Ohio State's Offensive Line Has Plenty to Prove

by Jon Johnston on Jan 5, 2008 9:27 AM CST in Football Comment 3 comments

Steve Sipple at Husker Extra/Lincoln Journal Star posted an article on December 11th about which bowls were the best to watch and which weren't worth your time.

He included this quote from Lee Corso about the Ohio State - LSU game:

"Let me tell you something, Ohio State has the best offensive line in the nation," Corso says. "They will knock that LSU front seven right off the ball. They’re mean, they’re fast and they’re tough, and they’re well-coached. That will control a game.

That quote has been bugging me since I read the article. On what was Corso basing this observation? Rather than stay ignorant, I thought I'd check Ohio State's opponents rush defense rankings.
Ohio State's Opponents Rushing Defense

Youngstown State - Div IAA - No Stats
Akron - 88
Washington - 89
Northwestern - 74
Minnesota - 114
Purdue - 55
Kent State - 62
Michigan State - 42
Penn State - 6
Wisconsin - 49
Illinois - 23
Michigan - 56
Average: 59.82

The Buckeyes Have Plenty To Prove Come Monday

Other than Penn State and Illinois (their only loss of the season), the Buckeyes faced very mediocre opposition in terms of teams being able to stop the run. You'd think that Ohio State would have an incredible offense, given Corso's comment that their offensive line shoulds crush everyone in their path. Again, rather than leave it to my Buckeye-hating biased mind, I'll cite I'd the stats.

Ohio State rushing: 20th
Ohio State passing: 87th
Total Offense: 59th

Against mediocre competition, the best the Buckeyes did was 20th in rushing. Not awe-inspring by any means, so Lee Corso must have been just blowing smoke as usual. I can understand that. I blow smoke sometimes, don't I? But I'm just some schmoe, not a guy who analyzes and discusses national title games for ESPN.

LSU's rush defense is 13th, overall they're ranked third. Ohio State has their work cut out for them monday.

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Lee Corso

is just another talking head. He and Herbie fellatiate OSU, USC, Michigan, FSU and every other team Nebraska plays.

Lets analyze Lee for a change. Here's his records as head coach of Indiana:

1973 Lee Corso 2- 9
1974 Lee Corso 1- 10
1975 Lee Corso 2-8-1 1976 Lee Corso 5- 6
1977 Lee Corso 5-5-1
1978 Lee Corso 4- 7
1979 Lee Corso 8- 4 Holiday (W) B-Y-U, 38-37
1980 Lee Corso 6- 5
1981 Lee Corso 3- 8
1982 Lee Corso 5- 6

Only one bowl game??? He has a .375 winning percentage in 10 seasons as coach. And this record makes him an "expert"? Ooops, lets not
forget Corso was head coach at Louisville from 1969-72, where he compiled a 28-11-3 record and then coached Northern Illinois to a 4-4-1 mark in 1984.

He couldn't coach his way out of a wet paper sack!

by 96operator on Jan 5, 2008 10:31 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Lee Corso? How about Mark May?

I never put too much stock into what Lee Corso has to say. If you want to see some anti-OSU ranting, all you have to do is turn on ESPN and look for Mark May. That guy trashes OSU every chance he gets. Sadly, he almost never references any facts in support of his arguments, but instead simply bases everything he says on the assumption that OSU is slow and OSU can't keep up with SEC speed. It's just as pathetic as Corso, in my opinion.

by buckeye on Jan 7, 2008 7:47 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

And

notice how he always shouts down Lou (Sufferin' Succotash)Holtz (not that his opinions are any better) and trashes anyone else who says something different.

Bring Trev back ESPN!

by 96operator on Jan 7, 2008 10:22 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs