
04-02-2009, 04:58 AM
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Capo Regime
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Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 40,872
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Total Points: 17,679,980.36
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DDN
Quote:
Ohio State faces lots of questions this spring
By Rusty Miller
Associated Press
Thursday, April 02, 2009
COLUMBUS ? Jim Tressel tries to avoid prematurely judging his Ohio State teams.
With 31 players gone from last year's squad heading into the start of spring practice on Thursday, it would be difficult to do anyway.
"I've never really walked into a season and said, 'Well, this is a rebuilding year. We're not going to do as well,' or 'This is a reloading year, we're going to be better,' or 'We're experienced. Everything's going to be wonderful,'" the Buckeyes' coach said Wednesday while previewing his team. "Because none of those are true. There's such a fine line in how well you do."
Most of the more recognizable names are gone from last year's team that went 10-3 and won its fourth consecutive Big Ten title. Linebackers James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman, Thorpe Award-winning cornerback Malcolm Jenkins, wide receiver Brian Robiskie and quarterback Todd Boeckman used up their eligibility, just some of the 28 seniors who said goodbye to the program.
In addition, tailback Chris "Beanie" Wells, wide receiver Brian Hartline and cornerback Donald Washington all elected to give up their final year in scarlet and gray to make themselves available for the NFL draft.
So the Buckeyes must rely on the maturation of sophomore-to-be Terrelle Pryor at quarterback, along with the promotion of several players who have been waiting for their big moment in the sun.
Tressel, starting his ninth year with the Buckeyes, addressed several key areas in a wide-ranging discussion of more than an hour:
On Pryor developing into a complete quarterback: "I hope he becomes a lot more comfortable in what he's seeing and where he needs to deliver the ball and enhances his own confidence in getting the ball to the playmakers. ... His priorities (last year) were he was only going to throw it if he was sure. I'd rather err on that side rather than, 'Aw, I'll just throw it.' But to get real good you have to get to the point where you let it go."
Cont..
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