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Most indispensable players: Ohio State May 17, 2012 Source: ESPN.com - We're getting near the end of our series looking at the most indispensable players on each Big Ten team. Once again, this is not necessarily a listing of the best players on each team, but ones whose absence would be toughest to absorb because of their particular value or a lack of depth behind them.
We're selecting two players from each Big Ten squad, usually one on offense and one on defense, but not always. Ohio State is on the clock:
Braxton Miller, QB, Sophomore
It's not just that Miller is the team's best playmaker and a seemingly perfect fit in Urban Meyer's spread offense. It's also that there isn't much depth behind him. Kenny Guiton is the only other quarterback on the roster with any game experience, and that experience is threadbare at best. While Meyer said earlier this week that he liked what Guiton was doing, there is still a major dropoff from Miller to anyone else. The Buckeyes' season would also experience a major dropoff if Miller had to miss extended time.
John Simon, DL, Senior
Depth isn't nearly as big of a factor in selecting Simon. Ohio State should actually be pretty stacked on the defensive front once its talented newcomers all get up to speed. Depth at linebacker is much more of a concern on the defense. But Simon is indispensable for reasons other than just his talent, which is immense. Meyer can't heap enough kind words on the senior, at one point calling him "Tebowish." Simon provides an excellent example on and off the field in building the type of program Meyer wants. He's also good enough to be an All-American and can play either end or tackle if needed. That makes this choice a pretty easy one.
Post-Spring Two-Deep Chart Released May 16, 2012 Source: OSU Official Site - It's the first two-deep chart for Coach Urban Meyer's Ohio State Buckeyes
The first official two-deep chart of the Urban Meyer coaching era at Ohio State was revealed today as Meyer presented it to a room of more than 40 reporters covering the news at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center.
With 18 starters returning from last season including both kickers, there are plenty of familiar names on the two-deep chart, including fourth-year starting fullback Zach Boren and three-year starters Jake Stoneburner (tight end), John Simon (defensive line) and C.J. Barnett (safety).
Some two-deep notes:
The offensive two-deep lists 12 positions to take into consideration the myriad of options Ohio State's spread offense will present with a running back, fullback, tight end and three receivers.
Counting the 11-man defensive look, those 23 positions feature eight seniors, nine juniors and five sophomores.
Defensive end Nathan Williams, receiver Verlon Reed and center Jacoby Boren all appear on the two-deep despite missing all or part of spring drills. Coaches are hopeful all will be ready to help the team this fall.
Only two starters return on the offensive line - Jack Mewhort and Andrew Norwell - with Norwell the only returnee at his 2011 position (left guard). The projected starters do have a combined 32 starts, though, with 13 apiece from Mewhort and Norwell, six from right guard Marcus Hall and nine tight end starts for the converted-to-right-tackle senior Reid Fragel.
Every skill position player on offense is an underclassmen except for Boren and Stoneburner.
The defensive line leads all position groups with 78 combined starts (including 62 among the starters) with John Simon's 26 tops. Williams, Johnathan Hankins and Garrett Goebel have 13 starts apiece and Adam Bellamy has 10.
Among the specialists, the only change from last year is at holder where Ben Buchanan takes over for the now graduated Derek Erwin. Otherwise, Buchanan returns as punter, Drew Basil will handle kickoffs and placements and George Makridis returns as the long snapper, although Bryce Haynes is listed along with him as the starter there.
And some two-deep quotes from Coach Meyer:
"Corey Linsley was a surprise on offense, but not really a surprise. I just hadn't seen him play. But he is a journeyman-to-starter player. He has the potential to be a very good player. He is a very committed player."
"Michael Bennett was a surprise on defense. He's listed as a backup to Johnathan Hankins but that may not necessarily be the case in the fall. It's hard for me to say that he isn't one of the four best."
Regarding the receivers: "I think we have enough talent there to be functional in the fall."
"Talent will get you seven or eight wins. Discipline gets you to around nine. Leadership is when the magic starts happening."
"I am very much satisfied with our quarterback depth. I like Kenny Guiton. I'm proud to say he is great to be around. He's serious about school and himself. I'm very pleased with his progress and with Braxton Miller's progress."
"Much rides on the leadership of Braxton and Kenny this summer for our passing game to be functional this fall."
"Zach Boren is someone who can wiggle in space. He is much better than I thought. He can catch and carry the football."
Regarding a college football playoff: "I think the ideal setup is what we've had the last decade of football."
The Buckeyes have released their new post-spring two-deep and we have head coach Urban Meyer's thoughts on it as well as his thoughts on expectations for the team, the leadership of the team and we also touched upon when people not affiliated with the university get a little 'too' involved with the recruiting process and how that can disrupt efforts.
Spring Risers: Defense May 16, 2012 Source: The Ozone - Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is set to release his first-ever post-spring depth chart this afternoon. Meyer and his coaches met with the players individually after the conclusion of his first spring practice in Columbus.
Some players heard a lot of good things from Meyer and his assistants during those sit-downs, while others are probably having second thoughts about their opportunity to see the field come fall.
We’re going to take a look at both groups, but let’s start with some of Spring Risers on defense. These are the guys who really excelled over the 15 practices in April, setting themselves up for good things in the fall if they can continue their positive momentum over the summer.
1. DE John Simon (6-2, 260, Sr.)...
2. LB Curtis Grant (6-3, 235, So.)...
3. DL Michael Bennett (6-3, 277, So.)...
4. CB Doran Grant (5-11, 188, So.)...
5. DL Chase Farris (6-4, 286, rFr.)...
6. LB Connor Crowell (6-1, 233, rFr.)...
7. CB Adam Griffin (5-8, 180, rSo.)...
Player Development 2012: Grading the Journey from High-school Recruit to the NFL May 15, 2012 Source: Black Heart Gold Pants - In this article we are going to make things even simpler. We are going to focus on just one part of that formula: Player Development; Number (2); The ability of a coach to turn raw talent into football playing ability. What’s more, we are going to approach player development from the player’s perspective. We know, and the talent knows, what they can do for coach. Let's leave that aside for the moment and focus instead on the player's perspective: What can coach do for the talent? Where should a recruit go, and who should he play for, if he wants to maximize his development as a football player?...
This is Player Development 2012, where we provide the hard answers to the question of who’s doing the best, and worst, at turning talented recruits into football players that can play at the highest level of the game - the NFL...
Back to the original question - we know Ohio State produces more draft picks then Purdue, but is that just because of all those 5-stars they bring, or does Ohio State have a better development program as well? If I am a recruit with NFL aspirations, which schools will best help me fulfill that dream? And how much does it matter?
Ohio State ranks #4 overall in the nation...TTUN is #31...
Top Developers of Ball-handlers (QB, RB, WR, ATH) Ohio State is #2
Top Developers of the Defensive Back 7 (LB, DB) Ohio State is #1...
OSU High Energy Drill with Students at UFM Town Hall Meeting with Zach Boren, Coach Marotti, etc. This is a NEW TRADITION that will be done after warmups on gameday in the south end of the stadium, per Urban Meyer.
Too Early to Call 2009 Class a Bust? May 14, 2012 Source: The Ozone - 20. Ohio State: The word bust has to be one of the worst phrases in all of sports terminology.
It just does.
Think about it.
We (as a collective group) decide to project how someone is going to develop as an athlete and as a person, ultimately, because a lot of what happens on the court and the field is determined by how a player chooses to spend his time and energy.
Then, if that player does not meet our expectations of what they should be at a certain point in their career, we decide they are busts. We decide they are the ones who failed us.
Take for instance Duron Carter and Jamie Wood, two players from Ohio State’s 2009 recruiting class. Both players were highly-rated by all the major recruiting services, although Wood was actually ranked higher by most than Carter, the son of former OSU wide receiver Cris Carter.
Neither player contributed much for the Buckeyes, especially Carter, who lasted one season in Columbus before fizzling out because of academic issues. He spent one year at a junior college and still hasn’t made it back to Division I football.
Compare that to Wood, at one time rated as a 5-star safety by Rivals.com. The Pickerington Central product was buried on the depth chart when he got to Ohio State and he has been slowed by injuries...
Losing one of the better offensive tackles and centers in the country usually spells disaster for almost any program in America, but the Buckeyes will likely find a way to still move the ball offensively.
Urban Meyer didn’t come back to Ohio State to see his Buckeyes struggle out of the gates, and his defense certainly looks borderline spectacular.
However, they need to patch some things together upfront on the offensive side of the ball. Braxton Miller is a scrambler that can freelance and create so much on his own for the group of young receivers he has, but only three linemen return and they are all juniors.
The bad news that Buckeyes fans certainly do not want to hear would be the struggles they had one season ago in terms of protecting Miller.
Mike Adams was suspended for five games, so some of the numbers were skewed, but the bottom line was Ohio State ranked 118th allowing 46 sacks (3.54 per) on the season... (other top 25 teams)
Ohio State Football: 5 Most Important Players in the New Spread Offense May 13, 2012 Source: Bleacher Report - 5. Jack Mewhort, OT Making the transition from guard to tackle, Jack Mewhort enters his junior season with the huge task of replacing second-round draft pick Mike Adams and protecting quarterback Braxton Miller's blindside.
Left tackle is undoubtedly the most important position on the offensive line and is usually where the team's best pass blocker is placed.
The Big Ten is loaded with ferocious defensive ends and Mewhort will never be able to take a play off—and the Buckeyes plan on running 80-90 of them a game.
With his experience, elite footwork and agility, the 6'6", 300-pound LT has an extremely important job. In order for the right-handed Miller to be successful in 2012, his blindside must be taken care of...
Top LB Prospect Makes Bold Statement About Ohio State May 13, 2012 Source: Buckeye House Call - A message of 140 characters or less - from a 16 year old kid - must be taken with a grain of salt. The faster we all figure that out, the better experience everyone will have on Twitter. With that being said, Hinesville, GA inside linebacker prospect Raekwon McMillan made his intentions known on Sunday afternoon through one simple-but-bold message, and it only took him 111 characters. From his @Kwon_daTRUTH account: "I'm gonna go ahead and say ,, if Da'shawn Hand commits to Ohio State ,, im going too , #BuckeyeNation #gobucks"
Hey Urban - it's working.
Let's back up a little bit. Da'Shawn Hand (Woodbridge, VA) is an elite 2014 defensive end that schools from every major conference have their eyes on. He's yet to play the first snap of his junior year of high school and already has nineteen scholarship offers, including those from Alabama, Arkansas and South Carolina of the SEC and Michigan, Penn State and - The Ohio State University - of the B1G. Simply put - everyone wants him, including Mr. McMillan.
A linebacker's best friend is a talent-laden defensive line, and Urban Meyer is building just that. Ohio State's 2012 class, Meyer's first in Columbus, included a couple of 5-Star defensive ends (Noah Spence, Adolphus Washington), a 4-Star defensive end (Se'von Pittman) and a 4-Star defensive tackle (Tommy Schutt). He's continued that focus with the start of his 2013 class, already landing 4-Star defensive linemen Joey Bosa and Billy Price as well as the ultra-athletic Tracy Sprinkle who was the 9th commitment of the class. Raekwon McMillan knows the value of a star studded defensive line from the perspective of a linebacker. This series of tweets Sunday afternoon details it in pretty simple terms:...
Below is the 2011 highlight video of McMillan. A quick warning - there's some strong language in the background music of McMillan's vid, so viewer beware. If you're ok with that, this video is as impressive as you'll find. Kid. Is. A. BEAST...
Catching Up with Da'Shawn Hand May 13, 2012 Source: Eleven Warriors - Take one look at Da'Shawn Hand and it wouldn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that he is a special football player. In fact, at 6-5/250 you might even mistake him for a rising college senior or NFL player after watching him go through a football work out. Be told that he is just a sophomore and has two years of high school football left, and your mind becomes boggled.
Hand, from Woodbridge High School in Virginia, is already rated as a five star prospect and the nation's top overall player. After racking up 84 tackles and 21 sacks during his sophomore season, it's easy to see why nearly 30 of the country's top college football programs are flocking to the Mid Atlantic region in pursuit of the super star defensive lineman. Programs that have offered include Ohio State, Alabama, Arkansas, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, Penn State, South Carolina, Stanford, Virginia Tech, and many others.
What's even more impressive than his on field accolades and offer list is the way he handles himself off the field. Being that he is just in his second year of high school, it would be easy to see all of the early attention getting into Da'Shawn's head and giving him a bit of an ego. That is as far from the case as it possibly could be, as Hand was one of the most impressive prospects I have ever spoken to, regardless of age, and handled himself and the interview with the upmost class and respect.
When it comes to Ohio State, they are certainly one of the programs in the thick of things for Hand's services and y extended an offer to the sophomore star early in the process. Hand is fond of the Buckeyes too, building a solid early relationship with the coaching staff and taking notice to the Buckeyes coming out to Virginia to check on him.
We caught up with Da'Shawn to hear the latest on his recruitment, more about his thoughts on Ohio State, what visits he has planned ahead, and more. Join us after the jump to hear more from the nation's number one player in the class of 2014, Da'Shawn Hand...
It may sound strange since they're ineligible for postseason play this season, but I believe the Ohio State Buckeyes are still the league's best bet to win a national title in the near future. This is a program that has never lacked for talent and has a lot of good young players in the system right now, plus some future studs at key positions on both lines coming in. Meyer knows how to win national championships; he has two more than every other Big Ten coach right now. Ohio State has everything in place to compete at the highest level, as evidenced by its three BCS title game appearances since 2003. Nebraska (2002) is the only other program in the league to make the championship game in the BCS era.
Meyer still has work to do to get the Buckeyes back among the nation's elite. Specifically, he has to recruit world-class athletes at the skill positions to run his offense effectively. But those players are easier to find than dominating defensive linemen, several of which he has already scooped up, and they can be plugged into the starting lineup more quickly than the guys in the trenches. That's why I believe Ohio State can contend for a title as soon as 2013, and definitely by 2014. The biggest difference for me between Ohio State and Michigan is that the Buckeyes will have an established veteran quarterback for the next three years in Braxton Miller, while the Wolverines will have to break in a new starter for Robinson next season.
I wouldn't be surprised to see Michigan, Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan State or Wisconsin break through and play for -- and possibly win -- a national championship in the next five years. But if I'm picking one program to do it, I'll take Ohio State...
Buckeyes spring forward with Meyer May 10, 2012 Source: Columbus Dispatch - ...But when SportsBusiness Journal published an attendance list of the major-college football spring games, it got my attention — and not because Ohio State topped the list. That was a given as soon as the figure — 81,112 — was announced and we knew it topped the 78,526 that watched the same kind of riveting scrimmage at Alabama.
What piqued my interest was the contrast in crowd sizes at other games. Penn State, where the curiosity of an NFL coordinator replacing coaching legend Joe Paterno spiked attendance, was third at 60,000. Texas was fourth at 46,000. Starting to get the picture here? Five football-crazy schools — Arkansas, Oregon, Georgia, Auburn and Florida State — stood between the Longhorns and 40,000, attendance figures that seem plenty healthy. But when you realize that’s half the crowd that Ohio State drew, and when you see which schools are much farther down the list, the Buckeyes’ turnout becomes truly revealing. A handful of other spring game turnouts for your perusal: Florida (38,000), LSU (33,000), Notre Dame (31,582), Michigan (25,000), Michigan State (21,000), Oklahoma (20,509), Southern California (15,515) Wisconsin (10,479), University of Miami (10,000) and Syracuse (3,716)...
Some figures do invite discussion — Michigan is back from the dead and it can’t draw more than 25,000 for a Brady Hoke revival? — but what’s most important around here is what it says about Ohio State football in general...
