Bleacher Report - Articles by Danny Bayliss

Buckeye Bearings: Reasons to and Not to Worry About The USC Game

Danny Bayliss — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:07:11 -0400

The Ohio State Buckeyes and the Naval Academy put on quite a show this past Saturday, combining for 58 points and over 900 total yards. Any neutral observer, and maybe some Ohio State and Navy fans sprinkled in, would enjoy the overall performance and quality of the game.

The Buckeyes, who were listed to be a three-touchdown favorite over Navy, squeaked out a four-point win that has left fans, and maybe players, shaking in their boots.

The Buckeye fans that we have all come to know and love, though, probably got the h-e-double-hockey-sticks scared out of them. And it is probably because of who is waiting in the wings for them next weekend.

The mighty USC Trojans, who terrorized the San Jose State Spartans 56-3, will be the Buckeye's opponents in prime-time on Saturday night.

But what if it is not such a bad thing? What if the fans are worrying about all the wrong reasons?

I completely agree with the fact that the Buckeyes will be in a lot of trouble if they do not step it up numerous notches, but what is key is what notches those are.

When asked about the Buckeye's game, most fans will, understandably, only speak of the negatives. Then some will say what bright spots appeared.

I am here to tell you both, and to hopefully ease the pain your consciences are in right now.

Reasons to Worry

1. USC's stable of tailbacks

The Trojans run six deep at the tailback position, and the corps combined for 342 rushing yards in their game against the Spartans. They have the great balance of speed and elusiveness, with a hint of power and pop. USC head coach Pete Carroll will filter in Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson, C.J. Gable, Allen Bradford, etc. to wear down the Buckeye front seven.

It is imperative that the defensive line improves and that the linebackers keep the backs in check in case they get to the second level.

2. Red Zone should be TD zone

The Buckeyes woes of not being able to produce touchdowns in the red zone showed again against Navy. Field goals of 23 and 25 were taken, and Dan Herron was stuffed on a fourth-and-one inside the 15-yard line.

Whether is be conservative play-calling, or just poor execution, the Buckeyes cannot settle to trade three for seven each time if they want to put pressure on USC.

3. Block for the rock

One of, if not THE main concern for the Buckeyes during the offseason was the play of the offensive line. The left tackle spot was the big question mark as the season approached, and Andy Miller beat out J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams who was suspended. Miller did decent, but along with the rest of the line, needs some tuning.

The line needs to get more of a push for the backs, and needs to make sure that Pryor does not have to rely on his feet the whole time.

4. Secondary concerns

Navy is a run-first team, obviously. Yet the Buckeyes allowed a big 85-yard touchdown pass from Ricky Dobbs to Marcus Curry. Anderson Russell, the senior safety, is a hard worker, but has been known to give up big plays, as in last year's Fiesta Bowl.

Sophomore Jermale Hines has performed well in nickel packages and certain situations. It might be worth a shot to have him start over Russell, as Hines has more versatility. The Buckeyes can ill-afford to let Damian Williams and the rest of the USC receivers to get open and behind them.

5. Pressure

The Big Ten's image has been marred recently because of poor ability to match and beat top competition. A lot of that is at the hands of Ohio State. Last year, Mark Sanchez and the Trojans tore the Buckeyes apart in their own backyard, 35-3. The rest of the Big Ten should be rooting for the Buckeyes to perform well and win, or else the conference's image will take yet another hit.

Reasons Not to Worry

1. Saine's in the game

Buckeye nation can breathe a little easier if they were worried about the running game. In addition to Pryor and Herron's skills, backup running back Brandon Saine resurfaced in the game as a key component to the Ohio State offense.

Saine had 53 rushing yards and caught a couple passes for 21 yards. He even did well in the return game, taking the opening kickoff, forcing the kicker to save a touchdown by shoving him out of bounds.

Saine's resurgence has assured the Buckeyes of another threat on the ground, and if freshmen Jermil Martin, Jaamal Berry, and Jordan Hall get on board, the Buckeyes can boast about a running back stable of their own.

2. Pryor passes the test

14-for-21, for 174 yards, 38-yard touchdown pass to Dane Sanzenbacher, and a late interception. Not a bad passing line for Pryor, who opened the game completing 10 of his first 13 passes. His accuracy and arm strength seem to have improved. While his footwork (throwing in an awkward position) led to him throwing high on an interception,Pryor was a bright spot of a blurry Buckeye performance.

He should not forget about his gift running the ball, but the fact that Pryor has the chance to run or pass on every passing play makes him the Trojans' number one target come Saturday.

3. Receiving praise

With Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline out of the picture, the Buckeye receiving corps looked to step up and provide Pryor with many targets. Ray Small was ill, but should be back for the game against the Trojans, as he will also most likely return punts. The same goes for DeVier Posey who had a pair of catches for 14 yards before leaving the game with an ankle injury.

For one of his two catches, Sanzenbacher caught a touchdown pass and showed nice balance. Herron and Saine provided help out of the backfield, combining for 6 catches.

The Buckeyes may have helped their recruiting trail a bit Saturday. Tight ends Jake Ballard and Jake Stoneburner contributed, Ballard hauling in 3 catches for 51 yards, and Stoneburner had a nice 17-yard catch.

Maybe the most impressive performance of the day was true freshman Duron Carter, who caught three passes for 21 yards.

While Taurian Washington and Lamaar Thomas were not factors (each dropping a pass), they are still reliable targets and should gel in with the other receivers to give Pryor a plethora of options.

4. Focus is flowing

Maybe the scare against Navy was a good thing. It is very possible that if the Buckeyes had blown out and stuffed Navy, they might have approached the USC game wit a more cocky, nonchalant attitude.

But now the Buckeyes realize they have to step it up an improve vastly in certain areas. They got their wake up call, and maybe that's the motivation they needed to prepare with more intensity, discipline, and focus, all things they will need against Southern California.

5. This is our house

The Trojans have the perfect set up. A loud, harsh home stadium that they usually dominate in, AND a great chance of going back to the Rose Bowl each year, where they practically play in their own backyard. The Buckeyes' trip to Los Angeles last year was brutal.

But now it's Pete Carroll's turn to take the four-hour flight across the country. His team will need to deal with the Horseshoe and its 105,000-plus fans that will be screaming until laryngitis is inevitable.

Matt Barkley says he will be fine, but actions speak louder than words, and Ohio State is very different than feeble San Jose State.

Buckeye fans, Trojan fans, and college football fans worldwide should be excited, as this game means the world to the whole outlook of college football. The game's out come will bank on a few things: How Matt Barkley fares in his first ever road game, how Terrelle Pryor plays overall, how the Buckeyes' defense handles the USC running game and vice versa, and a couple other things.

Envy runs through my blood for all the people who get to go to the game, but I will surely watch every second of it, from start to finish.

My predictions:

IF USC wins: 38-28

IF OSU wins: 27-24

Buckeye Recruit Hoot: Hagan Becomes Commitment 11 For Buckeyes

Danny Bayliss — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 22:37:29 -0400

Jim Tressel's pipeline to the Keystone State is still standing strong.

As expected, athlete Chad Hagan from Canonsburg, Penn., has pledged his services to Jim Tressel and Ohio State, making him the team's 11th commitment.

Hagan was recruited as a safety but also played outside linebacker and running back at Canon McMillan High School.

Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Buffalo, and North Carolina State were some of the programs that also offered Hagan.

Hagan played most of his junior season with a left shin stress fracture, yet rushed for 750 yards while scoring 12 times. On the defensive side of the ball, he made 63 tackles.

Since then, Hagan had surgery on his left shin, and is on track to be fully recovered and ready for his senior season.

Hagan brings depth and versatility to the Buckeyes. Both current starting safeties will be gone by the time he puts on a Buckeye jersey. If not redshirted his freshman year, Hagan could vie for time and provide help in special teams and certain packages.

Now that Hagan has committed, the next to join could be punter Will Hagerup, who has Ohio State as one of his two top favorites. If not him, the next might just come out of the blue.

Buckeye Recruit Hoot: Ten Commitments and Counting

Danny Bayliss — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 18:54:46 -0400

When it comes to life, it is usually not the quantity, but the quality of something that matters.

That can definitely be said for football recruiting classes—especially Ohio State's.

With the space available after the 2009 football season, head coach Jim Tressel looks to sign around 18-20 prospects.

With ten recruits already under his belt, Tressel is in a good position to fill all the needs and holes in the depth chart. Of the ten, four are on offense, five on the defensive side, and one kicker.

As of now, the Buckeyes trail the Penn State Nittany Lions in Big Ten recruiting classes. While Michigan may have 16 commitments, the top tier of recruits are mostly going to Penn State or Ohio State.

Still months away from signing day, the Buckeyes are in good shape recruiting-wise. But by no means does that mean they should not stop pursuing top-end talent.

Who has committed:

Roderick Smith-Running Back

James Louis-Wide Receiver

Andrew Norwell-Offensive Tackle

Taylor Graham-Quarterback

Darryl Baldwin-Defensive End

David Durham-Defensive End

Jamal Turner-Outside Linebacker

J.T. Moore-Defensive End

Scott McVey-Inside Linebacker

Drew Basil-Kicker

Comment: The Buckeyes have already filled some needs and given depth to certain positions. Ohio State desperately needed a quarterback, and after several attempts, Graham feel in their laps and was more than eager to commit. Louis gives them an immediate impact and playmaker, and Smith may be the next great "big" back at Ohio State. Norwell is a huge lineman who could push for early playing time.

On the defensive side, Baldwin is a hybrid who could end up having time at linebacker. Moore and Durham will both eventually try and fill the spots of Lawrence Wilson, Thaddeus Gibson, etc. Turner and McVey brings typical Buckeye intensity that is characteristic of the school's linebackers.

Kicker Drew Basil replaces Ryan Pretorious, who graduated. Basil has a strong leg, and once Aaron Pettrey leaves, he will vie for the starting spot.

