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Ohio Football

Topic: Depth and Coaching

Topic: Depth and Coaching

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Valley Cat
General User

Member Since: 12/28/2004
Location: Jackson Twp., OH
Post Count: 1,223

Status: Offline

Depth and Coaching

Posted: 10/25/2010 7:39:22 AM

As I tried to process all of the craziness that took place Saturday afternoon and the opportunity that is in front of this team I am impressed and even somewhat amazed by what is transpiring on the field. I know we creamed a few MAC cupcakes but I think everyone on this board knows that normally anything can happen in conference play in this league. Case in point last year versus Kent or even Toledo this season.
My point is that our depth has been tested in a huge way and some kids have really answered the bell. Your three best players, arguably have been missing essentially all year. On Saturday the left side of the line was McGrath, and Lechner depth guys to start the season. We have two centers go down during the game. Phil Bates has been dinged up all season and basically served spot duty as a decoy.
Defensively the Leftwich's, Jones', Edwards and Hilton Dawson's of the world all made plays. Even at tight end this team has battled injuries all year.
I don't know where I am going with this post other than to say that after losing three all-americans due to injury and dropping tough games to Toledo and Marshall and getting there lunch handed to them at OSU this team easily could have felt sorry for itself and cashed in their chips. I think the recent success says a lot about the depth on this roster and the coaching and recruitting that has got us to this point. We may not always agree with their method but give this staff credit, they have a plan and they stick to it. I hope it continues through a tough November.

Doc Bobcat
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 4,283

Status: Offline

RE: Depth and Coaching

Posted: 10/25/2010 9:53:48 AM

I concur VC. This is the best depth I've seen and I've been watching forever. The proof is the devastating injuries and losses at the o-line position. Before the season started I had o-linemen Britain-Flowers-Bunner-Laudermilch-Pinder-Davis as getting considerable PT. All have departed. Davis was one that I thought could have started here for a long time. Then you add injuries to Carlotta and Strum and that's 8 out of your top linemen. Many big ten teams would have a hard time taking those hits.

Lechner has especially stepped up. He's a road grader at 6'6"-325 pounds. Also where did McGrath come from. He looked especially good against Fiami.

What's scary is that depth will probably be better at most positions next year. Safety and d-line may be a tad thin, but look at the returners, especially if Keller and Bazil play. On the o-line you have most everyone back and you can plug in big John Prior as a potential starter. It looks like we also have 2 commits from some 300 pound 3 star o-lineman already.

TWT
General User

Member Since: 12/20/2004
Location: Alexandria, VA
Post Count: 5,208

Status: Offline

RE: Depth and Coaching

Posted: 10/25/2010 4:19:30 PM

All of the injuries has allowed Ohio to issue medical redshirts to the Keller's and Brazil's out there, high impact players in the two deep as freshman. Theo and Boo Jackson were recruited to Ohio to play 2 and they stayed in the system for 3 years. As far as overall depth in the program I don't think Ohio has ever had this much talent in the program. The Hess years Ohio was up and down on the backs of a few good players. Scholarships were less in the MAC than in other conferences and in the year Ohio was undefeated in 1968 the non-conference schedule consisted of William and Mary, Dayton, and a non-BCS Cincinnati. In the modern era this is the best Ohio has ever been and its on the backs of overall depth and talent in the program, not one particular player. The biggest hurdle left for this program is to recruit a QB with NFL level potential out of high school. The QB tradition in Athens is so weak that Boo Jackson has shattered all of the TD passing records in a year and a half under center. When is the last time a non-JUCO non transfer was first string under center for the Bobcats? Austin Everson in his senior year? Its time to land that franchise QB that will take this program into the top 25.

Most Memorable Bobcat Events Attended
2010 97-83 win over Georgetown in NCAA 1st round
2012 45-13 victory over ULM in the Independence Bowl
2015 34-3 drubbing of Miami @ Peden front of 25,086

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