BUCKEYE 50 DRAFT COVERAGE - 2007
Predictions / Actual
1. Ted Ginn Jr. - I do believe he will be the first Buckeye selected, and I do believe he will go in the first round, possibly in the top 10. I only hope the team want him as a wide receiver because as a return specialist, he is no Devin Hester. (Ginn was taken with the 9th pick of the draft by the Miami Dolphins. This was with Brady Quinn still available and the Dolphins with a need at quarterback. At the start of Training Camp late July, Ginn had still not reached a contract agreement. During his rookie season, Ginn was the Dolphins third leading receiver with 34 receptions including 2 TD's. As a kick-off returner, he averaged 22.7 yards per return, and he returned all punts for Miami his first season. The Dolphins were 1-15 during 2007 and will have the first draft pick in the 2008 draft.)
2. Anthony Gonzalez - Gonzo would be my first pick if my team was looking for a wide-out. He is going to be a great possession receiver and has the speed to stretch the defense. I truly believe he will be the most successful Buckeye from this year's draft. Picked by most to go in the second round somewhere, but it would not surprise me if he sneaks into the first. (Gonzalez was selected by the Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts in the final pick of the first round. With his selection in the 1st round, he became the 66th Buckeye ever to be selected in Round 1. This is one more than USC, for the most of any school. Gonzalez signed a 5 year contract, reported at $10.3 million, $5.4 of which was guaranteed. In his rookie season, Gonzalez was the Colts 4th leading receiver with 37 receptions and a average of 15.6 yards per catch. He also spent the season dating OSU cheerleader Sarah Baker. The Colts were 13-3 during the 2007 which tied for the second best record in the league.)
3. Antonio Pittman - From what I read, he has improved his stock a bit from the combine and workouts. He posted a 4.4 in the 40. I think he will go somewhere in the 50th - 75th pick range. I do think he would have grown stronger with another year in Columbus, and will likely be a back-up somewhere for three years at the most. Then he can come back and pick up that degree. (Pittman was selected by the New Orleans Saints, where he will have to earn playing time against Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush. He was taken in the 4th round as the 107th pick.)
4. Quinn Pitcock - I think Quinn will be our 4th pick of the draft. He had a very strong senior year and has shown a solid work ethic. Certainly a long way away from the big police raid out at his farm his freshman season. I think he has an outside shot at a day one pick but may end up in the 4th round. Like Gonzalez, the team that picks Pitcock will be pleasantly surprised. (With the 98th pick of the draft, Pitcock was selected by the Indianapolis Colts in the 3rd round. He was the third Buckeye picked in the 2007 draft)
5. Doug Datish - A solid offensive line prospect, he could stay at center or move back down the line to guard or tackle. This versatility is why I think he will be the next Buckeye taken. (The Atlanta Falcons made Datish their 9th pick in the 2007 draft when they selected him in the 6th round, 198th overall)
6. Troy Smith - This is the guy that was effected the most by the Championship meltdown. How much of it was his fault is the topic of another fan page, but he is not considered to be the top quarterback candidate. If people only remember his last game he will drop to day 2. I will always remember the 3-0 versus TBGUN. In reality though, he is a good quarterback for college, a great quarterback for our offensive set in 2006 and it earned him a Heisman. But he is not a natural NFL quarterback so this draft will be a bit risky for someone. (The 2006 Heisman Trophy winner was selected as the last pick in the 5th round, 174th pick overall, by the Baltimore Ravens. See article from the AP Wire below Troy Smith signed his three year deal with the Ravens in July and was available for Day One of camp)
7. Jay Richardson - Part of the very solid defensive line we all have enjoyed the past couple of years. Should get drafted in the later rounds but could earn playing time for his new team. (Richardson is heading cross-country as he was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the 5th round with the 138th pick in 2007)
8. Roy Hall - Did not see a lot of playing while in the Scarlet & Gray but does have the tools to be a good performer at the next level. Expect him to be a second day pick. (Hall became the third Ohio State player to be selected by the World Champion Indianapolis Colts when he was taken in the 5th round with the 169th pick. He signed a four year deal at league minimum)
Free Agents: TJ Downing signed with the Arizona Cardinals; Brandon Mitchell has a deal with the Houston Texans; David Patterson reported signed a very generous deal with the Atlanta Falcons; Antonio Smith signed with the Colts.
Tryouts: Stan White Jr was invited by the Bengals to participate in a tryout. Following the tryout, White was given a free agent contract. Justin Zwick was invited to tryout by the Indianapolis Colts. This did not work out, but has since been given an opportunity with the Carolina Panthers.
HOW DID THE HEISMAN TROPHY WINNING QUARTERBACK
TROY SMITH DO ON DRAFT DAY?
