Ohio State spotlight: John Simon
Friday, September 24, 2010
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Cameron Heyward might be stealing the spotlight on the Ohio State defensive line with a spectacular play or two each week, but Eastern Michigan likely won't need a searchlight today to locate OSU's John Simon either.
Whether it's practice or a game, OSU running backs coach Dick Tressel said, Simon's tenacity always seems to propel him into the midst of the action.
"He's relentless. He's painful for us," Tressel said of those practice sessions. "All summer (in preseason camp), if my guys have headaches, it's usually from running into Simon or Cam.
"And throw (linebackers) Brian Rolle and Ross Homan in, too, because they're quick and they go, and they're relentless, and they're not going to stop. It's awesome."
Linebackers are expected to play that way, though. Simon, on the other hand, has given the Buckeyes a gap-jumping punch up front usually on the other end from Heyward that the offensive lines of Marshall, Miami and Ohio U. all had difficulty plugging.
He's been pushing the pile, so to speak. Though his numbers aren't alarming -- seven tackles, three of them for lost yardage he's made his presence felt by opening tackle lanes for Rolle, Homan and their ilk.
One way he's doing it is, like Heyward, Simon might line up over the guard on one play and outside the tackle on another.
"You can't have a scheme, like 'Let's take care of this guy with these two people because he's over there,' because he may not be there," Tressel said. "But I think that's secondary to the energy he brings to the defense."
