2006 Spring Game info/discussion

[NFBuck]

Troy will spoil everyone this season. He is the best QB the big ten has had in a while. That being said, Robby was unbelievably wild with his arm. He sprayed the ball all over the field on Saturday. The only reason that I bring this up is because many people think that Robby had a better game, and I can't seem to understand what game they were watching. People seem to be enamoured by Robby's strong arm and mobility, is if these attributes alone make a great QB. My Saint X relatives always said he was a bit of a "wildthing" athlete, but not a true QB, because he makes poor decisions. I am SO excited for next year and not trying to be negative, but cannot ignore what I see.

Understandable concern....but as I said....

Both of these guys still have another full season and another spring of practice before we have to name a starter for '07.

 

[crazybuckfan40]

Both QB's will be fine. I think that Todd might have a little bit of an upper hand, just b/c of knowing things better. He did make a couple bad throws, but he led his team on some nice drives and Gray had plenty of wasted oppurtunities that could of led to him looking a lot better than he did.

You also have to remember that this is a mix match team and the receivers they are throwing too, are sometimes walkons, and the line that is protecting them are walkons.

Also there was a lot of 5 wide receiver sets and vanilla type play calling, so it was not a beneficial scrimmage for a QB to shine. Both showed that they are able to read a defense, and both had their bad throws and good throws.

I am excited for both, especially, b/c they both have a year and a half until they will be called upon to start.

As for Henton he is the wildcard, if he is able to come in and just light it up and pick up the offense and show that he is the next coming of a troy smith type QB and doesnt make mistakes, Tress could go with him, b/c then he wouldnt have to change the O as much.

IMO I will stick with Todd, he has shown that he can read a defense and he is a big kid with a nice arm. He is also the son of a coach which goes along way in my book in determining whethere a QB will be able to do it out on the field.

 

[thackattack]

Boeckman looks like he could be a year away, and Robby looks more like two or more.

I know what you're getting at, but at the same time it should be that way, as Boeckman's been here a year and a half longer than Robby. You can't expect Robby to just pick up the offense immediately and eclipse Todd. From what I've heard in quotes from the players and coaches, these two are neck and neck.

 

[BuckTwenty]

I can't believe we're arguing about Boeckman, Schoenhoft, and Henton already. This is something we don't have to start worrying about for another 9 months, fellas. Hell, Henton hasn't even stepped foot on the practice field yet!

One things for sure though- I'll have 100% confidence in Tressel and whichever QB he picks during next year's spring ball. We have three great QB's waiting in the wings and I don't think we can go wrong with any of the three of them.

 

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

Rivals.com$

4/26/06

Article on the battle at the tailback position by Adam Jardy.

 

[osugrad21]

OZone

4/26

Football
Spring Ball Postmortem - Part II of a Multi-Part Series- Offensive Skill
By John Porentas​

Running Backs​

It was a good spring for the skill positions in the Ohio State offense despite the fact that number one tailback Antonio Pittman did not take part in much in the way of drills this spring.​

Like the situation with the offensive line, Pittman's absence from spring drills allowed Maurice Wells, Eric Haw, and Chris Wells to get reps, reps that will serve the Buckeyes well next fall, particularly in the case of Chris Wells. Wells is expected to contribute next fall, but says without the work he got this spring, that would have been very difficult.​

<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <caption align="bottom"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Chris Wells
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT] </caption> <tbody><tr> <td>

</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

"If I had come in late (in the fall) I would have been totally lost. I probably would have ended up redshirting my freshman year. I think it helped me a whole lot," said Wells.​

Wells' ability to run with the football is obvious the moment you see him take a handoff. It's what to do when he doesn't have the ball that he, like any young back, had to learn.​

"Having the football in my hands is the easy part. It's not having the football, who to block, where to go, that's the hard part," said Wells.​

Wells got reps this spring that will give him a leg up in 2006 and will likely get him onto the playing field.​

Like Wells, Eric Haw is another player who was working on the aspect of his game that involves what he does when he isn't carrying the ball. According to his position coach, Dick Tressel, Haw made progress in those areas this spring.​

"Eric is an outstanding ball carrier," said Tressel.​

"There's all those other aspects of the game that you're competing with other good guys, and Eric growth this spring has been outstanding, but it has to be every play, every down. He got better. It was a good spring for Eric," said Tressel.​

"His forte in his mind and in his heart is carrying the leather. That's where running backs all start, and then they have to grow from there to be a great pass blocker and a get-one-more-yard guy as well as a get-a-touchdown guy. There's all those kind of things that make a coaching staff and a team really confident that he can help you win the game," Tressel said.​

Haw and Chris Wells definitely progressed this spring, but according to Tressel, it was Maurice Wells who flashed the most and got most of the reps with the first unit.​

"I was waiting to see Mo Wells just turn it loose, and he did," said Tressel.​

"Just be a player, know what to do and feel good about doing it. He's been a real confident player. When you're explosive like that, confidence allows you to be able to go out and do it. 'Just go play Mo,'" said Tressel.​

Maurice Wells is not the biggest back in the world, but according to Tressel, his physical stature has not hampered him.​

"I don't question his durability one second. He's not 6-3, 230, but if we go back and clip all the passing protection together, Mo Wells would be, if not 100 per cent, 98. He can play," said Tressel.​

