Ohio State's Final Preparations for Opening Feast and Other Buckeye Bits

Well it's been a long summer, but at last it's finally here. College football finally kicks off the 2009 season this week.

It's been an offseason full of questions and unsolved mysteries for a team that has been to the BCS for the past four seasons.

Ohio State welcomes the Navy Midshipmen to the Horseshoe on Saturday, a truly unorthodox opponent before the non-conference game of the year against the USC Trojans.

After crushing losses, the Buckeyes have been the subject of alot (sometimes warranted, sometimes not) national criticism, likened at times to a MAC school.

Regardless of the situation, Ohio State brings back a squad missing its two defensive mainstays in James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins, along with its best running back in Chris "Beanie" Wells. Yet most Buckeye fans are not completely concerned, and some are even glad to see them gone for sake of a new attitude and mentality.

Guys like G Justin Boren and DE Thaddeus Gibson are expected to be the flame bearers of a new, nasty attitude for the 2009 squad.

Earlier in the week, captains were named in S Kurt Coleman, DT Doug Worthington, and LB Austin Spitler. There was no permanent offensive captain named, and it will be rotational for the first time since the 2002 championship season.

And probably the biggest surprise of the season might be that converted TE Andrew Miller will most likely be the starter at LT for the opener against the Midshipmen this Saturday.

But everyone in the country knows that Ohio State's success in 2009 will be contingent on superstar sophomore QB Terrelle Pryor's development as a more balanced QB.

Not much is made of the offense this year because of the lack of proven playmakers around the QB, but that doesn't mean that there isn't talent available.

But a tough September including games against Navy, USC, and Illinois will reveal what type of team Ohio State is heading further into Big Ten play.

If they can go 3-1 or even 4-0 in this stretch, Buckeye fans will have plenty to be excited about and feel that another BCS bowl bid is in the cards.

But for now, the sole focus of the Buckeyes this week will be preparing for the Navy Midshipmen on September 5.

Other Buckeye Bits:

• One reason for Miller's vault to the starting LT job is the suspension of sophomore stud T Mike Adams. Many fans were concerned when he reportedly started practicing with the third team offensive line, leading many to believe he could not perform.The suspension helps to explain Adams' sudden drop on the depth chart, but there is speculation that he will start by the Big Ten opener against the Illini.

• Early indications are that the top three receivers of the OSU offense will be in order DeVier Posey, Dane Sanzenbacher, and Taurian Washington. All three bring very different skillsets: Posey with his explosion and big-play ability, Sanzenbacher with his tremendous hands, and Washington who might be the best pure burner among the three WRs.

• Sophomore DT Willie Mobley is expected to transfer from Ohio State to UCLA, meaning he would next be able to see the field in 2010 for Rick Neuheisel.Mobley's move can be based off of what he said was unhappiness and non-football related issues. It's unfortunate to see good players leave the program, but Buckeye Nation wishes Willie the best of luck in the future.

A preview and prediction of the Navy-Ohio State game will be published on Thursday, along with previews and predictions for every game throughout the season.