No. 2/3 Ohio State (0-0) vs. Youngstown State (0-0)

Date: Saturday, August 30
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Place: Ohio Stadium – capacity 102,329
TV: Big Ten Network will televise the game. Thom Brennaman will call the play-by-play with analysis from Charles Davis. Charissa Thompson is the sideline reporter.
Radio: WBNS-AM 1460 The Fan in Columbus is the flagship station for the 73-station Ohio State Radio Network. The Jim Tressel pregame show airs 30 minutes prior to kickoff. “Big Daddy” Paul Keels will call the play-by-play and will be assisted by former Buckeye Jim Lachey in the booth and Marty Bannister on the sidelines.
Weather: Partly cloudy skies and a game time temperature of 79 degrees.

On the eve of Ohio State’s season-opener versus Youngstown State, head coach Jim Tressel is now the highest paid coach in the Big Ten.

Tressel, who is under contract until the end of January 2013, received a raise today of more than $1 million annually than the previous agreement.

Tressel’s list of starters who will not be in the lineup when Saturday’s game gets underway is growing.

Junior strong safety Kurt Coleman, who rolled an ankle in practice on Monday, will not play against Youngstown State. In his place will be sophomore Jermale Hines, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound converted linebacker who was listed as the nickelback on the depth chart.

We already know that starting cornerback Donald Washington will sit this one out against the Penguins as he serves a two-game suspension of violating an unspecified team rule, and sophomore Chimdi Chekwa will start instead.

Aaron Gant, Nick Anderson, Tyler Moeller, and DeVon Torrence will also get their opportunities to play in the secondary.

Defensive tackle Doug Worthington will not start either following his DUI arrest last month, but will play.

All three quarterbacks, senior Todd Boeckman, redshirt freshman Joe Bauserman, and true freshman Terrelle Pryor are all expected to play by the end of the first half. In what sequence, though, remains to be seen. My best guess is that Bauserman comes in first, but Pryor plays more.

In the running game, Beanie Wells will get his share of carries, and redshirt freshman Boom Herron will be the first one off the bench. How much, if at all, sophomore Brandon Saine will play remains to be seen. He’s not mentioned on the depth chart at running back, senior Maurice Wells is the other one of the three that are, but Saine is listed as a kick returner.

All four wide receivers on the depth chart are your usual suspects with senior Brian Robiskie, juniors Brian Hartline and Ray Small along with sophomore Dane Sanzenbacher. It will be interesting to see who else gets an opportunity to play. Taurian Washington? DeVier Posey? Flash Thomas? All should factor in at some point during the game.

Defensively, Ohio State may show a new look on occasion, switching from their conventional 4-3 alignment with a 3-3-5 stack defense.

Last year, the depth chart had two defensive ends and two defensive tackles on the D-line. This year, Lawrence Wilson is listed as the defensive end, with Todd Denlinger and Cameron Heyward at the tackles. Nader Abdallah is the starting in place of Worthington at nose tackle, a position Ohio State has not had on their roster in awhile.

The linebackers generally are aligned behind the linemen, hence the name “stack,” instead of in the gaps, while there are five defensive backs. There’s two cornerbacks, two safeties and a free safety.

But the strong safeties are more hybrid linebackers/defensive backs, like Hines or Moeller, which are called “field spurs” or just “spurs.”

They can creep up towards the line of scrimmage for run support, blitz, drop back into a zone, or cover either a tight end or back in man coverage.

Not sure how much of this you will see this against Youngstown State, if at all, but you will against teams that use the spread offense.

The 2008 edition of the Penguins are younger than the team that made the trip to Columbus last year, with nine underclassmen making their first collegiate start against the Buckeyes.

Junior quarterback Todd Rowan is also making his first start of his career, though Toledo transfer Brandon Summers will also likely take some snaps.

Youngstown State is banged up as well. The Guins’ top rusher from a year ago, senior Kevin Smith, will not play Saturday due to a pulled hamstring and has missed most of fall camp. His backup, junior Jabari Smith, along with redshirt freshman Kamryn Keys will get the bulk of the carries.

