2006 Spring Practice/Game Thread

OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 21, 2006

I did not see this posted, please delete if it has and I just missed it..... :wink2:

link

4/21/06

Pittman's injury opens door for others
Freshman Wells attracting lots of attention

COLUMBUS (AP) -- Ohio State tailback Antonio Pittman had a breakthrough season last year, rushing for 1,331 yards. Yet while he sits out spring practice with a hamstring injury, there are many players openly challenging his status as the Buckeyes' go-to guy.
"It's real tough to sit there and watch," Pittman said this week. "You feel when somebody makes a good play it's like, man, they're coming to get me!"

The list of contenders for his job is a long one: Maurice Wells, Erik Haw and freshman Chris "Beanie" Wells, among others. "There is room for everybody to play and the best person will get on the field the most," Maurice Wells said. "Everybody is working hard to get better and just get that extra edge over the next person."

Unlike past years, the Buckeyes seem to have a variety of styles and sizes at the position.

"To be honest, I don't think we're any alike. None of us," said Pittman, a junior injured while running a 40-yard dash earlier this spring. "I'm not the biggest back, but I like to run inside. Erik's a bigger back and he'll take it outside and show his speed. Mo (Wells) being a little Warrick Dunn and ... Beanie reminds me of Corey Dillon a lot. It's totally different."

Pittman had shown flashes of talent during his freshman season behind Lydell Ross. He started out last season well, with 238 rushing yards in the first three games, before rolling for 171 yards in a victory over Iowa. He mustered just 58 yards on 15 carries in the Buckeyes' last loss, to Penn State, before rushing for at least 85 yards in each of the last seven games, including 186 at Minnesota and 136 in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame.

Pittman said he cannot afford to take it for granted that he's the starter.

"Coming into this season, I've still got to work hard," he said.

Running backs coach Dick Tressel said Pittman's absence has enabled others to show their stuff.

"With Antonio Pittman not in the lineup, a lot of guys have gotten a lot of turns and a lot of opportunities to grow that they might not have gotten otherwise," he said. "'Pitt' is far enough along that this little bit of spring practice he has not had will not stop him from being as good as he can be."

Fullback Stan White Jr. -- son of the former linebacker standout at Ohio State -- has been impressed by what he's seen so far this spring.

"I expect our running game to be the best this year that it has been, really, since 2002," he said, referring to the Buckeyes' national championship season when Maurice Clarett carried the load. "We have depth we haven't had here in a while. We'll have speed backs and powerful backs."

A lot of eyes have been riveted on Chris Wells, the acclaimed recruit from Pittman's hometown, Akron.

Wells graduated early from Garfield High School, where he rushed for 2,134 yards and 27 touchdowns last season, and enrolled at Ohio State this spring so he could work out with the team. At 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, he's the big tailback that the Buckeyes haven't had in a while.

Dick Tressel has hyped Wells since the first day he saw him.

He still doesn't back off his claim that Wells reminds him of a certain legendary NFL back -- a mighty big comparison to pin on a kid who won't be 18 until August.

"He looks just like Jim Brown to me," Tressel said. "I think back to early days watching TV, that kind of guy was toting the mail for the Browns.

Now, he's a freshman at Ohio State. The growth to that caliber of player is still in front of him. But he represents those kinds of skills and that kind of physique and that way of carrying the ball."

Pittman also has taken notice of Wells -- and the others.

"Those guys are looking real good. There's a lot of competition out there," he said. "When I get back in it, I've got to solidify my spot."

