After another great season with a disappointing end, most Ohio State fans are already looking forward to next year.
With great recruits and a tough away game just three weeks into the season in 2008, Ohio State should hopefully earn the respect it lost the last two years.
Ohio State will face perhaps their biggest test (yes, bigger than the season finale) in just their third game of the season when they go to Los Angeles to face USC, a team predicted to be the preseason No. 1.
Hopefully, Ohio State wins this one and re-establishes the respect they had lost the past few years with weak non-conference schedules.
However, USC is the only good opponent outside the Big 10. Ohio State will be playing Youngstown State again in the season opener with a couple more weak teams (Ohio University and Troy University) on the slate.
Why are all these weak non-conference teams being scheduled? All it's doing is hurting the Buckeyes, even if it does improve the win-loss record. In playing the weak teams, the players get a little relaxed, and then when a stronger team comes along, the team plays like high-schoolers.
The early game against USC should wake up the players in time to keep their heads up for the rest of season.
Let's talk about recruits, shall we? Ohio State football may be looking at one of the best recruiting seasons of the past few years.
Three five-star and ten four-star recruits have committed, and another potential five-star commit, quarterback Terrelle Pryor, the top-ranked recruit in the nation, is a monster at 6'6" and 235 pounds.
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I, personally, can brag a little about five-star recruit Mike Adams (OL), currently a senior at Dublin Coffman High School. Although I don't go to the same school, I do attend school in the same district, which has everyone around Dublin, Ohio more excited than when Brady Quinn was at Coffman.
The other five-star recruits are DeVier Posey (WR) and Michael Brewster (OL). Posey ranks as the 3rd best WR coming out of high school this year and Brewster ranks as the 4th best OL coming out of high school.
Now, who's leaving Ohio State? The lone underclassman to declare was Vernon Gholston, the 6'4" defensive end who had a breakout season this year with 14 sacks, declared for the draft. He is predicted to be a mid-to-high first-rounder, according to Rivals.com's mock first round.
No worries, though. All-American James Laurinaitis is returning and so are Malcolm Jenkins, Brian Robiskie, and Alex Boone. All four players played huge factors this past season, especially Laurinaitis and Jenkins, who helped lead the Buckeyes to, statistically, one of the best defenses in the country.
Ohio State returns next year with almost the same roster, but for the team to have more success against non-Big Ten foes, the coaches may have to change their philosophies.
In the BCS National Championship game, defensive coordinator Jim Heacock didn't do anything to better defend LSU's four- and five-wideout sets. Heacock kept the same 4-3 defense the entire time without putting more DBs on the field and relieving a couple linebackers.
What Ohio State needed was more speed on the defense to defend LSU's speed. But you can't stop the five-wide receiver set when you have four defensive linemen and three linebackers on the field.
Heacock needed to use the dime or nickel defense more to get more DBs on the field.
Heacock may be one of the best defensive coordinators in the nation, but it only shows when Ohio State plays Big Ten teams. I personally feel he should be replaced with a defensive coordinator who may be slightly better at making in-game adjustments.
Against Illinois, he kept the same defense throughout, which kept proving unsuccessful against the option offense that was Ohio State's downfall in that game.
But Heacock's future relies on the athletic director, not mine.
Ohio State should go 11-1 next year with the only loss coming against USC, unless the coaching staff gets shuffled during the offseason. However, the early loss to USC should give Ohio State enough time to rebound in the rest of the season and it should finish as a top-five team, possibly even top-two.
So, another National Championship game? Possibly, as long as the team stays focused.
Hopefully, Ohio State doesn't stumble late in the season to Illinois or some other team again because something tells me this season won't be full of upsets like this past year to help in rankings.
Should be a season to look forward to, right?
Too bad we still have another eight months to wait.
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7 months ago
Great observations about the Buckeyes team. The O- Line wil be the major recruiting benefit. With Shugarts, Adams,Brewster, and ossibly Josh Jenkins ( Jim Tressel spent 8 hours with this kid's family and coaches on Thursday) this should be the focal point on what could be the best recruiting class ever at Ohio State. I think as you said the juniors coming back is the biggest benefit. I do forsee one thing changing in C-Bus I think Boeckman will be sharing time with either Antonio Henton or Terrelle Pryor. We just cannot win the big games with him at the helm.
7 months ago
By the way, for more Ohio State talk go to www.buckeyetopia.com and get in the discussions or go to blog.buckeyetopia .com.
7 months ago
You guy's choke me up. This sounds like a typical recruiting class in the SEC. UGA has one like this almost every year.
7 months ago
Mark,you choke me up... congrats on ur win over AA Hawaii.. UGA over history doesn't even come close to touching THE Ohio State.. You have two Heisman trophy winners to OSU's 7. 1 consenses Nat championship to OSU's 5. 74 less wins and 78 more losses.. Yes the SEC is tough right now compared to the Big ten but that doesn't make you a superior team now or ever.. Next year you can hate again when your team finishes up there lame bowl for honorable mention and you can watch the Bucks on the main stage again.. Yes we lost big in two national championships,blah blah blah.. When we lose everyone saw it.. When you lose nobody cares.. Get over urself.. I c u posting anti OSU everywhere.. U werent even that good this yr!! Lost to a mediocre SC, got killed by a good Tenn team, needed a Vanderbilt fumble at the Georgia 7 w 2 mins left. Gave up 500 yards to TROY, and needed OT to beat Alabama... Just because you didnt get your thrashing in a game ppl watched and cared about doesn't make Georgia all high and mighty.. I know getting on OSU is the in thing to do right now, but dont throw rocks when you live in a glass house.. Especially when your throwing rocks at the house of some one who proven over history is far superior to u.. K, all done
7 months ago
Referring to OSU's previous schedules as weak is stupid. Their 2007 schedule was weak, that's it. And it was through no fault of their own.
