Kramer's College Football Notebook: Complete Offseason Preview
Success is intoxicating. It’s why congratulatory praise is often left open-ended, leaving room for the possibility of an encore. It’s why Urban Meyer, fresh off one of the most historic national championship runs in any sport, was pummeled with questions about the next championship less than 12 hours later.
"These are tough questions, man,” Meyer said, via Patrick Maks of Eleven Warriors. “We just won a championship."
It's why a quarterback with more national championships than regular-season starts caused the sporting world to stop functioning one Thursday afternoon. Sure, the third-string QB with a mortar for an arm made history, but what about making more history?
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FoxSportsOhio.com's Zac Jackson had the answer from Cardale Jones on whether he would return to Ohio State or declare for the NFL draft:
"Cardale Jones announces he's going back to school. "It was simple."
— Zac Jackson (@FSOhioZJackson) January 15, 2015"
"Simple" is not a word you would use to summarize Jones' meteoric rise to NFL commodity or Ohio State's unlikely title run. Nothing about this made any sense, and perhaps it never will.
At the same time, one can’t help but look at Ohio State’s roster and be captivated about the things to come. It starts with Jones' return to the team, but that doesn't begin to outline just how deep the Buckeyes should be next season. With youth and star power dispersed across both sides of the ball at every level, there’s no reason to believe success won’t be sustainable.
There are losses to overcome, no question. The Buckeyes will be without the services of wideout Devin Smith, the nation’s top deep threat. Smith averaged 28.2 yards per reception this season, the highest average in the country since 2011. The offense also has to move forward without offensive coordinator Tom Herman, now adjusting to life as Houston’s head coach.
Defensively, Ohio State will have to replace Michael Bennett, one of the nation’s most talented and versatile linemen. Linebacker Curtis Grant and cornerback Doran Grant have also said farewell.
But that’s basically it. The team you saw beat Oregon will be the same team you see months from now. The quarterback position is a colossal logjam, but it’s also a position the program will have the utmost confidence in regardless of the player named starter. It’s the ultimate rich man’s problem.
The offensive line, the one coming off its synchronized bulldozing brilliance, should be even better. Ezekiel Elliott, who ran for nearly 800 yards in the final three games, including 246 yards in the College Football Playoff National Championship, should be faster and stronger. Others, such as Jalin Marshall and Dontre Wilson—two outstanding chess pieces—should see their roles evolve.
On defense, there will be playmakers at every level. Defensive end Joey Bosa will be back and likely a popular name for the No. 1 pick when next year’s draft rolls around. Raekwon McMillan and Darron Lee will give the Buckeyes the top linebacking core in the country. And in the secondary, led by the electric and still-developing Vonn Bell, Ohio State should match experience with the athleticism of youth to build on an already impressive group.
There are pieces everywhere.
Offseason attrition and injuries will factor in at some point—no team knows this better than Ohio State—but the unknown shouldn’t temper any Columbus enthusiasm. Not now, at least.
It’s never as easy as it looks on paper; just ask Florida State. Similar proclamations were made about the Seminoles at this point in the calendar one year ago. Things happen, teams change, units evolve and others change around you.
But with so much momentum working in Ohio State’s favor—and more help on the horizon with another magnificent recruiting class set to arrive on campus—all CFP National Championship hopefuls should begin with one simple question.
How do we go about beating this team?
As for other offseason storylines to follow—including recruits, storylines and television shows to take up a sudden surge of free time—let’s dive into the offseason headfirst and look for water midair.
Five Important (and Unavoidable) Offseason Storylines
1. Quarterback battles, of course, usually serve as quality offseason fodder. That will be the case once more. In particular, focus in on Columbus (see above) and South Bend, Indiana. After looking the part of a starting quarterback in Notre Dame’s bowl victory over LSU, Malik Zaire appears to have the upper hand over Everett Golson. Elsewhere, I’m curious to see what Oregon and UCLA do at the position after losing Marcus Mariota and Brett Hundley, respectively. There are quarterbacks in place and big-time prospects hoping to have an early say.
2. Speaking of quarterbacks, college football’s “free agency” period could be fascinating in 2015 when it comes to graduate transfers. Golson and Ohio State’s Braxton Miller have both been rumored to be looking at other schools given their hazy starting potential with their current programs. With Florida State, Alabama, LSU and plenty others looking for answers at the position, these players could be hot commodities in the weeks to follow.
3. The College Football Playoff was a smashing success in its first season, shattering television records and drawing unprecedented attention to the sport. Now, with ample time to reflect over the coming weeks, it’ll be fascinating to see what changes are implemented before the fall. No, there won’t be eight teams. The selection committee, however, could undergo personnel changes. The evaluation process and how these results are delivered to the masses could also be tweaked some. Stay tuned.