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Originally published April 21, 2006

OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 22, 2006

ABJ

4/22/06

Depth allows Ohio State to hit the ground running

Capable backs giving program a different look from last season

By Marla Ridenour

Beacon Journal sportswriter

COLUMBUS - Last season, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel lamented a backup for tailback Antonio Pittman never emerged.
After today's 1:05 p.m. Scarlet and Gray spring game in Ohio Stadium, Tressel might have so many No. 2s he won't know what to do.
Pittman will not play because of a hamstring strain suffered in a Fiesta Bowl practice. He might spend some time agonizing on the sideline over the competition he'll face this fall.
``When you see somebody make a good play, you're like, `Man, they're coming to get me,' '' Pittman said earlier this week.
Pittman, a Buchtel product, finished with 1,331 yards in 2005. Quarterback Troy Smith was second in rushing with 611 yards.
OSU's top 10 rushers included two quarterbacks, two receivers and three fullbacks. Backup tailbacks Maurice Wells and Erik Haw accounted for just 260 yards between them.
But Wells and Haw have taken advantage of Pittman's absence from contact drills this spring and are being pushed by early enrolling freshman Chris ``Beanie'' Wells, the Parade All-American from Garfield.
``I expect our running game to be the best since 2002,'' fullback Stan White Jr. said, referring to Maurice Clarett's standout season. ``We have depth we haven't had here in a while.
``We have different styles of backs -- speed backs, powerful backs. We're going to take some pressure off Troy. The wide receivers will do great things when we have guys down in the box trying to stop the run.''
Maurice Wells said: ``I think this is our coming-out year. Last year, we were more of a passing offense. We're showing we can still pass, but we can run, too.''
Pittman thinks the Buckeyes have ``a lot of change of pace.'' He said they can go big with Haw (6-foot-1, 212 pounds) and Chris Wells (6-1, 225) or spread it out with himself (5-11, 197) and Maurice ``Mo'' Wells (5-10, 190).
Running backs coach Dick Tressel said he envisions situations where there will be more than one tailback on the field.
Quarterbacks Smith and Justin Zwick will play no more than a quarter today, so the focus will be on backups Rob Schoenhoft and Todd Boeckman.
Other area players to watch will be 6-3 sophomore receivers Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie, who are challenging Ted Ginn Jr., Anthony Gonzalez and Roy Hall for playing time.
Hartline, a GlenOak product, led all receivers with five catches in a jersey scrimmage two weeks ago. Robiskie, a Chagrin Falls graduate and son of Browns receivers coach Terry Robiskie, has drawn praise for his film study, good hands and body control.

OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 22, 2006

Canton

4/22/06

OSU spring game has fans, players talking

Saturday, April 22, 2006

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COLUMBUS - Never mind that most of the starters won’t play much, or that it’s 133 days until Ohio State plays a game that really matters.
Thousands of fans are expected to dodge the raindrops today to watch their beloved Buckeyes play in the annual spring intrasquad scrimmage at Ohio Stadium.
For the fans, it’s an excuse to tailgate and to talk about all things Buckeye.
For the players and coaches, it’s not much more than a glorified practice, the last of 15 allotted during the spring. At the same time, though, how many practices are dissected and talked about for months?
“We always say the spring game is mostly fun because you’ve been working hard and now you get to compete. Any time you keep score, you’d like to win,” Coach Jim Tressel said. “It’s probably a little more impact than a normal spring practice. But they (the players) all know we’ve got 29 practices ahead of us before we line up for real against Northern Illinois.”
Even though they don’t take it seriously, many players still recognize that having an audience likely will get their heart pounding.
“It definitely gets competitive. It’s about pride, in proving individually that you can play, that you deserve to be out on the field,” said defensive lineman Joel Penton.
Troy Smith, the star quarterback, will play only the first quarter, as will his backup, Justin Zwick. Both will wear black jerseys, meaning no defender is permitted to hit them.
Antonio Pittman, Ohio State’s leading rusher last year, won’t play because of a sore hamstring. Much of the entertainment value for the fans will be provided by watching the rest of the tailbacks, in particular heralded 17-year-old Chris “Beanie” Wells.
“He’s certainly a guy with high hopes and high expectations,” said assistant coach Dick Tressel, older brother of the head coach. “For him to play really well is what everybody expects.” A spring game has its own set of rules. Players frequently switch sides to fill in where there are some holes in the lineup. Also, punt returns will not be allowed, to avoid injuries.

