Overhyped Ohio State

by Peter Bean on Feb 9, 2006 3:05 PM CST in Football Comment 4 comments

I was perusing the list of players invited to this year's NFL combine in Indianapolis and something immediately jumped out at me. The Ohio State Buckeyes (along with Southern Cal) are sending a -ton- of players. Twelve, to be specific. Including an astounding eight from their defense.

Buckeyes participating in the combine:

Bobby Carpenter (LB), AJ Hawk (LB), Anthony Schlegel (LB), Marcus Green (DL), Mike Kudla (DL), Donte Whitner (DB), Nate Salley (DB), Anthony Youbouty (DB), Santonio Holmes (WR), Nick Mangold (OL), Rob Sims (OL), Josh Huston (K)

This raises some questions for next year's team, doesn't it? The entire linebacking crew is leaving. The secondary will be almost entirely new. Two defensive linemen, gone. And their best receiver.

I was as impressed as anyone with Troy Smith's improvement over the course of the season, and Ted Ginn and Michael Pittman are solid players, but this team is going to be overrated to start the year. That's just too much talent to lose and replace quickly. Ohio State, like Texas, is a reload-not-rebuild kind of school, but this looks to me like too many new faces starting football games to justify a top five ranking.

Tomorrow I'll be doing our pre-pre-preview of the Horns matchup with Ohio State, but let's just get it started with this. There ain't no way the Buckeyes are leaving Austin with a win. Not. Gonna. Happen.

UPDATE: Our SBN cousins at Around the Oval have already pounced on this post with a reply, which you can read here. In tomorrow's early look at the matchup, we'll respond in kind.

--PB--

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Early game

It's nice that OSU is an early season game.

There is no way on god's green earth that they can replace the guys they lost -- much less improve upon last season. People picking them to win it all, base this on Troy Smith lighting up Notre Dame.
Well guess what, so did everyone else. ND had one of the worst defenses in college football.

Anyone with eyes can see the impact Youboty, Carpenter, Hawk and Holmes had on that team.
Ginn still hasn't learned how to play WR and Smith is still prone to errors.
Both could make the leap by next year, but I doubt it.

OSU's plan of attack will be the same as the Agroids. Run, pitch and play ball control.
I'm hoping Chizik learns how to stop this by next season.

"To crush your enemies -- See them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!"

by EYESofBEVO on Feb 9, 2006 3:28 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I eagerly pointed out that the best lock

of bowl season was Ohio State covering 4 points on ND. However, I wasn't betting based on OSUs offense as much as their defense. Like Peter said, anyone can torch Notre Dame on offense, but it takes talent to hold ND to 20 points (in the same regards that despite all the VY Rose Bowl talk, I was more impressed with the 38 from our defense, than the 41 by our offense).

Too much defensive talent lost in Buckeye Country. If either of our new quarterbacks is slightly competent we will control this entire game.

Ohio State 17 - National Champions 34

Crystal Balls

by MMHorns on Feb 9, 2006 3:50 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Their response

The reply says they "reload, not rebuild".

If so, then why did they lose 4 games in 2004, including a blow-out by a FRESHMAN QB from Iowa and Northwestern?
The answer is simple. Just like this year, in 2003 they lost a ton of players to the NFL draft.

2006 will be a repeat of 04 for the Bucks.

"To crush your enemies -- See them driven before you, and to hear the lamentation of their women!"

by EYESofBEVO on Feb 9, 2006 3:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Bevo for Breakfast

Wake up Shorthorns!! Vince single handidly got that team to the NC game and he's gone. Whats gonna happen now???? You couldn't run against our front seven last year. Whats gonna happen with no threat of Vince Young in the backfield. Plus you fail to mention who's coming in"

Pitcock-All American DT
David Patterson-Incredible fast at DT
Jay Richardson-DE Wreaked havoc the entire Notre Dame Game
Barrow, Wilson, Gholston- Guys are huge and fast coming off the edge at DE

Mike-D'andrea-5th Year Senior at Middle Linebacker-High School all american-Most sought after linebacker coming out of school. Was supposed to start but hurt his knee
Marcus Freeman-Coaches were gonna move Bobby Carpenter to middle linebacker so that they could get this kid on the field. He was a all american linebacker coming out of high school. He's that good--get used to the name.
Larry Grant--Juco-All american linebacker-The number one linebacker juco recruit. Was supposed to start for a job at Florida, but they screwed the admission process.
John Kerr-Started at Indiana as a Freshman and lead the team in tackles. Was voted freshman D-player of the year in the Big 10. He's a senior now, as a transfer.

Brandon Mithchell--FS-was a part time starter
Malcolm Jenkins-CB-part time starter as a freshman
Ted Ginn- CB-do I need to say anything
Anndre Amos- CB-Is better than Jenkins, but they redshirted him to get depth-
Jamario O'neal-CB-saw alot of time as a true freshman-is better than Whitner right now as a Sophmore-

Don't sleep on this team texas, you might get your feelings hurt after this game.

Revenge is a Muthaclucka

by zippy on Feb 15, 2006 12:56 PM CST reply actions 0 recs