob Ferguson and Tom Matte. In terms of offensive linemen, the pinnacle was Dave Foley and Rufus Mayes.  So aside from the play calling this year, I was curious about Bollman’s  performance in his stated responsibility: offense line. Unlike Marc Antony, I come not to bury Bollman, nor to praise him.

This must have crossed a few folks minds, because their have recently been two excellent posts related to this as Ramzy at 11W and Scott Dame at The O-Zone have recently written excellent articles related to this.

This post takes a look at Ohio State linemen that have been drafted into the NFL. This is based on the assumption that NFL GM’s have some idea of talent, and regardless of college performance these players were thought highly enough of for a GM to spend a draft pick to acquire. To do this comparison, I looked at some “horizontal” and “longitudinal” numbers to see how Bollman compared against his contemporaries and his predecessors as an offensive line coach. I had two “measures of success”: number of linemen drafted and number of linemen drafted in the 1st round. This may quantify and qualify the end results. Regardless of how “good” a recruit was going into the system, did he emerge “good enough” that an NFL GM would draft him? I want to stress that this is a comparison, not an analysis.
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Senior John Simon leads the D-line
Dave Thurman (3:14 pm)

Previously we looked at what to expect from the Ohio State offense in 2012.  Now we move to the prospects for the 2012 defense. 

After a very disappointing 2011 when the Silver Bullets seemed to stay in the revolver most of the year, Ohio State hopes to rebound in a big way.  Opponents managed 323.5 yards and 21.0 points per game against the Buckeyes, and while those numbers are acceptable at a lot of schools, they don't cut it in Columbus.  With a new head coach in place, and a lot of returning talent, hopes run high for major improvement. 

Below is an early look at what I expect will be the pecking order, although it is bound to change as more high school seniors commit to Ohio State, and as some of the present players transfer or are given the boot by Urban Meyer and his staff. It is fun to guess, though, and try and get a grasp of who will be on the field in scarlet and gray this September.

Defensive Line:

Returning: Nathan Williams (Sr.), John Simon (Sr.), Garrett Goebel (Sr.), Johnathan Hankins (Jr.), Adam Bellamy (Jr.), J.T. Moore (Soph.), Michael Bennett (Soph.), Joel Hale (Soph.), Steve Miller (Soph.), Chase Farris (R-Fr.) & Ken Hayes (R-Fr.)
Departing: Melvin Fellows (Medical redshirt), Solomon Thomas & Evan Blankenship
Moving: Darryl Baldwin (Likely moving to OL)
Arriving: Noah Spence, Adolphus Washington, Se'Von Pittman & Tommy Schutt

You want reason to be excited about 2012?  Take a look at the guys who will be playing in the trenches for the Buckeye D. The starters will likely include Nathan Williams at weakside end (Leo) and John Simon at strongside end, with big Johnathan Hankins and Garrett Goebel inside.  That is a very experienced and talented group that should dominate most games.  It will be a fight for playing time behind them, with Adam Bellamy, Michael Bennett and Joel Hale getting the rest of the minutes at the defensive tackle positions.  Any of them could potentially move outside and play a little end (especially strongside), but with Ohio State looking to establish an increased pass rush, look for Hayes, Miller, Spence and Washington to all battle for playing time.  Of that group I like Washington to make the most noise in 2012.  Getting Nathan Williams back should help immediately, and if one or two of the youngsters can also get consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks it will cause headaches for offensive coordinators.  Guys like Farris, Pittman, and Schutt all bring a ton of talent to the table as well, but may have to wait a year to play.  I can't ever remember seeing this kind of depth on the defensive line in my years of following the Buckeyes.
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Miller will again be the focal point in 2012
Dave Thurman (8:23 pm)

Out with the old and in with the new.  A whole lot is about to change, as the Walrus cleans out his office and Tressel Ball kicks the bucket for good.  A new coaching staff not only brings in a new philosophy but a whole different way of evaluating talent.  So we can be confident that the OSU offense in 2012 will look very different than it did this year, or at any time in recent memory for that matter.  

Below is an early look at what I expect will be the pecking order, although it is bound to change as more high school seniors commit to Ohio State, and as some of the present players transfer or are given the boot by Urban Meyer and his staff. It is fun to guess, though, and try and get a grasp of who will be on the field in scarlet and gray this September.

