Ohio State Football: 10 Bold Predictions for Urban Meyer's 2012 Buckeyes
The Ohio State coaching job, which will be the most attractive opening in the country, will be an interesting thing to watch out for after the 2011 season.
Defensive coordinator Luke Fickell will get a yearlong audition for the job, and he does appear to be a darkhorse for the job.
While Fickell has the easiest chance to impress his bosses as the likely top candidates such as Urban Meyer and Jon Gruden are on television this year, it's no guarantee that Fickell will get the promotion.
But Meyer seems like the odds-on favorite, not just because of his resume but because of his ties to the football program.
If Meyer does indeed decide to come out of his retirement to take the job, here are 10 bold predictions for that first season at the helm of the Buckeyes.
1. Luke Fickell Stays on as Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
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If Urban Meyer does indeed accept the job as Ohio State's head coach, it would be a very wise decision on his part to keep Luke Fickell aboard as the defensive coordinator/coach-in-waiting.
The reason for the second part is that Meyer has resigned twice in two years at Florida and if his health continues to be an issue, it would be a good decision for him to keep a guy who had been the coach before him.
Also, Fickell has had some great connections with kids in the recruiting circle, and has been a fantastic coach in his past seven seasons at Ohio State.
He has become a favorite with his players and gets the most out of them, which could make the transition from Fickell to Meyer very smooth.
On paper, it seems to simple not to keep Fickell on the staff.
2. Jordan Hall, Jaamal Berry and Rod Smith Will Each Have Over 600 Rushing Yards
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The stable of backs at Ohio State with youngsters Jordan Hall, Jaamal Berry and Rod Smith will get a chance to run the backfield by themselves while starter Dan Herron is under suspension.
The experience of playing by themselves to start can only help them out in the long run, even as early as later in 2011.
But one can't help but be excited at the prospect of a one-two punch in Hall and Berry, which was a dynamic kick return unit in 2010, ranked No. 5 in yards per return.
Add Rod Smith, who redshirted in 2010 but was dominant in bowl practices and spring workouts, and that makes quite an intriguing backfield.
While Ohio State might not go to a full-blown spread offense from Day One, he will most likely unleash the offense and be very aggressive unlike Jim Tressel.
3. The Offense Will Average Over 35 Points Per Game
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In the Jim Tressel era, the offense has been notorious for being very conservative, to the frustration of a lot of fans.
If Urban Meyer is the coach, expect the offense to be aggressive and fun to watch, similar to the UF offense under Tim Tebow.
With the backs Ohio State has and possibly a semi-experienced starter in Braxton Miller, this offense could be very talented right from the get-go.
While the offense might not be unstoppable in year one under Meyer, the talent on the OSU offense could be enough to be very potent in itself.
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4. Braxton Miller Has a Breakout Year in 2012
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Speaking of explosive offenses, the type of QB that seems to be a good fit for Urban Meyer's offense is what Braxton Miller is.
While Braxton is a favorite to see the field in 2011 while Pryor is under suspension, it will most likely be his show in 2012.
And Miller's high school experience comes from an offense that ran primarily out of the shotgun, which seems like a good combination in the offense Meyer likes to run.
With an experienced backfield and a young receiver corps that will be expected to grow in 2011, the ingredients are there for Braxton Miller to grow into one of the best QBs in the country.
5. Etienne Sabino and Curtis Grant Will Be the Best LB Duo in the Big Ten
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Ohio State's strong recruiting classes in the past few years could produce very fruitful results in the future, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
LB Etienne Sabino is a favorite to start at ILB this coming season after redshirting in 2010 and seems to have elevated to another level in practice.
As for Curtis Grant, the top LB in the class of 2011 committed to Ohio State on National Signing Day, he seems like enough of a physical specimen that it may be impossible for him not to see the field this year.
With Andrew Sweat graduating in 2011, Grant and Sabino will most likely start and together can be one of the most physically intimidating LB corps in the Big Ten.
Each of those players are big backers with good speed and instincts to shut down the running lanes.
