Writer’s note: I wrote this on January 15th, which was during underclassmen declaration day for the NFL draft. Obviously, this was before recruiting classes were finalized, so I tried my best to go back and revise this.
It’s time to take a very, very early look into the 2009 season for the Ohio State Buckeyes. I got into the 2009 season a little bit in my last blog, where I mentioned that the main things which need attention in the off-season are the LB’s and the O-Line. I originally had some notes here on who I speculated to declare or not, but now that everything is set… we’ll start with the:
Unit most likely to be a weak point in 2009:
Definitely the offensive line. The question here is, how do you rebuild an offensive line that performed the way that it did in 2008? The answer: you don’t. The entire line gets a major overhaul, and the only Senior left will be Jim Cordle, likely to take one of the guard positions. Brewster did a great job at center this year and reminds me a little of Nick Mangold. Mike Adams, Bryant Browning, and JT Shugarts will be the bookends next year, and somehow I’m okay with that idea. But which two will start? Browning took huge beatings each game, and despite being the season long starter, he didn’t look very good at times. The most interesting position is the remaining guard spot: who does it go to? Early speculation from me would be that guy from Michigan, who by NCAA rules sat out the 2008 season. I was never really a fan of Justin Boren when he played at UM, but starting alongside Jake Long translated into success for the left side of the UM O-Line. Over 1,000+ yards rushing on that left side in 2008 with an injured Mike Hart. Maybe it’ll help us out a little too. Lord knows Michigan would like to associate the number 1,000 with a rushing player sometime soon too.
Unit most likely to keep on track from 2008:
I use the term keep on track to emphasize that this unit was not that dominant in 2008. But until the team develops chemistry on both sides of the ball (and maybe a third ‘side,’ with special teams), this is a group that is experienced and ready to raise their play to the next level. It’s the wide receivers, and their success will be largely due to the maturation of Terrelle Pryor and his passing ability over the off-season. Pryor did a lot of good this year with his feet, but at times, the passing game just couldn’t take shape. That will change with time, of course. The departing guys will be the two Brians (maybe Ray Small to another program; let’s pray). But, with freshmen this past season like Lamar Thomas and DeVier Posey, having these guys on the field full-time next year will change the complexion of the passing game. Sanzenbacher looked brilliant at times. A fresh lineup will do well, of course. Bringing in Duron Carter gives us another lanky, fast receiver and Pryor should be more comfortable next season when making his decisions in a pocket, collapsing or not.
The biggest mystery of 2009:
The linebackers. This would have reminded me of 2005 if Homan also decided to leave for the draft, but he’ll be back to lead this unit again next year. And that’s about all I’m sure of at this point. I’m struggling to decide whether this unit will be able to get back to speed. Rolle and Sabino are high candidates to fill Laurinaitis and Freeman’s shoes, and while each saw playing time in games this year, there was never enough to make a definitive conclusion on their play. Another player that could see time is Austin Splitler, who will be a Senior next year. The guy gives me the creeps; I don’t know if I have ever had a positive thought on him (see: chats from various games where I’m too busy dropping F-bombs about how idiotic he was to remember whether we won or not).
(Pauses to reflect on good moments)
Oh, there was a roughing the punter on 4th and 23 in the National Championship game against LSU. But that was a bad moment. I still refuse to let that go, under any circumstances. So much for a special teams star. Who messed up on a 4th and 23. 4th and 23.
(Actually, I lied when I said there weren’t any good moments. Aside from blocking a player in the back during the OU game that could have negated a punt return for a touchdown, Spitler made a decent play against Illinois, I believe. Or some team.)
Anyhow:
…those are some good reasons to stay tuned (not like I wasn’t going to); Spring practice is really right around the corner, and now that College Football has finally wrapped up (with the Shrine game, Senior bowl, etc), the combine and the draft are now the centerpiece for a one-dimensional sports fan like myself. But, since this is an early peek into the 2009 season, it never hurts to take a quick glance at the schedule. Some crucial games:
9/5/09, Navy: Right away, a test for the front seven of the defense. Depending on the performance of these guys, the results of the game will sway in favor of OSU or Navy. Inexperienced guys like Sabino, Rolle, or even Spitler will need to step it up a notch to stop the Navy rushing attack in their tracks. I like this game early in the schedule, because with both teams taking a hit in their rosters in the off season, it gives a little wiggle room for some mistakes, so we can adjust for…
9/12/09, USC: A rematch of the shellacking from last year; but maybe this time it’ll be a little different. I wrote this when Sanchez hadn’t declared, but now, with how Pete Carroll runs the show and the remaining quarterbacks, I’m suddenly a little more comfortable. Of course, I’m still waiting for Carroll’s announcement before practice of who the starting quarterback will be. So far, we’re looking at Aaron Corp, Mitch Mustain, and heralded freshman Matt Barkley. Although USC is technically rebuilding, the process is easier, with Taylor Mays accounting for a second body in a 12-man defense.
