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Written by Duane Long
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Friday, 10 July 2009 09:42 |
I don't know what to think about this news that Carlos Hyde will not be a Buckeye. At least not this year. The team reports August 9th and we find out on July 9th that we have a recruit with a test score that will keep him off the field at least for this year. Are you kidding me? Based on what we have seen since the unfortunate Karen Holbrook reign is string of players who could not qualify. How many players out there could not even get an offer because of rules instituted since that dark time? We had to wait on Rod Smith this year. It appears we are doing the same with Tyrone Williams. We are talking about 6 weeks or so before their senior year starts we know their academics. We find out about a key recruit a month before camp. I don't understand this. I think it hurts. I think a player who could have been important to this team is now out. Was there fraud involved? I don't get it.
Here is the one thing that about guaranteed Hyde would play as a freshman whether Berry did or not. Who are you going to on 3rd and 2 who can get you 3? We know we are running the ball. Any offense under Jim Tressel is going to run the ball on 3rd and 2. Hyde would be the logical choice. Yesterday I was watching the NFL Network and Warren Sapp, who I really enjoy, was doing his segment called "The Playbook." It featured Michael Turner. Sapp focused on YAC, yards after contact, being so important to being a great back. That is why I prefer big backs. There are no what I call "high school holes" at this level. Backs are never going to see a clean hole with nothing but green in their line of sight. There are going to arms in there. Strong arms, attached to large men. All the open field stuff that gets fans, and too many people in this business, all worked up is extra. First and foremost a back has to be able to hit that hole and rip an arm off instead of being ripped down by that arm. The one back on the roster who can surely do that is Carlos Hyde. That is, until yesterday.
I know we might see a different offense this year. I have talked about where Jordan Hall lining up, whether it be at RB or flanker, being a very telling move, but we still need to be able to convert short yardage plays. The best player for that was going to be Carlos Hyde. Someone is going to have to step into that void. It is going to be huge for this football team to have a short yardage back. I don't see an obvious candidate. |
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Written by Duane Long
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Thursday, 09 July 2009 10:37 |
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Boom Herron is the heir apparent. He was the first guy off the bench. He is a very effective back but I don't know if he can become the kind of back that scares defenses. He is smart and has football smarts. I don't see a back with alot of great natural gifts. I know some have gotten excited about a healthy Brandon Saine. That is something that needs to be put into perspective. After the initial excitement about a better Brandon Saine, it appears that better is relative. He is better than he was but has not returned to his spectacular form from high school. He is better and can help this football team but is not an every down difference maker. Not yet anyway. Fans are excited about Jamal Berry. He is electrifying but that is against high school competition and he weighs about 190 in those videos. I see alot of potential in Berry. I think he can get bigger but that is going to take time. Fans need to understand it is a completely different world in college. Full grown men with years of intense weightlifting under their belts. We have seen other small backs here. They did not fare well. The difference between them and Berry is Berry has the frame to add some weight. I hear the comparisons to Tony Pittman. He was a little bigger but basically about the same size. He was forced into action as a freshmen. We did not have the talent at the time. He was quoted right before his sophmore year as saying he knows he will be better as a sophmore when he will be bigger and stronger. We know now that is true. My pick is Carlos Hyde. He is physically ready to play right now in our style of offense. I see a player who reminds me alot of Keith Byars in Carlos Hyde. Big blocky body and very quick feet. I don't know about the Navy game but by the Michigan game I think we see Carlos Hyde coming out on the field with the first team. He will need to show the coaching staff that he can pick up the blitz and other little things but he is the back who best fits our offense. |
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Written by Duane Long
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Wednesday, 08 July 2009 11:09 |
There are four areas that make the difference in football. Quarterback, defensive end, defensive tackle and the offensive line. We are so focused on the skill positions but it is the four areas that will tell how good a football team, at whatever level that you have. Be solid in these areas and every year your opponents will look down their schedules and say, that is going to be a tough game. Just how well has JT done in there areas.
Quarterback - B+. I know I am going to get feedback that that is too high. Well, I almost gave an A. Two factors determine most recruiting races. Love of school and NFL success. We have no NFL success but the bigger problem is the lack of homegrown talent. The overwhelming majority of kids who grow up loving a school grew up in that state. Ohio is not producing homegrown talent. I know the argument is going to come back around to the MAC showing so much success. I think we need to overhaul the quarterback recruiting template but that is for another blog. Right now the template is what it is and those kids ended up in the MAC because no other Big Ten programs saw them as Big Ten caliber.
Defensive End - A. A couple of years ago I would have said B but right now I see so much talent stacked that the staff has the luxury of being able to tell a talent like Keith Wells to go home and gets his priorities in order, if they choose to do so. We are seeing 4-3 base ends as well as edge guys. We want to switch to the 3-4? The players are here, and it is going to get better. Steve Miller is the best I have seen in this state at his age. Better than Ben Martin and Melvin Fellows. We are so loaded that a talent like Kenny Hayes from Toledo Whitmer is not being recruited yet.
Defensive Tackle - B. I know some are going to disagree with that but I am again factoring in the talent level available. These big boys are the rarest of the rare. Just as rare if not moreso than quarterbacks. They are even more rare here in Ohio. If there are 10 elite DTs with size in the country every year, it is a great year. We just don't see them around here and with little NFL talent out there to draw the national kids, I think the staff is doing the best that they can with what they have to work with. I think a different strategy could be something to consider.
Offensive line - D. I am sure there are some that would say F. A couple of years ago so would I but the last couple of classes give me hope. The recruiting strategy is not working. The talent in the state has been outstanding the entire time JT has been here. John Cooper would give up a major organ to have had half the talent in the state that Jim Tressel has had. To recruit these small classes means having to have a very high level of success, and have that success at a place where lower success rates are the norm. Development of talent is another matter. We could be Wide Receiver U. We could be Cornerback U. There is a strong argument for Linebacker U. We are not even in the discussion for Offensive Lineman U. |
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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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