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Spring Football - 2005 (mega-merge)

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There's only 3 things I wanted to see out of this scrimmage:


1)Running game- We looked good. With a whole unit in front of them and summer ball of practice we should be stout this fall.

2)Nuge's Replacement- We don't have Mike Nugent anymore. I was impressed with Skeete. His first field goal was in a cross wind with bad conditions and he nailed it. Huston will be there. We are very servicable here.

3)2nd Corner- I believe we have a couple of guys who can definitely play. Shaun Lane was a pleasant surprise. We still have JamO coming in to help solidify the position and all summer to work. Ashton is awesome!

Other than that I was just glad I could watch some Buckeye football today! Leave the negativity out of here. We have a short way to go and a long time to get there! I for one, can't wait til football season. Go Bucks!
 
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Ginn played defense! I absolutely loved that. As a QB in the red zone, you have to be hesitant to ever throw at him, knowing that if he gets it (perhaps a tip on the DL) it's a 10-14 point swing (from 3-7 points for you to 7 for the other team). I loved that they're not afraid to try him out there... tho I doubt he'll start at corner outside of the red zone.

I predicted that Smith didn't have anything to prove and Zwick could lose his shot today. He did. Regardless of the others struggling... the guy was a victim out there. When he'd make a bad throw, or a guy would fail in his route running, or he'd get sack... he was reactive rather than assertive, letting everything get him down. If Smith/Boeckman missed they'd correct it the next play. Zwick STILL seems like if things aren't going well he's not sure he can turn things around. And Zwick was not good when he got pressure inside, whereas Smith and Boeckman looked good on the run (other than Smith's fumble). Smith's throwaway isn't as simple as it looked... he had to throw it within 5 yards of that defender to get it past the sticks (and avoid a grounding penalty) and he got hit on the delivery.

This is Smith's team. Give him Ginn, Holmes, Haw/Pittman and a full OL and he'll tear people apart. I feel the same way about Boeckman personally, he seemed solid outside the pocket too.

Couple of other things that need to be said:

This is pittman's job too. Tho haw showed a lot of skill too. He had too many sweeps called at first, which don't work against our D. I loved Schnittker's running out there, he was surprisingly quick. Our running game truly should not be a questionmark after today. Don't expect MoC's replacement, but it looks pretty solid and gray's D was a pretty good team. Both FB's were blocking monsters.

Dukes needs some work, but the talent is obviously there. Thankfully he can grow up as the 3rd string flanker, and we have plenty of gimme games (IU, IL) for him to learn plus the games once we gain a good lead.

Richardson stepped up big today. Coaches have been high on him but questioned his ability to stay intense every play. He was a force out there today.

Freeman was a freak, Hoobler was good, and Terry showed some flashes of brilliance. The fact that Hoobler is 3rd string speaks volume to the unfair amount of talent we have at this position. If MDA gets a medical redshirt, we could still be pretty good in 06 at LB (tho there will be a dropoff).

Gentrys fumble wasn't a huge blunder. He picked up the ball and had it popped out before he could tuck it away. And falling on it results in a turnover too, so he should try to run (he couldn't have punted that thing). The guy never had a chance.

The long snapper has to work all offseason, that needs serious work. Huston didn't play... Skeete was ok but his routines are weird! Punting was pretty poor, tho perhaps Trapasso was trying to kick away from Ginn. Gentry never had a good snap.

It was disappointing that the BP tailgater couldn't happen, but the game was still fun as boring as it was at times. Keep in mind that they've been practicing a lot more exciting offensive formations with full rosters. Our offense destroyed our defense, yet today it was the total opposite. I think the Jersey Scrimmage would make us feel a lot different about our O.
 
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GB3 said:
Im just a Buckeye fan who sat in 30 degree weather and would go tomorrow if they had another scrimmage :)

GOBUCKS!
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I couldn't have said it better myself. Beautifully written. The bottom line is that I got to watch my Bucks for the first time in nearly five months. Were there some weaknesses? Sure. But there were also some very positive things from this game. Like our young receivers. Dukes dropped a pass and fumbled (although most of that play was because of the great play made by Whitner. Just a hell of a strip.) However, Dukes was constantly open and TGII was also open downfield quite a bit (mostly in the first half). Many people are so quickly to blame Zwick for his bad passes downfield, but when you have the wind going like it was going today throwing downfield to receivers becomes a very difficult task. Gonzalez was also open a lot and he had some nice cathces as well. Plus we were Holmesless. Lyons had some nice grabs and he seems like he is going to be a fantastic possesion receiver down the road. So, I was definately impressed with our young group of receivers, including Dukes. I can definately see why everyone was hyping him. He is a fantastic route runner (possibly our second best).

