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Why I am optimistic
Written by Duane Long   
Tuesday, 09 June 2009 12:40

Anybody want to speculate on how the season would have gone with better offensive line play? I saw a national championship run before the season. I stand by the statement I made last year at this time that we should have the best offensive line of the Tressel era last year. That line underperformed. Why I think that happened is another conversation. Think about how veteran that line was. Alot of starts between Boone, Rehring, Cordle and Person. It was a line who had impressive offer lists coming out of high school. Between experience and projected talent there was every reason for the optimism that a number of pundits had in addition to myself. This year I am even more convinced that the line will be better.
I like the core. I like the core alot. I think Brewster with Boren on one side and either Browning or Cordle on the other is the strongest middle of the line we have seen since since Adrian Clarke, Alex Stephanovich and Bryce Bishop in 2002. I think it is arguably the best since the '96 team with Kurt Murphy, Rob Murphy and LeShun Daniels. Cordle was not a great center but he became a very good guard. I think Browning could be an even better guard than Cordle and likely will get the chance with the odds of Cordle starting at right tackle, at least for the first few games, being quite high. The question is at both tackle spots. I think we saw Mike Adams step up mentally. He has always had enormous physical potential. He is a rare physical specimen. He needed to get tougher. I think we saw that happen right in front of our eyes. He went from a player who halfway through spring practice looked like he was going to sit behind a throw-in former tight end, to pitching a shutout against some very good defensive linemen by the time the spring game came around. On the other side I am still not convinced about Cordle. You just don't see guards handling pass blocking well out there in space at tackle but I am confident he will be better than Browning. We saw how important tackles can be last year. So many things went wrong because Browning was such a liability. I think with solid play out of right tackle we will see a world of difference in line play this fall.


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Comments (16)Add Comment
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written by Playmea, June 09, 2009
There is no question our interior OL will be a spectacle. Too bad Beanie never got that.

Duane, what does this mean? I see TP stepping up into the pocket a lot more this season. Instead of bumping it out. Since we're experimenting with RT's I just don't envision TP bootlegging.
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written by marksgforce, June 09, 2009
I'm still hoping Shugarts siezes the RT spot in fall camp and Cordle becomes a super sub. To have someone with his experience ready to give solid relief to every position would be a luxury we haven't had since Mike Knee (sp) emerged from walk on to super sub and finally to starting status.
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written by bigdog3300, June 09, 2009
I agree that Browning should be a very good OG. Him at OT last year was just putting him out of position and he was doomed to failure. Square peg, round hole. I'd be surprised if Shugarts wasn't able to take the RT away from Cordle maybe after the USC game, either way he should be getting mixed in there with Cordle.
re:
written by Buck68, June 09, 2009
There is no question our interior OL will be a spectacle. Too bad Beanie never got that.


"Never"? Aac. IMO the 'spectacle' here is claiming a 'running game' "identity" ...with half a running game and a passel of conflicted mantras crammed into The Sure Way that brilliant insiders used to tell the lessers who didn't know, but nowadays are Nowhere To Be Found.

And incredible claims, such as Tresselball is 'like Woody'.

Duane, what does this mean? I see TP stepping up into the pocket a lot more this season. Instead of bumping it out. Since we're experimenting with RT's I just don't envision TP bootlegging.


Hopefully, TP continues to learn to simultaneously respond to inputs from his near peripheral vision while going through his downfield passing and/or option progressions...and respond to THE SITUATION AT HAND. This means, TP should 'step up into the pocket'...exactly when it's a better place to go NOW...to keep executing the playcall & its variations.

Playmea, i think your term "experimenting" applies to spring in general and designated people & practices and periods therein.... But not to games. IMO 'adaptation' better characterizes competitive responsiveness where the objective is 'to win'. OK, i guess it would also fit during a game when 'the outcome is no longer in doubt'.
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written by RipsManifesto, June 09, 2009
Hopefully you're right and they'll be better. After last year you could argue that there's nowhere to go but up though. The better question would be if they'll actually be good. I'm holding out a lot of hope this is the case.