The strength of the Penguins’ D is on the line with senior FCS All-American defensive tackle Mychal Savage, and in the secondary with two veteran cornerbacks with senior Jarvis Richards and junior Lenny Wicks.

Unfortunately for YSU, all three linebackers, seniors Mike Barlak and Nate Ward. along with sophomore Jordan Edwards will be making their first start ever. The Penguins top tackler from a year ago, junior Roshon Simons, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker from Eastmoor Academy in Columbus, went down with a knee injury two weeks ago and will not play.

Prediction and Analysis

After losing two national title games in a row and with all of the all of the experience coming back, this Buckeye team is on a mission and will dispose of the young Penguins quickly in a workman-like fashion.

Coach T won’t run up the score on his old team, but Ohio State will still score a fair amount of points. If Youngstown State does get on the board, it will be late in the game against third-teamers.

Ohio State 45, Youngstown State 7

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel trying to put his arm around Kansas’ Mark Mangino.
Bucknuts Photo

Earlier today, I received an email from the public relations firm, Fahlgren Mortine, stating that Donatos Pizza, a Columbus institution for 45 years, will now be selling individual cheese and pepperoni pizzas on its signature thin crust at Ohio Stadium this season.

The email also stated that Donatos has signed a seven-year agreement with Ohio State to sell pizza at seven locations within the stadium – three on C-deck and four on A-deck and that they will cook all the pizzas on-site with the same ovens used in each store. The company sought to replicate the cooking process in its stores at the stadium to ensure customers get a hot, great-tasting pie every time.

In celebration of this agreement, Donatos catered today’s press luncheon at the Jack Nicklaus Museum, and none other than Kansas head coach Mark Mangino showed up to get his hands on some free pie.

If you have paid attention to this web site over the past five years, each week throughout the season I document what transpires at these press conferences every Tuesday, except for Michigan Week when it’s held on Monday.

Now I would personally attend, if only there wasn’t a restraining order placed against me by Coach Tressel after wandering to his home late one night with a notebook full of plays back in 2003. So now I have to rely on the information provided by ohiostatebuckeyes.com.

Coach Tressel’s opening remarks:

On behalf of everyone here we want to thank Donato’s for that wonderful lunch. If at some of the TV timeouts we are all dashing to the concourse for Donato’s this year, you’ll have to excuse us. It was wonderful. Thanks for supplying that.”

Well, everyone loves free pie, coach.

Later, Coach Tressel was asked about James Scott:

Well, James didn’t report to camp. Outside of that, I can’t give an update. He’s not with us.”

Those who stay will be champions.

Jimmy T. then elaborated on the status of Brandon Saine and Doug Worthington:

Brandon Saine, the trainers said today they felt he was like 95 to 100%. And sometimes with those injuries, right when they’re starting to feel better, it’s dangerous, and last week was that week, so we tried to keep him from overdoing it last week. He made a nice play in a live situation which shows the explosion that we all enjoy seeing him have, so I think Brandon will be fine. He’s missed practice time and practice is critical, but he’s going to be able to ease his way back into it. As far as Worthington goes, Doug will be suited up and ready to go. Exactly when he’ll get his car keys back in the course of a game, I don’t know that answer at this moment, but it won’t be at the beginning.”

Saine was nowhere to be found on the two-deep depth chart at running back, but was listed as one of the kick returners. Backing up Chris Wells will be redshirt freshman Boom Herron. Listed third is senior Maurice Wells. Worthington, who would of been a starter, is second behind Nader Abdallah at defensive tackle.

Lord James Patrick Tressel was then asked about how many snaps each quarterback may get against Youngstown State:

If you look at the quarterback situation, I would say there are two guys at number one and two guys sharing the number two snaps, which is the way it’s been going on a good bit during the camp. Todd has taken a lot with the ones. Joe has taken a lot of the snaps with the twos and some with the threes. Terrelle has taken a lot of snaps with the threes, but some snaps with the twos. So I would say based on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, we’ll see just how much each guy will have an opportunity, but I’m hoping it would be nice in the first half of the game — we always like in the first half of the game to get our quarterbacks in there just so they’re not nervous anymore and all that. Perfect scenario for me would be to have all three of them get in the game that first half.”

