Position Outlook: Wide Receiver

I'd like a double order of this with no drops kplzthx

In recent years, Ohio State has reaped the benefits of a proven pedigree of NFL wide receivers in recruiting. First round picks Michael Jenkins, Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Gonzales and Santonio Holmes have all delivered to at least some degree for four different NFL franchises, and it could be argued that Holmes especially bolstered the reputation of Ohio State receivers with his high-flying antics as a Steeler in the Super Bowl. It could be said that Brian Hartline owes his surprisingly high draft pick partly to Holmes, who has potentially begun a new NFL pipeline of receiver talent from Ohio State. At a school traditionally associated with violently slamming the ball down the other team's throat in the form of a power running game, receivers are becoming the hottest commodity on the offensive side of the ball. Which makes you wonder why, in every time frame but 2006 and in the latter months of 2005, Ohio State can only manage a facsimile of a downfield passing game. But that's another discussion for another time. Recruits have taken notice, and the last few recruiting classes are finally making their mark on the depth chart at wide receiver. So who's starting, and who's backing who up?

DeVier Posey - Star in the making?

via www.10tv.com

For all intents and purposes, your number one wide-receiver. He followed up a lackluster freshman campaign (11 catches, 117 yards and one touchdown) with a very good spring and looks to start come the Navy game. Large and fast, Posey has added 15 pounds to his 6-3 frame since high school and will be the downfield threat in this offense.

Posey is a fluid, powerful runner who doesn't shy away from going across the middle. In fact, during the spring game, he was one of few Ohio State receivers who looked good going across the middle, and having a guy who does so consistently will be vital for Terrelle Pryor's progression as passer. Before he's asked to lob the ball downfield, which he still struggles at, he'll need to develop the ability to hit consistent intermediate-range passes. Posey will be the first guy he'll look to in these situations.

Dane Sanzenbacher -  Caucasian Sensation

via cache.daylife.com

There are various things I could say about Dane Sanzenbacher that would be code words or terms for the fact that he is, in fact, of a lighter hue than the "typical" wide receiver. "Gritty, tough, got a real lunch-pail mindset, coach's son" - any of these terms are used by sports broadcasters to describe white dudes and you won't be seeing them in the ensuing paragraphs. Here's what Dane Sanzenbacher is: skinny, shifty, athletic, and okay, I relent: tough. You can't avoid the last bit because chances are good some of your best memories of Dane Sanzenbacher from last season are various instances of him getting rocked by players from USC, Illinois, and especially Wisconsin. What's remarkable is that he basically bounced right back up from these hits that would break yours truly into two pieces. Nevertheless, Dane Sanzenbacher will end up being just as vital to the passing game's evolution as his darker-hued teammates.

Sanzenbacher's stats aren't eyepopping - 24 career grabs for 293 yards and one score - but really, whose have been since about 2006? Sanzenbacher showed in his time at the slot last year that he can be a dangerous third receiver. He doesn't have elite speed, but he's still dangerous in space with his athleticism and ability to make defenders miss (jukification?) and will be grow into the role of the reliable third down option for Terrelle Pryor.

Ray Small - Motormouth!

Wee!

Small made more headlines for his choice words about one of this century's premier programs than his play on the field last year, despite putting away the Ohio Bobcats when the rest of the team simply refused to. Now a senior who supposedly has his act together, Small still has not developed into the star many made him out to be in his recruitment. Fortunately, he's still with the team -another transgression and he'd be gone baby gone - and with his final season, he can perhaps leave Ohio State with something of a checkered legacy rather than a mostly negative one.

Small is essentially a known quantity. While he's never been a big producer at Ohio State, it's difficult to deny his skill set. Many thought he'd be groomed to fill a Ted Ginn/Percy Harvin/Reggie Bush role; while that did not pan out and said hopes migrated to another young speedster, Lamaar Thomas, Small still has showcased the ability to be a legitimate threat. What kills him for me and probably for the staff is he can get lazy and haphazard with his routes. If he can work on his maturity level and his route-running, he has a high ceiling and may find his name getting called by the NFL's associate deputy undersecretary for the office of the Commissioner or something on the second day of the draft.

Who else you'll see on the field in that five-wide set that happens on hopeless third downs:

Lamaar Thomas - as mentioned above, he's still trying to find his way with the offense. Probably the fastest straight-line runner on the team, Thomas saw time on special teams last year and "returned" kicks in the spring game (quotation marks because he seemingly muffed every single one). Thomas is the true variable in this set of receivers; he could continue to see next-to-no time at all if his play doesn't improve, but he may also grow into a star this year. I have almost no idea what to make of the kid.

Taurian Washington - I'm considering re-naming this guy "Bam Childress Jr.", because dude always has a great spring game and then apparently spends the fall hunting boar in Fairbanks, Alaska. Do they have boar in Fairbanks? Anyway, I'm putting Washington here partially as a joke; I could see him beating out Small for some quality time in the slot based solely on the plays he has made in previous Ohio State spring games and Small's lackluster play to this point in his career.

and of course, the freshmen, already discussed in detail here, starting with the fourth paragraph.

So, what do you guys think? Does this line-up of wide receivers inspire confidence in you that the passing game will improve? Do you think, provided the play of the offensive line improves, that Ohio State will develop a legitimate passing game that opponents will respect? I know that's a big if.