Tressel said that Wells' experience last season and this spring have made him a much better back.​

"It's a confidence thing that 'I'm a Big Ten tailback,' that I'll go fast toward the goal line, and that if something is in my way I've got the ability and the agility to redirect and get it out of the way and get it going," said Tressel.​

"I think having a year under my belt and the reps this spring has really helped me," said Wells.​

The Receivers ​

Santonio Holmes is gone, but Ted Ginn has emerged.​

Ginn has been spectacular in the return game his first two seasons as a Buckeye and has had his moments as a receiver, but also has had some moments that have been less-than memorable for his position coach, Darrell Hazell. Hazell said this spring that the light has gone on for Ginn as a receiver, and that's good news for the Buckeyes.​

<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <caption align="bottom"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ted Ginn Jr.
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT] </caption> <tbody><tr> <td>

</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

"He's like a totally different player," said Hazell. "He's always been fast, but now he runs good routes, reads defenses, does all the little things that make a good receiver. Those things, combined with his speed, could turn him into a great receiver next fall if he continues to work at it and improve," said Hazell.​

"Teddy is playing extremely well. He really is. It's the best I've seen him play," added fellow wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.​

Gonzalez will probably be one of OSU's featured receivers next fall, but had kind of a tough spring when he suffered a concussion while catching a touchdown pass in the Jersey Scrimmage. Despite that setback, Gonzalez continued to impress Hazell this spring.​

"He's been exceptional," said Hazell.​

"Obviously he's a very smart football player, but he's got a knack of getting open. He has a feel for coverages and he's a good finisher. He's got the knack for finishing when people are around him and going up and making the big plays. He's been pretty consistent the last two years."​

Roy Hall will also return in 2006 and according to Jim Tressel, Hall made good use of spring practice. Hall has waited his turn behind a succession of excellent receivers at his position, but has turned it on this spring.​

"Since Roy has been here Michael Jenkins was the X end for two years for two years, then Santonio Holmes was the X end," said Tressel.​

"Roy has one more opportunity. I think the last five practices (of spring) Roy has expressed himself with a lot more confidence. I thought his last five were real positive for us."​

Spring was good for the veterans, but it was also very good for the newcomers. Both Brian Robiske and Brian Hartline showed that they can play and caught the eye of the coaches this spring.​

"Brian Robiske has been outstanding," said Hazell.​

"I think he's going to play a lot of football for us. If he continues to keep getting better and understand what we're trying to do, he's going to be a good football player for us."​

Brian Harline also caught some eyes this spring as well. Harline led all receivers in the spring game with seven catches and at first glance appears to be a Chad Cacchio-type receiver. He just gets open.​

Fullbacks​

Essentially two players held down the fullback spot this spring, Stan White Jr. and Dionte Johnson. Ironically, both have fathers who also played linebacker for the Buckeyes. Stan White Sr. was a standout linebacker for the Buckeyes in the late 60s and early 70s and had a long NFL career with the Baltimore Colts. Johnson's father, Pepper Johnson, was also a linebacker at OSU and played his NFL football for the New York Giants. He is currently an assistant coach with the New England Patriots.​

Both Johnson and White did their thing this spring, which essentially entails running into people. It's a role they both relish.​

"I get a pleasure out of knocking guys down for sure," said White.​

The Buckeyes are expected to rely more on their running game next season than they have in the past three, and that will mean that OSU will have fullbacks on the field more often. According to Johnson, that was reflected during spring drills.​

"We're starting to get a lot more plays with wing and where we're taking some plays on the line of scrimmage. We're mixing it up a little bit," Johnson said.​

Johnson is a punishing blocker, as is White. White spent his first two seasons at Ohio State as a tight end where he exhibited good pass catching skills as well.

OZone

4/25

Football
Spring Ball Postmortem - Part II of a Multi-Part Series
By John Porentas​

In Part I of this series we bored you by pointing out something most of you already know, that the game of football is usually won or lost along the line of scrimmage.​

Though it may not have looked like it in the spring game, next year's Ohio State offensive line has a chance to be one of the best in recent memory, and the Buckeyes did a lot of work this spring that will help make that true.​

<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="225"> <caption align="bottom"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Doug Datish and Kirk Barton sat out the Spring Game.
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Photos by Jim Davidson [/FONT] </caption> <tbody><tr> <td>

</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

Two of the main cogs along the offensive front, Doug Datish and Kirk Barton, did not practice this spring. That had two effects. On the downside, those two weren't there to work with their line mates, and that led to some less-than coordinated line play this spring. On the upside, the void left by those two in spring drills allowed younger players to get reps in practices and in scrimmage situations, including the spring game. While the young players will definitely benefit from that situation, the offensive line was not able to develop a lot of chemistry and coordination with Datish and Barton out, and that led to less-than efficient play in scrimmages and in the spring game, but in the long run, the Buckeyes should be better off.​

"I think we've been lacking that (chemistry) all spring," said OSU offensive line coach Jim Bollman.​

"With Doug out of there and Kirk out of there, I don't think that's happened for us all spring.​

"That won't happen for us until August, but I think we've done a lot of good, individual work.​

