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Written by Duane Long
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Tuesday, 07 July 2009 11:57 |
[quote=dumbme]Big Man, I have asked this question before and did not get a response. Tressel is not retarded, so what is the thought process from his perspective?[/quote]
So much of it is about keeping down the dead weight. At every other position on the field, even quarterback to a certain extent, there is the possibility of moving a player to another position. Football is such a physical game so we think of strength so much but it is a game built around speed and quickness. That is never more apparent than with recruiting. Some schools, especially those in the south, built recruiting around the "move down" theory. Most schools now subscribe to it to some degree or another. Corners move down to safety, safeties move down to linebacker, linebackers move down to defensive end, defensive ends move to defensive tackle and defensive tackles move to the offensive line. All of it built around speed and quickness. The slowest guys on any football team are offensive linemen. That is why offensive line is referred to as the "last stop." Often players are recruited with the expectation that they are going to move down right away. Others move down because they get bigger and/or slower. A good example of that is Darrion Scott. He came here as an LB. In a couple of years he was a defensive end. By the time he left Ohio State he was a defensive tackle. He just kept getting bigger. There was no anticipation that he would do that. It just happened. Other times it is a matter of a player not finding his place on the roster. He is not moving up the depth chart. Move him somewhere else and see if he can find his game. Most of the time that ends up being futile but there is a chance a player can find a position. Think about Tim Cheatwood, the all-time move down champion. He played about 5 positions here before finding himself being a contributor at defensive end. That can't happen with offensive linemen. There is nowhere to move them except the bench. No chance to get something out of that scholarship.We have at times had more safeties on the roster than offensive linemen. We currently have 11 scholarship linebackers on the roster to 13 scholarship offensive linemen. I understand the thinking. It has a sound basis but I think that is something you have to accept with offensive linemen. To get the depth you are going to have to accept some dead weight on your roster.
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Written by Duane Long
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Monday, 06 July 2009 12:13 |
I could not be more nervous about what is going on with offensive line recruiting. I was salty. Now I am just nervous. We are doing a high wire act right now. That is not a bad thing but I would like to have a net. I don't see the net.
Recent news says the Buckeyes are in the mix with both Seantrell Henderson and with Chaz Green. First, Green. I finally got to see some tape that is focused on Green. I see a great body and great feet. I am a firm believer in the feet and frame principle for recruiting offensive linemen but we have a kid with great feet and a great frame right here in the state who would likely put us top of his list with an offer in Andrew Donnal. He is not the only one. Michael Dennis was brought back for another outing at camp. Still no offer. I think those 2 have separated themselves from the rest of the Ohio crop but it is not doing them any good right now. Green is talking about his 5 visits but he is also saying he may not take them and get this over with before the summer is out. That is likely to make Urban Meyer very happy as Florida has always been the team to beat. We have worked our way into the mix but the chances of landing the prize are so slim as to border on futile. Henderson is sounding like we may get a visit out of him now. He says the Buckeyes are recruiting him hard. He also says the schools that will for sure get visits out of him at USC and Michigan. That is not what a Buckeye fan wants to hear.
Why I am so nervous about this is I see hope finally. We had a great class 2 years ago with Brewster, Adams and Shugarts. Last year we get a much underrated class with Hall, Mewhort, Linsley and Longo. I would like to see better numbers, especially at tackle, but I see the an upgrade in talent. Another year of adding talent that is a cut above is something I think would do wonders for this program. 3 straight years of a superior line class, even if they are not taking the number of players I think we should, is going to do wonders for improving an area that has been a weakness for far too long. I don't see Donnal available come football season. He is saying before summer is out. So is Dennis. That is why I say we are not working with a safety net. Green is just as likely to go before the season starts and Henderson is likely going to wait until late January. With what the next best on our list are saying, they are not going to be there to fall back on. Even guys like Matt Rotheram and Taylor Miller are off the board with recent verbals. You would assume that the Buckeyes would be able to convince them to change their minds but talking guys out of verbals to Pitt and Toledo is not the way to build a line that you can win a national championship with. I am very nervous that we are about to blow a chance to increase the talent base at place where it is very much needed. |
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Written by Duane Long
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Sunday, 05 July 2009 12:30 |
