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EARLY
BIRD 2009 COLLEGE FOOTBALL PREVIEW
RELEASED DECEMBER 2008 |
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OHIO
STATE BUCKEYES |
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OFFENSE
- 5 |
------RETURNING
STARTERS------ |
DEFENSE
- 8 |
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KEY
LOSSES |
OFFENSE:
Todd Boeckman-QB, Brandon Smith-FB,
Maurice Wells-TB, Brian Robiskie-WR,
Rory Nicol-TE, Alex Boone-OT,
Steve Rehring-OG, Ben Person-OG,
Ryan Pretorius-K, Chris "Beanie"
Wells-RB (NFL), Brian Hartline-WR
(NFL) |
DEFENSE:
Nader
Abdallah-DT, Marcus Freeman-SLB,
James Laurinaitis-MLB, Malcolm
Jenkins-CB, A.J. Trapasso-P, Donald
Washington-CB (NFL) |
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Secondary |
The
Big Ten's best pass
defense is still
stocked despite
the loss of Jim
Thorpe winner Malcolm
Jenkins. |
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Running
Back / Receiver |
The
loss of Beanie Wells
leaves QB Terrelle
Pryor as the sole
running threat.
The nation's 104th
rated passing offense
runs the risk of
remaining too one-dimensional
unless this receiving
unit significantly
improves. |
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QB
Terrelle Pryor |
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DB
Kurt Coleman |
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*
DEPTH CHARTS were only designed
as a simplistic gauge for listing
players that departed and players
that received the most playing
experience (consistent starters).
NationalChamps.net recognizes
the importance of missing personnel
data not listed such as redshirts,
transfers, injuries, incoming
recruits, back ups and alternates.
Their coverage will begin with
our full 2009 Preseason Preview
due out this coming spring. |
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OHIO
STATE 2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
OFFENSE |
QB |
Terrelle
Pryor-So |
Joe
Bauserman-So |
FB |
.. |
.. |
TB |
Dan
Herron-So |
.. |
WR |
Dane
Sanzenbacher-Jr |
.. |
WR |
Ray
Small-Sr |
DeVier
Posey-So |
TE |
Jake
Ballard-Sr |
.. |
OT |
.. |
.. |
OG |
Jim
Cordle-Sr |
.. |
C |
Mike
Brewster-So |
.. |
OG |
.. |
.. |
OT |
Bryant
Browning-Jr |
.. |
K |
Aaron
Pettrey-Sr |
.. |
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OHIO
STATE 2009 DEPTH CHART
Returning
Starters/Key
Players |
DEFENSE |
DE |
Lawrence
Wilson-Sr |
Rob
Rose-Sr |
DT |
Doug
Worthington-Sr |
Dexter
Larimore-Jr |
DT |
Cameron
Heyward-Jr |
Todd
Denlinger-Sr |
DE |
Thaddeus
Gibson-Jr |
.. |
SLB |
Tyler
Moeller-Jr |
.. |
MLB |
Austin
Spitler-Sr |
.. |
WLB |
Ross
Homan-Jr |
Brian
Rolle-Jr |
CB |
.. |
.. |
CB |
Chimdi
Chekwa-Jr |
.. |
SS |
Kurt
Coleman-Sr |
Jermale
Hines-Jr |
FS |
Anderson
Russell-Sr |
.. |
P |
.. |
.. |
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QUICK
ANALYSIS |
12/9/08
The new era under Terrelle Pryor’s
leadership officially begins
winning September 5th. The hybrid
talents of the most sought-after
recruit of ‘08 were proven
in many trials-by-fire –
his arm turned out to be better
than departee Boeckman’s,
and his feet made Pryor the
Buckeye’s second-leading
rusher. Now, in Ohio’s
gridiron-crazy capitol, fans
won’t be happy unless
this kid takes THE University
back to THE top…and we
don’t mean just the Big
Ten. Pryor should be the missing
piece that kept OSU from those
two recent National Championships
(played for the title in 2007
and ’08). Unstoppable
when healthy, “Beanie’s”
status of return is iffy, but
newbie Herron proved in Wells’s
three-game absence (toe injury)
that he could carry whatever
load is to be put upon him.
The key to State’s recent
successes with their running
game has been a series of fullbacks
who can plow through anything,
so replacing Brandon Smith is
deceptively important. Most
will point to the vacated LB
corps to reveal defensive weakness,
but insiders know the corps’
underneath coverage (that struggled
in both championship game losses)
might actually improve due to
turnover. The same thing will
be rumored about the outside
coverage, but again, a sharpie
like Chekwa as a centerpiece
of the defensive backfield will
allow revampings to possibly
cause even better results. The
DL and special teams are to
remain up to Coach Tressel’s
standards, making Ohio State
again one of the most dangerous
teams. The Brutus Bunch won’t
admit it, but not making it
to the national title game for
a third consecutive year might
just be what the doctor ordered;
a few steps back in ‘08
could easily mean many more
steps towards the ultimate goal
in the coming year.
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OHIO
STATE
2009 SCHEDULE
Sep.
5 Navy
Sep. 12 Southern California
Sep. 19 Toledo @Cleveland,
OH
Sep. 26 Illinois
Oct. 3 at Indiana
Oct. 10 Wisconsin
Oct. 17 at Purdue
Oct. 24 Minnesota
Oct. 31 New Mexico State
Nov. 7 at Penn State
Nov. 14 Iowa
Nov. 21 at Michigan |
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