"There are a lot of guys who have improved themselves in that regard and I look for that whole group up front to improve a lot as a unit when we get together in August, and you can tell more and more who are going to be candidates," Bollman said.​

In the spring game the offensive line, particularly the Gray offensive line, struggled a bit, mostly due to the patchwork nature of the lines and the lack of chemistry That won't be true next fall, but what will be true is that this spring yielded impressive depth along the offensive front.​

<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <caption align="bottom"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]T.J. Downing
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT] </caption> <tbody><tr> <td>

</td> </tr> </tbody></table>

When OSU takes the field in 2006, there are three sure-fire names that will be in the lineup on the offensive line; T. J. Downing, Doug Datish and Kirk Barton. Alex Boone would also be on that list but there is some question as to his availability next fall due to an off-campus incident in which he was arrested for DUI. There is some possibility that Boone could be suspended from school next fall, though the prevailing thought currently is that if he is indeed suspended at all for disciplinary reasons (and that is not a sure thing, but is a possibility) by the University (not the football program or department of athletics), that suspension could take place this summer, leaving the door open for Boone to participate in football next fall. In any case, there is uncertainty about Boone.​

Boone would be missed, but this spring several players emerged that could lessen the blow should he not be available.​

At center, Tyler Whaley emerged as a bona fide candidate at that position. Whaley's performance and development could help the Buckeyes tremendously, whether he is in the starting lineup or not.​

With Whaley either starting or providing solid backup service, the OSU coaching staff would have the luxury of looking at Datish at guard rather than center. That, in turn, would free up Steve Rehring to move out to tackle. It's all pretty complex, and the best way to understand it is look at it visually.​

<table align="center" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="80%"> <caption align="top"> 2006 OSU offensive line with Alex Boone </caption> <tbody><tr> <td>

Left Tackle ​

</td> <td>

Left Guard ​

</td> <td>

Center​

</td> <td>

Right Guard ​

</td> <td>

Right Tackle ​

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>

Alex Boone ​

</td> <td>

Steve Rehring or Doug Datish
​

</td> <td>

Doug Datish or Jim Cordle or Tyler Whaley​

</td> <td>

T. J Downing ​

</td> <td>

Kirk Barton ​

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>

Tim Schafer or Steve Rehring​

</td> <td>

Kyle Mitchum or Steve Rehring ​

</td> <td>

Jim Cordle or Tyler Whaley​

</td> <td>

Jon Skinner ​

</td> <td>

Ben Person ​

</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="5">

2006 OSU offensive line without Alex Boone​

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>

Steve Rehring or Doug Datish ​

</td> <td>

Doug Datish or Steve Rehring ​

</td> <td>

Jim Cordle or Tyler Whaley ​

</td> <td>

T. J Downing ​

</td> <td>

Kirk Barton ​

</td> </tr> <tr> <td>

Tim Schafer​

</td> <td>

Kyle Mitchum ​

</td> <td>

Tyler Whaley or Jim Cordle ​

</td> <td>

Jon Skinner ​

</td> <td>

Ben Person ​

</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> We've listed Schafer at tackle because that is where he played in the spring game, but but according to Barton, Schafer got time at guard this spring as well. Skinner saw time at center this spring, but played guard in the spring game so that's where we've listed him. Rehring spent much of his time at guard during spring drills, but played tackle in the spring game and as a true freshman in 2005 when he saw considerable playing time.
The Buckeyes clearly have developed impressive depth along the offensive front, and it doesn't end with the names in the chart. Players like Josh Kerr, Andrew Moses, Doug Ebner and Daniel Dye all profited from spring ball this year, and Jon Skinner Kyle Mitchum and Tim Schafer all performed well in the spring game and are players who are developing and improving. All of them will be better next fall because of the way this spring went. Due to the absence of Datish and Barton, they were able to get reps and hone individual skills and build confidence. Whaley, however, remains the player that has made the biggest move this spring.
<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="200"> <caption align="bottom"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Center Tyler Whaley
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT] </caption> <tbody><tr> <td>

</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> "Oh yeah, Tank, he's doing real well," said defensive end Lawrence Wilson when asked about Whaley.
"His nickname is Tank. He stays real low and he fights. He's a competitor, he definitely competes, and that's why he's good. He's so low. He's short already, but he gets even lower and he gets under your shoulder pads so he does a great job doing that. He's probably one of our best offensive linemen concerning that," Wilson said.
"What Tyler Whaley has is leverage," added Jay Richardson.
"He's really low to the ground and he's a really strong guy. He's a good football player. He could be a heck of a center if given the chance. I think he could do a really good job for us. He's always been a tough guy on scout team out there and gives us good work. Tyler without a doubt 'belongs'. I look at Tyler like I look at Nick (Mangold) or anybody else. You have to respect him as a good offensive lineman, and he is a good offensive lineman," Richardson said.
"The think about Whaley is that Whaley is so short that you can't get under him, so he has good leverage," added David Patterson.
"You know you have to get extra low to play against Tyler since he's about 5-7. I know that gives some guys some problems," Patterson said.
Helping out the offensive line in 2006 will be the tight ends. Rory Nicol returns in 2006 after missing 2005 due to injury, and is probably the front-runner at that position. Also in the mix are Marcel Frost, Brandon Smith, and walkon Will Crall. Tight ends coach John Peterson is looking for a specific type of players at tight end, and spent this spring trying to figure out who fits the mold.
"We're looking for tight ends who can single-block in the run game and protect and allows the offensive line to free up inside. I think we have a some guys who can do a great job in the run game," he said.
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="180"> <caption align="bottom"> [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Tight End Rory Nicol
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT] </caption> <tbody><tr> <td>