Quarterback:

Returning: Braxton Miller (Soph.) & Kenny Guiton (Jr.)
Departing: Joe Bauserman & Taylor Graham (transfering)
Arriving: Cardale Jones

This one is easy.  Outside of a catastrophe Braxton Miller will be the starter next year, as Meyer is salivating over his talent.  Miller improved throughout the season and has sick skills but needs to expand his vision and develop better mechanics.  Still, he is the focal point around which this squad will build.  Behind him is little used Kenny Guiton, who has toyed with leaving but should stay as he is all but guaranteed the number two job heading into fall.  He can do some similar things as Braxton and might be better than fans expect.  Cardale Jones arrives this winter from Fork Union, and has talent, but there are whispers that he faces an uphill battle to stay eligible and to grasp the mental elements of the game. Call it the Glenville curse if you like and stay tuned to see how this one unfolds.  If either Guiton or Jones would depart of become ineligible it would be a major problem, especially since Miller likes to run and takes a great deal of contact.  Although the staff has looked at some quarterbacks in the class of 2012 it would be a surprise if anyone else is signed. 
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Dave Thurman (4:20 pm)

As January 2nd draws closer Buckeye nation is beginning to warm up to the idea of playing the Florida Gators.  Although both teams are a disappointing 6-6, it is still a compelling matchup, made all the more interesting because of the Urban Meyer connection with both programs. And it is always fascinating to see which team in a bowl game has made the most changes and adjustments since the end of the regular season.  Astute fans also watch with hopes of picking up clues in regard to the next season, as young players start to get more playing time.  

Although there are many things I will be watching for in this game, I have to confess that my focus will be on the defense, first and foremost. Don't get me wrong, I will also be observing the OSU offense.  I am interested to see if Braxton Miller has continued to progress, and will do a better job of reading the opposing defensive schemes now that he has more practices and film analysis under his belt.  And, it will be exciting to see if any of the young receivers has stepped up and is ready to become a big time player in the future.  But, it is the defense that tuly has my attention.

So what exactly will I be watching for as my eyes fix on the Ohio State defensive unit?

1) Will the team do a better job of playing in space and tackling in the open field?  As the Silver Bullets were repeatedly gashed this year the most glaring problem was tackling, with both the linebacking corp and secondary whiffing on opposing ball carriers over and over again.  Some of it was due to poor spacing, and some was due to poor tackling form, but is has to be corrected if this team is going to move forward.  Maybe the past six weeks has given coaches a chance to teach fundementals and improve technique.  I know that I'll be watching.
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_Family Feud is a feature where Dave and Drew throw their opinions in on various Buckeye football subjects, which like most father and sons, are quite opposite. This edition takes a detour as they look at the B1G as a whole and the upcoming bowl schedule.  

Buckeye Nation isn't exactly as wired for the bowl season as in past years. The matchup of two 6-6 teams in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl hardly compares to the BCS battles that Ohio State has been through over the last decade. While some have tried to use the Urban Meyer angle to gain interest in this game, it hardly does enough to make things meaningful. Meyer isn't coaching in the game, and instead fans get one last chance to see Bollman's play calling.

So while the major drama may be missing for the Buckeyes, there is plenty to keep you interested in the bowl season thanks to the Big Ten. The conference has a record 10 teams playing in bowls, including some pretty compelling matchups.
Conference bragging rights will also be at stake again this year, as the Big Ten tries to rebound from 3-5 record from a season ago. Let's take a close look at these games and give some predictions.

Little Caesars Pizza Bowl - Purdue (6-6) vs. Western Michigan (7-5)
TV Details: Today, Dec 27; 4:30 p.m. (ESPN2)

Game Outlook: The Boilermakers find themselves in their first bowl game in four years after winning two of their final three games. They make the trip to Ford Field without their top tackler on defense, Dwayne Beckford (suspended), as well as OJ Ross (suspended) and Ralph Bolden (injured).

On the other side, Western Michigan is trying to win the first bowl game in school history. They rank 22nd in total yards in the country and 18th in points scored on offense mostly thanks to quarterback Alex Carder (3434 yards, 28 touchdowns). In their first two meetings against Big Ten schools this year they fell short, Michigan (34-10) and Illinois (23-20).

Prediction: Dave - Purdue 24, Western Michigan 20; Drew - Purdue 35, Western Michigan 31
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