2001 Football Season Outlook – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/1/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 1, 2001
For Jim Tressel, there are three phases of the football season: spring practice, fall camp and the season itself.
With phase one now history, Tressel, in his first season as the head coach at Ohio State, is eagerly looking forward to Aug. 14 and Sept. 8, the starting dates for phases two and three, respectively.
“We have 15 practices under our belts,” said Tressel, who took over the Ohio State program in January after 15 highly successful years at Youngstown State. “As a new staff, we now know a little bit about our players, both as people and as football players. And they know a little bit about us, what we are all about, and what we expect.
“The next step is to pick up in the fall where we left off in the spring and to keep working hard in order to get better as a team. We want to get ready for the season and to keep improving as the year unfolds. We want to be playing our best football at the end of the year.”
Generally speaking, Tressel was pleased with what he saw in the spring.
“There are some areas in which we need to get better, as well as some areas where we need to develop depth and consistency, but I really liked our effort and attitude,” he said. “These kids want to achieve and are willing to do what it takes to be a good team.”
The Buckeyes return 44 lettermen, including 13 starters, from an 8-4 squad last year.
On paper, at least, the strength of this team should be the defense. While defensive coordinator Mark Dantonio must find two new cornerbacks and do some retooling on the defensive line, the list of holdovers includes All-America Mike Doss at strong safety, three-year starter Donnie Nickey at free safety, all three starting linebackers and defensive tackle Mike Collins.
The offense also has its share of talented players, including incumbents Steve Bellisari at quarterback, Jamar Martin at fullback, LeCharles Bentley at center, Adrien Clarke and Tyson Walter at the two tackle spots and Darnell Sanders at tight end. Tailback Jonathan Wells, who started four games last year, also is back. But offensive coordinator Jim Bollman is faced with a serious manpower shortage on the offensive line, and the wide receivers, while talented, are as green as the spring grass.
In the special teams area, sophomore B.J. Sander returns to do the punting, while redshirt freshman Josh Huston and incoming frosh Mike Nugent will vie for the placekicking duties.
“We will emphasize all aspects of special teams play,” said Tressel, who has appointed Ken Conatser as the Buckeyes’ special teams coordinator. “That’s an area that can win or lose ball games and truly make the difference in a season.”
Tressel’s first Ohio State team includes 17 new players – 16 freshmen and one junior college transfer. He won’t hesitate to use them.
“Our freshmen will get a long look,” he said. “We want our best football players on the field.”
The freshmen report Aug. 14 and the upper classmen return two days later. The Jim Tressel era officially begins a little more than three weeks later when the Buckeyes kickoff the season against visiting Akron.
The Offense
At Youngstown State, where he won four national championships, Tressel employed a variety of offensive sets. Expect much of the same this fall, with the Buckeyes utilizing everything from two tight ends and a power “I” to five wide receivers and no backs.
As is always the case, all eyes will be on the quarterback spot.
All four scholarship quarterbacks had their moments in the spring, but in the end it was Bellisari, a veteran of 22 starts, who stepped to the forefront. The 6-3 southpaw, who averaged 208.2 yards per game in total offense last year, is a gifted athlete and intense competitor. He also is a fiery leader, capable of an extraordinary senior season.
The Buckeyes have a pair of talented sophomores in Scott McMullen and Craig Krenzel. McMullen has demonstrated a coolness-under-fire and the ability to make plays. Krenzel possesses a thorough understanding of the offense and had his best three days of practice the last three days of spring workouts. Redshirt freshman Rick McFadden is a poised and focused young player with excellent field awareness.
Sophomores Drew Carter and Ricky Bryant head into fall camp as the likely starters at split end and flanker, respectively. Carter is a rangy, glue-fingered speedster, and Bryant is cat-quick and elusive. Both players have the ability to be standouts.
Chris Vance, a transfer from Fort Scott Community College, sophomore Michael Jenkins, who lettered last year as a true freshman, and redshirt freshmen John Hollins and Bam Childress give the Buckeyes competition at both spots. Vance had impressive numbers at Fort Scott and gives the Buckeyes an element of experience. Childress began the spring at cornerback, but was moved to flanker in week three. He had just five practices with the offense, but that was all the time it took him to demonstrate his potential. Incoming freshmen Chris Gamble and Angelo Chattams are highly regarded and could be in the picture as well.
Wells and Martin will anchor the running game.
After two years as the primary backup, Wells is determined to take over at tailback. A powerful 6-1 and 230, he has the speed and agility to hit the home run.
Talented sophomore Sammy Maldonado, who had a very impressive spring, is pushing Wells. Another sophomore, versatile Jesse Kline, who moved over from fullback in the spring, also will be a factor. Additionally, incoming freshmen Maurice Hall, JaJa Riley and Lydell Ross were three of the best in the country last year. And in the Big Ten, there is no such thing as too many good tailbacks.
