Men of the Scarlet and Gray

Wide Open [2010 Season Preview]

This isn’t my wheelhouse, these wide receivers. It’s no secret I’m more of a defensive minded kind of fan. Punting on third down is never a bad option in my book. But some of you fans seem to like the idea of hurling the football in the air when it really should be safely cradled in the nook of a fullback’s bent arm. It’s a gameplan I’m not really comfortable with. I’m an adherent to the adage of, “three things can happen when you throw the football and two of them are bad.”

But I will begrudgingly admit that there is a certain benefit to quickly working the ball down the field in such a way that the defender can’t do a thing until the ball is caught. And if the Buckeye coaches are serious about doing this 25-35 times a game, I guess I better get on board. So how’s the receiving end of the passing game going to work out? (we’ll get to the passing end soon).

Contrary to popular belief, Terrelle Pryor actually has more than one target within the wide receiving corps. Having watched every play last year, it was clear with whom Pryor has built a rapport. Baby-faced DeVier Posey is clearly the number one receiver in the passing attack and Pryor isn’t afraid to communicate that unequivocally to everyone on the field (that’s a joke, people). Posey has established himself as a home run hitter with deceptive speed and soft hands.

Sure, DeVier Posey gets the majority of the action down the field, but Pryor also has Dane Sanzenbacher at his disposal. Sanzenbacher continues the tradition (and the now getting really old cliche) of the possession receiver. (It’s not his fault he’s got velcro hands). If there’s someone that’s getting a pass on a crucial third and five, I want the ball going to Dane.

Along with the human tackling dummy, the wide receiver group is also comprised of senior Taurian Washington and freshman Corey Brown. These two will most likely see the field the most this season.

It’s amazing what a case of the dropsies will do for your confidence and playing time. Out of camp last year, Taurian Washington was impressing coaches and observers. Then, after a couple ill-timed drops early in the season, Taurian found himself on the wrong end of the pine. Even to the point of contemplating a transfer. Fortunately, a Rose Bowl victory in which his blocking, not catching, contributed has reenergized the senior.

And then there are the tight ends. Oh, the tight ends. We Buckeye fans have had a somewhat of a tortured relationship with our tight ends lately (FRICKEN RYAN HAMBY [don't click, it's too painful]) (ALL HAIL JAKE BALLARD [click, click, clickity click]) so this year brings us to a crossroads. Jake Stoneburner has been ready to explode for a couple years now. This is going to be his year! He’s going to catch a hundred passes! Not so fast, my friend. Let’s not get too excited. As Duane Long rightly put it, “When in all the time Jim Tressel has been here has he thrown the ball to the tight end? It is not what we do here.” But he does go on to say that doesn’t mean Jake can’t have an impact. Stoneburner is the most athletic tight end Jim Tressel has had at his disposal in a long time (if not ever). Even if he doesn’t catch a ton of passes, he’s going to be a match-up nightmare for defenses and will factor in the passing game plan as a probable third option and hopefully as a relief valve for Pryor.

So supposedly Jim Tressel is planning on throwing the ball quite a bit this year. If that’s what you like, bully for you. I guess that means the Buckeyes will be scoring faster.

I’ll be waiting for the defense to get back on the field. Now it will just happen a little faster. Bully for me.

Tressel Ball = Special Teams [2010 Season Preview]

This is where Tressel earns his paychecks as a coach. You can not have Tressel Ball without having good Special Teams. Last year was a mediocre season at best for tOSU in this area. We relied on a guy who couldn’t stay out of the doghouse and dropped balls like hot potatoes. Needless to say, Ray Small, I will not miss you as a PR/KR and will remember you most for getting knocked the crap out against Wisconsin two years ago.

Now onto this years preview of our kickers, punters and return guys.

Place Kickers/Field Goal Kickers

Devin Barclay

This guy is a former MLS player turned college football Kicker. At 5’10″ and 204 pounds he has good size and is able to help cover on kickoffs. He is a little shaky on the long FG attempts and has very little experience. He has age on his side at 26 years old and with experience playing professional soccer it should help calm his nerves. If it doesn’t, he will be pushed by the next guy on the list.

