The 2008 Buckeyes are a pretty impressive team on paper; they lost only four starters from the National runner-up and they weren't even at key positions. But that's just on paper, individual players will make the difference on the field. And when talking about individual leaders for the Buckeyes, you have to start with James Laurinaitis:
DEFENSE
LB, James Laurinaitis (Sr.)
The reigning Butkus award winner and pre-season All-American is a do-it all linebacker in the mold of A.J. Hawk. He's equally adept against the run and pass and will be a top-10 pick in next year's draft. He keys the entire defense, but will need to count on solid DT play to free himself up to make plays.
CB, Malcolm Jenkins (Sr.)
A shut-down corner that was thrown away from most of last season. Due to good depth at CB, and middling safety play, he was moved into a free safety role at times. He will probably continue to see some time back there this season, but with both safeties returning, he will play corner more. Expect him to blanket the go-to receiver every game. Should be a finalist for the Thorpe award and a pre-season All-American too.
Defensive Sleepers:
DE, Lawrence Wilson (Sr.): Hurt all of last year, but he was supposed to be the main guy on the D-line last year....not Vernon Gholston...who ended up going #6 overall.
S, Kurt Coleman (Jr.): Should finally lose the stone-hands that made him miss interceptions last year and turn into the impact safety the Bucks haven't had since Donte Whitner.
OFFENSE
RB, Chris "Beanie" Wells (Jr.)
The identity of the OSU offense and a classic Big Ten bruiser in the backfield. He can run around and through people. Coupled with a superb and experienced O-line he is a Heisman favorite and is aiming to become only the 14th player to amass 2,000 yards in a season.
QB, Todd Boeckman (Sr.)
He is going to be the difference between a good and great team. All the pieces he needs to succeed are around him. Now he needs to prove that his late season performances last year were a fluke. He has the arm and the experience, he needs to turn it into production. The only things holding him back from great passing numbers are the Buckeyes defense and Beanie Wells: he simply isn't in games long enough to compile the counting stats.
Offensive Sleepers:
WR, Taurian Washington (So.) and Wr, Dane Sanzenbacher (So.): They could emerge as the slot receivers and make a lot of big catches down-field. Washington is a more vertical threat and Sanzenbacher is a possession receiver in the mold of Anthony Gonzalez.
QB, Terelle Pryor (Fr.): Terelle Pryor!!! Ok, settle down everyone. He will get only a handful of meaningful snaps per game and when he does he will likely be picking up 3-5 yard first downs on speed option plays. That being said, he is a gifted player who will bring a whole new dimension to the offense.
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2 months ago
You obviously know a thing or two about Ohio State football.
So, my question to you is this. It's a long shot but may be worthy of conversation. Is there any chance Jim Tressel may have learned from the Texas game in Columbus back in 2005 and may let Terrelle Pryor come into the game against USC and take over for Boeckman if he is struggling(assuming Pryor perfoms well in practice and in the limited time he sees on the field in the first 2 games)???
I was having this conversation with someone the other day and he said no way Pryor will start and play a whole series in the USC game even if Boeckman is struggling.
I know the situation with Troy Smith that year was different but still, it is the difference of having the most talented guy you have on the field or the guy who has earned it over time.
from 2 months ago
While I think there might me some merit to switching to Pryor midstream (just to throw another team off), I dont think Tressel would ever do it. Let us remember that Pryor will be a true freshman who has never played against someone who is as physically gifted as him. The USC defense is going to be great and they haev the best tool to stop an athletic QB: fast LBs. Cushing and Melauga can run with Pryor.
I think he will see some snaps in the USC game, but I highly doubt it will be for an entire series. Boeckman will stay in the game and won't turn it over because OSU is going to shove the ball down the Trojans' throat with Beanie. My guess is that there will be a couple sets where Pryor is in the backfield with Wells and Boeckman is running a speed option with pryor on one side and Wells on the other. You have two passing options this way and a power runner. If you want to leverage Pryor's ability without forcing him to make any tough decisions you need to give him simple plays and I think that's what will happen.
Long story short: Boeckman will not get supplanted by anyone all season, let alone Pryor during the USC game. A whole series seems like a big give up in a game that will probably come down to a posession or two.
2 months ago
Yeah, I agree, it will have to take an injury to get Boeckman out of there, and even then I think it would be Bauserman that would see a majority of the snaps rather than Pryor. I most definately agree that USC will get a heavy dose of Beanie, but I do think that Boeckman is going to have to make a few plays late in the game in order to win.
I am just worried that he is going to hold us back again this year. In the 4 biggest games last year (Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, and LSU) he didn't play well at all. He was the biggest reason for us losing the 2 games and without Beanie playing his best, we may have lost the other 2 to Michigan and Wisconsin. This year though, one loss (even at USC) may ruin the entire season.
from 2 months ago
Honestly, and I know I am in the minority here, (...and I'll probably be kicking myself when the gmae actually goes down...) I am really not concerned about the USC game. I am looking at our schedule and there are no games that OSU should even be contested in save Wisconsin. I think we will beat USC similar to how we beat Texas in 2006, out play them and win by a couple scores. Remember, they lost Sedrick Ellis, Booty, Turner, and McKnight won't be eligible to play. This team has talent but it is green.
Boeckman will surprise you this year. I think he will become a more proficient Krenzel-type quarterback. With a absolute stable of running backs (Saine as a complement to Wells [and Wells, M.] is an embarassment of riches) and a riduclous defense, there really isn't much reason to take risks in the passing game. Boeckman is taller, with a better arm and a good long ball. He will make some defenses pay late in games once the safeties start cheating up. Robiskie on the fade, Hartline on the seam and Washington on the post will be some popular routes in the second half this year.
Last year the Bucks hadn't found their offensive identity and I think a pattern of Boeckman going over the top early was initiated. Defenses jumped those routes and the he became gun shy on the underneath stuff which will be his bread and butter this year. I don't think we will be cursing Boeckman at the end of the season. Frankly, by the end of the season I don't think we will end up cursing much of anything.
2 months ago
All of that sounds great, I hope you are right. I am just not sold on Boeckman yet but I will agree that he reminds me of Krenzel.
I know this is off topic but you got me thinking about 2002 and the one thing I have noticed about the last few national champions, and a majority in the BCS era, is their ability to win close games. It is even bigger if they have proven they can play from behind. Boeckman was not able to do that last year but it was his first year as a starter. I suppose I will give him the benefit of the doubt going into this season, especially since it is going to be hard for HIM to lose a game this year with the talent he has around him.
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