Our linebackers are very deep and our running game was quite good. With Freeman, Hoobler, and Terry I am definately beginning to worry a lot less about our linebackers in 2006. Pittman has some great vision and he is never taken down by the first guy (well except for that one hit by a guy named Hawk.) Haw was very fast on some of those stretch plays. So, overall I think our running game is going to be much improved, and these two guys are going to be a tremendous 1-2 punch.

The D-line also looked pretty good. Richardson put some nice pressure on Smith. He forced the interception, and he caused the Smith fumble. i think some of our younger guys also looked pretty good, like Abdallah.

Our secondary was great. Some people are freaking out that Ginn didn't have enough big plays. Well I have an answer for you. I already stated the above reason as to why he didn't have such a big game above. But maybe Youboty is just that good. Lane had a nice game, and man can Welch hit. He seemed to do all right on coverage, and maybe he will be our starter come Miami.

Oh yeah I almost forgot, the OLine looked better than it has in years. They are more athletic and just plain better. Rehring did get beat a couple times today, but other than that they looked fine. They offered holes for our running backs who seem to have great vision to hit and they gave the QB's plenty of time to throw for the most part. They sealed off their blocks towards the middle so the running backs with fantastic speed to bounce it outside to get some big yardage. However, our DB's did a great job with some open field tackles.

Sorry for rambling on like this, but I can't stand it when some people just throw the towell in after a Spring game (with 35 degree weather with rain.) That's more directed towards that ****hole they call a board at BN. But I still have high hopes for this team and for very good reason.
 
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I agree about the running game! and definatly about the QB play.


It just seems Zwick isn't sure that he's a leader. He has to go out there and tell them "I'm your man, trust me." I did see some positive out of Zwick, but him getting sacked, and some of the times he missed open recievers kind of worry me a bit.

Also I like the prospect of Maurice Wells coming in and hopefully getting some carries also! ALOT of speed there we can use!

Freeman was said to have been the most natural linebacker out of all of them!
 
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I think both TB's Pittman and Haw did very well. Pittman on his 9 yard run out of the goaline had some very good cuts. He looked well on the outside but i think Haw's speed to the sideline is slightly better. Straight up the middle Pittman I think looked better and might have something to do with experience. I was kind of worried about the FB situation. Schnittker might have solved the problem to that concern. I think both O-Line's did very well for having 2/5's starters and 3/5's starters.
Skeete looked pretty good out there his first kickoff made it too the 20ish and his 2nd was much improved and was around the 10.

I sat down in A-Deck on visitors side for the first 1/2 then we moved to D-Deck on the other side of the stadium and it was quite impressive, maybe if I can get tickets too Texas game thats where I'd like to sit.

just my 2 cents
 
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haha.. yeah I talked to that same guy..

I was like "Hey are you guys with another larger group?"

He's like "You mean BuckeyePlanet?"

ME: "Yeah."

Him "No, they bailed like 5 minutes before we got here."

Ahh well, it was worth soaking through the game.. even if I couldn't feel any of my body parts afterwards.

oh yeah.. and holy shit did Justin Zwick suck today.
 
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jlb1705 said:
There a lot of very talented players on this team, but too many of them are trying to be Ted Ginn. They're trying to hit a home run every play, or make the miraculous escape. Those things are nice, but just making the SOLID play regularly will carry this team much further than trying to be spectacular and hitting that mark just on a handful of occasions. My favorite play of the scrimmage? When the the snap sailed over punter Tyson Gentry's reach, and then slipped out of his hands after his recovery (and he was apparently trying to run for the first down himself:roll2: ), the Gray special teams players swarmed around the ball. The player who reached it first (I think it was some walk-on or soemthing that I've never heard of) had about 5 yards of real estate and a handful of blockers ahead of him. What does he do? He falls on the ball, and trusts the rest of his team to do their job and punch it in. The guy may have passed up his only chance to score a TD in the 'Shoe, but instead he makes the smart play. Thank you, whoever you are.
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I disagree that falling on the ball was a smart play. It was a punt on fourth down. If he tries to pick up the ball and bobbles it, allowing it to be recovered by the punting team, what happens? First and goal, same as if he falls on it. The smart play on a kick block behind the line of scrimmage, especially when you have a numbers advantage, is to try to scoop and score.
 
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interesting takes...good ones...

1. Zwick - looks so tentative and frustrated out there. His mechanics deteriorate at the first sign of frustration...which is about the 2nd play of the game.

2. Troy Smith is the leader of the O and will be a force to be reckoned with in 2005

3. Boeckman is the best passer on the squad and will probably beat out JZ if not by the MIami game, then by the Iowa game.....as the #2 QB

4. Haw was nervous in the beginning as this was the biggest stage he's played on ever....whereas Pittman has played in some big games already. Both RBs are good...Pittman will see 60/40 of the carries early. But by mid season Haw will be the 60/40 guy.....he is blessed with outstanding speed, vision, and patience.

5. WRs were disappointing with the drops out there, but they are the most athletic bunch EVER at Ohio STate....and that is saying a lot

6. LB.....our 2nd string LB corps is probaby the 4th best in the BigTen....awesome

7. Our DL will be deep but still missing a 2nd standout guy (next to Pitcock). That will be our only weakness on defense....and it's not even a significant weakness if the other guys play close to their potential.

8. Youboty will be a team captain next year, I predict. He plays with such smoothness and confidence that he makes it look fairly easy.....the next in the long line of outstanding OSU cover corners

9. Welch, Lane, Hoobler, Terry, Freeman, Mitchell, Schnittker, and Gholston are just such great "Football Players".....they need to see the field because they are so intense out there.

10. we have 3 or 4 guys that kick the ball but possibly nobody to snap the ball.....ouch.
 
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LloydSev said:
haha.. yeah I talked to that same guy..

I was like "Hey are you guys with another larger group?"

He's like "You mean BuckeyePlanet?"

ME: "Yeah."

Him "No, they bailed like 5 minutes before we got here."

Ahh well, it was worth soaking through the game.. even if I couldn't feel any of my body parts afterwards.

oh yeah.. and holy shit did Justin Zwick suck today.
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When I first asked him he said "Buckeye Nation", and I almost laughed, then corrected him. He was pretty polite considering some schmuck he didn't know was walking up to him with his family there. We were probably getting on his nerves after a few of us were interrupting his tailgate.

You guys should have found out what kind of tent he was using. :biggrin:
 
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SI's Report on our Spring game

I also posted the recap of Penn St.'s spring game in the reference locker Penn State thread.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/football/ncaa/04/23/buckeyes.scrimmage.ap/index.html

Tough conditions challenge QBs

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Troy Smith and Todd Boeckman each threw touchdown passes, leading the Gray over the Scarlet 19-6 Saturday in Ohio State's annual spring game.

Both teams did little offensively before 22,649 at rainy and windy Ohio Stadium. The Gray scored 13 points, 10 off turnovers, in a 4:09 span of the second quarter and then drove for a touchdown behind Smith for a 19-0 lead late in the third.
Smith, backup Justin Zwick and third-stringer Boeckman had trouble with the weather and their passes often sailed over or behind intended receivers.

Erik Haw, competing with Antonio Pittman for the starting tailback job, scored the Scarlet's only touchdown on a 10-yard run in the fourth.

The Buckeyes' best all-around threat on offense, wideout-kick returner Ted Ginn Jr., played cornerback in the second half for the Scarlet. That's where he was supposed to play as a freshman last year before showcasing the sprinter's speed that made him an invaluable part of Ohio State's offense.

The Scarlet-Gray scrimmage marks the end of spring practice and gives Buckeyes coaches one last chance to evaluate players before they gather again in August to prepare for the season.

They couldn't have liked the Scarlet's performance in the second quarter.

After redshirt freshman Jonathan Skeete kicked a 43-yard field goal with 7:18 remaining, the Scarlet managed only five yards on three plays before the long-snapper launched the ball over punter Tyson Gentry's head.

