Two-Man Roundtable

Video Posted from DeVier's Gallery on Takkle.com

M: I recently mentioned players I believe will see meaningful minutes, but to make a significant impact the player will have to offer something that is not currently available on the Ohio State roster (see Ginn, 2004). That is a tall order on a team as stacked as Ohio State. “Block O” will definitely see playing time but the Buckeyes have great lineman already so their impact will mostly be in the depth department.

Based on my previous criteria, I will take two players – DeVier Posey and Lamaar Thomas. The Buckeyes have great starting wide receivers cut from a very traditional mold. But they lack a reliable 3rd WR. For brevity purposes, I will focus on Thomas. He has speed in bunches and could provide the Buckeyes with a short range receiving threat ala Percy Harvin. It is more long shot than sure bet, but it is my best guess.

3. Does it matter if Sanchez or Mustain starts against Ohio State?

M: A little. The coaches chose Sanchez primarily because of his two-year head start. As the two dueled through the spring, there were plenty of supporters for each. Assuming they were equal only a few months ago, Sanchez’s main advantage would be increased practice reps with the first team. Of course, Mustain has been getting those reps for a week now so he has made up the difference.

P: To the outcome of the game or national perception? Either way: No, it doesn’t. But the media and the anti-Buckeye crowd out there will be able to play it off like USC wasn’t at full strength. Sanchez looked okay last year in his three starts and Mustain led the Arkansas Razorbacks to a 8-0 season in the mighty, mighty SEC (why only 8 games? Google it). Both were considered top-notch high school QBs and now have to prove it in a probable #2 vs. #3 match-up.

4. What is Ohio State’s toughest Big Ten game?

P: Toss up! Wisconsin or Illinois - both road games - each gave Ohio State fits in Columbus. I don’t know why. I’m more scared of Madison at night (see 2003), but something doesn’t seem right about last year’s Illinois game. OSU got bullied by Illinois. Uncalled penalties (pick plays, holding, etc), the first quarter fumble, running the QB draw for what seemed like a weekend, Beanie getting stuffed, and players getting hurt equaled an all-around failure. They are seeking atonement on a J-Leman-and-Rashard-Mendenhall-less Illini team, but what if it happens again? Even the 2002 and 2006 teams struggled with Illinois. Troy Smith & Co only put up 17 in Champaign.

M: On paper, it is the game in Madison, WI, but I do not have a lot of faith in Wisky. I am going in a different direction. You may think this is a cop-out but I will say Michigan. The Wolverines enjoy the luxury of playing every game as a warm up for the Buckeyes. Sure, they want to win every game but they have a chance to improve offensively each week with a goal of being at their best for Ohio State. If they want to take some chances against Penn State, Wisconsin, or Michigan State, they can do that knowing that it is an alternative form of practice for the final game. The reality is that they are not going to win any championships this season, but the chance to deny Ohio State won is a huge motivator.

5. Curtis Terry: fullback or linebacker?

P: I want Curtis Terry as a…fullback. The good news is that he can play fullback and linebacker since one is on offense and one is on defense. Tressel has basically neglected (but needed) the FB position, shifting in guys when they didn’t work out somewhere else. To move a senior linebacker to FB, I think it means he could be something special, maybe even NFL special. But, right now, it looks like a combination of guys besides Terry back there, and he lined up at LB/DE in the Jersey Scrimmage. That’s new and old at the same time.

M: I am firmly in the linebacker camp, which seems to be a camp of one right now. I am surprised that fans are not skeptical of this move. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate his willingness to switch, but Terry was listed as the starting SLB in the media guide. If he is good enough to be listed as a starter on a Top 5 defense, he should play there.

The Buckeyes may line up with a fullback 20% of the time and will pass on some of those downs. Can Terry catch passes out of the backfield? If not, then why not use Brandon Smith or a reserve lineman ala Tyler Whaley? The coaches have said he will be able to play defense, but they said Ginn would play defense and Gamble would still play offense after his switch in 2003. That never happened.

6. Name a sleeper team and bust team in the Big Ten this season.

P: Sleeper team is Iowa. Bust team is Illinois. Hey, Iowa beat Illinois last year, weird. Iowa lost many games by being bad on offense, but they play hard nose defense. They made Juice look like Juice. They still have to overcome this off-season and the mediocrity that has become Kirk Ferentz. Illinois as a bust? Ohio State must hate the Big Ten. Not only did they get beat in another championship game, their single loss propelled Illinois to a Rose Bowl slaughter by USC. They still could beat OSU, but do not expect 9 wins.

M: I think Michigan State will surprise the league this season while Wisconsin may disappoint. Mark Dantonio may be the second or third best coach in the Big Ten and he has Hoyer, Ringer, and three linemen returning to make their offense very effective. The defense lost playmakers on the line but Dantonio knows what he is doing on that side of the ball.

The Badgers have no veritable quarterback and may be even more one-dimensional than usual. You would assume that Big Ten coaches have figured out how to defend Wisconsin considering the field a variation on the same team each season. Eventually, the lack of a passing game is going to cost them. I that year is 2008.

7. If you had a vote, where would you rank Michigan, if at all?

M: I do have a vote – in the BlogPoll, anyway – and I did not rank Michigan. The offense is far too sketchy. All new scheme plus all new players is fine when those players are recruited for the new scheme. But these players were recruited for a pro-style offense. I think their defense will be tough but, as I type, I do not think they are one of the 25 best teams in America.

P: In the Big Ten or in the nation? If I had to rank all 119 teams, I’d turn in 118 votes. In reality, who knows? Michigan could come out and put up 50 points on Utah. Or none. If I had to guess, it’d be somewhere around #35 in the nation (you want me to tell you who’s above?). They could be good; they could be bad. However, I would like to see what happens when Michigan goes up against a rock solid defensive line. My guess is the D-line will be in the backfield before the running backs, QBs, or WRs have a chance to get out (because they will all be in the backfield at some point).