</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> According to Nicol, the Buckeyes are likely to use more tight ends this season, if for no other reason than the OSU running game is expected to be potent, and having tight ends on the field will help that running game go.
"I think the tight end role will expand this year," said Nicol.
"They're doing a lot more with us. I really think we'll see a lot more play. I really think we'll see a lot more two-tight ends than we've seen in the recent past.
"We're going to be more of a power team but we're still going to be explosive.

"We want to be an offense that can do anything to anybody at any time. We talk about being great in all phases of the game," Nicol said.​

Frost and Nicol got the respective starts in the spring game, with Smith and Crall as the backups. Frost had three catches for 12 yards but also had some costly drops. He also played for the Gray squad, which at times had trouble blocking. Nicol had two receptions for 33 yards playing for the victorious Scarlet team.​

Ozone

4/24

Football
Spring Ball Postmortem - Part I of a Multi-Part Series
By John Porentas​

Spring football is over, and from all accounts from the coaching staff and players, this was a pretty good spring for the Buckeyes.​

The lone negative this spring is a large one, the serious neck injury to wide receiver Tyson Gentry. On the positive side, the Buckeyes made progress in areas of concern, and several new names and faces emerged as people who can help the Buckeyes next fall.​

The unquestioned largest area of concern coming into spring ball was the defense, particularly at linebacker. The Buckeyes must replace nine starters including a trio of standout linebackers next season. OSU tight end Rory Nicol, who practiced against that defense every day this spring, said he is not worried about the defense.​

"That defense isn't going to be weak," said Nicol.​

"People fail to realize how many guys are over there that played significant time here. They need to mesh together, but as far as having individuals who are great players, we have them. They're going to be fine.​

"They're a physical unit and fast. We have a lot of speed over there and a lot of young guys who are anxious to make a name for themselves and some coaches who know what it takes," said Nicol.​

Nicol's comments were echoed by several members of the defense when we asked them why they could good next year despite their apparent lack of playing experience.​

"Speed," said safety Jamario O'Neal, summing up in one word why he thinks the defense will be good next year.​

"We have guys who are just faster. There were a lot of fast guys last year, but this year there are more guys that run 4.3 running around on the field. We show 4.3 speed all the time. I think our speed and breaking on the ball are going to be the difference between last year's team and this year's team," O'Neal said.​

The lone knock on last year's defense was the lack of turnovers produced. Next year's defense has the potential to be much more productive in that area, and came up with four turnovers in the spring game, three on interceptions and one on a fumble recovery. That should bring a smile to the face of defensive coordinator Jim Heacock who said before the spring game "For me I like playmakers, and you can't tell that until we scrimmage. What I like is to have a scrimmage and who goes out there and makes plays. Who makes sacks, who causes fumbles, who gets interceptions, that's what those guys that we lost did. Now we have to find out who these new playmakers are going to be."​

The linebacker corps that was seen as decimated has suddenly become a logjam positions. Linebackers coach Luke Fickell said this spring that at least seven players have stepped up to have a shot at starting positions, and after the jersey scrimmage and spring game, it is clear that Fickell knew what he was talking about. Marcus Freeman, John Kerr and James Laurinaitis are the front runners as starters, but Curtis Terry, Ross Homan, Larry Grant and Chad Hoobler all have emerged as players who could challenge for time. That, according to Laurinaitis, should make the Buckeyes better next fall.​

"We have a lot of guys at linebacker right now," said Laurinaitis.​

"We have six or seven guys that could play, and like coach says, that's something that's going to benefit us the whole year, because if you have one bad week of practice, you might not be starting that week. I think it keeps you more focused and keeps you into it more and it's going to benefit our overall defensive unit.​

"You're constantly thinking that you can't take a day off, because the guy behind you might or the guy next to me is working out. I can't take this day off because that's one day closer that he's getting to that spot. I think that keeps a driving passion for everybody in our group."​

The DBs​

In the defensive backfield, Malcolm Jenkins probably has one corner spot nailed down, and Jamario O'Neal probably has one safety spot secured. The other two spots, however, are up for grabs with a host of talented candidates. Brandon Mitchell, Anderson Russell and Nick Patterson will compete for the other starting safety spot. Mike Roberts, Andre Amos, Antonio Smith, Brandon Underwood and Kurt Coleman will battle it out at the corner.​

Patterson was penciled in at the safety spot when spring drills began, but don't count out Mitchell or Russell next fall. Russell is talented and will benefit from time in the weight room over the summer, and Mitchell is a hungry players who will be in his final season as a Buckeye. Both will make a challenge for the starting role.​

At corner, Antonio Smith started for the Scarlet defense in the spring game, and that team pitched a shutout. Perhaps the play of day in the defensive backfield, however, was made by freshman corner Kurt Coleman who intercepted a Todd Boeckman pass intended for Albert Dukes with a diving, athletic play that caught a lot of eyes. You can be sure that Heacock, who is looking for playmakers, noticed. Jim Tressel did.​

