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S Orhian Johnson (official thread)

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Free safety Orhian Johnson is as vocal as you'd expect your center fielder to be. He was telling everybody what to do and where to be. He was also pointing everywhere--almost to Peyton Manning-like levels. It's great to see him display such an understanding of the defense considering he doesn't have much experience. I talked to Taurian Washington afterwards and he almost seemed surprised at how good the safeties already are. ?Orhian Johnson is going to be a big key for us,? he said. ?He?s coming along. He?s getting a lot better. He works extremely hard.? Brian Rolle mentioned similar things to me last week, even going so far as to compare Johnson to a young Sean Taylor.
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The-Ozone, Ohio State Football, Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and More
 
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No Longer Under Center, ?O? Still Calling the Shots
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS ? As Orhian Johnson dropped back he barked out commands to his teammates on the practice field Thursday.

ohrianjohnson.gif

Photo by Dan Harker Ohrian Johnson

It was his job to get them lined up, a role Johnson has long been familiar with since his days as a quarterback at Boca Ciega High School in Gulfport, Fla. Except these days Johnson is calling the signals on the other side of the ball as one of the leading candidates to replace Anderson Russell and Kurt Coleman on the back end of Ohio State?s defense.

?He?s got to get a little bit better at learning the game, but now this spring he?s shown a lot of out there communicating being the quarterback,? safeties coach Paul Haynes said.

After three years of Russell and Coleman at the two safety spots, the Buckeyes are looking for a new combination in their defensive backfield. One natural choice to step into the starting lineup was senior Jermale Hines, who played some strong safety last season along with the ?Star? position in the nickel defense.

?(Orhian) and Jermale, both safeties really. I know what they know by hearing them, so I make them scream and yell and talk, so that?s kind of what we?re concentrating on this spring,? Haynes said.

?Just communication of doing a lot of talking because I want to hear them, what they?re thinking.?

A physical presence with a head-hunter mentality, Hines seemed like the perfect fit for a strong safety spot that has been occupied by big hitters like Mike Doss and Donte Whitner in the past. That left the free safety spot up for grabs and Haynes and the defensive staff quickly turned to one his most gifted athletes.

?Orhian?s a player. He?s long, rangy, not afraid to come down and hit you, fast. He?s going to be a player,? Hines said.
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The-Ozone, Ohio State Football, Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and More
 
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From Ozone

"Talking to Jermale Hines, he says Orhian Johnson is ready to shine. He called him the best athlete on the team. I reminded him that Terrelle Pryor was also on the team, and he didn't back off of his statement, but said it would be real, real close between the two."

That is some pretty high praise
 
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Ohio State football: Johnson is ready to get started
Moeller also expected to play big role in secondary
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
By Tim May
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

It's easier to remember how to spell Orhian Johnson's first name - its "r" before "h" - now that it's penciled in next to Jermale Hines as the starting safeties during the first week of Ohio State's preseason camp.

Whether it will be in ink for the season opener against Marshall on Sept.2 remains to be seen. Johnson's status depends on two things: whether he continues the improvement he showed in spring drills, and whether Tyler Moeller proves he deserves the nod as he continues a comeback from a head injury.

Johnson, a third-year sophomore, knows he has work to do in the competition to replace three-year starter and 2009 captain Kurt Coleman.

"I am just going out there trying to gain the trust of the defense, to let them know I am back there to help them out," Johnson said.

There is one way of doing that, he said. "By making those plays in the back."

Asked whether the 6-foot-2, 205-pound Johnson was ready to step into a starter's role, Hines didn't hesitate.

"Orhian is a real good player," Hines said. "He's got smarts; he's got the physical tools. He's ready."

But starting brings new psychological pressure. Hines went through it last year, being called on to start in place of three-year starter Anderson Russell for several games, beginning with Southern California, until an injury slowed Hines at midseason.

"It puts a little more pressure on him to perform," Hines said. "But I have been around this guy since he's been here, and he's been performing since day one. He's probably the most athletic kid on the team (as far as) running, speed, jumping and all that. He's ready. He's just got to put little things together, but he's getting there."
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http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten.../johnson-is-ready-to-get-started.html?sid=101
 
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O.J. READY TO GIVE SECONDARY A LITTLE SOMETHING ... Ohio State sophomore safety Orhian Johnson will have to fill some mighty big shoes this fall as he tries to replace first team all-Big Ten selection Kurt Coleman at free safety.

