DDN
4/8
New tailback Wells makes impact at OSU scrimmage
By
Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS | Ohio State's football team scrimmaged for two hours in Ohio Stadium on Saturday — starters against starters and backups against backups — and the affair was revealing on a variety of fronts.
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<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> Four things we learned:
1. The Buckeyes are loaded at tailback. Starter Antonio Pittman sat out with a hamstring injury, but sophomores Maurice Wells and Erik Haw showed some acceleration, and freshman Chris Wells, an early enrollee, is a beast. He picked up yardage in sizeable chunks, usually requiring more than one man to take him down.
2. The defense may be better than we think. Despite losing nine starters, including three probable first-round draft choices, the unit looked fast and ferocious. Starting tackle Quinn Pitcock (shoulder) sat out, but the linemen still applied consistent pressure.
3. The No. 2 quarterback job is up
for grabs. Senior Justin Zwick is next in line, but he threw many ugly balls. Underclassmen Todd Boeckman and Robbie Schoenhoft are gaining.
4. Field goals could be an adventure. Heir apparent Ryan Pretorius connected from 47 yards on his opening try, but he clanked the upright from 40 yards, botched an extra point and then had a 58-yarder blocked. Backup Aaron Pettry made all three of his tries from 42 yards and in, but he was wide on a 43-yarder.
DDN
4/8
OSU NOTES
Surprising defense thwarts Smith in physical scrimmage
By
Doug Harris
Dayton Daily News
COLUMBUS | Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith was dressed conspicuously in black, meaning he couldn't scramble nor be hit during a jersey scrimmage Saturday. But the senior wouldn't have found much unoccupied real estate even if he were turned loose.
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<!-- inset --> <!--begintext--> The defense may have been gutted after last season — nine starters have departed, including projected first-round NFL draft choices A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Ashton Youboty — but the outfit appears to have lost none of its piranha-like tendencies.
Smith hooked up with Anthony Gonzalez for a 14-yard touchdown, but the defense allowed just two more scores and forced four turnovers while winning the scrimmage and taking possession of the coveted scarlet jerseys until the next confrontation in the fall.
"I take this scrimmage pretty seriously — it's practice, but it's a pride thing — and the defense did a great job," Smith said. "They were aggressive, and they made big plays.
"Getting your butt whipped is not a good thing. I don't care if it's a regular day of practice or a jersey scrimmage."
Linebacker Ross Homan (Coldwater) and cornerback Kurt Coleman (Northmont), both early enrollees, had a noticeable impact with an interception and sack, respectively. Redshirt freshman corner Andre Amos (Middletown) also had a pick.
Among the sage veterans, fifth-year senior corner Mike Roberts administered a pair of stinging hits, while sophomore defensive ends Lawrence Wilson and Vernon Gholston continually infiltrated the backfield.
"We're young, and we have a lot to work on," said junior linebacker Marcus Freeman, who called the defensive signals for the first unit. "But we're gelling together, which is going to help."
Asked if he thought the scrimmage was a confidence boost for the defense, coach Jim Tressel said: "Real confidence happens over time. ... But they want to be good. They want to carry on the tradition of good Ohio State defense."
Gonzalez knocked out
Anthony Gonzalez suffered his first concussion since sixth grade and couldn't recall his TD or any other plays. He finally regained his wits after several minutes on the sidelines.
"The first memory I had was I was looking for my helmet — they take it away (when players have concussions) — and I thought I'd lost it.
"I was having conversations with people, and I'd come back and not remember them. That was weird."
Haw makes statement
Sophomore Erik Haw vaulted into the crowded running-back competition after zipping to a 72-yard TD, although it came against mostly back-ups.
Asked if the presence of highly touted recruit Chris "Beanie" Wells spurred him on, Haw said: "I'm going to go hard regardless — whether LaDainian Tomlinson is here. ... I'm just doing my part to get better."
Boone demoted
Tackle Alex Boone, who was charged last Sunday with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, played in the scrimmage but was demoted to the second team.
According to a police report, the 6-foot-8, 315-pound sophomore crashed into a car that had stopped to park near campus at about 2 a.m. His blood-alcohol level was 0.159, about twice the legal limit.
Under the school's substance-abuse policy, he must undergo counseling and submit to increased testing.
