2007 Look Back

2007 Record: 11-2 (7-2 - Pac-10 Champions)
2007 Home Record: 5-1
2007 vs Teams w/ Winning Records:  5-1
2007 vs. Ranked Opponents:  4-1
2007 Bowl:  W 49-17 over Illinois in the 2008 Rose Bowl
Last year vs. Ohio State:  N/A
All-Time vs. Ohio State: 11-9-1

2008 Key Stats

Last week: Idle; W 52-7 @ Virginia in Week 1
Record: 1-0 (0-0)

OFFENSE
Yards/Play, Offense:  7.2 (#16, nationally)
Scoring Offense/Game:  52.0 (7)
Rush Yards/Att:  5.32 (25)
Pass Yards/Att:  9.2 (16)
3rd Downs Conv-Att:  5-12-41.67% (54)
Red Zone Scores-Chances:  6-7-85.71% (55) (5 TD / 1 FG)
Turnovers lost:  2 (22)

DEFENSE
Yards/Play Defense:  3.3 (11)
Scoring Defense/Game  7.0 (10)
Rush Yards/Att:  1.52 (4)
Pass Yards/Att:  4.4 (17)
3rd Downs Conv-Att:  2-12-16.67% (4)
Red Zone Scores-Chances:  1-1-100.0% (79) (1 TD / 0 FG)
Turnovers gained:  4 (38)
Turnover margin:  +2 (22)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Yards/Punt Return, USC:  10.5 (54)
Yards/Punt Return, Opponent:  8.0 (58)
Yards/Kickoff Return, USC:  12.5 (116)
Yards/Kickoff Return, Opponent:  17.67 (29)
FG Att-Made: 1-1-100.0% (1)

Personnel

Returning Starters From '07:  11 (4 offense, 7 defense)
Best Player, Offense:  Joe McKnight, #4 (SO) (6 runs for 60 yards, 4 catches for 24 yards & 1 TD, 3 punt returns for 28 yards vs. Viginia)
Best Wide Receiver:  Patrick Turner, #1 (SR) (2 catches for 61 yards vs. Virginia) (48 catches for 569 yards and 2 TDs in '07)
Best Running Back:  McKnight
Best Player, Defense: Rey Maualuga, #58 (SR) (79 tackles, 6 sacks, 1 int, in '07)
Best D-Lineman: Fili Moala, #75 (SR) (32 tackles, 2.5 sacks in '07)
Best Linebacker: Maualuga
Best DB: Taylor Mays, #2 (JR) (65 tackles, 6 pass breaks up, 1 INT in '07)

What to make from all of it: Virginia is a really awful football team. Period. Don't believe the hype that USC somehow showed what a force it was by going on the road and winning a "tough out of conference game" against an '07 bowl team. Virginia is going to be really paltry this season, and to take much away from these stats, other than USC is obviously a very talented football team and UVA, well, not so much, would be doing yourself an intellectual disservice. In compiling this statistical information, the most telling fact I came across was just how thoroughly uninspiring the USC secondary's statistics were in 2007. Sure starting free safety Taylor Mays had 65 tackles, which is certainly something to be impressed with, but he, along with senior Cary Harris (#7) were the only returning starters in the secondary with at least 1 INT (hint: they both only had one). The defensive statistics produced by SC in week 1 likely aren't an aberration as it's obvious how talented overall this unit is, however, don't think that this secondary can't (and won't) be exploited. Beanie or no Beanie, if non-Evil Boeckman makes his way to the Colliseum, we're going to have a contest on our hands.

Offensive starters:

Complete Offensive Depth Chart:

Defensive Starters:

Complete Defensive Depth Chart:

Mea Culpas, Thoughts, and General Musings:

First and foremost, our apologies for not having this up sooner. Much like Mr. Pfefferle, our life is in transition having finally parlayed our tOSU degrees into tangible, respectable, full-time employment. The last 2 days made posting impossible, but better late than never, no? Also, our apologies for those not using the wide-screen setting for last week's depth chart. The 3rd layer of the depth chart seemed to get cut off, but worry not, as I busted out XHTML for Dummies and put together this more efficient (not to mention more aesthetically pleasing) incarnation. But enough gaullimaufry, let's talk depth charts:

Quarterback: As Sean mentioned, our last hope against Skynet, TP2, has now firmly asserted himself as the legitimate #2 QB on the depth chart. I tend to agree with the naysayers that if Tress couldn't trust Terrelle amidst the going through the motions-fest that was the OU game, I have trouble seeing them counting on him in Southern California. I do, however, think that TP will see the field in at least a trick play or package (or 2) and wouldn't even rule out the possibility of seeing Boeckman and Pryor in the game on the field at the same time.