The state of emergency that existed last fall not only has ended, but fans also have forgotten about it almost completely. Jim Tressel’s resignation, the first losing season since 1999, a looming NCAA penalty and a lackluster recruiting class all contributed to the growing despair.
Urban Meyer’s hiring as coach changed that abruptly. Recruiting rallied dramatically. Adrenaline surged through the program. The NCAA slapped Ohio State with a bowl ban in 2012 and it didn’t even slow the momentum. In a place in which some fans can enter a deep depression over a bad half against Akron, it’s rare to hear the bowl ban even mentioned.
The sky has stopped falling, and Ohio State fans have emerged from their bomb shelters. Things are back to football normal at OSU, where normal never has been quite the normal of everywhere else.
This spring game actually showed us something:
In less than six months, without one “real” game having been played, the mood around here has undergone a remarkable change...
Urban Meyer will have the team ready to rock and roll from Day One, but it’ll be a building season for 2013. The Buckeyes might not be eligible for the Big Ten championship or a bowl game, but there’s a ton of talent on both sides of the ball and QB Braxton Miller appears ready to blossom into a superstar in Meyer’s attack. At the same time the Buckeyes will play loose, since there’s no pressure with nothing to play for, and angry, because Urban is will make the team that way.
UCF is a dangerous non-conference game, as is Cal, but both are at home with Buckeyes getting five home games in the first six weeks. There are only four road games and one of them is Indiana. However, going to Michigan State and Wisconsin will be beartraps and Penn State isn’t a layup. Michigan and Illinois have to come to Columbus, and the Buckeyes should take care of home and win both.
#12 Michigan...
No postseason, OSU focuses on UM May 4, 2012 Source: ESPN - Ohio State-Michigan has always been highly anticipated, but this season's contest figures to be even more intense...
As Meyer prepares to begin his first season as Ohio State's coach, he already knows there's only one game that really matters to Buckeyes fans: the Nov. 24 finale against Michigan at Ohio Stadium...For the first time since the 2004 season, the Buckeyes will try to end a losing streak against the Wolverines. Ohio State won seven consecutive games over Michigan under former coach Jim Tressel from 2004 to 2010 (its 37-7 rout over the Wolverines in 2010 was later vacated because of NCAA violations)...
Meyer will spend part of the summer researching how to handle a team that's ineligible for the postseason. He plans to talk with Southern California coach Lane Kiffin, who inherited a program on NCAA probation and was ineligible for bowl games in 2010 and 2011. Kiffin guided the Trojans to an 11-2 record and No. 6 ranking in the final Associated Press Top 25 poll last season.
"I haven't been through it," Meyer said. "I don't know. That's something I'll research. Our goal has always been to play for championships in November. You want to play meaningful games in November. That's the way it's always been."
None of Ohio State's games in 2012 will be as important as the last one.
"This year's Michigan game is going to be like the national championship game," Buckeyes tight end Jake Stoneburner said. "It will be important for Coach Meyer because it's his first Michigan game. It's our Senior Day. It's our Super Bowl."...
Anzalone's Dad clarifies his original comments May 6, 2012 Source: Reading Eagle - Sal Anzalone had no idea of the firestorm that would erupt when his son, Wyomissing football star Alex Anzalone, de-committed from Ohio State Friday afternoon. By Saturday morning Sal Anzalone was hoping the story would just go away...
"There's nothing wrong with Ohio State; it's a great institution. When I said there was something wrong with Ohio State, I was talking about the visit - there was something wrong with the visit, not with Ohio State."
Sal Anzalone said that Meyer called Friday evening, but did not wish to provide any details about that conversation.
"We can't implicate Ohio State for what happened (during that visit)," Sal Anzalone said. "That's wrong. That had nothing to do with the university itself. I don't hold them accountable; they're not responsible for what fans do; it's not their fault."
After saying Friday that Alex would no longer consider attending Ohio State, Sal Anzalone said the Buckeyes are back in the picture, but that his son - an All-State linebacker and one of the top recruits in the nation - needs time to reassess the situation.
"With all the craziness, we want to slow down the process, calm it down a little bit," Sal Anzalone said. "There's no reason we wouldn't consider the Buckeyes. We love Ohio State. The academic opportunities there are tremendous."...
Alex Anzalone Decommits from Ohio State May 4, 2012 Source: Eleven Warriors - One day after a Lantern story on the OSU Compliance Department's quick action against a convicted sex offender's repeated interactions with former, current and prospective Ohio State athletes, star linebacker recruit Alex Anzalone has abruptly rescinded his commitment from Urban Meyer's 2013 class.
As first reported by Irish Sports Daily and then Mike Farrell from Rivals, Anzalone's decommitment comes less than two weeks removed from his attendance at the OSU Spring Game.
There is no evidence (yet) that Anzalone's decommitment is related to photos or his interactions with Charles Eric Waugh, the aforementioned sex offender who has tweeted and pursued photos with numerous Buckeyes, but the timing of his announcement is suspicious to say the least.
More news as it emerges.
OSU Issues Statement On Waugh Issue May 4, 2012 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - In the wake of a recent issue involving a Twitter user's interactions with numerous Ohio State student-athletes, the university department of athletics released a statement outlining its stance on the issue Friday evening..."The issue surrounding the individual from Kentucky is being treated by the Department of Athletics as a student-athlete welfare issue," it read. "When the University became aware that this individual had been seen in pictures – taken in public places – with student-athletes, proactive precautions were taken and the Department of Athletics alerted more than 1,000 Ohio State student-athletes about this person. The email message also reminded them of the negative implications that can be realized through simple associations on social networking sites. This individual is not associated with Ohio State. He is not a booster. He has not engaged in any activities on behalf of the University. The Department of Athletics will continue to monitor this issue and it will remain proactive in its efforts with regard to precautions for its student-athletes."...
Read this: The Cautionary Tale Of @Bdubstriviaguru May 4, 2012 Source: Land-Grant Holy Land - On the morning of Monday, April 30th, 2012, something out of the ordinary became apparent on the social media network Twitter. Multiple current Ohio State football players and even a few Ohio State football recruiting targets began to retweet the same motivational quotes from the same origin account. The quotes, perhaps uninterestingly enough, cited Muhammad Ali and read as follows:...
Ohio State loses a top linebacker recruit as sex offender surfaces in photos with players May 5, 2012 Source: Washington Post - Dr. Sal Anzalone, Alex’s father, told the Reading (Pa.) Eagle late Friday that “something is just not right at Ohio State. It’s not for him.”... “You don’t want your son to go to a place where there’s a potential issue,” Sal Anzalone told the Eagle. “You expect the staff to have some sort of control on how things are handled with recruits when they visit. This is ridiculous.”
Wyomissing linebacker Anzalone de-commits from Ohio State May 5, 2012 Source: Reading (PA) Eagle - "I had to make a decision that's best for me, and for my family," Anzalone said. "There's a reason behind it. I don't want to get into it; I don't want to hurt anyone. We've been talking about it for a week or so with my family. I need to re-evaluate things right now, slow everything down."
Rodgers On The Rise May 1, 2012 Source: Bucknuts - One of the fastest-rising recruits in the entire nation is offensive lineman Khaliel Rodgers from the state of Maryland, who has an offer from Ohio State.
Rodgers is Big-Ten-ready to say the least at 6-foot-3, 323 pounds. The Army All-American Bowl selection does not have a leader at this point, but a source close to the situation says he’s quite intrigued by Ohio State.
"First of all, this is a kid who was under-the-radar for a while and is finally getting his just due," the source said. "All the big-time programs are looking at this guy. He plays both ways in high school, but will definitely be an offensive lineman – a guard – at the collegiate level.
"(Ohio State offensive line coach Ed) Warinner absolutely loves this guy from what I’ve been told."
Rodgers is a very large young man, but word is he’s extremely athletic for his size. Also of note is the fact that Rodgers was a wrestler before giving up the sport as a junior so he could focus on football.
As Luke Fickell could tell you, having a wrestling background is nothing but a good thing for football players.