"I thought Kurt Coleman's interception was very athletic," said Tressel. "Kurt has very good ball skills."​

The play definitely impressed Boeckman.​

"When I threw the ball I thought 'That's a touchdown for sure.' When I saw it in the air I thought it was a touchdown for sure. He made a great play on the ball. I give him a lot of credit. It was a a helluva play," Boeckman said.​

For Coleman, it is simply what he has always done.​

"I've always had a knack for the ball," he said. "Ever since I started in sixth grade I've had ten interceptions every season. I just feel like the ball is mine when it's in the air."​

Coleman is one of those new faces that could make an impact next fall. We were impressed with him, and though his attitude is clearly not braggadocios, he has the kind confidence coaches like in a cornerback.​

"I feel I have a way to push my way into the starting rotation but the DBs here are really great. If I'm not ready for the job then I know someone else is better, but I feel I can work my way into it," he said after the spring game.​

Hunger​

The Buckeyes coaching staff should have a pretty good idea who their playmakers are after this spring, but the gnawing concern is that no matter how fast or talented those players are, they will to some extent be green. We posed that question to some of the leading candidates to be on the field for the defense when the season begins, and to a man they all said the same thing, the defense might be green, but it will be good, if for no other reason than they are tired of hearing about how weak they will be.​

"We're very hungry," said O'Neal.​

"We feel like we have to go out and do and prove to not only ourselves but to the Buckeye Nation that we're not losing anything, but we're just gaining guys that are hungry and want to ball. We have something to prove," O'Neal said.​

It was a pervading sentiment.​

"I would say that we're hungry. We're hungry to go out there and shut people out, do great things on defense," said defensive end Vernon Gholston.​

"I think the thing is for our team is that we have a bunch of players who came here that if they went to other programs they could be starting right away," said Laurinaitis.​

"I think it's good, because we have the fire to kind of prove that we belong here. We know we lost a lot of great people and we know you can't really replace them. You can't fill their shoes, you have to make your own shoes."​

Up Front ​

If the cobbler can make a pair of shoes where the hunger to prove a point trumps a lack of experience, the Buckeye defense could be good next fall. If that's not enough for you, however, there is another reason to think that might be true. Say what you want, but the game off football has always been won and lost at the line of scrimmage, and next year's defensive line should be good. Defensive end Lawrence Wilson is definitely buying into that premise.​

"The defensive line is going to control the game," said Wilson.​

"We have the starters back and they're doing a great job leading us. The d-line has to step up for this defense to be good."​

Quinn Pitcock will be back next fall for his senior season, and David Patterson will move inside to what most feel is his natural position.That duo does in fact have the potential to be a dominating front on the interior. Joel Penton and Nadar Abdallah will provide depth, and freshman Todd Denlinger shows great promise on the inside. Penton impresses us as the kind of player who will indeed have his career-best season as a senior, much like David Thompson did in 2002. Abdallah has been waiting in the wings for a chance, and at 310 pounds is the biggest of OSU's interior defensive linemen.​

At the ends, Wilson has drawn raves, and is now a bigger, faster athlete then when he arrived last fall, though reports of a sudden increase in his size proved to less-than accurate. He is bigger, but he wasn't exactly small last year in his first season as a Buckeye. He was listed at 235 by OSU, but Wilson said that was inaccurate.​

"That was my senior year in high school. I played at 265 to 270 last year.​

"From last season I gained about five pounds, but I got a lot stronger. I weigh about 275 now," said Wilson.​

"I've gained speed as well. When I came in I ran a 4.65, and recently I ran a 4.57, so working with Butch Reynolds and the strength and conditioning staff definitely made me better," Wilson said​

Wilson said that he is physically better, but that his biggest improvement came in other areas.​

"I think I've gotten more mature. Last year when I was playing I was thinking too much. The coaches told me 'Don't think. Just go, go play,' and that's what I tried to do all spring. I think I definitely did a better job," he said.​

Wilson will be joined at the defensive end spot by Alex Barrow, Jay Richardson and Gholstin. Like the linebacker position, the competition for starting positions should make them all better, and the Buckeyes should have depth that will allow them to rotate players.​

An almost-forgotten player that could also impact the defense next fall is Mike D'Andrea. D'Andrea missed spring ball while recovering from an knee injury, but could make an impact at either linebacker or defensive end if he is healthy next fall.​

​

 

[smith403]

Saturday , I was able to get 2 football autographed by all Seniors except Hawk and Carpenter, (through a donation to the Make A Wish foundation which will benefit Tyson Gentry's family and medical bills) my intentions are to donate the footballs to a children's home for their benefit auction...does anyone have any ideas or connections as to how i might get Hawk & Carpenter to autograph the footballs...

 

[Taosman]

Robbie vs Todd. Robbie has what you can't teach, an NFL arm. Plus surprising mobility. When the game slows down some more for him, look out!

Boeckman is Boeckmen. What you see is what he is. A very good all around athlete playing QB. And he has a special knack for seeing the whole field and finding the open guy. He is ahead of Schoenhoft right now. That could change with time.

