The audible commentary
Early hype justified for talented Buckeyes
How good do you think Ohio State will be this football season?
Sunday, May 11, 2008
College football rankings mean nothing this time of year, of course, but they give us a reason to discuss the sport in the offseason. And so, Ohio State fans will have plenty to coo about after reading Mark Schlabach of ESPN report that the Buckeyes are on top of his post-spring practice Top 25 heading into next season.
"Raise your hand if you want to see the Buckeyes back in the BCS title game ... didn't think so," Schlabach wrote. "But with an extraordinary number of juniors and seniors returning, Ohio State seems poised to become the first team in the 112-year history of the Big Ten to win three straight outright league titles."
Extras
Get latest headlines via RSS feedsIgnoring the Buckeyes' two consecutive embarrassing BCS championship game losses, it's difficult not to be optimistic about Ohio State in 2008.
This is a team both deep and talented. Experienced quarterback. Hot new recruit at quarterback. Heisman-potential running back. Nation's best defense that could be even better.
In Schlabach's poll, Ohio State is followed by Georgia, Oklahoma, USC and Florida. If other rankings change the order a bit, by the third week the Buckeyes could potentially face USC in a No. 1-against-No. 2 game, which would be their fifth in the past three seasons (and they're 2-2 in those matchups).
Regardless of what happens between now and the season's start against Youngstown State, it's not out of line for Ohio State fans to have serious hopes of returning to the championship game. Schlabach's poll confirms that.
Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.
Comments
By Josh
May 15, 2008 7:39 PM | Link to this
For our Bucks to go all the way they will need to improve in many areas. Such as the D-line, losing Gholston is huge and they weren’t that great with him last year. The interior O-line was lousy. We have slow, small WR’s. More creativity with the offensive play calling would help. I love Tressel, but hate Tressel Ball. Lastly Heacock can’t call that cush zone instead of man coverage against talented teams anymore.
By Josh
May 15, 2008 7:38 PM | Link to this
For our Bucks to go all the way they will need to improve in many areas. Such as the D-line, losing Gholston is huge and they weren’t that great with him last year. The interior O-line was lousy. We have slow, small WR’s. More creativity with the offensive play calling would help. I love Tressel, but hate Tressel Ball. Lastly Heacock can’t call that cush zone instead of man coverage against talented teams anymore.
By Rick
May 15, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
Look, facts are facts the Big 10 is weak. The two luckiest people in America are John McCain and who ever gets to play Ohio State in the BCS Game. Those are automatic wins. The other thing, Ohio State the best team in Ohio, are there any other colleges in Ohio that even have a winning record? There is no need for SEc teams to go up to play Big 10 teams because the Big 10 is not worth the time and money.
By Dan
May 15, 2008 1:31 PM | Link to this
I guaranttee that OSU will be the juggernaut that we expect them to be. I also guarantee that the pollsters will have very close eye on them for one slip, they will be gone and also there title hopes. After the past 2 performances in the GAME, even though the BUCKS were not expected to contend last year, the voters will punish them for any bad performance. They must play a near flawless season. GO BUCKS.
By Jake
May 14, 2008 4:51 PM | Link to this
This team is going to be one of the best to ever play on the college level. With as many draft picks that there will be off next years team, we could probly beat a couple pro teams out there. I mean we are looking 5 to 6 first round draft picks (thats right first round). This team should be scary good. With that said you see the kind of hate there is out there for THE OSU. So we need to keep our heads on straight see the goal and go take from whom ever staps in our way. GO BUCKS!
By DJD
May 14, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this
1st of all (SEC) fans the Buckeyes should have never been in the last 2 NC. Against Fla we had just lost all star defensive players. Against Lucky State Uni we had lost all star Off players. It’s not our fault that no other conf would man up and fill that spot. the Big 12 had 3 shots at it and blew them all last yr. BUT! as Val Kilmer says in Tombstone “A Day of reckoning is comin”. The question is which SEC blow hard is going to be our Huckleberry?
By Adam
May 14, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
To any SEC fan out there. I would like to see ANY of the so-called GREAT SEC teams play a schedule like OSU’s. How hard is it to play an all out air game week-in and week-out? Not very. Why don’t you play 12, ok I’ll be fair, 10 games a season the way the Big 10 plays. Not ONE team in the SEC would have a winning record. It’s not hard to air a ball out every play and not get hit 3/4 of the game. Granted it works for the SEC, but, that is not to say that their schedule is tougher. Go Bucks!!
By roy boy
May 13, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this
They have all the right talent and the stars are aligning—BUT BE CAREFUL —one sloppy game and the party will be over. It will be incredible if they can make it back to the NC. I agree that they just need to go out and spank a few teams and quit letting them hang around. I would love to see them play all their games like they did against Mich. two years ago—-well except that the D gave away too many points.
By tim
May 13, 2008 6:46 AM | Link to this
great team, looking forward to the season..but something has to change on defense -I was at the BCS this year, and LSU schooled Laurinaitis and Co - either its the coaching on defense, or the talent is way overrated - I vote the former - lets let Fickell have a go at the helm.
By tim
May 13, 2008 6:46 AM | Link to this
great team, looking forward to the season..but something has to change on defense -I was at the BCS this year, and LSU schooled Laurinaitis and Co - either its the coaching on defense, or the talent is way overrated - I vote the former - lets let Fickell have a go at the helm.
By tim
May 13, 2008 6:45 AM | Link to this
great team, looking forward to the season..but something has to change on defense…I was at the BCS this year, and LSU schooled Laurinaitis and Co…either its the coaching on defense, or the talent is way overrated…I vote the former….lets let Fickell have a go at the helm.