As for Rodgers, below is a Bucknuts Front Row Radio interview, as well as more on recruiting, Lewis Neal and much more...
Ohio State football: Sizing up the spring April 29, 2012 Source: Columbus Dispatch - This is what we know about what is going to be different in the Urban Meyer era at Ohio State: The offense is going to be fast-paced and spread out, with a modern twist. And the defense? As Dispatch reporters Tim May and Bill Rabinowitz observed, it was difficult to get a read on what that unit will be like based on last week’s spring game. But, taking in the month of spring drills as a whole:
May: The defense held sway in almost every competition through April, and there were many of them. The Buckeyes have two outstanding cornerbacks in Bradley Roby and Travis Howard, a rising star in safety Christian Bryant, and two celebrated defensive linemen in John Simon and Johnathan Hankins. That is a solid core and then some.
Rabinowitz: Don’t forget linebacker Ryan Shazier, and I’m also intrigued by the growth of Etienne Sabino and Curtis Grant. Sabino looks ready to build off a strong Gator Bowl performance after a so-so regular season. Grant was making strides after an almost-invisible freshman season before a pinched nerve ended his spring. But depth behind those three could be a big issue. Like you, I really like the potential of the defensive line, considering that Noah Spence, Adolphus Washington and Tommy Schutt aren’t even on campus yet. Bottom line: I’ll be surprised if the defense doesn’t take a large leap forward this year.
May: I wasn’t forgetting Shazier; I just wanted to give you a toehold. And I’m likewise intrigued by what the defense can become with the infusion of freshman talent yet to come. Defensive coordinator Luke Fickell has said there won’t be many schematic changes in his regime, and it will be more about putting outstanding athletes on the field and letting them do their thing while being sound as a unit. I was intrigued by one late-spring move, when 370-pound Chris Carter shifted from offensive line to A-gap plugger on the defensive line. He tired in the spring game, but the potential appears to be there.
Rabinowitz: Let’s switch to the offense, which has more questions. The burning issue of the spring was whether the Buckeyes had the receivers to implement Meyer’s spread offense. I don’t think that question has been answered to Meyer’s satisfaction. The player who emerged was Michael Thomas, a pretty polished freshman who caught 12 passes from Braxton Miller last Saturday. Corey Brown got into Meyer’s good graces by the end, and Evan Spencer was off to a strong start before suffering a fractured shoulder. Devin Smith has the tools but isn’t yet a complete receiver.
May: Yes, but Smith did in the spring what he’s done best so far as a college receiver — he caught a touchdown pass. Impressive as the passing game was, though, the offense ran only about 30 percent of its repertoire as the Buckeyes worked to hit receivers on the run. The Smith TD was on a route in which he and another receiver crossed paths and crossed up the coverage. A new day has dawned at OSU in the passing game.
Rabinowitz: What struck me watching the offense was how easy it seemed at times to gain 6 or 7 yards. Miller would take the snap, scan the field and fire a dart to a receiver for a decent gain. Remember how hard it was to pick up easy yards a year ago? Everything felt labored. So if it seems simple to pick up decent yardage, imagine what it’ll be when the playbook is fully open and Meyer has all the personnel pieces in place. Then again, there was that extended period in the first half when five or six straight drives ended in punts. So while you can see the potential, you can also see that the precision is not close to being there consistently.
May: Remember, though, the offense just started working as a unit on this new scheme 15 practices earlier. With that in mind, I thought the show was pretty good, especially with the glimpse it provided to the future. And by plan, there was very little running, and none allowed by Miller, the team’s leading rusher a year ago. Jordan Hall, whom Meyer said will be the Percy Harvin-like player in the offense, couldn’t play because of a foot sprain. As the coach promised, the offense in the fall will be much more balanced than what the spring game offered. Still, I enjoyed the show.
Rabinowitz: No question about that, especially compared to the horror show that was the 2011 offense. The crowd certainly was on board. Having 81,000 fans in iffy weather — I suspect that announced crowd was slightly off — is a testament to how much folks here love their Buckeyes. They erupted when Meyer took the field. They erupted when the Buckeyes did the "circle drill" with the one-on-one hitting. The day almost felt cathartic, which isn’t easy for a spring game. Meyer then sent his team off for the summer by saying it had to have the best offseason in the history of college football. This is a pedal-to-the-metal coach, not that there was much doubt about that.
College Football Live's panel of experts preview Ohio State's upcoming season. Source: ESPN
ESPN analyst Chris Spielman shares his thoughts on Mike Adams, DeVier Posey, Dan Herron, Nate Ebner, the Vikings' draft, Urban Meyer, Ohio State's recruiting and more.
The Circle Drill is a man-on-man drill the Buckeyes usually run before each padded practice. Coach Urban Meyer brought the team together before the spring game and the Ohio Stadium crowd went nuts as several of the team's top players -- including quarterbacks Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton -- participated in the drill. Source: Bucknuts
When asked about the term "Tebowish," which new Ohio State coach Urban Meyer used to describe Simon during spring practice, Simon expresses his gratitude. Then he steers the conversation away from himself like he steers offensive linemen out of his rushing lanes.
Meyer hasn't coached Simon in a game and won't for another four-plus months, but the coach already places the Buckeyes senior defensive end in an exclusive group that includes Meyer's most successful player, former Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.
"Just to be characterized with someone who has such high integrity, that means a lot to me," Simon recently told ESPN.com. "But really, I'm just coming in here every day and doing the best I can."
Is Simon a Tebow fan?
"Absolutely," he said. "He's a tremendous athlete, tremendous person. So to be compared to someone like that is a great honor. I appreciate what [Meyer] says. But I'm just coming in every day doing what I can to help. It's a team sport."
Simon's selflessness is one of many qualities that has stood out to Meyer since he took the Ohio State job. Every new coach looks for players to rely on, and Simon, who has started the past 26 games and last fall earned third-team AP All-America honors, immediately stepped forward...
Bosa Commits To Buckeyes April 23, 2012 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - Ohio State continues to add highly-rated recruits to their 2013 recruiting class, and Monday saw the Buckeyes land Joey Bosa. The five-star defensive end pledged to the Buckeyes following a weekend appearance at their spring game.
"I have committed to Ohio State," Bosa conformed via text message. "Will be able to talk later today."
The 6-foot-5, 262-pound, Bosa is ranked as the number-two defensive end prospect in America, and increases the star value of Ohio State's 2013 recruiting class.
Joey Bosa #97 Defensive Lineman for St. Thomas Aquinas HS
OSU Lands Big Fish in Bosa April 23, 2012 Source:
Eleven Warriors - Ohio State may have landed their biggest fish thus far in the 2013 recruiting class, as Fort Lauderdale (FL) St. Thomas Aquinas DL Joey Bosa has committed to Ohio State, giving the Buckeyes 12 commits in the class of 2013.
Bosa was long considered to be favoring Alabama, but took a tour to the Midwest last week and "fell in love" with Ohio State while in Columbus. He enjoyed his time in Buckeyeland so much that he decided to make a return trip this week for the Spring Game, where his feelings about the university were made firm and he gave a verbal commitment to Urban Meyer and the OSU coaching staff.
Bosa is regarded as a top two defensive end in the nation and when he gets to campus he will join of the of the coutnry's best units that will include Adolphus Washington, Se'Von Pittman, Tommy Schutt, Noah Spence, and others. Everyone knows Urban Meyer loves winning games in the trenches (see: 2006 National Championship Game) and Bosa just gives the Buckeye head man more bullets in the barrel to use on opposing offenses.
This is a huge commitment for Ohio State as Bosa is one of the nation's premeir players. We will try to catch up with Joey to hear more on his verbal pledge to Ohio State in the coming days.
Meyer Wraps Up Spring Game Source: BuckeyeGrove.com
Scarlet prevails 20-14 in Spring Game April 21, 2012 Source: OSU Official Site - Ohio State's Scarlet team defeated the Gray team, 20-14, Saturday on a nippy, gray afternoon at Ohio Stadium in the 2012 LiFE Sports Spring Game. Braxton Miller threw for 258 yards and Rod Smith capped his 47-yard rushing day with a winning touchdown run from seven yards out.
