Not only do they lose production, but Stroughter was lightning in a bottle on special teams, dazzling with his punt returns and big play potential. That and Stroughter provided a tremendous amount of leadership and grit for the 2008 team.
Every superstar must have a constant working beside him and Shane Morales was a model of consistency. The sure-handed senior wide-out came out of nowhere to, at one point, lead the Beavers in receptions and yards.
Morales finished the season with 743 yards and eight touch downs - which lead the team.
While James Rodgers and Darrell Catchings are familiar faces, no matter how you cut it, two solid and dependable go-to guys have left your program and taken a serious amount of production and leadership with them.
Concern No 5 - Butler/Norris gone, no pass rush from D-Ends.
Realistic View - Norris and Butler were pass rush specialists who, as seniors, blossomed into every down players for OSU in 2008. The duo often helped each other up in the backfield after meeting and sandwiching opposing quarterbacks.
The two combined for 122 tackles, 22 sacks, and totaled 213 yards lost. Production like that is tough to lose and the motors with which they played with were seemingly never-ending.
Losing both defensive ends with such high character and football smarts is tough for any team to overcome.
Optimistic View - Norris and Butler replaced VanOrsow and Smith, now Ben Terry and Kevin Frahm replace Norris and Butler. It's a cycle that coach Riley has had going for a good 4-5 years now.
Steven Paea, second year DT for the Beavers is a monster inside and should occupy a center and guard on nearly every play. The added attention needed inside should create one-on-one match ups on the end and with Terry's athleticism and Frahm's brute strength I don't see why production can't be on par with their predecessors.
I think the OSU D-Line will be the most underrated group on this entire team in 2009.
So as we enter fall camp and OSU Football-version 2009, the questions will continue to be asked and answers-biased or not-will be given.
The ceiling for this OSU team I think is 11-1, road games versus Oregon, USC, and Cal will be virtually impossible to sweep. That of course would place them in some sort of BCS Bowl.
Worst case scenario, OSU could lose to Cincinatti, Arizona State, Cal, Oregon, and USC. Cinci being the only home game, but early in the season where OSU normally doesn't do all that well. Worst case finish should be 7-5.
It's hard to bet against the Beavers and say they won't be bowling in 2009.
No it's not.
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