Halfback*: I'm absolutely throwing darts with this one and the * is to indicate that it's B.S. guess work at this point. Will Beanie play, won't he? I'm assuming Beanie is pumped full of horse tranquilizers an hour before kickoff and is ultimately good for at least a couple serieses. God willingly he's effective, as if last week's game proved anything, it's that perhaps the Buckeyes core of running backs, while talented, may not quite be ready for prime time. At least "Boom" Herron looked the part at times, and Tressel will have to learn to trust #1 carrying the rock when he gets into a groove rather than looking to sate the entire stable of halfbacks.

Tackle: Freshman wunderkind J.B. Shugarts ascends to the top spot backing up fellow newby Bryant Browning in the most critical of times. Shugarts has shown flashes of potential in the first two games, but will need his most concentrated, focused effort this week in Los Angeles with not only going against the most physically imposing defense he'll ever have faced in his young career, but also the prospects of worrying about displaced family and friends' safety back home in Houston. Here's hoping the Shugarts and all of J.B.'s loved ones are resting comfortably in Austin, Dallas, or the like.

Our last blip comes from fellow freshman backup C/G/T and spiritual leader of this freshman class Michael Brewster, who's latest Facebook status speaks volumes:

Michael Brewster is Going to USC...this isnt a football game...It is a business trip...Do Work.

Amen, sir.

Defense: The vast majority of the defense remains unvaried as the Buckeyes head into the Collision in the Colliseum with the notable exceptions of safeties Aaron Gant and Jemale Hines swapping with one another from free safety to strong safety respectively and even more noteworthy, the return of the suspended Donald Washington and Jamario O'Neal. As Pfer debated eloquently, this isn't a time for the coaching staff to be proud or protective: Washington is CRITICAL to this team's success against SC's stout, explosive wide receivers. And while O'Neal's career in the scarlet and gray has more or less been a massive dissappointment at this juncture, he's always proven himself to be an important special teamer and his ability to step in and provide immediate depth at both safety spots could prove essential this weekend.

It's on.... Yours truly answered Paragon's flashy oral So. Cal hip-hop dance moves by verbally doing the Achy Breaky Heart line dance last night on Orson Swindle and Peter Bean's most outstandingly mediocre internet radio trainwreck (at the 41:16 mark, which for those without the boon of iTunes at work can download here; WARNING: contains PG-13 language and much SEC pragmatism by the host), which can only mean one thing: it's on. The dance off is this Saturday evening on their turf, with the much maligned, heavily doubted (and bet against) #5 Ohio State Buckeyes taking on #1 USC. As we waxed not-so-poetically about, our gut feeling remains SC's greatest weakness, the over aggressive, penalty prone, exploitation ripe secondary will ultimately make or break this game for the Trojans.

tOSU's best dancer keeps the dancing shoes off. Beanie's status/effectiveness/our mental sanity remains a total question mark as the all-everything Heisman hopeful failed to participate in yesterday's full-team practice. Gems like this from the Bucks 35-year old quarterback fail to provide much in the area of solace:

"I don't know if he was running, jogging -- I have no idea if he was walking, riding a (stationary) bike," Boeckman said. "I really can't give you any details on what he was doing."

Uh, thanks Todd. Glad to hear you have about as much idea as the rest of us. In spite of Mark May's Saturday insistence that Beanie continued to rock a protective boot on the sidelines in the sleep walk against the Bobcats, Wells didn't and his general mobility and ability to, at the very least, go through the most basic of conditioning would seem to imply the chances of Beanie giving it a go Saturday are better than his absence would lead us to believe.