True freshman receiver Michael Thomas wasted no time in building a nice rapport with Miller as he caught 12 passes for 131 yards. Red-shirt freshman tight end Nick Vannett caught five passes for 52 yards. Miller was 24-of-31 on the day with one pass intercepted by Adam Griffin.
Kenny Guiton completed 17-of-26 passes for 191 yards with a 28-yard touchdown reception to Devin Smith. He threw an interception on the Gray's last drive of the day...Christian Bryant picking the ball off in the red zone with the Scarlet holding on to a 20-14 lead...
Postgame Quotes and more...
Analysis: Rating the spring game April 22, 2012 Source: Columbus Dispatch - Tim May breaks down five major aspects of the game and who he saw as the top player in each:
RUN OFFENSE
It was hard to judge, as about three passes were thrown for every running play called. But three of the four touchdowns were runs, and Rod Smith scored the winning TD on a 7-yard run up the middle. The inside zone option showed promise, with Carlos Hyde getting the first Scarlet TD untouched on a 1-yard plunge up the middle. Guiton scored on an option keeper after faking an inside handoff. The team’s No. 1 tailback, senior Jordan Hall, didn’t play because of a foot sprain, and Meyer has big plans for him in multiple roles.
• Player of the match: Smith, who not only had eight carries for 46 yards and that TD, but also didn’t fumble.
RUN DEFENSE
Given the lack of run-stuffing chances, it was hard to make a full evaluation. But three TDs came on runs, and on two of them the runner was untouched, raising some concern. The teams also were without the services of top defensive linemen John Simon and Johnathan Hankins, and linebackers Curtis Grant, Josh Perry and Storm Klein, for various reasons. Linebacker Ryan Shazier did pick up where he left off from his improved play at the end of last season, though. Defensive end Michael Bennett was active on the edge, and 370-pound Chris Carter — switched just a week or so ago from the offensive line — showed potential.
• Player of the match: Shazier, because he led the Scarlet with seven tackles, including his stop of freshman Bri’onte Dunn on fourth-and-1 at the Scarlet 14-yard line early in the second half.
PASS OFFENSE
For fans of aerial displays, this spring game hit the mark. The two quarterbacks combined to complete 40 of 55 passes for 443 yards (Miller was 24 of 31 for 258; Guiton 16 of 24 for 185), and each threw an interception. And get this: Meyer thought both could have been sharper. He wants Miller to be more accurate. And Guiton’s interception, which came on a fourth-quarter drive that could have given the Gray the lead, was the result of being late, which Meyer said is Guiton’s primary problem. Both worked from four- and five-wide sets most of the day, and threw from the pocket, on the rollout or scrambling, while operating a no-huddle, up-tempo offense. It featured myriad crossing patterns, including the lone TD pass, from Guiton to Devin Smith on a deep route that set Smith free to catch and run.
• Player of the match: Freshman receiver Michael Thomas, who in his Ohio Stadium debut caught 12 passes for 131 yards.
PASS DEFENSE
The quarterbacks, especially Miller, were on a tap-sack basis so as to protect them from the defensive mob. The offensive lines on both teams seemed to do an overall good protection job, considering both defenses knew there would be a lot more passes than runs. But keep in mind that Simon, held out after the first series, was at times unblockable this spring. And on Meyer’s orders, the defenses were limited in terms of the blitzes they could use. Yet Christian Bryant still stepped up and made the play of the game, the interception at the 2-yard-line of Guiton’s pass with 2:55 to play.
• Player of the match: Scarlet cornerback Bradley Roby, whose usually tight coverage made passes his direction risky.
SPECIAL TEAMS
There were no kickoffs, so scratch that. As for the punt returns, every punt had to be fair caught by Devin Smith, so scratch that. Punter Ben Buchanan had an afternoon he’d probably rather forget. He pulled duty for both teams, averaging 35.3 yards on three punts for the Gray, and 27.7 on three for the Scarlet. His Scarlet numbers included a 14-yard shank out of his end zone late in the third quarter that set up a go-ahead TD run by Guiton.
• Player of the match: Kicker Drew Basil, who made field goals of 41 and 32 yards for the Scarlet and dazzled the crowd with a 53-yarder that didn’t count after Meyer ordered six straight attempts early in the second quarter.
10 Things We Learned from Meyer’s First Spring Game April 21, 2012 Source: The Ozone - 1. Meyer is a little bit nuts. Before things even officially got started Saturday, Meyer put some of his top players to the test in front of thousands of Ohio State fans. The Buckeyes came together at midfield for what they call the "Circle Drill," which pits two players against each other in a battle of strength…and will. That’s hardly an entirely new concept. The Buckeyes used to have a "Hoot-n-Holler" drill that was somewhat similar, but I’m not sure how many times Jim Tressel ever had his quarterbacks get in the ring like Meyer did Saturday with Braxton Miller and Kenny Guiton.
2. Braxton Miller is a little bit good. One of the most interesting aspects of Saturday’s Spring Game was the fact Braxton Miller couldn’t use his legs to make plays. That is hardly unique to these type of scrimmages, but we have seen have much that can mentally change the way a quarterback plays. Much like Terrelle Pryor, Miller’s most dangerous weapon is his legs, but we saw him throw the ball with confidence Saturday.
He went 4-4 on the opening drive before Carlos Hyde walked into the end zone, and Miller connected on his first six passes, and seven of his first eight to start the game. He threw the ball with confidence and he found the open man. Even his interception to Adam Griffin was a ball that got away from him and sailed over the head of tight end Nick Vannett.
3. Playmakers are starting to emerge. At the start of spring, I wasn’t really sure who was going to make plays for this offense in the passing game. Neither was Urban Meyer. No one had more than 14 catches a year ago, which is even worse than it sounds. I thought Jake Stoneburner would be pretty good in this offense, but I wasn’t sure what to make of the guys around him. I’m starting to get sure. I really like what we have seen from guys like Philly Brown and Devin Smith this spring. Meyer seems to falling hard for Jordan Hall, and Carlos Hyde is a guy who could have a big year in Ohio State’s tight zone-read running game. Add in guys like Chris Fields, who actually had a nice day Saturday with five catches for 72 yards, and Mike Thomas, and this team might actually have some guys who can play on offense.
4. Thomas is going to get a chance. It’s the spring game, so let’s keep that in mind when talking about freshman wideout Mike Thomas. He would hardly be the first player to have a monster performance in the spring before fading in the fall. Bam Childress and Taurian Washington co-authored the book on it, but Thomas is going to get a real chance to make an impact. He looks like a kid who has all the tools to play receiver, and they were on display Saturday. Not only did he catch 12 passes for 131 yards, but they were not all easy catches. He does know how to get open, but he also has the ability to go up and get the ball at its highest point. He has developed an obvious relationship with Braxton Miller, and Thomas is a big, quick receiver who could blossom as a freshman at Ohio State. Keep in mind he is actually a year removed from his senior year of high school.
5. This was not the real Urban Meyer offense. Just the fact Meyer planned to throw the ball 75 percent of the time on Saturday meant that we were not going to get a true glimpse of what this offense is going to look like in the fall. Meyer and his offensive staff have emphasized that this is going to be a run-first offense with a lot of power football. We didn’t see much of that Saturday. We also didn’t see much of the perimeter running game, or the quick passing game that Miller has been working on in practice. We didn’t get to see Miller work with Jake Stoneburner or Philly Brown, and of course Jordan Hall was held out with a sprained foot. Things are going to look a lot different in the fall, but it was cool for fans to get a glimpse of some the players who will be on the field this fall, even if they didn’t get to see many of the plays.
6. John Simon is going to have a monster year. Watching John Simon pace up and down the sidelines Saturday was like watching a caged lion at the zoo. The fact Luke Fickell didn’t have to tackle him to keep him off the field is almost a victory in itself. Simon is clearly the best player on this team, and all indications are that he is actually a much better player than he was even last fall. Meyer was asked why Simon didn’t play much in the Spring Game, and his response was that he doesn’t need to. They have also taken that approach on a number of winner-loser days in order to give the offense a chance.
