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Picking up the pieces
Written by Duane Long   
Wednesday, 12 August 2009 11:59
We look to be losing as many as 3 players. The speculation about Moeller is over. JT has ruled him out for the year. I discussed the possible options for what we do to replace him 3 days ago in the Tyler Moeller - what I know post. What I did not mention is how much he is going to be missed. When you can play 2 guys and there is no dropoff, there is no better situation. The Buckeyes had that luxury at the Star position. There are options but they have not played. Not at the Star. Hate what has happened for that kid who has hung tough when most would have left the program but also hate it for this team. Big loss.

What about Rose and Small though?
Rose really doesn't matter. He has been an enigma and a shadow of his former self since his breakout freshman year. I know he has been injured but making it back is not easy. You loose so much time and players as talented or more talented are getting those reps. Those are reps that can never be made up. Rust settles in. Heyward is going to get alot of those reps. Lawrence Wilson is back. He has lost alot of reps too but he will be in there getting those reps back due to a unique situation, the fact that the guy ahead of him, Rose, is out. This also opens it up for Melvin Fellows to get in there quicker. I think if Rose is back to his old self he could be missed but I need to see more evidence of that. He showed some flashes last year but where he stood out was at DT, not DE.

Small is another matter. It is easy to forget his 18 catches. Right now I really want to forget them and would be happy to forget them but the practical side of me says that the returning team leader only caught 21 passes. We lost our top 2 receivers from last year. Now we have lost 3 of our top 4, at least for one game. I do not care that he could be back for USC. He is not going to be ready to play football for a few weeks. I don't like our experience. Not at all. I really like our depth chart though. A very impressive collection of young talent. Receiver is a problem, at least until we get experience. It is not the major concern of Small being out. The really huge problem created by Small is the return game. How much we will be impacted by him not being here as a receiver is up for debate. There is no question the impact of him being out, for however long that may be, will have on the return game. He was quite good at it.

I really don't know who is going to return punts now that Lamaar Thomas is out, and make no mistake, he is out. If he does not feel confident back there then we need to just scratch him off. He fits the role perfectly but without confidence we cannot put him back there. I like giving Taurian Washington a shot. He has the hands and the elusiveness. Not a pure burner but a punt returner needs to be able to make them miss first. Speed is extra. JT is always going to put a guy back there who is always going to make a clean catch and who is always going to make good decisions about a fair catch, and what to do after he catches the ball when he does not make a fair catch. Remember, this is a coach who says the punt is the most important play in football. That does not always mean he is going to play it safe. What he is going to do is make sure we are sound. Make the catch. Make a good decision. If that means a guy who does not look like a punt returner, take Michael Jenkins for example, that is fine. That is why we have to include Dane Sanzenbacher in this discussion. He is going to make the catch, he is smart and he can be an elusive guy. I need to throw another name out there. Jamal Berry. Talk about elusive as well as fast, and I think it is highly likely he plays anyway now that Hyde is going to be delayed for a year.

There is some chatter about James Jackson, who is very fast as well as elusive. I say Chris Fields is even moreso. I like both in the role but I would say Fields over Jackson. However, I think it comes down to whether either were looking like they were going to play as freshman at receiver. I don't see JT burning a redshirt year for a player just to return punts.

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Comments (12)Add Comment
...
written by mab, August 12, 2009
Duane,

Did Berry returns punts in HS?
...
written by Duane Long, August 12, 2009
I don't know if Berry ever did return punts. I seriously doubt they had him out there last year with the ankle injury that nagged him all season.
...
written by Bobby Haines, August 12, 2009
Dave was mention at the 2 deep at SSDE Willie Mobley.
Did they really move him over there?
And is he really in front of LW and KW?
That puts us that much shorter on DTs!
What was that was going to make you so giddy on HUNTER?
...
written by Duane Long, August 12, 2009
written by Bobby Haines, August 12, 2009
Dave was mention at the 2 deep at SSDE Willie Mobley.
Did they really move him over there?
And is he really in front of LW and KW?
That puts us that much shorter on DTs!
What was that was going to make you so giddy on HUNTER?

*************************************************

If Hunter gets an offer I think we have a shot.

I think it is simply a matter of having more DTs right now than SSDEs. Lawrence Wilson has been out for the better part of 2 years. I have noticed that 2 major injuries in a short time has great impact. We have an example right here with Anderson Russell. He has not been the same player he was before his 2 knee injuries. I have to think a kid that practiced all of last year and this spring, Mobley I mean, is better prepared to take the field than Wilson. Thomas is on the other side of the field now. Rose is not here. Heyward, who is going to get reps at both SSDE and DT and Melvin Fellows are the only other SSDEs. Keith Wells is a weak side end.
About Rose & Small
written by tophand, August 12, 2009
If there is some reason for their academic problems like them or a family member being sick or something like that, fine, they have an excuse and I would welcome them back once their academics are in order. Otherwise, you are about to start your Senior year & if that is the kind of team mate and example you are going to be now, forget you.

A prediction right now: if Ray Small is allowed back and gets the punt return job he will make a big game turnover. He isn't done screwing with us yet.
...
written by Doug R, August 12, 2009
Ray Small is not a contributer to this team.18 catches this kid has all the skills he should have been the go to guy but for what ever reason lack of displine work ethic he has never been a true factor. What a waste of talent.This staff has bent over backwards trying to find a way to use him.But every year its something.
...
written by Kasino Royale, August 12, 2009
I like the new layout.

Also don't forget TP's boy Hall factoring in on kickoffs.
...
written by O-State, August 12, 2009
Ray is just a selfish player. I don't like to bash players but he deserves it. The team needed him this year but he didn't give a damn. He slacked off in school and now he's not even a part of the team. Good job, Ray. Looking forward to Duron taking your spot.
Rose - Beg to differ
written by Smells like a rose, August 13, 2009
can never have enough able bodies on D-Line. Rose played more than able
in his last game vs Texas. Was a part of the rotation and was making plays.
Gave Heyward a breather with no drop off.

We can disagree on his current abilities - but can not argue there is a role for a player with so much promise.

Abdallah - come on his senior year and so did Richardson few years back.
Saying some one doe's not matter is a bit cold and unforgiving.
Love your stuff Duane - but
written by Smells like a rose, August 13, 2009
Rose played DE against Texas and looked like a player. Just saying.
Fire works are often mundane until the finale.

Also heard Rose is looking very fit and slim. Down about 15 pounds and moving very well.smilies/wink.gif
...
written by Duane Long, August 13, 2009
Rose - Beg to differ
written by Smells like a rose, August 13, 2009
can never have enough able bodies on D-Line. Rose played more than able
in his last game vs Texas. Was a part of the rotation and was making plays.
Gave Heyward a breather with no drop off.

We can disagree on his current abilities - but can not argue there is a role for a player with so much promise.

Abdallah - come on his senior year and so did Richardson few years back.
Saying some one doe's not matter is a bit cold and unforgiving.

*********************************************

Cold and unforgiving? No, It is called pragmatic. I hope for the good of the team Rose is back. Look at my post today. The thought that he would not be back was a real wake-up call. We don't have this veteran back. Not right now we don't. It would be nice to see him back on the field.
...
written by Duane Long, August 13, 2009
Love your stuff Duane - but
written by Smells like a rose, August 13, 2009
Rose played DE against Texas and looked like a player. Just saying.
Fire works are often mundane until the finale.

Also heard Rose is looking very fit and slim. Down about 15 pounds and moving very well.


**************************************

You may be right about the Texas game. I recall him catching my eye all season mostly when he was in the middle of the line.

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