Dave’s IMO: Sneak Peek at 2009 for Ohio State Football

David Thurman (4:46 pm)

Is it too early begin thinking about the 2009 Buckeye football team, just a week removed from “The Game”? Of course not!

At least if you are an obsessed Ohio State fan like me, and you are probably are if you’re reading this column! So let’s take a look at a projected roster and a way-too-early prediction on next season’s record:

QB: Terrelle Pryor starts and with a month of bowl game practices and a full spring to work on mechanics, he might become a true superstar. Behind him is a talented but unproven commodity in Joe Bauserman.

HB: Dan Herron looks ready to be a big-time player, and with Jaamal Berry and Carlos Hyde on the way, this may be tailback by committee. There’s no Beanie (who will definitely go pro) but this group might cause big problems for defensive coordinators.

FB: Lots of youngsters like Martin, Boren, and Homan will throw their names into the hat, and Brandon Saine may play some at fullback as well, providing a pass threat out of the backfield. Truth is, though, I see a lot of ace formation in 2008.

WR: Brian Hartline (complaining aside) is an excellent big-play receiver who can catch the tough passes, too, and hopefully he will return for his senior year. Dan Sazenbacher is quickly becoming a fan favorite with his hands of glue and his willingness to take the big hit.

Beyond those two, Ray Small might finally shine if he can get his act together off the field, and DeVier Posey got some helpful experience this year and has the tools to be special. Plus, don’t discount Lamaar “Flash” Thomas, Jake Stoneburner, or the four incoming freshmen. Once again, this is a good if not great group.  

TE: I love Jake Ballard, and like most Buckeye fans think he has been underutilized. However, behind him there is no experience and either Nic DiLillo, who redshirted this season, or incoming freshman Reid Fragel, will have to step up quickly, at least to block!

OL: Possibly the biggest question for 2009 is can a line that loses three senior starters get better? I think the answer may be yes.

Obviously, Alex Boone will be missed, though he never maximized his immense talent. I’m not sure that Steve Rehring or Ben Person will be, since they often whiffed on blocks and had trouble remembering the snap count.

Here’s who I am betting on when we open up next year against Navy: J.B. Shugarts (LT); Jim Cordle (LG); Mike Brewster (C); Justin Boren (RG); Bryant Browning (RT). Personally, I would prefer Browning at guard, and if Mike Adams comes on, that might happen.

Beyond those six, only Conner Smith has much experience, and if Marcus Hall commits, he might see some immediate playing time.

In my opinion, the line will be about equal to this year, unless a new coach is hired to teach better fundamentals and put a fire under the big guys.

Overall, I think the offense scores more points due to the progression of Pryor, and the fact that the play calling almost has to get more creative without Beanie.

DL: The weakest link in 2008, the line did get better as the year went on, and I look for more improvement in 2009. At end, Gibson is ready to become dominant, and Nathan Williams might be special, too, if he can gain a little bit more strength to go along with his quickness and tenacity.

Lawrence Wilson will probably return, and he is solid, and Solomon Thomas is making strides. The player that really causes me consternation is Rob Rose, who I thought would be a superstar.

He’s not, and probably never will be, but the light may go on for him in his senior season. This could be a really good group.

At tackle, we still need some big, mean run-stoppers but have a good group returning in Cameron Heyward (could 2009 be his year?), Dexter Larimore and Todd Denlinger. I am also excited to see Garrett Goebel get his first snaps next year.

Of course, I am not discounting the possibility of Melvin Fellows or Johnny Simon making a big splash. Regardless, the line will be improved from this year’s version and that is a good thing.

LB: Saying goodbye to James Laurinaitis and buddy Marcus Freeman is tough, because they made a lot of tackles in their career, and provided plenty of highlights. But the cupboard is not bare. Ross Homan was finally healthy in ‘08, played well, and could move to the middle.

Austin Spitler has waited his chance, and is a good run stuffer, but may lack the speed to play every down. Of course some Florida seed is waiting in the wings, in the person of Etienne Sabino and Brian Rolle.

Both are hard hitters, and I project Sabino as a sure starter and future star. Beyond those four, are two guys who can play outside linebacker or nickel back in Tyler Moeller and Jermale Hines.

I love Hines, who is listed as a safety, and was also impressed in Moeller in the last two games of the season. Of course, all of these guys know there will be a fight with potential superstars Dorian Bell and Storm Klein among four incoming linebackers in the class of ‘09.