The third game of the year, no matter who it's against, will NEVER be their toughest game of the year. The further into the year you get, the better the competition gets. I'm glad OSU is playing USC early as opposed to late, because they're going to have some things to work out with a new QB. Anyway, if OSU were to make the title game, their toughest game would be awaiting them there. Not in week 3.
Fag.
from 7 months ago
Hello??? Any team that schedules 3 division II teams (Youngstown State 8-4, Ohio University 6-6, and Troy University 8-4) certain won't win any admiration from me! That fact that they play in a weak conference doesn't help (although that is not their fault). Add to all of the above an early season loss to USC and OSU will not be even in the running for any late season consideration.
from 7 months ago
I agreed to an extent w some of what you said anonymous,but you lost all credit at the end.. So this guy sucks guys di** s due to the fact he may have over estimated a game next year?? C'mon.. Pretty good article Akshat...
from 7 months ago
Jack, Troy and OU are not DII they are DI(sadly), but I've seen many SEC teams play OU and Troy. I think Arkansas played Troy recently
7 months ago
Jeffrey you had some points. All I can say is when we do win our Confrance we show up in whatever bowl we get stuck in and repersent our Confrance very well. Show some quts and start calling for a playoff or get used to hearing about it from SEC fans. Every informed College football fan fully knows that if we had a real playoff this year The buckeyes likely would not have made it. I am not saying UGA would have but we would have surely beat The Ohio State.
7 months ago
you guys can go on and on about OSU's history..if UGA played OSU right now they would rip the buckeyes apart similiar to what LSU or Fla. did to them, though it might be closer bc georgia doesnt have as good as receivers as LSU or Fla. had
7 months ago
Keep writing, Akshat. It's some impressive work from a high schooler and is well written. You've got some good stuff here and some good potential for more.
from 6 months ago
thank you. How did you know I'm in high school?
7 months ago
I don't know if they would "rip them apart" but it would probably be a good game.. Look, I understand everybody wants to jump on the Bucks this yr, I do. I just think it's the fad to tear them up somewhat unfairly.. On the national stage they got destroyed by Florida last yr,that was a joke... The one this yr really wasn't as bad as it appeared but it still was what it was...Some ppl are just going way overboard though... They don't suck, there not lucky, and overall they are 1 of the best football programs in the nation period... Some just think because of what happened in two games on the biggest stage they can speak of them as if they were a bottom of the barrel school.. Unfair.. I actually wrote an article on this very topic today partially inspired by you Mark.. If you got some time you guys should check it out.. Its in the editing process now..
7 months ago
PS. I'd love a playoff!!!
7 months ago
from 2005-2018 Ohio State will have played either Texas, USC, Miami, Va. Tech, Alabama, or Oklahoma. This past year was the only year that they didn't have a powerhouse scheduled out of confrence. Plus, I dont see teams (like Georgia) going out of their way to try and schedule a home and home with Ohio State. I think we all know that if they did, and they met a few years down the road, chances are pretty good that Georgia will be back to being an average team and Ohio State will still be one of the best teams in the country.
7 months ago
I would love a playoff too (Keeping the BCS ratings)
- 8 teams (Winner of eachif the 6 BCS confrences) Each confrence gets rid of the confrence championship
- 2 at large bids (first given to a team outside of a BCS con. as long as they are in the top 12 i.e. Hawaii or Notre Lame, if they ever return to glory)
-If there are none then the highest ranked teams that did not win their confrence (Georgia)
For seedings you use my Confrence Rating System
- Take different factors into account that rank BCS confrences 1-6
- Winner of the #1 ranked BCS confrence gets the #1 seed
- Winner of the #6 ranked BCS confrence gets the #6 seed
- At large bids get the 7 and 8 seeds no matter what
- Keep the 4 BCS bowl games
- Sugar Bowl gets 2 1st round games
- Fiesta Bowl gets 2 1st round games
- Rose Bowl gets 1 semi-final game
- Oragne Bowl gets 1 semi-final game
- They rotate for the National Championship Game (like they do now)
- Have each confrence stop play the last week of November or the first week of December
- Take a week off then the start the playoff the following week
- The National Championship will fall right around Jan. 1
ALL TOO PERFECT - I hope you love it as much as I do
7 months ago
You all make good points but i think the buckeyes are diffrent this year for a couple of reasons. for one they have a pretty good schdule other then troy, OU, and Youngstown. Another is that now they have the experince for it all and they know the pressure of a NAT. Another one again is that who said Boeckman was leaving? we dont need a new QB. All in all we are gonna win this year and prove we can beat the SEC when we set our minds, our bodies, and focus on it. BTW a playoff would suck
7 months ago
I agree totally with dude
6 months ago
Ohio State has more weapons than any team in the SEC this year. They have 2 excellent running backs, in Beanie Wells and Brandon Saine. Then they have Robiski, Hartline, Small, the third best WR coming out of highschool. The offensive line is exploding with more talent then anything and they have a new secondary with their now sophomore Eugene Clifford and the seniors who have already established them selves. And if Georgia is so good than why are the top line backers in that state leaving their homestate to come play for the buckeyes. Smart players go to better team and there is no better example than that.
5 months ago
I hope OSU takes TROY as lightly as you guys. I f they do, they will lose.
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