What To Work On: 2010 Offseason Edition
As I watch the final quarter of the Rose Bowl, courtesy of the Big Ten Network replay, I’m already looking forward to next season. This team has a lot of potential and I can’t wait to see what they do!
There’s always work to be done and improvements to be made. As such, here are some things I’m keeping my eye on.
1. Special Teams. Special Teams. Special Teams.
Tress puts so much emphasis on special teams play. Coverage, returning, punting, kicking, & the whole she-bang. It’s a key part to Tressel-ball and it was pretty terrible this season by Tressel standards. I excuse the return game of the Rose Bowl due to the absence of Ray Small. And being that Smally is a senior and Lamaar Flash Thomas has transferred, the staff must find a new return man in this off season. Preferably one that doesn’t make everyone hold their breath wondering if he’s going to muff it. I don’t care if it’s a freshman. Just make sure he gets as many practice reps as possible, so he’s ready.
Kick coverage was atrocious this year. Opponents had way too favorable field position and the defense shouldn’t routinely be placed in that type of position. Oregon’s return yardage was unacceptable at 199 yards. Losing senior Marcus Williams, early in the season, didn’t help the coverage unit. I could be wrong, but I also believe Tyler Moeller was a special teams regular. Whenever a longtime special teams contributor is sidelined, it’s going to hurt. But I don’t think that’s the sole reason they underperformed. The unit simply has to get better.
Who’s going to handle the kicking & punting duties? Local boy Ben Buchanon and incoming frosh Drew Basil (who is enrolling in March) will probably be in the mix for starting punter. I’d assume Devin Barclay will be back and resume the role of primary kicker.
2. Playbook revisions
First of all, the option pitch needs to be scrapped from the playbook. I hate it. Too slow to develop and only works about 15% of the time. Get rid of it, Tress!
Overall, I loved the Rose Bowl offense. Letting TP throw and effectively shut up the haters was exactly what the doctor ordered. I’d like to see more of that. Hopefully it will give all of us Buckeye fans flashbacks to Troy’s Heisman year…
Having to break in new skill players in the WR and RB positions, as well as a of the Oline meant things would be a little rocky at times. I expected that coming into the ‘09 season. Now that those pieces are in place, and all returning for 2010, the foundation has been set. 7-on-7’s this summer should prove to be invaluable to TP, Posey, Sanzenbacher, Stoney, and our stable of RBs. Chemistry class, all summer long, yo!~
It’s been no secret that TP’s passing pretty much occurs outside the hash marks. Being able to utilize the middle of the field, and possibly our TEs as a receiving threat, would make the Buckeye offense even more potent. Getting him comfortable enough take advantage of that portion of the field would be huge! I’d really love to see improvement there.
3. The Running Back Stable.
What to do? What to do? Glad I’m not Tress! There will be 2 more RBs added to the roster in Carlos Hyde (just enrolled after spending the fall in prep school) and Rod Smith. That’s on top of returning every. single. RB. we had this past season. And don’t forget about 5* Jaamal Berry, who redshirted.
Saine
Herron
Hall
Berry
Martin
Hyde
Smith
And there’s only one football…
4. The Secondary
Losing Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russel hurts. It’s nothing the team can’t recover from, but losing 2 of your 3 best safeties is a situation that most fans will/should be watching. Appears the leader to start alongside Jermale Hines is Ohrian Johnson, another Brew Crew member. From all accounts, we’ll be seeing a big, super athletic, hard hitting safety. The defense, in general, tends to reload. There’s always a talented, coached-up player just waiting for his chance to hit the field. And as long as the Dline continues to get the push they have been, I think the Safety position is just fine. Our starting CB’s returning also helps.
5. Drinking the Kool-Aid?
After the impressive Rose Bowl win and Terrelle’s seeming “coming out party”, the national media are already on his jock and back on the Ohio State bandwagon. The 2009 Buckeyes appeared to respond quite favorable to all the negative talk and doubters. They did indeed “Finish Strong” with the Rose Bowl victory. Now, they are right smack in the middle of the National Title hunt. What’s it going to be like, for the next 7+ months, when everyone is telling them how good they’re going to be next season? Are they going to stay hungry? Is it still going to be “us against the world”? We’ll see!
Related Posts:
You must be logged in to post a comment.