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Ohio State Football: Accepting the Buckeyes for Who They Are
David ThurmanOct 20, 2010
Coach Norman Dale
Dave Thurman (8:55 pm)
In the classic sports movie Hoosiers, Coach Norman Dale (played masterfully by Gene Hackmen), introduces his team for the first time at a school assembly. With only six boys on the squad, and one of them about five feet tall, the natives are restless. Hickory's best player by a mile is Jimmy Chitwood, but he didn't go out for the team. Still as coach Dale introduces the squad, the cry of "We want Jimmy" echoes through the little gym. Quickly Norman Dale grabs the microphone and says, "I would hope you would support who we are...not who we are not!"
I love that line, and over the past couple weeks as the Buckeye ranks have been thinned, I have thought about it a number of times. Between preseason defections, grade issues, and injuries, the 2010 team is depth deficient, and last Saturday night it caught up to them. Interestingly, just as I was about to write this piece I noticed that the gang over at Bucknuts wrote something similar in their October 20th Daily Battle Cry entitled "Missing Man Formation." I guess great minds think alike, and there could be worse things than being beaten to the punch by the big boys! Still I think it is worth our time to notice some of the missing players who have left big shoes to fill, consider the impact it is having, and then discuss how the team can overcome the adversity.
The Missing Ingredients:
I am listing these players in the order in which their absence has been felt, in my opinion:
1. Etienne Sabino - Let me go on record as saying I never liked the idea of redshirting him from the beginning. If the team was expecting a nine win season and was building toward 2011 fine. But if this team had visions of returning to the desert to compete for the big prize then no way do you sit one of your best athletes. Could he have helped the abysmal special teams? Without doubt. Would it have been great to have him in lieu of the current injury to Ross Homan, as well as those experienced throughout the season by Andrew Sweat, Dorian Bell and Storm Klein? I think we know the answer. I will never understand this move and it certainly has come back to haunt the coaching staff.
2. Duron Carter - I was sick when this kid failed to get the job done in the classroom because there is no proven depth behind the starting receivers. How nice would it have been to have a big target with his skills at the number three spot? Considering the injury to Jake Stoneburner and the way DeVier Posey has gone into hiding, this loss has only been magnified.
In the classic sports movie Hoosiers, Coach Norman Dale (played masterfully by Gene Hackmen), introduces his team for the first time at a school assembly. With only six boys on the squad, and one of them about five feet tall, the natives are restless. Hickory's best player by a mile is Jimmy Chitwood, but he didn't go out for the team. Still as coach Dale introduces the squad, the cry of "We want Jimmy" echoes through the little gym. Quickly Norman Dale grabs the microphone and says, "I would hope you would support who we are...not who we are not!"
I love that line, and over the past couple weeks as the Buckeye ranks have been thinned, I have thought about it a number of times. Between preseason defections, grade issues, and injuries, the 2010 team is depth deficient, and last Saturday night it caught up to them. Interestingly, just as I was about to write this piece I noticed that the gang over at Bucknuts wrote something similar in their October 20th Daily Battle Cry entitled "Missing Man Formation." I guess great minds think alike, and there could be worse things than being beaten to the punch by the big boys! Still I think it is worth our time to notice some of the missing players who have left big shoes to fill, consider the impact it is having, and then discuss how the team can overcome the adversity.
The Missing Ingredients:
I am listing these players in the order in which their absence has been felt, in my opinion:
1. Etienne Sabino - Let me go on record as saying I never liked the idea of redshirting him from the beginning. If the team was expecting a nine win season and was building toward 2011 fine. But if this team had visions of returning to the desert to compete for the big prize then no way do you sit one of your best athletes. Could he have helped the abysmal special teams? Without doubt. Would it have been great to have him in lieu of the current injury to Ross Homan, as well as those experienced throughout the season by Andrew Sweat, Dorian Bell and Storm Klein? I think we know the answer. I will never understand this move and it certainly has come back to haunt the coaching staff.
2. Duron Carter - I was sick when this kid failed to get the job done in the classroom because there is no proven depth behind the starting receivers. How nice would it have been to have a big target with his skills at the number three spot? Considering the injury to Jake Stoneburner and the way DeVier Posey has gone into hiding, this loss has only been magnified.
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3. Tyler Moeller - Injuries happen. They are a part of the game. But this one really hurt because Moeller was such an emotional player who gave the defense attitude and leadership. With a nonexistent pass rush, it would sure be nice to see him coming off the edge, as well. Had Moeller and the two players listed above been in the lineup Saturday night, I think we may have seen a different outcome.
