Key Losses: Zach Boren, Etienne Sabino, Nathan Williams

Returning Starter(s): Ryan Shazier

Projected Starters: Shazier (Will), Curtis Grant (Mike) , Joshua Perry (Sam)

Ryan Shazier is ready to lead the linebackers in ’13

With only one returning starter, there are numerous questions surrounding the 2013 Buckeyes linebacking corps. Shazier is coming off of an excellent year and will be the anchor of the front seven. He will be one of the better outside linebackers in the nation but he will need to show more consistency.

The biggest question mark will be 2011 five-star recruit Curtis Grant, who started only three games last year before being benched for the remainder of the season. Will Grant be able to put it all together and become the starting middle linebacker that the coaching staff has always expected him to be? Or will he be passed over again for another option?

These other options include David Perkins, Camren Williams and Luke Roberts. Also, you cannot forget the two highly touted freshmen coming in, Mike Mitchell and Trey Johnson. It would not be surprising to see Grant supplanted by Mitchell at some point this season.

Depending on the scheme, Joshua Perry will be penciled in at either the mike (middle linebacker) or the sam (strongside linebacker). Perry has been in the starting lineup during spring practice and should be next to Shazier when the season begins. Meyer has expressed that the silver bullets will most likely be running a lot of nickle this year so only two linebackers would be needed in his 4-2-5 nickle scheme with the 5th defensive back being in the box (STAR position).

Although Shazier is the only returning starter at linebacker, the Buckeyes are loaded with talent at that position. Will Grant finally step up? Will one of the highly touted freshmen earn a starting job? Can Joshua Perry continue his great off season?  There are many questions surrounding these linebackers which will be answered during spring and summer before they kick off August 31st.

On a positive note, the Buckeyes will hopefully not have to look over to the other side of the ball to fill a hole at linebacker this year.

Here is another look at Shazier’s 2012 highlight tape

Epic choke job by TSUN… But in all honesty, how did that not go in?

With Michigan’s loss versus Indiana, the Hoosiers wrap up the regular season B1G title and the number one seed in the B1G tournament. The Buckeyes will have the two seed and will play the winner of no. 7 Purdue and no. 11 Nebraska on Friday.

(Scroll to :40) 

Not sure who this hilarious remark was directed towards (one of the kickers/punters obviously) but it looks like Coach Kerry Coombs is already in midseason form. Expect more gems like this as spring practice continues from Coach Coombs and the rest of the coaching staff.

Thanks to Eleven Warriors for this great footage 

If you have even a decent memory you will remember how last year Se’Von Pittman was committed to play for MSU and Mark Dantonio. Then something happened that I can’t remember oh wait yeah OSU hired Urban Meyer and one of his first goals was to chase down and get Pittman to flip to Ohio State and it really didn’t take much to land Se’Von but what it really did was send Dantonio and his staff and the fans into a year long whining binge about how horrible a human being Urban Meyer was for swaying a committed member of their 2012 class to leave them and join OSUs.

Fast forward a year later and Se’Von Pittman red shirted his Freshman year and saw his fellow 2012 DL recruits playing every game and having lots of success and apparently an off the field issue and Se’Von Pittman has left Ohio State and been granted his request to transfer to another institution of higher learning.

Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch broke the story via his twitter page.

In his Blog Post on Dispatch.com he had this to say….

Defensive end Se’von Pittman no longer is a member of the Ohio State football team, an athletic department spokesman confirmed for The Dispatch tonight.

Pittman, who redshirted as a freshman last season, asked for his release and it was granted, the spokesman said. The spokesman did not give a reason for the move.

Sources told The Dispatch it had to do with an off-the-field issue, and that Pittman was looking for a fresh start. While Pittman could not be reached for comment, sources said he was considering a transfer to Louisville if it can be worked out.

Pittman had made news in December 2011 when he opted to decommit from Michigan State and pledge to Ohio State and Meyer, who had just taken the Ohio State job and was on a whirlwind recruiting cycle to upgrade the 2012 class. But Pittman, who enrolled in time to take part in spring drills last year, suffered a knee injury in the spring and did not play last season.

It is really sad to see a guy with so much promise leave the Buckeyes before he ever had a chance to show off his skill set. If the rumors of him wanting to land at Louisville are true it will further upset that MSU fan base who surely must have had some hope he would come back into their fold and join the Spartans finally. As of right now doesn’t look like that will ever happen though. Good luck Se’Von where ever you land up and we at Motsag hope you find a home for your talents.

