Spring Practice Info and Tidbits (starts 3/31)

[jwinslow]

Have heard that too. Be more like the jersey scrimmage.

Which is a lot more useful to watch as fans, particularly given the typical 6-8 healthy OL being spread across two units (when the D is already ahead of the O due to familiarity and vanilla playcalling)

 

[Tlangs]

Which is a lot more useful to watch as fans, particularly given the typical 6-8 healthy OL being spread across two units (when the D is already ahead of the O due to familiarity and vanilla playcalling)

spring games are usually boring to watch due to neither team having a great o-line. O vs. D should show a lot more. unless of course we go 1s vs 3s all day like scUM last year to give confidence to your slot dots.

 

[79Redmen]

Pryor and Bauserman are both seniors, so that only leaves three QBs to compete for the starting spot next season, and it seems unlikely we take a QB in the '12 class... so yeah, I don't see anything abnormal about the situation.

Cardale Jones is signed LOI for QB in class of 2012

 

[cbrian815]

I think we also have an offer out to a kid from California as a QB for 2012. Go Bucks

 

[Buckeyeskickbuttocks]

Which is a lot more useful to watch as fans, particularly given the typical 6-8 healthy OL being spread across two units (when the D is already ahead of the O due to familiarity and vanilla playcalling)

No doubt.

I enjoy the spring game as much as anyone, but the game itself is usually fairly unlike the level of play you come to expect in season. Fun to see some new names get a chance to do their thing, though, at the same time.

I'm with you, though, I'd rather see 1s v 1s, etc.

 

[Buckeye86]

I think we also have an offer out to a kid from California as a QB for 2012. Go Bucks

The buckeyes have verbal offers out to two '12 quarterbacks, Shane Dillon from CA and Jameis Winston from AL. That doesn't mean we will sign either of them.

Cordale Jones is signed LOI for QB in class of 2012

Good call. I forgot about his gray shirt.

 

[Buckskin86]

Scrimmage focus on QB, RB

By TIM MAY
After a couple of 30-minute glimpses thus far, we get to watch an Ohio State full scrimmage on Saturday in Ohio Stadium. Curiosity will be high at two positions in particular at roughly the halfway point of the 2011 spring drills.
Will one of the four quarterbacks, five, really, counting Justin Siems, separate himself from the pack in the quest to be the leader for the starting job in the fall in place of the suspended Terrelle Pryor? Two-year backup Joe Bauserman, third-year sophomore Kenny Guiton, redshirt freshman Taylor Graham and blue-chip freshman Braxton Miller are the primary contenders, as you know.
Insiders have told me they especially have been impressed by the poise and non-plussed approach of Miller. I thought it was a long-shot for him to take the job so quickly, but now I'm not so sure. It's no bulletin that he is well ahead of the game as a passer compared to an incoming Pryor of 2008, and watching Miller operate from the pocket in those two 30-minute windows in the past two weeks, I had to keep reminding myself that he is lethal as a runner, too.

Cont..

http://blog.dispatch.com/buckeyesblog/2011/04/scrimmage_focus_on_qb_rb.shtml

Spring Practice Thoughts
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? For the second time this spring, the media was allowed in to watch a half hour of Ohio State?s practice on Tuesday.

That is not exactly an overwhelming window of time to see everything that is going on with the Buckeyes this spring, but there were definitely some things that stuck out to me.

If you want a full report on Tuesday?s practice, check out our Spring Practice Insider , but I can?t help thinking about some interesting things I noticed at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center.

1. There is something special about Braxton Miller. We have been hearing about this kid since he was a freshman in high school, so it?s nice to actually get a chance to see Miller up close in his first spring as a Buckeye. After watching him in the first practice of the spring, I was wondering if he has what it takes to really compete for this quarterback spot. Most freshmen probably don?t, but after watching him on Tuesday I can understand why the coaches think he has a real shot. Miller can do some things right now that none of the other guys can do. He has a great release. Unlike Pryor, who seems to heave the ball, or even shot-put it the way he did early in his career, Miller flicks it. It seems to come off his hand with ease and it goes a long way. I love the way he throws the out route, leading the receiver to the sideline. He has to work on his accuracy, but I also like what I saw from him throwing on the run.