Plus, don’t forget Andrew Sweat, who was too good to redshirt this season, as the real Linebacker U keeps churning them out! Personally, I think this group will give up a few more big plays than the past couple of years due to inexperience, but may be better in coverage and against the spread, due to increased speed.

I hope Heacock doesn’t put Homan and Spitler on the field together, however, or the speed factor goes out the window. My early prediction is Sabino, Homan, and Moeller in the opener.

DB: There is a lot to like about this group, but the loss of Malcolm Jenkins is a tough pill to swallow. He ranks up there with Shawn Springs and Antwon Winfield in my book, and will be missed.

The starters seems obvious; rapidly improving Chimdi Chekwa and Donald Washington at cornerback, and ready-for-prime-timer Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell at safety.

Washington worries me a little, since he seemed to digress after his off-the-field problems which sent him to the doghouse, but he has plenty of talent and experience (supposedly he he is contemplating going pro which would be a big mistake).

Losing 2007 recruits Eugene Clifford and James Scott thins the ranks at corner, where healthy Andre Amos would help, but some believe he may leave school.

At nickel, the aforementioned Hines us a hitting machine, and I love his nasty attitude. Further depth will come from Aaron Gant, and there is plenty of room for redshirts like Travis Howard and Orhian Johnson to get into the rotation, but they may be quickly passed by the boatload of talent Tressel has recruited this year.

A guy like C.J. Barnett may see the field immediately due to lack of numbers here. On paper this is the strength of the ‘09 defense if everyone returns, and should make passing a dangerous proposition for the opposition.

So, the defense should be about equal to this year’s squad if some leaders emerge from the senior class to fill the shoes of Jenkins and Laurinaitis.

What about special teams? A Tressel led team never considers this an afterthought, and with departure of Trapasso and Pretorius some might be concerned, but not me.

I think Pettrey is a superior kick to Pretorius right now, and feel confident that either Jon Thoma or Ben Buchanan can be a solid punter. Long-snapper Jake McQuaide did a nice job this year and he has two years of eligibilty left.

As for returns, I think we may have two special players in Ray Small and Lamaar Thomas, and once again, if Small doesn’t get in his own way, he might put some real fear into opposing punters in ‘09.

Well, that’s a look position by position but what about the final record? My way-to-early prediction is 11-1 in the regular season with a loss coming to USC (home) or Penn State (away).

We could easily lose another one, as upsets happen with young teams, but I am optimistic, at least for now, with months to go before I start worrying!

What do you think? Let us know, as we all gaze into the looking glass wearing our Scarlet and Gray-colored glasses!

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Final Big Ten injury report: Week 13

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Courtesy of collegeinjuryreport.com and some of my own research.

ILLINOIS (at Northwestern)

• QB Eddie McGee, toe, probable
• LB Martez Wilson, out, suspension
• DT Josh Brent, knee, questionable
• RB Mikel LeShoure, jaw, questionable
• FB Rahkeem Smith, suspension, questionable
• S Garrett Edwards, shoulder, questionable
• OT Ryan Palmer, foot, questionable
• CB Miami Thomas, knee, out (season)
• DT Sirod Williams, knee, out (season)

INDIANA (at Purdue)

• RB Zach Davis-Walker, thumb, questionable
• S Jerimy Finch, ankle, questionable
• RB Bryan Payton, ankle, questionable
• CB Richard Council, knee, questionable
• LB Will Patterson, knee, questionable
• CB Richard Council, knee, doubtful
• OL Andrew McDonald, undisclosed, questionable
• S Nick Polk, knee, out (season)
• TE Brian Zematis, ankle, out (season)
• S Austin Thomas, knee, out (season)
• OL Dennis Zeigler, knee, out (season)
• CB Chris Phillips, knee, out (season)

IOWA (at Minnesota)

• OG Andy Kuempel, muscle pull, doubtful
• OL Wes Aeschliman, hip, out (season)
• S Harold Dalton, suspension, out
• TE Tony Moeaki, leg, questionable
• OL James Ferentz, suspension, out

MICHIGAN (at Ohio State)

• WR Zion Babb, dismissal, out (season)
• RB Sam McGuffie, shoulder/personal, questionable
• OT Stephen Schilling, knee, questionable
• RB Carlos Brown, foot, questionable
• WR Junior Hemingway, mononucleosis, out
• QB Steven Threet, shoulder, doubtful,
• LB Kevin Leach, ankle, questionable
• T Mark Huyge, ankle, out
• WR Terence Robinson, knee, doubtful
• S Brandon Smith, appendix, out (season)
• G Cory Zirbel, knee, out (season)

MICHIGAN STATE (at Penn State)

