Football
Football Depth Chart Still Murky
By John Porentas
It's depth chart mania season.
Fall camp has begun, and like every season preceding this one, die-hard Buckeye fans (and even some not-so-die-hard Buckeye fans) have started wondering about the depth chart and which newcomers are making an impact early in their careers.
In seasons past the football program has published an official depth chart, but not so in 2005. Any depth chart analysis out there right now is the result of guess-work.
The fact that there is no official chart at the moment doesn't sit well with some people (you ought to read our email). We still can't give you one, but we have picked up some tidbits along the way thus far this fall. In view of the demand, we've decided to issue
The Official The-Ozone Educated Guess Unofficial Depth Chart, with notes on newcomers as we have them, some notes on why we think things will shake out this way, and a quote or two from players supporting our guesses. We'll start today with the offense, and give you the defense tomorrow.
The Official The-Ozone Educated Guess Unofficial Depth Chart
Offense
Center: Nick Mangold (6-4, 290) is the shoe-in to start at that position. True freshman
Jim Cordle (6-5, 275) participated in spring ball and impressed the coaching staff with not only his athletic ability but his football savvy. Cordle, however, has injured his foot. The current leading candidate to backup Mangold is senior
Steve Winner (6-6, 300). True freshman
Andrew Moses (6-3, 267) is probably a long shot to be the number one backup, though he is in the mix. Another possibility is that redshirt junior
Doug Datish (6-5, 295) could take some practice time at center. Datish is currently listed as a guard and has a few starts to his credit at that position, but has practiced at center in the past.
Left Tackle: Steve Rehring (6-8, 323) got game experience last season as a true freshman at left tackle. We see an improved Rehring as the starter there this season.
"I was impressed with Steve because he was a little overweight when he first came in here, but he's dropped 20 pounds since last season," said T. J. Downing.
"I'm down to 323. Last year I played anywhere between 340 to 348," Rehring said.
"My percent body fat went way down. I feel a lot better than I did last year."
Backing up Rehring at left tackle we see true freshman
Alex Boone (6-6, 315). Boone is listed at 315, but according to members of the team, may actually be heavier than that as camp opens.
"I think Alex is actually the biggest guy on the offensive line right now. I looked at the scales the other day and he was a little heavy, but I think he's going to be good," said Downing.
Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Jim Bollman agreed with Downing's assessment of Rehring.
"He's lighter and I'm sure he feels that will help him improve," said Bollman.
"One of the reasons that he played last year as early as he did is because he's a smart football player. He really knows what he's doing, he's technique conscious, and that has continued to improve."
Boone may have some weight to lose but according to Downing, he has all the makings to be a good one.
"I definitely like Boone's toughness. He works real well with his hands.
"I think always the biggest thing with freshmen coming in is their foot speed, especially on the edge, a tackle. You've got guys out there like Bobby Carpenter who has been playing on the edge a lot and he's running a 4.4 40. You've got to have some pretty quick feet to get in front of him. I think the biggest thing with Alex is going to be his foot speed and his sets on the offensive line in pass protection, but his run blocking has been good, he's been real physical. I think he's going to have the attitude to do real well here," Downing said.
"When we start hitting, that's when I want to see what you look like. That's when you can tell how good a player you'll be. I've been impressed with what Alex has done so far. I think he's definitely going to be a contributor on this line this year. That's up to him; how hard he's going to work and it and what he's going to do to get on the field," Downing said.
Left Guard: Our best guess is that
Rob Sims (6-4, 310) will move down to guard this season and will the starter at left guard.
Doug Datish is currently listed as a guard, has game experience and is the most likely candidate to backup Sims if he indeed moves to guard for his senior season. Redshirt freshman
Ben Person (6-4, 315) is probably Datish's chief rival for the backup spot at this position. If Datish moves to center, then Person would be the number one backup.
Right Tackle: Right now we see Kirk Barton (6-7, 325) as the leader at right tackle, if for no other reason than he was the starter there much of last season. Barton is bigger this year and wants to keep that position. We wouldn't bet against that. Redshirt freshman Jon Skinner (6-5, 300) is vying for the backup role at that spot. We know that because we asked him and he told us so. Tim Schafer (6-5, 290) was the starter in the early going last season and will compete with Skinner for the backup role this season.
Right Guard: T. J. Downing (6-5, 305) established himself as the starter at the end of last season and we see no reason to believe that he will not be the starter there this season. We think that redshirt sophomore Kyle Mitchum (6-6, 295) is currently the top candidate to backup Downing. Why? Mitchum was matched up with Downing as his roommate for fall camp, and the OSU coaching staff likes to match up veteran players with young players at the same position so they can answer questions during camp. Hey, we said this list is best guess, and that's as good a reason as any for our call for the backup at right guard. Also in the mix is senior offensive lineman Andre Tyree 6-3, 290) who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. If Tyree is healthy, he could also be a factor.