Playing the roll of Chef, we have... ESPN Pac-10 country resident and all around zen guru Bruce Edwards delves into the Top 10 story lines for 2008's "it" game. Excluding the obvious (Beanie's health, possible team/conference redemption), Edwards points out that this indeed will match up arguably the two top linebacking cores in the country in a chance to settle once and for all who really has the claim to being the 21st century incarnation of "Linebacker U". There's absolutely no questioning Rey Maualuga's absolute beast mode status, but all homertastic biases aside, I'd wager on Ohio State's group having the overall edge as I firmly believe there was a reason Brian Cushing failed to ascend to a full-time starting job until his senior year. With Laurinaitis and Freeman all but locks to be first rounders and SC only countering with Maualuga in terms of sheer likelyness, while there's no questioning SC's units closeness in terms of talent, I think logically you have to give the edge to tOSU's group.

Maybe the Bucks really are rolling into the dance off with a goth kid and a linedancer or so you'd believe by simply looking at the national perception of how this game would go. Massey over at Buckeye Commentary captured this overwhelming national vote of confidence:

The doubt generated by Saturday's uninspiring going through the motions/classic Tressel show nothing-fest has snowballed to the point where even actual media types are declaring this contest a de facto bye week for the Trojans. At least usual Ohio State cynic (despite being married to a Buckeye) Matt Hayes thinks it'll be a game.

Toe Jam & Earl...Bruce? As mentioned here around this time yesterday afternoon, Chris "Beanie" Wells and his stiff arm that will end all that you know and love will spend Saturday afternoon on the sidelines as the Buckeyes go toe to toe with the Ohio Bobcats. While his status remains unofficial with respect to the regular season clash of '08 against the Trojans next week, all speculation remains Wells is expected to be 100% as the Buckeyes travel out to Los Angeles. As anyone who's ever had a serious toe injury will attest, what Beanie's going through is no walk in the park; for a position who's success is mandated on the ability to make sharp, planted cuts, with, well, your feet, the idea that Wells would be anywhere close to his full effectiveness without full functionality of his right foot is hardly laudable. Still, with Maurice Wells slated to get the start and the Boom & Zoom tag team of Dan Herron and the perpetually-dinged-up-in-his-own-right Brandon Saine expected to split the carries in thirds, this opportunity to showcase the Buckeyes' embarassment of riches at the position should be a good one.

Turf Theory of Everything (aka T.O.E.). As if Beanie's mystery toe ailment wasn't troublesome enough, evidently Buckeyes starting fullback/h-back Brandon Smith is ailing as well, as the 5th-year senior continues to battle through turf toe. Apparently Smith's suffered inflammation of the bridge between his big toe and heel since his middle school playing days, so ideally he should be conditioned to the discomfort by now. With The Vested Glory insinuating the fullback starting spot as being "the most important on the team" leading into the season, he and the coaching staff's continued trust in Smith speaks volumes to both Smith's grittyness as well as his playmaking abilities. With a cadre of immensely talented (albeit mostly green) halfbacks expected to carry the bulk of the Buckeyes ground game on Saturday, Smith's durability and overall blocking efficacy could prove important.

One order of athlete's foot, please. Buckeyes rookie tackle starter sophomore Bryant Browning received the dreaded "not a winning performance" grade on his opening week effort against the Youngstown State Penguins. His biggest offense? You guessed it: lively feet. A costly false start penalty on the first year starter brought an early drive to a grinding hault and forced the Buckeyes to instead settle for a field goal. He also allowed his man to re-introduce Todd Boeckman to the Ohio Stadium artifcial turf during a particularly rough blow following a pass, which causes The Plain Dealer's 2008 Eager Beaver award winner Doug Lesmerises to speculate what many have openly stated: that Browning's long-term future may instead be on the interrior line. James Patrick Tressel's thoughts on Browning's play also raise some interesting questions about the right tackle's future:

"We thought Bryant did well in the game," Tressel said Thursday. "There are some things he needs to do better. I think a young guy like J.B. Shugarts did well also. But that's not the kind of guy that Bryant Browning is (to worry about his job). He's not worried about if it's locked down. He wants to get better and he's working, but I think J.B. Shugarts is going to be good."