NEW YORK (April 29) - As reported by the Associated Press Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith watched the names of 173 draft choices flash on the television screen before the Baltimore Ravens selected him with the final pick in the fifth round. Eight quarterbacks were taken before Smith, who went 25-3 as Ohio State's starting quarterback. He led the Buckeyes to the national championship game in January, averaged 215 yards in total offense over 42 games and won college football's most prestigious award. Yet, Smith spent the better part of two days being ignored by 32 NFL general managers. How could this possibly happen?
"I don't know. I couldn't tell you that. That really doesn't matter right now," Smith said. "The only thing that matters is the Baltimore Ravens and becoming a part of that team and letting them know I'm going to be that kind of player that's going to be consistent."
Smith helped the Buckeyes win two Big Ten championships and ranks third in Ohio State history with 54 touchdown passes. He completed 62.7 percent of his passes, threw only 13 interceptions (in 670 attempts) and ran for 14 touchdowns. He is also the only Ohio State Quarterback to be 3-0 as a starter against rival Michigan.
None of this apparently mattered when it came time to assess his ability to perform in the NFL. Smith didn't care 173 players had been deemed better than he. What mattered was he was going to a team with a winning tradition, and he would learn from a veteran quarterback who had played in the Super Bowl.
Perhaps realizing Smith might not be drafted on the first day of the draft, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel called Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome earlier in the week and recommended Baltimore consider moving Smith up on their board. Smith will come into camp no higher than No. 3 on the depth chart behind Steve McNair and Kyle Boller. Smith is listed at 6-foot, 225 pounds. His height might have been a factor in his drop on the draft board.
"He's got everything it takes to be successful as a quarterback," Ravens coach Brian Billick said. "He's proven it at the collegiate level and now is very, very motivated to prove it in the NFL."
HOW MIGHT THE DRAFT GO FOR THE BUCKEYES?
Since Tressel took over coaching duties for the Buckeyes in 2001, 39 players have been drafted by the NFL. Every year but one (2003) he has had players leave school early. A total of 8 players selected in the first round in this time span. His teams have won one National Championship and played for another. All those things would make a normal person think the prospects for this year's crop of NFL-wannabees are high. So I guess I am not normal.
Buckeye Nation has been running in circles for three weeks now over the basketball team and fabulous frosh who have decided to rush to the NBA in June and leave Matta with only a 'Thad Two'. As much as we basketball fans would love to see them stick together for at least one more year, we certainly understand the positions of Greg Oden and Mike Conley Jr. Daequan Cook on the other hand is simply a quitter. He did not want to go to school, and he did not want to do what is expected of a player to earn the opportunity to play at the professional ranks. I am one who believes we had the same situation with football team this season. Antonio Pittman, Anthony Gonzalez and Ted Ginn Jr all gave up their final year of eligibility. Is that the right choice for them?
For Ted Ginn Jr, he will likely be the first OSU player to go in the 2007 draft, many believe he will be Tressel's 9th first-rounder. Coach Tressel preaches the rule "if you are going to be a first or second round pick, go ahead and leave". Ginn definitely falls into this category, however GM's beware, he does not like to take a hit which is not a desirable trait for a punt returner. He is fast, but you have to catch the ball and start running first. As for Anthony Gonzalez, most experts have him projected in the 2nd round but I think that will just come down to who needs receivers. Could he have improved his position had he stayed one more year? Probably not and I think this, more than anything is why he came out. But how do you leave now and make the Florida game the final one of your career? This brings us to Pittman.
Antonio Pittman is the Daequan Cook of the football team. Someone has gotten into his head and told him he will be drafted high. This is not going to happen. Just two months before he declared his eligibility in front of his home town, he was proclaiming that not only was he coming back but that he was going to compete for the Heisman Trophy. Again, if I am an NFL GM, I am reminding myself of this and how Pittman's career ended. Yes, he will be selected but this year, he will be no better than a second day selection.
Then we have the 19 seniors from the team, one of the largest classes ever for OSU Football. Heisman winner Troy Smith will go somewhere but unfortunately his luster dulled a bit since the trip to New York in December. Most experts do not even have him in the top 5 quarterbacks. Starters from the defense including Quinn Pitcock, Jay Richardson, David Patterson, Brandon Mitchell, Antonio Smith and letterwinner Joel Penton should get strong consideration. On the offensive side of the ball, the Buckeye centers have done well lately so Doug Datish should be picked up, but for other players like Roy Hall, Stan White Jr, Tim Schaefer, and TJ Downing, they need to hope to find a gap on someone's roster they can fill. The other person that might get a look would be long-snapper Drew Norman.
2007 Ohio State
Buckeyes Draft
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April 28-29, 2007
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