Working in conjunction with our podcasts (be sure to subscribe on iTunes!), we’re continuing our series of questions about this coming season to get ready for next week. Here’s the latest edition- remember, if you’ve got questions you’d like our for our band of experts to pontificate on, feel free to leave them in the comments.
How will the suspensions impact the team early on? What will happen when the suspended players return?
Eric: The suspensions will have almost no impact on the team early in the season. The most likely places that there might be an issue is at Left Tackle, where Andrew Norwell is taking over for Mike Adams, and Wide Receiver as we’ve already mentioned. The talent and depth at all the other positions is sufficient to make up for the losses. Also, the way the suspended players are being treated (having to earn their starting spots back, not playing with the one’s in practice) lends strength to the replacements and reduces the net effect the suspensions have on the team as a whole.
When the players return the story might be a little different. If what we’re hearing is true, then the tat-5 minus one will have to re-earn their starting roles, meaning that they won’t just show up cold and take over no matter what. Given that they will have to be working for the entire fall and the first five weeks should dampen the effect of a sudden change in player rotation. Hopefully.
JoeD: The one thing that will be evident early in the season without Devier Posey and Boom Herron will be a consistency on the offensive side of the ball. Despite bringing back a bunch of talent on the line, and some talent at running back and game breaking speed at wide receiver. Being young at quarterback will be a challenge, and having these veterans in the lineup would be a big help off the bat. The running game should be legit off the bat, and offensively, that will be the main name of the game.
But when Posey and Herron come back, it will definitely liven up the passing game, and make the offense a more cohesive unit. In fact, that might be the time we see Braxton Miller enter the field. Similar to Todd Boeckman and Terrelle Pryor in 2008, I could see Miller given a longer leash over Joe Bauserman when Posey and Herron come back. It makes the transition that much easier.
I think it will take time for DeVier to work his way back into the system, but right out of the shoot against Nebraska, Boom Herron should have an impact on the running game.
Mali: I think the biggest challenge will be the loss of Mike Adams at left tackle, particularly if Joe Bauserman is our quarterback. I’ve got a lot of confidence in the guys that we’re bringing in, particularly given the reports we’re hearing out of pre-season, but the fact of the matter is that we’re not very deep in our offensive line, particularly at the tackle position. Granted, our running game can help address that (especially with Zach Boren in the backfield), but it still gives me pause. Screens and so forth can only carry you so far.
We’ll know if we’ve got a problem after the Toledo game, in my opinion- you’ve got to think that their new coach is familiar enough with our system to know how to take advantage of any weaknesses that Ohio State may have on the field. And Miami will still have the athletes and edge speed necessary to make problems under normal circumstances, not to mention anything that Mark Dantonio will throw the Buckeyes’ way.
At what point will we “know” if Luke Fickell is “the man” for the head coaching position?
Eric: This is a tough question. Many would say that we already know enough to tell for certain. That viewpoint derives from what we’ve already seen of him as a leader and coach, and from what we’re seeing in practice. To be honest, the Buckeyes look like they haven’t missed a beat (so far).
Others, of course, are a little more skeptical, and would argue that we’ll know “when he’s inducted in the Hall of Fame”. There’s a point to that case too, especially in hindsight. You don’t know someone is really the right fit until you get to see their entire body of work – after they retire.
As for me, I’ll say that we’ll have a pretty good idea after the first few games – win or lose. It’s going to depend a lot more on the mentality and personality of the team and it’s players than it will on their record this year. With so many distractions, even a focused team could slip up here and there – particularly with that tough game at Miami early on. How the players are responding to the pressure and their coach will say a lot more than a couple numbers separated by a hyphen.
JoeD: Saturday November 26th, when he beats Michigan. The truth of the matter is, you never know with this administration. As late as last week, I felt that a big name could come in after next season if Fickell even has a solid season. Now after much thought and convincing (thank you Mali and Eric), it seems that the main man is going to be there when the season starts in 2012. He fits the bill. He is a hungry leader that has been embedded in the OSU program. He is someone that could battle through a rough road, and most importantly he is a solid developer of players and a coach that incoming freshman want to play for. It will be interesting to see what road the Ohio State football program goes down in the upcoming years. But I got a feeling that Luke Fickell will be driving the bus no matter what happens this season.
Mali: Personally, this has already been answered for me. As Jason has said, if we brought in a new coach, Ohio State fan would be understanding with an 8 or 9 win season… why shouldn’t the new coach from within the program be offered the same opportunity?
Numerically, I think we’ll know after the first 6 games of the season. Michigan State and Nebraska is a difficult way to start the season, but if Ohio State is 6-0 or 5-1 with a close loss, it would be a mistake to look anywhere other than the Buckeye sideline to find next year’s head man- particularly if the team has rallied around him and if recruiting has continued to build for the 2012-13 classes.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