FYI…Terrelle Pryor is listed third on the depth chart, but I am going to go out on a limb and say he’s next in line to get playing time behind starter Todd Boeckman.

Last year against Youngstown State, the Buckeyes had a hard time running the ball against the Penguins, and Beanie Wells had one of this worse outings of the season, gaining only 46 yards on 16 carries. Senator Sweater Vest explains last year’s game and the progress made by Beanie since:

I think Beanie, if you go back and look at the game, he was so anxious. Every time he got the ball he wanted to just go run for a touchdown and probably didn’t have his eyes on the task of how things were unfolding and the blocking scheme and he just wanted to go because he was so excited. What you saw as the season developed was a more patient back, a back who knew more about the schemes. He can stand in the I-back now and he can visualize how it’s going to be blocked because he’s seen a lot of the different looks. He’s had a lot more carries. And as a person, I think he’s done a very good job with — obviously there’s a lot more attention paid to him today than there was a year ago today, yet I think he’s done a good job keeping his eyes on the task at hand. One of the things that he wanted to accomplish going into last year was to be an Academic All-Big Ten player, to position himself to be so, and he did, and one of the things he talked a lot about this year was he wanted to maintain that because anybody can be something once and he wanted — and he did, and so I think a lot of things — he’s thinking the right things about all the various things that are happening in his life, but it’s tough when you get as much attention as he’s going to get both in numbers of people trying to tackle you, there will be a lot of attention on him and on people wanting to talk to you and have you thinking further out than you should be thinking.”

Later on, Coach was asked about which true freshmen may or may not play this Saturday:

I’d say better than 50% chance that (Terrelle) Pryor will play, Lamaar (Thomas), (Mike) Brewster would play, (Mike) Adams would play, (J.B.) Shugarts will play, defensively (Etienne) Sabino, (Keith) Wells, I think it’s still 50/50 with Nathan Williams, although I think it’s starting to push towards the 50 to play. I think he’s going to be really good. (Andrew) Sweat, I think it’s still 50/50. Who am I missing here? Zach Domicone? Probably 50/50, but I think he’s going to be good. He’s got a presence about him.”

About Donatos

Donatos operates over 200 stores in five states. My favorite Donatos pizzas are The Works® (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers, onions & aged provolone cheese), Founder’s Favorite® (pepperoni, sausage, ham, hot peppers & aged provolone cheese), and the Mariachi Beef™ (ground beef, jalapeno peppers, sliced Roma tomatoes, cheddar and aged provolone cheeses, Mariachi spice & a side of sour cream).

For more information, check out donatos.com.

Do I get free pizza now?

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Youngstown State head coach Jon Heacock and his brother, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock.
AP Photo

The Youngstown State Penguins, now a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference after the Gateway Football Conference changed it’s name back in June, ventures to Columbus to take on the Ohio State Buckeyes on Saturday.

The Guins went 7-4 last year but failed to make the playoffs. They are ranked 12th in both the FCS Coaches’ and The Sports Network preseason polls for Division I-AA teams.

Youngstown State head coach Jon Heacock, the younger brother of Ohio State’s defensive coordinator Jim Heacock, enters his eighth season at the helm of the Penguins with an overall record of 50-31. He was the defesnive coordinator at YSU under then-head coach Jim Tressel during the 2000 season before taking over after Tressel was hired to lead the Buckeyes.

Ironically, Jim Heacock was already an assistant coach at Ohio State under former head coach John Cooper for five seasons before being one of the three coaches retained by Tressel from the prior staff.

Under the direction of Heacock and offensive coordinator Brian Wright, the Penguins will implement no-huddle, spread attack this season.

Eight starters return on the offensive side of the ball for Youngstown State, but have major holes to fill especially at quarterback.

Todd Rowan, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound junior from Braceville, Ohio, takes over for the departed Tom Zetts at quarterback. Rowan has attempted just two passes in his career, completing one for eight yards. YSU may also play 6-foot, 210-pound Brandon Summers, a transfer from Toledo, who made two starts for the Rockets in 2007, completing 14 passes.