"I'm rooming with Kyle Mitchum this year," said Downing.
"It's always been a thing with the coaches to room the older guys with a younger player so they can learn. When you get back to the hotel room they can ask you questions and pick your brain. I remember when I roomed with Ivan Douglas my first year. First of all I was scared to even say anything because of how big he was, but he helped me out a lot and I was able to really pick up a little bit more on the offense just by talking to him there in the hotel room. It works a lot."
A number of other linemen could figure into the depth chart, but we simply don't know who is playing where right now. They include Caesar Buie, Tyler Whaley, John Conroy and Drew Parry.
Tailback: This one is a toss-up. One day we think that sophomore
Antonio Pittiman (5-11, 195) is the likely starter, then we hear whispers that redshirt freshman
Erik Haw (6-1, 212) is lighting it up in the early going. Then, of course, there is true freshman
Maurice Wells (5-10, 185) who is also turning some heads in the early going.
"I can tell you first hand that Antonio Pittiman, Erik Haw, they're really running the ball hard," said Downing.
"Erik Haw has impressed me a lot, and Tony Pittman, the guy has the speed/power combination. I think they're coming along great.
"Maurice Wells seems to be running the ball really well," Downing said.
Running backs coach Dick Tressel has a tough decision to make, and right now, we'd say that it is going to be tailback by committee in 2005, and that it will also be starter by committee. All three of those backs will play extensively, and all three will start at least one game this season. Who the starter will be against Miami is open to question yet, but if we had to make a guess, we'd guess
Pittman, if for no other reason than he is the lone member of that group with game experience. That, of course, assumes that a tailback will be in the game. The Buckeyes could open that game with no running back, or with a one-back formation with Brandon Schnittker. As of now, our guess on the backups would be Haw number one backup to Pittiman and Wells would be 1-A. We also still believe that will change throughout the season unless someone separates from the group or injuries crop up.
Fullback: Brandon Schnittker is the current favorite to be number one on the depth chart at fullback when the season begins. Schnittker is a senior, has played extensively, and is being groomed at OSU's "big back" this season when the Buckeyes are in the one-back set.
Schnittker has slimmed down from 255 to about 240 to get extra quickness but is still big enough to be a lead blocker. He also catches the ball well and exhibited a running style in the spring game that made him a tough man to bring down once he gets his hands on the ball.
"That's kind of been my running style since I was in high school," said Schnittker describing his style.
"I'm not the typical tailback type runner that we have that make guys miss. I'm still gaining the ability to hit the holes and find a seam. For me, I'm going to find a seam and I'm going to run up in there. When a guy hits me you've got to get your feet moving first and keep driving, don't give up."
We think that
Stan White Jr. will not only be Schnittker's backup, but could actually push him for playing time or even the starting position. White came to Ohio State as a linebacker/tight end, and spent last season learning the fullback position. White has put on weight and now tips the scales at 250, but reports that his per cent body fat is down. He also is comfortable with his assignments at fullback, something that was not true last season.
"I definitely have more resolve this year. I feel good about myself about where I am physically. I feel good about my understanding of the game," White said.
As a former tight end, White certainly has the speed and hands to be an effective receiver, and his added bulk and strength should help him as both a ball carrier and a blocker. White left little doubt that his goal is to be the starter, not just a role player.
"I'll leave it up to the coaching staff to decide that, but my goal is to fill all the roles," he said.
"If you don't think you should be in on every play, then you shouldn't be here. It's definitely a goal of mine to prove in camp that this additional size has made me a more powerful player."
The other candidate at fullback is sophomore
Dionte Johnson (6-0, 250). Johnson saw action last season as a true freshman and demonstrated a toughness and willingness to hit that endeared him to the coaching staff and fans.
"Dionte is really a physical kid. In tight quarters, Dionte is tough. He's a blast them out kind of guy. Dionte can catch it," said running backs coach Dick Tressel.
The subtle qualifier there is "in tight quarters". Schnittker explained.
"Dionte is guy who is physical, and he's smart and will do what it takes. He's continuing to work on the perimeter blocking and outside and being more fluid in his movement. Obviously, he'll run up and run into anybody. He does a good job with that. He catches the ball pretty good, but it's one of those things (his perimeter blocking) he can get better at," said Schnittker.
We look for Johnson to see the field again in goal line situations or coming off the goal line, but we think that Schnittker and White are more athletic and will get most of the snaps at fullback.
Wide Receivers: Joe Tiller eat your heart out. Ohio State's receivers are the real deal.
