First, observe:
Second, get chills all over again.
Third, read this.
Finally, smile knowingly and nod.
Beanie goes last in Spring Game draft
April 17, 2008 by Leave a Comment
With the first pick in the 2008 Scarlet and Gray spring game draft Alex Boone and the Scarlet team selected sophomore Thad Gibson at Leo.
You can see the rest of the draft, along with the Scarlet and Gray line-ups here.
In a ceremonial move, echoing the Christian philosophy of “and the First shall be Last and the Last shall win Heisman Trophies”, Chris “Beanie” Wells was awarded the distinction of the last pick, going to the Gray team.
He will not, however, be allowed to play, in the interest of the safety of everyone on the Scarlet defense.
Spring rumblings
April 12, 2008 by 3 Comments
OSU’s offensive line has been hit with injuries… veterans Steve Rehring and Ben Person have been assigned no-contact status and will not be seen in the spring game. Superstar frosh Mike Adams has been sidelined with an injury as well.
Just as we were sharpening our pencils to tease Wolverine fans about Manningham’s problems with the devil weed, three members of OSU’s starting defensive secondary are being disciplined for the same thing. It is possible that Donald Washington, Jamario O’Neal and Eugene Clifford could be kicked off the team. As terrible as the news is, the 2008 Buckeye defense is still deeper than Friedrich Nietzsche reading the Mahabharata inside a bathysphere lying at the bottom of the Marianas Trench, so the loss of these three should only move OSU’s defense from zOMG hide teh children to maybe we’ll let you score once per game status.
Quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels has been battling cancer, and recently had surgery to remove a kidney. He’s not expected to return full-time until the autumn. His replacement, backup QB coach Nick Siciliano, is stepping in to juggle the QBs – but has some juggling of his own to do as the proud father of newborn quadruplets. Still, with all of that on his plate, reports are positive that things are humming along efficiently.
The same is apparently not the case with the fullback position. With Dionte Johnson and The Tank gone, competition is fierce. Linebacker Ryan Lukens is moving from LB to FB. The same experiment is being tried with Austin Spitler.
The importance of getting the FB situation resolved soon cannot be understated. Beanie Wells, the nation’s best back, is set to begin a much-hyped Heisman campaign. His Stiff Arm of Tackling FailTM cannot do it alone; he needs a stud FB in front of him exploding defenders into tiny bits.
![](http://menofthescarletandgray.com/wp-content/uploads/beanie_stiffarm.jpg "Chris \\"Beanie\\" Wells")
Tressel has hinted that the 2008 offense may feature less pounding I-formation and more two-back sets, with Saine and Wells in the backfield.
Where Tressel’s idea gets exciting is when one considers where Pryor may fit into this mix. As the spring progresses, the talk of Pryor redshirting is becoming less frequent, and is being replaced with a desire to see him in niche situations, not unlike what Urban Meyer did with Tim Tebow in 2006 (and Tebow wasn’t surrounded with the talent that Pryor might be).
Consider this for a moment: OSU has first and goal on the three yard line, and Pryor trots out as goal-line QB, with Wells and Saine in a two-back set behind him and three receivers at the line. It’s enough to make most defensive coordinators lose their water. It’s easy to see why Tressel doesn’t view the FB weakness as urgent as the rest of us. Still, the spring scrimmages should tell the tale. There’s not a lot of time left before USC, so experimentation will have to give way to in-stone game plans soon.
Speaking of chafing…
March 27, 2008 by Leave a Comment
That sound you hear is the sound of a million groans as Jason Bourne Justin Boren considers transferring Ohio State.
(On a side note, and not to jinx ourselves, but we Buckeye Fans are setting ourselves up for a major Schadenfreude-laden fall if (and that’s a mighty big freaking IF) things don’t go our way with Michigan this year.
Monday Musings are late again
March 26, 2008 by 6 Comments
… For which it apologizes.