What other top prospects are looking at Ohio State:

Seantrel Henderson-Offensive Tackle

Jordan Hicks-Outside Linebacker

LaMarcus Joyner-Cornerback

Joshua Shaw-Cornerback

Christian Green-Athlete

Chaz Green-Offensive Tackle

Terrence Mitchell-Cornerback

Corey Brown-Wide Receiver/Running Back

Matt James-Offensive Tackle

Tony Grimes-Cornerback

Brandon Linder-Center

Tyrone Williams-Wide Receiver

Comment: Hicks is an Ohio boy, and has them in his top two. It will be tough to beat out Texas, but the location and distance from home could sway him to go to Columbus.

Henderson, Joyner, Williams, James, Shaw, and Linder all have Ohio State on short lists. I could definitely understand them all committing to Ohio State, but this is not a dream world.

Brown has offers from most schools, and it is anyone's guess at this point on who he will choose.

Grimes, Mitchell, and both Greens are most likely to go elsewhere, and most likely a Florida school will be a likely destination.

Who might be the next to commit:

Chad Hagan-Outside Linebacker/Safety

Will Hagerup-Punter

Christian Bryant-Safety

Comment: Of the three, Hagan is my guess to be number 11. He has had Ohio State at the top of his list for quite sometime, and was planning on visiting the campus soon.

Hagerup has Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin as his top three favorites, and is expecting to visit Ohio State and Michigan soon. Hagerup also mentioned he would like to commit by the end of August.

Bryant may not commit soon, but he is almost a Buckeye lock and it would not be surprising to see him commit.

Buckeye Recruit Hoot: Justin Green Switches Pledge to Illinois

Danny Bayliss — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:55:44 -0500

As a Buckeye fan, you could almost foretell a move like this.

In a recruiting class ranked in the top five on ESPN.com, Rivals.com, and Scout.com, with 26 recruits heading into Wednesday's signing occasion, it looks like there is one clear-cut sour apple who does not want to give Jim Tressel his John Hancock.

Kentucky Male High School athlete Justin Green has reportedly swung his vote of faith over to coach Ron Zook of the Illinois Fighting Illini. The four-star recruit is on schedule to devote his services to the men from Champaign tomorrow.

The news was reported by several BuckeyeSports representatives.

This comes as sort of a shock to the Buckeyes, as Green's brother, Marcus Green, is a former Buckeye. There were numerous times when Green was confronted about a possible switch. He either shook them off or denied them.

Despite a summer's commitment to the Buckeyes, Green contemplated other schools and took a January visit to Clemson. The Tigers' staff did not woo him, and he stuck to his Buckeye guns.

The move could be the result of Illini cornerback Vontae Davis' early jump to the NFL. Davis is forgoing his senior year and is expected to be drafted somewhere in the middle of the first round. Zook has also been known to give underclassmen good amounts of playing time.

Standing at 5'11" and 180 pounds, Green would have been the fifth defensive back on track to wear Scarlet and Gray.

He would have joined four-and-a-half-star recruit Corey Brown, four-star recruits C.J. Barnett, Jamie Wood, and Dominic Clarke (all rankings courtesy of Rivals.com), and current Buckeyes to compete with for a starting spot in the secondary. The secondary was a must-bolster after the departures of Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington.

Green was suggested to contribute on special teams and returns also this year.

Truly the Buckeyes will miss Green, as his tenacity and speed were two key reasons he was so heavily sought after out of Louisville.

Although Signing Day usually brings about drama, do not expect any other big changes from Green or any other recruits. Green would join Bradley McDougald and Darrell Givens as two other defensive backs to back out from their Buckeye pledge.

McDougald is now heading to Mark Mangino's Kansas Jayhawks, and Givens is Penn State-bound.

Other Buckeye Recruiting Tidbits

The Buckeyes are still in the running for top receiver Marlon Brown. Brown recently dropped the Florida Gators from his list, and now only Ole Miss, Georgia, Ohio State, and Tennessee stand. Georgia and Tennessee seem to be front-runners, with Ohio State having a fighting opportunity.

Brown certainly wants early playing time, and his wish could be granted at any of the four colleges.

If the Vols get a signature from Je'Ron Stokes, that could either sway Brown to play alongside another great receiver or find somewhere where he would be the top receiver.

As a Buckeye fan, I never like admitting when someone is turning Tressel's sweater vest club down, but I feel Tennessee will land Brown.

Morgan Moses, a 6'7", 350-pound tackle from Virginia, will also be considering the Buckeyes. His two top choices are Virginia and North Carolina.

Moses desires early time on the field, and with a deep and better Buckeye offensive line, chances that Moses crosses over to Columbus territory are slim.

Brown and Moses are the two big names. There are a few smaller names still looking at the Buckeyes.

Assuming other Buckeyes do not stray and Brown and Moses shock the college football gurus, the class of '09, featuring 25 commits and one transfer, will be one for the ages.

A sad sight it is to see Green cancel his reservation, but the restaurant dubbed College Football should be plenty busy with classes like Ohio State's this year.

Buckeye Recruit Hoot: Marcus Hall Hops on Recruit Train as Passenger 26

Danny Bayliss — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:34:30 -0500

What a surprise! Not really.

Many analysts, reporters, and fans found themselves using the aforementioned sarcasm when Marcus Hall committed to Ohio State this afternoon.

The 6-foot-5-inch, 300-lb. lineman decided to stay with his in-state favorite Buckeyes. Hall also was considering Miami (FL), Tennessee, and Michigan, among others.

The three-year starter at Glenville High School becomes the 26th recruit and 27th player to wear Scarlet and Gray this year.

On an interview minutes after Hall's decision to play in Columbus, Hall said it came down to the stability of the Buckeye coaching system. Hall mentioned the fact that the Buckeyes' staff is in place and teams like the Volunteers, Wolverines, and Hurricanes all have had coaching alterations in the past few years.

According to Rivals.com, Hall is the sixth-ranked offensive tackle and is a four-star recruit.

There has been some speculation that Hall does not have the typical speed an outside lineman needs. While he prefers the left tackle job, Hall might be better suited as an interior lineman for the Buckeyes.

Hall joins fellow four-star recruits Jack Mewhort and Corey Linsley and three-star recruit Sam Longo as the fourth offensive lineman to be drawn in by Jim Tressel and his fine recruiting staff.

Their staff has had a great amount of success from Glenville High, as it has been an El Dorado for them. Former Buckeyes Troy Smith and Ted Ginn Jr., whose dad coaches the Tarblooders' defense, are from Glenville High. Current Buckeyes Ray Small and Jermale Hines also attended the Buckeye-loving high school.

If Hall does not redshirt, he will get a chance for playing time and possibly compete for a starting spot. Mike Brewster, J.B. Shugarts, Mike Adams, and Michigan transfer Justin Boren are likely favorites. Players like Bryant Browning and Jim Cordle will be Hall's potential competition for the fifth spot.

The pledge of Hall could very well be the last piece of an extraordinary 2009 recruiting class. ESPN still reports the Buckeyes are considering two ESPNU 150 players, wide receiver Marlon Brown and offensive tackle Morgan Moses.

Both are assumed to be giving Ohio State the cold shoulder.

Despite other players supposedly considering the Buckeyes on Rivals.com, like running back Trabis Ward, do not expect the Buckeyes to make any late noise that is not concerning Moses or Brown.

Brown would probably be a starter for the Buckeyes right away, but it will be tough to part him from his urges to go to Florida, Georgia, or Tennessee.

If the Buckeyes were to land Moses, they would need to heavily convince him to stray from his home state Virginia Cavs or the North Carolina Tarheels. His large 6-foot-7-inch, 350-lb. frame would add colossal depth.

Even if Moses does not commit to Ohio State, Hall brings size, talent, and another incentive for more Tarblooders to come to Ohio State.

National Signing Day is Wednesday, so as the Buckeyes wrap up their commitment list, the players will count down the days until they first step into Ohio Stadium.

All aboard. Next stop, the Horseshoe and beyond.

-Other notable players on Rivals.com considering Ohio State:

quarterback DeVontae Payne

running backs Ricky Finley, Trabis Ward, and Hersey Jackson (committed to Grand Valley State)

center Charlie Knipper

defensive end Davon Coleman

outside linebackers Frankie Telfort and Jeffrey Williams

cornerbacks Jayron Hosley and D.J.Hunter

safeties Darren Myles Jr. and Bradley McDougald (committed to Kansas)

athletes Denard Robinson and Darrell Mason

Buckeye Recruit Hoot: Kenneth Guiton Gives Ohio State Good Depth at Quarterback

Danny Bayliss — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:44:15 -0500

With the departure of 28 seniors who posted a 43-7 record over their careers, the Ohio State Buckeyes needed a star-studded recruiting class to, not rebuild, but reload.

Ranked in the top five of the ESPN, Scout.com, and Rivals.com rankings, the 24 commits and one transfer from enemy territory lacked one key piece, a quarterback to backup and one day be the successor to the throne of Terrelle Pryor.

This essential component of a offense displaying poetry in motion was thought of as a must need because of Pryor's sketchy passing ability.

The transfer of dual-threat quarterback Antonio Henton and the departure of senior Todd Boeckman made the addition of a signal-caller a must need.

Once Blue-Chip prospect Tajh Boyd de-committed a second time, this time from the University of Tennessee, the Buckeyes hopped on the train filled with many prestigious schools.

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, Boyd went the way of Dabo Swinney and the Clemson Tigers. Both Ohio State and the Oregon Ducks were left in the dust as Boyd announced his decision at his school, Phoebus High.

Down but not out, the Buckeyes look for redemption from Miami (OH) commit Austin Boucher. Hours after Boyd's choice, coach Jim Tressel contacted Boucher and offered him a scholarship.

After quick and thorough deliberation, Boucher said the switch to Columbus was a no-go, as he wanted to stay and play with his brother Collin, a linebacker. Boucher had previously de-committed from Toledo.

