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.

There are some, a nice sized number, who are very concerned about defensive tackle. I think we have some help on the way with the last 2 classes so I am not as concerned. However, when you can get good DTs you take them. We done messed around and had a good tackle class here in Ohio, Buckeye fans. It just snuck up on us. It looks like we will see an offer to Jibril Black. That is getting back to the kind of player that has been effective here. He is like Quinn Pitcock, David Patterson, Tim Anderson, Darrion Scott, the recent best we have had here. Not a prototype body but tough, strong players with good balance and excellent technique. Good hand fighters. Good at keeping themselves clean. Black is that type of player but quicker. What got me to take time with the tackles right now was mark Porter pointing out Teven Eatmon from Wynford. What a specimen he is. He has great feet and such an athlete for his size. He shows some pop. I think he is so raw. He is one to keep in mind for later. Se how his grades shake out. He is flying low under the radar. We can wait on him. The other kid that got me excited about the defensive tackle class is finally seeing Travis Jackson  from DeSales. How did he get penciled in at guard? That kid has to get a shot at defensive tackle. He is athletic and he can run. You have to give him a shot at DT. I think Terry Talbott from Huber Heights Wayne is some verified measurables away from a whole lot of attention. I can't believe I forgot about  Micah Robinson from John Adams. He is a player I would love to see down at cam. You want to hear my #1 sleeper? Eric Lefeld from Coldwater. He can play somewhere. I love his long body and what a motor. He could be a DT, maybe a strong side DE. If nothing else he is going to be a great OL. Look at  Michael Dennis from Carey. He is another kid I would like to see at camp. Likely an OL, but I would very much like to see him get some reps at tight end. If you want to try to grow one he is right at the top of the list. 6-7 and 260 or so sounds ideal for trying to grow one of those 6-7 320 lb freaks that we all want. Another new name for me is Harrison Scott from New Albany. He was as natural a football player as there is at the position this year, and he can run. He needs to get to combines and get himself measured and looked over. Size is going to determine who he sees offers from.

Off the top of my head I can't remember a better or deeper tackle class in Ohio. I would be happy to see offers to Black, Eatmon and Jackson. Talbott could get an offer once I saw him up close. I really like Lefeld. Looking at him just as a big athletic kid I would not have a problem with an offer. I like them all that well. Some you recruit as just bigs, Lefeld, and maybe Carey, who I really hope camps here. You know JT is cool with that.

Stop looking at what they are not and start looking at what they got.

Playmea found this:

http://heismanpundit.com/archives/2131

It is a list of most overrated coaches. If you don't want to follow the link and read the entire thing, here is the part Buckeye fans will find the most interesting:

<<<2. Jim Tressel, Ohio State–Is any coach more stubborn about his system and way of doing things?  Sure, he is successful to a point, but he gets a ton of talent every year and lately has found a way to get pummeled in the big games.  It’s almost as if he is satisfied to lose, as long as it is his way.<<<

Some fans are not going to like it but it sounds like this guy has been paying attention. He voices the same concerns that alot of Buckeye fans are talking about right now. The last line is the one that gets my attention and what I am compelled to respond to.

I am not offering an argument for "Tresselball". I an putting forward an explanation. Here is why Jim Tressel does it the way he does it. It is very simple. 5 national championships. In his mind Tresselball is a formula for success. It has worked for him 5 times, and most important it has worked at the highest level of competition. The national championship game was something that Buckeyes fans needed. It may be the worst thing that happened to us. It confirmed, at least in Jim Tressels mind, that he could win at this level too doing the same old same old that had brought 4 national championships to Youngstown State. I think so much of the problem goes back to success at the 1-AA level doing things this way. That is a different level of football. Some schools have better talent than others but there are no game changers at that level. No players that can completely mess up a game plan like there are at this level. This is not a Jim Tressel thing. Would anyone change a way of doing things when the tried and true is working for them? Why would anyone choose to leave their comfort level when it has been very successful?

I think Jim Tressel is a tremendous competitor. I don't think anyone get this far in sports without a burning desire to win. I think he is a scarlet and gray bleeding Buckeye. I think he wants to win national championships more than anyone. I don't think his way will bring us another national championship without the same luck that was crucial to the 2001-2002 national championship. I think Jim Tressel will realize that. The competitor in him will demand that he do what is necessary to make that happen. How much longer is the only question that remains.

I just realized I cut yesterdays post off. Here are the rest of the comments about spring.

<<<I want to grab Devin Torrence and shake him. He has so little time at corner. He could be great. Can't hit a baseball at this level to save his life. NFL corner if he had played there the last 3 years. He has size, quick feet and will hit. Needs to quit baseball. He needs to quit now.

Speaking of great, C.J. Barnett. Play him this year. He is an early exit talent.

Keith Wells needs to get his priorities in order or he will never play here. He could not be more unfocused.<<<<

A long time contact of mine gave me permission to publish this. He was able to see a good chunk of spring practices. He offered these observations. I post them here verbatim:

<<

You told me about Storm Klein. He should not be this good this soon. Not with playing linebacker so little in high school. He is the worst thing that ever happened to Sabino who would continue to get a heavy does of reps. Klein will take his job.

Lamaar Thomas has the same problem that Sabino has. He was given the ball and told to make plays in high school. He is lost out there and now seems hesitant.

Zack Boren will never play here. He was moved to linebacker to get him out of the way. Youth is the one common denominator at fullback. They want to concentrate the practice time with the kids who are going to play.

If they throw the ball to Stoneburner he will make big plays. They are throwing it to him in practice but I have seen them throw to the tight end in practice for years. Dilillo is the best tight end on the roster. He is a better blocker than Stoneburner and a better receiver than Ballard.

I am right in the middle about Cordle at tackle. I hear some saying he looks good. You as well as others don't want to hear about a natural inside player playing tackle. My observation says he is going to be as good as Barton. Not great, but a major improvement over Browning.

Put Blankenships tenacity in Brownings body and you would have another Marcus Hall. I hear about Brewster being nasty, Shugarts and Boren too. Blankenship belongs in that group too.

Miller looked alot better in practice through the camp than he showed in the spring game.
<<<