Donald Washington to NFL

[peeker643]

Link when available:

Washington Declares For NFL Draft

Despite suggesting after the Fiesta Bowl that he planned on returning for his senior
season, Ohio State junior cornerback Donald Washington announced today that he will
be entering his name into this year's NFL Draft. Projected as a late-round pick,
Washington is a player many felt could raise his stock by returning to school.

Edit to add: http://www.bucknuts.com/news/articles/2 ... -nfl-draft

[onlyindreams]

He's been a disappointment after playing pretty well early in his career. I think OSU should rebound ok because they have a bunch of talented CB's coming in.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

He's been a disappointment after playing pretty well early in his career. I think OSU should rebound ok because they have a bunch of talented CB's coming in.

Agreed. Chekwa took the #2 CB position from Washington before last year anyway. CB/LB we are loaded for the future.

[furls]

Disagree, the Bucks are a year away from having depth in the secondary. Next year's secondary will hinge on the development of guys like Travis Howard and Orhian Johnson. We'll see how this turns out.

As for Washington, he will have the kind of combine/pro day that will vault him up the board into the 3rd/4th round.

[danwismar]

I'm worried about CB too, Furls. The coaches say they like Travis Howard, but he has never played a minute. Andre Amos is talented, but has never been able to stay healthy. I think Corey Brown could be a dynamite CB, but at this moment he's in high school...and he may end up at WR anyway.

There's Devon Torrence (who might still bolt to play baseball) and Clarke (who knows what we've got there?) and Donnie Evege (smaller than the prototype OSU corners)...in other words, a large group of maybes.

By the way, I'm worried about safety too.

[furls]

Rack it Dan.

Personally, I think Coleman = the Brians (average and nice for depth, but not a guy that you want to build the defense around).

Corey Brown was dynamite in the AAA game. He has officially become the steal (so far) of OSU's class and you know he will make a difference somewhere, the question is where. A lot of that will depend on guys like Duron Carter and Marlon Brown. I doubt the Buckeyes will land Brown (Marlon), so there could be space for Corey at WR, but he looks like a pretty incredible CB too. His future, like Ginn and Gamble's before his, will rely on the Buckeyes holes. Boy it is nice to land a guy that may be an all american at either position.

The secondary is likely to be a work in progress next year. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least one freshman in the two deep at CB next year, whether it is Green, Clarke, Brown, or Barnett is anyone's guess.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

I don't know. I don't see Washington as a lockdown corner. Will it hurt us to lose our most experiecned corners? Sure. But I have confidence in Tress to find replacements.

Plus,With Washington leaving there is an opening in the Tress Doghouse.

[furls]

Plus,With Washington leaving there is an opening in the Tress Doghouse.

Yeah, plus I heard you can actually get paid in weed in the NFL. I think Randy Moss said that. Washington showed signs of being that lock down corner in the 2007 season, but was so far in the doghouse after his 2 major issues last year that I am not sure he was going to get his job back regardless of how Chekwa played. As for Chekwa, I like him a lot, as a nickelback.

[Mcreek]

Justin Green could be the real gem in this class. He is a big hitter as well as having great speed. He actually played LB out of necessity last season.

Here is a quote from his coach

“What can he play in college? I think his best position is probably as a corner,” he said. “He’s a great cover guy and a big hitter. Obviously he’s got quality speed. He’s the real deal that way. I’ve had several guys go through here and make it to the league and I think he’s an NFL corner. That’s what I think he is.”

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Plus,With Washington leaving there is an opening in the Tress Doghouse.

Yeah, plus I heard you can actually get paid in weed in the NFL. I think Randy Moss said that. Washington showed signs of being that lock down corner in the 2007 season, but was so far in the doghouse after his 2 major issues last year that I am not sure he was going to get his job back regardless of how Chekwa played. As for Chekwa, I like him a lot, as a nickelback.

"paid in weed"

So I take it you're not a fan of Chekwa as the #1? Really I think it's his job by default.

Also, What do you see our LB core looking like next season? From most of what I have read its looking like Sabino, Homan, Sweat. Personaly I think that might be one of the most athletic cores we have ever had.

[furls]

If you told me next year's CB line up was DW, MJ at corners Chekwa at nickel, I would be very happy. Chekwa, to me, is a lot like the Brians; he is a good player not a great one. He is still early in development and could turn into a stellar player, but for now, I am not enthused about him being our "lock down" guy.

Next year's LB corps is impossible to make sense of. The only givens are Sabino and Homan will play a lot, how it shakes out from there is anyone's guess. Will the Buckeyes bring in Jermale Hines to and play a 4-2.5-4.5 (BTW I am trademarking that), will they use Moeller or Rolle as the third LB and move Hines to the Nickel? Will Dorian Bell, Storm Klein, or Jordan Whiting come in and blow the doors of that mutha? It is possible, all three are outstanding prospects. All this and I still have not mentioned Sweat. The LB depth is an embarassment of riches.

[danwismar]

If we had a game tomorrow, I think Spitler might start at the Mike, if for no other reason than he probably knows all three LB positions better than anyone else. I love Sabino too, from what I've seen, and maybe he's a Mike long term, but I think it's possible that if we want our best three linebackers on the field in Game One, it might be Spitler, Sabino and Homan to start...with Hines at the nickel.

Mix in a liberal dose of Moeller and Rolle and then hope you can get something out of your true freshmen as a bonus.

Anytime I catch myself expecting (hoping for?) valuable contributions from players who have never once yet put on the uniform (Bell, Whiting, Klein, etc.) I'm reminded of a line I read here soon after I first started writing for the site...I think from JB or Peeker...I'm not sure, but it stuck with me...and I paraphrase...

"...but it's all a bunch of Nick Speegle to me until they show me something..."

Classic.

[furls]

Oh yeah and AS too...

I am not sure where he fits in because it appeared that Sabino had pretty much overtaken him on the depth chart. How about that for a Buckeye career, back up JL for 3 years then back up Etienne Sabino for your 4th? One thing I am sure of, Spitler is a Mike. Sabino may be able to play some Will or Sam, but man that would be a big (relatively) slow group of LBs. Sabino has excellent speed, particularly for a Mike, but Homan and Spitler are average speed. I would really like to see the Bucks get a bit smaller and faster, using guys like Rolle or Moeller. We really need to get some athletes out there.

[Mcreek]

The idea of having both Spitler and Homan at LB is equivilant of having the likes of Greg Bellisari, Jerry Rudzinski and John Kerr. I would have Sabino-Moeller and Rolle instead.

[furls]

Next year's LBs will be Homan, Sabino, and someone that does not have a lot of snaps thus far in their career at OSU, but the exciting thing is that there is a TON of talent and a truly open competition for the spot. Sabino's speed makes it possible for him to play Mike, Sam, or Will which gives the Buckeyes a lot of options.