4. Ah, yes. Good ol’ fashion NCAA conversations will undoubtedly surface once more, although this regular offseason ritual will carry a bit more weight this time around. Power Five conferences (Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12 and Pac-12) have been granted autonomy, meaning they will be allowed to create their own rules. Player stipends and cost of attendance will be popular topics soon enough, and other polarizing topics could follow. This could actually take up a significant part of your offseason coverage—you’ve been warned.
5. Of course, no offseason is without two ugly, unavoidable developments that will hit more than just a handful of teams. Injuries and arrests will again, unfortunately, consume much of our attention. It’s unavoidable. Outside of national signing day, the occasional spring football sound bite and eventual media day madness, you don’t want to hear about your team until fall practice. In the offseason, no news is good news. One can only hope that this particular offseason will be more quiet—even if that means boring—than usual.
My Way-Too-Early “Anger as Many Fanbases as Possible” Top 10
In recent years, these immediate post-championship rankings have become quite popular. And I can tell you from direct experience that nothing ignites a comment section quite like ‘em.
You love them. You also hate them when no love is given.
Now, I won’t post my full Top 25—there are far too many things to discuss and fanbases to enrage in other places—but here are my Top 10 teams with so much still to be decided.
(Note: If your team was disrespected or omitted, it’s absolutely an agenda and you should be enraged.)
1. Ohio State
2. TCU
3. Baylor
4. Alabama
5. USC
6. Auburn
7. Michigan State
8. UCLA
9. Oregon
10. Notre Dame
As for what these rankings usually consistent of, here is the formula for ranking college football teams in mid-January.
1. A team that looked REALLY good last time you watched it
2. A team that will undoubtedly finish 7-5
3. Probably Alabama (And if not, certainly not your team)
4. Definitely not your team
5. A team with major holes (But it's January, so who really cares?)
Five Teams I’m Going to Spend the Next Seven Months Figuring Out
Arkansas: I get why people are giddy over the Hogs, especially with almost the entire offense back. If the passing game can develop just a smidge and the defense can replace a handful of key pieces up front, I might just jump on the giddiness train. There is a lot to like; it’s just a matter of finding the appropriate ceiling.
Tennessee: With so much talent on the roster—especially on the offensive side—expect the Vols to be a “buzz” team. Quarterback Joshua Dobbs looks to be a future star in the conference, and more help is on the way with another huge recruiting class for Butch Jones. Both lines have been rebuilt, which will be significant moving forward. Fascinating potential.
Michigan: Brady Hoke, for all his limitations as a head coach, recruited some immensely talented players. It’ll be up to new head coach Jim Harbaugh to develop that talent in a way Hoke simply could not. Is Shane Morris the guy at quarterback? What can we expect from Jabrill Peppers, who has superstar potential? It’ll be an eventful offseason in Ann Arbor.
Florida State: The Seminoles are losing more talent than anyone, and quite frankly, it isn’t even close. They’ll be without Jameis Winston at quarterback along with Rashad Greene and Nick O’Leary, his two favorite targets. The defensive line and secondary were both absolutely gutted, as was the offensive line. There is talent to step in thanks to masterful recruiting, although now is the time to get acclimated with future Tallahassee stars.
Oklahoma: What on earth was that? And, more important to the future, can the Sooners be fixed in short order? Major staff changes will bring some welcomed new voices to Norman, and the offense could use a boost. It doesn’t hurt to have Samaje Perine, one of the best young running backs in the country, although there are plenty of other questions hovering around the program.
Five Names You Should Get to Know Before Next Season
Devontae Booker: Utah’s outstanding running back announced he was coming back for another year, which is wonderful news for the Utes and horrible news for Pac-12 defenses. He had more than 1,800 yards from scrimmage last season, and yet, not nearly enough people know his name.
Mike Dudek: How much Illinois football did you watch this season? Be honest. Well, if you didn’t see much (or any), you missed Mike Dudek, one of the more underappreciated wideouts in the nation. As a true freshman, Dudek went for over 1,000 yards receiving and came up with unbelievable grabs regularly. Listed at 5’11” and 185 pounds on his official bio, Dudek plays far bigger than his measurables. He could be in line for a monster 2015.
Corey Clement: Wisconsin’s next star at running back nearly went over 1,000 yards while filling in for Melvin Gordon. With Gordon off to the NFL, Clement will become Wisconsin’s No. 1 back. He's a player new head coach Paul Chryst is thrilled to have around. Clement might not be at Gordon’s level, but he’s not far from it. And while operating in a system conducive for running backs, his numbers should be off the charts.