Cont..

http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2011/SpringFootball/practicethoughts.htm

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jjr0tDGjGI"]YouTube - OSU Spring Practice Sights and Sounds[/ame]

 

[leroyjenkins]

Marcus Hartman (@marcushartman) reporting on his twitter account that the Buckeye Off struggled all scrimmage, until late, when they went to a 5 WR, no huddle set. B.Miller scored on an 11 yard TD run to put the O up for good.

 

[RB07OSU]

Got twitter updates @LanternSports, fun scrimmage. More coverage to follow, with unofficial stats.

The Miller run was amazing, spun out of a sack, weaved through the defense and dove in. He had some really good moments today but his stats won't pop out at you. Offense did not struggle that bad imo, run game looked solid, Berry and Rod Smith especially. Disappointed with the drops from the backs and receivers though, I counted six. Taylor Graham was the surprise of the day though, he really looked good. Howard stood out to me on defense, as well as Durham, Fellows and Ohrian Johnson.

 

[Buckskin86]

Notes from Ohio State's Saturday scrimmage: Touchdowns by Devier Posey and Braxton Miller, with videos
Published: Saturday, April 09, 2011
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

Quick observations from today's Ohio State scrimmage in Ohio Stadium:

* The Buckeyes practiced, then held a special teams scrimmage followed by a full team scrimmage that took well over an hour. Ohio State will scrimmage again next weekend, then it sounds like the plan for the spring game on April 23 in Ohio Stadium is a jersey scrimmage that will pit the offense against the defense, rather than a spring game divided into two full teams. That should actually be more competitive and more fun for the fans.

Ohio State center Mike Brewster Ohio State center Mike Brewster Ohio State senior center Mike Brewster on how the Buckeyes have handled spring practice so far, speaking after a scrimmage on April 9, 2011. Watch video

* Ohio State scored three touchdowns in the scrimmage, which consisted of about 20 possessions, each starting on the 50-yardline and continuing until the offense scored or was forced into a fourth-down situation where they would have punted.

Joe Bauserman, working as the first-team quarterback, hit DeVier Posey for a 33-yard touchdown on a crossing route catch-and-run over the middle, where Posey lined up opposite cornerback Travis Howard on the right side and then broke free and easily reached the left corner of the endzone after grabbing the ball around the 20-yardline.

The second touchdown was an 8-yard corner route on the front left side of the endzone, as Posey planted his feet just inbounds and grabbed the pass from quarterback Taylor Graham, beating cornerback Dominic Clarke on the play.

The third touchdown was an 11-yard run by Braxton Miller, who spun away after taking a hit in the pocket from defensive end J.T. Moore, then escaped up the middle and dove into the endzone. That came near the end of the scrimmage after the offense went to five receivers on every play and opened things up.

Cont...

http://www.cleveland.com/buckeyeblog/index.ssf/2011/04/notes_froom_ohio_states_saturd.html

Did anyone emerge?

That's the top question I'm sure fans have of the Ohio State QB competition after an 81-play, about 60-minute scrimmage this morning in cool and cloudy Ohio Stadium.

The answer: Not really. Three of the four QBs led touchdown drives -- Joe Bauserman and Taylor Graham throwing TDs to DeVier Posey, and Braxton Miller with an impressive 11-yard rushing TD.

That leaves Kenny Guiton, who probably had the least impressive day of the four. In six possessions, he led the team to just one field goal. Bauserman and Graham also both had field-goal drives (Bauserman led the offense to scores in 2 of his 3 possessions).

The stats don't necessarily tell the full story. Bauserman was only 2 of 5, but for 49 yards, and both were impressive throws to Posey -- a 33-yard TD and a 16-yarder. He also suffered the day's lone interception, but it was a ball that John Simon tipped at the line and gathered in by Dorian Bell.

Graham was 10 of 20, but for just 80 yards. He did have a nice 13-yard completion to Chris Fields, and he zipped an 8-yard TD pass to Posey.

Miller was 4 of 6 for 43 yards, including a 13-yarder to Posey. His TD run was Terrelle Pryor-like, as he stepped out of what looked like a sure sack by J.T. Moore in the backfield, then juked his way up the middle and dove in for the score.

Guiton finished 7 of 13 for 52 yards. He also suffered three of the four sacks recorded on the day, including one after which he lost a fumble.