6. Jake Stoneburner and Corey Brown Will Each Have Over 60 Receptions
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If two receivers could complement each other perfectly on the Ohio State roster, they would have to be TE Jake Stoneburner and WR Corey Brown.
Although Stoneburner is a TE, he is a wideout in a 6-foot-6, 250 lbs body and has good hands and speed which makes him a mismatch in the middle of the field.
Brown, on the other hand, has the potential to be like DeSean Jackson in Philadelphia with his blazing speed but needs to improve his ability to get open and to reel in passes.
The two will be the featured targets to start the 2011 season while DeVier Posey is under suspension, and unless Stoneburner goes into the 2012 NFL Draft, they will be the go-to guys for most of that season.
Each player has the potential to have 60+ catches and should if Meyer becomes the head coach and runs the offense.
7. Ohio State Will Lose at Penn State but Win at Wisconsin
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Six years ago, the inaugural Whiteout at Penn State led to a Nittany Lions victory and a trip to the Orange Bowl in a legendary matchup against Bobby Bowden and Florida State.
This time around, it will be Miller's first time in the "White House" and could eventually lead to a loss in Happy Valley.
Penn State has a young group on defense and at QB, which by 2012 should mature and become quite a formidable force that could cause problems for Ohio State.
But with their last road game of the season in Wisconsin, Ohio State will not make it two road losses since like 2011, the Buckeyes will face Wisconsin coming off of a bye.
This game will be another physical slugfest, but a well-rested Ohio State team with an extra week to prepare and get healthy can only help them prepare and get a rare win at Camp Randall.
8. Michigan Will Lose to Ohio State for the Ninth Straight Time
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While most people should expect the 2011 meeting between OSU and Michigan to be a tight contest, the fact is the disparity between the two teams talentwise is enormous, especially on defense, and could be the difference in Ann Arbor.
Michigan should be a much better team in 2012 with Brady Hoke's first recruiting class shaping up to be a good one.
But this matchup is in Columbus and could mean a spot in the Big Ten Championship Game for Ohio State.
In addition, Meyer, being a native of Ohio and a former assistant at OSU, should know very well what The Game means and should have his team ready to go as Tressel did in the past ten years.
2013 could be the best shot Michigan has to beat Ohio State since the 2005 team, but the win streak for OSU over their archrival could hit 9 straight games by the time all is said and done.
9. Ohio State Will Win the Big Ten Championship Over Michigan State
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Michigan State winning the Leaders' Division in 2012 seems like a weird prediction without Kirk Cousins at QB, but as long as both Edwin Baker and LeVeon Bell are still in MSU in 2012, with a growing defense anything is possible.
What plays in their favor is even though they have a tough schedule in 2012, arguably their four toughest games, Boise State, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Nebraska, are all home games.
The question will be how Andrew Maxwell develops as a passer and how good he can be under Mark Dantonio in 2012.
The potential matchup between OSU and MSU would be interesting in Indianapolis with Dantonio going up against his former school for a BCS spot on the line.
In round two, even if Ohio State should fall in East Lansing, the Buckeyes could very well win the Big Ten Championship game and get a shot at the 2013 Rose Bowl.
10. Ohio State Will Defeat USC in the Rose Bowl Game
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With USC getting off of postseason sanctions, there is a very strong possibility that the 2013 Rose Bowl could be a throwback, classic matchup between Ohio State and the Trojans.
The coaching matchup would very likely be anything but a throwback with two offensive gurus in Lane Kiffin and Urban Meyer on opposite sidelines.
And the difference in the styles of offenses could not be more different either between USC's pro-style attack and Meyer's spread look.
But in what will either be a shootout or a defensive struggle, most likely a shootout, Ohio State's weapons on both sides of the ball and bowl experience could be a difference-maker in Pasadena.
2013 could be Ohio State's next best shot at a national championship, and Urban Meyer would be the first coach in BCS history to win two national titles with teams in two different conferences.
For more college football news and updates, visit The BCS Blitz and follow me on Twitter @bielik_tim.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