7. The three freshmen LB’s are going to have opportunities in the fall. It was almost crazy to see how little depth Ohio State had at linebacker Saturday. With Curtis Grant and Storm Klein both sidelined by injury, the Buckeyes barely had enough guys to put a defense on the field. They had to move quarterback Ross Oltorik to linebacker just to give them enough bodies. Grant, Ryan Shazier and Etienne Sabino are penciled in to start the season, but it will be interesting to see what happens when the freshmen hit the field in the fall. Luke Roberts is already in the two-deep, but David Perkins, Camren Williams and Jamal Marcus will all have a chance to compete for playing time. It is the one position where Ohio State absolutely cannot afford an injury in the fall unless one or two of those freshmen is ready to play.
8. Meyer is going to embrace Ohio State traditions. And why wouldn’t he? It only makes sense, but it was good to see Meyer singing Carmen Ohio with the players in the south end zone Saturday. He talked about hearing Hang On Sloopy and how he wants to embrace Ohio State traditions. That is music to the ears for Buckeye fans everywhere.
9. Meyer isn’t afraid to put his kicker on the spot. One of the more unique moments in Saturday’s Spring Game was the moment where Meyer stopped practice to put the pressure on kicker Drew Basil in front of 80,000 fans at Ohio Stadium. Basil had nailed a 41-yard field goal in the north end zone when Meyer made him line it up again. Basil connected on the second 41-yard kick, so Meyer moved him back four yards to set up a 45-yard try. Basil had that kick blocked by either Adam Bellamy or Garrett Goebel, so Meyer made him kick it again. Basil came through, hitting a 45-yard field goal, but Meyer wasn’t done with him. He moved it back again, to 53 yards, and after Basil hit monstrous kick from that distance, Meyer made him try a pair from 58 yards. Basil missed both, but it was a great opportunity for him to kick with the pressure on.
10. This spring was a big success for Meyer and his staff. He may never admit it, because Meyer is a perfectionist, but this spring—and off-season really—had to go about as well as he could have hoped. Not only did the players buy in to Mickey Marotti’s off-season workout program, but they were able to pick up enough of the offense in 14 practices to make Saturday’s Spring Game look respectable. They obviously still have a long ways to go, but if Meyer felt confident enough in his running game that he wanted to focus on the passing game, that bodes well for Ohio State. This program will always hang its hat on the running game. They still need some playmakers to emerge, but guys are starting to show some promise, and that’s really all Meyer could have hoped for this spring.
Two-Minute Drill: Inside Ohio State’s Spring Game Locker Room April 21, 2012 Source: The Ozone - Urban Back in the ‘Shoe * Meyer said Kirk Barton had to show him where to go for Carmen Ohio, but it's something he absolutely plans to continue after every game.
* Meyer: "Thanks to the Best Band in the Land. To watch them do Hang on Sloopy was kind of a touching moment, having grown up watching that."
* Meyer: "I'm a big fan of tradition and this is a school where you don’t have to create a whole lot of tradition."
Holding Players Out * Meyer said Jordan Hall had a sprained foot, which they didn't know about until yesterday.
* Meyer also said that Johnathan Hankins had his knee scoped and should be fine, but he wasn't out there today.
* Meyer said John Simon didn't play much today because "he doesn't need to." They know what he can do.
Playmakers Emerging * Meyer said he first saw something special in Mike Thomas during the first scrimmage.
* Meyer said Thomas is the most dedicated WR right now. Always staying after practice to work on hands.
* Braxton Miller said he developed a relationship with Thomas when they played in the Under Armour All-Star game.
* Meyer said his top playmakers of spring (in order): 1. Hall, 2. Stoneburner, 3. Hyde, 4. Philly, 5a. Thomas, 5b. Devin Smith.
* Meyer’s depth chart at RB right now is: 1. Hall, 2. Hyde, 3. Rod Smith, 4. Brionte Dunn.
* Hall is the top candidate to play the hybrid position Percy Harvin made famous at Florida.
* DB Adam Griffin led all players with 9 tackles and a pick in the Spring Game. DB Orhian Johnson and LB Ryan Shazier each had 7.
Grading Braxton * Meyer said he still doesn't know if his team can throw the ball after today's Spring Game.
* Meyer gave Braxton Miller an A for release, B for arm strength and "B or C" for accuracy today, but also admitted he’s a really hard grader.
* Miller said he thought the offense was about 30% of what OSU fans will see in the fall.
* Backup Kenny Guiton said the pace of the spring game was slow compared to what they do in practice.
Ohio State spring game: What to watch for April 20, 2012 Source: Fox Sports Ohio - * The two guys everybody will be watching are new coach Urban Meyer and quarterback Braxton Miller. Meyer brought a new tempo and high standards to his first spring practice, and Ohio State fans can't wait to see what he'll do with Miller in the new spread offense. Fans won't see much Saturday -- quarterbacks won't be "live" and won't run much in the spring game -- but the biggest storyline in a bowl-banned season will be Miller's progression and comfort level as he and Meyer point towards 2013.
* High expectations? Higher than ever -- and that's immediately. Meyer's arrival has not only created a buzz but he embraces the spotlight and expectations and expects his players to do the same. Look for Meyer to go 50 miles per hour during Saturday's game wearing his white pullover. He'll be involved with both teams, and here's a hunch he plays to the crowd a little bit, too.
* Meyer emphasized competition during spring practice, and Saturday's game will be played under game-like conditions. The coaching staff was split and held a player draft earlier this week to select two teams, Scarlet and Gray, for the spring game. Miller is on the Scarlet team coached by offensive coordinator Tom Herman while defensive lineman John Simon is the marquee guy for the Gray team, led by defensive coordinator and last year's head coach, Luke Fickell.
* Defense dominated the early part of spring practice and defense figures to control the spring game as well. Meyer has said he wants to see an emphasis on throwing the ball and Ohio State is still very much a work in progress in that regard. Basically, the Buckeyes are better passing the ball than they were last summer and early in the fall, but not by much. There was tangible progress in every offensive area throughout the spring, though, and the offense you'll see this fall figures to be both more polished and wide-open than the one you'll see Saturday.
* Nobody on that defense has been more dominant than Simon, who became Meyer's favorite player the first time they talked football in early January. The second-most impressive player has been the slimmed down Johnathan Hankins, who will play just inside Simon on the defensive line this fall, but on Saturday, will play on the Scarlet team.
* Because it's Ohio, the forecast is for 50 degrees and rain. It's been sunny and summer-like for almost all of spring practice, so of course it would turn for the worse now. Ohio State's coaching staff has taken to Twitter to encourage fans to pack the stadium, and the university announced 54,000 tickets had been sold by Thursday night. Don't be surprised if the crowd approaches 100,000.
* Meyer's greatest areas of concern throughout the spring have been depth on the offensive line and consistency at wide receiver, and both of those can be tied to the success (or lack thereof) of the passing game. The star of the spring, Jordan Hall, will be on the Gray team Saturday and will line up in the slot, in the backfield and maybe at receiver as well. Tight end Jake Stoneburner, also on the Gray team, spent a lot of time working with the wide receivers this spring. Former tight end Reid Fragel has moved to offensive tackle and should benefit from a spring of trying to block Simon.
* Eventually, you'll see a whole bunch of Stoneburner creating mismatches with linebackers out of the slot, double-reverses to slot players like Hall and Miller getting on the perimeter with the option to keep the ball or pitch it to just about anybody. You'll get a glimpse of what Meyer and Herman want to do, but they'll keep the really wild stuff in their back pockets until the fall.