Paxton Lynch: Memphis enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2014, and it did so behind one of the nation’s best defenses and a fascinating 6’7” quarterback. Paxton Lynch is a hard guy to miss, and he flashed moments of serious potential throughout the Tigers’ 10-win season. With key pieces of the Memphis defense departing, Lynch will be asked to do more. Look for him to build on a solid 35-touchdown year.
Kareem Hunt: If you’re not paying attention to this kid yet, why not? Also, please be sure to do so immediately. Toledo’s star tailback ran for 1,631 yards this season, and he did so despite missing three games. His bowl-game performance included five touchdowns and 271 yards rushing against Arkansas State. Not bad. If he stays healthy, he could go for more than 2,000 yards in 2015.
Who Will Take Home the Nation’s Top Recruiting Class?
Alabama.
Let’s move on.
Three Recruits I Cannot Wait to See in 2015
Unless you cover it full time or patrol message boards hourly—and some of you likely do just that—focusing on recruiting happenings during the season can be a challenge. With national signing day inching closer, the college football coverage on Bleacher Report will turn recruiting-heavy soon.
To help pass this baton, here are three incoming freshmen that I can’t wait to see on an actual college football field in short order. They won’t be on the bench for long (if at all).
Kahlil McKenzie, DT (Tennessee): His legs are the size of sequoia trees. Let’s start there. The Tennessee commit—tipping the scales at a cool 354 pounds—moves exceptionally well for someone his size. In fact, when you watch him operate, it doesn’t seem real. No one this large should move so quickly. Look for him to make an impact on Tennessee’s defense in the very first game.
Taj Griffin, RB (Oregon): The Ducks, of course, have plenty of firepower at the running back spot. Thomas Tyner and Royce Freeman will serve as one of the best one-two punches in the country next season. But the addition of Griffin—perhaps the nation’s fastest recruit—will give Oregon a new toy that it will use in a variety of ways. He clocked in at 4.31 in the 40 at a recruiting camp earlier this year and added a 45.8-inch vertical. That seems unfair.
Malik Jefferson, LB (Texas): When it’s all said and done, Jefferson could end up being the best player in this class. He’ll have to add to his 215-pound frame—and there’s no reason to believe he won’t—but it’s rare to see a linebacker enter with these athletic gifts. He’s posted sub-4.4 40s already, making him one of the fastest players in this class overall. Did I mention he played linebacker? Charlie Strong is going to enjoy coaching this one.
Offseason Checklist Items
The offseason isn't just about football. A lot of it will still be about football, but there will be other important matters sprinkled in.
Family: There’s a group of people very close to me that I love very much. I look forward to learning about them and hearing about what they’ve been doing these past few months.
Fitness: Establishing a regular workout regimen during the season is something all of us would love to follow through with. Then the season arrives and life becomes a frozen pizza. I’m all yours, treadmill, lap lane and Bosu ball. Do your worst.
Food: I’m going to enhance my cooking options this offseason, especially when we finally thaw out. While the grill will get a workout, I plan to focus on overhauling my breakfast repertoire. By August, I’ll be an omelette and frittata wizard.
Reading: I need something besides a school or conference press release to read. Any good book suggestions? Please feel free to pass them along.
Sleep: So excited. It's been way too long.
What I’m Watching This Offseason
My television-watching portfolio is limited, but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in absurdity and quality. Here are a few things plugged into the DVR.
Justified (FX): The final season starts next week. If you’ve been following all along, do cartwheels. If you’re new to it, purchase all seasons and watch them all as quickly as you can. Gunfights, cowboy hats, moonshine and amazing characters who have amazing tendencies and accents. Please watch this show.
Archer (FX): Perhaps the best animated show the world has ever seen. Last season’s attempt to change storylines did not go as well as planned, although I admired them for trying. This year, the group is back in its old home, and the old formula will deliver as always.
The Americans (FX): No show makes me more uncomfortable—in a tremendous, unmatched way—than this one. The tension is remarkable, and FX has somehow made it so I now root for Russian spies. It’s brilliantly done, brilliantly acted and the story, thus far, has been exceptional.
Better Call Saul (AMC): I have my reservations about the Breaking Bad spin-off, but with so many people in place that played a role in creating television gold, I’m anxiously awaiting this February debut. It may not be brilliant, but I cannot see it being bad.
Spring Games: Of course I'll be watching spring football, ready to overreact to every magnificent throw and long run. While the value of these games can be overrated, these April exhibitions are the perfect way to see young players and new systems put into action.
Enjoy the time off and don't fear the sudden football-less world. The game you know and love will be back sooner than you think. Plus, your omelette game could probably use a little work.
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