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OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 22, 2006

Dayton

4/22/06

OSU's spring game no season preview

By Doug Harris
Staff Writer

COLUMBUS — Ohio State fans turn out for the annual Scarlet and Gray game in droves — though it's little more than a glorified scrimmage — primarily to get a read on the team for the upcoming season.
But while the atmosphere is inviting and the price is family-friendly, the OSU faithful should be careful not to view today's spring game as a preview of coming attractions.
Coach Jim Tressel limits his stars to just one or two quarters, giving bit players a stage for break-out performances that usually are misleading and long forgotten by the time the Buckeyes suit up for real.
Wayne grad John Hollins led all receivers in catches in the 2001 game (six for 84 yards) and '04 (five for 64). But those April showings never helped him crack the wide-out mix when it counted. His career totals: one catch, 14 yards.
Another receiver, Bam Childress, looked like a Heisman candidate in '03, catching four passes for 109 yards and two touchdowns and scoring again on a 94-yard kickoff return. After another strong showing the next year, OSU beat writers nicknamed him "Mr. Spring," confident he'd fade into the background when the Buckeyes began playing for keeps.
They were right. Childress never tallied an official TD during his four seasons.
Tressel spends much of the day chilling in a press-box booth with a Columbus TV crew. And if the coach is taking a laid-back approach to the exhibition, fans would be smart to do likewise.

Contact this reporter at (927) 225-2125 or [email protected].

OSU spring game
When 1:05 p.m. today
Where Ohio Stadium, Columbus
Cost $5

OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 22, 2006

Dispatch

4/22/06

Spring game mixes fun, football

Blood-and-guts approach to Ohio State’s intrasquad affair is a thing of the
distant past

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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During the past 50 years, the Ohio State spring game has evolved from a blood-and-guts fight to a fun-and-games exhibition.
Coach Jim Tressel will use film of today’s Scarlet and Gray game to evaluate players, certainly. But his philosophy toward the event leans toward the entertainment end of the spectrum.
"We always say the spring game is mostly fun," he said. "You like to compete, and any time you keep score, you love to see who wins. So you know, it’s probably a little more impact than a normal spring practice, but they all know we’ve got 29 (practices) ahead of us before we line up for real against Northern Illinois."
That’s a far cry from how Jim Houston remembers it. A member of the College Football Hall of Fame, Houston was a defensive end at OSU in the mid-1950s, under militaristic coach Woody Hayes.
"One word describes it — trial," Houston said. "It was our trial, a chance for us to show the coaches we had some ability."
Houston said that in one spring game, he was spiked on a foot — "through two ligaments, it was a serious thing."
Former OSU coach Earle Bruce was an assistant under Hayes from 1966 to 1972. He said Hayes’ philosophy was to use the spring game to build the starters’ confidence.
"He never let the ones (firstteamers) go against ones," Bruce said. "He’d put the ones against the threes and let the ones run up the score 50-0. He wanted the offense to look good."
Bruce said he didn’t believe in that philosophy. When he coached the Buckeyes, the spring game began to take on some entertainment aspects.
For one thing, teams were allowed at that time to take their shows on the road. Bruce took OSU to towns around the state for a "pre-spring-game game." NCAA regulations now ban that practice.
Bruce also instituted the springgame draft that Tressel has revived. Players enjoy it.
He also learned the hard way that it’s worth taking it easy on your better players in the spring game. Starting quarterback Mike Tomczak suffered a broken leg in the 1984 game.
"Coach Hayes was there," Bruce said, "and he said immediately we’d better get (backup) Jim Karsatos out of the scrimmage, so we did that."
Under coach John Cooper (1988-2000), the Buckeyes sometimes held no spring game. In 1990, grass was being installed in Ohio Stadium and it wasn’t ready for play. In 1995, Cooper simply held a scrimmage because of a lack of healthy bodies at certain positions.
As more and more special rules were put in for the game, such as no kickoffs or blitzes and restricted formations, Cooper said the key was to let fans know what they were going to see beforehand.
"The last thing we wanted to do was pound each other in a spring game, especially if we had a good veteran team coming back," Cooper said. "So it’s important to let fans know before they came out what they’re going to get, like, ‘Hey, there’s going to be a running clock in the fourth quarter.’ "
Tressel certainly has continued that trend. If a player has any hint of an injury, he will be held out today, and most starters who do play will get from one series to one half of action.
All punts must be fair catches, and there are mandated formations for offense and defense depending on the down. For example, on first downs, the offense must have two running backs and the defense must play base.
The spring game can be useful for seeing how young players react to their first action in Ohio Stadium, but it’s clearly not something to be taken too seriously.
Tressel summed up the idea Thursday: "Who won the spring game three years ago? I don’t know."
[email protected]

OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 22, 2006

Dispatch

4/22/06

OHIO STATE NOTEBOOK
Expect coming-out party for some in spring game

Saturday, April 22, 2006

Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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</IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>NEAL C . LAURON DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Sophomore Todd Boeckman, above, will get plenty of snaps today in an effort to get a leg up on redshirt freshman Rob Schoenhoft for the starting quarterback spot next year. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

The theme of today’s Ohio State spring game might best be titled "Focus on the Unknown," because fans are going to see a lot of players whom they haven’t seen much of until now.
Players such as linebacker John Kerr and safety Nick Patterson, young quarterbacks Todd Boeckman and Rob Schoenhoft, and freshman running back Chris "Beanie" Wells — those are just a few.
"This spring as a whole, basically, was about learning your new personnel," senior defensive end Jay Richardson said. "We’ve got so many new guys, especially on defense, and we’ve got a couple of guys (such as defensive tackle Quinn Pitcock) who are hurt, therefore you’re going to see a lot of these younger guys play. So you’re getting to know who can perform and who can’t.
"Personnelwise, this spring has been really important for us to get a feel for a depth chart and, really, just what kind of team we’re going to have."
And what kind of team is that?
"I think we have a chance to be really good if we keep improving like we have," Richardson said.
It just might not be totally apparent today because of rules laid down by coach Jim Tressel. Starting quarterback Troy Smith and backup Justin Zwick will be on opposite teams but will each play just one quarter. Starting receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez will be allowed to play only the first half, as will right guard T.J. Downing and defensive ends Richardson and David Patterson.
No. 1 tailback Antonio Pittman is being held out as a precaution because of a hamstring pull, and the other two returning starters on the offensive line, Doug Datish and Kirk Barton, will sit for preventive reasons.
With that in mind, it seems there could be a chance for more of a fire-drill look to the offensive line, especially against a defense that, despite having to replace nine starters, claims to have a solid twodeep at almost every position. But Downing countered by pointing to the improvement of some of the young offensive linemen, Jon Skinner and Josh Kerr in particular.
"You’ve got a guy like Josh Kerr (younger brother of John) who came in here this spring, is already picking up the offense and has really started to hold his own," Downing said. "I think it’s going to be competitive if anything. I don’t think it’s going to be a fire drill. I think there’s going to be some guys getting after it out there."
Autograph opportunities

Ohio State’s departing seniors, a week from the NFL draft, are holding a pregame autograph party to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They will have a booth on the south side of St. John Arena from 8 a.m. to noon. Kicker Josh Huston said all seniors are expected, though there was some question about linebacker A.J. Hawk. Projected as one of the top five picks in the draft, Hawk was out of town for an interview with an NFL team yesterday but hoped to make it back in time, Huston said.
[email protected]