 

[osugrad21]

Link

4/26

<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr><td class="yspsctnhdln">Buckeye fans in midseason form</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="7"><spacer type="block" height="1" width="1"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> By Olin Buchanan, Rivals.com College Football Staff Writer
<table id="ysparticleheadshot" align="left" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" hspace="5" vspace="5"> <tbody><tr> <td class="ysptblbdr2"> <table class="yspwhitebg" border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td> <table class="yspwhitebg" border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td>

</td></tr><tr><td></td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> The calendar read April, but the atmosphere said October.
Shops and restaurants along Lane Avenue, across from the Ohio State University campus, were packed. The Varsity restaurant had a line out the door. There was elbow-to-elbow traffic in Conrad's, a gift shop that sells Ohio State merchandise.
A local radio station was doing a live remote near Ohio Stadium and fans stood in a long line to get an autograph from or photo with former Buckeyes star linebacker Chris Spielman. I saw the Ohio State jersey No. 47 around me so often I felt like Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn in the Fiesta Bowl.
State troopers were stationed along Woody Hayes Avenue to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
There was an excellent crowd at Auburn's A-Day game. Defending national champion Texas estimated its spring game attendance at about 47,000. Georgia's crowd was rather small, but not bad considering inclement weather and the fact the Masters golf tournament was staged that weekend, too.
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</td></tr></tbody></table><script type="text/javascript"> if (window.yzq_a == null) document.write("<scr" + "ipt type=text/javascript src=""http://us.js2.yimg.com/us.js.yimg.com/lib/bc/bc_1.7.3.js></scr" + "ipt>"); </script><script type="text/javascript"> if (window.yzq_a) { yzq_a('p', 'P=gfSvF86.I.ZegFUwQioLgQ6oR0TEz0RQD0sABh1S&T=13rg85jhi%2fX%3d1146097483%2fE%3d97440488%2fR%3dsports%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d1.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d4069996178%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3dB4E78E44'); yzq_a('a', '&U=139buvq9j%2fN%3dCiYfj9ibyhA-%2fC%3d399206.8211423.9023897.1806201%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d3394695'); } </script><noscript>http://us.bc.yahoo.com/b?P=gfSvF86.I.ZegFUwQioLgQ6oR0TEz0RQD0sABh1S&T=140gsmnmr%2fX%3d1146097483%2fE%3d97440488%2fR%3dsports%2fK%3d5%2fV%3d2.1%2fW%3d8%2fY%3dYAHOO%2fF%3d2113445538%2fQ%3d-1%2fS%3d1%2fJ%3dB4E78E44&U=139buvq9j%2fN%3dCiYfj9ibyhA-%2fC%3d399206.8211423.9023897.1806201%2fD%3dLREC%2fB%3d3394695</noscript> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> Southern California's game was surprisingly well attended with an estimated crowd of 15,000.
But Ohio State's announced — not estimated — attendance for last weekend's Scarlet-Gray game was 63,649. I was so awestruck by the huge crowd I phoned my wife back in Texas.
"Aren't they playing themselves?" she asked, incredulously.
And you think your school likes football.
Maybe that huge turnout was just a reaction to Ohio State being rated among the favorites to win the 2006 national championship. Maybe it was just Buckeyes fans wanting to get outside on a cloudless 71-degree day. Or maybe, they're just that psycho for their team.
I met three guys — a grandfather, father and son — who had traveled from Orlando, Fla., for the game. It was grandpa's 74th birthday present.
Thankfully for him, the Ohio State game was nothing like Michigan's — which included few starters.
"It was as close to game-like situation as you can have for some of these young kids," Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said in a post-game interview.
No doubt about that. Backup quarterbacks Todd Boeckman and Rob Schoenhoft played without the protection of black jerseys. There was an onside kick, a safety and live returns on punts and kickoffs.
Everything was just like a real game day.
Almost. After the Scarlet's 12-0 victory, in which quarterback Troy Smith led a touchdown drive on his only series, I headed to the parking lot with a slight feeling of dread.
Once there, I was surprisingly shocked by what I saw. My rental car — which had Michigan plates — was completely unscathed.
Well, it is just spring, after all.

 

[jimotis4heisman]

im still waiting on my c deck report lordjb...

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Had a great time at the Spring game...even if I did pick Scarlet to win...I was able to get 2 football autographed by all Seniors except Hawk and Carpenter, my intentions are to donate the footballs to a children's home for their benefit auction...does anyone have any ideas or connections as to how i might get Hawk & Carpenter to autograph the footballs...Also had dinner Saturday night at Buckeye Hall of Fame Cafe...was walking thru the Walk of Fame,when a distinguished gentleman came from the opposite direction...It was Coach Earle Bruce...we shook hands and talked briefly and Coach graciosly consented to a picture being taken of Coach, my cousin, and myself...what a Great Guy...:osu2:

I was there Saturday for dinner too

 

[elliemae]

I was there Saturday for dinner too

I was too! Albert Dukes #5 was there! I got my picture taken with him!

 

[jwinslow]

I can't believe we're arguing about Boeckman, Schoenhoft, and Henton already. This is something we don't have to start worrying about for another 9 months, fellas. Hell, Henton hasn't even stepped foot on the practice field yet!

what else is there to discuss about the QB position? Smith being even more 'off da hook yo'? :p Zwick developing into a stronger backup?

