Almost Christmas Time!

[furls]

Phil Steele's magazine (or bible if you will) comes out in a little over a week. I love it not just for the OSU stuff (which is OK, but I already know more about that team than Steele), but for the comprehensive review of every other relevant team.

That thing is a must read reference for any serious NCAAF fan.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

Meh.

It's ok.

[danwismar]

For a limited time (today?) you can download Phil Steele's Ohio State season preview from a link at this page:

http://www.philsteele.com/index.html

He's got them at #11.

[jb]

For a limited time (today?) you can download Phil Steele's Ohio State season preview from a link at this page:

http://www.philsteele.com/index.html

He's got them at #11.

From what I saw in the spring game that's too high.

They are a 4 loss team IMO, mainly due to a lack of passing game.

[danwismar]

I agree that #11 is too high, (but Steele has always been favorably disposed to the Buckeyes) I do think it's a bit premature to judge Urban Meyer's passing offense on the basis of 15 spring practices under a completely new regime and concept. He is Urban Meyer after all...they will be throwing the ball all over the yard. You say you watched the spring game, jb?

I mean, we get it...you're not a Braxton Miller fan. But the passing game will be light years better than last year, when they ranked 115th out of 120 FBS programs, in large part because they didn't let Braxton throw the ball more than a dozen times a game...and he was a true freshman in a Cro Magnon offense, playing without his only experienced receiver for the first 10 games.

All that said, I think they're a 3-loss team.

[jb]

I agree that #11 is too high, (but Steele has always been favorably disposed to the Buckeyes) I do think it's a bit premature to judge Urban Meyer's passing offense on the basis of 15 spring practices under a completely new regime and concept. He is Urban Meyer after all...they will be throwing the ball all over the yard. You say you watched the spring game, jb?

I mean, we get it...you're not a Braxton Miller fan. But the passing game will be light years better than last year, when they ranked 115th out of 120 FBS programs, in large part because they didn't let Braxton throw the ball more than a dozen times a game...and he was a true freshman in a Cro Magnon offense, playing without his only experienced receiver for the first 10 games.

All that said, I think they're a 3-loss team.

That's the thing Dan. I AM a Miller fan. I swear he's playing more uptight than he did at Wayne passing-wise.

I'm not talking about the inter-regnum year. That's past. I went to the spring game and for all the hype I didn't think Miller could hit much within target. He makes Peezy and Teabow look like Aaron Rogers at this point.

Got nothing to do with the O or Urbs. Miller just isn't there yet. Maybe at some point this season the light bulb goes on. I won't argue about 3 vs 4 losses. That's all about a bounce here or there against an Iowa or Sparty, you know?

The D is gonna have to carry this bunch and if the DB's can gel to where they play on turf as well as on paper that might happen. The DL is gonna be stupid-dumb. Will be really fun to watch if they can find a ruinning mate for Shazier backing them up. Return of the Silver Bulletts.

[danwismar]

All points well taken. If Braxton had been a more accurate passer, they would have beaten Michigan for sure...

I don't know though...This spring I saw a team (and a QB) whose leading 2011 receiver caught 14 balls all season complete 12 passes to one guy in one game. I admit I missed seeing the lack of passing accuracy in Millers 24 of 31 for 258 that day.

No argument though that the defense will have to carry them. They absolutely collapsed in the second half of 2011. They're good again "on paper", but....

[e0y2e3]

And the Spring game told a slanted story JB. They went into that game to run entirely their passing O because Meyer has full faith in his running O, so not only were you seeing a QB learning a new system (and he is working his ass off right now to keep learning that system), but you were seeing a system that wasn't functioning in terms of game flow and was instead forcing square pegs into round wholes to make the team better.

I wouldn't be shocked by four losses or undefeated with Cal and Cincitucky being the OoC games this year.

Just think it is far too early to predict anything with Braxton and where he is going to end up.... and I really wouldn't be shcoked to see three players run for over 500 yards this year.

[jb]

And the Spring game told a slanted story JB. They went into that game to run entirely their passing O because Meyer has full faith in his running O, so not only were you seeing a QB learning a new system (and he is working his ass off right now to keep learning that system), but you were seeing a system that wasn't functioning in terms of game flow and was instead forcing square pegs into round wholes to make the team better.

I wouldn't be shocked by four losses or undefeated with Cal and Cincitucky being the OoC games this year.

Just think it is far too early to predict anything with Braxton and where he is going to end up.... and I really wouldn't be shcoked to see three players run for over 500 yards this year.

Agree Miller is an unfinished product.

However.... the spring game emphasis, new WR's, and weather doesn't mean Braxton Miller is about as accurate as a 30 day projected weather forecast in Ohio.