Kyle Ruhl recovered for the Gray and two plays later it was 10-0 on Boeckman's 6-yard scoring pass to Anthony Gonzalez, who's part of a dangerous trio of receivers that includes Santonio Holmes and Ginn.

The Scarlet fumbled again on its next possession when Albert Dukes caught a pass from Zwick and got stripped by Donte Whitner. Curtis Terry recovered and ran 36 yards to the 4, leading to Skeete's 22-yard field goal with 3:09 left in the half.

Smith threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Marcel Frost with 3:01 to play in the third quarter, capping a 7-play, 52-yard drive. The Gray's first three scoring drives covered 32 yards in 16 plays.

The Buckeyes still have some things to decide at their highest-profile position, and the weather on Saturday provided little opportunity for Smith, Zwick and Boeckman to distinguish themselves.

Boeckman, a redshirt freshman hoping to pass Zwick as Smith's backup, was on the field more than the two juniors, playing the first half for the Gray in relief of Smith and then taking over the Scarlet from Zwick in the second half.

Zwick will start the opener at quarterback against Miami of Ohio. But he'll likely give way the following game to Smith, who has one game left on a two-game suspension for accepting money from a team booster.

The Buckeyes went 3-3 under Zwick to start last season before he injured a shoulder in a loss to Iowa. Smith then led Ohio State to victories in four of its last five games, including an upset of Michigan, but his suspension opened the door for Zwick to play in a 33-7 win over Oklahoma State in the Alamo Bowl.

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Well -- the thing I am interested in knowing is how many of those who had to bail made it to the game? (emphasis added because the weather was truly lousy -- I was there when the sky was falling in, and those canopies were lifting off!)
gost8 generously offered temporary housing to all drenched rats, but family commitments took me elsewhere. I think many were hoping to get back to the game after storing goods and stuff.
After rescuing my brother-in-law from another family crisis he, I and my son (who remained dozing in the Jeep for most of the morning) had as good a time as possible. Hit the Hall of Fame Cafe, first time I'd been there since B-In-Law stopped working there as a chef -- so I got to see all the new trophy cases and memorabilia. Chowed down, shared a beer or more with B-In-Law's Father-In-Law, who was kind enough to drive us all to the game. Took in the Spring game on B-deck where seats were cheap, plentiful and remarkably dry - chugging down refillable hot chocolate to stave off any cold.
All of which cold returned in spades on the walk back in the rain to the Jeep at HOFC.
The day ended with a return to B-In-Law's shack where the usually blithe lady of the house took pity on the three wringing wet males and cooked up a massive pot of steaming hot chile in double quick time. Son number one got to play endlessly with his three younger cousins.
The game was messy -- the morning had your typical weather inflicted snafu written all over it -- but, all in all, it was a great (certainly memorable) day.

I hope all of you had at least that much fun this day.
 
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I drove through the Fawcett parking lot around 11:00-11:15 looking for Gost's truck but didn't see anything remotely close to resembling it so I figured that the weather had done it's nasty deed so I went back to my friends house and watched the game in the warmth and dryness of her house. It's a shame the weather was so shitty, I was really looking forward to finally meeting so of you guys (and gals) and be able to put a face with a name. Looking forward to getting my shirt when you can get around to it. I know you guys went to a lot of trouble and I appreciate it as I know everyone else does.
 
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Sorry all

I am really sorry for the way things turned out for the Spring Game tailgate. I had been planning and looking forward to today since February. No one is more disappointed in the way things turned out than I am. I originally thought of the idea to get a bunch of us together just to put a face to some of the guys (and gals) we talk to almost everyday. So we could have more of a board full of friends rather than "the people on the message board." I figured ten or twelve people would show up and we'd have a good time and that would be that. Over the last two months it turned into (weather permitting) something I think would have been over 150 great fans attending. Amazing!

I just wish mother nature could have been a little more cooperative. Once again I apologize. It truly was more of a let down to me more than you all know. On the bright side I did get to meet some great people today that braved it out for a couple of hours. Made a couple of friends. Always a good thing.

I will not give up though. Keep your eyes out for the Buckeye Planet Texas Tailgate. We will be cooking some Longhorn burgers. Can't wait for Autumn.
 
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