Discussion of a "depth chart" at wide receiver is more than just a little tricky. First of all, how many receivers are likely to start; one, two, three, four...five? Lets just say that the "Fleet Four" will be redshirt junior
Santonio Holmes, sophomore
Ted Ginn, redshirt sophomore
Anthony Gonzalez and redshirt junior
Roy Hall. Each will bring his own strengths to the field, and all four will be on the field plenty this season. Hall tried to describe the game of each of the Big Four.
'Tone (Holmes) has the most experience, big-play making ability, a great leader, fast," said Hall.
'Ted is explosive, fast, you never know where he's going to line up, so he's probably one of the most dangerous guys on our corps.
"Gonzo is sneaky. He's very sneaky. He's very sneaky and fast. Gonzo is one of the sneakiest receivers I've ever seen. People don't realize how fast he is.
"I'm the muscle of the group, you know what I'm saying? I've worked on my speed. When those guys are in trouble with the DBs I clean them up for them," Hall said.
"You have a lot of people who can do some damage."
That may be an understatement, and waiting in the wings are a couple of young performers who want to get into the mix as well.
"
Devon Lyons and
Albert Dukes will be playing a lot too," said Hall.
Tight End: Senior
Ryan Hamby (6-5, 255) is the hands-down favorite to be the number one tight end. Two players will compete for time as his backup or the second tight end. Sophomore
Rory Nicol (6-5, 260) is probably the leading candidate for that role since he did play last season as a true freshman. Redshirt sophomore
Marcel Frost (6-5, 255) was injured much of last season and played on defense as a true freshman. A healthy Frost will push Nicol for playing time, but we see Nicol as the number two currently if for no other reason than his playing experience. Redshirt junior R. J. Coleman is also listed as a tight end, but will likely not see action this season due to a medical condition.
Quarterback: Uh-huh, you've been waiting for this, haven't you. Sorry, but there isn't a whole lot new to say here, except that quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels says that everything you believed you new about the depth chart at quarterback is probably not true at the moment. According to Daniels, the quarterback spot is really a wide open position.
"In all honesty, it is really an open race," said Daniels last week.
Coachspeak? Maybe, but Daniels tried to make his case.
"If we approach it that way (that it is a wide open race) it really boils down to the guy who is leading the team the best. That's the ultimate, the bottom line.
"We have a lot of weapons, so we don't need superman, but we need somebody who is going to be the leader, get the ball to the people who we need to get the ball to, take care of the ball, and to be honest be the leader of that whole group, which is not easy, but that's really what we need.
"If you go into the season when you have a situation like we've got, and you predetermine it, I think you make a mistake, because what happens is there will always be changes," Daniels said.
Got that? OK, so here's how we see it.
With
Troy Smith's suspension for the season opener, it's a two-man race for the Miami game, and both
Todd Boeckman and
Justin Zwick will get an honest look. Zwick has the advantage of game experience and showed real courage in leading the team to a win in the Alamo Bowl while playing with a pulled hamstring. Boeckman, however, has really impressed people with an uncanny ability to find open receivers and get the ball to them.
"I think part of it is an awareness. The amazing thing is the guys who have that ability sometimes aren't the ones that would be able to tell you where everyone in the pattern goes. That seems hard to believe, but they just seem to see it and feel it. He has shown quite a few times through the spring that he has that ability, which is nice," Daniels said.
Zwick has the obvious advantage in experience, but there is this nagging feeling that Boeckman is making an impression on the coaching staff. It's our belief that no matter who starts the Miami game, he will be a better quarterback than the one who started the season opener last season. If it's Zwick we fully expect him to be a much improved player if for no other reason than his experience and increased confidence after the bowl game. Players make their biggest improvement between their first and second seasons, and we expect Justin to do just that. If Boeckman beats him out, he will have beat out a good quarterback. Either way, it's win/win.
What does it all mean? We think something Daniels said is very important and bears repeating.
"We have a lot of weapons, so we don't need superman."
With all the weapons available on offense this season, from the wide receivers to a stable of running backs to a deep and talented line, the quarterback will be looked upon to make good decisions and get the ball to the playmakers. That's a bit different from having to make the plays himself.
If Zwick can cut down on his interceptions in spring ball, we think he'll get the nod over Boeckman in the opener because of his experience. If he doesn't, Boeckman could make a push because of his ability to get the ball to the playmakers. Where does that leave Troy Smith after the opener? Great question. Troy is a playmaker, but playmaking does not seem to be the premium quality at QB this season. If Troy can be consistent and avoid turnovers, he will probably regain the job. If not, we could see Boeckman or Zwick as the QB this season. Our call for the opener is Zwick backed up by Boeckman, but both seeing considerable playing time. When Troy returns, it's anyone's guess. It's way too early to make that call.
Next, the defense and special teams.
