2011 Ohio State Buckeyes Football Preview

No college football program has undergone more scrutiny or change in the offseason than the Ohio State Buckeyes. In the wake of the scandals surrounding prominent players trading memorabilia for tattoos, the Buckeyes already expected to play half of the 2011 season with their coach and a handful of vital players on the bench. After further investigation, the school has sense parted ways with head coach Jim Tressel and star quarterback Jim Tressel. The Buckeyes will play the 2011 season under the leadership of assistant coach Luke Fickell. The specter of further suspensions and punishments will loom over the entire season in Columbus. Still, Fickell is not a great deal different than Tressel in demeanor and attitude, so expect Ohio State to look the same in terms of its preparation and philosophy. The Buckeyes have recruited extremely well and should still be able to field a competitive team in 2011. Just how quickly and successfully replacement players pick up their roles will determine if Ohio State is once again in the mix in the Big Ten or not.

So far, the only permanent personnel loss for Ohio State has been its most crucial offensive player – quarterback Terrelle Pryor. Still the Buckeyes’ offense in the Tressel era has often won with less talented and less experienced quarterbacks than Pryor. So, his absence is not the death knell to the season. Ohio State had all spring to prepare for not having Pryor for the first five games of the season. Now the Buckeyes will simply make a temporary move into a permanent one. That means the spring battle between Joe Bauserman and true freshman Braxton Miller will carry on into the fall and this time be for keeps. Bauserman is the more safe, experienced game manager. Miller is a much more mobile and athletic prospect. If the Fickell intends to be conservative and try to win with defense, Bauserman will get the nod early on. However, with his one shot to make an impression, Fickell may roll the dice with Miller and his higher upside.

Whoever is under center will have an array of experienced players to work with. The offensive line returns three very talented, veteran offensive linemen in seniors JB Shugarts, Mike Adams, and Mike Brewster. The guard positions will be manned by new players, but this will be a tough offensive line. Dan Harren rushed for 1,200 yards in 2010 but is one of the players forced to sit out the first five games. That leaves the tailback job to a committee of Rod Smith, Jaamal Berry, and Jordan Hall. All three are solid, Big Ten caliber backs who can carry the load until Harren returns, or even if he doesn’t. The only question for the offense is who will step up at receiver. DeVier Posey is yet another of the suspended players due to return in week six. Until then, the receiving corps will be a green group.

Defensively, the situation is significantly more dire. Just four starters return from last year as the Buckeyes lose their top five tacklers from 2010. Along the defensive line, Nathan Williams and John Simon will anchor a relatively young defensive line that will sorely miss Cameron Heyward. Enormous sophomore Johnathan Hankins (6’3, 335) will attempt to step into the role if interior disruptor for a defense sorely in need of one. Etienne Sabino steps into the leadership role at middle linebacker. Sabino was a very highly rated recruit that has yet to make a significant impact. He’ll join senior Andrew Sweat in holding down the linebacking corps. Several freshmen and redshirt freshmen will have the opportunity to see playing time at linebacker.

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In the secondary, only free safety Orhian Johnson returns from last year’s group that surprised everyone with its play in the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas. Career backup Travis Howard and sophomore Dominic Clarke will take over at the cornerback position but will not be asked to play near as much press and man coverage as last year’s more veteran group. As with the linebackers, the secondary could see several members of last year’s recruiting class push for playing time right away. Especially if Fickell decided to go on a youth movement for the sake of the future.

The schedule sets up nicely for a team hoping to just survive the first half of the season. Opening tune-ups against Akron and Toledo will give the Buckeyes a chance to settle in before the week three trip to face Miami (FL). The Buckeyes return home to face a depleted Colorado team before hosting last years Big Ten co-champion Michigan State. The suspended players return in time for the trip to new conference foe Nebraska in one of the Big Ten games of the year. The second half of the schedule features a home date with division favorite Wisconsin and ends with a trip to resurgent rival Michigan.