• WR Keshawn Martin, undisclosed, questionable
• CB Chris L. Rucker, leg, questionable
• WR Mark Dell, knee, questionable
• S Roderick Jenrette, personal, out (season)

MINNESOTA (vs. Iowa)

• WR Eric Decker, ankle, probable
• S Kyle Theret, leg, probable
• LB Lee Campbell, questionable, hamstring
• RB Duane Bennett, knee, out (season)

NORTHWESTERN (vs. Illinois)

• DT Corbin Bryant, knee, out (season)
• LB Malcolm Arrington, knee, out (season)
• QB Mike Kafka, concussion, probable
• DE Vince Browne, knee, out
• RB Omar Conteh, knee, out (season)
• TE/FB Drake Dunsmore, knee, out (season)
• DE Rejaie Johnson, shoulder, out (season)
• RB Tyrell Sutton, wrist, out
• CB Justan Vaughn, shoulder, out (season)

OHIO STATE (vs. Michigan)

• WR Ray Small, suspension, questionable
• CB Jermale Hines, leg, doubtful
• OL Ben Person, leg, out
• OL Connor Smith, undisclosed, questionable
• DE Curtis Terry, undisclosed, out (season)
• OL Mike Adams, ankle, out (season)
• OL J.B. Shugarts, shoulder, out (season)
• DE Lawrence Wilson, knee, out (season)
• CB Andre Amos, knee, out (season)

PENN STATE (vs. Michigan State)

• DE Josh Gaines, ankle, questionable
• OL Ako Poti, knee, out (season)
• DT Devon Still, ankle, out (season)
• RB Brent Carter, knee, out (season)
• OL Doug Klopacz, knee, out (season)
• DE Jerome Hayes, knee, out (season)

PURDUE (vs. Indiana)

• TE Kyle Adams, knee, doubtful
• LB Jason Werner, back, out
• OL Justin Pierce, groin, questionable
• OT Sean Sester, knee, probable
• G Eric Hedstrom, knee, probable
• QB Joey Elliott, shoulder, out (season)
• T Garrett Miller, knee, out (season)
• RB Jaycen Taylor, knee, out (season)

WISCONSIN (vs. Cal-Poly)

• T Eric Vanden Heuvel, foot, probable
• WR Kyle Jefferson, concussion, out
• TE Lance Kendricks, leg, out (season)
• WR Maurice Moore, leg, doubtful
• TE Travis Beckum, leg, out (season)
• DE Brendan Kelly, thumb, out (season)
• CB Aaron Henry, knee, out (season)
• DE Kirk DeCremer, back, out (season)

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Final Big Ten injury report: Week 12

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Courtesy of collegeinjuryreport.com and some of my own research. Michigan State has a bye this week.

ILLINOIS (vs. Ohio State)

• RB Mikel LeShoure, jaw, doubtful
• FB Rahkeem Smith, suspension, probable (suspension lifted)
• S Garrett Edwards, shoulder, questionable
• OT Xavier Fulton, shoulder, probable
• OT Ryan Palmer, foot, probable
• CB Miami Thomas, knee, out (season)
• DT Sirod Williams, knee, out (season)

INDIANA (at Penn State)

• RB Zach Davis-Walker, thumb, questionable
• S Jerimy Finch, ankle, questionable
• RB Bryan Payton, ankle, out
• QB Kellen Lewis, ankle, probable
• QB Ben Chappell, probable, head
• LB Will Patterson, knee, out
• CB Richard Council, knee, doubtful
• S Joe Kleinsmith, undisclosed, questionable
• OL Pete Saxon, undisclosed, questionable
• OL Mike Reiter, abdominal, questionable
• OL James Brewer, ankle, questionable
• OT Rodger Saffold, knee, probable
• OL Andrew McDonald, undisclosed, questionable
• S Nick Polk, knee, out (season)
• TE Brian Zematis, ankle, out (season)
• S Austin Thomas, knee, out (season)
• OL Dennis Zeigler, knee, out (season)
• CB Chris Phillips, knee, out (season)

IOWA (vs. Purdue)

• OG Andy Kuempel, muscle pull, doubtful
• OL Wes Aeschliman, hip, out (season)
• S Harold Dalton, suspension, out
• TE Tony Moeaki, leg, doubtful
• OL James Ferentz, out, suspension

MICHIGAN (vs. Northwestern)