The 6-1, 245-pound Martin is one of the best kept secrets in college football. Used primarily as a blocker throughout his career, the senior fullback also is a powerful runner and a sure-handed receiver. Look for him to be much more involved in the offense this year, especially in the passing game.
Jamal Muhammad, who moved over from linebacker in the spring, and Nate Stead (sted) are solid reserves. Both are good blockers and have running styles similar to Martin. Kline also can lineup at fullback if need be. Young Branden Joe, who sat out the spring with a shoulder injury, is another possibility and incoming freshman Brandon Schnittker is a 6-1, 255-pound bruiser.
Bentley, Walter and Clarke give the Buckeyes a solid nucleus up front.
Bentley was a Second-Team All-Big Ten pick last season and is touted as the best center in the conference this year. Senior Mike Jacobs, a former walk-on who has been converted to scholarship, is the backup.
Walter sat out all of last year with an infection in his lower back. He had started 37-consecutive games prior to being sidelined, so his return is a huge plus for the Buckeyes.
With Walter, a superb pass blocker, back at left tackle, the massive Clarke will move to the right side. The 6-5, 325-pound Clarke started 10 games last year.
Sophomores Shane Olivea and Alex Stepanovich made significant progress in the spring and should be the starting guards. At 6-5 and 320, Olivea, who will play the right side, has excellent size and agility. Stepanovich is an excellent technician and fine athlete. Both lettered last season as true freshmen and have bright futures.
Sophomores Bryce Bishop and Scott Kunhein will provide the depth. Bishop was one of the most sought after players in the country coming out of high school, but has not played the past two years. Kunhein is still in the early stages of his development and has seen only limited playing time to date. Freshmen Ryan Cook (6-7, 295, Martinsville, Ind.) and Adam Olds (6-5, 270, Dublin, O.) may be able to contribute.
The Defense
The first order of business is finding two new cornerbacks for what the Buckeyes hope will be an aggressive, attack-oriented defense that pressures opposing quarterbacks into mistakes.
Sophomores Bobby Britton and Maurice Lee have the inside track coming out of spring practice. Britton is a physical player with good coverage skills. Lee switched positions with Childress in the spring and somewhat astonishingly projected himself into a starting role.
Redshirt freshman Harlen Jacobs (the fastest of the OSU corners) played well in the spring and will push for playing time. So should Derek Ross and B.J. Barre, both of whom sat out spring ball.
But while the cornerback picture is somewhat cloudy, that is anything but the case at safety where Doss and Nickey return. Arguably one of the best tandems in the country, Doss is in his second year as a starter and Nickey his third.
Doss led the Buckeyes in tackles last year with 94 and played his best in the big games (two interceptions at Purdue and 16 tackles against Michigan). He won first-team All-America honors last year with the Sporting News and was a consensus All-Big Ten pick. He has been mentioned as a preseason Thorpe Award candidate.
Nickey, who has started 22 games for the Buckeyes, is always around the ball and has been the model of consistency throughout his career. In many ways, he is the glue that holds the secondary together. He was a Sporting News Freshman All-America in 1999.
Thomas Matthews, Will Allen and walk-on Rob Stover will be the backups at safety. Matthews, who was switched from linebacker in the spring, is still learning the position, but has been impressive in the early stages of his career. Allen is a young player with excellent ball skills. Stover was one of the most pleasant surprises of the spring, time-and-again making big plays in scrimmage situations. Incoming freshman Dustin Fox has the ability to make an impact.
There is talent and experience at linebacker, where starters Matt Wilhelm, Joe Cooper and Courtland Bullard return.
Wilhelm moved inside last year and started all 12 games. He wound up the season with 64 tackles and tied for the team lead in tackles-for-loss with 15. Cooper, who was granted an additional year of eligibility by the NCAA, had 80 tackles last season and was voted by his teammates as Co-Most Inspirational Player. Bullard, who is in his third year as a starter, had 46 tackles, including 11 tackles-for-loss and six sacks in 2000.
Robert Reynolds, Cie Grant, Fred Pagac Jr., Marco Cooper, Jack Tucker and Pat O’Neill make this an extremely deep position. Reynolds and Grant, both of whom have outstanding speed, are coming off good showings in the spring.
Collins, the lone returnee up front, is a good one. The 6-3, 290-pound senior, who is in his third year as a starter, has led the defensive line in tackles each of the past two years and is on the early list of players to watch for the Lombardi Award. He is a tough, physical player.
Sophomore Tim Anderson (6-3, 289) will start at the other tackle spot. He backed up Ryan Pickett last year and is a blue-collar type of player.
Junior David Thompson (6-5, 280) is a solid player, who, after two years as an understudy, gave signs in the spring of being ready to make his presence felt.
Promising sophomore Will Smith, selected by the OSU coaching staff as the most outstanding first-year defensive player last year, will start at the rush end. He led all freshmen in playing time last year. A relentless pass rusher, Smith recorded five tackles-for-loss and three sacks in 2000. Those numbers should increase dramatically this year.