Youngstown State’s top returning pass-catcher can also run the ball as well. Senior Ferlando Williams, a 6-foot, 195-pound wide receiver had 42 receptions for 499 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 464 yards on 74 attempts and nine more scores.

In the backfield, the Guins top returning rusher is 5-foot-10, 195-pound senior tailback Kevin Smith, who had 610 yards in 124 attempts with 10 TDs last season. But he has missed most of fall camp with a pulled hamstring, and is not listed on the Penguins two-deep roster for the game against Ohio State. Junior tailback Jabari Scott, who gained 524 yards on 93 carries with five TDs in 2007, is listed as the starter.

Defensively, the Penguins use a 4-3 base with five starters returning from last season. Junior Roshon Simons, a 6-foot-1, 235-pound linebacker from Eastmoor Academy in Columbus, is the top returning tackler with 55 stops last year, but went down with a knee injury two weeks ago. A projected starter, Simons is not on YSU’s two-deep roster against Ohio State.

The top returning stoppers after Simons are 5-foot-11, 195-pound senior CB Jarvis Richards with 53 tackles, and 6-foot-2, 305-pound senior DT Mychal Savage, who recorded 43 stops, 4.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries in 2007.

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: And Penn State bills itself as Linebacker U? Gimme a break!
Athlon Sports Photo

This is the last in a series of previews on the 11 teams in the Big Ten in the order I predict them to finish.

Ohio State
Predicted finish in Big Ten: First, 8-0

Last year, not wanting to pick Ohio State to win the Big Ten so I wouldn’t appear to be a homer, I choose Michigan. Then the Wolverines went on to lose to teams like Appalachian State and Oregon in the non-conference portion of the schedule and were defeated by Wisconsin and Ohio State to finish tied for second in the league.

The Buckeyes, meanwhile, went on to win their second consecutive outright conference championship and the third in as many years after going 7-1 in the Big Ten last season.

No favoritism this year when I pick Ohio State to claim yet another Big Ten trophy since I have yet to find a publication, web site, or blog that isn’t tabbing the Buckeyes to win the conference.

And there’s a big reason for that. Ohio State returns 18 starters, nine each on both offense and defense.

Head coach Jim Tressel enters his eighth season at the helm in Columbus and has posted a 73-15 overall record and a .830 winning percentage. The Buckeyes have averaged 10 wins over the last seven seasons, and 11 victories in the last three campaigns. Under Tressel, Ohio State has played in three national championship games, winning one. Can you say “dy-nasty?” You will after this season.

Of the two starters not returning on offense, one is the fullback, a position player that’s used only about 20 percent of the time. The other is right tackle Kirk Barton with sophmore Bryant Browning taking off the vacated slot.

All-Big Ten quarterback and Davey O’Brien Award semifinalist Todd Boeckman returns for his senior year and his sixth in the program after passing for 2,379 yards with 25 touchdowns against 14 interceptions in 2007 while leading the Big Ten in passing efficiency with 148.94 rating.

The nation’s top-rated high school prospect and true freshman, Terrelle Pryor, also figures to get few snaps as a change of pace to Boeckman’s drop-back passing style and make plays using his feet and running ability.

Another First-Team, All-Big Ten selection, junior running back Chris Wells, returns after being voted the team’s Most Valuable Player by rushing for 1,609 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.

He has some help in the backfield with senior Maurice Wells, sophomore Brandon Saine, and redshirt freshman Daniel Herron.

Boeckman and Pryor have two very good receivers to throw to with senior Brian Robiskie and junior Brian Hartline. Robiskie had 55 receptions for 935 yards and 11 touchdowns, while Hartline added 52 catches for 694 yards and six TDs plus a punt return for another score.

Someone, though, has to step up as the third receiver and be a vertical threat. It was assumed that junior Ray Small was going to be that guy last season, who caught 20 balls for 267 yards last year. Others also in the mix are sophomores Dane Sanzenbacher (11 REC, 82 YDS, 1 TD), Taurian Washington (3 REC, 47 YDS, 1 TD), along with freshmen DeVier Posey and Lamaar Thomas.

