04-11-2009, 07:34 AM
|
 |
Head Coach
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 10,539
Points: 495,739.50
Bank: 0.00
Total Points: 495,739.50
|
|
Quote:
OSU Football Insider: Buckeyes armed with good kickers
by Doug Lesmerises/Plain Dealer Reporter
Saturday April 11, 2009
COLUMBUS -- Jim Tressel, master of the punt, is looking for a punter. A.J. Trapasso is the only four-year starter Ohio State is replacing, so Jon Thoma and Ben Buchanan are names Buckeyes fans need to get to know.
Thoma, a fifth-year senior, is slightly ahead of redshirt freshman Buchanan, based mostly on experience. Friday's kick scrimmage at Ohio Stadium was fought basically to a draw with both averaging around 40 yards per punt and booming several 50 yards when pinned back at the 1-yard line.
Two good options -- because can you imagine Tressel without a punter he can trust?
"He'd probably go out and recruit one real fast," Buchanan said. "But we didn't have one in the '09 class, so I think we're doing OK."
For the previous three seasons, Aaron Pettrey and Ryan Pretorius provided intriguing kicking battles, at times handing the job back and forth and other times sharing it. Now, as Pettrey joked, "I'm not battling the old man anymore," so he is the guy on field goals and kickoffs with Pretorius graduated. Tressel holds high expectations, saying before the start of spring practice that Pettrey could be "extraordinary."
He was 10 of 11 on Friday, not including two that were blocked, missing only wide right from 53 yards but nailing one from 57.
"He could always hit the long field goals," said grad assistant Chad Rogosheske, who coaches the kickers. "With the ones you should make, we weren't always getting the consistency we wanted."
That consistency should be there now. It's needed in the punt game as well, especially from Buchanan, who is both punting and kicking while the Buckeyes continue to figure out what he does best. Eventually he'll focus on one, but not yet.
"If they choose to steer me in one direction or another, I'm fine with that," Buchanan said. "I'm a team player."
First Tressel must find his punter. After that, everything else can work itself out.
|
OSU Football Insider: Buckeyes armed with good kickers - Ohio State Buckeyes Football & Basketball News - cleveland.com
Quote:
Position breakdown
Saturday, April 11, 2009
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Dispatch beat reporters Ken Gordon and Tim May will analyze each position group on the Ohio State football team during spring practice. Today:
Specialists
• Key losses: P A.J. Trapasso, K Ryan Pretorius
• Key returnees: K Aaron Pettrey, LS Jake McQuaide, PR Ray Small, KOR Lamaar Thomas
• Time to step up: P Jon Thoma, P/K Ben Buchanan
• What it was: Its usual solid self. The Buckeyes ranked in the top 10 nationally last year in net punting as well as covering kicks and punts. Ray Small was No. 8 nationally on punt returns, averaging 15.2 yards, including an 80-yard return and a 69-yard touchdown return. As in 2007, though, kickoff returns were a weakness -- OSU averaged 19.2 yards, 108th nationally (out of 119). The field goal duties were split between Pretorius (15 of 19) and Pettrey (7 of 8).
• What it might be: Potentially even better, if Thomas can juice the kickoff returns. He averaged 21.6 yards last year once he took over the job. Devon Torrence, DeVier Posey and James Jackson are among other kick-return candidates. Pettrey has a lock on the kicking spot and has looked very good in practice. Thoma has a slight edge on Buchanan at punter, and the close competition is helping both players.
• What they're saying: "Aaron Pettrey, I think, can be an extraordinary kicker. He really had a good offseason -- trimmed down, lost eight or nine pounds (and) really looks good." -- coach Jim Tressel
|
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content...N.html?sid=101
Last edited by Buckskin86; 04-11-2009 at 07:51 AM.
|
I'm not crazy about the idea of Boom returning kicks either, but I'm not a coach...
APAaron Pettrey, the undisputed Ohio State kicker this season
3
Linear Mode