• RB Brandon Minor, shoulder/wrist/ribs, doubtful
• RB Carlos Brown, foot, questionable
• OL David Molk, toe, probable
• WR Junior Hemingway, mononucleosis, out
• QB Steven Threet, concussion, probable
• LB Kevin Leach, ankle, questionable
• T Mark Huyge, ankle, questionable
• WR Terence Robinson, knee, questionable
• S Brandon Smith, appendix, out (season)
• G Cory Zirbel, knee, out (season)

MINNESOTA (at Wisconsin)

• WR Eric Decker, ankle, out
• RB Duane Bennett, knee, out (season)

NORTHWESTERN (at Michigan)

• LB Malcolm Arrington, knee, out (season)
• QB C.J. Bacher, hamstring, probable
• DE Vince Browne, knee, out
• RB Omar Conteh, knee, out (season)
• TE/FB Drake Dunsmore, knee, out (season)
• DE Rejaie Johnson, shoulder, out (season)
• RB Tyrell Sutton, wrist, out
• CB Justan Vaughn, shoulder, out (season)

OHIO STATE (at Illinois)

• WR Ray Small, out, suspension
• OL Ben Person, leg, out
• DE Thaddeus Gibson, ankle, probable
• DE Curtis Terry, undisclosed, out(season)
• OL Mike Adams, ankle, out (season)
• OL J.B. Shugarts, shoulder, doubtful
• DE Lawrence Wilson, knee, out (season)
• CB Andre Amos, knee, out (season)

PENN STATE (vs. Indiana)

• CB Drew Astorino, thumb, probable
• DE Josh Gaines, ankle, probable
• OL Ako Poti, knee, out (season)
• DT Devon Still, ankle, out (season)
• RB Brent Carter, knee, out (season)
• OL Doug Klopacz, knee, out (season)
• DE Jerome Hayes, knee, out (season)

PURDUE (at Iowa)

• QB Curtis Painter, shoulder, probable
• TE Kyle Adams, knee, doubtful
• LB Jason Werner, back, doubtful
• OL Justin Pierce, groin, questionable
• OT Sean Sester, knee, questionable
• G Eric Hedstrom, knee, questionable
• QB Joey Elliott, shoulder, out (season)
• T Garrett Miller, knee, out (season)
• RB Jaycen Taylor, knee, out (season)

WISCONSIN (vs. Minnesota)

• T Eric Vanden Heuvel, foot, doubtful
• LB Jaevery McFadden, concussion, probable
• TE Lance Kendricks, leg, out (season)
• WR Maurice Moore, leg, questionable
• TE Travis Beckum, leg, out (season)
• DE Brendan Kelly, thumb, out (season)
• CB Aaron Henry, knee, out (season)
• DE Kirk DeCremer, back, out (season)

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Big Ten internal affairs: Week 11

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Here’s our weekly look inside five Big Ten teams.

Illinois — Eddie McGee showed promise last year when he spelled Juice Williams at quarterback. But with Williams entrenched under center for the rest of this season and 2009, Illini coaches aren’t letting McGee’s talents go to waste. McGee made his debut as a wide receiver last Saturday against Iowa and caught two passes for 14 yards, including a critical 9-yarder that helped to set up the game-winning field goal. McGee will remain Williams’ primary backup at quarterback, but he won’t be spending much time holding a clipboard. “We all know when he gets the ball in his hands he can fly,” head coach Ron Zook said. “We’ll be able to expand on that. He’s a heck of an athlete.”

Iowa — Linebacker Dezman Moses returned to practice during the bye week after being suspended four games. Moses was charged Sept. 21 with public intoxication. He played in Iowa’s first few games and will be available Saturday when the Hawkeyes face Penn State. Senior safety Harold Dalton’s future looks grim after an arrest early Sunday for his role in an Iowa City bar fight. Head coach Kirk Ferentz said its “very doubtful” Dalton will return this year. “The common denominator, alcohol, is so often involved,” Ferentz said. “That’s a common denominator. Our uncommon denominator in this case is that [Dalton is] an older player. We’ve talked about that before. I’m a little more understanding with younger guys. But it’s really disappointing.”

Northwestern – The Wildcats likely will play two quarterbacks Saturday against Ohio State, but the prospect of using both players on the field at the same time is highly unlikely. Backup Mike Kafka showcased his dynamic running skills at Minnesota with a Big Ten quarterback-record 217 rushing yards. Kafka might be an effective weapon in the backfield with starter C.J. Bacher or lined up as a wide receiver, but head coach Pat Fitzgerald doesn’t want to take the risk with his second-string quarterback. Third-stringer Dan Persa, who already is being used on special teams, would be a likelier candidate to see playing time elsewhere. “We’re not opposed to doing that,” Fitzgerald said, “but not necessarily with the second quarterback.”