The conference will be trying to keep up with Braxton & Co. this year

1. Ohio State– Coming off of an undefeated season and a consensus top 3 recruiting class, the Buckeyes should be a heavy favorite to win the B1G this season. With the majority of the skill position players returning on offense, they could be scary in year two of running Coach Urban Meyer’s offense. Besides Ryan Shazier, the Buckeyes front seven will look completely different and they will need some of their young talent to fill in the holes on the depth chart. A very easy schedule ( no Nebraska, MSU) could equal another undefeated regular season.

2. Michigan– The Denard Robinson era is finally over and Devin Gardner gets his chance as a full time starter. He can build on his good performance against South Carolina and most likely won’t face a defense in the B1G as talented as the Gamecocks. The Wolverines lost half of their defense and a couple of offensive lineman, so we will see how they fare early in the season versus Notre Dame.

3. Northwestern– The Wildcats are looking to build off of last year’s 10 win season and their bowl game victory over Mississippi State. The offense should be pretty good with Kain Colter, Venric Mark and the rest of the offensive core returning. Expect Pat Fitzgerald’s squad to compete for a Legends Division title.

4. Nebraska– The offense should be able to carry the Cornhuskers with Taylor Martinez, Kenny Bell and Ameer Abdullah returning. On the other hand, the defense was abysmal to say the least in the B1G Championship Game and also lost six starters. If the defense improves, the ‘Huskers will be there at the end.

5. Wisconsin– As much as us Buckeye fans belittled Bret Bielema, he did lead the Badgers to three consecutive Rose Bowl appearances. Gary Andersen has big pants (literally) to fill but should do well as long as the players buy into his new system. They loose Monte Ball but return James White at running back. Lets see if a quarterback can step up this year as they are still trying to replace Russell Wilson.

6. Michigan State- There are many question marks for Sparty as they lost workhorse Le’Veon Bell and defensive end William Gholston early to the NFL. Will Andrew Maxwell improve as a passer or will Coach Mark Dantonio have to look elsewhere for a signal caller? Michigan State will always have a solid defense that will keep them in games but they will need improvement on the other side of the ball to bounce back from last year’s disappointing 7-6 season.

7. Penn State– Bill O’Brien returns for his second season in Happy Valley after a successful 8-4 season despite the circumstances he was dealt with. With QB Matt McGloin gone, who will be under center for O’Brien’s pro-style offense? Will it be sophomore Steven Bench or highly touted freshman Christian Hackenberg? The Nittany Lions do return eight starters on offense and six on defense so expect at least one more season of quality football at Penn State.

8. Minnesota– The Golden Gophers are coming off of a six win season that included a close bowl game loss versus Texas Tech. With something to build on, Coach Jerry Kill needs improvement on both sides of the ball as the offense had a tough time scoring in the B1G and the defense had trouble stopping conference opponents. Another bowl bid should be a goal for the Gophers this season.

9. Iowa– The Hawkeyes uncharacteristically struggled last season, notching only four wins. For a team that seems to be in the hunt year in and year out, it was a very disappointing season for Coach Kirk Ferentz and the rest of the squad. They finished the 2012 campaign on a six game losing streak where the offense only eclipsed 20 points twice. Look for Coach Ferentz to get the program back where it belongs.

10. Indiana– Well, the offense can score with anyone in the conference but can the defense make any stops? That will be the key to the 2013 season as the Hoosiers are looking to improve on a decent 2012 season where they were very competitive in the conference. If the defense can make any sort of stride, expect the Hoosiers to make some noise in the B1G.

11. Purdue– Old friend Darrell Hazell is now on the sidelines in West Lafayette. This team is a real wildcard, it is one that could put some scare into conference opponents, or they could be a B1G punching bag in 2013. They could have a solid defense but the offense will be a major question mark.

12. Illinois– The Illini have no where to go but up after last year’s dreadful season. Lets see if they can notch their first conference win in over a year. They do return quarterback Nate Scheelhaase, who led the B1G’s most anemic offense, so maybe there will be some sort of improvement there.

Eli Apple

A young Eli Apple with Coach Tressel

Eli Apple was the fourth recruit to commit to the Buckeyes in the 2013 class, so he was sort of forgotten during signing day. Depending on the recruiting service, Apple was regarded as one of the best cornerback recruits in the country. The 6’1″ 190 lb US Army All-American from New Jersey recorded 45 tackles to go along with two interceptions and 17 pass break-ups. Apple’s great instincts and ball skills jump out on film, as he makes a huge impact from his cornerback position, whether it be in run support or in coverage. He also has the size and athleticism to play right away whether it be at cornerback or on special teams. Apple has yet to play a down in his Buckeye career, but expect him to be the next great cornerback to come through Columbus. ESPN ranked Apple as a 5 star recruit and the 11th best prospect in the country. Rivals, 247 and Scout ranked Apple as a four star recruit.

Cameron Burrows

Cameron Burrows is a 5’11” 203 lb Under Armour All-American cornerback from Trotwood, Ohio. Like Apple, Burrows excels in both man and zone coverage, as well as in run support. He possesses great instincts that stand out in his film as he always seems to put himself in the right position to make a play. Burrows has great size, which could remind Buckeye fans of  an even taller Malcolm Jenkins. Rivals, ESPN, 247 and Scout all ranked Burrows as a four star recruit.

Gareon Conley

Gareon Conley is a 6’2″ 170 lb Under Armour All- American from Massillon, Ohio, who decommited from TSUN to join the Buckeyes. ESPN ranked Conley as a 4 star and described him as a “national sleeper who brings a great blend of height, speed, smarts and ball skills to the position.” He is a ball hawk with great instincts and has a knack of reading the opposing quarterback. Conley will have to fill out his tall, slender frame to make a physical impact for the Buckeyes but he has the athleticism and talent to eventually become a play making defensive back. He may be a candidate to redshirt to fill out his frame. 247 and Scout ranked Conley as a four star recruit while Rivals ranked him as three star recruit.

Conclusion:

247 Sports ranked Ohio State with the number one defensive back class (cornerbacks and safeties) in the country. With numerous players whom could see time right away either on defense or on special teams, this is the positional group to be most excited about. In all honesty, barring injury or transfer, every defensive back could make an impact by the time they leave Columbus. Their instincts and ball skills are off the charts but their size is what stands out. All three corners have great height and the talent to become lock down corners in the B1G.

To say that the WRs and TE in the 2013 class is the best group on paper would probably do injustice to the DBs group but those 2 groups were by far the best of probably the greatest class OSU has ever had on paper. With just a few weeks left in the 2013 class though I am sure most fans were wondering if the WRs that OSU needs so badly would come to fruition. WRs are a finicky group of people that’s for sure and to say they love the drama would be an understatement. Fortunately for Ohio State and Coach Meyer in the end the group of WRs and the TE came together and as you will see below it is super talented and has a lot of potential. So Lets get to them….

WIDE RECEIVERS

Jalin Marshall

Jalin Marshall is a 6’1″ 195 lbs 5 star Athlete from Middletown, Ohio. Jalin is the kind of guy you can build an entire offense around. Although he did play QB in high school he will play Wide Receiver at OSU and will be an explosive option at that. He is a barn burner in the speed department. He moves well side to side and vertically. He has great hands and instincts. He may very well end up being the best player in this class when its all said and done. ESPN ranks him a 4 star and the 49th best recruit in the country. Scout ranks him a 5 star and the 6th best WR in the country. Rivals ranks him a high 4 star and the best recruit in Ohio and 35th best in the country. 247sports ranks him a 4 star and the 5th best WR in the country. Below you can see his highlights…..

Dontre Wilson

Dontre Wilson is 5’10” 175 lbs RB/WR from Desoto, Texas. Wilson who has been a commit to Oregon since last May has been wavering on his commitment since Chip Kelly was rumored to be heading to the NFL. Once that actually happened he full on started taking visits to other schools. He has visited Ohio State and his home state school Texas in the past few weeks. Dontre is the epitome of what Urban Meyer has been looking for to fill his Percy Harvin role. He is a RB who can play slot receiver run jet sweeps and be a part of the pistol package as a RB. He is a burner in the speed dept. and has the kind of moves that breaks ankles. Rivals ranks him a 4 star and the no. 100 recruit nationally. ESPN ranks him a 4 star and the 55th best recruit in the nation. Scout ranks him a 4 star and the 10th best RB in the nation. 247sports ranks him a 4 star and the 113th best recruit in the nation. Below you can see his highlight reel.

James Clark

James Clark is a 5’11” 175 lbs WR from New Smyrna Beach, Florida. James is a true WR that OSU has been chasing and has the speed and deep threat capabilities that OSU needs. He is a barn burner with great hands and great route running he does need to build up his size a touch though. Rivals ranks him a 4 star and the no 45 WR in the nation. ESPN ranks him a 4 star and the no. 49 best WR in the nation. Scout ranks him a 4 star and the no 30th best WR in the nation. 247sports ranks him a 4 star and the 174th best recruit in the country. Below you can see his Highlight video which is of course super impressive.