Cont...

http://blog.dispatch.com/buckeyesblog/2011/04/did_anyone_emerge.shtml

 

[buckeyes_rock]

http://www.the-ozone.net/football/2011/SpringFootball/scrimmage_1/PracticeReport.html

Ozone report on today's scrimmage.

 

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State football: Spread wakes up QBs in scrimmage
Sunday, April 10, 2011
By Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

Two-thirds of the way through a snoozer of a scrimmage yesterday, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel decided to wake his young quarterbacks up.

Tressel is trying to figure out a pecking order at the position while three-year starter Terrelle Pryor serves a five-game suspension this fall.

Senior Joe Bauserman is the starter for the moment, based on experience, but it's a priority to get good looks at the other three - sophomore Kenny Guiton, redshirt freshman Taylor Graham and freshman Braxton Miller.

So after about 40 minutes of a full-contact scrimmage in Ohio Stadium yesterday, Tressel eschewed the run game and spread out five receivers sideline to sideline. How do you like it now, boys?

The trio responded by recording scores on all four possessions in the spread, allowing the offense to come back from a 43-28 deficit and notch a 56-45 victory in a modified scoring system.

"When we're in empty (backfield), you've got to make quick reads (and) quick throws, because you only have five guys blocking for you," offensive tackle J.B. Shugarts said. "So I think that really helps the younger guys.

"It was just a little adversity to see how everyone would react, and I thought a lot of the young guys really stepped up."

Cont...

http://www.dispatch.com/live/conten...spread-wakes-up-qbs-in-scrimmage.html?sid=101

Ohio State football notebook: Young defense needs work
Missed coverages, tackles show up in scrimmage
Sunday, April 10, 2011
TIM MAY
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH

After watching his side blow a big lead and lose yesterday's scrimmage to the offense in Ohio Stadium, Ohio State defensive coordinator Jim Heacock reportedly was "fired up."

According to defensive end Nathan Williams, Heacock told the defenders, "There were a lot of good things that we had today, but we could get better. And we'll start with that on Monday."

The Buckeyes are replacing seven starters on a defense that was the best in the Big Ten last year.

That became clear in the latter stages of the scrimmage, when the offense rallied from a 43-28 deficit to win 56-45 in a modified scoring system. It wasn't always the first-team defense against the first-team offense, but there were some blown coverages and missed tackles by each mix of defenders that aided the fall.

"Coach Heacock was fired up a little today, as expected," Williams said. "But we've just got to continue to get better as far as the mental standpoint. We have more mental issues than anything; that's something that can be corrected by paying attention and learning the defense as a whole."

With so many starting jobs up for grabs, plenty of players were trying to make a good impression, so the chemistry was sometimes lacking.

"Today was a little rusty, as you guys could see, but it's still April," Williams said. "We've just got to take it day by day, learn from the film. And the more we learn and get better from the film, and continue on with summer conditioning and stuff, the more we'll jell as a team.

"Right now it's a little new, but we'll get used to it."

Cont..

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/sports/stories/2011/04/10/young-defense-needs-work.html?sid=101

 

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State running backs Jamaal Berry and Rod Smith look good in Buckeyes scrimmage
Published: Saturday, April 09, 2011
By Doug Lesmerises, The Plain Dealer

Columbus -- Ohio State needs a running back who can run over or around people. The Buckeyes must have one.

For the first five games of the season, when the team will be without quarterback Terrelle Pryor, running back Dan Herron, receiver DeVier Posey and left tackle Mike Adams, the offense isn't going to offer a lot to scare a defense. The quarterback won't be a run-pass threat the equivalent of Pryor. No other receivers will force a defense to game-plan like Posey does. And Herron, the No. 1 back, won't be there to be the answer.

So expect defenses to stack the box, dare Ohio State to throw the ball and focus on stopping the running back with the ball. And with Adams out, the offensive line will include three new starters. So the guy with the football -- whoever he is -- is probably going to take some shots, and he can't go down after the first one.

Welcome to the big stage, Jaamal Berry.

Cont..

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2011/04/post_43.html

As Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor watches, freshman-to-be Braxton Miller proves a quick study: Bill Livingston
Published: Saturday, April 09, 2011
By Bill Livingston, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer

COLUMBUS, Ohio ? With the kind of lateral mobility you can't learn if you participate in every twisting, turning agility drill ever devised, Braxton Miller slipped defensive tackle J.T. Moore's grasp and left him with his arms wrapped securely around air.

