(Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
1. Name one (offensive or defensive) unit you expect to produce this season and one that makes you nervous.
Poe: Produce: Wide Receivers. Terrelle Pryor wants to “feed his guys” and the receivers should benefit in a big way. The Brians both got drafted and Robiskie should have been one of the best receivers ever at Ohio State, but the unit should have more athleticism and more big play ability.
Young and unproven, they could put up big numbers if they are allowed. Yards After Catch (YAC) have been almost nonexistent recently, whether it’s due to under thrown balls or the Amazing Falling Hartline. T
hese receivers will need YAC to be effective, because there will be some mental lapses and dropped balls. The team needs to play like it wants to be in the end zone every play.
Nervous: The Big Uglies, Offensive Line and Defensive Tackles. I’m still confident that Heacock and Bollman have no idea what they are doing, especially when it comes to line play. I’m no expert, but some experts have openly criticized the units and their play.
The offensive line could easily go in the ‘produce’ category will all new players and the addition of Justin Boren, but I’m just not sure.
Cassius: The unit that I most expect to produce this year, and this may be a shocker, is the O-line. Thanks to the inclusion of Justin Boren who apparently likes to play very, very angry, and the continued progression of Brewster and center I'd look for a line that will do a better job at run blocking and pass protection, and I don't think we'll have any more problems with bad snaps this year.
The unit that makes me the most nervous is the linebacker corps. Ohio State has effectively supplanted Penn State as linebacker U, but it doesn't change the fact that this will be the most green unit on the field come September.
Massey: I think the Ohio State secondary needs to acquit itself. In fact, I will go a step further and say that all pass defenders give me heartburn. For years I have been watching them play soft zone, bend-but-don’t-break coverage and it makes me nuts.
Still, that approach has been mildly successful (until it faces a true passing team) but that was with players like Malcolm Jenkins, Nate Clements, Chris Gamble, and Donte Whitner. When I look at the defensive secondary for 2009, I get very nervous.
Until Jamaal Berry’s arrest, I was feeling really good about the running back position. With the exception of Pittman’s final season when Wells was a freshman, I cannot think of a year when Ohio State had two legitimate running backs.
Saine and Herron are proven players (despite Saine's injuries), while Berry and Hyde rounded out what appears to be an impressive group. I understand that Berry and Hyde are all hype at this stage, but if Berry is still in the mix come August, I think Ohio State will be as stocked at tailback as they have been in years.
0 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete