Football
Hazell Smiling Over OSU Receiver Corps
By John Porentas
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Darrell Hazell [/FONT] OSU wide receiver and kick return coach Darrell Hazell smiles a lot when he talks to you. He has good reason.
Hazell is coaching a wide receiver group that is six-deep and that includes two bona fide stars in Anthony Gonzalez and Ted Ginn. For starters, Hazell loves what he sees in his two headliners, Ginn and Gonzalez.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Anthony Gonzalez [/FONT] "When he goes into the slot, I think that's probably our best asset because the thing that you try to do each week as a coach is try to create mismatches and matchups and those type of things so they can be successful," said Hazell in describing the value of Gonzalez to the Buckeyes.
"When he goes into the slot and he's playing against linebackers and safeties I think that helps us tremendously.
"It's hard to double and inside guy. You can't put corners inside, then you're vulnerable outside. It's a hard position to play, so then you have to bring a nickel in or a dime in and hopefully they're good enough to play against him," said Hazell describing the dilemma Gonzalez poses for defenses.
"He's a surgeon inside," Hazell said.
Then there is Ginn, who is like a ticking time bomb waiting to go off every time he touches the ball, and the OSU coaching staff likes it that way. They have given Ginn the go-ahead to create almost whenever he touches the ball, even if it means taking a few risks in terms of field position from time to time.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ted Ginn [/FONT] "He's got the green light to do whatever he wants to do on first and second down catching the ball," said Hazell.
"That bubble (screen play) that he reversed field on last week, it was second and three. If it was third and three you'd like for him to go and get the first down, but on third and three, let him go, let him play, don't handcuff him," Hazell said.
Ginn has been criticized some this season for his lack of big plays as a returner, but teams have done a good job of keeping the ball away from the junior speedster, at times simply kicking the ball out of bounds to keep it away from him as a punt returner. Hazell says that really doesn't bother him.
"They're smart, they're very smart. Teams have done a good job of keeping the ball out of Teddy's hands, especially in kickoff return. You try not to get frustrated, you try to be sound, and you try to do some things about getting him the ball by moving him around but they've done a good job to their credit. Teams have done a really good job," said Hazell.
"If you'll notice last week the punter punted out of bounds 20 yards down the field about four times," Hazell said.
"You're gaining two first downs. Every time you put the punt returner back you tell him to catch the ball and get one first down after the catch. We got two first downs practically every time, so that's good. You do like to see Teddy with the ball in his hands," Hazell said.
Hazell is obviously pleased with his two stars, but he has four more very skilled players in Brian Robiske, Brian Hartline, Roy Hall and Ray Small.
"I think we have three or four number three guys," said Hazell. "I feel comfortable with any of those guys on the field right now. Brian, Brian, Roy or Ray," Hazell said.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Roy Hall [/FONT] Hazell said two of those receivers, the oldest one and the newest one, may be at different stages of their careers, but both have definite roles on the team. Fifth-year senior Roy Hall, who is returning to action after an early-season ankle problem, brings his own set of qualities.
"His leadership never left, which is good," said Hazell of the period of time when Hall could not compete early in the season.
"He's helped out Robiske and those younger guys, but he brings a physical presence in the run game, and he's getting better each week. He still is a guy that can continue to get better as we go along here as well, and he'll help us out down the stretch. We're going to need everybody come the last four or five weeks of the season," Hazell said.
At the other end of the spectrum is Ray Small who is his first season as a Buckeye. Hazell said that Small is a talent and that the OSU coaching staff had no problem in deciding not to try to redshirt Small this year.
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Ray Small [/FONT] "It never crossed our mind," said Hazell.
"We're just going to need two or three footballs at one time. We knew he would help us out. As we go on this season he's going to help us a little bit more each week. He's in the plan.
"Obviously he's got a long way to go to be a real good receiver, but he's got all the tools to be a great one. He's explosive, he's fast, he can catch, he's able to get off the jam. He's going to be good. He's going to be good when everything is said and done," Hazell said.
Hazell loves his group as pass receivers and play makers, but takes special pride in his group's ability to be a factor in OSU's running game as downfield blockers.
"They've been phenomenal. They really get after it," said Hazell.
"Each week we try to up our blocking from the previous week. They've done a good job of attacking people and I don't know if you've noticed or not but they've been trying to be more aggressive on cutting people and things like that.
"I say to them a lot of times that when we walk off the field and the opponents are evaluating the receiver group, I want them to say that that team really gets after you in the running game," said Hazell.
Hazell says that the blocking ability is something that his group has worked hard on at OSU, because high school receivers rarely have developed that skill.
"Most of them don't," said Hazell. "It's a trait you really have to work on. There's a lot of technique involved in being balanced, staying down and punching people. You have to work at that," Hazell said.