Tress' insistence on lavishly praising and repeatedly bringing up the freshman Texas native's play in a question aimed directly about another lineman tends to not reflect favorably on the aforementioned lineman's long term grasp on the position.

There are 120 feet in 40-yards. In case you had better things to do than take in last Saturday afternoon's Ohio/Wyoming clash, Hilliard/Columbus native (and Hillary Darby alumnist) Taylor Price is doing big things for the Bobcats. After largely being overlooked in a run first (which would seem to be the calling card of Hillard ISD football programs) offense during his time in Columbus, after a series of blazing 4.29 40-yard dash times Price found his way to Athens, where he set a Bobcat record with 14 catches last week. Price's speed and solid mitts should pose a nice dry run for Buckeyes all-world DB Malcolm Jenkins as he readies himself to chase Patrick Turner, Vidal Hazelton, and Damian Williams around the Colliseum.

Foot in mouth disease takes another. Congratulations Buckeyes, we finally have our very own Kige Ramsey! GO82BUCKS wins hearts and minds with commentary utterly deprived of analysis, charm, or gravitas, but he does appear to record his brave videos from the inside of an air turbine of some sort (steer clear of the blades, kind sir). I won't spoil whom he picks for Saturday's epic battle for Ohio, but I will enthusiastically endorse the Catlab/Spike & Mike-esque demented homertastic animation that graces the end (the 1:45 mark). Brutus + Decapitation = High Art (Warning: for those easily offended by/unable to watch at work rough animations containing slang for female cats and cartoon blood, steer clear)

2007 Look Back

2007 Record: 6-6 (4-4 - 4th Place MAC East)
2007 Road Record: 2-4
2007 vs Teams w/ Winning Records:  2-1
2007 vs. Ranked Opponents:  0-1
2007 Bowl:  None
Last year vs Ohio State:  N/A
All-Time vs. Ohio State:  0-5

2008 Key Stats

Last week: L 20-21 vs, Wyoming
Record: 0-1 (0-0)

OFFENSE
Yards/Play, Offense:  4.6 (#79, nationally)
Scoring Offense/Game:  20.0 (82)
Rush Yards/Att:  1.86 (101)
Pass Yards/Att:  6.0 (69)
3rd Downs Conv-Att:  3-13-23.1% (96)
Red Zone Scores-Chances:  3-4-75.0% (76) (1 TD / 2 FG)
Turnovers lost:  2 (44)

DEFENSE
Yards/Play Defense:  4.4 (48)
Scoring Defense/Game  21.0 (57)
Rush Yards/Att:  4.0 (75)
Pass Yards/Att:  5.0 (38)
3rd Downs Conv-Att:  6-12-50.0% (50)
Red Zone Scores-Chances:  3-3-100.0% (54) (3 TD / 0 FG)
Turnovers gained:  2 (36)
Turnover margin:  +0 (43)

SPECIAL TEAMS
Yards/Punt Return, Ohio:  N/A (Haven't returned a punt yet)
Yards/Punt Return, Opponent:  13.0 (64)
Yards/Kickoff Return, Ohio:  46.67 (6)
Yards/Kickoff Return, Opponent:  26.33 (95)
FG Att-Made: 2-2-100.0% (1)

Personnel

Returning Starters From '07:  13 (6 offense, 7 defense)
Best Player, Offense:  Andrew Mooney, TE #81 (SR) (3 catches for 10 yards, 1 TD vs Wyoming) (34 catches, 498 yards, a school record 9 TDs, 2nd Team All-MAC in '07)
Best Wide Receiver:  Taylor Price, #23 (JR) (14 catches for 139 yards vs Wyoming) (33 catches, 464 yards, 4 TDs in '07)
Best Running Back:  Chris Garrett, #2 (JR) (12 carries for 30 yards vs Wyoming), (17 carries, 99 yards, 0 TDs in '07)
Best Player, Defense: Jameson Hartke, DE #90 (SR)
Best D-Lineman: Hartke
Best Linebacker: Lee Renfro, #32 (JR)
Best CB: Mark Parson, #24 (SR)