OJ.jpg

(photo of Johnson by The Buckeye Times/Darla Dunkle-Hudnell)

The third-year sophomore from St. Petersburg (Fla.) who is currently running as the No. 1 at the free safety spot, brings a lot of athleticism to the secondary, something the Buckeyes will definitely need this season if they have any aspirations of heading to Glendale.

"I would like to say I bring a little bit of athleticism to the table," Johnson said.

Fellow safety Jermale Hines said that O.J. has a more than just "a little bit of athleticism."

"He's probably the most athletic kid on the team," Hines said of Johnson. "Running, speed, jumping and all that. He's ready."

Johnson who played sparingly last season in the secondary said that now, as a starter, he needs to earn the trust of the defensive veterans.

"It's a transition," Johnson said. "I'm just trying to go out and gain the trust of the defense and let them know that I'm back there to help them out."

Johnson said he is just trying to get better each day.

"I definitely need to keep working daily, you know, getting in my playbook all the time, asking questions for the things that I don't know and just stay humble and hungry," Johnson said.

"I'm understanding the concept of the defense and a lot of the stuff we need to do here at Ohio State," Johnson continued. "I've just been working hard in the weight room every time I can, asking questions, talking with Coach (Paul) Haynes, anything I can do to get better."
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The Buckeye Times: SAM SPOT IS SABINO'S FOR THE TAKING; O.J. READY TO DO IT AT FS
 
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Johnson Ready To Provide Safety Net
August 28, 2010

Orhian Johnson is young and inexperienced, he missed a lot of potential action last season because of nagging injuries, and he steps into a safety spot that is now regarded as the biggest question mark for the Ohio State football squad.

Still, his Buckeye teammates are big believers in him.

When asked on Media Day what up-and-coming player was most ready to shine, linebacker Etienne Sabino said, ?On our team there?s probably 30 of those guys but if I had to say one person I?d say Orhian Johnson.

?I think he brings a lot to our defense and people really don?t know much about him. I think he?s going to really surprise a lot of people this year. He?s a playmaker. And he?s really athletic at everything, so I?m really looking forward to how he does.?

Jermale Hines, who is expected to line up as a starting safety next to Johnson when second-ranked Ohio State opens the season against Marshall (7:30 p.m. Eastern, Big Ten Network), also sees lots of potential. He said he and Johnson are ready to man the back end of the OSU defense now that three-year starters Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell have exhausted their eligibility.

?Orhian?s a real good player ? athletic, smart, he?s got the physical tools,? Hines said. ?He?s ready. It puts a little more pressure on him to perform (with Coleman and Russell departed) but I?ve been around this guy since he?s been here and he?s been performing since day one. He?s real athletic, probably the most athletic kid on the team ? running, speed, jumping, all that. He?s got to put a couple things together but he?s getting there.?
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Sports RappUp
 
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One of the those new starters was projected to be redshirt sophomore Orhian Johnson, who took nearly all the snaps with the first-team defense in the spring. But Johnson was listed as the backup to sophomore C.J. Barnett on the official Marshall depth chart, a move Tressel said was based on performance as much as it was on health.

?I think it was a little bit of both. Just like anything else you get opportunities and you have a chance to get more reps and things like that and you impress. C. J. has been very impressive,? Tressel said.

?That doesn't mean Orhian is not in the thick of a battle. But like anything else, if one guy is in there doing the work and he's getting better and the other guy unfortunately missed, I don't know how many practices he missed, but it was probably a dozen or more, I'm guessing, it makes it more difficult. But good competition will continue at that position.?

The 6-foot-2 Johnson had been battling a lower leg injury throughout the latter half of camp, but both he and starting corner Devon Torrence should be ready to go for the season-opener.

?Orhian Johnson and Devon Torrence worked the whole time yesterday and they'll be fine,? Tressel said.
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Williams Out, Checkwa questionable for opener with Marshall.
 
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Did OJ even get in the game yesterday? I saw him on the sidelines in uniform, but never noticed him get on the field. If he's the #2 right now, I wonder why JT wouldn't have wanted to get him some reps. At one point I thought I saw Gant and Bryant in there at safety even.
 
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buckeyes_rock;1760507; said:
Did OJ even get in the game yesterday? I saw him on the sidelines in uniform, but never noticed him get on the field. If he's the #2 right now, I wonder why JT wouldn't have wanted to get him some reps. At one point I thought I saw Gant and Bryant in there at safety even.
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I saw him in the game on several occasions....he definately saw the field....
 
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