Going into the 2009-2010 season with only two scholarship quarterbacks(Pryor and Joe Bauserman) was not an option for the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes then contacted Chris Coyer, who was committed to Temple.

Coyer quickly and politely declined.

After one decision gone awry and two futile attempts at bringing in another QB, the Buckeyes dug deeper in the recruiting mines, and while they may have not struck pure gold, their persistence paid off.

Kenneth Guiton, a dual-threat quarterback with dimensions (6'2'', 178 pounds) like top-recruit Russell Shepard (6'1'', 183 pounds), did not hesitate to pledge his services to Tressel's exclusive sweater vest soiree.

Guiton's Eisenhower High School teammates this year included receivers Greg Timmons and Jaz Reynolds (going to Texas and Oklahoma respectively) and one of LSU's top recruits, Craig Loston.

Guiton will be one of 18 Eisenhower players signing with a team Wednesday. He was also recruited by pass heavy schools Kansas, Rice, and Houston, among others.

ESPN has him as the No. 51 quarterback in the class, and has given Guiton a ranking of 76 out of 100, which indicates he has a good chance to become a solid starter at the collegiate level.

Rivals.com has Guiton at 3 out of 5 stars, and sees him as the 35th best dual-threat quarterback in the class, while Scout.com ranked him as the No. 53 signal-caller in the class.

Considering the steadily approaching deadline, the Buckeyes should be thankful Guiton will now bleed Scarlet and Grey.

In three years, Guiton scored 53 combined touchdowns and had around 4,500 combined yards at Eisenhower High. His style of play resembles that of underrated Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin.

Guiton is a multi-sport athlete. He performed on the school's track team and is the starting point guard on the school's basketball team.

One reason the Buckeyes drew quick interest from Guiton was because he knew of their rich tradition and past.

Guiton will probably start the year as the third quarterback on the depth chart, but could move up past Bauserman and see some early playing time.

While the Buckeyes' late attempts to find a third scholarship quarterback took a long time, Guiton's choice to play in Columbus will provide the team with stability and depth at the quarterback position.

He is most likely not going to make a huge impact this year, but wake up. This potential sleeper could help the Buckeyes create havoc in the Big Ten and the NCAA next year and for the rest of his Buckeye career.

Hopefully for Guiton and the Buckeyes, his choice will be validated with some of the same honors and awards that drew him there.

Buckeyes' QB Brigade Becomes Scarce After Boyd's Decision

Danny Bayliss — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 20:39:12 -0500

The signing of highly-touted quarterback Terrelle Pryor was the icing on the cake for a great 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes' recruiting class. This year he showed he can be a great player for the Buckeyes and despite poor passing ability, Pryor's presence at Ohio State attracted many fans and players.

Although there are always people on the other end of the situation and quarterback prospect Tajh Boyd seems to be one of them.

It is possible the emergence of Pryor at Ohio State was the determining factor in Boyd's decision to play for the Clemson Tigers.

Boyd announced his decision to pledge Orange at an arranged meeting at Phoebus High School, the school where Boyd grew to be one of the top quarterback prospects in the country.

The decision to go and play for coach Dabo Swinney was a tough one, as Boyd constantly said he debated picking the Tigers, the Buckeyes, or the Oregon Ducks.

This is Boyd's third commitment, as he de-committed from the West Virginia Mountaineers after Bill Stewart's regime started. He later committed to Tennessee, but new coach Lane Kiffin said Rocky Top nation has a system Boyd would not be suited for.

While the Ducks did not get Boyd, they are still fine in the signal-calling department. Jeremiah Masoli leads a convoy of five or so quarterbacks who will compete for the job next year.

While you think the Buckeyes should be sound at the quarterback position with Pryor, all of Buckeye nation, especially coach Jim Tressel was hoping Boyd would give the Buckeyes a definite backup.

The Buckeyes only have two scholarships quarterbacks on their team currently, Pryor and Joe Bauserman, another freshman.

Other possibilities are walk-on freshman quarterback Ross Oltorik and defensive backs Orhian Johnson and Rocco Pentello. Johnson and Pentello were both quarterbacks in high school and could fill if necessary.

In retrospect, it was probably good Pryor did not redshirt or stay behind Todd Boeckman the whole year, as he now has almost a full year of starting under his belt and provides some solidification to the "Quarterback Club."

Despite five possibilities at quarterback, the Buckeyes were in need of bringing one in from the 2009 recruiting class. With Boyd out of the picture, the Buckeyes will try to convince Austin Boucher, a Toledo de-commit and Miami of Ohio commit, to stray from the Redhawks where his brother, Collin, was recruited as a linebacker.

With all chances of landing a quarterback pretty much out the door, the Buckeyes will turn their attention to the current Buckeye quarterbacks and future recruits.

According to ESPN's recruiting lists, the Buckeyes have three quarterbacks they are considering for 2010 and a couple athletes that could play quarterback.

Although it is not listed on their 2010 considerations, the Buckeyes are interested in Devin Gardner, the Midwest's No. 1 quarterback prospect for next year. Gardner attended the Buckeyes' Junior Day and attended the Buckeye-Michigan State Spartan basketball game.

Regardless of it all, more pressure will be put on Pryor to produce. If anything were to happen to Pryor, Bauserman has gotten a lot of praise, but the fact still standing is that the Buckeyes better have secret service secure Pryor's perimeters.

Like that little piece of alliteration? In a nutshell I am saying the obvious. Pryor is, now more than ever, the leader of the Buckeyes.

Without Pryor, who knows what direction this offense would head in.

Life on the Big Stage: 10 Predictions For the Big Ten Next Year, And a Few More

Danny Bayliss — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:47:29 -0500

Big Life, Big State, Big Ten.

We have all seen the commercials. We have seen the glory days of the Big Ten, and the not so glorious days.

Right now the state of the economy, and the state of the Big Ten, are not panning out the way most would want them to. If the Big Ten were a stock, Mad Money would tell you, "SELL, SELL, SELL".

The Big Ten had a 1-6 bowl record this season, losses in the past two National Championships, and lacked the lighting and excitement coming from such conferences as the SEC and Big 12.

Despite bad luck and bad outcomes, football fans, for the most part, are glass-half full. We look on the bright side, chins up—all that jazz your parents say when you lose something.

I, for one am optimistic about the Big Ten's future, especially this season. Teams like Ohio State, Penn State, Iowa, and Michigan State are losing key players that heavily contributed to their respective successes.

Teams like Michigan and Wisconsin, who disappointed this year, should climb back up the ladder and bring more to the table.

What is in store for the 2009-2010 season? We have a while to find that out, but it is always fun to dream and guess.

Here are ten of my own predictions for a conference in need of rejuvenation:

1. Iowa fans will replace their Shonn Greene fetishes with "Jewels"

Doak Walker recipient Shonn Greene is off to the races in the NFL draft now, but no need to worry Hawkeye faithful. Jewel Hampton, Greene's freshman backup, rushed for 463 yards and 7 touchdowns.

Promise and burst are two words that can clearly define Hampton's game. With Ricky Stanzi at the helm, he and Hampton could provide a great one-two punch for Kirk Ferentz's squad.

2. Daryl Clark will be the next Todd Boeckman, criticism-wise

It may be a stretch, but in my opinion, Daryl Clark could get some of the same feedback Todd Boeckman did in his Senior year.

Boeckman was hyped for being one of the top passers last year, and this year was bombarded with insults and was replaced at quarterback. Many believe it might be because of the offensive line losing some players, not producing as much as expected, or Terrelle Pryor's emergence.

The same could be said for Clark. The Nittany Lions' offensive line loses players, and Clark has already been somewhat criticized this year for his so-called "lack of toughness" that was on display in the Ohio State game.

Penn State also has a talented quarterback recruit in Kevin Newsome, who could pose a threat for Clark if Joe Paterno does not like what he sees (if he still can see).

3. Michigan will make the Motor City Bowl, and lose

What a turn around it would be for Rich Rodriguez and his Wolverines, from an abysmal 3-9 to a bowl game. But at the same time, the Michigan tradition is bulging with prestige and honors, so the transformation back to the days of Bo could be a few more years.

Lead by running back Brandon Minor and linebacker Obi Ezeh, the Wolverines will step up their level of competition and enter the Motor City Bowl against the top MAC team, whom I see to be the Central Michigan Chippewas.

The Chippewas' quarterback, Dan LeFevour, has been considered a poor man's Tim Tebow, and I see him having a Tim Tebow-like performance against Michigan.

4. The Buckeyes will be a BCS-Bowl team full of surprises

I promise, no bias went into this. It is my guy feeling and there are many who feel the Buckeyes will be the top team.

Sophomore-to-be quarterback Terrelle Pryor will have to improve an unimpressive passing game, but he will still have support from the running game. Daniel "Boom" Herron, Brandon "Zoom" Saine, Jaamal Berry, and Carlos Hyde will lead the strong point of the Buckeyes' offensive attack.

The receiving corps is defined as fast and tough, and in more of a spread system, they should flourish.

The defense is set at defensive line, and the linebacker corps have too much potential to not be figured out by the Spring game. The one question will be filling the spots of defensive backs Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington.

Nonetheless, I see the Buckeye beating a USC team that loses a starting quarterback and most of its defense, and going to Pasadena to play either USC, Oregon, Oregon State, or California.

5. "Juice" will end a bittersweet career at the Punch Bowl

From Rose Bowl, to no bowl, Isaac "Juice" Williams has had a topsy-turvy road down Illini Avenue. From beating Ohio State in the Horseshoe, to ending this season on a losing streak, Williams will look to find his way up the mountain again.

He is a dynamic player, as he set the record for most all-purpose yards in the Big House this year against Michigan. With top receiver Arrelious Benn still at school, Williams will look for one last hoo-rah on his swan song season.

6. Minnesota will have the best QB-WR connection in the conference

Adam Weber and Eric Decker already have a strong connection and could have been this season's top duo. In my opinion, I give that credit to Penn State's Daryl Clark and Derrick Williams.