Ohio State – The starting offensive line from the Buckeyes’ Oct. 25 loss to Penn State will remain intact Saturday at Northwestern, but the second unit could have a different makeup. Ben Person, who has started games this season at left guard, might need surgery for a leg injury and likely will miss Saturday’s game. True freshman J.B. Shugarts — previously ruled out for the season with a shoulder injury — will be available in reserve duty if needed. Another freshman, Mike Adams, remains out with a foot injury.

Wisconsin – Tight end is one of the most important positions in Wisconsin’s offense, but it’s a spot where injuries have hit especially hard. After losing Garrett Graham earlier this season, the Badgers have seen Travis Beckum and Lance Kendricks sustain broken left legs in consecutive weeks. Graham and Mickey Turner now will share the duties at tight end for Saturday’s game at Indiana. Turner is more of a blocking tight end but can be effective as a receiver, an area where Graham shines. Wisconsin will continue to emphasize double tight end sets in the offense. “Can you get out of it what you need? Yeah,” offensive coordinator Paul Chryst told the Wisconsin State Journal. “Can you get out of it what you got in the past? No.”

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It’s Ugly, But it’s a Near-Healthy Ugly

After having largely avoided the injury bug the past few seasons, the Buckeyes have taken their lumps in 2008. Beanie’s injury, while not season-ending, was the biggest setback, but there have been many others. Whether you value their contributions or not, both Rehring and Person have missed games …
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What to Watch for – Week 10

Well, life goes on.  Apparently there was some objection to the tone of the synopsis post about the Penn State game, which apparently was indicative of cliffjumping.  In my defense, any perception of that is solely that of the reader, and not the author.  Lest we forget that we shouldn’t conflate exasperation with suicidal tendencies.  There’s plenty of other reasons to jump off the cliff, literally speaking.  These would include problems at work, home, living in Alabama, the sense of powerlessness in light of domineering discourses that subjectify us, the inability to find motivation to deal with the banalities of Western life and, first and foremost, the inevitable realization that any understanding of humanity or consciouness — that is: being, as such — is epiphenomenal and ultimately an emergent and (so far) unknowable phenomenon contingent on the action and reaction of mindless, physical particles.  The inevitable realization that all consciousness, thought, emotion and even behavior is a stochastic phenomenon in a universe governed by the very chaos of these random energy reactions might lead people to abandon hope in the Enlightenment metanarrative.  The ol’ alma mater dropping a decision on the gridiron should not, however.

I did have a post ready for yesterday on the Bollman situation.  I put up the poll question for this week precisely because of the awful performance of the offensive line against Penn State and how Bollman has become the least popular person in Ohio at the moment.  I was curious to see what the vote of confidence was in Bollman across the board, viz, that his departure would be the only way to address the offensive line problems.  To be honest, I like seeing a good split and that not everyone is rushing to 86 him.  On the post I had planned, in short, was thinking about the Bollman situation and wondering if the offensive line problems are overdetermined, and thus not entirely his fault.  Entering the season, I thought Bollman, moreso than Jim Heacock, had identified the nature of the problem: recruiting.  The Buckeyes had probably come to the realization that they reached on in-state lineman prospects in order to secure an easier comitment and that they were now suffering the consequences for it.  This would explain Steve Rehring and, to some extent, Bryant Browning.  This would explain Kirk Barton’s productivity albeit relatively low ceiling, and also account for how a true freshman (Michael Brewster, 5-star Bollman project) has probably been the most consistent performer on the line this season.  There’s also some idiosyncratic personnel issues and, try as he might, Jim Bollman can’t police Alex Boone from being the Wilt Chamberlain of Beer and force him to put in the necessary off-the-field effort for the likes of a USC.  Further, the offensive line… indeed the defensive line as well… indeed, the whole team for the most part… just look tired.  Conditioning, of course, is Lichter’s responsibility and not Bollman’s, per se.  If the conditioning is affecting their jump out of the gates, that’d be more Lichter’s responsiblity as “Director of Football Performance” dealing Bollman a smaller hand.  In trying to prepare this post, and revealing it here, I wasn’t suggesting that Bollman is blame free or that our frustrations with him are totally misguided.  Rather, I was just curious if, though the offensive line debacles reflect very poorly on him, the said debacles aren’t entirely his fault.  Of course, there’s some discrepant evidence I couldn’t explain, such as Ben Person falling well short of expectations and the ghosts of Connor Smith and Kyle Mitchum (two former Army All-Americans).  I wasn’t pretending to have all the answers, just trying to rephrase the question.  In light of that, though, I thought against running that post… even though I think I just did.