His 2009 statistics were: 7-10 on FG with a long of 39 yards. 26 KO’s for an avg of 64.8 yards and 4 touchbacks.

Drew Basil

A true freshman a few months removed from high school, there is one thing this kid isn’t lacking: SIZE. He is 6’2″ and 210 lbs out of Chillicothe, Ohio. Rumors out of camp have him making up ground on Barclay quickly and if Barclay stumbles he will be moved into the starting spot soon. Look for a few more FG contests to decide the starter.

Punter

Ben Buchanan

This sophomore has the job locked up and won’t be losing it anytime soon as the depth here is limited this year. He is listed at 6′ 195 lbs out of Westerville, Ohio. He better have a big leg and accuracy to keep Tressel Ball on track this year. Hopefully we will see a lot of kicks downed inside the 20.

His 2009 statistics were: 4 punts with a 42.8 avg and long of 55 yards.

Kick Returners

This area of team is decided and not much info to share as the two return guys are well Boom and Zoom. Brandon Saine and Dan “Boom” Herron are listed as 1 and 2 KR on the depth chart.

Punt Returners

Like the aforementioned KR’s these two guys are well known for being able to catch balls and run fast with them. DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher are PR 1 and PR 2. Hopefully they will have much more success than last years PR. We need a Ted Ginn Jr. type of guy back there fielding punts and I think Posey fits that nicely.

Ohio State recruit on ESPN tonight

If you are interested in watching Terrelle Pryor’s replacement in waiting. Tonight at 7 PM on ESPN8 The Ocho errrrr ESPNU you can see Braxton Miller of Huber Heights Wayne play against Powerhouse Cincinnati Moeller. It is a good chance to see this future Buckeye QB play against some top notch HS football talent and on national TV. If nothing else it gives us some football to watch while we wait these last 4 days before KICKOFF. I hope to watch the game and share some of my thoughts and his stats during the game.

Ken-Yon Rambo days left

Chimdi Chekwa days left

Big news on the depth chart.

So as camp is coming to a close there were several depth chart moves made some surprising and some were expected due to injuries and rumors.

First, the surprise move. Sophomore C.J Burnett has been named the starting Strong Safety. He has beat out Orhian Johnson who is having injury issues and is now listed as the back up to Burnett.

Second, Andrew Sweat has taken the starting Strong Side Linebacker with Jonathan Newsome as his back up. Ettiene Sabino who was suppose to be that starter has moved to Middle Linebacker where he will back up Brian Rolle along with Storm Klein.

Third, Nate Williams who has been out 2 weeks with a knee injury is listed as a starter at Defensive End. He will be backed up by Soloman Thomas. Hopefully Williams will be ready to play by Thursday we need every DL we can get.

Fourth, As I predicted Drew Basil has supplanted Devin Barclay as the starting kicker. I dont think Tressel ever really had trust in Barclay and Basil has the much bigger leg for those long FGA he loves to try. Lets hope he has accuracy as well.

Lastly, a few True Freshman made the 2 deep chart. On Defense, Jonathan “Big Hank” Hankins at 335 pounds will back up Dexter Lattimore and I bet see a lot of time against the run with his wide load. Christian Bryant will back up Tyler Moeller at Nickel Back and will also back up Jermale Hines with Moeller. On Offense, Andrew Norwell will be the back up at right tackle. Corey Brown will help backup the No. 2 WR with Chris Fields to Dane Sanzenbacher.

College Football Season Predictions

So we are less than a week away from the start of the season and we here at MOTSAG thought it would be a good day to get some predictions for the CFB season. Hopefully when we look back on this thread in mid January we will know who has the most CFB knowledge. Good luck and try your best not to be to big of a homer and answer all the questions.