Weber and Decker have been very underrated at their respective positions, and stepped on the scene this year by leading the Golden Gophers to a bowl game.

Defenses will be aware of this two-headed monster, but they will need a whole lot more than film to stop this Minnesota attack.

7. Wisconsin's John Clay will be continue a great tradition of Badger backs

Alan Ameche, Ron Dayne, P.J. Hill, and now John Clay. The legacy of Badger running backs is in good shape with the big, powerful John Clay in line to take the handoffs. Rushing for over 800 yards this year, Clay provided a great spell for starter P.J. Hill.

With the passing game no where near sound, Clay will shoulder most of the responsibility, and will hope to lead a Badger team to a non-disappointing year.

8. Michigan State will have no problem replacing Brent Hoyer and Javon Ringer

The Spartans lost firepower with Brent Hoyer and Javon Ringer leaving Michigan State.

The future of the offense should not be part of any Spartan fans' pessimism. Quarterback Kirk Cousins will lead a bunch looking to fill Hoyer's shoes. I see Cousins as the starter, as he is tall, has good poise, and good arm strength.

Ringer's spot will also be determined by competition, and two top recruits, Edwin Baker and Larry Caper will lead a cast of backs looking to take over for Ringer.

9. Northwestern, Indiana, and Purdue will be in the Toilet Bowl wiping up the rear

Pun intended. I feel Northwestern loses a lot on offense. Quarterback C.J. Bacher, running back Tyrell Sutton, and their top three receivers are leaving.

Indiana does have quarterback Kellen Lewis coming back, who just two years ago, led the Hoosiers to a bowl team. They do lose running back Marcus Thigpen though.

Purdue has a new coach Danny Hope replacing Joe Tiller, and their offense also loses players Kory Sheets, Greg Orton, Desmond Tardy, and Curtis Painter.

I expect all these teams to be the latter three of the conference and to be cellar dwellers. None will make a real bowl, but as my headline stated the Toilet Bowl is open for entry and these three are wiping up the rear.

10. Top recruits will bring immediate impacts

Despite a reputation of lacking top recruits, the 2009 freshman class should be more than an extra body on the teams. From Ohio State's Duron Carter to Michigan's Tate Forcier, and Iowa's Keenan Davis, many players from the '09 class could find themselves as Big Men on Campus someday.

Good players to watch on each team will be:

Illinois- Isaac "Juice" Williams/ Martez Wilson, LB

Indiana- Kellen Lewis/ Greg Middleton, DE

Iowa- Ricky Stanzi, QB/ Pat Angerer, LB

Michigan- Brandon Minor, RB/ Obi Ezeh, LB

Michigan State- Mark Dell/ Chris L. Rucker, CB

Minnesota- Adam Weber, QB/ Traye Simmons, CB

Northwestern- Mike Kafka, QB/Corey Wootton, DE

Ohio State- Terrelle Pryor, QB/ Kurt Coleman, S

Penn State- Evan Royster, RB/Sean Lee, LB

Purdue- Justin Siller, QB&RB/ Ryan Kerrigan, DL

Wisconsin- John Clay, RB/ Jay Valai, DB

The final rankings of the conference will be as listed:

1. Ohio State (Rose Bowl)

2. Penn State (Capital One Bowl)

3. Iowa (Outback Bowl)

4. Minnesota (Alamo Bowl)

5. Michigan State (Champs Sports Bowl)

6. Wisconsin (Insight Bowl)

7. Michigan (Motor City Bowl)

8. Illinois

9. Northwestern

10. Indiana

11. Purdue

Buckeye Bliss: Why Terrelle Pryor and Co. Will Be Better in 2009

Danny Bayliss — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 00:32:33 -0500

There are plenty of anti-Ohio State fans, and even some batty Buckeye fans who think that Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor should make the switch to wide receiver.

I do not know what fantasy Utopia world they think it would be with Pryor lined up in the slot, but I strongly suggest them to watch Pryor next year and then see if they are second-guessing themselves.

Pryor was the number-one recruit coming out of high school. The 6'6'', 230-pound dual-threat was criticized and challenged most of the season for not being as efficient of a passer as advertised.

A few things to consider on this:

The offensive line did not hold its ground. This resulted in Pryor being flushed out of the pocket many times. While he is an amazing and elusive runner, it sometimes felt like he was being bombarded by linebackers and defensive lineman who came of the edges of an disappointing Buckeye O-line.

Any quarterback would obviously plant his feet and throw in a pocket that is not collapsing, and Pryor is no different. If Alex Boone and his big buddies up front would have handled pass-rushers better, Pryor may have been considering something above an adequate passer.

Beanie, when healthy, was Beanie: Chris "Beanie" Wells, despite sitting out three games with a foot injury, rushed for over 1,000 yards. This provided Pryor with an easy decision many times coming out of the huddle; Wells gets the ball and goes up the gut.

The performance of Wells during the season really limited the need to force throws and pad passing statistics.

Back to the matter at hand and the purpose of this article. Pryor was the top-recruit last year for a reason. He was bound to make freshman miscues. It is rare to see a freshman, even a sophomore who is very talented, not make mistakes.

Two words have described Pryor's miscues: Growing pains. Sure, he messed up sometimes, especially during the Penn State game, where his fumble could have easily been avoided if he just snuck it over center Michael Brewster.

Despite all this, Pryor went 8-2 as a starter.

Now that the season is over, and running backs Chris Wells and Maurice Wells and receivers Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline are leaving, the question is how Pryor will up his game with less experience supporting him.

I'm not Nostradamus, but my prediction that Pryor will be much better, especially because his supporting cast will be better could and probably will scare many.

The offensive line will be better

Out with the old, porous, lackluster offensive line, and in with the new. Mike Brewster will lead a younger yet more talented bunch, including Mike Adams, J.B. Shugarts, and Michigan (you heard it right) transfer Justin Boren.

The final spot will likely be determined out of competition, but Jim Cordle could move to a spot other than center, or Bryant Browning, who has experience, could complete the five-headed monster.

This new bunch of "Big Boys" is extremely hyped and for good reason. They were all top recruits at one point and should give Pryor more time in the pocket to find his receivers or decide to turn it upfield.

The running game suits Pryor's style better. While Beanie Wells was a workhorse and nothing shy of dangerous when healthy, his north-south style possibly slowed Pryor and the offense down.

With Wells out of the picture, Pryor can run more option reads and the spread offense. Buckeye running backs Daniel "Boom" Herron and Brandon Saine, along with top-recruit Jaamal Berry, will line up alongside Pryor in the shotgun and should create problems in the spread that Wells was not able to.

But it seem like the Buckeyes will also have to continue the power running game to some extent, as 6'1'', 230 pound Carlos Hyde is said to be the next "Beanie" and his successor.

Pryor still has his feet

However long it takes for Pryor to get his passing game down pat, his ability to run for days will keep befuddling defenses. His legs have the ability to run five yards in only two strides, and he is at his best when moving into the open field.

Pryor's new passing attack will surely push defenses back, and when that happens, it is off to the races with him.

Pryor can relate to the receiving corps easier

The fact that Hartline is departing to the NFL really hurts the offense. Hartline's presence would have made him the top receiver.

Pryor would have had a year of connecting with Hartline under his belt, and Hartline would have gotten better and been able to make it easier for Pryor to give him the ball.

Pryor does have a few targets of his returning next year. Dane Sanzenbacher, DeVier Posey, Ray Small, and Laamar Thomas were all on the receiving hand of Pryor last year. Thomas and Posey should develop a good trust and connection with Pryor as they all were freshman last year.

Newcomers Duron Carter, James Jackson, Chris Fields, and redshirt freshman Jake Stoneburner should also contribute and give Pryor more options.

Pryor will run more spread attack, which will help utilize the speed of the receivers better, and he will have a ton of time to connect with them and understand their breaks better.

All you nay-sayers who despise Pryor because he did not go to your favorite school or because he disappointed you this year should think again about your opinions on him.

With a year of experience in a good defensive league under his belt, and an off-season to improve and polish his game with new and familiar players, it may not be long before Pryor is posting big-time statistics and maybe going on a trip to New York City at the end of the year.

Lesser-Known Legends: 20 Offensive College Football Blips for Your 2009 Radar

Danny Bayliss — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 19:07:37 -0500

Too often in sports like college football do some players go unnoticed or underused. Teams like USC have stacks of High School All-Americans going ten deep on the skill positions. The fact that players like Dezmon Briscoe (pictured) do not reach the limelight once they prove themselves is absurd. Surely giving credit where credit is due should be a cardinal rule in college football, as 119 teams all have time when they show their true colors and playmakers (maybe 118, sorry Washington). For all those people who feel their favorite player is not being spoken about by Lee Corso or Lou Holtz, this is a list of twenty-one playmakers that play the game the way it should be played and help their teams win. They may not always have the greatest statistics, but their contributions are key. Some may get lucky sometimes, but it is all how the cards play out. So here are twenty-one offensive studs that are not getting the love they should.

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The Ohio State Recruiting Shakedown: Eight Prospects Beckoned To Become Buckeyes

Danny Bayliss — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 21:16:26 -0500

A team losing 28 seniors, including a three-time All-American linebacker, an All-American cornerback and Jim Thorpe winner, and a NFL-ready running back will usually look to rebuild in the college football offseason.

But as many say about THE Ohio State University, "They don't rebuild, they reload".

How fitting that quote is, especially now since the class of 25 recruits, including seven ESPN 150 commits, is ranked in the top-five recruiting classes on ESPN, Scouts.com, and Rivals.com.

Already with two star running back prospects, a couple of go-and-get-it wide receivers, a plethora of incoming defensive talent, and a transfer of guard Justin Boren from the Buckeyes' rivals in Ann Arbor, the Buckeyes still have eight recruits (four on offense, two on defense, and two athletes) in their sights as National Letter of Intent Signing Day approaches.

Out of these players, four are ESPNU 150 players, and two of those players are High School All-Americans.

These final few "phenoms" have also drawn attention from teams like Florida, Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, and Michigan among other top teams.