Anyways, on to the regular Wednesday features.  With the Ohio State football program suspended for a week (formally called a bye week), there’ll be lots of college football to watch.  So what’s on?

Tuesday

• Houston @ Marshall (ESPN or ESPN2, one of those… I forget, 8:00PM ET).  Apparently Houston has the third most explosive offense in the NCAA when using the proxy of yards per game.  You wouldn’t know that, though, from watching this game and watching Marshall jump out to a 30-3 lead late in the 3rd quarter.  After 3 quarters of this sleeping pill, I yawned and tuned into Greg Oden’s pro debut in that pseudo-sport called the NBA¹.  The only redeeming quality of this game was watching that Houston wide receiver shatter his leg running into an equipment cart in the end zone.  Nice (attempt at) a catch, blanco niño.  But too bad your ass got saaaaaaaaaat.

Thursday

• South Florida @ Cincinnati (ESPN, 7:30PM ET).  Big East football. Thursday night. Chris Spielman and that cue ball will probably be in the booth.  Yep, sounds familiar.

Saturday

• Northwestern @ Minnesota (ESPN2, 12:00PM ET).  Minnesota is one Penn State national title game, one Ohio State loss, and 4 wins away from… gulp… a trip to Pasadena!  I hold no ill will towards Minnesota, so I think it’s kind of cool to see them in this position.  That is, I think it would be cooler if they didn’t change their uniforms to the NIKE’s Bitch Template ™ of uniforms.   Their last set of uniforms under Glen Mason was just so classic.  I’m sure Gopher fans don’t mind aesthetics like I do.  I don’t have much of an interest in who wins this game, other than seeing Northwestern play Vanderbilt in the Outback Bowl.  Oh, and since this is a noon kickoff, and because Northwestern is involved, I think I’m declaring a Pam Alert ™.  I have to be one of a handful of college football fans on the planet that doesn’t hate Pam Ward, but most everyone else I know does.
• Wisconsin @ Michigan State (ESPN, 12:00PM ET).  Two Big Ten games at the noon slot on the ESPN Family of Networks.  Nice. Niiiiiice.  Feels like home and it makes the Southerners down here change the channel.  The more inclined they are to turn off the television, the greater the probability (albeit infinitesimally small) of them picking up a book and reading it.  Good. Goooooood.
• Central Michigan @ Indiana (BTN, 12:00PM ET).  Wait, what happened here.  Is Central Michigan now a Big Ten team or did Indiana get relegated to the MAC?
• Air Force @ Army (ESPNU, 12:00PM ET).  Though Navy has the in-road to yet another successful defense of an outright Commander-in-Chief trophy, it’s service academy football and thus you must watch it.  Communist.
• Michigan @ Purdue (BTN, 12:00PM ET).  PILLOW FIGHT!! Loser gets last place in the Big Ten.
• Pittsburgh @ Notre Dame (NBC, 2:30PM ET).  See, this is the kind of filth that the FCC should be keeping us from watching.
• Florida @ Georgia (Jacksonville) (The SEC Network, 3:30PM ET).  I’m not sure if The Game Formerly Known as the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party but Now Known as The Love Love Love Share Share Share Festival of Good Sportsmanship and Teetotaling because the SEC Doesn’t Want to Own Up to the Fact that Alcoholism is the Only Means of Coming to Grips with the Brutality of the Southern Condition is the least interesting mid-season rivalry game in college football.  Georgia tried to spruce things up by doing some kind of celebration thingie in the end zone after scoring their first touchdown last year.  This, of course, made The Urban Meyer upset that they would do this to The Urban Meyer’s team.  A pox on them, The Urban Meyer declared in his biography, (The) Urban’s Way.  This egregious affront to The Urban Meyer’s sensibilities shan’t be forgotten by The Urban Meyer.  It shan’t!
• Iowa State @ Oklahoma State (ABC, 3:30PM ET).  Wait wait wait… there’s an Iowa State football team?  Again, I’ll be rooting for Oklahoma State.  Their defensive coordinator created Antonio Smith and their head coach yells at women, he’s 40² and he can take it.
• Florida State @ Georgia Tech (ABC, 3:30PM ET).  Hoo-ray! Paul Johnson on national television.  Paul Johnson is the only redeeming value the ACC has.  That said, his arrival at Georgia Tech coincides with the Ramblin’ Wreck’s putrid new uniforms.  I think they’re going for the LSU/Dallas Cowboys wear-white-at-home chic.  Pass.  Oh, and Georgia Tech’s home loss to Virginia set up the 5-3 Cavaliers… yes, 5 wins and 3 losses, to win the Whatever-It’s-Called Division and play upstart… yes: upstart… Florida State out of the Whatever-the-Other-One-is-Called Division in the ACC Title Game. Hmmm.
• Oregon @ California (ABC, 3:30PM ET).  I think ABC owes us some kind of explanation for why non-USC Pac-10 games continue to be televised at this time slot.
• Brigham Young @ Colorado State (The MTN, 6:00PM ET).  In preparation for this football game, Brigham Young’s football team has been having nightly cookie and punch fellowships, playing charades and putting together a play about how much Colorado State can ruin family life.  From what I’ve been told, Elder Max Hall’s performance was exquisite.
• Washington @ USC (probably Fox Sports LA, 6:30PM ET).  Assume crash position, Husky fans.
• Tennessee @ South Carolina (ESPN2, 7:00PM ET).  South Carolina’s defensive line and Tennessee’s secondary notwithstanding, I don’t see how these two teams are anything other than cellar-dwellars in the Big Ten.
• Texas @ Texas Tech (ABC, 8:00PM ET).  I think Lubbock, Texas is hosting its first Gameday ever, but that still won’t make me that interested in watching this game.  That said, Will Muschamp, the Longhorns’ defensive coordinator, reminds me of Will Forte’s impersonation of former Georgia Senator Zell Miller.  I can’t find any of the Zell Miller impersonations on the intertubes, so feel free to share if you can find one.
• Nebraska @ Oklahoma (ESPN, 8:00PM ET).  I’m more tempted to watch this game than Texas-Texas Tech.  Yet, whenever I watch a game with Oklahoma playing, I have to hit the mute button.  Their fight song is far and away the most annoying in college football (and it’s basically ripped off from Yale’s Boola-Boola cheer) and Oklahoma’s band plays it after EVERY SINGLE PLAY. Ugh.