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I am curious to see what comes of flanker/slot recruiting. I thought we just might be backing off an offer for the position in this class. Look at Chris Dunkley. For awhile there it seemed an offer was inevitable and we would zoom up his list, maybe go top. Now we have heard nothing. I always wonder about grades and/or test score when that happens but he has a 24 ACT. I can't recall seeing a gpa for him but most of the time it is the test score that is the problem. Maybe the staff has decided we don't need a flanker/slot this year. I see a senior and 3 juniors in the 5 returning players but I see 2 very talented and very fast players coming in with Chris Fields and James Jackson, and possibly Jordan Hall making it 3. In a a large class you may want to consider going hard after a bigtime kid, and maybe even 2, but in a smaller class I see the decision to look at overall numbers and the fact that there are some really talented young players on the roster right now, and push the position down the priority ladder as a sound decision. I don't think there is right or wrong on this question. I was thinking the former but now we are looking to offer a kid named Bradley Roby a scholarship. I think we really need to bring in a big guy and think it will be Tyrone Williams. I would rather not see an offer to the position. I think Dunkley and Roby are worthy, with Dunkley being the superior player, but I think we can pass on the position in this class. Things are tightening up with the recent verbals, and lets not forget the offer to a second kicker. That they came so close together gives me reason to think we are taking two. It stands to reason they knew Basil was a highly likely heavy Buckeye lean but still made the second offer. If we only have 8 left, and one is likely going to another kicker, numbers are getting thin. I am saying we have 7, not 8 verbals, as news from a solid Youngstown source on Bucknuts, Ytown11, says Turner is going to an out of state prep school. That takes him completely off my board for now but could be the thing that gets him back on permanently. We will wait until signing day for Hicks. We wait until signing day for Joyner. Christian Bryant will do it the way Glenville kids do it. He is a Buckeye. That takes 4 more off the board, 11 accounted for in a class that is looking like 15. From the way we are recruiting split ends, something we do need, it looks like Tyrone Williams is holding another spot. Down to 3 spots. I don't know which but I have to think we are waiting on one of those defensive tackles. Down to 2 spots. Tight end is a major need. Realize what happens in 2010 with no tight end in this class. Dilillo and Stoneburner. That is all. Fragel is headed for the offensive line but he may be forced to stay at tight end next year just for depth. That is not a situation that is in the best longer term interest of the team or Fragel. Gotta push hard for a tight end. The Buckeyes almost have to wait it out now that Seantrell Henderson and Chaz Green are sounding more set in the fact that they will visit. I think you move forward with the strategy that if more open up then you can revise your board but for now I would go with no flanker/slot in this class. |
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Written by Duane Long
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Saturday, 04 July 2009 08:00 |
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I am going to keep it brief today. The Fourth of July is very special to me as I am a flag waver but it is also my beloved Fathers birthday. I just lost him in February so this is going to be an even more special 4th for my loved ones and I.
I passed on some post-spring info from a former player. He recently passed this piece of info on to me:
I got to see Graham.We talked about his arm strength. He showed it today. You said you liked Hendrix a little better. You would not say that if you saw what I saw. I can't wipe the smile off my face. I don't know if they went in looking for a quarterback for emergency depth or not. I know they did not come away with one. Graham has starter skills.
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Written by Duane Long
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Friday, 03 July 2009 12:20 |
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There is some chatter out there about Tyrone Williams. I wanted to give my take on it.
I think this kid is special. I like Prater better but Williams is the next best receiver in the region. I have not broken down the national kids at receiver yet but I would list them as Split ends and Flankers/slots, but I would call it a really great year nationally if I do not have Tyrone Williams in the national top 10 as a splite end. He got hurt last year and has not been doing the camp/combine circuit. He is such a strong Buckeye lean that that could be why the Buckeyes are not pursuing Prater. It is an explanation for the lack of interest.The Buckeyes do not have anyone on the board right now that qualifies as a split end offer.
He claims he has an offer. He says Taver Johnson called and told him he was going to see an offer in writing in the next few days after this conversation happened. He said he received the offer. There is some speculation that he is misinterpreting the offer. He is one of those kids who we see every now and then who thinks a letter is an offer. First, Johnsons call saying Williams was to receive an offer in the next few days is very hard to misinterpret. I had someone ask me if maybe Johnson said "letter" and the kid assumed that the letter was an offer. That does not make sense either. There is no reason for Johnson to call him just to say hello and tell him he was sending him a letter. I have never heard of a coach calling ahead to tell a player he was sending him a letter. Not ever. Secondly, the kid has official written offers. He knows what an offer letter looks like. He knows what is says.
This comes down to a conditional offer. He gets it done in the classroom, he is a Buckeye.