 

[osugrad21]

Ozone

4/27

Football
Spring Ball Postmortem - Part IV of a Multi-Part Series - The Quarterbacks
By John Porentas​

In case you didn't know it prior to spring football, Troy Smith is OSU's number one quarterback.​

Smith didn't need to prove a thing this spring. After improving game after game last year right up until season's end, Smith is firmly entrenched as OSU's number one guy. Instead of fighting for a position, Smith spent this spring continuing to improve his quarterback skills, filling his role as a leader on offense, and filling his role as a leader on the overall team.​

Smith spent most of the spring in a black, no-contact jersey, not so much to protect him from the hitting, but to force him to use his legs to buy time to pass as opposed to using them to run for yardage. The old Troy Smith would have resented that tactic. The new, improved Troy Smith both understands its value and appreciates it.​

"It helps me out," said Smith.​

"A couple years ago when I had to wear it I would pout, be upset about it, but it helps you mentally so much. During the season maybe I'll come back to my third receiver because I had to in practice with the black jersey on, so it help you a lot."​

Smith's attitude toward improvement is outstanding. Just as importantly, he now has a firm understanding that being a great runner and having the ability to throw the football are important, but not enough. He has bought into the notion that there is more to quarterbacking, and spent this spring working hard on those parts of his game. Smith has become a film room junkie and genuine student of the game, and says he can see the results of those efforts.​

"I think my comfort level is much higher, and the constant study of my offense has helped me develop into that cool, calm guy. The more you get to know the things like the back of your hand, the better off you'll be at anything.​

"I think now it's more cerebral, it's more up top, it's more an anticipation thing," he said.​

"You know what's coming, so now you're anticipating where the route is going to be, where the guy is going to be. There's only so-many ways they can disguise cover-three, four under three deep. You know where the guys are going to be, so you know which spots to pick, things like that."​

Smith played sparingly in the spring game, but impressively, guiding his team to the game's only touchdown.​

With Smith firmly entrenched as the starter, eyes have turned to the backup position. Justin Zwick will be a fifth-year senior with starting experience and is probably the top candidate for the backup role. Behind Zwick are Todd Boeckman and Robby Schoenhoft. Beckman will have redshirt sophomore eligibility next fall, Schoenhoft redshirt freshman eligibility.​

Like Smith, Zwick was used sparingly in both the spring game and the jersey scrimmage, leaving plenty of reps for the younger quarterbacks. Schoenhoft showed well in the jersey scrimmage, but spent most of the day running for his life in the spring game behind an offensive line that had trouble protecting him. Boeckman, however, had a decent day in the spring game and gave hints of being the kind of quarterback that is willing and able to get the ball down field for big plays. Boeckman is kind of a gunslinger, hit-the-homerun type quarterback who contrasts with Zwick, whose forte is moving the chains and keeping drives alive. Zwick would probably be the first one in the game if needed if the Buckeyes are ahead and protecting a lead. He won't make mistakes. Boeckman, however, is more the type of guy you would want in the game if you were behind and needed points. His teammates call him "Touchdown Todd" for a reason. He likes to make big plays and get the ball into the endzone.​

While neither Boeckman nor Schoenhoft really lit it up in the spring game, both suffered interceptions, OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel saw positives in the spring game experience his two young quarterbacks.​

"A couple of interceptions by both of them are some things that we have to get worked out, but until we get thrust into these positions and make some of these mistakes, you don't learn. I think both of them got some valuable experience," Tressel said.​

Both Schoenhoft and Boeckman are known for their passing, but both are big guys, and both are surprisingly good runners.​

"I'm not saying they're Troy (Smith), but they're two big, strong kids, and they're athletic as heck," said quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels.​

"Both of them were basketball players, Todd is an excellent baseball player, I think Coach Todd would still love to have him. You're talking about one guy who is 240 pounds, another who is 230-some pounds who are 6-4 and 6-5. They're big, strong physical guys. They're going to surprise some people on that part of it. People are going to bounce off of them if they run with it. They may not have the quick feet of Troy, but they can run," Daniels said.​

"What Craig (Krenzel) had and what I think these two young guys have is toughness, toughness mentally and toughness physically. These guys have that, and they may actually be a little stronger." Daniels added.​

Boeckman felt that he definitely progressed this spring.​

"I'm real confident in my ability and what I've learned and what the coaches have taught me," he said.​

"I feel a lot more comfortable in what I've done in these last couple of weeks. I've been in the system three years now. I'm just feeling real confident in my ability right now."​

Boeckman exhibited that in the spring game when he hooked up with Roy Hall on a couple of timing routes, routes in which he had to release the ball before the receiver had made his break. It sounds simple, but it's a skill that comes with confidence and experience.​

"It's a matter of getting comfortable back there and having the confidence that you can make those throws. You know you have the ability to make that throw, you just have to be confident in yourself and get the ball there," he said.​

Both he and Schoenhoft felt as if they progressed this spring, but everybody involved is a realist when it comes to who will be number one next fall.​

"We know we have a number one guy in Troy who is one of the better quarterbacks I've ever seen," said Boeckman.​