Sunday

• East Carolina @ UCF (ESPN, 8:15PM ET).  Why is UCF playing on Sunday now?

1. Any sport where Derek Fisher is considered an “athlete” can’t be genuine.
2. Yes, I know he’s 41 now…

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Ohio State’s Monster.com Posting: "Will Pay Top Euro for Offensive Coordinator!"

I’m sick…physically ill. If I have to watch the 2008 edition of the Ohio State offense again, I might just vomit all over the computer screen and then hit send, and that will be my article for next week.

WHEW! That felt good to get off my chest. Almost like a good ol’ verbal teaspoon of Pepto-Bismol for the tummy. As a matter of fact, it felt so good, I think I’m gonna drink myself a whole verbal bottle full…

Explain to me, the “common man,” who doesn’t know the true intellect of football, how you can go count ‘em…one…two…three college football games during a singular season without scoring an offensive touchdown?!?!

Better yet, explain to me, the “ignorant fan,” the following numbers out of 120 Division I college football teams…

- 95th in the NCAA in passing offense

- 24th in the NCAA in rushing offense (mind you, this is what Ohio State does AT LEAST 75 percent of the time)

- 67th in the NCAA in scoring offense

- 95th in the NCAA in total offense

- 41st in the NCAA in third down efficiency

- 99th in the country in sacks allowed

Now for the greatest riddle of all: If an offense can’t throw the football, can’t convert third downs, and can’t protect the quarterback…how does it score???

Ah…but it’s a trick question, because if you are THE Ohio State University, you don’t know what the end zone is unless you are the defense and special teams! Because it’s become perfectly clear that this offense can’t find it.

Jim Bollman should be fired IMMEDIATELY…IMMEDIATELY. And they should scour the country to find an assistant coach to try to teach this offensive line how to friggin’ block!

Chris Wells, your preseason All-American tailback, your workhorse…22 carries, 55 yards for a grand whopping total of 2.5 yards per carry! The offensive line got no push, there were no holes, no cutback lanes, nothing…

Alex Boone (6′8″, 316), Bryant Browning (6′4″, 312), Ben Person (6′4″, 323), Steve Rehring (6′7″, 335), Jim Cordle (6′4″, 300), Michael Brewster (6′5″, 295)…Not one player under 295, and you’re gonna try and tell me that you can’t make a hole?

This isn’t just about Penn State: it’s about Ohio, Troy, and USC too. The only thing consistent about this unit all year has been its inconsistencies. When Michael Brewster, a true freshman, is your best offensive lineman among four-year starters and multi-year starting seniors…there is a big problem.

