State of the Buckeyes
By Steve Croyle |
|
"Real Buckeye fans know that this is a great program and we always support the Buckeyes. Win, lose, or what have you. Whatever the people outside of 270 think is their prerogative."
-The Buck I Guy
Regardless of what real Buckeyes fans think, Ohio State and the rest of the Big Ten conference have sustained massive losses in terms of national esteem. Nationally televised performances against ranked opponents, three straight bowl losses, and an ever-weakening strength of schedule rankings have conspired to undermine what was once the premier football conference.
The Buckeyes can't control the Big Ten, but back-to-back losses in the BCS championship game and a humiliating beating at the hands of the University of Southern California on the road last year have drawn harsh, but valid, criticisms of a program that shocked the college football world with a perfect record in 2002 and the subsequent upset of Miami University in the Fiesta Bowl.
Critics point the finger at Jim Bollman, Ohio State's offensive coordinator and offensive line coach. People 'in the know' chalk the play calling up to Jim Tressel, but it's the offensive line that has appeared to let the Buckeyes down against tougher opponents. Missed assignments, poor reads, and a perceived lack of aggression have undermined the team's ability to control the line of scrimmage and pick up those tough yards in big games. Some critics claim that it's a lack of talent in the trenches, but most seem to think that the blame falls on Bollman.
"I take it very personal," towering tackle J.B. Shugarts said of the criticism. "Especially with Coach Bollman ... and I know [the other linemen] feel the same way."
Of course they don't like it, but not liking it and doing something about it are two different things. So what are you doing about it, big guy? Believe it or not, I did ask the 6'8" 300-pounder that very question.
"We're working really hard," he said. "We're adding new plays, but the coaches are taking it slow. They're keeping it simple and letting us play."
Okay, sure...but what's he supposed to say? He might even believe it, but that doesn't mean it's true. So I asked somebody who would know, first hand, just how hard these guys are working. Does the offensive line have a chip on its shoulder?
"Oh yeah," said defensive end Willie Mobley. "We've been going at it pretty hard for a few days and they aren't taking any plays off. It's full go."
Jim Bollman is more measured. "We've talked about it," he said, but he stressed the importance of staying focused on the fundamentals and maintaining control. He talked about "playing on the verge of a rage" - but not going over the edge.
If the Buckeyes are going to silence critics this year, they will need to exact revenge against USC in Columbus on September 12th, but good luck finding anybody to talk about it. You can't overlook the first opponent.
"If we lose to Navy, nothing else matters," lineman Mike Brewster said.
Making the transition from playing Navy to preparing for USC is going to be a huge challenge, given Navy's antiquated but effective option-style attack as it compares to the pass-happy stylings of Pete Carroll's USC squad, but as several players quickly pointed out, the coaches do a great job of keeping them focused on the task at hand. Nobody will take the bait and talk out of turn. The mantra: One game at a time.
Terrelle Pryor
Photo: Jeff Mills
A lot of people, fans and critics alike, are excited to see how Terrelle Pryor has developed, if Dan "Boom" Herron is ready to tote the rock, or if highly-touted freshman running back Jaamal Berry will force his way into the rotation. Others wonder how the defense will adjust to losing its core to the NFL, especially with one of the projected starters at linebacker, Tyler Moeller, out indefinitely after sustaining a severe head injury on a family vacation, where he was randomly assaulted. Even if he didn't secure the starting job by the end of camp, the fourth year junior would have been a key contributor. On top of it all, this year's incarnation of the Buckeyes is going to rely heavily on a crop of sophomores.
"I hope they don't play like sophomores," head coach Jim Tressel told a mob of reporters on picture day.
These are all valid concerns, but everything revolves around the success or failure of the offensive line. Terrelle Pryor's development as a passer won't matter if he's got a defensive end in his face when he drops back. "Boom" Herron's ability to hit the hole will be negated if it's occupied by a 285-pound tackle, and if the Buckeyes can't put up points and control the clock, the best defense in all of football won't save them.
It all starts up front.
That's not a cliche; that's football. A great offensive line can make average 'skill' players look like super stars, but if the offensive line is only average, so goes the rest of the team.
Buck I Guy agrees. When I asked him who he thought was critical to the Buckeyes being successful, he rattled off the names of the guys up front and discussed how important it is for them to gel as a unit, but he's confident that they'll succeed.
"The o-line has great written all over them," he said.
Originally Published: September 1, 2009
