2002 Statistics

NEWS AND NOTES

OT Ivan Douglas will not play this season, due to blood clots found near his chest.

By Joe Howley
Royal Oak, Mich.

OSU, amazingly, expects all 11 offensive starters back from last year's 14-0 team, and the Buckeyes should be just about as good again in 2003. Senior Craig Krenzel (6'4", 225 lbs) will again be the perfect match for Tressel's offense (140.9 efficiency rating 14th in I-A). He is an effective field-general for the Buckeyes' ground-oriented, clock-grinding, error-conscious attack. Krenzel's 368 rushing yards in 2002 gives opposing defensive coordinators yet another Buckeye headache.

Krenzel has been tough and durable since taking the starting reins, but if he should go down, another senior, Scott McMullen, will be ready to go. McMullen in many ways seems like a clone of Krenzel - not flashy but numbingly and numberingly efficient. In limited mop-up action, McMullen had an eye-popping 81 percentage (25-31) completion of his pass attempts. And, behind the steady seniors is ballyhooed Ohio prep-phenom Justin Zwick, who redshirted as a freshman. Zwick gives the Bucks three QBs, any one of which most I-A teams would love to have starting.

Senior wideout Michael Jenkins is ready for a superstar season. The rangy 6-5, 215-pounder caught 61 passes for 1076 yards and six scores, and will again feast when opposing defenses pack the box against the powerful OSU running game. Meanwhile, flanker Chris Gamble is a Charles Woodson-type two-way standout. He ranked second on the team (31 catches, 499 yards) and gained All-Big Ten mention as a cornerback in just his first year at the position. He may be less of an offensive factor as he will, at this point, be a focus of the secondary. This position will fare well, regardless. Players like senior Drew Carter add depth at the wide receiver positions, which will also see a heavy influx of redshirt talent to fill the backup positions and provide Gamble some rest (he started both ways in five games, with 128 total plays against Illinois).

The same talent-rich situation applies at running back. The Buckeyes start with standout sophomore Maurice Clarett (6'0", 230-lb missile), who set an OSU freshman record with 1190 yards, along with 16 TDs and 5.6 yards-per-carry. Clarett made noise off and on about testing the NFL early entry limitations, but that brouhaha seems to have been more media hype than any real team problem. The main concern for the Buckeyes heading into spring practice is getting Clarett completely healthy. Clarett missed three games in 2002 with minor knee surgery and a nagging shoulder problem, and given his brutal Earl Campbell-type running style, he's going to take more of a pounding in the future.

Tressel has that situation more than covered with Lydell Ross, who rolled up 602 yards in a backup role to Clarett, and third-stringer Maurice Hall, who had 370 yards in part-time action. It would be foolish if he pushes Maurice, knowing he'll deliver when asked, to the breaking point. Coach will be smart to rotate in Ross and/or Hall often enough to keep his backs potent. It will be a shame if the former happens and it affects the offense.

Regardless of which of the three backs carries the ball, the Buckeye ground game is going to consistently pummel opponents. Hard not to with five seniors set to return to their respective starting OL positions. Ivan Douglas at left tackle, the massive (6-5, 355) Adrien Clarke at left guard, Alex Stepanovich at center, Brice Bishop at right guard and Shane Oliviea at right tackle form a successful and experienced blocking wall. OSU relies more on straight man assignments and power-blocking to make its running game go, and a big back like Clarett, bolting through gaps as he punishes would-be tacklers, is perfect to make the most of that strategy. The Buckeyes are also well-stocked in reserves, with senior walk-on Mike Kne, and sophomores Nick Mangold and Rob Sims ready to rotate in as needed. Unity should mean this OL will improve on allowing 32 sacks.

The Buckeyes have a pair of tight ends which they alternate, even playing in a double-TE formation. Senior Ben Hartsock (6-4, 264) was third on the team with 17 catches, and also put his size to good use as an effective blocker on the line. Sophomore Ryan Hamby (6-5, 240) will also see plenty of action from one of the TE positions. OSU alternates a fullback with a second TE depending on its specific formation. Senior Brandon Joe saw most of the playing time in 2002, with soph back-up Branden Schnittker snaring the only two recorded FB-catches. So, as you may know, the Buckeyes utilize the fullback in almost exclusively in a blocking capacity - each had one carry during the title campaign. But will that change? Wish we could tell you … again, Tressel would be wise to add this dimension.

The only weakness for the Buckeyes could be either disastrous injury(ies) -- losing a couple of the running backs or receivers, for example -- or a completely uncharacteristic (for Tressel-led squads) attack of overconfidence. The Buckeyes were strong but not spectacular on offense in 2002, which should head off any attacks of complacency. We expect the Bucks to be as good, or better, than they were offensively.

WR Michael Jenkins

By Joe Howley
Royal Oak, Mich.

Ohio State won the national crown on the back(s) of its defense, and while there is some rebuilding to do here, there's enough talent to assure OSU will again be one of the more dominant squads. The Bucks were No. 3 in the I-A rankings in rushing defense (77.7 ypg), and three of four starters back on that line (and depth to boot) mean similar results ahead.

Senior defensive end Darrion Scott (6-5, 271) leads the way, nabbing 2002 All-Big Ten honors after collecting a team-high 8 1/2 sacks. It appears that Scott will be moved inside the interior of the line to bolster strength of up the middle. At the other end is fellow-senior Will Smith. Junior Simon Fraser, who saw some starting duties during the season at DE, and sophomore Mike Kudla, an unusual contributor as a true freshman, will also see time as a backup at end. Senior DT Tim Anderson completes the returning starters on the frontline. Sophomore Marcus Green, a powerful run-stuffer, will get first crack at the other tackle spot to replace the departed Kenny Peterson. With the LB shuffle, matching 2002's 2.6 yards-per-carry allowed may not quite happen, but the DL's major contribution to the (32 of team's 40) sack-total will.

The linebacking crew was hit hard by the departure of Cie Grant and Matt Wilhelm, and the secondary must fill the gaps left by Nickey and Doss. Soph A.J. Hawk is in line to take over for Grant, assuming the free-ranging role of the WILL backer, while much-touted sophomore Mike D'Andrea is ready to step into the middle to replace Wilhelm. Senior Rob Reynolds is the only returner among the linebacking crew. He will hold his own on the strong side. Reynolds is capable of shutting down the run on whichever side is loaded. There needs to be group character amongst this LB crew for defensive success, period. The talent is there.

OSU finished a hard-to-swallow 95th ranking in I-A passing yards per game. But that was clearly the result of necessitated, excessive throwing by opponents who were shut down run-wise. And Ohio State's No. 2 rank in scoring defense (13.1 ppg) bodes of the Bucks' overall defensive prowess. This crew has character issues, too. If perceived soft as a unit, look for offenses to open up at earlier stages of the game. Close games won in 2002 may not be such assured victories if the secondary is again a marginally weak link.

Safety Michael Doss (3-time All-American) ran out of eligibility, but corners Dustin Fox and Gamble are back to take over leadership of the secondary. Fox, a hard-hitting sophomore, was originally slated for duty at safety anyway, so he'll likely drop back to fill one of two vacancies, while Gamble, in addition to his offensive contributions, will continue his role as the Buckeyes' top cover-back. Senior Will Allen, who saw plenty of duty in nickel packages, gets first shot at the safety vacancy, while sophomores Nate Salley and E.J. Underwood - both with great speed and lacking only experience - will battle to take over the open slot at cornerback. As the positions are decided, we will give updates when needed.

DE Darrion Scott