Who says the NIT isn’t exciting? I was at the Quaker Steak last night with my bro-in-law, having my way with a basket of chicken wings with the UMass/Syracuse game on in the background. The BIL commented that certainly UMass couldn’t come back from 20 down, right? I mentioned there were ten minutes left, anything can happen, but probably not. We watched in awe as UMass did the pretty much impossible.
It was a lot more enjoyable to watch than Duke embarrass itself last week.
Let’s hope tonight’s game is just as exciting.
Sometimes I wish I could be adopted in the Tressel family. Just kidding mom and dad!
One of my favorite stories about Tressel is when he explained to his kids what it means to take the OSU job, and said, “when dad lost games at Youngstown State, eighty thousand people would say he was an idiot. Once I’m at Ohio State and I lose a game, eight hundred thousand people would say I’m was an idiot.” I think he underestimated.
No one likes the Knicks. And no one likes desperate fans. This is just sad.
For your OSU football fix, Sunday Morning Quarterback preps you for a season of smack talk from fans of teams from other conferences. No matter how irrational or ignorant we all know this kind of talk is, be prepared to listen to it all season long.
It is going to chafe so many people’s hides when the Buckeyes are in the BCS title game yet again. I can’t wait.
I don’t talk much about the Indians here, but I couldn’t pass this up. When The Dugout did their thing with the Indians, I almost died laughing. This is probably only funny to me, but man are those guys good.
Pronky_Kong: then we could talk about how my dog and I can do the Fastball Special like Wolverine and Colossus and how Casey Blake is totally screwed
That, my friends, is absolutely pure genius.
Finally, your new blogs are: Our Honor Defend and Dotting The “I”
Go Buckeyes! Beat the Flyers.
It’s a boy!!
March 19, 2008 by 4 Comments
JEANNETTE, PA — OSU football coach Jim Tressel gave birth to a healthy, 6’6″, 235 lb., 4.4 forty-runnin’, dual threat quarterback this morning.
Dad and baby are doing fine.
Paternity tests have confirmed that Rich “Enrod” Rodriguez was not the father as had previously been alleged.
Monday Musings are sad
March 17, 2008 by 4 Comments
The Buckeyes aren’t in the tournament? That makes MM muy sad.
But that’s just the tip of the old iceberg. What else is happening in the world of sports in the Ohio?
Anything you can do, we can do better: There’s a brief article in the FreeP about Ohio State (and Minnesota) sending some of its defensive position coaches down to South Florida to get some pointers on stopping the Rodriguez Spread Express. The USF Bulls shut it down two years in a row, they must be doing something right. Unfortunately, it looks like they’re rather tight-lipped:
Burnham said, though, “There are a few subtle things I keep to myself. We don’t give away all our secrets.”
Punks.
Terrel Pryor watch: The blogs were abuzz late last week with the announcement that Pryor would be making his decision this week, as he had narrowed his choices down to two schools. I think there’s a 98.43% chance he’s a Buckeye. 11W are a little concerned about him throwing around the word “just” as in “I may just play basketball” as in “I may just go to Memphis.”
Nah, that ain’t happening.
I’m majoring in Quarterbacking: I mentioned yesterday about the academic shenanigans going on up north. Part two of the story is up.
Roll the Bones: Don’t forget about joining us in our Yahoo Tournament Pick’em.
New blogs: Jim Tressel’s Head (They’re on top of the preemptive smack talk going down at USC) and Cleveland Frowns, who gets a big old tip-of-the-hat for a most excellent blog name.
And finally, because it’s been a while, it’s your Vernon Gholston shot for the week:
Monday musings are back!
March 10, 2008 by 7 Comments
After already failing in my attempts to blog on a regular basis, the Monday Musings are back after a one week hiatus. And just barely!
The Terrell Pryor watch continues: Now he’s courting offers from places like Memphis. Memphis? I actually told the Monkey last month that he may be one-and-done if he plays both sports, no matter where he plays. As Massey mentions, if he gets a whiff of the cash the NBA will throw at him, he may be tempted to hang up the cleats early. Don’t say we didn’t tell you. And Brian reminds us that while the signing “deadline” is April 1st, he doesn’t actually have to sign anything. He can show up at the Woody Hayes Althetic Center and step right into a scholarship.
