Sunday, June 27, 2010

Breaking Down Ohio State's 2010 Offense

By Eli Kalika—Featured Contributor


This is not your typical picture of the Vest.

Then again, this year's squad doesn't have your typical offense either.

Calm, and composed, the Ohio State offense is classic, aged, and time-tested.

In recent years, it has been characterized as being overrated.

This year it will not be.

Conservative? A little less so.

One of (if not) the best in college football? Most likely.

Quarterbacks

Terrelle Pryor—the one man offense.

This kid can gun it. At 6-6, 233 lbs, and with a menacing stiffarm, he's almost impossible to bring down.

What makes it even more difficult for defenses is the fact that, at his size with his amazing 4.33 40-yard-dash speed, Terrelle Pryor can evade tackles as well as some of the best backs in the NFL.

Entering his third year, he is now the unquestioned leader of the team.

He hasn't been perfect but he has played hurt and he is quite simply what every coach wishes they had at his position.

His two bugaboos, if you will, are his lower than desired completion percentage and his untimely knack for turning the ball over.

Solving those issues will all but ensure that Pryor will be a definite Heisman candidate over the next two seasons, assuming of course that he doesn't declare for early entry into the NFL after the 2010 campaign.

Just below Big P on the depth chart is redshirt junior Joe Bauserman.

While he doesn't have the size of Pryor, his arm strength is in fact better. He used to be a minor league pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates actually. Additionally, he has a quick release, and is a sufficient backup overall.

This year, Tressel is expected to open the playbook up a bit more for Pryor. He is bound is give him the opportunity to be spectacular, and we can only expect Big P to love every moment of it.

And don't sleep on spring-game-star Kenny Guiton, the redshirt freshman from Texas, who led the gray team to a 17-10 victory over Pryor and his scarlet squad teammates.

Running Backs

Usually the classic workhorses of the offense, the RB's haven't gotten much hype as of late with Pryor being the most dangerous running weapon in the backfield.

That said, that doesn't mean these running backs aren't a headline waiting to happen.

At the top of the depth chart rests Brandon Saine. At 6'1" and 219 lbs, he has great size to be a power back, but he's also fast—He runs a 4.35 40.

An athletic freak like that of USC's Taylor Mays, this kid can do it all. The only thing holding Saine back is his frequent inability to remain healthy.

Last year, Saine rushed 739 yards, with a 5.1 YPC. However, he only rushed for four touchdowns.

In addition to carries, Saine picked up 17 receptions for 224 and two scores. This year should be the year Saine puts it all together and simply blows up—if he stays healthy.

Let's call Saine 1-A, meaning Dan "Boom" Herron is 1-B. Spectacular in his own right, Herron lives up to his name in the red zone.

Having rushed for over 600 yards and 11 touchdowns despite missing a several games mid-season, it is clear Herron will have the specified role of wearing down offensive lines with his power running style and scoring chances close to the goal line.

Other backs of note in Ohio State's stable who could see time in the backfield, especially if Saine and/or Herron miss any time due to injury include: Jaamal Berry, Jordan Hall, and Carlos Hyde.

Wide Receivers

Going back as far as the early 1990's, Ohio State has sent many wideouts to the NFL, so it's no wonder why they never seem to have a problem replacing their star WR's year in and year out through recruiting.

Steadily improving since first arriving on campus in 2008, not only is the No. 1 receiver DeVier Posey good enough to be a first round draft pick next year—he's good enough to be a No. 1 guy at the next level if he continues to improve at the same pace there that he has as a Buckeye.

At 6'2" and 213 lbs, a 33-inch vertical, and a 21.5 200, Posey has all the physical tools to get the job done.

Not only that, but Posey is a smart player as well. He can change a game around and he's versatile too.

On a called WR end-around reverse last year vs. New Mexico State, he threw a perfect pass for a touchdown to his good pal Dane Sanzenbacher.

Don't be surprised to see him named as a finalist for the 2010 Fred Biletnikoff Award, given annually to the nations' top receiver.

While Posey garnered most of the attention, Sanzenbacher still managed to amass 36 catches for 570 yards, six touchdowns, and a 15.8 YPC.

While undersized, he runs sharp routes and is shifty. He will continue to produce, and can be be considered as steady a receiver as any.