OSUBasketballJunkie · Apr 22, 2006

Dispatch

4/22/06

PAY ATTENTION

Saturday, April 22, 2006

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Six things to keep an eye on this afternoon in Ohio Stadium during Ohio State’s spring game:

Quarterbacks
Not the seniors, starter Troy Smith and backup Justin Zwick, because they’ll play only in the first quarter. It’s the competition between sophomore Todd Boeckman and freshman Rob Schoenhoft, who next year at this time will be dueling for the starting job.
Who’s No . 2 ?
That’s in regard to tailback. Make up your own mind after watching sophomores Maurice Wells and Erik Haw, and highly touted freshman Chris "Beanie" Wells, who will make his OSU public debut. Also watching will be starter Antonio Pittman, who is out because of a pulled hamstring.
Opening holes
On the offensive line, big fellows Steve Rehring and Alex Boone have had their hands full at times this spring dealing with defensive linemen Vernon Gohlston, Alex Barrow and company. Also watch sophomore Jon Skinner, who reportedly has made great strides as an all-positions performer.
The Brians
Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez won’t play much today, which will make room for rising talent in the receiver corps, led by senior Roy Hall. Watch especially for Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, who have received rave reviews in practice.
Linebacker U .
There are seven or eight linebackers fighting to fill the three vacancies, led by James Laurinaitis, Marcus Freeman and John Kerr. Freshman Ross Homan reportedly has been outstanding, and Curtis Terry and juniorcollege transfer Larry Grant have opened eyes.
Safety first
The competition to replace all four starters in the secondary has been intense, but especially at the two safety spots, where surprising Anderson Russell has stepped up to battle Jamario O’Neal, Brandon Mitchell and Nick Patterson. — Tim May