9/26/09, Illinois: Hey, Juice. Zook’s high octane offense comes to Columbus, and the Illini will be looking to bring back memories of 2007. Was 2008 a fluke behind a productive offense that failed to reach the endzone enough? The discrepancy between the two rankings (total offense, scoring offense) was shocking. Since I think Mizzou is on the decline (No Daniel, no Maclin, no Moore), Illinois could be undefeated coming into this matchup. Ohio State could be too.
10/31/09, New Mexico State: Ugh. This is why I’m not exactly a fan of our schedule. This could be a late season matchup against a Top 10 or Top 20 team, but it’s not. I don’t see NMSU anywhere close to relevance next year, but it could be a tuneup game, I suppose.
11/7/09 – 11/21/09, Penn State, Iowa, Michigan: One word to describe this set of games: gauntlet. Penn State loses a lot of their team, but returns one important cog to contend for another Big Ten title in QB Clark. If JoePa can work in a new set of receivers and get the OL to gel together, they can be threats. Iowa is relevant again after being carried on the shoulders of Shonn Greene and Mitch King this year, but loses them both to the draft and graduation, respectively. And UM will be looking to rebuild after a 3-9 season with Rich Rodriguez’s first full recruiting class.
End-of-2008 Prediction for 2009: I think I almost have to go with a 11-1 season (8-0 Big Ten), with a swing game against USC. I will favor the Trojans for now, with how much offensive firepower against what will be a Buckeye defense filled with holes. Ohio State makes a huge risk-reward move by scheduling USC so early, but if the Buckeyes defend their home turf against USC, then they’ll be in the National Championship against… most likely a Florida team that they would like to exact revenge against. Otherwise, it’ll be USC getting their shot.
Some other off-season stuff (mostly Michigan comments):
-I’m kinda sad about the loss of QB Tajh Boyd to the Ohio State recruiting class of 2009. I saw some of the ESPN recruiting video on this guy, and man… if he isn’t Troy Smith II, then I must be missing something. I figured if we recruited him we could have him win a Heisman and keep his head on straight before the National Championship game this time around.
-Speaking of recruiting this year, I’m not sure what I see in QB Tate Forcier on video. The only thing that keeps jumping out at me is someone who is constantly able to beat less disciplined teams with his feet (and inflate his stats), while playing from behind due to a bad defense. And of course, if I mentioned Michigan’s defense:
-I had this debate with some friends earlier last quarter and never bothered to mention it here. The great Rich Rodriguez debate: is he a great coach, or a great recruiter? I started by trying to defend my position that he’s a good coach, but was quickly overrun by arguments that he’s only a great recruiter. After putting some thought into it, I tend to agree with the latter. When I look back on Michigan’s season, RR’s decisions might have forever scarred this program, especially when you consider all of the mistakes he made this season. Starting a non-mobile quarterback when he was spoiled with Pat White; why didn’t he convert (back) Carlos Brown or gamble with Justin Feagin? Collapsing what was, on paper at least, a pretty solid defense from the year before; why didn’t he try to retain English when Shaffer just didn’t fit the mold? And et cetera. So I’m now sticking with the stance that RR cannot adapt a football team to make it work, instead he can only breathe in the morning if he gets guys like Tate Forcier to come to UM. C’mon, RR.
-The one offseason move that I do praise RR for is hiring Greg Robinson. I wasn’t scared when I pictured Tate Forcier marching his team out to take on Ohio State in the Big House next year, but I get a little chill when I imagine Greg Robinson coordinating the defense. When Scott Shaffer was doing it, I kinda had the same reaction I had when Donovan McNabb called up to the Giant’s press box: that forced chuckle combined with that between the teeth ‘gee, that’s great’ feeling. I should have known that anyone who figured schemes are overrated would allow 347 points with that much talent on defense. Sheesh. I think UM does rebound from a 3-9 season this year to make a middle-of-the-pack 7-5.