The third wide receiver slot is up-for-grabs, especially now that Duron Carter has withdrawn from Ohio State.

Taurian Washington is considered by some as the favorite, but it could be a race this fall with Chris Fields, James Jackson, Corey Brown, and depending on if they redshirt or not, James Louis and Tyrone Williams.

The biggest surprise player this year will be a different kind of receiver.

Jake Stoneburner, a TE in a WR's body, has great size at 6'5" and 245 lbs and will definitely become a much larger part of the offense. He has steady hands and can create match-up problems for for any linebackers or defensive backs assigned to cover him.

The O-Line

The evolution of this line last year was a key cog to the turnaround last season, post-Purdue, that helped the Buckeyes make it to, and win, the Rose Bowl.

Now, the line returns all but one starter (Jim Cordle). Led by Justin Boren and Mike Brewster, they are experienced and will own the trenches.

There will not be many pass rushing problems, and the holes should be gaping for Saine and Herron.

If this line stays healthy, they will easily be one of the best in all of college football, period.

Overall

Returning nine starters from an offense that seemed unstoppable at the end of the season has led to some very lofty expectations as we inch closer to the start of the 2010 season.

As always, Tressel will place an emphasis on ball security, control, field position, and simply moving the chains, but as he proved in last seasons Rose Bowl, he and the coaching staff have also realized just what an amazing talent and dangerous weapon they have in QB Terrelle Pryor.

While the team finished 68th in total yards and 49th in scoring last year, this offense returns too much talent and will be undoubtedly better.

With Pryor's metamorphoses into an elite QB finally nearing its' completion, look for him to continue to thrive under coach Tressel just as Troy Smith did in 2006.

There are lots of "if's" but if Pryor continues to blossom, and if co-starters Saine and Herron can remain healthy, and if Posey and the receiving corp play to their potential, and lastly, if the O-Line doesn't underachieve, then it's safe to say that the 2010 season could be a hugely successful year for the Buckeyes—as in BCS title level successful.


Click For Block Nation Front Page


Saturday, June 26, 2010

Great Expectations: Can Terrelle Pryor Win the Heisman and Lead Ohio State to the BCS Championship This Year?

By Kyle Strittholt—Featured Contributor


Terrelle Pryor has been hyped since he was in high school because of how much of an amazing athlete he was. There is still no question about it.

He's one of the best athletes in college football, but can he finally put it all together for his team this season and be an effective quarterback?

He did so against a very good Oregon Ducks defense in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. In that game, Pryor had his best performance in college, throwing 266 yards through the air and 76 yards on the ground. He had two passing touchdowns and a 62.2 completion percentage.

This showed that he had it in him to become a great quarterback, but he has to carry it into this season.

Had he played as he did on that day during the whole season, there's no doubt the Buckeyes would have been undefeated.

This season, Pryor is considered by some to be a Heisman front runner in large part because of his performance in Pasadena.

I feel that Pryor has a great supporting cast in the receiving corp, as well as depth at the running back position. The Buckeyes' offense will look better this season, and they're returning the lump sum of their defense.

The Buckeyes are ranked second in most every preseason poll. With a friendly schedule other than games vs. Miami-FL, Iowa, and Wisconsin, it would seem as though the Bucks have a better than decent shot at returning to the National Championship game for the third time in five years.

The Hurricanes have a very good squad this season, and they'll be pumped up to play the team that devastated them in the 2002 National Title game. It was a completely different team, but I'm sure the coaches will keep that in their minds.

I look for this to perhaps be the game of the week, and I also expect the Buckeyes to win. They will be focused on the goal ahead, and the rust should be shaken off by this game.

The Buckeyes have the advantage of playing a rebuilding Penn State team and a Michigan team that's still on the rocks. Without Michigan State on the schedule, the games at Wisconsin and at Iowa are the only ones I see as possible potential obstacles.

The key to running the table is Pryor. He's has to show maturity and be the leader.

It's going to take him developing into an effective passer, which will open holes in the running game. He doesn't have to become a pure or perfect passer. He just needs to more efficient and better in his decision making.

The biggest difference between Pryor and Troy Smith is not the size or style of play. It's the way Smith secured the ball. He never seemed to have ill-timed turnovers.

I didn't cringe when Smith chucked a ball down field, but I do every time Pryor goes to launch it. Smith could make that play with limited turnovers, but that is something Pryor hasn't figured out yet.