1. What will Ohio State’s record be at the end of the season?
2. Who will win the Big Ten?
3. What bowl game will OSU be in?
4. What will scUM’s record be and will they make a bowl game?
5. Will Rich Rod be the head coach at scUM next year?
6. Who will play for the National Championship title?
7. Who will win the Heisman Trophy?
8. Will Illinois win a game?
9. How many All-Big Ten members will OSU have?
10. How many All-Americans will OSU have?

Bonus Question

11.) Will HWNSNBM make the Omaha Nighthawks UFL team?

Cie Grant days left

Cornelius Greene days left

Mr. Greene was a trend setter and made it possible for players like Troy Smith and Terelle Pryor to not only start but succeed at Ohio State. He was Ohio States first ever African American starting QB in its history.

He was the starter for 3 years compiling a record of 31-3-1 and he was the Rose Bowl MVP in 1974 and Big Ten MVP in 1975. He also was a part of 4 Big Ten Titles and 4 Rose Bowl Rings. In 1975 he even beat out his teammate and 2 time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin to win OSU MVP and Big Ten MVP. He changed the way OSU recruited and played the QB position. In 1998 he was inducted into the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame. He may be most well known though for wearing Red Shoes and being a fashion guru on the gridiron. Simply put he is an OSU icon and someone all the younger Buckeye fans should learn more about.

Are we the REAL Linebacker U? [2010 Season Preview]

Traditionally speaking, of course, Penn State is nicknamed “LBU” by silly pundits and fans of that school. The truth is tOSU has been, for years, been putting out some of the best LBs in college football and they have been doing extremely well in the NFL.

This year is no different and may possibly be one of our deepest positions on the team and maybe one of our best LB crews ever.

The Linebackers:

Ross Homan

This senior out of Coldwater, Ohio is a tackling machine and is on every defensive awards watch-list. He has the size and speed and is smart enough to anchor the defense and be its leader. He has a lot of skills needed to be a dominant player and uses them to his advantage. Homan is technically sound and has that “knack” of being at the right place at the right time, as evidenced by his five interceptions at opportune times. He also averaged 8.3 tackles per game . He has All-American written all over him and the potential to win at the very least the Butkus Award for best LB in the country.

And he’ll do it all quietly and efficiently, just the way he likes it.

His 2009 statistics were 108 tackles, 5 TFL, 5 INT, and 2 fumble recoveries.

Brian Rolle

This senior out of Immokalee, FL lacks the size at 5’8″ and 218 lbs that is normally needed to be a starting linebacker on a top 10 team. So, why is he starting again this year? Simple answer: his speed, explosiveness and toughness makes up for his lack of size. Fundamentally, he has issues (see: his tackling, especially at the goal line versus Jeremiah Masoli in the Rose Bowl) but he makes up for them with the intangibles. He is a Buckeye in the truest sense of the word. All heart and motor. He may not get the press that Homan does but he should get the accolades All-Big Ten this season.

His little, stumpy legs and oversized melon look out of place out there, but Rolle will simply out hussle you.

His 2009 statistics were 95 tackles, 7 TFL, 1 INT, and 1 fumble recovery.

Etienne Sabino

This guy has all the talent in the world and the size to go with it at 6’3 and 240 lbs. He is a junior out of North Miami, FL. He has been given every chance to win the third LB spot on this years team and in the spring it was almost a sure thing it was his. That was the case until this next LB came along.

Sabino has seen the field in the past and he has been effective on special teams but Buckeye fans are still looking for him to reach the potential that fans and coaches have seen in Etienne. Most linebackers seem come into their own during their junior year and there will still be plenty of opportunities for Sabino to make an impact, but it just seems like his time is limited. He can turn the pressure into winning playing time into a great experience.

His 2009 statistics were: 6 tackles, 0.5 TFL, no interceptions and no fumble recoveries.

Andrew Sweat

Andrew seems to be gaining a lot of traction in his bid to getting the starting nod at LB. Buzz out of practice is that he is getting a lot of time with the first team unit during the Jersey Scrimmage game and now the speculation is this 6’2″ 238 lbs junior out of Washington, PA stud is going to be the starter with Sabino backing him up and pushing him every week. From the sounds of it, it’s less of Sabino performing poorly and more of Sweat impressing coaches with his play.