Side note... is there an ignore function somewhere in the settings I might be missing?
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written by flbuckeyebob, June 09, 2009
Agree on the comments on the middle of the line, especially that Browning will be more than OK in his natural position. Not too sure about Cordle at RT, but I am sure about JB there. If JB starts at RT, that gives us an outstanding swing man in Cordle, as he can play just about any OL position. Then, there are some really good OL guys coming with the next (and the next one also) class this fall.
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written by BOBBY HAINES, June 09, 2009
With Brewster coming in here as the best TACKLE in the Country, the question has to be "Why doesn't Brewster moved back out to RT, and let Cordle play Center, or let Cordle play RG and let Shugarts play RT and leave Brew at Center? That way you leave Browning at 2 deep. I dont think he is deserving of the top 5! I dont know if he will be in the two deep by the end of the year unless he fights for it. They say Blankenship has a mean streak. Conner Smith is improving. Mewhort is tough. Marcus Hall is up and coming. Miller, Moses, and Kerr were solid contributors in the spring. This is the most depth we have had on the OL since Tressel has been here. WE ARE ACTUALLY THREE DEEP WITH SCHOLLIES FOR THE FIRST TIME, and getting 3 more All Americans next year.
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written by fish61, June 09, 2009
I think another reason for optimism is this could be the best D-line OSU has had since the days of Will Smith and Darrion Scott. If Thad Gibson can force double teams or draw enough attention then it could create some problems for other team's pass pro.
re:
written by Playmea, June 10, 2009
With Brewster coming in here as the best TACKLE in the Country, the question has to be "Why doesn't Brewster moved back out to RT, and let Cordle play Center, or let Cordle play RG and let Shugarts play RT and leave Brew at Center? That way you leave Browning at 2 deep. I dont think he is deserving of the top 5! I dont know if he will be in the two deep by the end of the year unless he fights for it. They say Blankenship has a mean streak. Conner Smith is improving. Mewhort is tough. Marcus Hall is up and coming. Miller, Moses, and Kerr were solid contributors in the spring. This is the most depth we have had on the OL since Tressel has been here. WE ARE ACTUALLY THREE DEEP WITH SCHOLLIES FOR THE FIRST TIME, and getting 3 more All Americans next year.


Brewster didn't come in as the Best Tackle in the Country. But he did come in as the Best Center prospect in the country. He was also quoted as saying he would rather play Guard or Center but will play wherever we need him.

But finally, the real answer is, he is a Center phenom. Not playing him there is like putting Lawrence Taylor at defensive end.
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written by Buckeye Willie, June 10, 2009
I'm optimistic, too! However, I don't see Shugarts being ready or seasoned enough to suit JT to replace Cordle.
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written by bigdog3300, June 10, 2009
Yeah, Brewster didn't come here as the best tackle in the country.........Adams and Shugarts were the 5 star tackles, Brewster came in as the best CENTER tho.
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written by dvo45, June 10, 2009
Boren-Brewster-Browning is going to be strong interior...

However, I feel more confident in Cordle at Right Tackle then I do with Adams at left...

One thing you can't count out (despite last season) is experience...and Cordle is the most experience lineman we got...

He may not be flashy, but I have every bit of confidence that he is going to be solid as a dang rock at RT.
re:
written by O-State, June 10, 2009
Yeah, Brewster didn't come here as the best tackle in the country.........Adams and Shugarts were the 5 star tackles, Brewster came in as the best CENTER tho.


Um, you might want to check rivals.com. They ranked him as one of the best 2-3 OT's in the country from the get-go.
re: re:
written by Duane Long, June 10, 2009
Yeah, Brewster didn't come here as the best tackle in the country.........Adams and Shugarts were the 5 star tackles, Brewster came in as the best CENTER tho.


Um, you might want to check rivals.com. They ranked him as one of the best 2-3 OT's in the country from the get-go.



They were the only ones. He has tackle feet but does not have the length and reach you want in a tackle. If I was moving him out I would move him to RT, not LT.
re: re: re:
written by Kasino Royale, June 10, 2009


They were the only ones. He has tackle feet but does not have the length and reach you want in a tackle. If I was moving him out I would move him to RT, not LT.

Yup, When looking at tackles you want the deformed guys. Those guys with freakish wing spans especially at LT. Those long arms allow them to lock onto smaller quicker players and ride them right out of plays. That and quick feet make good tackles.
O-LINE 2009
written by dbuckeye44, June 10, 2009
I think that Cordle will most likely hold on to the RT spot however should Shugarts beat him out there Browning goes to 2nd team and Cordle goes to OG regardless of ability. JT is loyal to his seniors and Cordle and Browning being equal or nearly equal JT goes with Cordle. I think that Adams will step up and handle the LT spot. However, with our depth this year we are in a position where every man must earn his starting spot on a game by game basis much as they have to at USC. It isn't the best scenario for cohesiveness but it is a great motivator to perform.

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