| Ohio States recuriting this year can sustain the multitude of defense voids to fill for the 2006 season. They have limited production returning in the secondary (recruited well for this), none in the linebacking core (OSU always has great linebakcers) and two D-lineman returning (Kind of overrated last year). However, while the defense will be considerably worse, the offense will be much more consistent and won't get off to the slow start they had last year. I still claim that if Troy Smith had started week one against Miami, then they would have nudged out a victory against Texas in week two. The ultimate folly for Tressel as a head coach is his indecisiveness (as illustrated with the Zwick-Smith debacle) and his conservatism (As illustrated in the Penn St. game). But conservative play calling wins you many more games than it costs you. And when he actually brings himself to open up the playbook, the offense looks affective.
But Ken77 is right, Ohio State definitely has the chops to make it to the fiesta. The culmination of Michigan at home, Penn State losing practically their entire defense and Vince Young leaving early, I don't see OSU being a dog in any game on the 2006 schedule. Barring any night game road loss the week after the bye, I could efinitely see OSU running the table. |