Buckeyes slow pokes? Nah…
Let’s say we put two Olympic caliber sprinters in a match race, but we give one of the runners a 7 meter head start… who do you think wins?
Florida, USC, LSU, Texas. They’re among the best football programs in America, and among the best at putting their fastest athletes in space with the football. That’s football in the modern era, and their high-caliber athletes have rewarded those programs with BCS titles in the past 5 years.
Ohio State has been their unfortunate victim… but NOT for a lack of speed. Their matchups, through short passing game and up-tempo play calling, have put the Buckeyes at a competitive disadvantage.. a head start, if you will. Ohio State has not lost these big games because their players cannot run… it’s because their the opposition has found ways to deploy their fast athletes before the Bucks can recognize the play and respond. Speed has nothing to do with it… in fact you could argue OSU’s recovery speed has bailed them out of numerous disasters, even in those BCS games.
Tell me this. When OSU beat Miami for the national title, who had more speed? Both teams had 75 NFL players it seems, but even Miami’s coaches after that game admitted the Buckeyes brought more speed to the field in Tempe. Who played for that OSU team? Well Chris Gamble and Drew Carter were there—both very fast players. And then there was Craig Krenzel and Maurice Clarett and Ben Hartsock, who of course are known for their speed. Noooot really. Football combines athleticism with skill and precision, and that Buckeye team found an elite combination. The recent Buckeye teams just have not found the precision they need to beat elite teams.
I would argue OSU has recruited some of the fastest players in America through the past 6 years, including several guys on this year’s team. Brandon Saine ran the fastest 100 meters in Ohio history in high school. Lamaar Thomas was a high school sprinting champion, as were Devier Posey and Chimdi Chekwa. And don’t forget that Terrelle Pryor runs a 3.62 40 yard dash (hand timed by Nick Siciliano, while wearing a rocket pack). I kid, but Pryor is extremely fast.
In a word, OSU being slow of foot is a myth. Consider this myth busted.
