Ohio State Preview

I emailed this six weeks ago, but not much will change until the starting lineup is announced for the first game. Gathered facts are in regular type. My opinion is in italics.

Offense:

Terrelle Pryor has been busting his butt in the weight room and working on his throwing mechanics. He also has a 3.0 GPA, which is good compared to the team. (A 3.0 GPA is good?) His shoulder strain from last week was the result of his working too hard, nothing more. He is doing everything he can to improve and be good. He still has work to do in improving his mechanics.

Justin Boren has picked up right where he left off at M*ch*g*n two years ago. He's the leader of the OL, and is "nasty" in the threnches. (Watch your eyeballs.) Mike Adams is "soft." In HS he got by on his size and athleticism. He hasn't developed the killer instincts yet to succeed in college ball. Jim Cordle, a natural guard (and pretty good, at that) and Mike Adams are our two best tackles. We are weak at tackle, again.

Todd Denlinger has been practicing some as a blocking TE. That's JT's version of innovation, and it's a good idea.

Jake Stonebuner has been also moved to TE. He was a receiver in HS, which will give us our best receiving TE since Ben Hartsock. He could even be motioned out to the slot. A TE being thrown to? I've heard that prediction since at least 1997. I'll believe it when I see it.

DeVier Posey is emerging as the next great WR at tOSU. Lamaar Thomas is improving well. He will never have the hands, route running, coverage-reading skills of a good WR, but he's FAST. Ted Ginn lacked all of those skills, and he did just fine at tOSU.

Adam Homan is looking good for a freshman FB. He also has good hands. Can you say Matt Keller? I believe Homan early-enrolled in January.

Dan Herron will be the next Antonio Pittman. Which is fine. Pittman was plenty good in college.

Ray Small and Brandon Saine still suck, and always will. I hope they are studying hard, because they will never make any money in the NFL.

Defense:

Thadeus Gibson has also picked up where he left off. Our D line will be our strongest unit this year, and the best we have had in several years. Lawrence Wilson is still recovering from his knee injury last fall. He will never be as good as he was.

Cameron Heyward will switch back and forth from end to tackle, looking for a mismatch. Look for him the wreak havoc.

I'm still concerned about our tackles. Dexter Larimore, Todd Denlinger, and Doug Worthington are adequate, but that's it. I'm not sure if Denlinger practicing as a TE is good (we have plenty of good DT's.) or bad (Denlinger will never be a good DT, so let's try him somewhere else, just like Tyler Whayel the other year.)

LB's are Ross Homan, Austin Spitler, and Etienne Sabino. They will be decent, and improve well through season. "Etienne" will be misspelled and mispronounced for a long time.

Chimdi Chikwa has his CB spot locked down. He will be good. But not as good as the legendary CB's of teams past.

The other CB spot will be mix of Andre Amos, Devon Torrence, and Travis Howard, until someone emerges. No one ever will. They will all be adequate, but that's it.

Jermale Hines is listed as the 2nd string strong safety. But he'll play a LOT, somewhere. He's way too good to keep off the field.