Though not much of a factor in the passing game, tight ends Rory Nicol and Jake Ballard also return. Nicol, a senior, tallied 16 receptions for 84 yards, and Ballard, a junior, caught 13 passes for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

One freshman who may line up as a slot receiver or tight end is true freshman Jake Stoneburner, who is listed at 6-foot-5, 230-pounds, but can run the 40-yard dash in 4.46 seconds.

Four offensive linemen return, too, with senior left tackle Alex Boone, senior left guard Steve Rehring, junior center Jim Cordle, and senior right guard Ben Person.

While the offense will be much improved this year, it was the defense that helped the Buckeyes advance to the national championship game, and with nine starters back, the Silver Bullets should be their typical dominating self. This unit was ranked No. 1 in the nation in both scoring defense (12.8 points per game) and total defense (233.0 yards per game) last year.

The biggest hole to fill comes at the defensive end position after Vernon Gholston left after his junior year to enter the NFL draft. Junior Lawrence Wilson returns to the starting lineup after breaking his leg in Ohio State’s season-opener last year against Youngstown State. He will be joined by sophomore Cameron Heyward on the other side. Both sophomore Thaddeus Gibson and junior Robert Rose should also see some playing time.

The linebacking corps is led by returning All-American, Butkus and Nagurski Award recipient James Laurinaitis. The Big Ten defensive player of the year led team with 121 tackles.

Senior WILL linebacker Marcus Freeman also returns after being named to the All-Big Ten coaches’ second-team after recording 112 stops in 2007.

Joining Laurinaitis and Freeman will be sophomore Ross Homan, though senior Curtis Terry and sophomore Tyler Moeller should also see playing time at the SAM backer.

All four starting defensive backs return, though junior cornerback Donald Washington is suspended for the first two games. In his place will be sophomore Chimdi Chekwa. Fourth-year starting cornerback Malcolm Jenkins is arguably the best in the nation.

Ohio State’s only true test this season will be at Southern California on September 13, though games at Wisconsin, Michigan State, and Illinois won’t be blow outs. The Buckeyes finish no worst than 11-1 and could get to the BCS title game even with one loss, as long as there’s no major injuries to key personnel.

Sept. 27 vs. Minnesota, Win
Oct. 4 at Wisconsin, Win
Oct. 11 vs. Purdue, Win
Oct. 18 at Michigan State, Win
Oct. 25 vs. Penn State, Win
Nov. 8 at Northwestern, Win
Nov. 15 at Illinois Win
Nov. 22 vs. Michigan, Win

The Rest of the Big Ten Previews
in the order I predict them to finish:

2. Michigan State, 6-2
2. Purdue, 6-2
4. Wisconsin, 5-3
4. Penn State, 5-3
6. Michigan, 4-4
6. Illinois, 4-4
8. Northwestern, 3-5
9. Iowa, 2-6
10. Indiana, 1-7
11. Minnesota, 0-8

Tags: Football by Matt Barker, Publisher & Editor of BuckeyeBanter.com
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Right: Senior Javon Ringer is the best running back in the Big Ten not nicknamed “Beanie.”
Athlon Sports Photo

This is the tenth in a series of previews on the 11 teams in the Big Ten in the order I predict them to finish.

Michigan State
Predicted finish in Big Ten: Tied for 2nd, 6-2

In my last preview, I predicted that Purdue would end up towards the top of the Big Ten standings because I love dark horses, but the Boilermakers may be a stretch. Michigan State, however, as all of the ingredients to challenge the top teams in the conference.

During the 2007 season under first-year head coach Mark Dantonio, the Spartans won their first four games before limping to an overall record of 7-6. But Michigan State did earn a bowl invite, their first in four years, to the Champs Sports Bowl losing to Boston College 24-21.

Of Michigan State’s six losses, no team beat them by more than a touchdown margin, and that includes games against Ohio State, Michigan, Wisconsin and the aforementioned Boston College. The Spartans other two losses came in overtime.

Dantonio, a native of Zanesville, Ohio, was an graduate assistant at Ohio State from 1983-84, and later served as the defensive backs coach at Youngstown State from 1986-90 under current Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel.

