Just reflecting on the end of the 2009 season, and Ohio State's 5 consecutive games of 225+ rushing yards, and the tailback situation for 2010.

Returning:

Herron & Saine: dependable, experienced, tough, never fumble. Not flashy and not Beanie Wells by any stretch, but get it done, especially the last 5 games.

Jordan Hall and Jermil Martin: Not much experience or playing time, but I liked what I saw from these guys, especially Hall.

Incoming:

Jamaal Berry & Carlos Hyde: Highly touted- any chance these guys see the field next year?

Rod Smith: big-time recruit from Indy. Looks like a beast from all indications

That's seven names- who gets the most carries, and who (if anyone) redshirts or transfers?

This is what I think the carries will look like next year.

Zoom - 35%
Boom - 35%
Hall - 15%
Berry- 15%
Smith-0%

Rod Smith redshirts... slim chance of Hall redshirting IMO. Martin should move back to FB there is no room for him to carry the ball in a non cleanup role. Also Hyde redshirts or moves into a FB role.

They will certainly have some depth. For some reason Tressel is very loyal to Herron (although I don't get it), so he will again get the bulk of the carries. I really don't see anything changing for next year other than Hall or someone else making getting a couple more carries a game.

Also injuries will play a big role. If Hall gets injured and is not 100% for several weeks he will get a red shirt... just like berry did this year. And if zoom or boom get injured Maybe then Hyde or Rod might get some 3rd or 4th string carries.

Jordan Hall needs to get more carries. I know he's a little on the small side, but he hits the hole quicker and is more elusive than Boom or Zoom.

I wish they could find some carries for Rod Smith, for a big guy he can move and has a lot of power once he gets going.

1. Herron/Saine
2. Berry (was going to get early PT before injury, Tressel talked about him all the time).
3. Hall

I doubt anyone of the RB's will unseat Boren at FB, that kid has been very tough this year and is built like a FB.

Martin might as well transfer. Unless a guy or two go down or he just impresses the hell out of Tressel, Smith will redshirt.

All I've heard from well...everywhere...is that Rod Smith is primed to be the next stud back at OSU. He seems to have all the tools. I know with him, Berry, and Hyde in the backfield the next several years may make it awefully fun to be a Buckeye, if we can sustain a decent line to block for them.

No chance Hall redshirts w/o a season ending injury.

Red_Skin_Pride wrote: All I've heard from well...everywhere...is that Rod Smith is primed to be the next stud back at OSU. He seems to have all the tools. I know with him, Berry, and Hyde in the backfield the next several years may make it awefully fun to be a Buckeye, if we can sustain a decent line to block for them.

OSU's line isn't "decent"? Five straight games over 225 yards rushing and they are young. With all of the nicks and flu this season a lot of linemen have gotten experience. Nine different players who return for next season have started at least one game.

You can never have too many Tailbacks. Ohio State has been very lucky since Tressel has been here, some nicks but no serious multiple injuries at the position.

Hyde is similar to Beanie, Smith is more like Eddie George. If they play it will be in the I Formation with a Fullback in front of them.

Berry and Jordon are more suited for running out of the Spread Formation.

Boom and Zoom are both versatile enough to do either. That and their experience will get them 90% of the carries next year, whether it's the I Formation or the Spread.

Martin will never take another hand off at the tailback position, unless both Saine and Herron get injured before or during the Rose Bowl.

We have depth at this position, which is always good. Boom and Saine turned it on at the end of the regular season this year. Hopefully they have a great bowl game performance to catapult into a national title campaign in 2010!

I'm trying to remember the last time we were thin at RB.... for some reason I'm thinking the only healthy guys we had at one time were Beanie, Mo Wells and Saine....

ck9 wrote: Jordan Hall needs to get more carries. I know he's a little on the small side, but he hits the hole quicker and is more elusive than Boom or Zoom.

Not in the past 5 games he hasn't.

I don't think any of those guys has gotten any carries since Minnesota...

thedynasty1998 wrote: They will certainly have some depth. For some reason Tressel is very loyal to Herron (although I don't get it), so he will again get the bulk of the carries. I really don't see anything changing for next year other than Hall or someone else making getting a couple more carries a game.

Herron will not get "the bulk of the carries". Saine and Herron will split the carries 50-50.

darbypitcher22 wrote: I don't think any of those guys has gotten any carries since Minnesota...

nonsensical

I meant aside from Saine and Herron...

se-alum wrote: No chance Hall redshirts w/o a season ending injury.

I think a nagging Hamstring will do it.... just like it happend to Berry. They screwed the pooch with Saine, trying to get him back too fast from a hamstring injury and prolonging the injury. Meanwhile he was terrible at that time. I think the staff learned their lesson.

^^^You're making an injury prediction?? Not sure I've ever heard of that.

I would love to see Saine on returns. Never understood why he didn't. Fast and big and, from what i've seen, not a liability to actually field them. Small made me cringe everytime he went to catch one.

ck9 wrote: Jordan Hall needs to get more carries. I know he's a little on the small side, but he hits the hole quicker and is more elusive than Boom or Zoom.

+1. I loved watching him out there, he ran hard every play and didn't stop until he was down. He could be a great back, I hope he gets a lot more playing time.

No matter who gets the most carries, I'm at least excited about having an identity going into 2010. Coming into this year, no one knew if OSU was going to be primarily a passing or running team. Five straight games of 225+ yards, with really no big-time back carrying the load, sets up well for next year.
If Pryor improves as a passer, that bodes well for the Buckeyes.

Saine>Herron

Big Gain wrote:

Red_Skin_Pride wrote: All I've heard from well...everywhere...is that Rod Smith is primed to be the next stud back at OSU. He seems to have all the tools. I know with him, Berry, and Hyde in the backfield the next several years may make it awefully fun to be a Buckeye, if we can sustain a decent line to block for them.

OSU's line isn't "decent"? Five straight games over 225 yards rushing and they are young. With all of the nicks and flu this season a lot of linemen have gotten experience. Nine different players who return for next season have started at least one game.

Dude, relax. Reread my post. I said "sustain". That means we already have a decent line, now we need to maintain, or sustain that in the next several years.

My point was at this juncture the O-line is better than "decent". I think they are better than "adequate, fair or passable".

I can't imagine why anyone would want Saine or Herron to get 90% of the carries in a game. Both are injury prone and neither has shown any reason they could handle 20+ carries a game.