Chat Transcript - Gary Housteau
By Bucknuts.com Staff
Date: Aug 18, 2005
Gary Housteau stopped by for a little over an hour this morning to discuss OSU football and recruiting. A transcript is posted below. (Steve Helwagen will host a Chat at 1 p.m. Friday.)
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:08:05 AM)
Good morning everybody. Welcome to today's morning chat. Anything good on your mind? Fire away!
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:08:57 AM)
The high school season is a week away can you believe it. Tomorrow I'll be attending some scrimmages from sun-up to sun-down.
Mike68 (Aug 18, 2005 11:11:29 AM)
Gary- What can you share w/ us about your knowledge of what is happening at practice and/or any of the injuries (JZ, Cordle, Dukes, etc)
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:11:29 AM)
Thanks for the first question of the morning Mike68 but I have to admit that being in Youngstown I know about as much as you do about that stuff. I haven't checked with any of my sources because I've been so busy and haven't had much time. But it's still early yet and I understand a lot of those injuries, for instance, aren't of a serious nature.
BuckeyeDave (Aug 18, 2005 11:14:39 AM)
I've enjoyed the Recruit Photos you've been posting. Did you get a chance to watch any practices/scrimmages on your "tour"? Did anyone at Cincinnati-Princeton standout, besides Aaron Brown?
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:14:40 AM)
Hi Buckeye Dave...I really enjoyed Colerain's practice I have to admit. They were going at pretty good but I only caught Princeton in shorts and helmets and they were working a lot on special teams while I was there so I can't really say. Brown looked really good from a looks test situation. He's big and mobile with a good base and long arms. I really liked watching Brown move around.
scribeohio (Aug 18, 2005 11:16:37 AM)
Gary, do you have your HS FB coverage schedule together and what is it?
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:16:37 AM)
Hi scribeohio, it's tentative right now but I'll be at Garfield Hoban, Glenville-Mentor and the skyline crosstown showdown in week one. Week two is Strongsville at Euclid on Friday and Garfield and GlenOak Saturday night after the Buckeye game. Week three I'll be at Crew Stadium on Friday night ... I'll post my schedule periodically during the season. Can't wait till next Thursday.
BuckInIll (Aug 18, 2005 11:20:24 AM)
What position do you think is our biggest need remaining assuming all the verbals are already in the book?
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:20:24 AM)
Offensive line still...Brown and maybe even two more. I would think Browning might be one . I'd like to see another rugged d-lineman like a Nagy who could go both ways. I want to see Nagy in action this year if I can to see what he's all about. A DB or two like Williams for instance. Moeller would be nice when that happens. And a RB to go with Wells in this class. I personally like Jahmal Brown a lot and he's one of the few good ones still remaining.
Mike68 (Aug 18, 2005 11:24:54 AM)
Gary- What players from your neck of the woods will/should be priority recuits for OSU in the '07 class
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:24:54 AM)
Danny Herron from Warren G. Harding is the main one that stands out at this time. There's a big lineman at Hubbard that I've been hearing about that I have to check out Nathan Sharp from West Branch is another top linemane. I don't know what you consider my neck of the woods but there's Torrence, Mabin, Jefferson. Those are some of the more prominent names in the NE Ohio area off the top of my head. I'm sure there are more.
scribeohio (Aug 18, 2005 11:29:19 AM)
Gary, who from Oh do you see as early vs late verbals?
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:29:19 AM)
Scribe I think we may eventually see Moeller, Browning, even another lineman, Williams, maybe Adams, Gibson, Rose, Small, Brown and maybe Derrell Johnson. Ohio State could net 7 of Duane's top 10 and maybe 8 if Cumberland was able to get his situation together. Good haul potentially in Ohio when it's all said and done.
ODOGG45 (Aug 18, 2005 11:32:59 AM)
Gary- is Donte Whitner's brother TOSU material and how are some of the younger tarblooders progressing?