* There's plenty of returning talent in the secondary, and with a new head coach, Fickell and Mike Vrabel concentrating on the front seven and two new position coaches for the defensive backs, the spring brought a clean slate for players pushing for more playing time. Saturday brings that chance again as C.J. Barnett and Christian Bryant are likely to be at least limited by leg injuries. Doran Grant on the Scarlet team and Adam Griffin on the Gray are two looking to seize the moment.
* In all, as many as 20 players could be held out or limited Saturday. That's par for the course after a month of high-tempo practices, and with the real games more than four months away there's little reason to risk anything. Still, Meyer wants his players to experience something as close to a game as possible and wants to see physical play involving his big running backs -- Carlos Hyde, Rod Smith and Brionte Dunn -- against an improving linebacking corps...
Mark Schlabach talks to FB Zach Boren about adjusting to a new offensive scheme. Source: ESPN
Ohio State football: Game will serve as progress report April 21, 2012 Source: Columbus Dispatch - Ohio State beat writers Bill Rabinowitz and Tim May tackle some of the pressing questions for the 2012 team that will begin to be answered today.
What strides has Braxton Miller made in picking up the spread offense?
Rabinowitz: In the original master plan, today would have marked Miller’s debut as the presumed starting quarterback. The timetable was rushed ahead last year after Terrelle Pryor left, and at times Miller was overmatched. But he showed a strong arm, poise and stunning running ability. Now he’ll be playing in a system that’s ideal for him. Today, he’ll be teamed with most of the starting linemen but not most of the top receivers, so this will be an interesting test.
May: Especially since Meyer said the pass-to-run ratio in this game will be about 3 to 1. But the coach called Miller "dude" yesterday when talking to the Ohio high-school football coaches, so it appears he likes the progress.
Will the reconstituted offensive line show the ability to be a cohesive unit?
May: That would be a change I’d make to the format of this "drafted" game, because I’d want my first-team line working together as much as possible. Instead, four of the five starters will be on one team. That said, the linemen seem to be responding to new line coach Ed Warinner’s demand for technique, toughness and driving off the ball when need be, despite the spread look.
Rabinowitz: I’m particularly interested in seeing the right side of the line. You figure Jack Mewhort and Andrew Norwell should be fine at left tackle and guard. Corey Linsley seems to have stepped in nicely at center. Marcus Hall needs to show he can lock down the right guard spot. Reid Fragel was moved from tight end to right tackle. He has the size and athletic ability to handle the position, but he is clearly learning the ropes. Meyer has been pleased with freshman Taylor Decker, who could earn his way into the lineup this fall.
Can anyone catch the ball (other than tight end Jake Stoneburner)?
Rabinowitz: That remains the burning question for Meyer, and this spring hasn’t provided a definitive answer. Evan Spencer got off to a strong start before suffering a broken bone in his shoulder. The other receivers have had their moments, but none has jumped off the page like Meyer wants. We’ve still seen too many drops from these guys. Meyer and coordinator Tom Herman might have to become quite creative this fall if nobody emerges soon.
May: Past catching the ball, the coaches want to see a player turning a slant, a hitch or the like into a big-gainer. Meyer said yesterday that he hasn’t given up on the idea someone can still make that leap, perhaps even today, and he thinks Corey Brown has shown flashes of such potential. Keep an eye on Devin Smith and freshman Michael Thomas, too.
Is Curtis Grant ready to play middle linebacker?
May: Unfortunately, he got a little banged up late in spring drills and might be limited today. But he appeared to go after the opportunity with zeal and trimmed-down quickness. He was the No. 2 overall prospect in the country in 2011 according to one major recruiting service, so his rise was sort of expected.
Rabinowitz: Grant might be the key to the defense. Storm Klein is the other option, but he also has been slowed by injuries and doesn’t have Grant’s natural talent. I’m also curious to see whether Etienne Sabino, who was a force in the Gator Bowl, can be a difference-maker in 2012 after a so-so 2011 regular season. They need veteran leadership there. I have few questions about Ryan Shazier’s ability, especially now that he has added some bulk. Potentially this is a strong unit, but there’s not a lot of depth.
Can Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde be a potent duo at running back, and can Rod Smith or Bri’onte Dunn push them?
Rabinowitz: Hall and Hyde carried the load the first half of last season, when Daniel Herron was suspended. Now they’ll have a chance to do it full time. Both seem invigorated by the prospect. Hall is a good fit for the spread because of his versatility. Hyde has the size and speed to be a force. Smith also has the measurables but needs to prove it on the field. Dunn has shown enough that Meyer believes he’ll see some action this fall.
May: Meyer thinks the running game has come along very well this spring. Fans today probably will have to take his word for it, since the scrimmage will be pass heavy. They also must keep in mind that last year’s leading rusher — Miller — will be off limits to big hits today and a tap will be the tackle, which means he will be compelled to throw.
Is the defensive line potentially dominant?
May: Meyer gushes about John Simon every chance he gets and has praised the rise of Johnathan Hankins. Past that, Michael Bennett has made plenty of plays this spring and now seems a part of the starting front four. From a development standpoint, Steve Miller appears to be buying what defensive line coach Mike Vrabel is selling.
Rabinowitz: I’d add Chase Farris to that list, as well. And keep in mind that three players who are likely to have an impact are not even on campus yet —ends Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington and tackle Tommy Schutt are still in high school, and all are blue-chippers. So by the time the season begins, the rotation ought to be deep. A huge bonus would be the return of defensive end Nathan Williams from microfracture knee surgery, but it’s too early to know about his availability...
Etienne Sabino talks about being the leader of the LBs and how Ohio State is the real Linebacker U. April 19, 2012 Source: ESPN
Team Scarlet Head Coach – Tom Herman
Assistant Coaches – Everett Withers, Mike Vrabel, Tim Hinton
Game Captains – Zach Boren and Jack Mewhort
QBs - Braxton Miller, Justin Siems
OL - Darryl Baldwin, Reid Fragel, Marcus Hall, Eric Kramer, Corey Linsley, Jack Mewhort, Tim Trummer
RBs - Carlos Hyde, Rod Smith
FB - Zach Boren
TEs - Jeff Heuerman, Derek Burkholder, Nick Vannett
WRs - Chris Fields, Frank Kangah, Ryan Ross, Evan Spencer, Michael Thomas, Tyrone Williams
DL - Michael Bennett, Logan Beougher, Chase Farris, Joel Hale, Johnathan Hankins, William McCary, J.T. Moore, Se’Von Pittman, Kharim Stephens
LBs - Connor Crowell, Storm Klein, Ryan Shazier, Stewart Smith
DBs - C.J. Barnett, Christian Bryant, Doran Grant, Zach Domicone, Travis Howard, Vincent Petrella, Ron Tanner, Julian Vann, Jamie Wood
K/P - Drew Basil, Kyle Clinton, Kevin Niehoff
LS - Bryce Haynes
Team Gray Head Coach – Luke Fickell
Assistant Coaches – Kerry Coombs, Ed Warinner, Stan Drayton, Zach Smith
Team Captains – Etienne Sabino and John Simon
QBs - Kenny Guiton, Cardale Jones
OL - Ivon Blackman, Brian Bobek, Jacoby Boren, Tommy Brown, Taylor Decker, Andrew Norwell, Ben St. John, Antonio Underwood
RBs - Bri’onte Dunn, Jordan Hall
FB - Adam Homan
TEs - Kyle Schuck, Jake Stoneburner
WRs - Corey Brown, Peter Gwilym, Verlon Reed, Taylor Rice, Devin Smith
DL - Adam Bellamy, Dalton Britt, Chris Carter, Garrett Goebel, Steve Miller, John Simon, Nathan Williams
LBs - Curtis Grant, Ross Oltorik, Joshua Perry, Andy Reed, Luke Roberts, Etienne Sabino
DBs - Corey Brown, Adam Griffin, Orhian Johnson, Tyvis Powell, Bradley Roby, Nick Sarac
K/P - Ben Buchanan, Kyle Clinton, Russell Doup
LS - George Makridis
2012 Spring Football guide including Position-By-Position Update, Defense page 7 Offense pages 8 & 9, and much more Source: OSU Official Site
2012 Spring Game this Saturday April 21st Watch it on the Big Ten Network; 1:30 PM
Listen on 97.1 (FM) The Fan or 971thefan.com
On the web: http://www.btn2go.com/btn2go/
Going to the game...get your tickets:
$7 Advance tickets: Purchase online through OhioStateBuckeyes.com, charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000, in person at the Athletics Ticket Office in the Schottenstein Center, at any Ticketmaster location or at central Ohio Donato's restaurant. Ohio State students (with BuckID) and children 6 and under will be admitted free of charge.