osugrad21 · Apr 24, 2006

Dispatch

4/24

5 QUESTIONS
Sunday, April 23, 2006
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Based on developments through the 15 practices of spring, did the Ohio State football team get enough work done to be considered a contender for the national championship in the fall? Well, based on the Scarlet’s 12-0 win over the Gray yesterday in the spring game in Ohio Stadium, fans have to be asking "Where’s that socalled high-powered offense? "
Most of it — starting quarterback Troy Smith, receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and running back Antonio Pittman — was sitting on the sideline most of the day in a game tailored toward the young and inexperienced. It was the spring game, after all.
But more to the point, Dispatch beat reporters Tim May and Ken Gordon had five questions going into the spring. Did the Buckeyes get those answered? Let’s see:
Question 1: Is replacing all three starting linebackers the most important task?
May: Yes, and if nothing else, the team found about six or seven who are capable of stepping into the void, led by sophomore James Laurinaitis, senior John Kerr and sophomore Marcus Freeman. Those are the oldest and/or most experienced linebackers, and all three made a good play or two yesterday.
Gordon: What impressed me most is that there are more talented candidates for those spots than I thought going into the spring. Freshman Ross Homan just makes plays, and Curtis Terry showed versatility, moving to end or dropping into coverage. Junior-college transfer Larry Grant certainly seems talented enough to help immediately. And don’t forget three blue-chippers — Mark Johnson, Thaddeus Gibson and Tyler Moeller — are coming in for preseason camp.
Question 2: Isn’t replacing the entire starting secondary a major concern, too?
Gordon: It still is, and it will be until the new players prove themselves in real games this fall. One player who unexpectedly stood out was Kurt Coleman, who should be a senior in high school right now. But remember, besides little-used senior Antonio Smith, Malcolm Jenkins remains the savvy veteran of this cornerback group, and he’s all of 18 years old.
May: At safety, watching Jamario O’Neal, Nick Patterson and Anderson Russell emerge, joining the lone veteran Brandon Mitchell, was a major development for the team. If nothing else, what stands out about the group is speed. And as those players showed yesterday, some savvy.
Question 3: Having quarterback Troy Smith back among eight offensive starters gives the Buckeyes a solid core. But who steps in for No. 1 receiver Santonio Holmes and for center Nick Mangold and guard Rob Sims?
May: I’ll take the Mangold-Sims part — Doug Datish is the prime candidate to replace Mangold, moving from left tackle where he started last year. But he didn’t practice this spring, which allowed Tyler Whaley, Jim Cordle and Jon Skinner to make headway. If the coaches can get massive Steve Rehring going at left guard, with equally massive Alex Boone next to him at tackle, they might have something, well, huge.
Gordon: At receiver, everyone raved about Ted Ginn’s growth. We didn’t see much of it, with his playing time limited in the jersey scrimmage and spring game. Tony Gonzalez should be a solid No. 2, so the question remains whether Roy Hall is No. 3. I thought Brian Hartline made a case this spring to move into that spot, although the coaches likely will give the senior Hall every chance.
Question 4: How about at running back, where 1,300-yard rusher Antonio Pittman is returning but is bothered by a hamstring pull? Does this set the table for incoming freshman Chris Wells to steal the show?
Gordon: No. At first, I thought the coaches were simply paying homage to what Pittman did last year. But after watching the young backs, I don’t think any of them did enough to steal significant carries from Pittman, at least at first. That being said, Wells is a big, strong kid, and once he gets comfortable in the system, I wouldn’t let him languish on the sideline all year. .
May: What impressed me was the way Erik Haw bounced back this spring. There is so much more depth there than a year ago. Actually, Pittman having to sit and watch was a blessing for the group, because the others got plenty of work.
Question 5: Punter A.J. Trapasso is back, but who do the Buckeyes have to replace outstanding kicker Josh Huston?
May: Good question, because going into the spring it was thought by many to be simply the time for Ryan Pretorius. But up stepped Aaron Pettrey. And though he didn’t get a chance to kick for the Gray yesterday, his 59-yard field goal to win the kick scrimmage two days earlier proved he has no plans for going away.
Gordon: Hey, if we don’t have a quarterback controversy and we can’t manufacture a running back battle, we’ll settle for a kicking competition in the fall, right? Coach Jim Tressel said he could foresee Pettrey and Pretorius splitting time in the fall, at least at first. The key is not a 59-yard leg, though, it’s 75 percent accuracy or better.
Three new questions to ponder

Question 1: Who is the No. 3 quarterback, Todd Boeckman or Rob Schoenhoft?
May: I think the coaches probably are happy they don’t need to make that call at the moment. The two times the media got to watch, Boeckman seemed to have the edge, including yesterday. But they both made mistakes, and yesterday was a bit of a circus because of operating behind shuffled lines.
Gordon: Yes, they both made mistakes yesterday. Somehow, though, I sense Boeckman is more ready to step up right now. He seems more consistent with his passes, with fewer underthrows or overthrows or throws into tight coverage.
Question 2: Did any player jump up in the spring and surprise you?
Gordon: Coleman and Hartline. They just keep producing, and it might be hard to keep them off the field because of it. To throw out a few deeper sleepers, try cornerbacks Andre Amos and Donald Washington, two more promising youngsters at a spot of great need.
May: Without a doubt, Anderson Russell. He proved to be hard-hitting and playmaking. A redshirt last fall, he appears to have gained at least a shot at the nickel back position.
Question 3: Was that the offense yesterday, or is Tressel going to let it rip in the fall?
Gordon: It was not the offense yesterday. It was minus a 1,300-yard rusher and used two Heisman Trophy candidates (Troy Smith and Ginn) for about three series combined. My opinion is this offense is preparing to throw a lot more variety at defenses than in recent years. If the offensive line produces, the Buckeyes should be able to switch from a power running game to a five-wide shotgun look, and handle both styles well.
May: Smith got to play one series, leading the Scarlet to the only touchdown of the day. And he said afterward the team showed "about 7 percent" of its offense. But it’s a good question, because with a young defense, will the Buckeyes try to run away from opponents in the fall, or play try to play keepaway? It probably will be a little of both.
[email protected]