Tim Cheatwood, who was moved back to defense last spring after spending a year at tight end, will back up Smith. With his speed, Cheatwood is an excellent pass rusher with the ability to make big plays.
Kenny Peterson (6-4, 265, Jr.) and Darrion Scott (6-3, 265, Jr.) came out of spring practice in a virtual dead heat at the other defensive end spot. Peterson has been a key reserve the past two years and is a fine football player. Scott played defensive tackle last fall, but moved to end in the spring. Freshmen Marcus Green and Andre Tyree enter college with outstanding credentials.
The Kicking Game
Sander will handle the punting duties for the second year in a row. He averaged 41.9 yards per kick last year. But walk-ons Andrew Schabo and Andy Groom (who also doubles as the holder) had good springs and will compete for playing time.
In the placekicking department, Huston and Nugent are competing for the spot held down the past four years by Dan Stultz, the school record holder in career field goals made and the second most prolific scorer in OSU history. This position will get a lot of attention in the fall.
Summary
There are some questions that need to be answered, but there is also a solid nucleus of returning talent. Tressel has emphasized, team, team, team since taking over and the players’ response has been positive.
2001 Notes
Seasons In Review – This is Ohio State’s 112th year of collegiate football. The Buckeyes boast an all-time record of 725-287-53 and are one of just seven schools to top the 700-win mark. The Buckeyes first season was in 1890.
The Big Ten – Since beginning Big Ten play in 1913, Ohio State has gone on to post an all-time league mark of 395-152-24 and has captured 28 conference championships.
Coming Home Again – Six of Ohio State’s head football coaches have first spent time as Buckeye assistants. Sam Willaman was an OSU assistant from 1926 to 1928 before becoming head coach in 1929. Carroll Widdoes, who served as head coach in 1944 and ’45, was an assistant coach from 1941 to 1943 and again from 1947 to 1948. Paul Bixler was offensive coordinator before swapping places with Widdoes in 1946. Wes Fesler, an assistant in 1931 and ’32, became head coach in 1947. Earle Bruce served as an assistant between 1966 and 1972, and then returned in 1979 as head coach. Jim Tressel, named this past January as the 22nd head football coach in Ohio State history, was a Buckeye assistant (for Bruce) between 1983 and ’85.
Prime Time – ESPN will televise the Oct. 6 game with Northwestern at 7:45 p.m., just the fifth true night game in Ohio State history. The Buckeyes are 4-0 in their previous prime time television exposures.
Other Televised Games – In addition to Northwestern, five other Ohio State games have been selected for television. ESPN Regional will televise the Akron and Indiana games at 12:10 p.m. EDT. ABC will televise the UCLA and Wisconsin games at 3:30 p.m. EDT and the Michigan game at 1 p.m. EST. More games could be added at a later date.
Schedule Notes – Akron is coached by former Ohio State assistant coach Lee Owens. Owens spent three seasons at Ohio State, coaching the Buckeyes’ offensive line from 1992 to 1994. Rick Bay, former Ohio State Athletics Director (1984-87) currently serves in the same capacity at San Diego State. Akron will be Alumni Band Day, while San Diego State has been designated at the Hall of Fame game, meaning the 14 newest members of the Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame (10 men and four women) will be introduced at halftime of that game. When Ohio State plays at UCLA Sept. 22, it will be the Buckeyes’ first regular-season visit to the Rose Bowl. The Buckeyes have played the Bruins three times during the regular season in Los Angeles, but all three of those games were in the Coliseum.
Two More Numbers To Be Retired – Former Ohio State Heisman Trophy winners Les Horvath and Eddie George will have their numbers retired this year. Horvath, the Buckeyes’ first Heisman winner (1944) will have his No. 22 retired at halftime of the Northwestern game on Oct. 6. George, the Buckeyes’ most recent winner (1995) of the coveted bronze statue, will have his No. 27 retired at halftime of the Nov. 10 game with Purdue. Two-time Heisman recipient Archie Griffin was the first player to have his number (45) retired, receiving that honor in the fall of 1999. Vic Janowicz (31) and Howard “Hopalong” Cassady (40) had their numbers retired during the 2000 football season.
Hicks Selected – Offensive tackle John Hicks, the 1973 Outland Trophy and Lombardi Award winner and a two-time All-America, has been selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame. Hicks, who officially will be enshrined in December at a special ceremony in New York, is the 18th Ohio State player to be so honored.
Injury Report – Offensive tackle Ivan Douglas missed spring practice because of a blood clot in his lung and is not expected to return to action until October at the earliest. Tight end Jason Caldwell had shoulder surgery following spring practice and his status also is uncertain for the upcoming season. Additionally, linebacker Jason Ott has given up football because of a shoulder injury that sidelined him all of last year.
Graduation Day – Several former players and members of the 2000 Ohio State football team received their diplomas at the Spring Quarter graduation exercises in June. The list of most recent graduates includes Chad Cacchio, Vanness Provitt, Marcus Perez, Eddie George, Buster Tillman and Dee Miller among others.