The King James Cavaliers: Now that the Cavs have had a couple weeks to mesh, I think they’re really starting to look good. I still think Joe Smith is the diamond in the rough with this trade, but I’m liking what I’m seeing so far. And this is without Z, Boobie, and Sasha.
Ohio State Basketball: The All Big Ten teams were announced, and Jamar Butler was voted on the first team by the media and the second team by the coaches. Kosta Koufos also received mentions. But the real travesty is seeing accolades heaped upon the most overrated player in the Big Ten, Eric Gordon. It’s a joke. And before the Indiana fans crawl all over me, just look at the stats. Yes, he leads the Big Ten in scoring. He’s barely serviceable from behind the arc. He plays out of control. He was constantly bailed out by the refs on ill advised drives. He also took almost 400 shots. He’s bound to make a few of them! I could go on. He’s not a bad player. He’s just overrated.
New blogs: The Sports Diva Magazine and On the Banks of the Olentangy.
Future pieces on tap: Mancrushers unite!
Got any thing you need to get off your chest? Something we’ve missed? Am I an idiot? Let us know!
Hey everyone!
March 6, 2008 by 4 Comments
Remember me? I’m still around and I still totally don’t want any attention. I’m trying (but not really all that much) to win a basketball championship here. Can’t you see how not interested I am in talking about football?
Sure. Anyway, the Plain Dealer has an article about the Chosen One’s disdain for trying hard (via Waiting for next Year):
“He plays as well as he needs to play,” says his basketball coach at Jeannette High School, Jim Nesser. “I don’t know if that sounds good, but if he needs to take it to another level, he can do that.”
That makes me nervous. But never fear, he nonchalantly dismisses it all with an explanation:
The Subject explains that his competitiveness, when flashed, is genetic.
“I’m a Pryor,” he says. “My dad used to hit me when I lost at anything, at fights, anything. I mean, your dad is supposed to make you a man, right? That’s what he did.”
Coach Nessler explains the Subject’s on-court approach a final time.
“Terrelle does whatever he has to.”
Note to Terrell: Coach Tressel will totally not hit you if you lose.
Monday Musings and Mutterings
February 25, 2008 by 2 Comments
In an attempt to make a weekly brain dump, I’m going to try to do this on a regular basis.
- I know it’s only been one game, but the new Cavs have me excited. Even though Ben Wallace is the headliner of this trade, I think the player I’m most excited about is Joe Smith. Everytime Drew Gooden dropped back to hit a jumper outside of 10 feet, I held my breath and closed my eyes. Joe Smith, on the other hand, has a smooth stroke. I’m looking forward to watching more of the new look Cavs team.
- I don’t remember where I heard it (it may have been during an OSU basketball game on ESPN or CBS) but supposedly Jon Diebler averaged 40 points in high school. I guess he’s the Ohio all-time scorer in high school basketball or some-such. He scored more points than LeBron James! Has anyone else heard this? Did I miss-hear something? They just mentioned it in passing, if I remember correctly.
- Terrel Pryor watch: 19 days and counting. My guess? He’s a Buckeye by the end of the month.
- New blogs of the week: Old Columbus Town and Waiting for Next Year.
- No surprises here, but Vernon Gholston impressed the butchers at the annual NFL meat market. (h/t Old Columbus Town) He hit 37 reps of 225 on the bench. He scored the highest “Personal Gravity Field” test out of all other participants. Oh, and Darren McFaddens 4.33 40? Someone whispered in his ear that Gholston was after him.
- Dads: Let your boys grow up to be long-snappers. Thanks to the Monkey for that link, which he sent along to me. As a former long-snapper myself, it warms my heart to see the most important player on special teams get the love he deserves.
Hope everyone had a good weekend.
