Observations from Sunday’s Practice

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I obviously was not at practice, but the Sunday practice at Ohio Stadium was open to the press.  There are even pictures to prove it.  Of course, these may be ill-informed observations after reading the depth chart and reading Ken Gordon’s observations.

I’m treating Andy Miller and Austin Spitler as placeholders for Mike Adams and [...]
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Dave’s IMO: Sneak Peek at 2009 for Ohio State Football

David Thurman (4:46 pm)

Is it too early begin thinking about the 2009 Buckeye football team, just a week removed from “The Game”? Of course not!

At least if you are an obsessed Ohio State fan like me, and you are probably are if you’re reading this column! So let’s take a look at a projected roster and a way-too-early prediction on next season’s record:

QB: Terrelle Pryor starts and with a month of bowl game practices and a full spring to work on mechanics, he might become a true superstar. Behind him is a talented but unproven commodity in Joe Bauserman.

HB: Dan Herron looks ready to be a big-time player, and with Jaamal Berry and Carlos Hyde on the way, this may be tailback by committee. There’s no Beanie (who will definitely go pro) but this group might cause big problems for defensive coordinators.

FB: Lots of youngsters like Martin, Boren, and Homan will throw their names into the hat, and Brandon Saine may play some at fullback as well, providing a pass threat out of the backfield. Truth is, though, I see a lot of ace formation in 2008.

WR: Brian Hartline (complaining aside) is an excellent big-play receiver who can catch the tough passes, too, and hopefully he will return for his senior year. Dan Sazenbacher is quickly becoming a fan favorite with his hands of glue and his willingness to take the big hit.

Beyond those two, Ray Small might finally shine if he can get his act together off the field, and DeVier Posey got some helpful experience this year and has the tools to be special. Plus, don’t discount Lamaar “Flash” Thomas, Jake Stoneburner, or the four incoming freshmen. Once again, this is a good if not great group.  

TE: I love Jake Ballard, and like most Buckeye fans think he has been underutilized. However, behind him there is no experience and either Nic DiLillo, who redshirted this season, or incoming freshman Reid Fragel, will have to step up quickly, at least to block!

OL: Possibly the biggest question for 2009 is can a line that loses three senior starters get better? I think the answer may be yes.

Obviously, Alex Boone will be missed, though he never maximized his immense talent. I’m not sure that Steve Rehring or Ben Person will be, since they often whiffed on blocks and had trouble remembering the snap count.

Here’s who I am betting on when we open up next year against Navy: J.B. Shugarts (LT); Jim Cordle (LG); Mike Brewster (C); Justin Boren (RG); Bryant Browning (RT). Personally, I would prefer Browning at guard, and if Mike Adams comes on, that might happen.

Beyond those six, only Conner Smith has much experience, and if Marcus Hall commits, he might see some immediate playing time.

In my opinion, the line will be about equal to this year, unless a new coach is hired to teach better fundamentals and put a fire under the big guys.

Overall, I think the offense scores more points due to the progression of Pryor, and the fact that the play calling almost has to get more creative without Beanie.

DL: The weakest link in 2008, the line did get better as the year went on, and I look for more improvement in 2009. At end, Gibson is ready to become dominant, and Nathan Williams might be special, too, if he can gain a little bit more strength to go along with his quickness and tenacity.

Lawrence Wilson will probably return, and he is solid, and Solomon Thomas is making strides. The player that really causes me consternation is Rob Rose, who I thought would be a superstar.

He’s not, and probably never will be, but the light may go on for him in his senior season. This could be a really good group.

At tackle, we still need some big, mean run-stoppers but have a good group returning in Cameron Heyward (could 2009 be his year?), Dexter Larimore and Todd Denlinger. I am also excited to see Garrett Goebel get his first snaps next year.

Of course, I am not discounting the possibility of Melvin Fellows or Johnny Simon making a big splash. Regardless, the line will be improved from this year’s version and that is a good thing.

LB: Saying goodbye to James Laurinaitis and buddy Marcus Freeman is tough, because they made a lot of tackles in their career, and provided plenty of highlights. But the cupboard is not bare. Ross Homan was finally healthy in ‘08, played well, and could move to the middle.

Austin Spitler has waited his chance, and is a good run stuffer, but may lack the speed to play every down. Of course some Florida seed is waiting in the wings, in the person of Etienne Sabino and Brian Rolle.

Both are hard hitters, and I project Sabino as a sure starter and future star. Beyond those four, are two guys who can play outside linebacker or nickel back in Tyler Moeller and Jermale Hines.