Smith had 13 interceptions in his career at Ohio State, Pryor has 14 after his second season (11 interceptions this past year).

Whoever wins the turnover battle usually wins the game, and Pryor needs to make sure he uses better judgment and throws the ball away instead of giving it away when there's nothing there.

It's not as simple as it seems, but if he can be effective, the Buckeyes will win the close games and perhaps make it to the National Championship.

There are a lot of great players in college football, but as of late, the Heisman has been given to the players that take their team far, and it will take a trip to the title game in order for Pryor to win.

This is Pryor's junior season, so if he doesn't win it this season, he still has a definite shot next season.

Some may think the Buckeyes are overrated, but they have the firepower this season to make a lot of noise across the college football landscape this fall.


Click For Block Nation Front Page


Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Ohio State Football: Jermil Martin and More Bad News Regarding Personnel



Yes, it is true.

Unfortunately, more bad news hit the Ohio State University football program today.

On the heels of the news that both WR Duron Carter and DE Keith Wells have withdrawn from the school, now the long-rumored transfer of RB/FB Jermil Martin appears to have come to fruition as well.

Although he is currently enrolled for the summer quarter at OSU, he could plan to withdraw soon, and the word on the street is that he's headed to Youngstown State—stay tuned.

At best, Martin was projected as the fourth or fifth option in the 2010 Buckeye backfield—behind co-starters Brandon Saine and Dan Herron, and he would have been jockeying for playing time with Jamaal Berry, Jordan Hall, and Carlos Hyde.

The other bit of bad news as of now is that RB Roderick Smith, one of the top recruits in the 2010 class, is the only player from his class not signed up for summer quarter classes, and has not been in contact with the team in regards to his status for the upcoming season.

Apparently, there are some academic concerns that may prevent him from enrolling in time for the 2010 season.

It won't set the Buckeye coaching staff into panic mode if Smith doesn't make it for the 2010 season (see Carlos Hyde, 2009), but if for some reason he doesn't ever make it on campus, that will be a potentially huge blow to the RB depth starting in 2011.

I will update this article as needed if I hear any further information on Smith.


Click For Block Nation Front Page


Monday, June 21, 2010

BREAKING NEWS: WR Duron Carter, DE Keith Wells Are Both Now FORMER Buckeyes

Grant Freking—Featured Contributor


After a tumultuous first season in Columbus, Ohio State sophomore-to-be wide receiver Duron Carter has withdrawn from OSU, according to Bill Greene of Scout.com.

Carter has reportedly enrolled at Coffeyville (KS) Community College. He is expected to spend one year there to improve his grades and then he will be eligible to play Division-I football again.

After earning a starting spot in 2009 and catching 13 passes for 179 yards during the regular season, Carter was ruled academically ineligible for the Rose Bowl and missed spring practice for academic reasons.

At Coffeyville, Carter will attempt to improve his academic status in addition to playing football, and will seek to transfer to a Division-I school in June of 2011. He will then have three years of eligibility remaining.

It’s been a rough day for Jim Tressel and Ohio State football.

Sophomore defensive end Keith Wells has also decided to leave the program, according to a university release and Jeff Svoboda of BuckeyeSports.com.

Wells saw limited action in 2008 as a true freshman, and redshirted last season after an offseason injury. Wells would have been a backup defensive end in 2010, behind starters Cameron Heyward and Nathan Williams.

He took part in spring drills but would have been fighting for playing time with redshirt freshman Melvin Fellows and junior Soloman Thomas.


6/23/10 - UPDATE


According to an article by Tim May of the Columbus Dispatch, Cris Carter says the plan is for his son Duron to get his academics in order so he may re-enroll at Ohio State next June.


Click For Block Nation Front Page


Ohio State Class of 2011 Recruiting Update



Here is the current, up-to-date list of recruits that have verbally committed to play for Ohio State starting in 2011.

The class size is expected to be right around 20, and with 15 recruits already on board, there are precious few spots left.

Coach Tressel and his staff have once again assembled a talented and highly-rated ensemble, headlined by top QB Braxton Miller (pictured at right), that should easily push this class into the nations' top five when the final rankings are released, after NSD arrives next February.





