Beanie one step closer to action
COLUMBUS, Ohio ? USC game week is finally here and Ohio State appears to be on the verge of getting star tailback
Chris Wells back from the foot injury that kept him out of the game against Ohio University.
Wells has not practiced since leaving the field in the third quarter of the Buckeyes' season opener against Youngstown State, but coach
Jim Tressel said Tuesday at his weekly press conference that he felt good about Beanie's chances to play against the Trojans Saturday in Los Angeles.
"I have a lot of confidence in our doctors and trainers and strength guys, and not only was he running well, but they put him on the bike and wore him out," Tressel said. "He's been in the underwater treadmill and anything we can do we're doing and I feel good about it."
OSU did not have Beanie available Monday when they took the practice field for the first time since struggling to hold off the Bobcats in a 26-14 win. Tressel said he was impressed, however, with the way Wells ran around on the sideline yesterday and that today and tomorrow will be big days for the 240-pound back.
"I thought Beanie ran well yesterday. In fact, he probably ran better than I thought he might," he said. "I think the big thing will be Tuesday and Wednesday work and will that create soreness."
The Buckeyes practice again this afternoon and they will go two more times before boarding a plane to Los Angeles Thursday afternoon. Tressel is not expecting Beanie to participate in full-go practice today, but he will be doing some things he has not done in over a week and should be ready to return to the field as early as Wednesday.
"What I'd like him to do, and what the trainers are going to let him do, is they're going to let him do a lot of football things without people around and then tomorrow be actually in the fray," Tressel said.
There is some concern that with a bad foot and all the time he has missed, Wells might not be able to play at the level he was performing at before the injury, however, Beanie seems ready to carry the load in what is likely a make-or-break game for Ohio State when it comes to their chances of returning to the BCS National Title game in 2008.
"He said to coach
(Jim) Bollman and I walking into the meeting room on Monday that '
I'm ready to carry the ball 45 times on Saturday'," Tressel said. "He's not going to carry it 45 if he's not effective, but his effectiveness will be in large part based on what the other guys do. If they block people, he can be effective."
The offensive line will have to perform much better this week than they did Saturday, as only two players graded out winning performances against the Bobcats.
AGREED, 'bout time for SC to get stomped!!