I love Hines, who is listed as a safety, and was also impressed in Moeller in the last two games of the season. Of course, all of these guys know there will be a fight with potential superstars Dorian Bell and Storm Klein among four incoming linebackers in the class of ‘09.

Plus, don’t forget Andrew Sweat, who was too good to redshirt this season, as the real Linebacker U keeps churning them out! Personally, I think this group will give up a few more big plays than the past couple of years due to inexperience, but may be better in coverage and against the spread, due to increased speed.

I hope Heacock doesn’t put Homan and Spitler on the field together, however, or the speed factor goes out the window. My early prediction is Sabino, Homan, and Moeller in the opener.

DB: There is a lot to like about this group, but the loss of Malcolm Jenkins is a tough pill to swallow. He ranks up there with Shawn Springs and Antwon Winfield in my book, and will be missed.

The starters seems obvious; rapidly improving Chimdi Chekwa and Donald Washington at cornerback, and ready-for-prime-timer Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell at safety.

Washington worries me a little, since he seemed to digress after his off-the-field problems which sent him to the doghouse, but he has plenty of talent and experience (supposedly he he is contemplating going pro which would be a big mistake).

Losing 2007 recruits Eugene Clifford and James Scott thins the ranks at corner, where healthy Andre Amos would help, but some believe he may leave school.

At nickel, the aforementioned Hines us a hitting machine, and I love his nasty attitude. Further depth will come from Aaron Gant, and there is plenty of room for redshirts like Travis Howard and Orhian Johnson to get into the rotation, but they may be quickly passed by the boatload of talent Tressel has recruited this year.

A guy like C.J. Barnett may see the field immediately due to lack of numbers here. On paper this is the strength of the ‘09 defense if everyone returns, and should make passing a dangerous proposition for the opposition.

So, the defense should be about equal to this year’s squad if some leaders emerge from the senior class to fill the shoes of Jenkins and Laurinaitis.

What about special teams? A Tressel led team never considers this an afterthought, and with departure of Trapasso and Pretorius some might be concerned, but not me.

I think Pettrey is a superior kick to Pretorius right now, and feel confident that either Jon Thoma or Ben Buchanan can be a solid punter. Long-snapper Jake McQuaide did a nice job this year and he has two years of eligibilty left.

As for returns, I think we may have two special players in Ray Small and Lamaar Thomas, and once again, if Small doesn’t get in his own way, he might put some real fear into opposing punters in ‘09.

Well, that’s a look position by position but what about the final record? My way-to-early prediction is 11-1 in the regular season with a loss coming to USC (home) or Penn State (away).

We could easily lose another one, as upsets happen with young teams, but I am optimistic, at least for now, with months to go before I start worrying!

What do you think? Let us know, as we all gaze into the looking glass wearing our Scarlet and Gray-colored glasses!

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Ohio State football: Spitler saves OSU late in quarter

Ohio State 21, Michigan State 0, end of first quarter * Austin Spitler just saved the Buckeyes when the Spartans blew a chance for a huge turnover. Ray Small caught a punt at the 4-yard line and after scrambling…
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Buckeyes take no joy in Michigan’s struggles

COLUMBUS (AP) — What’s brewing today with the 2008 Ohio State Buckeyes …

BUCKEYES BUZZ: While Ohio State is battling a Michigan State team for at least a share of first place in the Big Ten on Saturday, the other conference affiliate in the state up north is just hoping to not be humiliated again. 

Michigan, which has sunk to 2-4 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, takes on No. 3 Penn State in Happy Valley. There’s nothing happy about it for the Wolverines.

The Wolverines appear bound for their first losing season since 1967, and will also likely have their nation’s best consecutive bowl streak end at 33 years in a row.

That’s enough for most Ohio State fans to dance in the streets. Those members of the Buckeyes football team have to be much more discreet.
OT Alex Boone said he was stunned by Michigan’s 13-10 home loss to Toledo last week.

“Everyone was like, Michigan-Toledo … Michigan’s going to kill them. But it didn’t end up going that way,” he said. “That was a shocker for everybody. I don’t know what’s going on up there.”

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was asked if gets any enjoyment out of Michigan’s travails.

“No, the Big Ten is what we’re a part of, and obviously every time a Big Ten team plays another team, we want the Big Ten to win,” he said. “I don’t wish those kinds of things on anyone. Any of us that have gone in and taken over programs, we’ve looked back and had the greatest joy in handling the adversity that’s come our way, and I’m sure they’ll do the same.”

But rest assured there’s not a whole lot of joy in Ann Arbor right now.