Dantonio also served as an assistant at Michigan State under former head coaches Nick Saban and Bobby Williams from 1995 through the 2000 seasons.

In 2001, Dantonio reunited with his former Youngstown State boss and good friend at Ohio State for three seasons as defensive coordinator. His defense became known as one of the stingiest in the country. During the Buckeyes’ 2002 National Championship season, Ohio State ranked second nationally in scoring defense and third in rushing defense.

In the 2003 season, his defense ranked number one in the country in rushing defense and ninth in total defense, which led the Buckeyes to an 11-2 record and No. 4 national ranking and a BCS bowl invite.

Six Buckeye defenders were named first team All-Big Ten during Dantonio’s tenure at Ohio State and thirteen were drafted into the NFL, including two first round picks in Chris Gamble and Will Smith.

After leaving Ohio State, Dantonio went on the guide the Cincinnati Bearcats for three seasons compiling a record of 18-17 before being named head coach at Michigan State to replace John L. Smith.

Dantonio has seven starters returning on offense, which include senior quarterback Brian Hoyer and senior running back Javon Ringer.

Hoyer passed for 2,725 yards with 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions while Ringer gained 1,447 yards on 245 carries (5.9 yards per attempt) and six more scores.

If there are major holes that need to be filled on the offensive side of the ball, it’s in the receiving corps. The Spartans top returning pass-catcher is Ringer, who a hauled in 35 balls for 295 yards.

Gone form last year’s team is wide receiver Devin Thomas, who left following his junior year after posting 79 receptions for a Big Ten-leading 1,260 yards and eight touchdowns. He was then selected in the second round, 34th overall, by the Washington Redskins in April’s NFL draft.

Two poised to become Hoyer’s favorite target is sophomore Mark Dell and senior Deon Curry, though both only combined to catch 44 passes for 420 yards and three TDs last year.

Three starting offensive lineman return with senior right tackle Jesse Miller, senior left guard Roland Martin, and junior center Joel Nitchman.

While the offense averaged 33.1 points per game, good for second place in the Big Ten, the defense allowed 26.6 points per outing, ranking the Spartans eighth in the conference.

When Danotnio came in last year, he eliminated the bandit linebacker and moved the Spartans into a more traditional 4-3 scheme just like the one he implemented at Ohio State. As the architect of the 2002 National Championship defense, progress should be noticeable in his second season.

Five starters return on the defensive side of the ball, including last season’s leading tackler, sophomore middle linebacker Greg Jones. He will anchor the defense after moving from strongside to the middle this season. Jones led the team with 78 stops (8.5 tackles for a loss), along with 4.5 sacks and a forced fumble.

Joining Jones as another returning starter from last season is sophomore weakside linebacker Eric Gordon (not the Indiana basketball player), who recorded 62 tackles, fourth-best on the team in 2007 as a freshman.

Two starters return in the secondary which include senior strong safety Otis Wiley, who led the team in interceptions with four and had 49 tackles, plus senior cornerback Kendall Davis-Clark, who was second on the team with 72 tackles and also tallied four sacks.

The defensive line has the least amount of experience with only one returning starter in fifth-year senior defensive tackle Justin Kershaw. He managed to record a respectable 34 tackles but had just 1.5 sacks. Senior defensive end Brandon Long and his bookend, junior Trevor Anderson, who transferred from Cincinnati, will have to step up to get consistent pressure on the quarterback.

Michigan State’s conference schedule is quite favorable, taking on the likes of Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Purdue at home. The Spartans two toughest road games are at Michigan and Penn State. But with the Wolverines going to have a down year, stealing a win away from East Lansing will have the MSU towards the top of the standings at the end of the season.

Sept. 27 at Indiana, Win
Oct. 4 vs. Iowa, Win
Oct. 11 at Northwestern, Win
Oct. 18 vs. Ohio State, Loss
Oct. 25 at Michigan, Win
Nov. 1 vs. Wisconsin, Win
Nov. 8 vs. Purdue, Win
Nov. 22 at Penn State, Loss

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