Sweat saw playing time last season but barely enough to really get a bead on his strengths and weaknesses. From what we saw, his technique and strength seem to be there and he’ll just need game experience to go with it.

His 2009 statistics were: 15 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 INT and no fumble recoveries.

Dorian Bell

Young Puppy is a red-shirt freshman out of Monroeville, PA and at 6’1″ and 225 lbs he is a pure athlete and probably needs to put on some size but he is young and hungry. He should see time on special teams and in mop up duty in games against Marshall and EMU. With Ohio State’s depth at linebacker, it will be tough for Bell to see the field too often, but

His 2008 High School Statistics 113 tackles, 19 TFL, 7 sacks, 4 forced fumbles as a senior.

These Buckeyes should continue the tradition of Ohio State producing high quality linebackers at all three positions.

2010 Ohio State Buckeye team captains announced

For only the second time in school history Ohio State will have 6 team captains.

This years captains are all seniors with 3 each from both sides of the ball. From the Offense we have Bryant Browning, Brandon Saine, and Dane Sanzenbacher. From the Silver Bullets side we have Ross Homan, Brian Rolle, and Cameron Heyward.

I cant think of a better leadership team for our beloved Buckeyes lets just hope Bryant Browning plays like a captain all year long the rest are shoe ins for All Big Ten and or All American.

O-H

Former Ohio State All-American joins Big Ten Network

LeCharles Bentley is a famous former Offensive Lineman at OSU and he was a beast but maybe he is best remembered for his 2 lawsuits. First, while at OSU he pulled a Mike Tyson on Tyson Walters face and knocked him the crap out lol. Tyson sued LeCharles and won 6 grand + medical expenses but lost his manhood in doing so. Now LeCharles is suing the Cleveland Browns for a staph infection he recieved while part of that team.

Mr. Bentley is a Manimal and I cant wait to see how he does hosting his own show. Bentley will co-host the Big Ten Pulse (debuts Sept. 9, airing Thursdays, 9 PM ET). he is just one of a lot of former Big Ten players that the BTN has recently hired to do shows and games on the network. It is apparent that this network is doing well and is going to continue to rise in ratings and fans myself included.

Drew Carter days left

Best Preview Video Poll

For your consideration:

Video #1: Ohio State Football 2010-2011 by AKTNSMSR
Video #2: Ohio State Buckeyes 2010 Hype Video by mannycincy
Video #3: Ohio State 2010 Preview by buckeyeboy321
Video #4: The Regime, The Fleet, and The Num8er Eight by kitchel22130
Video #5: Ohio State 2010 Defense Preview by lednerk
Video #6: The Ohio State Buckeyes 2010 Preview by colebtiger

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2010 Blogpoll Ballot, Week #Preseason (draft)

It’s that time again, time for the Blogpoll seeds to be planted, the rankings to be given and the vitriol to flow.

I present this mostly without comment. One through eleven seem pretty solid in my mind. I toyed with the idea of putting Ohio State at #1 but (1) that would be total homerism and (2) Alabama is a really good team. The SEC looks to be a little softer this year but their path to Glendale is still going to be tough. If (and when) Boise State beats Virginia Tech, they are going to run the table and throw a gigantic monkey wrench into the BCS and cause wailing and gnashing of teeth. Florida, Oklahoma and Texas all lose multiple-year starters at QB and have the potential to fail with rookies at the helm. Ranking all three this high may be a foolish idea. I think OU is in the best position since Landry Jones started the better part of last season but Garrett Gilbert went through the hellfires of refinement in last years MNC and will be better for it. It doesn’t matter, though, because all of three of those teams are loaded for Oliphaunt and will be just fine. The lone wildcard is TCU. They return 15 starters (8 on offense) and they have some serious competition but they will be competitive all season long. My guess is that nasty defense continues to stymie foes out west and they also make a run at a BCS game. (Otherwise I wouldn’t have them this high).

The rest? Who knows! That’s where you come in — help us straighten this tangle web of nonsense into something redeemable.