Building momentum, looking ahead

If you were hanging out in a self imposed ‘cave of football isolation’ last week like me, the 49-0 shutout on Saturday was just what the doctor ordered. The first half was the kind of domination that you normally see in video games, and while the second half was decidedly ho-hum, you can chalk that up to Tressel being a nice guy.

At the end of the day, there were  relatively few question marks about the performance and plenty of things to be optimistic about.

Strangely, I don’t feel that much additional joy or satisfaction in crushing the team that caused so much pain last year. Maybe I am just at the entrance of the cave of isolation and not out into the sun yet…

Either way, you couldn’t ask for a better response from Ohio State following the huge let down last week.

Despite the opponent just being Purdue (probably another contributing factor to my strange lack of satisfaction in the sweet, sweet revenge), Saturday was a performance to build on as the Buckeyes head down the home stretch.

Speaking of the home stretch, it starts next week against 1-7 Minnesota. The game is at night and on the road, but even that does not add much flair to the proceedings. In two weeks Ohio State gets a much needed bye, which may be more exciting than the Minnesota game (getting healthy is exciting, right?).

Even though the Purdue game was just what the doctor ordered, I find myself in a strange limbo.  I am hopeful about the remainder of this year (go Hawkeyes! beat Sparty!) but I find myself looking ahead. Way, way too far ahead… to next season.

Why? Call it 50% hangover from Wisconsin (yes, still) and 50% lack of excitement for the next two weeks of the season (Penn State, Iowa, Michigan will be a helluva closing, but that seems far away at the moment).

Being a fan is a strange thing, and during the second half against Purdue, my mind couldn’t help but wonder forward to next season.

For actual thoughts on this week’s game and this year’s team, check out Eric’s excellent thoughts from the press box. For looking way too far ahead, read on.

I really want to see what Jaamal Berry can do as the go-to back for the Buckeyes.

I have resigned myself to the fact that there is something going on that is keeping him off of the field this year. Maybe he is bad at picking up blitzes, maybe he fumbles a lot in practice, or maybe he just doesn’t have a firm grasp on the plays. Whatever it is, it doesn’t seem like we are going to see him on the field as much as we would like this season.

But give him another year in the system to work on whatever it is that is holding him back and the sky is the limit for Jaamal. He has an excitement and energy about him that no other running back on the squad has (you can tell it is him running the ball without even looking at the name or number on the jersey), and I look forward to that energy being unleashed in the future.

I want our offensive line to be huge and dominating.

This one goes along with unleashing Jaamal Berry I guess.

Running backs unleashed (we can throw in Carlos Hyde as well, who also looked good, hell let’s throw in Herron too) plus a huge dominating offensive line has me smiling.

Wisconsin’s offensive line was huge and dominating and it led to unhappy times for Ohio State, let’s channel some of that for the good guys.

How is this for the Buckeye o-line next year?

A few thoughts:

• Chronic foot problems do not a career on the edge make. That is why I have Shugarts at guard (Steve Rehring style).
• Norwell moves down to guard as well. He is getting playing time as a true freshman this year at right tackle and is clearly one of the best linemen we have. You find a place for him on your offensive line.
• Having two guys at guard that have the agility and athleticism to play tackle can’t be a bad thing, right? As long as they can run block (they can) I see no problem with it, you get your best players on the field.
• The line on the chart isn’t as heavy as Wisconsin’s, but still, that’s not too shabby as far as size goes.
• Backups like Corey Linsley, Jack Mewhort, Sam Longo, and maybe some of the incoming freshmen will be pressing for time as well. The depth will be good.
• The line has been under performing for years, so throwing up heights and weights isn’t going to magically make next years offensive line dominating, but we can dream right?

Those were basically my two thoughts during the dull second half on Saturday. Here are a few more really quick ones:

• There is no way that Pryor enters the draft… right? right???
• Boom Herron is not a bad running back, he will benefit from my monster dream scenario offensive line next year as well.
• The 2011 defense is going to be interesting, we lose A LOT but we also have plenty of young talent. Will they take a step back, or reload a la 2006?
• Speaking of 2006, dream scenario: dominating offensive line, Pryor and Posey returning, Berry unleashed, Corey Brown being the dynamic play maker we are starting to see, the return of Duron Carter… could next years offense be better than 2006?

There will be plenty of time to day dream about next year during the off season (and believe me, I will be). For now though, it’s time to refocus on this season.

Like last week, let’s hope that the team can stay focused a little better than I can. Hiding in a cave one week and thinking a year in advance the next is probably not good for the team’s focus.

I promise I will (try to) bring myself back into the present with a look at this weeks game against Minnesota on Wednesday.

Until then, next year’s offensive line looks pretty good!