"I'm just going to do what I can and compete for the number two job. I know Justin and Robby are too. We all want to compete. If Troy ever goes down, which we all hope he doesn't, we want to know that we're going to have a guy in there that's going to be able to run this offense the way we can."​

 

[osugrad21]

OZone

4/28

Football
Spring Ball Postmortem - Part V - Special Teams
By John Porentas​

Jim Tressel really pulled a fast one on everybody.​

Tressel's teams at Ohio State have been blessed with a succession of strong kickers. Players like Andy Groom, Mike Nugent, B. J. Sander, Kyle Torano and Josh Huston have made OSU special teams truly special.​

Nugent and Huston are gone in the place kicking game, and the heir-apparent to the place kicking job at Ohio State this spring was Ryan Pretorius.​

Hah!​

Pretorius is still definitely in the mix, but Tressel sprung one on everybody when Aaron Pettrey took part in spring practice drills. Most people had thought he was a walk on trying out as a kicker, but the truth was that Pettrey has been on OSU's recruiting radar for three years. Pettrey attended community college for two years at OSU's request while first Nugent and then Huston completed their eligibility. He then enrolled at OSU last fall, and was awarded a scholarship beginning winter quarter.​

"I kept waiting for a scholarship to open up. They wanted me to keep stick with them and waiting it out. I told them I would," said Pettrey.​

"There were a few times I didn't know, wanted to look at other places, but they promised me I would have a scholarship if I would wait."​

Pettrey was rewarded with a scholarship for his patience, then wowed everybody when he booted a 59 or 60 yard bomb (depending on who you ask) on the last play of the kick scrimmage to win the game for his team.​

Pettrey's ability as a kicker and appearance on the roster surprised almost everyone. He was the first plaeckicker taken in the spring game draft. The team that drafted him explained that they felt his kickoffs were longer than those of Pretorius, and in the spring game Pettrey's lone kickoff went five yards deep into the endzone, in spite of kicking off the recently lowered tee that now stands just one inch high as opposed to the two inch tee that had previously been allowed in college football. He also kicked off from the 20 after a safety, and drove the ball 66 yards.​

Pettrey's story is intriguing, but don't count out Pretorius. He was also consistent in both the kick scrimmage and the spring game. His leg may not be quite as long as Pettrey's but he is accurate, and even more importantly, mature. Pretorius is a South Africa native who is the oldest player on the OSU roster. He had a career as a professional rugby player and played in pressure situations in big games all around the world. He is definitely the kind of guy you would want to count on in a pressure situation. Pretorius is very consistent on anything inside 50 yards, and has made field goals as long as 55 yards in OSU scrimmage situations, so it's not like he has a weak leg.​

It is possible that Pretorius and Pettrey could share the kicking duties. The logical setup would have Pettrey kicking off and kicking field goals over 50 yards, and Pretorius handling PATs and field goals under 50 yards. The OSU coaching staff has not made a decision on that yet, but the platoon system at kicker is a definite possibility.​

At punter, A. J. Trapasso is back for his second season and should be able to improve on what was a good freshman year.​

"I think I could have done a lot better. I was pleased, but I want to do a lot better this year," said Trapasso.​

Trapasso is working on length, but he also worked on some of the nuances of punting this spring.​

"I'm working on a 1.9 (second) get-off (time) and making more solid contact with the ball, and I'm getting familiar with where the coaches want the ball kicked and also situational kicks," said Trapasso.​

Trapasso is also the holder in the place kicking game. Also returning this season is long snapper Drew Norman who has been extremely reliable in his Buckeye career.​

Kicking is half of the special teams game. Returning kicks is the other, and OSU's return game can be summed up in just seven letters - Ted Ginn.​

Ginn was explosive his freshman year in the return game, hit a little flat spot early last season, but then seemed to come back into form. His lone less-than inspiring performance as a returner came in the Michigan game when on a windy day he muffed two punts. The Buckeyes recovered both, but the muffs could have been disastrous.​

"We dropped two in the Michigan game which was really, we could have put ourselves in a lot worse situation than we did because we were able to recover the ball, but if you watch the first one, he picks his head up, doesn't follow the ball all the way down," said OSU return game coach Darrell Hazell. "The second one moved on him real late. Those are tough, really tough, but you can't drop the ball," Hazell said.​

OSU used Ginn as a single safety in the punt return game and in twin safeties with Santonio Holmes. The Buckeyes will probably use both formations again this season so are looking for a replacement for Holmes.​

"It's probably Gonzalez, then Malcolm Jenkins," said Hazell.​

"We've got some guys that can catch it pretty well, which is good.​

"That's the most important thing, handling the football. You can't turn it over, you can't put it on the ground."​

OSU used Ginn on kickoffs last season as well. That move led to a rash of pooch kicks and weird kickoffs to deny Ginn opportunities, and the rule change lowering the tee will probably inspire more of that this season. Kickers will be less likely to be able to power the ball into the endzone off the lower tee, which means that Ginn will have more opportunities unless the opposition kicks short or to the the sideline. When they started doing just that last season, Hazell countered with a three-man diamond formation for his return men with Ginn deep and two other returners up the field and toward the sidelines. Hazell anticipates the need for something similar to that formation again this year.​

"We think we're going to get a lot of pooches and crazy kicks because of the success we had," Hazell said.​