| 02 January 2011
I will get back to 2012 recruiting with my next blog. I have to say something about the horrible performance by the Big Ten in the bowl season. Big Ten fans hate that the SEC is the best conference in college football. It has been that way and will stay that way. The SEC has some built in advantages that the Big Ten cannot overcome. This was the year that Big Ten fans thought the Big Ten was the better conference. Big Ten fans were looking forward to the bowl season especially New Years Day with three head to head match-ups against the SEC.
The Big Ten got blown out, embarrassed, in two of the three head to head match-ups. I don't know which one you watched, I was switching back and forth, but there were several things that stood out. In the Michigan State - Alabama game we saw the huge advantage the SEC has in defensive linemen. Huge mobile bigs with great motors. If you never saw Marcell Dareus before you witnessed on News Years Day why he will be off the board in the NFL draft somewhere in the top ten picks. Even with him off the field Alabamas defensive line would have outmatched the MSU offensive line. On the other hand Alabama took apart the Michigan State defensive line. Just ran the ball down their throats. Michigan saw its poor defensive line give up over 200 rushing yards, 9 of 17 third down conversions and an amazing 5 of 5 4th down conversions. This is something Jim Tressel has been trying to right ever since the Florida National Championship game loss. There is a reason that defensive linemen go at the top of the NFL draft. Outside of quarterback, defensive linemen are the most important players on the field. The other thing I saw was poor quarterback play by Big Ten quarterbacks. Penn States Matt McGloin showed he has more mouth and attitude than talent as he threw five interceptions in this game. The last time I saw him in a big game he threw it away too. I am sure Buckeye fans remember that one. Penn State was marching to win the game despite McGloins first four interceptions. His fifth was one too many. Penn State needs a new quarterback coach. They have three young quarterbacks so talented that they would be the only ones in the Big Ten I would even consider trading the Buckeyes young stable for but a walk-on starts for them. That is poor quarterback development. Northwestern's Evan Watkins threw for 76 yards. Wisconsins Scott Tolzien threw for 159 yards and did not get his pass for the two-point conversion that would have tied the Rose Bowl game with anout 2 minutes to go over the heads of the defensive linemen. One of them had to knock it down to keep from getting smacked in the face by the pass.
Defensive line and quarterbacks is where championships are won. Until the Big Ten finds a way to close the gap in those areas I think we continue to see the conference come up short in the competition for which is the best conference. Ohio State has been putting an emphasis on recruiting defensive linemen to the point that some fans are asking if we are taking too many. If you watched the Alabama - Michigan State game yesterday I am sure your answer to that question is a resounding no. The good news for the Big Ten is the Ohio class of 2012 has plenty of defensive linemen to go around. Quarterbacks too. Lets hope they take notice.
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