Friends of the Program
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by user Batb
www.boovaandthebeast.blogspot.com
My opinion of last year's BCS title game is simple. Like cheating on your girlfriend with two girls at the same time, or having your own dog lick peanut butter off your genitals, whenever your team is favored by a touchdown in the BCS title game and they get smoked in unbelievable fashion, it simply doesn't count.
That being said, there is no reason to feel that way in the wake of Monday's basketball sequel. Lost in all of the stories surrounding Florida's "Oh-Four's" and Joakim Noah's phantom contributions is the fact that Ohio State played extremely well. Were they atrocious from the outside? Absolutely. But if someone had told you that Florida would shoot over 50% from behind the arc and the Bucks would hit two threes in the first 38 minutes, you would have thought this would have been a blowout for the ages. Ohio State hung around while the Gators delivered back-breaking three after back-breaking three and should be proud as hell of their effort. Regardless of whether Oden (and possibly Conley) leaves, this team, as well as this game, should be remembered always, as it very well may be the start of something very special for years to come.
Now, let's not kid ourselves. As much as Buckeye fans would have loved a basketball title, Ohio is a football state and a victory Monday would have meant about 5% as much as a BCS title. With Troy Smith, Teddy Ginn, Antonio Pittman and Anthony Gonzalez, among others, out the door, there may not be a whole lot of faith that this could happen next January. In fact, there are a whole lot of reasons to believe that Ohio State will struggle in 2007. I could sit here and draft an entire column to try and sway you the other way, but I'm too lazy. So, I plan on getting through the upcoming preview the way I got through college. I'm going to let someone else do the work.
As Jim Herrick would surely tell you, in the sporting world it is always valuable to have "friends of the program". This philosophy brought Ed O'Bannon to UCLA, Chris Webber to Michigan, and Shaquille O'Neal to the court in Blue Chips. Here at boovaandthebeast, we too have certain "friends" who for some unknown reason have voiced their desire to contribute to the blog. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you one such contributor, a man who knows more about the way the Buckeyes' 2017 recruiting class is shaping up than anyone rightfully should, a man who nearly missed an alcohol awareness class during our freshmen orientation at Miami because he was vomiting pure grain alcohol from the night before, my long-time friend and the biggest Ohio State football junkie I know...Christopher Kress.
--Beast
Five Reasons Ohio State Will Win Ten Games in 2007
Troy Smith is gone. So is Tedd Ginn Jr. Anthony Gonzales and Antonio Pittman bolted for the NFL early, too. They also lost two other captains (Quinn Pitcock and Doug Datish). So with this massive attrition of a perennial power, it’s no surprise that many ‘experts’ are predicting that 2007 will be a rebuilding year for the Buckeyes. However, this fan of the scarlet and grey begs to differ, and will give you five reasons not to panic for the 2007 season.
5.Tressel is one of the best game-planners in college football.
First of all, I have to say this: January 8, 2007 never happened. It was a fluke, much like Ernest Byner’s fumble or game 7 of the ’97 World Series. I have successfully repressed all memories from that night (thank you, Jack Daniels), and encourage every Ohio State fan to do the same. That said, Jim Tressel is still one of the best game-planning coaches in the country (and may be the best). He won in Ann Arbor, in his first year, with an erratic quarterback and under-achieving tailback. He won a National Championship with Craig Krenzel at the helm against college football’s dynasty of the moment. He’s 5-1 against that school up north, and 3-1 in BCS games.
In the words of Jim Rome, “the dude can flat out coach.” Criticizing him because he came up with one flawed (read: atrocious) game plan would be like Chicago fans booing Jordan for missing one game winner. This guy comes up big 99% of the time, so don’t get down on him for one failure. If anything, I think that loss will make him and the entire staff even hungrier for a Big Ten title this year.
4. They have an easy schedule.
When this schedule gets rated on the 2008 edition of NCAA Football, it should probably receive a grade somewhere between a “C+” and “developmental Pop-Warner league.” As a huge fan, am I beneath earning wins with a tough schedule? Absolutely not. It may sound cheap, but remember who OSU has scheduled in recent and coming years: Washington (2003 & 2007), Texas (2005 & 2006), USC (2008 & 2009), Miami (2010 & 2011), Cal (2012 & 2013), Virginia Tech (2014 & 2015), and Oklahoma (2016 & 2017). They get a pass on ‘degree of difficulty’ for this season.