[email protected]

osugrad21 · Apr 24, 2006

Dispatch

4/24

Future secondary takes stage for first time
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
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</td></tr> <tr><td class="credit" width="200"> NEAL C . LAURON DISPATCH </td></tr> <tr><td class="cutline" width="200">The Scarlet’s Jamario O’Neal, right, tackles the Gray’s Albert Dukes during the second half of OSU’s spring game in Ohio Stadium. O’Neal also had an interception and 34-yard return. </td></tr> </tbody></table> </td></tr> </tbody> </table>
Ohio State went into the spring with a need to replace all four starters in the secondary, and it left with what the coaches believe is an abundance of candidates.
Mostly, though, they are no-names at the moment, even though the spring game threw several — including safeties Anderson Russell and Nick Patterson, and cornerbacks Antonio Smith and Kurt Coleman — into the spotlight for the first time.
"As a group, we’re young and hungry," said senior safety Brandon Mitchell, who with cornerback Malcolm Jenkins (four starts as a freshman last year) are the only returnees with extensive experience. "A lot of these guys don’t know what it’s like to be a starter and play in front of 105,000, but they all want that feeling. So everybody is trying to get that No. 1 spot."
That’s the feeling defensive backs coaches Paul Haynes and Tim Beckman said they also picked up on this spring.
"These guys, they’re real green, but they’re hungry," Haynes said
The squad was split yesterday to fill the needs of the Scarlet and Gray. So there were a few times when coverage was spotty, but for the most part it was solid. For instance, there was no touchdown pass completed, whereas Coleman, a freshman, made a diving interception at the goal line, and safety Jamario O’Neal had a late interception and 34-yard runback.
"We made some plays, and that’s what the coaches are looking for from us," O’Neal said.
If the team was prepping for a real game this week, the starting unit probably would be Jenkins and Antonio Smith at the corners, replacing the departed Ashton Youboty and Tyler Everett; and to replace safeties Nate Salley and Donte Whitner the pool would include O’Neal, Nick Patterson, Brandon Mitchell and Anderson Russell. And Coleman, fresh out of Clayton Northmont, might play some at corner, along with Donald Washington, Andre Amos and Mike Roberts.
Heck, they might even use seven or more DBs in the first few games.
"That could very well happen," Mitchell said. "We have the talent and the depth to do that. Just because we’re young doesn’t mean we’re not talented. We have a lot of guys who can play, and that only helps us when you’re playing the Northwesterns of the world who will pass a lot."
Patterson and Russell turned heads this spring as the team looks to replace the sometimes omnipresent Whitner. For Patterson, it started in the winter workouts.
"He hustled; he was a leader," Haynes said. "He’s been putting extra time into it.
"Plus, he’s big, at 200 pounds, and he can run. He’s a legit 4.4 (-second 40) guy, and he’s smart. So he has all the tools of a free safety. He’s just got to get some preparation."
That goes for almost every player back there, Beckman said, which is why at least deciding on a top eight "is crucial" headed toward the summer, when the players work unsupervised in seven-on-seven sessions against the passing offense.
"These guys need to continue what we’ve learned in the last 15 days and take it into the summer so that we can get ourselves ready for Northern Illinois and Texas," Beckman said.
In those days, just like the past 15 spring practices, many of those players likely will lean on Mitchell for guidance.
"I talked to (departing free safety) Nate Salley about it, how I look to my left and my right and the guys I came in with they’re not here anymore," Mitchell said. "So it kind of forced me into a large leadership role, because obviously I know the defense a lot better than a lot of these guys coming in. I like it, because they depend on me a little and I like helping them along."
[email protected]

OSUBasketballJunkie · May 21, 2006

Dispatch

5/21/06

OHIO STATE FOOTBALL

Offensive line still work in progress

Top returnees didn’t play together much in spring practice

Sunday, May 21, 2006

Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

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If you look at the offensive line as the five-cylinder engine that powers an offense, then Ohio State’s primary motor was in parts on the floor all last month during spring practice.

