by Greg Kincaid
This week in the Gridiron Report, we take a look at the Ohio State Buckeyes, who always show promise as a team every season. With the Buckeyes losing a handful of talented players to either the draft or graduation, Jim Tressel will have to be patient with a team that is still very capable of winning the Big Ten.
The biggest question this off-season will be, “Can Terelle Pryor live up to the hype and be the quarterback he is expected to be?” Pryor had a decent freshman campaign, which earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. However, his quarterback skill can use some improvement. In the Fiesta Bowl, Todd Boeckman ended up taking over half the snaps at quarterback while Pryor lined up as a receiver. Ohio State will need him to be efficient this year in order to be successful as a team.
As for recruiting, Ohio State has no worries. The Buckeyes have the number one ranked recruiting class according to Scout.com. So far, the Scarlet and Gray have three defensive five-star recruits coming in, including linebacker Dorian Bell, defensive end Melvin Fellows and defensive tackle Johnny Simon. With recruits like that, the Buckeyes should have no worries replacing guys like James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins.
On the offensive side of the ball, recruiting is looking just as good. Losses of Chris “Beanie” Wells and Brian Robiske will be tough to overcome, but the Buckeyes have some promise with incoming freshmen. Duron Carter, a four-star recruit wide receiver with lots of size, will help fuel Ohio State’s receiving corps. Also, Jaamal Berry is a small, but very talented, running back that will try to fill the shoes of Beanie.
The Buckeyes have a somewhat favorable schedule in 2009. After hosting Navy in week one, Ohio State will host the USC Trojans on September 12. USC will be good again, but a win for the Buckeyes may give them some good recognition. Other notable games for the Buckeyes will come on November 7 at Penn State and November 14 at home against a solid Iowa squad.
Based on the favorable schedule in the Big Ten, look for OSU to go 10-2 and a trip to the Rose Bowl for winning the Big Ten.
Big Ten Basketball Power Rankings
After another exciting week in the Big Ten, the basketball standings are starting to make the picture clearer. After a tough loss at home to Northwestern, Michigan State made their case for being the best team in the Big Ten by winning a critical road game at Ohio State. Jamelle Cornley and the Penn State Nittany Lions made a strong statement this week winning a critical game against Michigan and then coming back from 13 points down with under six minutes left to beat Iowa.
From this weeks events, check out the updated power rankings….
1) Michigan State
2) Purdue
3) Illinois
4) Minnesota
5) Penn State
6) Ohio State
7) Michigan
8) Iowa
9) Wisconsin
10) Northwestern
11) Indiana
Can’t see any other team having a better chance of winning the Big 10 than Ohio State. And I think they have a decent chance of beating So Cal this year since they are losing Sanchez, their OC, and have to go to Columbus. 2009 could be a chan’ship year for the Buckeyes. Anything less than an 11-1 reg season might be “disappointing”.
Wait just a buckeye-pickin minute here – OSU is playing Navy? Oh ok I get it – Buckeye fans and everyone else slag on the Irish for playing Navy and other service academies, and so now the sweater vest gets his shot?
Joking aside – I am looking forward to the OSU / USC matchup – just wish it was later in the season. Yeah the Trojans without Sanchez – somehow we missed discussing the press conference when Pete Carroll might have given his QB the cold shoulder.
As for hoops – it doesn’t seem right having Indiana at the bottom. I know they are easily the worst team in the conference. Greg can we somehow make sure that Kelvin Sampson’s name is affixed to IU as long as they continue as bottom feeders? I hope that guy gets carpal tunnel for all of his ill-advised text messages.
The Rose Bowl, Happy Valley, and now the Shoe – the list goes on of venues visited by Greg Kincaid. Great stuff!!!!!
I think the biggest key for Buckeyes success in 2009 will be the progression of Terrelle Pryor. He looked really uncomfortable throwing the ball and if his progression falters – do they just make him a WR? If so, that leaves huge hole at the QB spot..