They essentially have a 3 game season. The early part of the year should be a cake-walk, unless Ty Willingham signed a deal with BALCO during the off season. The first test (more like a pop-quiz) will be Purdue in the sixth game of the season. By that time, the new QB and O-linemen will have had time to get used to a starting role. If they can win that (and they should), they then get Wisconsin at home and travel to Happy Valley and Ann Arbor. Don’t be surprised if they’re playing for at least a share of the Big Ten title on November 17.
3. The return of the Silver Bullets.
The 2007 edition of the Ohio State defense may not be the best of the Jim Tressel era, but it will certainly be the deepest and the fastest. They may have the best DE tandem in college football with Vernon Gholston and Robert Rose. Throw Lawrence Wilson (under achiever thus far, but due for a productive season) and “Scooter” Dublin (Red.-Freshman who the coaches say resembles former Buckeye great Will Smith) into the mix and you have the deepest rotation in the country.
As good and as deep as the DE’s are, the linebackers are probably deeper and even more talented. The starters figure to be Marcus Freeman at the SLB, James Laurinaitas at MLB, and Ross Homan at WLB. Their back-ups are Larry Grant (former JUCO player of the year), Curtis Terry (one man wrecking crew), Tyler Moeller (who the coaches felt was the best freshman last year), and Thaddeus Gibson (who one scout said was the best linebacker to come out of Ohio since Andy Katzenmoyer). If you’re keeping track at home, that’s a 7 man rotation and all are fast and furious.
Their secondary is yet another group of athletic, talented young men featuring perhaps the best cover-corner in college football, Malcolm Jenkins. Opposite him will probably be Kurt Coleman, while Donald Washington or freshman James Scott will be the nickel back. At FS, Anderson Russell will hopefully pick up where he left off prior to his season ending injury at Iowa. But Russell may also end up as the nickel back. If that happens, look for uber-talented freshman Gene Clifford to step in. Finally at SS, the much heralded Jamario O’Neal will assume the starting role on opening day with almost a full season of experience under his belt.
Look for the Co.-Defensive coordinators to turn this squad loose. They are not ‘green’ anymore, so expect a lot more press man coverage and more complicated blitzing schemes.
2. The cupboard is not bare.
This is Ohio State, they do not rebuild, they re-load. They may not sign ten five-star prospects like Florida, Texas, or USC do every year, but they sign solid players that fit into their system. There are many players I am overly excited about, so I’ll limit myself to my two breakout players this year. And, since I already addressed the defense above, I’ll keep it to offensive players. I believe Ray Small and Brandon Saine will add some huge game-breaking ability to what figures to be a conservative offense. Ray Small, only a sophomore, has the ability to run fly routes like TGII and the toughness, agility, and hands to run underneath. He’ll add a big play factor to an already talented receiving corps.
Brandon Saine is the player I am really excited to see. On signing day, Tressel mentioned the possibility of using Saine and Beanie Wells like the Saints used Reggie Bush and Deuce McCallister. Upon hearing that, Lloyd Carr shit his pants and started looking for a real-estate agent to help sell his home. But I digress. Saine will be a very versatile player. My guess is that he’ll get between 10 and 15 touches per game and will be the ultimate compliment to Beanie’s punishing running style.
1. “Tresselball” will prevail.
He’s already won one national championship with a ball control offense, excellent special teams, and a suffocating defense. Tressel actually prefers to play this way, so don’t be shocked if he pulls it off again with this group. This team is eerily similar to the 2002 National Champions, except that they may have even more talent. The defense will probably be in the top 10 nationally of every major statistic, the special teams will be outstanding, and the offense will have a ridiculous running game. As long as the new QB manages the game well, plays within the system, and doesn’t turn the ball over this team will win ten games. With a little luck, they will win all 12.
--"Friend of BATB" Chris Kress