And don’t tell me that the reason OSU can’t run the football is because the Buckeyes aren’t a threat to throw the ball deep. It’s garbage.

Navy leads the nation in rushing annually, and everyone from the opposing head coach to Lil’ Tommy the 10-year-old popcorn vendor in section 146 ZZZ knows it’s coming. But the Naval Academy offensive line, (which by the way, probably AVERAGES about 275 pounds per lineman), are tough, hard-nosed, and disciplined. They know their assignments and they execute them, and they carry out their game plan.

Oh…game plan? Almost forgot! Leads me to my next dose of Pepto…

An offensive coordinator for Ohio State…I think the time has come for the alumni association, the board of trustees, and the fanbase to rise up together and DEMAND one. And NO…I don’t mean a “co-offensive coordinator” like Jim Bollman claims to be. And NO…I don’t mean bringing in some coordinator who is a puppeteer for Jim Tressel.

I’m talking a full-blown, independent, young, energetic, filled with new ideas, offensive coordinator that Jim Tressel can have a good working relationship with.

Because I, along with the rest of BuckeyeNation, am sick to death of an offense that used to have explosive weapons all over the field (Terry Glenn, Eddie George, David Boston, Joey Galloway, Teddy Ginn, Rickey Dudley, Maurice Clarett etc….etc….etc….) and has potential now with DeVier Posey, Lamaar Thomas, Terrelle Pryor, Chris Wells, Brian Robiskie etc….being wasted in the philosophy of “Tresselball.”

This is an offense where our offensive coordinator thinks the most important play in football is the punt! Wrong, Mr. Tressel: The most important play in football is the play that gets you first downs, moves the damn chains, and gets you into the end zone! That’s the most important play in football!

I know I’m angry right now. I also know that this isn’t a nonsensical rant. These are well thought-out sentiments that are being expressed with the hint of “Tresselballitis” that is rumbling from the pit of my stomach.

It may not seem like it from this article, but I’m an Ohio State fan and a Jim Tressel fan. I think he is an excellent leader of young men. I think he is centered as an individual, wise, and offers a great father figure to the players. But I think we are coming to some dead ends as a program.

I’ve been told on many occasions by people “in the know” that Jim Tressel won’t give up play calling duties. Well, I think it’s time for the people above him to make him do just that. If Jim Tressel can’t understand that, is he really still right for this program any more?

A coach has to be willing to adapt. A coach has to be willing to change. If you can’t do that, you risk your program becoming stale. Yes, Ohio State is Jim Tressel’s football program, but he still answers to alumni, to board members, and to you, the fan—and it’s about time we start demanding some change.

There is absolutely no reason this team should be as inept as they are offensively. None…N-O! N-E!…zero, zilch, nada…This team has talent across the board to get inventive, creative, and become explosive.

Ohio State has the talent offensively to be just as prolific as the Texas Techs, Missouris, Oklahoma States, Oregons and Illinois of the world. None of them have “recruited” to the level of Ohio State, so why are they outperforming us?!?!?

Bottom line, stop wasting this team’s offensive talent. Fire Bollman, who can’t motivate this offensive line to block, and open up the world’s largest athletic department budget to hire an offensive coordinator that can help find an offense that, excluding ‘06-’07, has been absent for the past 10 years.

Hell, at least get us into the Top 50 in most offensive categories (I know we’re not like Ohio State or anything). Let’s see what we can do…if that isn’t asking too much.

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Ohio State football: Pregame update from Columbus

Greetings from Columbus. Teams are on the field warming up, and one Buckeye missing is right guard Ben Person. He’s out there in jeans, out of uniform after getting kicked in the shin during practice on Thursday. Person had…
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Ohio State football: Rough start for Buckeyes

Buckeyes win the toss and elect to receive – and freshman Lamaar Thomas drops the kickoff and is tackled at the 8. Steve Rehring gets the start at right guard ahead of Ben Person. And on the second play,…
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Big Ten depth chart tidbits

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

• Ohio State shuffled its struggling offensive line on this week’s depth chart, moving Ben Person from right guard to left guard, Jim Cordle from left guard to right guard and one-time starter Steve Rehring to backup left guard. The Buckeyes need a better performance up front Saturday at Michigan State (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET).
• Defensive end Adrian Clayborn and tight end Brandon Myers remained the starters on Iowa’s depth chart despite suffering injuries Saturday at Indiana.
• Northwestern went back to freshman Jeravin Matthews and senior Omar Conteh as its kickoff return men after Sherrick McManis had a key fumble in Saturday’s loss to Michigan State.

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