Getting any of these recruits would be icing on the cake, and while some may provide a sweeter frosting than others, any of these "Elite Eight" may give Jim Tressel and the Buckeyes the sweetest surprise of all.

Tajh Boyd, No. 5 Quarterback, No. 59 Overall

CONSIDERING: Ohio State, Oregon, Clemson

Despite the attractive and ferocious Buckeye recruiting class, one gem still is missing from the treasure, a quarterback.

Even though the Buckeyes have a sound starter with dual-threat Terrelle Pryor, they only have two scholarship quaterbacks, Pryor and Joe Bauserman—who was in the same class as Pryor, but same limited playing time.

Boyd is certainly enticed to Ohio State by the two-quarterback scheme put on by the Buckeyes at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. He is more of a developed passer than Pryor, and still is a great run threat.

The fact that the Buckeyes have scarce with signal-callers could be a positive for the Phoebus High School star, as he would get a chance to compete for snaps. Although, he most likely wouldn't start, he would find himself on the field more and more as time passes.

Prior to his Clemson visit, Boyd expressed to some that he was "leaning" towards Oregon, but with the addition of Clemson to his list Boyd has said it's anybody's game.

Marlon Brown, No. 3 Wide Receiver, No. 24 Overall

CONSIDERING: Ohio State, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, and Ole Miss

With a receiver corps losing experience and skill, it was one of the Buckeyes' top priorities to land a few wide receivers.

They did so by getting players like Duron Carter, son of Cris Carter, James Jackson, and Chris Fields who will be in the mix for starting jobs along with current Buckeyes Dane Sanzenbacher, Ray Small, DeVier Posey, and others.

With the early and questionable departure of junior receiver Brian Hartline, starters time is up for grabs and this could be a huge bargaining chip for Brown. Brown is a tall, strong receiver who is pretty much a starter where ever he decides to go.

Brown would certainly be the go-to receiver the Buckeyes have been looking for. He is a red-zone target and deep threat would would crate a lot of mismatches and provide the Ohio State quarterbacks with a big target.

Speculation is that new Tennessee Volunteer coach Lane Kiffin has heavily recruited Brown, who is from the state of Tennessee. Rumors are the Vols are his favorite, but with the mix of all the other schools, schools like Ohio State still can plead their case on why Brown should bring his presence to their team.

Darren Myles Jr., No. 5 Safety, No. 39 Overall

CONSIDERING: Ohio State, LSU, Florida, Alabama, and Purdue

The Buckeyes entered the chase for Myles late. With lingering questions on the future of their secondary, the Buckeyes entered the pool for a dynamic athlete and ball-hawking safety.

His athleticism allows him to also play wide receiver and quarterback, and although he's not as developed in these two positions as he is at safety, those are two positions with limited numbers for the Buckeyes. Myles could get time at returner too.

The decision of junior cornerback Donald Washington to enter the draft and the loss of senior Malcolm Jenkins to the NFL draft will give players the opportunity to step in.

If Myles were to pledge Scarlet and Grey, he'd get the nod from many fans and coaches to get good amounts of playing time.

Since the Buckeyes were late jumping on Myles, they will have to do a hefty amount of work to convince him away from the SEC schools near his Georgia home.

Morgan Moses, No. 6 Offensive Tackle, No. 49 Overall

CONSIDERING: Ohio State, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Alabama, Virginia

Moses is a true work-horse. Listed at 6'7'' and 347 pounds of sheer beast, Moses is a must-get for big offensive lines looking to run, yet he can also do a great job at protecting the quarterback.

While the O-Line will be an upcoming strongpoint for the Buckeyes' offense next year, it is always good to add more depth to a line that will face touch Big Ten defenses.

He would certainly compete for a job and if he goes to Ohio State and gets good playing time early, he should be a main-stay on a offense that is dependent on the run, but is surprising with the passing game.

It will be hard pulling Moses away from his home state team Virginia, and Oklahoma has been said to be high on his list, as they are losing a couple of big Moses-sized linemen.

If Moses were to say yes to Tressel's sweater vest crew, the combination of him, J.B. Shugarts, Mike Adams, Mike Brewster, Justin Boren, & Co. should make for a scary, almost "un-penetrable" line that will open up big gaps for the Buckeyes' offense to run through.

Marcus Hall, No. 13 Offensive Tackle

CONSIDERING: Ohio State, Michigan, Miami (FL), LSU, Illinois

Despite being lighter than Moses, Hall is still a big, tall linemen would would pose a threat to any incoming defender.

Hall would also make a great addition to the Buckeyes' offensive line, and Ohio State is in good position to possibly land Hall since he is from Glenville, Ohio, an area where many Buckeyes have come from. One reason is because Ted Ginn Sr., father of former Buckeye Ted Ginn Jr., has been at persuading players to stay in Columbus.

Despite Hall's interests in Ohio State, he was said to have a great time on his official visit at Michigan. He even stated once that they were the front runner, with Ohio State being second and still in the running.

It would be a tremendous let down to see such good talent go to a great, but struggling rival, where Hall would make a good first impact.

Darrell Mason, No. 39 Athlete

CONSIDERING: Ohio State, Penn State, Nebraska, Illinois, Akron

Mason is a threat at running back, safety, or linebacker. Mason isn't your normal athlete who is said to always be a speed demon. While Mason has speed, his game is better at wearing you out with each and every opportunity he gets.

Mason would give good depth to the secondary and linebacking core, and despite great depth at the running back position, Mason could find his way to some reps during his career.

Mason is a Ohio native, which could end up being a factor in getting this all-around player.

Jayron Hosley, No. 22 Cornerback

CONSIDERING: Ohio State, Michigan, USF, Louisville, Virginia Tech

Hosley is a good athlete who could play cornerback or safety at the next level.

His presence would be greatly appreciated with any team, as Hosley is a very hardworking player with room to be taught and improve.

USF is the school closest to his home in Florida, and is one of Hosley's top schools.

Steven Gaydosz, Unranked ATH

CONSIDERING: Ohio State, West Virginia, Virginia, Vanderbilt, Ohio

Gaydosz doesn't have much information on him. ESPN has no notes yet, but according to his information (on Maxpreps) he played defensive back and running back, while it seems he played a little on both sides for most of his games last year.

As a native of West Virginia, he has been frequently contacted by local schools, and pending actual review from ESPN and other sites, his presence on any team would have to be determined by the coach.

Nonetheless Gaydosz is a good prospect being recruited by good schools.

I'd love to have all of these standouts at Ohio State for my viewing pleasure along with many others viewing pleasures too.

That's probably not going to happen, but certainly landed a few of them would cap off a great and absolutely promising class.

I, nor Tressel, nor any Buckeye fan is probably a huge Uncle Sam symbol believer, but speaking on behalf of all of Buckeye nation towards these eight recruits:

WE WANT YOU to become Buckeyes, bleed Scarlet and Grey, and continue on the long tradition of All-Americans, Heisman Trophy winners, National Champions, and defend the state of Ohio against Michigan.

(All rankings courtesy of ESPN’s Rankings)

NCAA All the Way: Why College Football Is Becoming America's New Pastime

Danny Bayliss — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 16:54:20 -0500

Is there anything like waking up at 10 in the morning on Saturdays, watching a trio of men argue about hot topics and in the end make their picks, one of them ending up in Lee Corso donning his pick's headgear?

It is very possible this could be someone's ideal start to the day, which then rolls over to a plethora of college football games.

These games, this sport, is taking the nation by storm.

But what about college football is so exhilarating that it's considered the most popular sport to watch?

There's America's "National Pastime" in baseball, football hosted the "Greatest Game Ever Played" and the Super Bowl, college basketball has March Madness, and other sports like professional basketball and hockey have their reasons.

It's always hard to say something tops Dick Vitale's throat-threatening rants, and while college football can share some of its glory with other sports, some things never change about this game.

The Quality of the Games

Scores in the 40s, 50s, 60s, and sometimes even 70s are appearing to be more and more regular each year.

A fan adores the sport when his team racks up seven scores on a cupcake, yet also gets a College Football-orgasm when his/her team goes step-for-step with a team on the same, or a higher level than theirs.

I think it will take a huge epidemic of amnesia for people, especially sports and college football fans, to forget Michael Crabtree’s catch in the final seconds of his Texas Tech Red Raiders’ 39-33 win over rival Texas Longhorns.

May we never forget the performance put on by the Rodgers brothers, Jacquizz and James, against Juggernaut USC that plunged Oregon State to a 27-21 win in Corvallis.

Buckeye fans will not-too-soon forget how in a matter of ten seconds how their hopes of winning the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl went from high and mighty to being low and unimaginable.

Colt McCoy’s late touchdown pass to Quan Cosby lifted a Texas Longhorn team to a 24-21 win over the Ohio State Buckeyes, giving them an unarguable claim to fame, and more guilt on the Bowl Selection Committee for having Texas be a no-show in the

National Championship. Which brings me to my next reason:

The Corrupt, Yet Crazy and Cool Bowl System

Given descriptions such as the three above, the College Football Bowl System has been under fire ever since its birth, which was not too long ago.

This so-called establishment has a new, frightening rival in a playoff system, which is used in professional football and other divisions of college football.

College Football is all about being unique, and with a Bowl System many teams can earn their way into a reasonable, or even a BCS bowl. Many coaches have vied their cases for BCS bowl games and who the real National Champion is.

“Your” Team(s) Are in the Top-Tier of the Sport

Because of constant recruiting classes, full of players eager to carry on traditions, College Football could be popular because of the reoccurring success of teams the Ohio State Buckeyes, the Michigan Wolverines, and the Florida Gators among others.

It’s very soothing for fans to know the term “There’s Always Next Year” really does apply to the physics of College Football.

Players like Tim Tebow, Colt McCoy, and Sam Bradford are starting to make immediate impacts, as they are top recruits getting attracted to the schools with the most prestige, the best past, and the most talent to surround them.

