#17 Ohio State Buckeyes Season Preview

Could true freshman Braxton Miller, the top quarterback recruit in the country end up starting for The Ohio State University.

I love Ohio State this is one of my favorite teams to watch on Saturday’s.  I will stay true to Buckeye fans and continue to watch this team because I do not want to be a flip flooper, but I lost a lot of respect for Ohio State after their major NCAA Sanctions.  Coach Jim Tressel got fired and quarterback Terrell Pryor got kicked off the team while 4 of his teammates got suspended for the first 5 games.

Offensive Outlook: Ohio State has a quarterback dilema now that Pryor got dismissed from the team.  Right now Joe Bauserman a senior redshirt is probably the Buckeyes safest bet at this point.  Kenny Guiton will be a backup option behind Bauserman. Braxton Miller was the top quarterback recruit in the country this season so he could start for Ohio State later in the season.

Throwing a true freshman into the starting lineup without a good supporting cast for the first 5 games is simply foolish.  My problem with Miller starting right away is that he would not have a very good supporting cast with left tackle Mike Adams, running back Dan “Boom” Herron, and  primary passing target wide receiver Devier Posey all sitting out the first 5 games due to suspension.

Once all 5 of those players return Ohio State travels to Nebraska to face a very stingy defense.  I would not make Braxton Miller’s first career start against that Nebraska defense because they have 2 quality cornerbacks in Alfonzo Dennard and Ciante Evans despite losing cornerback Prince Amukamara.  Playing your freshman quarterback game against a defense with 2 quality cornerbacks is not a smart move because a horrible game may affect Braxton Miller’s confidence.

Braxton Miller should not start in the first half of the season.  He should start the 2nd have of the season though.  On October 15th the Buckeyes travel to Illinois.  After that game Ohio State has 2 weeks to prepare for a home game against the Wisconsin Badgers on October 29th.  The Buckeyes wrap up the season with a home contest against Indiana, a road game at Purdue, a home contest against Penn State, and a road contest in Ann Arbor to wrap up the season.

Giving Braxton Miller 2 games of experience in a 3 week developmental period will help Miller gain experience.    By the time November arrives Ohio State will an easy schedule to wrap up the year.  I really believe using those Illinois and Wisconsin games as prep games for Braxton Miller’s development entering the November homestretch is critical because it gives Miller the experience he would need heading into 2012 and beyond.

Ohio State always has the option to redshirt Miller if both Joe Bauserman and Kenny Guiton impress Ohio State offensive coordinator Jim Bollman.  I would not redshirt Braxton Miller because so many quarterbacks who get redshirted often end up transferring to different schools.  Cam Newton, Ryan Mallett, Jevan Snead, and Joe Flacco all transfered to different schools and ended up having more success with the schools.  I am not wasting time getting into details on why Newton left Florida.  Everyone who follows College Football remembers what controversy surrounded Cam Newton.

Ohio State’s offensive line will not feature blindside left tackle Mike Adams for the first 5 games.  This means right tackle JB Shugarts will have to excel in the pass blocking department at right tackle until left tackle Mike Adams returns. Center Michael Brewster is the best offensive line prospect in this draft.  Brewster will anchor the offensive line while opening Ohio State’s running game during Herron’s 5 game suspension.

Brewster will not have help at the guard position on the interior offensive line like he did the last few years.  Left Guard Justin Boren and right guard Bryan Browning both graduated last season.  If Brewster struggles early its due to the lack of experience on the offensive line scouts may move his draft stock down having Brewster slide from a 2012 1st round prospect to a 2012 2nd round pick.

Ohio State’s main receiving target Devier Posey will not play until week 5.  Corey Brown, Chris Fields, James Lewis, and Ty Williams all have the ability to step up for Ohio State.  The question is will anyone cease the opportunity to become the #1 wide out of the future in Columbus?

Posey, Sanzenbacher, and tight end Jake Stoneburner were Ohio State’s 3 primary passing targets last season.  Posey is suspended for the first 5 games and Sanzenbacher is gone.  Corey Brown only obtained 7 receptions for 103 receiving yards with 1 receiving touchdown as the Buckeye’s slot receiver last season.  This year Brown will be utilized much more in the Ohio State Buckeye’s passing game.

Ohio State continues to add rushers to their ground game each year.  Despite losing Brandon Saine Ohio State has very strong depth at running back.  Even though Dan Herron will be suspended for the first 5 games of the season Ohio State will have some key players in the backfield.  Jaamal Berry will be Ohio State’s #1 back during Herron’s 5 game suspension while junior rusher Jordan Hall likely comes in for Jaamal Berry as a #2 back.