Then the freshman Ohio State quarterback took off, looking to pass first, his eyes always searching downfield, the way Troy Smith's were. Suddenly, he was jittering and juking up the middle of the field in Ohio State's jersey scrimmage Saturday morning. Trouble was in his wake, undefended yard stripes were ahead of him, and he launched himself through the air to cover the final 3 of them. His 11-yard scoring run came against a mixed defense of second-stringers and others. But Miller was not playing with the first-team offense, either.

At a few minutes before noon on a gray, chilly Saturday morning, it was briefly Miller Time at Ohio State.

Cont...

http://www.cleveland.com/livingston/index.ssf/2011/04/post_24.html

Inside Look: Buckeyes Hold First Jersey Scrimmage
Saturday, April 9, 2011
By Greg Miller
WBNS-10TV

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Today we got our first extended peek at the spring practice for the Ohio State football team. The curtain was pulled back for the media to watch (but not videotape) their first jersey scrimmage of the spring. If you brought your calculator and understood the complex scoring system, the final score was Scarlet (offense) beating the Gray (defense) 56-45.

Some quick hits from today's scrimmage:

- Braxton Miller still has work to do. Looked good at times with his feet, but looked a little uncomfortable passing. But honestly, that is expected. Remember he's only been doing this "college thing" a few weeks. His 11-yard touchdown scramble was a thing of beauty though.

- Joe Bauserman, as of this point, appears to be the starter while Pryor serves his suspension. He only threw five passes, but did complete a 35-yard TD pass to DeVier Posey.

- Receiving corps is thin. A lot of running backs lined up as receivers in the five-wide sets. Posey was the lone standout, catching five passes for 84 yards and two touchdowns. But remember, he is one of those guys that is suspended for the first five games next year. Someone will have to step up in his absence. Chris Fields had two catches, but Corey Brown had none. Still some questions at receiver.

- Running back looks deep. All five backs showed some good things today. Smith, Berry, Hall and Hyde should fill in quite nice while Herron is serving his five games.
- Defense showed flashes, but admittedly have work to do replacing 7-8 starters. Etienne Sabino made some nice plays. The defensive line put good pressure on quarterback, epecially Kenny Guiton, sacking him three times. The defense had four sacks total, including two from walk-on Stewart Smith. John Simon's defensive pressure created the only interception of the day by linebacker Dorian Bell, who played well.

- Drew Basil looked good at kicker, hitting a 48, 47 and two 42 yard field goals.

Again, this was an unofficial scrimmage, so keep in mind these stats are unofficial. But here is play-by-play and statistics from Saturday.

Cont..

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/os...tory-ohio-state-scrimmage-spring.html?sid=102

 

[seed702]

My thought Tlangs is getting TP ready for the pros.....I really don;t know what would be gained if we win the first 5 games with Miller at the helm, and then bench him for TP. No doubt at all what a great QB TP has been I agree completely... I am only thinking of his Pro career as a WR...I am not sure he will make it as QB.....It's different at RB where Herron could come back and get back in even with Smith doin real well.....all of this is just speculation....that's the fun of it!

I could totally see that happening.

If Miller goes 25/30, with 380 yards and 4 td's passing, and runs for another 130 with 2 TD's...and he does it in all 5 games...then sure, he's got to be the starter.

If he does anything less, he rides the pine behind Bauserman & Guiton, setting his sights on 2012, which is the more likely scenario.

 

[southcampus]

I agree to an extent. JT is all about controlling the ball and if Miller can prove to be better at that than any of the other guys, he'll get the nod. Joe Bauserman, albeit in limited action without much preparation, has shown some turnover tendencies. The rest are all unknown entities. We'll know a lot more after the spring game and after fall camp obviously.

I've heard Miller has a lot of poise, a decent grasp of his footwork, and the respect of ALL of the upperclassmen. That's more than I could say about Terrelle Pryor coming in here and JT felt he was ready to lead a team. I don't think it's too far fetched for us to see Braxton out there a lot in weeks 1-5, even if he's not starting.

All in all, it's almost a moot point. To beat the first five teams on our schedule, if we need to depend on the pass much, we aren't going to win anyways. Hand the ball off to the best backfield in the country (IMO) and let them truck people, run by people, and lead us to victory. Our backfield is unreal.