These top-ranked teams are neck deep in talent, they have protégé after protégé waiting to get into the top few spots on the depth chart.

To put it simply, these teams are stacked like a batch of pancakes at an all-you-can-eat buffet in a five-star hotel.

Corso, Holtz, Herbstreit Head the List

You have to love the segments of Dr. Lou that run during halftime of numerous titanic struggles.

Your whole purpose for setting an emergency alarm clock at 11:55 on Saturday mornings is so you don’t miss Lee Corso’s tossing of one team’s headgear in the rubbish, just so he can rile the crowd up before he dons the opposite mascot’s apparel.

Enough said.

Analysts complete the game, they give us the breaking news we can find out for ourselves because we are too busy or lazy.

They manipulate the voice of the nation by saying what improvements a team needs or which recruits are leaning towards giving their services to your team’s coach.

An analyst is the Nostradamus to College Football’s wide world of question marks and possibilities.

College Football is a long-standing tradition of players who state their cases for going on to the next level.

It’s an uber-amount of teams that love to “duke it out” with one another.

It’s a sport where any team can be King of the Hill one moment, and the next moment they find themselves free-falling.

No team is ever safe from defeat, as put on showcase many times over the years. It is not a common misconception that teams are blood-thirsty, constantly out for a revenge blow, and go for the jugular.

What can I say? It’s grown on me more than any other sport. The love of the game surmounts any desire to switch favorite teams and be a fair-weather fan. Die-hard fans complete this generation of the sport.

So the next time you hear someone say baseball is considered America’s National Pastime, sprinkle a little College Football information on them.

Like former American General Patton used to say, “Americans love to fight.” They always have, and they always will. It may not always be on a battlefield, but where ever two opposing sides come together and clash, a brawl is brewing.

I now present to you, College Football: America’s favorite fight.

Cream of the Crop: Six Defensive Studs Welcomed to College Football in '09

Danny Bayliss — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:12:50 -0500

I come through with my promises. In the second part of my "Cream of the Crop" presentation, I have six more players who will make differences at their respective schools at some point in their careers. Please feel free to leave comments on these players. I also know that I'll get comments on players who I didn't select, but it is in no way biased. I just wanted to choose a few players we should all keep an eye on. These defensive studs are:

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Forget Jekyll: Why Carlos Hyde Could Be the Next "BIG" Thing at Ohio State

Danny Bayliss — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 14:50:01 -0500

Six feet, one inch, and 230 pounds of sheer man. The ability to bulldoze wimpy tacklers and plunge over the goal line for six. The deceptive speed and initial burst to break an 80-yard run, and the cutback ability and "hops" of Harlem ball player.

This Ohio State Buckeye has all the tools to be an excellent back.

Sound familiar? It's not Beanie Wells.

If you meet him on a good day, you will see the Dr. Jekyll side of him. If you see him on a bad day, or just witness his his muscular frame coming your way, well your in trouble.

Meet Mr. Carlos Hyde, a true beast that will be coming out of the backfield next season for the Buckeyes.

Hyde is the 31-ranked running back in the '09 class, and as aforementioned, his stature, tenacity, and focus is of former Buckeye back Beanie Wells.

While attending Naples High School and playing some of the top-tier of teams in the nation, Hyde racked up over 2500 yards at around eight yards a carry with 28 touchdowns in just two years.

Hyde's best game without a doubt was on November 21 of last year when he ran for 277 yards on only 12 carries, and five scores to lead a 61-23 rout over Riverdale High School

He also showed his versatility by catching a couple of touchdowns his senior year. While Hyde is not your normal 4.3 40-yard dash running back, once he his the whole and is moving down field, Hyde resembles a freight train and no one can derail him.

Hyde is predicted by many to transform into more of a fullback, or a back in the "I" formation who wears out defenses in the fourth quarter.

Hyde was probably drawn to Ohio State by Head Coach Jim Tressel's Big Ten, run-it-up-the-gut style of offense.

Tressel will definitely use Hyde in goal-to-go situations and short yardage situations, and will bring a different style to the "new" Buckeye running game, which features dual-threat quarterback Terrelle Pryor, sophomore-to-be running back Dan "Boom" Herron, and top-Buckeye recruit Jaamal Berry.

Hyde will be the Ying to Herron and Co.'s Yang, the force to their finesses, the hurt to their hurdle.

But as we saw in the Ohio State-Illinois game this year, "BIG" men can jump over defenses too.

So don't try and step to his level and bring him down in the backfield, or the care-free freshman known as Carlos Hyde will run you over and leave you with turf in your helmet as he does a dance in the end zone.

Cream of the Crop: Six Sensational Incoming Playmakers To Watch in 2009

Danny Bayliss — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:08:01 -0500

In the past few weeks the best high school football players in the world have been displaying their talents. First there were skill-challenges, then there were the All-American games. The future of college football is as great as it has ever been, with athletes playing numerous positions and helping their teams win anyway necessary. You have defensive lineman performing one swim move and ending up in the back field, yet you have offensive linemen pancaking wimpy nose tackles. You have running backs making so many east-west cuts that doctor's offices are busy with broken ankles. You have special players laying it all on the line to show what they can do for their school-to-be. It's becoming more for a habit, just likes college basketball, that freshman and sophomores lead teams and perform at the highest levels against top competition. Buckeye quarterback Terrelle Pryor even stated how the college level and high school level aren't that much different when it comes to how much harder college is. Like taking candy from a baby, eh Terrelle? Along with Pryor, players like, Julio Jones, A.J. Green, Michael Floyd, DeQuan Bowers, Jeff Demps, and Mike Brewster have already made inpacts on their respective teams. This year's class isn't mush different. These are just a few of the offensive players to watch as they will one day have their names in the headlines. -The defensive version of this to come this weekend.

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Washington To Walk: Cornerback Completes Trio of Junior Buckeyes To Enter Draft

Danny Bayliss — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:27:02 -0500

Buckeye cornerback Donald Washington has decided to enter the NFL draft. Today was the deadline for underclassmen, like Washington, to declare for the NFL draft.

Washington is the third junior on the Buckeyes to take the jump this year. Joining him are wide receiver Brian Hartline and running back Chris "Beanie" Wells.

All three would have been continuing starters if they stayed for their senior seasons, and Hartline and Washington could drastically increase their draft stocks.

Wells is a first-round prospect, while Hartline and Washington are both second-day prospects.

With the loss of Washington, the Buckeyes' secondary loses talent and experience, but the opening gives a few players like highly touted recruit C.J. Barnett and Buckeyes currently on the roster, like Andre Amos and Travis Howard a chance to shine.

Safeties Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman both are returning and should give the defense a lot of skill. Joining them is cornerback Chimdi Chekwa, who filled in for Washington at times this year.

The secondary, along with the defensive line, return key players who will give the Buckeyes good depth. With the departures of James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, the lone returning starter is Ross Homan at linebacker.

The other two spots will be up for grabs, but the Buckeyes have a ton of potential and upside at the linebacker position. Players like Andrew Sweat, Etienne Sabino, Jermale Hines, Brian Rolle, Austin Spitler, and Ryan Moeller will compete for the two spots.

Hines looked great when he played, and has a defensive back's type of speed and Sabino and Sweat were top ESPNU 150 recruits when they came to Ohio State.

Whoever wins the spots, they will truly deserve it as competition brings out the best.

Justin Boren: College Football's Benedict Arnold

Danny Bayliss — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:55:48 -0500

As an Ohio State fan, I found this situation extremely amusing, and I finally wanted to voice my own opinion on it.

Justin Boren, a highly touted offensive lineman, announced he was transferring from the University of Michigan because of new coach Rich Rodriguez's new plans. The news was already shocking for many U of M fans, as he was heavily recruited by many top schools.

So, there was the good, Boren going to Michigan; the bad, Boren de-committing.

Then, to the Michigan and most certainly not Ohio State fans, the ugly.

Boren decided on transferring to Ohio State, of all schools! Every sane person knows, "Once a Wolverine, always a Wolverine," or "Once a Buckeye, always a Buckeye."

Boren broke the cardinal rule—he committed a cardinal sin.

It takes a lot of moxie to break the hearts of one nation and put a smile on the other's faces.

Boren will likely be a starter on a revamped and young Buckeyes offensive line. He will have two years of eligibility remaining come next year.

Boren picked Ohio State over Notre Dame, UCLA, and Pittsburgh. His younger brother, Zach Boren, is a fullback who is going to Ohio State also.

The move came as a surprise for Justin's father, Mike, who played for Bo Schembechler at the University of Michigan.

Whether Boren did this as a publicity stunt because he feels Ohio State is a better school, or some other reason, I, and all of Buckeye nation, am certainly not complaining.

But with great risks come some bad luck.

Boren, his brother, and the Buckeye team will surely get an extra hundred-thousand "boos" and "traitors" when Ohio State goes to the Big House to play next year.

Traitor? Yes.

Risk-taker? Certainly.

Ohio State Buckeye? More now than ever.

See you on the battlefield, Benedict Boren.

Brian Hartline's Heart Is Elsewhere Now: Buckeye Receiver Declares for NFL Draft

Danny Bayliss — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 14:20:16 -0500

My recent article on next year's Ohio State Buckeye receivers will be greatly tweaked, or should be. That's because I mentioned junior receiver Brian Hartline as a good possibility for returning to Ohio State for his senior year.

I was wrong.

Just under an hour ago, Big Ten blogger Adam Rittenberg sent out an article stating Hartline has joined Chris "Beanie" Wells as the second junior on the team to declare for the draft.

With Hartline leaving, this means the already young and inexperienced receiving corps will have to step up even more. More pressure will be on the shoulders of Ray Small, Dane Sanzenbacher, Duron Carter, DeVier Posey, and Lamaar Thomas.

It may not be the case, but this may sway the highly touted receiver Marlon Brown toward Ohio State. The departure of Hartline opens up the race for a leading receiver and a player of his caliber would surely get a lot of playing time. It makes sense, right?