"We had no real work toward putting a No. 1 offensive line together," offensive coordinator Jim Bollman said.

First the Buckeyes were working to replace center Nick Mangold and left guard Rob Sims, both taken in the NFL draft. Then last year’s left tackle Doug Datish, projected to play center, was held out of contact because of off-season surgery on his right shoulder. Right tackle Kirk Barton also was limited and held out of the major scrimmages.

Aspiring left tackle Alex Boone went from the first team to the doghouse after a drunken-driving citation midway through the month. He worked with the second-team line, at least when the media was allowed to watch.

"So putting that No. 1 line together, that will take place in August," Bollman said.

It will be vital. The offense is expected to be one of the more explosive in the country, considering it is bristling with weapons led by multithreat quarterback Troy Smith, speedy receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and tailback Antonio Pittman, a 1,331-yard rusher.

The line provides the power, though, and who knows whether it will purr when Bollman puts it all together in the fall. But as he surveyed the parts that did get some spring wear, he said there was a benefit.

"We got a chance to take a look at a lot of guys playing a lot of different positions," Bollman said. "We got a chance to see who really will be candidates come preseason camp, and we got the chance to see that we really will have some depth in that regard."

Some players stepped forward with gusto, led by Jon Skinner, who proved he could step in at tackle, guard or center, and 6-foot-1 walk-on center Tyler Whaley, whose only real challenge is trying to stand tall in the group photo.

"I think we proved we are pretty deep up front. For example, we’ve got three centers, four really," Whaley said, referring to himself, Datish, Skinner and Jim Cordle. "We can all hop in there and play."

Skinner, a third-year sophomore, is considered a vital piece in the machine after going through a couple of years of learning the ropes.

"Much after the mold of Doug Datish last year, he is a guy who is going to be able to play all three positions," Bollman said. "That’s huge for us.

"He showed in bowl practice last year he was ready to play. Had the timing been a little different last year, he would have been in the mix. And he continued to show that capability in the spring."

The payoff to being Mr. Versatile is obvious, Skinner said.

"It gives you that many more chances to get on the field," he said. "It allows coach Bollman to get the best five out on the field, and if somebody gets hurt we can put somebody in there and not lose a step."

The No. 1 line going into the opener against Northern Illinois on Sept. 2 probably would be Boone at left tackle, Steve Rehring at left guard, Datish at center, Downing at right guard and Barton at right tackle. But the depth at center will give the coaches the chance to move Datish to left guard or left tackle if needed, and Skinner might even vie for the starting left guard spot before it’s done.

"Overall on the line I think we have more depth than we’ve had in the years past that I’ve been here," Whaley said. "It just gives you so many chances to do things with your offense, and with the great quarterback we have in Troy Smith."

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808 Buck · May 21, 2006

Nice to hear that Skinner is stepping up. Hopefully, Person and Mitchum are not too far behind as the "future" O-line is being formed.

OregonBuckeye · Jun 8, 2006

Bump.

jwinslow · Jun 8, 2006

OregonBuckeye said:
Bump.

OSUBuckeye4Life · Jun 8, 2006

jwinslow said:

:moo:

OregonBuckeye · Jun 8, 2006

jwinslow said:

:chompy:

2006 Spring Practice/Game Thread

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

osugrad21

Capo Regime

osugrad21

Capo Regime

OSUBasketballJunkie

Never Forget 31-0

808 Buck

Hall of Fame

OregonBuckeye

Semper Fi Buckeyes

jwinslow

A MAN OF BETRAYED JUSTICE

OSUBuckeye4Life

"THE" Ohio State Buckeyes

OregonBuckeye

Semper Fi Buckeyes