INJURY UPDATE: Tressel said Thursday that freshmen OL J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams will both miss the rest of the season with undisclosed injuries. Neither is eligible for a medical redshirt, so both will be sophomores next season.

As mentioned earlier, DE Lawrence Wilson (knee surgery) will also miss the rest of the season. He’ll be replaced by Rob Rose.

WR Dane Sanzenbacher (concussion) and LB Austin Spitler (concussion) are both expected to play at Michigan State.

RB Dan “Boom” Herron, who like Sanzenbacher picked up a concussion when he was rocked by a vicious hit at Wisconsin, won’t play Saturday.

After battling the flu last week, TB Chris “Beanie” Wells is finally healthy. Except for his foot, which continues to hurt him and will all year.

BOUND FOR EAST LANSING: The Buckeyes will fly by charter from Rickenbacker International Airport south of Columbus, departing at 2 p.m. on Friday. There will not be a team walkthrough at Spartan Stadium.

ART OF PLAY-CALLING: OL coach and offensive coordinator on how plays are called: “(Coach Tressel) spends initial time with (QBs coach) Joe (Daniels) and (assistant head coach/WRs coach) Darrell Hazell and those guys talking about some receiver-quarterback kind of things. Then myself and (TEs coach) John Peterson and (RBs coach) Doc Tressel talk about some different things. Then you kind of come together and say, OK.”

TRESSELESE: Tressel, in a verbatim response at his weekly news conference about Terrelle Pryor’s decision-making: “I think right now, in his progression, he’s probably waiting until he’s 90 percent sure, and I’d rather that than he wait until he’s 60 percent sure. Then he’d look like all those guys on TV that every time you turn on the highlights, someone’s running the other way with an interception, whether it’s us watching our film against Michigan State or you turn on the weekend highlights and you say, oh, yeah, Johnny threw for 320, but they had three of them that went this way. So I’d rather have him that way than, oh, it’s time to get rid of it.”
 

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Ohio State injury update

Posted by ESPN.com’s Adam Rittenberg

Ohio State starting defensive end Lawrence Wilson will miss Saturday’s game at No. 20 Michigan State (ABC, 3:30 p.m. ET) after sustaining a knee injury against Purdue. Wilson, who has 18 tackles and a sack this season, anchors a Buckeyes defensive line that will face a major test in Michigan State running back Javon Ringer. Junior Rob Rose likely will start in his place.

Buckeyes head coach Jim Tressel said reserve wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher (concussion), tight end Rory Nicol and linebacker Austin Spitler will return Saturday. Tressel won’t know the status of reserve running back Dan “Boom” Herron until after Wednesday’s practice. Herron sustained a concussion Oct. 4 at Wisconsin and missed the Purdue game.

“His was a little bit more significant of a concussion than Dane,” Tressel said.

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Can the flu help Wells’ recovery?

What’s brewing today with the Ohio State Buckeyes:

Buckeyes buzz

At this rate, the Buckeyes are going to run out of players against Purdue (3:34 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11).

Ohio State is hoping that tailback Chris “Beanie” Wells has no aftereffects to sickness he encountered this week. He’s already missed three games due to a foot injury.

“He had a little bout with the flu this week,” coach Jim Tressel said. “Hopefully that day’s rest because of the flu helps the foot even more. With Beanie, we’re hoping that now we’re back in the shape where he’s a 20-plus carry guy. That would be the goal.”

He may have to carry that much because of some other injuries for the Buckeyes.

Linebacker Austin Spitler (Bellbrook High School), running back Dan Herron and wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher are all out with concussions. Tight end Rory Nicol will dress but may not play much because of a twisted ankle. WR and kick returner Ray Small missed most of the week of practice and was still questionable. Tressel said he “tweaked his knee a little bit.”

Pregame talks

You know those almost uncomfortable moments when coaches meet and talk before the game, a television camera zooming in on their faces but with no sound to tell us what they’re talking about? Here’s some insight from Tressel on what those meetings are like.

” ‘How you doing?’ ‘Doing good.’ ‘Family doing well?’ ‘Yeah, they’re doing well.’ ‘Hey, you guys looked good against so-and-so,’ ” he said.

Picking on Pryor

OSU quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels doesn’t handle Terrelle Pryor with kid gloves. The freshman from Jeannette, Pa., led his high school team to state championships in both football and basketball a year ago.

“Jeannette’s undefeated so far this year. So I told him, ‘They’re not missing you at all, you know that?’ ” Daniels said with a laugh.
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