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Carlos Hyde is not going to be the starter next year

Written by Duane Long | 10 July 2009

I don't know what to think about this news that Carlos Hyde will not be a Buckeye. At least not this year. The team reports August 9th and we find out on July 9th that we have a recruit with a test score that will keep him off the field at least for this year. Are you kidding me? Based on what we have seen since the unfortunate Karen Holbrook reign is string of players who could not qualify. How many players out there could not even get an offer because of rules instituted since that dark time? We had to wait on Rod Smith this year. It appears we are doing the same with Tyrone Williams. We are talking about 6 weeks or so before their senior year starts we know their academics. We find out about a key recruit a month before camp. I don't understand this. I think it hurts. I think a player who could have been important to this team is now out. Was there fraud involved? I don't get it.

Here is the one thing that about guaranteed Hyde would play as a freshman whether Berry did or not. Who are you going to on 3rd and 2 who can get you 3? We know we are running the ball. Any offense under Jim Tressel is going to run the ball on 3rd and 2. Hyde would be the logical choice. Yesterday I was watching the NFL Network and Warren Sapp, who I really enjoy, was doing his segment called "The Playbook." It featured Michael Turner. Sapp focused on YAC, yards after contact, being so important to being a great back. That is why I prefer big backs. There are no what I call "high school holes" at this level. Backs are never going to see a clean hole with nothing but green in their line of sight. There are going to arms in there. Strong arms, attached to large men. All the open field stuff that gets fans, and too many people in this business, all worked up is extra. First and foremost a back has to be able to hit that hole and rip an arm off instead of being ripped down by that arm. The one back on the roster who can surely do that is Carlos Hyde. That is, until yesterday.

I know we might see a different offense this year. I have talked about where Jordan Hall lining up, whether it be at RB or flanker, being a very telling move, but we still need to be able to convert short yardage plays. The best player for that was going to be Carlos Hyde. Someone is going to have to step into that void. It is going to be huge for this football team to have a short yardage back. I don't see an obvious candidate.
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