$15 Day-of-game ticket sales: Starting at 9:30 a.m., $15 cash only tickets can be purchased at the St. John Arena SE lobby, a booth at the Jesse Owens Plaza, near Gate 7 of Ohio Stadium, the North Rotunda at Ohio Stadium and at a tent near the NE Well at Ohio Stadium.
Parking: All lots, with the exception of West Stadium (passes required) and East Stadium (disability) are open to the public and free of charge.
Urban Meyer talks about the biggest challenge facing Ohio State this spring, expectations for QB Braxton Miller, the defense and addresses claims of preferential treatment and leaving Florida football in disarray. April 18, 2012 Source: ESPN
Urban Meyer's comments after practice on Wednesday (4/18/12) Source: Bucknuts
Ohio State offense modeled after Oregon April 18, 2012 Source: ESPN - Ohio State fans had to figure their football team would look different under first-year coach Urban Meyer this coming season. But Meyer said Wednesday that the Buckeyes will run a no-huddle, hurry-up offense in 2012. Quarterback Braxton Miller said Meyer wants the Ohio State offense to take 80 to 85 snaps per game and play at a much faster pace than the Buckeyes did under former coach Jim Tressel.
"All you've got to do is look at Oregon," Meyer said. "We're committed to it. We're still going to pop a huddle once in a while, but we're committed to it."...
"It's fun," OSU fullback Zach Boren said. "It's all up-tempo stuff and stuff we're not used to doing here."
Miller, a sophomore from Huber Heights, Ohio, ran a spread offense in high school. He said he's comfortable running Meyer's system, after leading the Buckeyes in rushing (715 yards with seven touchdowns) and passing (1,159 yards with 13 touchdowns) as a freshman last season.
"It's very fast," Miller said. "The defense gets really tired. They're always complaining after practice, saying we need to slow it down. I'd compare it to Oregon."
Last season, after losing starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor, who entered the NFL's supplemental draft, the Buckeyes averaged 107th nationally in total offense (318.1 yards per game), 115th in passing (127 yards) and 81st in scoring (24.4 points). Meyer said he has also installed some triple-option plays for Miller, who can also pass out of the formations.
"I've never run the triple-option until this year," Miller said. "It's neat. There are a lot of things that go into it. I can't wait to run it."...
Buckeyes Land No. 1 Quarterback April 18, 2012 Source: Bucknuts' Dave Biddle, @davebiddle, (Bucknuts freebie: Buckeyes Land Nation's No. 1 QB, JT Barrett) - Urban Meyer and the Ohio State recruiting machine roll on as the country’s No. 1 dual-threat quarterback, JT Barrett (Wichita Falls, Texas/Rider), has committed to Ohio State.
"I feel Ohio State is the place for me," Barrett told 247Sports recruiting analyst Gerry Hamilton. "And I felt if I would have went somewhere else I would be missing out. So I wanted to be a part of the Buckeye family."
Barrett visited Ohio State near the end of March and came away with a great feeling about the Buckeyes. He told Bucknuts.com that Ohio State, LSU, Texas Tech and Nebraska were his top choices at that time and he would make another trip back to Ohio State, most likely in the summer.
Barrett’s list of scholarship offers included Ohio State, Nebraska, LSU, Texas Tech, Arizona, Illinois, Ole Miss, Baylor, Kansas State and Mississippi State before he selected the Buckeyes.
The 6-foot-2 and 205-pound Barrett completed 102 of 171 passes for 1,605 yards during his junior season. He connected for 14 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Barrett also rushed for 1,521 yards and nine touchdowns.
Barrett is a 4-star prospect in the 247Sports rankings. He is the country’s No. 1 dual threat quarterback, the No. 38 overall prospect and the No. 7 prospect in the state of Texas.
Kurelic’s Comment: Barrett’s decision is a huge one for the Buckeyes. With Braxton Miller just a sophomore, Cardale Jones a freshman, and Barrett headed to Ohio State, the quarterback position looks great for years to come...
Barrett Goes To The Buckeyes April 18, 2012 Source: BuckeyeSports.com - One of the top quarterback prospects in America has committed to Urban Meyer and Ohio State, as Wichita Falls (TX) Rider four-star J.T. Barrett pledged to the Buckeyes Tuesday morning.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound, dual threat athlete is the tenth commitment to Ohio State's 2013 recruiting class.
"I have committed to Ohio State," Barrett stated via text message.
Barrett visited Ohio State last month with his father, and chose the Buckeyes over the likes of Baylor, LSU, Nebraska and others.
"I would describe myself as a quarterback that can throw the football from the pocket, but with the ability to be mobile, in and out of the pocket," Barrett said in March. "I can escape trouble and either run or make plays throwing the ball down the field. I can get better at every part of my game, but I really want to be more consistent."
"I'm working on accuracy with the football the most, but I have a lot of things I still need to work on to be the player I need to be next season," he continued. "Accuracy and where to place the ball on my throws means the most to me."
Scout.com Player Evaluation: STRENGTHS Accuracy / Consistency / Poise and Leadership / Running Ability / Mobility
Barrett is a very consistent and accurate thrower and is also a dual-threat who can pull the ball down and run at anytime. A true leader. He is one of those guys that makes everyone around him better. Because his skills are balanced so equally he is exactly the type of prospect that many offensive coordinators are searching for to run their spread style offenses. He does not have a rocket, but can make throws and has touch on his deep ball. - GP
Defensive Lineman Tracy Sprinkle Commits to OSU April 17, 2012 Source: The Ozone - Sprinkle (6-4 270), a third team All-State selection this past season, is an athletic big man who will probably start out at defensive end, but will likely continue to grow and eventually move down to defensive tackle.
Sprinkle was offered by Ohio State a little over a week ago and didn't need to take too much time to make his decision.
He selected Ohio State over offers from Arizona State, Arkansas, Michigan State, Penn State and Purdue. South Carolina and Georgia were also recently close to offering, though that is unlikely to happen now following Sprinkle's commitment.
Considered an under-the-radar recruit because of his lack of camp appearances and video tape, he is rated a three-star recruit by all three recruiting services. Had he been able to participate in more camps, he would have received more offers, but that didn't stop Sprinkle from becoming one of the hottest recruits in the midwest of late.
Over the last six weeks he had picked up offers from Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue, Louisville and Ohio State. Michigan was also talking to him during this time, but never pulled the trigger on an offer...
A lifelong Buckeye fan, it wouldn't have been completely unexpected if Sprinkle had committed immediately following his offer, but he still wanted to take some time and think it over.
"I didn't want to commit as soon as I got the offer," he told ESPN.com. "I talked to my brothers, family and coaches ... and prayed on it and it came up I wanted to commit to them."...
"I like him because he can play defensive end and even slide inside," said John McCallister, the director of the McCallister Scouting Report, which scouts Ohio High schools for various college football programs. "He plays really hard, he's big and he's strong. He's a really good athlete, but I really like the fact that he plays hard. I know that he's a tough competitor. He's one of the better defensive line guys in the class. He changes direction well and plays pad under pad. His desire to play hard and finish plays can make him special."...
"He got recruited as a pass rusher, but Ohio State projects him as an inside player," Elyria coach Kevin Fell told the Columbus Dispatch. "That may be their new philosophy—taking those athletic guys and moving them inside. I can't say that I'm positive about that. But when they talked to me, a lot of the questions were about whether he can play inside."...
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Some of April 2012 Football News is in the Current Archive.