4. Marcus Hall - This one was a punch in the gut as well. Obviously he did something that led to a forced redshirt, but it was a killer because depth on the offensive line is always needed as the season progresses and guys get banged up. I thought Marcus looked terrific in fall camp, and felt like he would push for a starting spot. At the very least it would have helped tremendously to have him backing up both tackle positions.
5. C.J. Barnett - Considering how may defensive backs have bit the dust this year, the early season injury to Barnett has become more glaring as the year has progressed. Against Miami he looked pretty special, possessing a nose for the ball. And he has good coverage skills for a safety, which could have come in handy, too.
6. Keith Wells - Certainly a wildcard, because he never showed too much during his first couple years in Columbus, but supposedly Wells is a pass rushing specialist, and considering the fact that Ohio State is averaging roughly one sack a game, he couldn't have hurt.
7. Donnie Evege - I mention Evege for one reason. He has been a fine special teams player during his career, and could have possibly helped the coverage units which, as everyone knows, have been worse than awful.
Those are my big seven. Other guys have missed bits and pieces of the year (Travis Howard, Dorian Bell, Jake Stoneburner, etc.) and the team may yet feel the effects of guys who are on the shelf at the moment (Ross Homan and Christian Bryant). Of course some attrition is to be expected, but players like Sabino, Carter and Hall should not have been missing in action, and those losses have been felt in a big way.
Dealing With Adversity:
Like fans of the mythical Hickory Huskers it is time for us to get over who we are not, and focus instead on who we are. The Buckeyes have plenty of good players on the roster who are capable of playing Big Ten football. I have felt for a long time like the staff is overly afraid of playing good, young talent in big games, and I think that has hurt them this year. The fact is, some of those young guys can play, and if given the chance, might excel. Let's hope the coaches can breathe confidence into them now that some are being forced to play.
The good news is that the next few weeks are manageable with Purdue at home, Minnesota on the road and then a needed bye week. Hopefully some of the linebackers and defensive backs (especially Homan and Bryant) can get healthy in that period of time. And, it would be great if Pryor can slowly get back to 100% as well.
That being said don't expect it to be easy. Purdue is improving and has a nice defense - especially the front seven. And even though Minnesota is pretty weak, don't count on a battered Buckeye squad hammering anybody on the road. As fans we need to suck it up with the team, and cheer them on. There is still much to play for the next few weeks.
4. Marcus Hall - This one was a punch in the gut as well. Obviously he did something that led to a forced redshirt, but it was a killer because depth on the offensive line is always needed as the season progresses and guys get banged up. I thought Marcus looked terrific in fall camp, and felt like he would push for a starting spot. At the very least it would have helped tremendously to have him backing up both tackle positions.
5. C.J. Barnett - Considering how may defensive backs have bit the dust this year, the early season injury to Barnett has become more glaring as the year has progressed. Against Miami he looked pretty special, possessing a nose for the ball. And he has good coverage skills for a safety, which could have come in handy, too.
6. Keith Wells - Certainly a wildcard, because he never showed too much during his first couple years in Columbus, but supposedly Wells is a pass rushing specialist, and considering the fact that Ohio State is averaging roughly one sack a game, he couldn't have hurt.
7. Donnie Evege - I mention Evege for one reason. He has been a fine special teams player during his career, and could have possibly helped the coverage units which, as everyone knows, have been worse than awful.
Those are my big seven. Other guys have missed bits and pieces of the year (Travis Howard, Dorian Bell, Jake Stoneburner, etc.) and the team may yet feel the effects of guys who are on the shelf at the moment (Ross Homan and Christian Bryant). Of course some attrition is to be expected, but players like Sabino, Carter and Hall should not have been missing in action, and those losses have been felt in a big way.
Dealing With Adversity:
Like fans of the mythical Hickory Huskers it is time for us to get over who we are not, and focus instead on who we are. The Buckeyes have plenty of good players on the roster who are capable of playing Big Ten football. I have felt for a long time like the staff is overly afraid of playing good, young talent in big games, and I think that has hurt them this year. The fact is, some of those young guys can play, and if given the chance, might excel. Let's hope the coaches can breathe confidence into them now that some are being forced to play.
The good news is that the next few weeks are manageable with Purdue at home, Minnesota on the road and then a needed bye week. Hopefully some of the linebackers and defensive backs (especially Homan and Bryant) can get healthy in that period of time. And, it would be great if Pryor can slowly get back to 100% as well.
That being said don't expect it to be easy. Purdue is improving and has a nice defense - especially the front seven. And even though Minnesota is pretty weak, don't count on a battered Buckeye squad hammering anybody on the road. As fans we need to suck it up with the team, and cheer them on. There is still much to play for the next few weeks.
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