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Written by Duane Long
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Thursday, 02 July 2009 09:24 |
Rod Smith is a special back. I think he is clearly the #1 back in the country this year. The only back that belongs in the conversation is Marcus Lattimore from S.Carolina. He reminds me a great deal of Chris Wells but he is better. He reminds me more of Darren McFadden than Wells. He is a power back with great speed. That is the thing that gets overlooked about Chris Wells. He could run away from people. Both are very explosive. I cannot stress enough how absolutely crucial that is to the position. Most of the great backs were not sprinters. What a back needs is to get to top speed as quickly as possible. That is what I see out of Smith. 2 steps and he is at top speed. I think he is as elusive as Wells and maybe moreso. Look at the cut on the film at the 55 second mark. That is something we have seen out of Wells but this kid does it at speed. He does it again at the1:15 mark and again at the 1:25 mark. Wells is a little more powerful. Where Smith really separates himself from Wells is as a receiver. Smith is more athletic and has great body control. He is more versatile than Wells because he is such a great receiver. I can't find the film but I saw him catching the ball. He is so natural that if you wanted to get him on the field you could put him in as a receiver. So often with backs you relax after they catch the ball. This kid is such a natural you expect him to make the catch. Being able to leave your best back in the game on third down and not hurt your passing game is a huge plus. No way is Smith a fullback. What separates the big running backs from those that end up being tweeners is the quick feet. We saw it with Chris Wells. I see it in Carlos Hyde, another big back that the dreaded fullback word keeps coming up with, and I see it with Rod Smith.
Rod Smith is a huge get for the Buckeyes. Look at the last few elite backs that the Buckeyes have gotten. Clarett messed up but he was an early entry kid anyway. Pittman was not smart in leaving early but he did anyway. Chris Wells left early. Elite backs are going to leave early. Too much punishment over the life of their careers. I saw Marshall Faulk interviewed one time right before he retired. He had come through a few years of injuries. He was asked when was the last time he was completely healthy. He said, "The moment before I first picked up a football.". Get in there and make that money while they can. I know alot of fans are excited about Berry. I am too but I think he needs a year in the weightroom. Carlos Hyde fits our offense right now. Either way an elite back is not going to stick around long. Having another in the stable is major advantage.
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Written by Duane Long
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Wednesday, 01 July 2009 15:47 |
A back and forth earlier today with a poster on Bucknuts is what prompted this blog post. He was talking about LaMarcus Joyner being moved to safety. I dismissed the idea but the more I thought about it the more sense it makes.
Everyone wants to be as big as possible at corner but speed is so important at corner so most settle for smaller. Not Ohio State. The Buckeyes like bigger corners because we play alot of zone. That puts a premium on players who can tackle. We also demand that our corners play the run. To get what we want from a corner it is a natural to gravitate to bigger kids. Joyner is not the typical Buckeye corner recruit. He is listed at 5-8. Too often height/weight are exaggerated but I think it is accurate on Joyner. We are assuming he is a corner because of his size. Christian Bryant is listed as a corner because of his size. We are not recruiting him as a corner.We know he does not play corner in high school. Neither does Joyner. I have seen him make plays on offense. I have seen him be a special teams demon. I have seen him hit like a linebacker. He makes plays all over the field......except as a corner. I am impressed with his football speed but his 40 time is not one of an elite corner prospect with a reported 4.53. He is a playmaker. He is a bigtime hitter. He has instincts and a nose for the ball. All his skills, the things that have him rated a national top 20 player, are those of a safety. The only thing that says corner is his size. I have more to say about that soon. I have looked at all the Rivals tape. I have looked at all the YouTube tape. Can anyone point out to me one play where he even lines up at corner?
One of the big questions out there is why the Buckeyes are not offering Latwan Anderson. Maybe that is because we already have our other safety target. |
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Written by Duane Long
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Tuesday, 30 June 2009 11:38 |
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A player whose name has come up on this blog has surfaced as a star of camp. Huber Heights Wayne defensive tackle prospect Terry Talbott has come in and put on a show. You can see video of him in the Buckeye Vision section of this blog. Notice how often he does not use his hands. Needs alot of work. He is just beating his opponents with elite level explosion off the ball. I have not heard measurables listed yet but the words "physical specimen" are being thrown about. We are kicking around alot of names right now with the camp but I am not going to be surprised to see this one as the next Buckeye offer. He has an impressive offer list already with Michigan, Wisconsin, UCLA and North Carolina State already coming in with offers. Wayne has a coach who has a long time warm relationship with the Buckeyes. I would go so far as to call Wayne a Buckeye pipeline. Not putting out the numbers that Glenville puts out but when there is a Buckeye caliber kid the odds he comes this way are quite good. I don't know if Talbott has a relationship with Braxton Miller, and I am not sure that we need it, but it can't hurt to have someone he knows already in the lockeroom and someone he can room with.
On the video watch what he does at the 1:40 mark. That is a player who is thinking on the field. He reads the offense as they are lining up, reads the keys from his coach and puts himself in position to make a play. At the 2:25 mark he beats the double team, something the great ones are going to see and something they need to learn to deal with. At the 3:20 mark he takes the blocker back into the back and tackles both. The very next play he blows up 2 blockers to force the back wide for a short gain and comes back on the next for a tackle for loss. Great looking player.