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:32:59 AM)
Hi ODOGG45, Donte actually has two brothers at G-ville right now. Dewawn is probably the one you're talking and he could be Donte's twin the way he looks in the face and the way he talks. It's eerie how similar those two are in that regard. Dewawn however is almost 6-2 and 250 pounds and he has the potential to be every bit the player Donte was except at a differnt position. He's very quite and laid back but so is Donte to a degree. His other brother is new to Glenville and he's at the opposite end of the spectrum. 6-4 reciever. He looks pretty good from a looks-test standpoint but I've yet to see him in action. They have a ton of young talent.
ODOGG45 (Aug 18, 2005 11:34:30 AM)
Gary- coming out of hs I thought Ben Person was gonna be a great one but I never hear anything about him. Is he overated or just catching on slow?
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:34:30 AM)
Person is a player ODOGG don't worry about that. That just gives you an idea now of the depth Ohio State has on the offensive. And it's only going to continue to get better when guys like Smith, Brown and others join the fold. Person is a nice luxury to have on your two-deep and so are guys like Mitchum and Skinner.
yooperbuck (Aug 18, 2005 11:38:20 AM)
Hi Gary. I was very interested to hear about John Kerr. Where is he located on the two deep and do you feel he will have a major impact on the lb positions before the year is over?
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:38:20 AM)
Hi yooperbuck...I'm really rooting for guy like John Kerr. His off the field problems aside, I think he's as pure of an instinct linebacker out there, and I'm including A.J. Hawk. Will he ever see the field? I don't know. He has a long way to go on the depth chart but he's determined to get there. And I know the coaches have been impressed with him this offseason. I sure wouldn't count him out. Especially next year. But as he said in the story I penned on him...we'll see.
ToledoBucknutty (Aug 18, 2005 11:42:29 AM)
Morning Gary and thanks! What is your opinion of our running back situation this year. Is A. P. really noticeably bigger, faster, better than this time last year? What about the other two relative question marks....the D.L. and kicking games? I read that sporting news had our d.l. as tops in the big ten. If that is the case, I think we should be awfully tough to beat. If we make it to Pasadena, I might just have to put down a couple hundred on the game, since we'll be 25-1 dogs I am sure.
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:42:29 AM)
Hi ToledoBucknutty...I like Pittman a lot always have. He has speed, instincts, a little shake to him and a little power. And now he has a little size to him. He looks pretty solid but I wouldn't say noticeably that much bigger than in the past. The speed part we will only notice when we see him on the field. He's no burner but he's not slow. I think Mo Wells is the speed guy here and he'll get his chances. And I'm partial to Erik Haw, knowing how fast he is and seeing how he's developed physically over the past three years. I'm excited about the potential of all three.
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:45:20 AM)
As far as the DL...the athleticism and aggressiveness are pretty obvious but to say that they're the best unit in the Big Ten is premature. I think they could be really solid if Jay Richardson can hold his own and even become a pass rusher. I really like Pitcock and Patterson has play makers and Kudla is relentless and is sure to make things happen because of that. Green is solid inside and guys like Penton and Barrow and Gohlston are quality depth. I think we'll see Worthington some this year as well. So all in all it's a good unit up front.
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:46:21 AM)
Kicking game is a question mark but I'm glad Huston is a six-year player and not a freshman. Trapasso will hopefully become the next good OSU punter. JT has always seemed to have good punters since his YSU days.
Guest (Aug 18, 2005 11:49:41 AM)
Hi Gary, I was wondering about the kicking situation, especially kicker. How is Josh looking so far and what kind of range can we expect out of him.
GaryHousteau (Aug 18, 2005 11:49:41 AM)
Vocky was also asking about our kicking game and I like Huston, he has a strong leg but I don't know anything about his range this year. I'm guess from 50 and in he will be able to attempt it with a good percentage of success. He's a veteran with a strong leg so that's a good thing. Remember JT has had Jeff Wilkins at YSU and Mike Nugent at OSU so that's bodes well for a guy like Huston and those to follow.