Ask A Question

Have a question? Send it in! It may be featured on one of our posts.

Click Here to Ask

Latest Forum Posts

24 Hours Left to Vote for Ohio State to win 100K!
by HPHoopsFan 2010/04/05 12:45
OSU Still in the Running to Win 100K!
by HPHoopsFan 2010/04/01 11:57
tOSU Mens Basketball
by Kasino Royale 2009/12/24 16:10
JT Should stay until he has a losing season
by JTFANGoVols 2009/11/29 16:19
Re:2011 Glenville Prospects
by Duane Long 2009/11/10 21:17

Blog Roll

Syndication
The little things really do matter
Written by Duane Long   
Monday, 08 June 2009 10:44

It is an old expression but one that still resonates. The little things really do matter. With a team losing so many veteran players there are so many things to point toward as possible problems. We lost an award winning milddle linebacker and a three year starter beside him. We lost both of our starting corners. The best back to come through here in many a year. A true Buckeye Hall of Famer. We are thin at tight end and even thinner on the offensive line. I think there are a couple of things, little things, that are getting overlooked that could have a great impact on the season.

We are assuming so much about Posey. He is an immense talent. He is arguably the best receiver from this state in a generation. Despite the depth at receiver he still pushed his way into playing time. He is a kid. He has not been the man yet. To say Small has been erractic would be an understatement. There are a number of reports that he now gets it. He is ready to step up. I hope so. For his sake and ours. The guy that is going to be key is Dane Sanzenbacher. He and Pryor seem to have developed a repoire. He is the only thing the Franchise can bank on. Until Posey finds his game and Small remembers his, Sanzenbacher will have to be the best receiver on the field.

We have to find a fullback. I don't know if we were good at fullback last year. We were just great at RB. Chris Wells just needed a fullback who could get in the way of a defender. I think we are going to need to find a guy who can move people out of the hole. Herron reads his blocking so well but he needs those blocks. Saine has power but I would not call him a power back. Berry is not going to be a guy who makes his own hole. Carlos Hyde can but I don't want to ask a freshman to have to do that.

The line can come together. Pryor can throw the ball all year as well as he did in the spring game. We can have a seemless transition to the new linebacker corps. We don't miss a beat at corner. We will not have the season we expect to have if Pryor does not have a guy he looks for when things are not going well, and if we don't have a lead blocker at fullback who will give our young backs an opportunity to get a look at the defense by taking down the first guy in his path.

 


Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites
Digg! Reddit! Facebook! Technorati! StumbleUpon! BallHype: hype it up!
Comments (12)Add Comment
...
written by a guest, June 08, 2009
All good point, but FYI, Washington did not start at CB.
re:
written by Duane Long, June 08, 2009
All good point, but FYI, Washington did not start at CB.



Washington was the starter. He lost his job to disciplinary issues.
...
written by Bob, June 08, 2009
This is why the Navy game is so bad for us... a game against Navy is not going to do us much good in telling us how good our CBs and LBs are coming along overall. Play action and missed assignments on pass plays could be a big problem against USC. Without being able to play a team with a traditional offense.
re:
written by bigdog3300, June 08, 2009
All good point, but FYI, Washington did not start at CB.


Actually Duane he's right. To be the starter....you have to start. Washington lost that right early on, Chekwa performed well enough to keep that starting spot even after Donald came back after his issues. So although it changes your story, it's 100% fact that Chekwa was the starter and he's deserved the right to be called and recognized as such.
...
written by RipsManifesto, June 08, 2009
Not sure it really changes his story much. Washington was going to be the starter, and screwed up and was no longer the starter. It would be logical to say that we had, in essence, three starters at CB--two of which are now gone, and the one that's still here has the least experience I think. I don't think he's going out on a limb by saying we're thin on experience.
...
written by Bobby Haines, June 08, 2009
Navy or not.
It is real time game experience.
Chekwa was the starter all last year.
Amos is a five year player and Torrence is a 3 year player. Howard will be a good one, and our Safeties are Solid. Our DL is the best in the Big 10, and our LBs are all Studs. Our D will be fine. Navy will be a great Confidence builder as the USC Rookie will be stifled on 9/12. He may think it was really 9/11. I think you guys are really under estimating what we are going to do to the Trojans in the Shoe.
I am relatively sure we are going to do the same thing to them that they did to us last year in the Coliseum.
Payback's a B****!
TP's the MAN!
JT is ready to open up the playbook for this one boys.
Just wait and see.
...
written by Adam, June 09, 2009
I appreciate the optimism, Bobby, and I do think we can beat USC. But there is no way we're going to blow out USC. I just don't see it. Tressel's style makes it pretty difficult to blow out elite teams. If Corp comes in and turns the ball over a lot, we could win big -- but I wouldn't count on it. Too much talent on USC's side of the field.
re:
written by a guest, June 09, 2009
I appreciate the optimism, Bobby, and I do think we can beat USC. But there is no way we're going to blow out USC. I just don't see it. Tressel's style makes it pretty difficult to blow out elite teams. If Corp comes in and turns the ball over a lot, we could win big -- but I wouldn't count on it. Too much talent on USC's side of the field.


Turn the offense over to Big Foot. That would solve all of our problems. You know what I mean?
...
written by Kasino Royale, June 09, 2009
Mr. Haines, USC had a young squad last year and we had a veteran Def. and they ran through us like Swiss cheese. While I think we can win against USC I don't think it will be a cake walk nor will we win big.
...
written by Kasino Royale, June 09, 2009
I actually like having Navy as our opening game the more I think of it.

It will give us a good preview of how our Dline and LB's will perform. The Lb's will need to be very assignment sound and smart which is will help against USC's swing pass and dump off's. Our DT's will have to get penetration and our DE's will have to know when to contain and when to pursue. All in all I think up front its a very good opening game.
re: re:
written by Duane Long, June 09, 2009
All good point, but FYI, Washington did not start at CB.


Actually Duane he's right. To be the starter....you have to start. Washington lost that right early on, Chekwa performed well enough to keep that starting spot even after Donald came back after his issues. So although it changes your story, it's 100% fact that Chekwa was the starter and he's deserved the right to be called and recognized as such.



I am not going to agree that Chekwa was the starter when he did not win the job outright but that is not the point. You can take the three of them as a unit, Jenkins, Chekwa and Washington, who accounted for better than 95% of the corner reps between them. It still adds up to having one corner coming back next year who has reps when the game was still on the line. Not an ideal situation.
...
written by bigdog3300, June 09, 2009
I agree with that part Duane, there are definitely large ?'s in our secondary, specifically the CB's. I really like Amos to step up a la Smith did back there a couple years ago. Torrence also as everyone knows has the clear talent to be a #2 CB no problem. So there is a nice mix of flat out talent (Chekwa, Torrence) and smarts (Chekwa, Amos). After those three you got some younger guys like Howard who should be able to perform well in spot duty, if not, then we'll have problems.

Write comment

busy
< Prev   Next >
 

DLR Newsletter

Sign up for The Duane Long Report Newsletter and you'll receive an email alert of all our new posts.

About Bloguin

Bloguin is the revolutionary blog network specifically focused on helping bloggers get the most out of their websites. We're currently working on building a large network of online communities and hope to expand our blogging coverage to include a wide range of topics.

Advertisers

The Bloguin Network allows advertisers to promote their products and services to our ever-growing number of visitors. We offer both site-specific ad placements as well as the ability to run a network-wide campaign. If you're interested in working with Bloguin to meet your advertising needs, please contact us.

Bloggers Wanted

The Bloguin Network is always looking to expand. We're specifically looking for blogs in the sports, entertainment, and video games field, but are open to adding any type of quality site.. If you're a blogger and interested in joining our network, please fill out our application form.

The Bloguin Login

The Bloguin Login gives you full access to everything our network has to offer. Your name and password will work for each and every one of our sites. Signing up is simple, and will allow you to post in all our forums, create member blogs, and access other cool features! What are you waiting for? Create an Account!