It may also put more shoulders of the running game. That means "Boom" Herron, Brandon Saine, Jaamal Berry, and others will be getting more carries.

The passing game will surely be a sight to see come September.

Coleman To Come Back: Ohio State Safety Staying Put For Senior Season

Danny Bayliss — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 13:03:12 -0500

One day before the deadline for juniors and redshirt sophomores to declare for the NFL draft, Ohio State Buckeye Kurt Coleman announced he will return for his senior season.

The junior safety was selected to the second-team All-Big Ten. His 78 tackles ranked him third on the team and he lead the Buckeyes' defense with four interceptions.

Coleman will likely be a defensive captain next year and will lead an experienced secondary.

Junior defensive backs Anderson Russell and Donald Washington are also considering the jump to the NFL, but Coleman's decision could very well affect theirs.

If they both return, Washington will be a starting cornerback along with Chimdi Chekwa, who will be a junior, and Russell and Coleman would be the starting safeties.

Whether they leave or not, expect incoming freshman cornerback C.J. Barnett and safety Jamie Wood to see a good amount of playing time in a secondary that's losing their leader, cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, to the NFL.

Barnett and Wood are both ESPNU 150 recruits who are expected to make immediate impacts. They will get an early test, as USC comes to the Horseshoe Sept. 12.

Catch Them While You Can: The 2009 Ohio State Receiving Corps

Danny Bayliss — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:22:45 -0500

Every since the departure of speedsters Ted Ginn Jr., Santonio Holmes, and Anthony Gonzalez, the Buckeyes' Achilles heel has been their receivers.

Touchdown passes have decreased over the past few years, from Troy Smith's 30 in 2006, to Todd Boeckman's 25 last year, and only 17 combined touchdowns threw the air via Terrelle Pryor and Todd Boeckman this year.

While the Buckeye's main priorities have transferred to the ground instead of threw the air, the once acclaimed "Wide Receiver U" has recently lacked that vertical threat to draw double teams and leave others open.

Brian Robiskie has been the leading receiver the past two years, but his statistics dropped dramatically with the change of pace at quarterback. He is the only Buckeye receiver going to the draft, but pending his decision, junior wide out Brian Hartline might make the jump.

The Buckeyes would lose leadership and experience if Hartline left, and without him, quarterback Terrelle Pryor would be without a clear go-to-guy.

Pryor has a lot of work to do on his passing game this offseason. In his two losses as a starter, Pryor threw no touchdowns and one interception.

He is said to have already gotten a jump on improving his arm strength and accuracy. With his ability to elude defenders on the ground already under control, he can spend more time getting in tune with the following receivers who will greatly contribute to the 2009 Ohio State Buckeyes:

Brian Hartline

Assuming he returns, Hartline will be a good possibility for the number-one receiver. He hasn't been the best "big-game" receiver, managing only three combined catches in the games against USC and Texas. He would bring a great amount of leadership back to the team. Hartline is fast, and would keep Pryor comfortable with a sense of familiarity. Hartline can also return punts and kicks.

Ray Small

While his main job this year was returning punts this year, Small's elusiveness and top-end speed make him a good possibility for a leading receiver next year. Small's lone touchdown of the year was a 62-yard punt return in Week Two against Ohio. Once highly recruited by other schools such as USC, Small has gotten into some trouble during his tenure at Ohio State.

He is considered a "poor-man's" Ted Ginn Jr., and has not proven himself as a stand out receiver. But with his all-around skills and athletic ability, Small will be able to get open and have Pryor hit him in stride many times.

Dane Sanzenbacher

Tied for the second-most receptions on the team, Sanzenbacher is another wide out, when in open space, can create a lot of havoc with the ball. While he is slightly shorter than the ideal wide receiver, Sanzenbacher has great hands and vision, as he played both defensive back and receiver in high schools.

DeVier Posey and Lamaar Thomas

Despite few receptions each, the two "freshman phenoms" have been highly touted and are expected to have breakout seasons. Thomas showed great balance and toughness as a kick returner, while Posey asserted himself as a possible deep threat.

Other Possibilities

One thing really good about the Buckeyes' young receiving corps is that they are very deep. Incoming freshman Duron Carter, the son of former Buckeye receiver Chris Carter, is the 18-rated receiver in the nation and an ESPNU 150 prospect. Other receiving possibilities include: Devon Torrence, Taurian Washington, Jake Stoneburner, James Jackson, Chris Fields, and others.

What to Watch

Marlon Brown, the highly touted wide receiver prospect out of Tennessee, is a great vertical prospect, at six-foot-five. He is the third-rated wide out in the nation. If he were to commit to Ohio State, it would give Pryor a tall target to throw to down the field and in fades.

Speed seems to be the universal quality with the Buckeye receivers, and whether it is known or not, it should help out the passing game and take some of the load off the running game. This class of Buckeyes seem to be very underrated and unproven, but come September 5, all of Pryor's offseason work will be on display as he looks to pick apart the Naval Academy's secondary.

The receiving attack Jim Tressel brings to the table should be very auxilerating, unique, and dangerous. So get ready and catch those receivers if you can.

Oh, and don't forget the running game.

The Weekend Warrior's Word: Five Ways to Survive the College Football Drought

Danny Bayliss — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 16:35:54 -0500

It's that time of year again. A very sad time.

You start having dreams of Lee Corso picking your school's mascot on College GameDay, Lou Holtz and Mark May going back and forth on the College Football People's Court, and Todd Blackledge's "Taste of the Town" special on Saturday night broadcasts.

And then you wake up.

The morning of Jan. 9, 2009 was a bittersweet moment at best. You get up and cringe at the fact that your wife or mom awakes you from your glorious, fantasy-filled slumber and yells at you because she finally realized the bowl-shaped indent you left in the couch over the span of about four-and-a-half months.

Bummer.

College Football won't start back up for about eight months, January to August. You're thinking to yourself that you will go crazy without those Sunday night recaps of the day before's glory. College Football courses through your veins. It is your anti-drug.

But never fear, the doctor is here.

Here are some tips on how to deal without those days where Kirk Herbstreit and Brent Musberger tell it like it is on prime time television.

1. Follow your team's recruits

If you're constantly as eager to see how the future of your team is "graded" as I am, then you go on your computer and bookmark the list of the future faithful towards your team.

There are always a handful of top recruits that wait to make their decision and take it down to the wire, leaving you mad. You hope they go to your school, and you most certainly don't hope they go to one of those schools that will under-utilize them and have them ninth on the depth chart.

Unless that is your team, then you know you are in good position for next year. Make sure to book a trip to your team's spring game, and see what prodigies are waiting to play on your team's sacred gridiron.

2. Enjoy the NFL playoffs

Most college football fans favor the sport over the NFL because it's more unpredictable and full of breathtaking 80-yard scores, while the NFL loves to bust it up the gut.

For those of you NCAA fans who don't like the NFL, you still tune in sometimes to see how your favorite player from college is doing. You tune in to players so you can brag to your friends on how you were the one who said they would be a bust. And right before you change the channel back to something else, you realize only the top tier of teams are left and this part of the NFL season is in a world of its own.

You get somewhat depressed again because you realize you missed out on the action of some famous player's swan song performance, or a coach going out with style. So you live up the rest of the playoffs to the fullest, and the season ends with a bang because you enjoy the Super Bowl no matter who is in it and no matter the score.

You say, "Hey, nice beer commercial."

3. Soak in all the draft prep you can

It's the most wonderful time of the year—well, besides that opening kickoff in August.

You say goodbye to the famous alum who left their marks at the college level and are ready to take that next step. You start spending your down time fixing your hair with grease and put on a suit and stand in front of your mirror, pretending you're Mel Kiper Jr., and you give your own presentation of your Mock Draft.

You write down your picks, send it to any sports fan who cares, and hope to have good feedback.

Then in the final days of April, you re-enter that abyss on the couch and stay there until Mr. Irrelevant is announced.

4. March Madness

You can hate the sport all you want, but you know you can't resist Dick Vitale getting laryngitis over some half-court shot. Brackets are passed around the water cooler or at lunch, and pools are made to see who has the best combination of smarts and luck.

It's a wonderful time to be a sports fan, even if you shy away from basketball every other time of the year.

5. Enjoy summer

Get off the couch and go out and play the sport you love watching. There's 11 weeks of mess-around-late-partying to attend to. Anything to occupy your time: a part-time job, going on a trip, sleeping in 'til dusk. It's a great time to either prove you can play sports and not just study them, or to be a nocturnal party animal.

You have a great time, and you're sad when you have to reset alarm clocks, buy school supplies, or start up earlier hours for work.

Late August came so quickly. And if you've been paying attention, that's a good thing. So follow these steps and in no time you will hear the College GameDay country song wake you up with a great big smile.

So until the next article, survive the work week and stay the vicious weekend warrior you are.

Bye Beanie, Bring on the Backups: How the 2009 Buckeye Running Game Will Fare

Danny Bayliss — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 22:15:40 -0500

The success of the 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes and their 10-3 record can possibly be measured by one man, running back Chris "Beanie" Wells.

In each of the Buckeyes' 10 wins, Wells either contributed and/or could not be stopped, or he did not play and the opposition was not enough to take the "Beanie-less" Buckeyes down.

In the first of their three defeats, coming at the hands of the Southern California Trojans, Wells did not play due to a nagging injury he suffered when he was taking a hand-off in the Buckeyes' season opener against Youngstown State. The end result was a 35-3 drubbing by the Men of Troy.

Their second loss, a 13-6 struggle against Penn State, was said to be the result of a couple of Terrelle Pryor turnovers, and while the Buckeyes' young quarterback essentially lost the game for them, Wells did not help the cause. He managed only 55 yards on 22 rushes, and was constantly stuffed at the line of scrimmage.

In their final game of the season, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, the Buckeyes had their hearts ripped out when Texas quarterback Colt McCoy led a fourth-quarter comeback and threw the winning touchdown, capping off a 24-21 win.