You have to like our odds of landing top defensive tackle talent again this year with the offers that are out there. |
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Written by Duane Long
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Monday, 29 June 2009 11:55 |
The transfers rules need to change. Right now they are heavily weighted to the colleges. I understand why they are set up that way. It is to keep players from holding college football staffs hostage. Lets take Terrelle Pryor. He could have signed his LOI and walked in here and demand to start or he would transfer out. I understand, and agree with, the desire to keep that from happening. The downside of that is what it does to players who are buried on the depth chart. Players are left with making early, and possibly hasty, decisions about their futures. By their third year a player must be ready to make a decision. It would be nice to have a system in place where an outside entity, someone appointed by the NCAA, could look at a players situation and allow him to transfer without penalty. There is little to gain for the school or the player by keeping a buried player on the depth chart. If he didn't have to sit out a year he might leave. That opens up a scholarship for the school. Most would not complain about that, and at the same time a player has an opportunity to play. Maybe even make himself into an NFL prospect. Maybe a draft situation could be set up. Players who want to leave could be picked up to lets say 10 schools that "drafted" them and a transfer without penalty could happen with one of those schools. The player could pick 10 if there are more than 10. If he wants to go off the list then he has to accept that year off penalty. Making transfers easier is a win-win situation.
With that in mind, here is my annual list of players who would be better off transferring. G-Force pointed out that some are happy where they are. They are looking beyond the football field and after college as the reason to stay. It is why I think Bauserman would choose to stay. It makes sense. It is the only thing that makes sense. We are talking about kids, some with a good deal of talent, who would be better off elsewhere if this was only about football.
Pentello and Oliver. Why would they stick around? They just got passed on the depth chart by 2 younger guys, Johnson and Damicone, and likely 3 with Wood. They are not going to play here. Gant could leave but as a senior he has to drop a level. He might be a 4th year senior though. I keep hearing about injuries with Evege. All I know is it is looking like he is never going to play here. Really liked that kid coming out of high school. Thought he was underrated. Whatever the reason, the fact remains every corner that has come into the program since he has been here has passed him on the depth chart. The same for Connor Smith. He has been rumored to be leaving since last football season. With his Dad being a former Buckeyes and quite successful, it stands to reason he knows more about Buckeye Nation than anyone. Maybe that is why he is sticking around. The same could be said of Grant Schwartz with a former Buckeye for a father. It stands to reason that is why he is sticking around. Slot receivers are in abundance here. He has at least 2, and maybe 3 if Jordan Hall moves to receiver, fast athletic freshman on his 6. They are not going to be there long. He really should move to safety but if he doesn't he needs to leave. That is a win-win. Someone tell this kid to move back to safety. He would likely be #3 on the depth chart as soon as he moves over. Here is one that might surprise you. Keith Wells. If you ask me to pick a guy off this list most likely to not be back, I would say Wells. I see him going the James Scott route by not being asked back. He might be able to get back to focus somewhere else. Weak side DE is full of competition. As impressed as I was with his senior film, there is talent here and with him not focused, he will not break into the lineup anyway. |
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Written by Duane Long
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Sunday, 28 June 2009 11:43 |
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Sometimes a question from a poster spawns a response that rates its own blog post:
[quote=marvin schrager]Duane: Do you think Alex Smith gets an offer after showing up at camp and working out? Did the staff spend much time with him. Can you gauge if there is mutual interest?
Marvin[/quote]
I didn't say anything about that because I don't have an answer. I only have an educated guess at this point, and here it is.
I would not be surprised if Lakota coach Larry Cox made this happen. He is a friend of the program and an all-around great guy. He is another one of those coaches who would give up a kidney to get one of his kids an offer. I could see him stepping in and suggesting that the kid at least come up and take a look. Hear what they have to say. He has nothing to lose. Would I offer him? It would depend on how the visit went. There is a downside to offering an instate kid. Most of the people in this state are rabid Ohio State fans. Taking an offer from out of state when there is a Buckeye offer on the table is an invitation to abuse. Not offering a kid who does not want to come to Ohio State lets him off the hook. A classy thing to do if you ask me. Hardball says offer him and put him on the spot. The good thing for the program in not offering him is, there is one less big name kid on your offer list as you go after other prospects.
I think you have to see the visit, and more importantly the fact that he is working out, as a definite positive.
Continuing on with the tight ends, I love that Brause is getting a look there. We want an athletic tight end. Here is an athletic tight end. He is just not currently playing tight end. I wonder what the dynamic is with he and Smith. I think tight end is such a need that the staff is not going to want to mess around. Alex, do you want to be a Buckeye? No? Good luck to you son. We need to get this sewn up. Tyler, you want to be a Buckeye? That scenario would not surprise me. Obviously they like Brause as an athlete.Lets not forget Dennis. I think him being locked in for the offensive line is a mistake. I think anywhere he goes it would be smart to give him a look as a defensive tackle but at Ohio State he fits what we want in a tight end. He is the same size as Ballard and Fragel. Him being brought back for a second look says he has put himself in contention somewhere. I know the staff really liked Donnal too.
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