One phrase often heard around the Ohio State football team is ‘iron sharpens iron’ and Buckeyes on the New Orleans Saints prove that’s true.
Just think about the former Ohio State football players who play for New Orleans. Don’t you think wide receivers Michael Thomas and Ted Ginn have terrific battles against the Saints secondary that’s loaded with Buckeyes?
All are playing at a high level, which should come as no surprise because iron sharpens iron. Just think about what each of these players brought to the table when they joined the Saints and what they have accomplished since.
Thomas was an undervalued wide receiver coming into the draft even though he was the reception leader for the Buckeyes two straight seasons. He has now caught 321 passes for 3,787 yards and 23 touchdowns in his first three NFL seasons.
Ted Ginn was an All-American at Ohio State and a top 10 draft pick in 2007. In 20 games for the Saints he has 70 receptions for 996 yards and 6 scores.
Safety Vonn Bell was a first team All-American for the Buckeyes. He has had 249 tackles with 10 for a loss, including 6.5 sacks, in his three seasons for the Saints. He also has 5 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries to his credit.
Cornerback Marshon Lattimore was a first round draft pick and was the AP Defensive Rookie of the year in 2017. He is having another outstanding season, and without his two interceptions in yesterday’s win New Orleans probably wouldn’t be playing in the NFC Championship Game.
Cornerback Eli Apple came to the Saints in a mid-season trade with the New York Giants and is beginning to show everybody why he was a first round draft pick in 2016.
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Safety Kurt Coleman was a first team All-American for Ohio State in 2009 and this is his first year playing for the Saints. He has 32 tackles on the season, and you can bet he has battled his former teammate Ginn and the younger Thomas in passing drills to show them he still has what it takes.
Coleman and Ginn played for Jim Tressel and the four younger players played for Urban Meyer. What they all have in common is those two coaches wouldn’t let you see the field unless you performed well in practice, regardless of how talented you were.
Can you only imagine a Saints practice with these wide receivers and defensive backs going at each other? Especially with teammates competing against each other like they did at Ohio State, and the older veterans and young players battling. I have a feeling there is at least a little bit of trash talking that goes on too because all of them are competitors.
These Buckeyes prove what Urban Meyer has often said, iron sharpens iron. And the New Orleans Saints are the better for it.