Wells rushed for over 90 yards in the first half, and it seemed as though his success would continue into the second half.

But due to an apparent concussion, Wells was limited in the second half and was left to watch his team regain the lead only to blow it late in the fourth quarter.

Just this past Thursday, Wells announced he will forgo his senior season and enter the NFL draft. This decision probably left many fans, coaches, and teammates upset and down. But to Coach Jim Tressel, it was a no-brainer.

"If it were me, it wouldn't be tough," Tressel said weeks before the Fiesta Bowl. He later stated in interviews, that he feels Wells should be a Top Five pick.

Now I know I do not speak for all of Buckeye nation when I say Beanie should return, because I know many fans think he has done all he can and cannot increase his draft stock anymore.

It is still a little strange to me that Tressel is so enthusiastic about Wells' departure. Replacing a player like Wells is not always easy, but Tressel is known as an excellent recruiter and the Buckeyes' running game should be fine without their "star child."

It will surely not be the same, but these are the players who will step in for Beanie and help the running game.

Terrelle Pryor

The versatile quarterback will probably spend most of his off-season polishing his passing game, but come next season Pryor's speed will still be dangerous and will greatly contribute to the Buckeye's success.

Dan "Boom" Herron

Herron will most likely be the starting running back next year. He is smaller than Beanie and is a good east-west runner, but he also likes to plunge up the middle.

In Wells' absence this year, Herron proved he could carry the load. He was the team's third leading rusher, behind Pryor and Wells.

Brandon "Zoom" Saine

Limited this year due to injury and other's playing time, Saine was a highly-recruited back his senior year in high school and was Ohio's "Mr. Football."

Look for Saine to get more time at running back, with most of it coming on third down. He will also return kicks and sometimes line up in the slot, as he has very good hands for a back.

Jaamal Berry

The "crown jewel" of this year's recruiting class for the Buckeyes, Berry is about the size of Herron.

He is ESPN's third-rated running back in the country and while his senior season was interrupted at times by injuries, Berry still drew attention from many top schools.

He will compete for the starting job, but will most likely end up sharing time with Saine as Herron's backup.

Carlos Hyde

Hyde,the second best running back recruited by Ohio State, has the same dimensions as Wells, and like Wells he is a down-hill runner who loves to go up the gut of the offensive line.

Many analysts project Hyde to turn into more of a fullback, but his size will be needed for goal-to-go situations. Hyde will likely get less reps than Berry and Herron, but will line up in the fullback position in the "I"-formation.

Other possibilities to fill in and help the cause are Jordan Hall, Justin Green, and Storm Klein. The other remaining backs currently on the roster have all combined for little-to-no playing time and small statistics.

Hall was Pryor's teammate in high school and can also return kicks and line up in the slot.

Green is an athlete, and could possibly play defensive back, but is better and more dangerous on the offensive side.

Klein is another athlete who can carry the ball but is better at linebacker.

Wells certainly left his mark at Ohio State. Before he broke out as a star at Ohio State, many fans were worried that former Buckeye Antonio Pittman's early departure to NFL would put more pressure on the passing game's shoulders.

Wells certainly silenced the critics, and if this trend continues, any one of the aforementioned backs may be in the same position Wells was a few years down the line.

Fiesta Bowl Field Guide: Ohio State's Four Necessities for Victory

Danny Bayliss — Sun, 28 Dec 2008 18:12:52 -0500

SportsCenter has coined the phrase "same face, new place" many times. With the Ohio State Buckeyes and their repetitive appearances in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, I may have just given Rece Davis some new material to open up the Buckeyes' highlights.

Unfortunately, if Coach Jim Tressel's senior-laden squad wants those highlights and the score to be on the smiling side when the fourth quarter game clock hits all zeros, he may want to take some of the following precautions.

So Buckeye fans, buckle up, remain calm, and know where your exits are if any of the following suggestions nosedive.

Have offensive coordinator Jim Bollman call the plays

Tressel has become way too predictable and conservative with his play-calling. Many times he has not utilized his most prized possession and recruit, Terrelle Pryor. Big rewards come from big risks, and let's face it, Tressel has failed to prove he can step outside his comfort box when crunch time comes around.

With Bollman at the helm of the offense, wide receiver Ray Small could get more touches on "trick plays" and end-arounds that might give the Buckeyes a much-needed boost.

Pass early and often

You can count on Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp and his defense to show up on Jan. 5, despite the National Championship snub. Their front seven is as tenacious and dangerous as ever, but their secondary is the exact opposite. Their defense ranks in the 100s in giving up pass yards, and while that could be because of the pass-happy conference, weaker teams have found ways to exploit the defense for double-digit points.

Terrelle Pryor certainly has the arm strength and touch to find his receivers and has the ability to elude pass rushers for more time in the pocket or to break upfield. If the stingy O-line of the Buckeyes can protect Pryor, he will have a good chance throwing to receivers Brian Hartline, Brian Robiskie, Dane Sanzenbacher, and the aforementioned Ray Small. This will also open up the next key for the Buckeyes.

Pound Beanie when necessary

Junior running back Chris "Beanie" Wells may be playing his final game for the Buckeyes. If he wants his draft stock to be off the charts, he'll need to have a big game and stay healthy.

Beanie is a must-have on third-and-shorts and goal-to-goes, and the game could come down to how he and his running mates fare. Tressel will want his star to get many touches, but if Wells needs a spell, backups Dan "Boom" Herron, Brandon "Zoom" Saine, and Maurice (let's say Doom) Wells will all help keep Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo on his toes.

Show Colt McCoy the Heisman pick was right

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy has done many wonderful things in his career, but he has yet to add a win over the Buckeyes to his NFL résumé. His only game against the Buckeyes to date was two years ago in his freshman year, where his Longhorns fell short. Buckeye defensive stars James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins will need to disrupt McCoy's timing and rhythm and keep the overrated Texas receivers in check.

For the Buckeyes to win, they will need to also win the battle at the line of scrimmage, force penalties and turnovers, and limit their own of each. The Buckeyes have the talent to win, but as their past has shown, they may not be the best "big game" team. Tressel's Buckeyes will have to come on to the field prepared with passion, confidence, and their pre-game sway, which pumps them and the crowd up.

If the Buckeyes can do most, if not all of the objectives on my checklist, they will have a great chance a winning. Pending what I just said happens, Ohio State 27, Texas 24. If not, the score will definitely change.

Come Jan. 5, the Buckeyes better forget the past, make the best of the present, and prepare for lift-off.

Cincinnati Basketball: Bearcats State Their Case

Danny Bayliss — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 05:04:36 -0500

It took 18 games—nine losses and nine wins—for Mick Cronin and his UC Bearcats to show everyone that they're not the same Big East cellar-dwellers of a year ago.

Yesterday, the Bearcats knocked off the 16th-ranked Pittsburgh Panthers 62-59 at the Shoemaker Center in Cincinnati.

Bearcat shooting guard Deonta Vaughn led the 'Cats with 14, and Pitt product Sam Young had a game-high 24 points.

The Cats, despite early season losses to non-conference foes, have already doubled their Big East conference wins from last year. They have put up positive numbers against Villanova, Louisville, Syracuse, and Pittsburgh. They have lost close battles with former C-USA rival Memphis, and Crosstown-Shootout rival Xavier.

Nevertheless, Mick Cronin and UC fans have to be happy with what they've seen, and are already looking towards the future. The Bearcats have gotten good minutes out of Anthony McClain, Rashard Bishop, and others. Vaughn looks to up his game one more step.

Along with those factors and an excellent recruiting class, the Bearcats look to finally be settling into the Big East.

S.O.S.: How to Right the Ship at OSU

Danny Bayliss — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 06:26:58 -0500

Enough is enough.

Two football national championship losses in the past two years is hard to face.

Add in one order of basketball and another of soccer, and you've got yourself four reasons for people to taunt you.

Sorry Buckeye fans, these events have begotten horrible aftermaths. You say to yourself, "Hey, I can take it. The Buckeyes will win it next year." Well, isn't that what you told yourself last year, and the year before that? Well, this time OSU fans can be more confident when they say those words.

All this talk of the Buckeyes being a slow, lethargic team pisses me off. How can a team that has produced players such as Ted Ginn, Ray Small, Chris Gamble, and Santonio Holmes be considered slow? Just because "Tressel-ball" is not fast-paced doesn't mean it's slow.

Fans claim that the spread offense is what killed the Buckeyes against LSU and UF. Why not fight fire with fire? Put in Antonio Henton to run the show, like the times of Troy Smith. Or use him with Todd Boeckman as if they were Mr. Tebow and Mr. Leak of two years ago.

Boeckman's approaching 25 years of age. If he wants a shot at the NFL he'd better take it sooner rather than later. That would give Henton the job. Speed is not the problem.

Could it be that a high-octane offense is what the doctor ordered? A Dennis Dixon-esque type of attack doesn't sound bad at all. What do you call it again? Oh, yes, the spread offense—the 21st century offense. That's not Tressel-ball at all.

I'm not saying I wouldn't want to see the spread offense at OSU, I'm just saying, why do they need it if they are scoring 20-plus points almost every game?

Oh, that's right, that's what beat us in the two National Championship games.

Of course, who knows what would have happened if OSU used the spread offense during the year. Maybe they would have beat LSU—a team who didn't win by using the spread offense, but by using their brains.

That's it! OSU was outsmarted! Bo Pellini pulled some crafty tricks out of his hat. Combine that with some OSU turnovers and a home crowd, and you've got yourself a legitimate excuse. OSU was outsmarted and outplayed, I think.

But no worries. The Buckeyes have most of their starters, including All-American linebacker James Laurinitis, returning. All of the staff, coaches, and players are one year older and one year smarter. A good recruiting class is sure to produce more numbers.

Who knows what Tressel might do? If he can land Terrell Pryor, that's a start. A healthy Beanie Wells could open up the passing game more.

Relax, OSU fans. I wouldn't be surprised if many of you started booking your flights and hotel rooms for Miami before the season opener.