Click For Block Nation Front Page



Screen image of recruiting class via Scout.com

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Ohio State: My Team's OOC Schedule Can Beat Up Your Team's OOC Schedule



I'm guessing you figured out the title of this piece is a play-on-words taken from the old "My Dad can beat up your Dad," argument.

I know in the past, the Buckeyes have, and still continue to work hard at scheduling out of conference games verses other quality BCS teams.

And sure, they also have played some cupcakes along the way—But who hasn't?

The bottom line however here is that I dare any fan of any other program to provide me with evidence that would suggest that their team has scheduled, and played in as many big-time OOC games as my team, The Ohio State Buckeyes.

Here is every OOC game Ohio State has played since 2000, as well as the OOC games from 2009 and those that have been scheduled so far, all the way through 2019. That's a span of 20 years.

Bowl game opponents (**) are also noted, and included.



2000—Fresno State, Arizona, Miami (OH), **South Carolina

2001—Akron, UCLA, San Diego State, **South Carolina

2002—Texas Tech, Washington State, Cincinnati, San Jose State, **Miami (FL)

2003—Washington, San Diego State, NC State, BGSU, **Kansas State

2004—Cincinnati, Marshall, NC State, **Oklahoma State

2005—Miami (OH), Texas, San Diego State, **Notre Dame

2006—Northern Illinois, Texas, Cincinnati, BGSU, **Florida

2007—YSU, Akron, Washington, Kent State, **LSU

2008—YSU, Ohio, USC, Troy, **Texas

2009—Navy, USC, Toledo, New Mexico State, **Oregon

2010—Marshall, Miami (FL), Ohio, Eastern Michigan

2011—Akron, Toledo, Miami (FL), fourth OOC game still TBD

2012—Miami (OH), Cincinnati, California, UAB

2013—California, three OOC games still TBD

2014—Navy, Cincinnati, Virginia Tech, Kent State

2015—Virginia Tech, three OOC games still TBD

2016—Oklahoma, three OOC games still TBD

2017—Oklahoma, three OOC games still TBD

2018—Tennessee, three OOC games still TBD

2019—Tennessee, three OOC games still TBD



Now, I know Ohio State hasn't won every one of these OOC games, nor will they win all of those yet to be played.

That is not the point here. The point is they are scheduling big games verses top notch opponents like no other school in the country and have been for a very long time.

There have been rumors the Ohio State has been trying to schedule home and home two-game series with other SEC opponents such as Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and LSU but I have no confirmation as of yet.

I had actually heard that the home and home in 2018 and 2019 with Tennessee was supposed to be Georgia, but UGA didn't want to play in Columbus.

If you wish to dispute me on this, that's fine, but you better bring an arsenal of knowledge with you and plenty of big time OOC games for any team you claim is doing a better job at going out and playing other top-level teams.


Click For Block Nation Front Page


Do you really like or really hate one of our articles?

Do you agree or absolutely disagree with something you've read here?

WE WANT TO KNOW SO PLEASE ADD YOUR COMMENTS!

You can post anonymously or add your name if you like.

Either way, registration is NOT required!

BlockONation's Expanding Web Presence

6/05/2009

Numerous BlockONation articles have been posted on or linked to from some very well known, high-volume sports websites.

We'd like to take a moment to both acknowledge and thank those sites for their support in helping make BlockONation one of the most popular new Ohio State Football blogs on the web!

In no particular order:

CBSSports.com

FOXSports.com

BuckeyeExtra.com

BleacherReport.com

SportsTimeOhio.com

TheClevelandFan.com


Again, thanks so very much to those sites for all their support and also, a huge thank you to the fans who have visited the site to date!

I'd also like to personally thank all those individuals who have contributed to the success of the site! I wouldn't be here without your help over the last 8+ years. You all know who you are!

It is our mission here at BlockONation.com to continue to provide top-notch, fresh content for our readers and we will always do everything possible to meet your expectations!

Honestly, I really can't thank you all enough....

HD Handshoe
Founder
BlockONation.com



Thanks for visiting BlockONation
 
Copyright © 2004-2012 BlockONation.com. All rights reserved. Site powered by Blogger. Site design and layout by HD Handshoe. This web site is not affiliated with or endorsed by The Ohio State University. Logos, helmet and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Some photos on this site courtesy of the Associated Press, The-Ozone.net and Getty Images under the Fair Use Doctrine (Sections 107-118) of the 1976 Copyright Act.