The Ohio State Buckeyes are kind of like Duke basketball, and maybe the New York Yankees. As Ohioans or fans of the Buckeyes it might be tough to admit, but the proof is out there. After dropping the last two national championship games to Florida and LSU, it was impossible not to hear the celebration of Ohio State's misfortunes. There is a national resentment toward the Buckeyes. But facts are facts. The Buckeyes did lose the last two national championship games. They haven't been competitive in those two games. Even going back to 2002 a lot of the media thinks that Ohio State was handed the championship over Miami.
Maybe it is time for the Buckeyes to look in the mirror. The Buckeyes are always impressive on paper, and usually impressive in the Big Ten, but they rarely put it all together. The M.O. is usually to squeak by opponents, even some that they should beat handily. Is it any wonder that fans around the nation and some in the media start to whisper that scary word; overrated?
Beanie Wells is one guy who will never hear that word uttered about him. Same with James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins. But there are others, who don't show up to play at the same rate. And these are the guys who have something to prove on Saturday at USC in order to help the Buckeyes prove, as a team, that they are in fact a power in college football. They need to prove that the last two years were just unlucky. They need to prove that the Buckeyes truly were a rebuilding team last season even though they made it to the championship game. The difference between Ohio State and LSU last year wasn't premier players like Beanie Wells and James Laurinaitis. The difference is in the other starters and role players.
I know it may be painful to admit, but if some of these "other" guys fail to play on Saturday, it might finally be time to admit that the Bucks just aren't as good as we want them to be. It might be time to admit that they are (gasp!) overrated. So, who am I looking at to prove themselves?
First, the receivers. Even as a Buckeyes fan, I sometimes wonder just how "elite" Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline are. They are good, but do they measure up to the likes of Santonio Holmes, Ted Ginn, and Anthony Gonzalez? I think it is possible that they could, but they certainly haven't done so yet. They need to execute on Saturday and prove against top competition that they truly are deserving of the praises they receive.
Second is Todd Boeckman. At 24 years of age, he has certainly waited his turn for a shot to play big-time football. Even so, Boeckman hasn't secured his status in the upcoming NFL draft. Nobody looks at him and thinks he is a sure-fire first rounder. He might not even be looked at as a third-rounder. He needs to prove that he can make good decisions, stand in tough and deliver the ball. This is especially important given that the Buckeyes might be limited with Beanie Wells. It is also important for Boeckman because if the Buckeyes lose on Saturday they will limit their championship chances. If that happens, what is to keep Tressel from using the rest of the season as a training exercise for Terrelle Pryor?
Third is the Ohio State offensive line. This unit could be the most important in the game on Saturday. The success of the Buckeyes offense might be the thing most in doubt as the game approaches. Alex Boone returned for his senior year to get the bad taste out of his mouth, but he and his friends didn't seem like they were out to prove anything last Saturday versus Ohio University. They allowed that defensive line to disrupt their offensive gameplan all day long. Of all the units on the Buckeyes, I am guessing that Boone and company have the most to prove.
I am sure there are others, but these are the ones that came to mind. It isn't fun to look in the mirror and point out your own potential blemishes, but it is important. The Buckeyes have been impressive in reaching the championship game in the last two years, but they need to graduate from being studs only on paper and put it all together the way Florida and LSU have done in the last two years. That is the only way to quiet critics and earn praises. It will also be the only chance Ohio State has to return to the national championship game for a third time.
Maybe it is time for the Buckeyes to look in the mirror. The Buckeyes are always impressive on paper, and usually impressive in the Big Ten, but they rarely put it all together. The M.O. is usually to squeak by opponents, even some that they should beat handily. Is it any wonder that fans around the nation and some in the media start to whisper that scary word; overrated?
Beanie Wells is one guy who will never hear that word uttered about him. Same with James Laurinaitis and Malcolm Jenkins. But there are others, who don't show up to play at the same rate. And these are the guys who have something to prove on Saturday at USC in order to help the Buckeyes prove, as a team, that they are in fact a power in college football. They need to prove that the last two years were just unlucky. They need to prove that the Buckeyes truly were a rebuilding team last season even though they made it to the championship game. The difference between Ohio State and LSU last year wasn't premier players like Beanie Wells and James Laurinaitis. The difference is in the other starters and role players.
I know it may be painful to admit, but if some of these "other" guys fail to play on Saturday, it might finally be time to admit that the Bucks just aren't as good as we want them to be. It might be time to admit that they are (gasp!) overrated. So, who am I looking at to prove themselves?
First, the receivers. Even as a Buckeyes fan, I sometimes wonder just how "elite" Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline are. They are good, but do they measure up to the likes of Santonio Holmes, Ted Ginn, and Anthony Gonzalez? I think it is possible that they could, but they certainly haven't done so yet. They need to execute on Saturday and prove against top competition that they truly are deserving of the praises they receive.
Second is Todd Boeckman. At 24 years of age, he has certainly waited his turn for a shot to play big-time football. Even so, Boeckman hasn't secured his status in the upcoming NFL draft. Nobody looks at him and thinks he is a sure-fire first rounder. He might not even be looked at as a third-rounder. He needs to prove that he can make good decisions, stand in tough and deliver the ball. This is especially important given that the Buckeyes might be limited with Beanie Wells. It is also important for Boeckman because if the Buckeyes lose on Saturday they will limit their championship chances. If that happens, what is to keep Tressel from using the rest of the season as a training exercise for Terrelle Pryor?
Third is the Ohio State offensive line. This unit could be the most important in the game on Saturday. The success of the Buckeyes offense might be the thing most in doubt as the game approaches. Alex Boone returned for his senior year to get the bad taste out of his mouth, but he and his friends didn't seem like they were out to prove anything last Saturday versus Ohio University. They allowed that defensive line to disrupt their offensive gameplan all day long. Of all the units on the Buckeyes, I am guessing that Boone and company have the most to prove.
I am sure there are others, but these are the ones that came to mind. It isn't fun to look in the mirror and point out your own potential blemishes, but it is important. The Buckeyes have been impressive in reaching the championship game in the last two years, but they need to graduate from being studs only on paper and put it all together the way Florida and LSU have done in the last two years. That is the only way to quiet critics and earn praises. It will also be the only chance Ohio State has to return to the national championship game for a third time.
Original Story:
