2009 tOSU Special Teams discussion (official thread)

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State football: Kickers have strong bond
Published: Saturday, December 26, 2009
By John Kampf
[email protected]

As if they were brothers, there are times Ohio State roommates Aaron Pettrey and Jon Thoma are at each other's throat.

Especially on the golf course.

"He gets mad at me because I pout too much," said Pettrey, a kicker for the Ohio State football team, referring to teammate Thoma, "And sometimes he tells me he's not having fun anymore because I'm pouting.

"If I hit it bad, I'm not that much fun to play with. He plays by the rules. I cheat to win."

Deep down, Pettrey and Thoma (the Buckeyes' punter) are inseparable.

When the Buckeyes take the field on New Year's Day against Oregon in the Rose Bowl, it could be a chance for the pair of fifth-year seniors to play together one last time. An opportunity they did not know would arise again besides on a golf course.

While Thoma is solidly entrenched as OSU's punter, as well as holder for extra points and field goals, Pettrey's season has been on hold since he was injured in a Week 9 win over New Mexico State.

Pettrey is rehabbing feverishly from surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament in his knee, sustained on kickoff coverage against New Mexico State. It has not been announced yet if Pettrey will be ready and cleared to play, but he said, "I plan on kicking," at the recent media day for Ohio State.

Ohio State football: Kickers have strong bond - The News-Herald Sports : Breaking news coverage for Northern Ohio

 

[Buckskin86]

OSU football notebook: Herron, Saine seek returns
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

LOS ANGELES -- Not only are Brandon Saine and Daniel Herron competing for playing time as the running back in Ohio State's offense for the Rose Bowl, they're also vying for one of the kickoff return spots open because of the suspension of senior Ray Small.

Lamaar Thomas was usually the other deep man next to Small, and Saine was often on one of the flanks. Saine and Herron are auditioning for Small's role headed into Friday's game against Oregon.

"Me and (Herron) will be able to help out back there now," Saine said yesterday.

But Herron said, "I wouldn't consider it a competition. We're having fun with it."

They have big shoes to fill, Herron said, recalling Small's kickoff return for a touchdown against Wisconsin. Small also averaged 8.3 yards per punt return, but a couple of his runbacks changed the game in the critical win at Penn State.

DeVier Posey, Dane Sanzenbacher and Jordan Hall are vying for the punt return role, though Posey seemed to have the edge in practice yesterday.

Herron said Small, who was suspended along with senior defensive lineman Rob Rose for a violation of team rules, will be missed.

"Especially on punt returns," Herron said. "He was definitely one of our best special-teams guys."

OSU football notebook: Herron, Saine seek returns | BuckeyeXtra

 

[Buckskin86]

Most-Special Teamer

Outside of Pryor, the Buckeyes have stayed exceedingly healthy during bowl practice. Tressel said the team has not incurred one new injury since the end of the regular season, and they will even get an unexpected boost from the return of kicker Aaron Pettrey.

?That was our best hope scenario was that we could get him back for this game in an effort to at least have him be there for some field goals,? Tressel said of his senior who was sideline by torn MCL in week nine against New Mexico State.

?Devin Barclay will kick off, and Devin and Aaron Pettrey will probably share the field goal duties. We are still trying to find out exactly how we'll do that in our minds, but Aaron Pettrey is ready to go from a field goal standpoint.?

On the punt return side of things, Tressel said the Buckeyes will use a two-headed attack featuring DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher ? their top to wide receivers ? to help off-set the loss of return specialist Ray Small.

But there was a youngster who also caught Tressel?s attention in that role during bowl practice.

?The third guy will be Jordan Hall, who really has gotten a new opportunity since there's only so many reps out there, but he looks very comfortable back there.?

With Small suspended for the game, sophomore Lamaar Thomas will be the primary kick returner, but Tressel said either Brandon Saine or Boom Herron would likely be lined up deep with Thomas.

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[CentralMOBuck]

I think one thing everyone is forgetting about is Special Teams. We are gonna need a big game out of Thoma when we call on him to punt the ball. If he can keep the field position game in our favor, that will help out our defense tremendously. It sounds like the FG department is good to go as well. Some people might not be wowed with our returners. But Posey did have a big return early in the year.