Corey Smith

Corey Smith is a 6’1″ 180 lb 4 star WR from Akron, Ohio. Corey is a JUCO guy who went to East Mississippi Community College to get his grades up to get back into the NCAA. Corey is a talented WR who also excels at Safety. There is no doubt he is a play maker in every sense of the word. He isn’t a barn burner with his speed but he uses his route running abilities to make the DBs look stupid and get things done. ESPN ranks him a 4 star. Rivals ranks him a 4 star. 247sports ranks him a 4 star and the no 9 JUCO player in the country. Scout ranks him a 3 star. Below you can see some of his highlights.

TIGHT END

Marcus Baugh

Marcus Baugh is 6’4″ 235 lbs 4 star Tight End from Riverside, California. Marcus is one of those guys who quietly went about his recruiting process and most OSU fans don’t know a lot about since he from the West Coast and we don’t hear a lot about those guys. He is a WR in a TE body though with soft hands and good instincts. His pass blocking will need improvement but I doubt he will be asked to do much of that in Urban’s offense. I would expect him to bulk up a little and lose some of his “baby fat” once he gets on campus and goes through the Strength and Conditioning program. ESPN ranks him a 4 star and the 102nd best recruit in the country. Rivals ranks him a 4 star and the 6th best TE in the country. Scout ranks him a 4 star and the 3rd best TE in the country. 247sports ranks him a 4 star and the 82nd best recruit in the country. Below you can see his highlights….

CONCLUSION

I just can’t say it enough on paper these guys could all see playing time very early on and add depth to a depleted area on the team. This team needs play makers and WRs badly and guys who can make plays on their own. I see all of these guys playing as Freshman except for Smith who is a JUCO guy coming in. Marcus Baugh may redshirt though because there is a little more depth at the TE spot but maybe not enough for it to make sense to do that though. Overall this group is stacked with talent and all of it will get a chance to earn a spot for sure.

I would hope by now most Buckeye fans know enough about this years basketball team that I don’t need to rehash the same played out story lines. There is the ever popular “They need to find a second scorer” or the “They need a win against a top team to save their season”.

Thad Matta is in his 14th season as a HC and now has 14 straight years of at least 20 wins yet there are still people calling for him to be fired??? At least with 2 wins last week those “fans” are a lot quieter this week. What he has done at OSU has been tremendous all things considered going up against the juggernaut that is Buckeye Football. On top of that he has coached in what has arguably been the best basketball conference in the NCAA for the last few years. Coach Matta deserves a lot more praise and a lot less criticism in my humble opinion.

But having said that lets get to the game itself….

SCORE

Ohio State 68 – MSU 60

How we won this game?

Aaron Craft seems to be a lot like Coach Matta in the way the fans react to them. When things go well Craft is given lots of praise and when things go bad he takes most of the heat. This game Craft will get a huge amount of praise for shooting 7-12 and 7-8 on FTs in scoring 21 points a career high for Sir Swoons-A-Lot. He also contributed 6 assts and 3 rebs and 1 steal. He did all that while also staying out of foul trouble and leading this team to victory.

The other key to this victory was the way Evan Ravenel played coming in off the bench scoring 10 points on 2-3 shooting and 6-7 on FTs. He also contributed 5 rebs, 1 steal, and 1 block. he gave the team a much needed spark and energy boost when they were playing ho hum and losing.

How we nearly lost this game?

Garry Harris and Adriean Payne and Derrick Nix played as well as humanly possible they shot the ball well and rebounded it even better. They just didn’t have enough support from the rest of their team.

Here is where I am going to go on a bit of a tangent about DeShaun Thomas. He once again shot a horrible 4-12 and 2-7 from 3 point range. This kind of stat line seems to be the norm for DT this season and we just can’t have that from our best player night in and night out. In the last 5 games he has shot 25%, 37%, 47%, 35%, and 40% and that is killing this team.You just can’t have your best player taking more shots than he has points if you want to win big games. He has regressed as a shooter this year and as the man in this offense that revolves around we need him to make better decisions and shot selections. Hopefully he will get this figured out sooner rather than later as he is playing himself right out of the NBA draft and will need to return next year to get back in it at this point.

Conclusion

Overall this game was fun to watch and a great win. It continues to show this team can beat anyone when they control the tempo and play with heart and desire. There are only 3 games left in the regular season and only 1 game this week which is @ Northwestern on Thursday. They need to dominate that game start to finish and notch a road win to keep this momentum going into next weeks tough games @ Indiana and home against Illinois. Anything can still happen this year and OSU has the chance to make statements and make their case for why they should be a top 4 seed.