By d-town
May 12, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this
The Bucks will go as far as Beanie carries them. Boeckman cant make a big throw in a pressure situation and Heacock is continually outcoached by younger coordinators. As far as Big10/SEC it is 13-13 over the last six years, how is that an advantage?? FIRE HEACOCK!!! FICKEL FOR D-COORDINATOR!!!
By Jason
May 12, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
We can give credit to ONE SEC team finally for putting OSU on their schedule. Tennessee manned up and did it but dont count on any other SEC teams trying it. Especially Florida, LSU and Georgia. These SEC fans can continue talking about how OSU is good in their conference only. Well when we’ve played five 1 vs. 2 matchups in the past 2 years along with a top program from the other BCS conferences than there is no relevance from what the SEC fans say.
By ODaized
May 12, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this
I don’t care what the south says, people from ohio, once we get a hold of your fast skinny * were going to break you. This year if Tressle truley believes in being furocious then lets run the f’ing score up on everybody including U$C and MS. Michigan. Come on Tress you owe the fans. We need you guys to pound them in the ground every week to shut their mouths and show the SEC whats a coming- Beanie Wells and the OSU TRAIN leaving train tracks across their face.
GO BUCKS KICK SOME A*S
By boxter
May 12, 2008 1:47 PM | Link to this
Alright, I’ll admit OSU is great. I just get tired of hearing about it. Do you have any idea how hard it is to be a Michigan fan living here in Ohio? It’s not fun. You might be able to beat us on the field but we can still talk a good game. One day things will change and we’ll have a good program and you’ll wish that you were as good as us.
By Brian
May 12, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this
Ohio State has always had great talent. Untill Tressel arrived the coaching has been lacking - but Tressel has turned everything around. Regardless of the NCG’s outcomes - it is truely a statement to have played in the last 2 NCG’s alone and 3 in the last 6 years. tOSU has consitantly been in the top 10 rankings and this year they will be unstoppable. The SEC has their share of weak teams just like the Big 10, Pac 10, Big 12 and all the other conferences.
By Purvis R. Coley
May 12, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Talent has always been there. The problems I see are coaching, especially when coming from behind. We get behind, we tend to turn the ball over alot. Also, if the running game is working, keep running!!!! Even if we are behind, then go to the air! Come on Buckeye coaches, let’s get it right this year! GO BUCKS!!!!
By Hershel Walker
May 12, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
Hey Boxter,
OSU asked Georgia to play and 1-1 and got turned down. No SEC team wants to travel north and play… notice how the Big 12 (Texas), ACC (Miami), and Pac 10 (USC) are willing to play OSU. OSU is willing, but SEC likes to play Big Ten schools only in warm weather after their month layoff.
By Craig Hammond
May 12, 2008 10:13 AM | Link to this
OSU should have one of the best teams that I can remember and I have been following since the late 80’s. However, not so fast my friends - if OSU loses just ONE game, don’t be shocked if the pollsters do whatever possible to leave them out of the NCG. To make matters worse, based on Schlabach’s rankings, look at the schedule OSU has to navigate to stay undefeated: AT #4 USC; AT #12 Illinios; AT #15 Wisconsin; and AT #23 Mich State! If we get through that schedule unscathed, we deserve to be in
By buckeye101
May 12, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
Ohio st. is the real deal thats for sure. We have been somewhat outplayed in the last 2 national championships games, but it all comes down to executing on defense. I believe that with the talent and experience returning this year we will be 2008 National Champions even if it’s against a big scary SEC team, bring it on!!! “GO BUCKS”
By buckeye101
May 12, 2008 8:53 AM | Link to this
Ohio st. is the real deal thats for sure. We have been somewhat outplayed in the last 2 national championships games, but it all comes down to executing on defense. I believe that with the talent and experience returning this year we will be 2008 National Champions even if it’s against a big scary SEC team, bring it on!!! “GO BUCKS”
By Snash Gardsend
May 12, 2008 7:59 AM | Link to this
OSU will be in the title game again this season if they beat USC on the road. It’s their fifth 1-2 game in the last 3 seasons. They played in 3 1-2 games last year but still SEC fans complain that OSU plays a cupcake sked and is a “National Joke”. SEC fans make statements like “any SEC teams on OSU’s schedule this year”. For crying out loud SEC fans need to shut their pie-holes. How many SEC teams would have winning records if they had to play a big-ten schedule? It works both ways bubba!
By MAP
May 12, 2008 7:31 AM | Link to this
Boxter- SEC teams? maybe not, not this year, but they’re coming. How about USC? How about Texas 2 years ago. You take the exception of last year’s schedule and try to use it as the trend. The Buckeyes were happy to get to the BCS Championship game last year and quite lucky to get in. It took half a dozen teams falling on their faces the last 2 weeks of the year for OSU to slide up. But this year with all the returning upperclassmen and a returning starter at QB, this team is ready to strike.
By boxter
May 12, 2008 7:21 AM | Link to this
They are ALWAYS great aren’t they? Best team in OHIO. Just ask any OSU fan. Let’s all meet at BW’s for some wings and talk about how tough it is going to be be beating YSU or BGSU again. They will be good UNTIL they have to play someone out of their cup cake schedule. Any SEC teams on that schedule this year? They are a national joke, but good in Ohio.
By Josh Jackson
May 11, 2008 10:41 PM | Link to this
I believe Ohio State will be very talented and may have the deepest team I can remember since I started following them in 1995. They again have a good shot at reaching the title game and winning it. However, just when you think you have the team to do it, to win it all, things just don’t work out for whatever reason. These reasons may be: not tackling and giving up 300+ yards rushing, slipping and falling and allowing the lone touchdown in a tight game, getting stunned at home,…etc.