Carlos Hyde is a running back with the size of a fullback at 238 pounds.  Hyde is the 4th running back on Ohio State’s depth chart and the 2nd fullback on the Buckeyes depth chart.  Hyde will be used in goal line sets.

Redshirt freshman power runner Rod Smith likely will not see many carries this season unless Hyde fatigues at fullback early this season.

Defensive Outlook: The only coach at Ohio State with a standout reputation at this point is defensive coordinator Jim Heacock who became the Buckeyes defensive coordinator.  Heacock turned 63 in June while Luke Fickell is only 37 years old turning 38 next Friday.  You can understand why Heacock remains defensive coordinator rather than becoming the new Buckeyes head coach because of the huge age gap.

Despite the age gap Heacock is one of the best defensive coordinators he can take players and develop them into top draft prospects.

Heacock has developed 5 Ohio State players into first round picks.  AJ Hawk, Bobby Carpenter, Vernon Gholston, Malcolm Jenkins, and Cameron Heyward all became first round picks.

Ohio State lost their 4-3 right end Cameron Heyward who recorded 14.5 sacks for Ohio State last season.  Ohio State’s 4-3 left end Nathan Williams only had 4.5 sacks, but will probably pass rush more once he returns from Ohio State’s 5 game suspension.  Williams may even move into that right end role.

Pass Rushers Melvin Fellows and Solomon Thomas were both backups for Ohio State last season serving as depth players on the defensive line.  This season Fellows and Thomas will start the first 5 games at the defensive end spots for Ohio State’s defensive line.

Ohio State has 3 run stuffers on the defensive line with John Simon as the main run stuffer.  Simon is 6 foot 2 270 pounds so he may move to defensive end in the NFL and emerge as a late round prospect if his pass rushing improves.

The other two run stuffers are Garrett Goebel and Johnathan Hawkins.  Regardless of who starts across from Simon, the other defensive tackle will be able to provide some depth in case injuries or player fatigue occurs.

Regardless of who starts for Ohio State at linebacker the Buckeyes will continue to produce a linebacker factory because of Luke Fickell and Jim Heacock’s consistency to develop players.  Despite losing left outside linebacker Ross Homan and middle linebacker Brian Rolle, the Buckeyes right outside linebacker playing the WILL on the weak side is returning.

Andrew Sweat will likely be the leader of this Ohio State linebacking core.  Regardless of who leads the linebacking core Ohio State’s linebacker unit should fare well as a team.

Ohio State’s secondary is going to take a huge step back this season.  Ohio State lost cornerback Chykie Brown, cornerback Devon Torrence, and free safety Jermaile Hines.  Orhian Johnson a hard hitting strong safety is the only returning player on this secondary.

Projected Record 8-4: Ohio State is going to have a minor setback year this season with a new coach, a 5 game suspension for key players, and a quarterback dilemma now that Pryor got kicked off campus.  Ohio State may revert to their previous Big 10 power house form in 2012 when Braxton Miller becomes a full time starter while having tons of legit receiving targets to throw to.  Miller can scramble plus there will be rushers who can run even if Herron leaves.  Ohio State is a offensive tackle factory when it comes to producing blue chip left tackles who protect the quarterback’s blindside so I am not too worried about the offensive line losses following this season.

I believe Ohio State will to lose to Michigan State without their star players due to suspension.  I expect them to lose to Nebraska on the road.  I think Wisconsin defeats Ohio State this season in Miller’s 2nd career start.  The other team that I could see defeating Ohio State is the Michigan Wolverines.  I don’t really care for Michigan to be honest.  I got 3 convincing reasons why I think Michigan could end up knocking off my Buckeyes in 2011.

1. Both teams have new coaches Both teams have new coaches so the OSU VS Michigan series is about to add a new chapter to the historic rivalry.

2. Denard Robinson has more experience and production than whoever Ohio State starts at quarterback Robinson is a dual threat quarterback and is a threat to score whenever he touches the football.  Braxton Miller is a freshman with huge upside and potential while the rest of Ohio State’s quarterbacks just lack the element to torch an opposing secondary at this juncture.

3. Michigan has the home field this season Michigan the home field edge this season which could be a momentum changer considering the fact that both coaches are in their rookie seasons.

I hope Ohio State’s coaches are reading this ready to prove to America what a fool I am for picking against one of my favorite teams to watch on Saturday’s.  Even if Michigan does pull off the upset this season, I have no doubt that Ohio State will win in 2012 and beyond with Braxton Miller along with a strong Buckeye recruiting class.