Ohio State Football: 5 Most Important Spring Practice Position Battles
It may not look like spring in Ohio, but spring does come early this year as the Ohio State Buckeyes open practice on Tuesday. For the first time since the 26-21 win over Michigan, the Buckeyes will take the field with the hopes of winning their first national championship since 2002. Urban Meyer’s second spring means there are new questions to answer, including several major position battles. Some of these positions involve just a couple of players, while others have quite the hill to climb. Here’s a look at the five most important battles this spring. Begin Slideshow
Ohio State Football: Will BCS Playoff Help or Hurt the Buckeyes?
Ohio State has one of the most storied football programs in history, and all of the winning over the years has given them a very entitled fanbase. Buckeye fans expect their team to compete for Big Ten and national titles every season. But that doesn’t have to be a negative. Like Craig Krenzel said “The minute we stop expecting greatness from our football program, we become Wisconsin.” (via David Solol , Eleven Warriorscom ). There is a case to be made that being Wisconsin, a program coming off three-straight Rose Bowl appearances, isn’t such a bad thing. However, an 0-3 record in those bowls and a coach leaving for Arkansas shows what Krenzel meant. As long as Urban Meyer is at the helm, Ohio State fans should enter each season with expectations of greatness. Not just because Meyer is one of the most successful coaches of the BCS…
Ohio State Football: 6 Storylines to Keep an Eye on During Spring Practice
Following an exciting and slightly surprising 12-0 season, expectations in Columbus couldn’t be any bigger heading into next season. Urban Meyer and his staff have implemented a winning culture into this program, and with tenacious work on the recruiting trail, they were able to ensure that this success would be sustained. In fact, the 2013 team will most likely be ranked within the preaseason top-five this summer. Braxton Miller will have a real shot at winning a Heisman Trophy, and players like Bradley Roby could play their way into being a first-round draft pick in 2014. Experts are already mentioning the Buckeyes as legitimate title contenders, and Buckeye Nation will excitedly watch their talented team embark on a possibly historical season come this fall. However, the first step in this team’s journey will be getting though spring practice, and there are plenty of things to observe from afar. The Urban Meyer-led Buckeyes will look to further perfect their new offensive system and fill some major holes on defense during the spring period. Also, due to the departure of…
Ohio State Football: Why Michigan Will Be Buckeyes’ Toughest Competition in 2013
The Ohio State Buckeyes are looking for a second straight undefeated run when they head into the coming fall. The schedule that is ahead of them is very manageable, with the toughest game landing at the end of the year. The Buckeyes will travel to the Big House on November 29th to face off against the Wolverines, closing the season with the annual rivalry game. The game has been played 108 times, with the most recent win going to Ohio State in a 26-21 nail-biter last year. The game finished close, and this season is expected to bring another tight contest. Michigan is bringing back a wealth of talent on offense, and the defense is set to have its best year under third year head coach Brady Hoke. The Wolverines defense returns arguably the best linebacker corps in the Big Ten, and has talent in the secondary that will shut down the Braxton Miller air attack. …
Ohio State Football: Bold Predictions for Buckeyes’ 2013 Recruiting Class
Urban Meyer has put together another top recruiting class in 2013, one that should help keep the program in national-championship contention for years to come. The class includes the perfect balance of elite defensive prospects, with a few sprinkles of speedy offensive players that will fit well in the spread offense. The second class under Meyer is widely considered better than his first in Columbus and should play a key role in many victories down the road. But just what are Buckeyes fans expecting from this group of young players? I think a Heisman winner could be included in this bunch. There is an offensive player that will light up the scoreboard this season, and with a handful of defensive recruits ready to make an impact, don’t be surprised if comparisons to a few Ohio State greats are being tossed around. With all of that and more, here are the bold predictions for some of the top Ohio
Ohio State Spring Game 2013: Date, Time, Practice Schedule and TV Info
Ohio State’s annual Scarlet and Gray game will have a different feel this year, but optimism will be high for fans getting their first chance to see the 2013 version of the Buckeyes. Urban Meyer ‘s team is coming off a 12-0 season and returns many of the players that keyed their undefeated run. Combine that with the 2013 recruiting class, which is loaded with possible contributors. However, due to renovations, the game will not be held in the confines of Ohio Stadium. Instead it will be held in Paul Brown Stadium, the home of the Cincinnati Bengals. Game Time The Buckeyes will take the field on April 13th at 1 p.m. During the Tressel era, the coaches split up the seniors and then the seniors drafted the remainder of the teams. For last season’s spring game the coaches picked each team. That was largely due to the fact that the Buckeyes were working with limited scholarships and didn’t have a …
