Summer Practice 2009

[jwinslow]

I got there a little late (had a 10 am appointment), so maybe there was an early score I missed... but Rocco & Schrock were getting absolutely demolished in the option sets. They kept running them courageously and paid for it dearly Pitch it, keep it, try to throw it, it didn't matter. It was getting dominated.

 

[jwinslow]

edit: I think I figured out the other "score"

Rocco flexbone offense... step back to pass... pressured, fumbled forward 7-10 yards. Marcus Hall falls on it for a 3 yard gain. One of their best plays of the day!

Jermil Martin takes dive... hit after 1 yd... fights through tacklrs for 3-4... then dives under them for another 3. Crafty, tough run by Jermil.

49 yd FG by Pettrey is good.

I'm not sure they got a first down. If they did, it was only 1. That was a field position score, not a defensive letdown.

 

[Buckskin86]

Left tackle: Before the special-teams scrimmage Wednesday, J.B. Shugarts was practicing at left tackle.

Wasn't he supposed to back up Jim Cordle at right tackle? Weren't Andrew Miller and Mike Adams competing at left tackle?

Coach Jim Tressel said as camp started that such a move was possible, if Shugarts or any others showed they might belong among the top five linemen, regardless of position.

R eceiver: Dane Sanzenbacher is the returning regular. Expected to step forward are DeVier Posey, Lamaar Thomas and Taurian Washington.

But senior Ray Small, who started the month in Tressel's doghouse again, got plenty of time running routes and returning punts (his job a year ago) Wednesday. He appears to be back in the mix.

Freshman Duron Carter seems to be improving every day.

Running back: Daniel Herron and Brandon Saine were projected to share time going into the season. But insiders say highly touted freshman Jaamal Berry was playing up to his billing before an injury set him back this week, that freshman Jordan Hall is better than some expected, and that converted fullback Jermil Martin is running with gusto.

Linebacker: Tyler Moeller, Austin Spitler and Ross Homan, the lone returning regular, were the projected three starters leaving spring.

Since then, Moeller has been knocked out for the season because of an offseason head injury; Spitler is out because of a calf strain; and Homan limped off Wednesday with what appeared to be a minor knee injury.

Brian Rolle, Etienne Sabino, Andrew Sweat and freshmen Dorian Bell, Storm Klein and Jordan Whiting, along with walk-on Tony Jackson, are gaining ground.

Cornerback: Devon Torrence appears to have the edge over Andre Amos for the starting job opposite returning regular Chimdi Chekwa.

But the coaches also seem to like the way freshmen C.J. Barnett and Travis Howard have stepped up, and the way Donnie Evege has gotten back into the action after two years of nagging injuries.

Safety: Maybe this is a surprise, considering seniors Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell are returning starters, but Jermale Hines doesn't want to be just a nickel back. Insiders say his play in practice has him pressing for a regular role.

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : OSU football: Playing time is now on the line

 

[BayBuck]

Tressel was the closing speaker at the Thompson Library re-opening gala last night, and he gave some brief insights into the team's scrimmage. He said that AD "Mr. Smith" came by to watch and was so unimpressed that JT might need to look for a job "stacking books in the library" before long, so that doesn't sound too good for the '09 team. Also, in injury news, Gordon Gee had a bit of a calf strain but is expected to be back for the Navy game.

what a ham
:osu:

 

[southcampus]

Gotta say, I'm pretty concerned about the O line. The Navy game couldn't get here fast enough so I can see for myself what we're actually working with, particularly on the left end. Sounds like the receivers are coming along nicely this summer and the LBers aren't missing a beat. I would really like the left tackle spot and the boundary corner to be locked up by middle of this week and to start hearing about the offense getting into gear.

 

[ysubuck]

The defense appears to have re loaded. Excited to see Gibson, Heyward and the boys unleashed in a real game situation.

Year in and year out the offense is a concern. Specifically the offensive line. Wait and see, wait and see...

 

[Merih]

Think about it guys...its a 120 play scrimmage (full game length). All snaps are offense vs defense...means that the o-line approximately has to protect for twice as many plays as in a game situation. 6 sacks (some vs second/third teamers) can equate to about 2-4 sacks in a regular game. Looking at the quality of our D-Line and pass rushers, I don't think that's something to be worried about. Sure, the high end (4) is a little high, but I'm pretty pleased with the O-Line play.

 

[BuckeyeTillIDie]

The good thing for the O-line is they're going against one of the best defensive lines in the country every day in practice.

We'll know how they are in less than two weeks now! :osu:

 

[Buckskin86]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhxOQuCe_48]YouTube - Scarlet and Gray Sports Radio: Jim Tressel (Jersey Scrimmage) Part 1[/ame]

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9enpzHArux4]YouTube - Scarlet and Gray Sports Radio: Jim Tressel (Jersey Scrimmage) Part 2[/ame]

 

[BigJim]

Think about it guys...its a 120 play scrimmage (full game length). All snaps are offense vs defense...means that the o-line approximately has to protect for twice as many plays as in a game situation. 6 sacks (some vs second/third teamers) can equate to about 2-4 sacks in a regular game. Looking at the quality of our D-Line and pass rushers, I don't think that's something to be worried about. Sure, the high end (4) is a little high, but I'm pretty pleased with the O-Line play.

Good point. I'm sure Pryor could have gotten away from a few of those sacks too.

Also, as one of the previous articles mentioned, Herron/Saine/Hall combined for 121 yards on 21 carries. And the 121 doesn't seem to be inflated by long runs. I can't see many OL's paving the way for that against OSU's d-line this year.

 

[jwinslow]

Hall had a 30 yard jaunt... Herron had a few 8-9 yd runs, Martin turned in a 7-8 yarder... for the most part it was a grind.


The pressure was ferocious, but the first teamers were pretty solid. Browning was rarely beat, Shugarts did pretty well, Cordle was fairly steady. The replacements on the first team and 2nd/3rd team lines had more trouble. All three QBs were not great at passing on time either, at least not in the scripted sets.

 

[generaladm]

O-Zone's jersey scrimmage articles by Gerdeman:

The most interesting bit for me was a 4-3 look with linebacker Etienne Sabino sliding down and standing up on the line of scrimmage, giving the defense a five-man front. From this look, the defense was free to zone blitz, allowing Thaddeus Gibson or Nathan Williams to drop back in pass coverage if necessary.
Along with this five-man front, many times we saw the defensive line have two defensive tackles, such as Doug Worthington and Dexter Larimore on the left side, with Sabino outside of them, and two defensive ends on the right side. So even if Gibson would drop back in coverage, that still left Cameron Heyward as a very capable pass-rusher.
There were also times when Sabino would stand up on the line of scrimmage and Gibson or Williams would drop back before the ball was even snapped and play a bit of linebacker. The versatility of the front seven gives this defense so many different avenues for distressing an offense, and generally it can be done with just four attackers.
There were even times the Buckeyes showed, essentially, a six-man front bringing a safety or another linebacker to the line of scrimmage. There were plenty of looks with eight in the box as well.

The-Ozone, Ohio State Football, Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and More

and Brandon Castel:

Positives:

• The defensive line looked dominant
• The offense used middle of the field
• They actually threw to the tight ends (4 catches)
• Good game for Herron, Saine and Hall running the football
• Pryor was sharp in short/intermediate passing game with the exception of one drive
• The young linebackers looked good
• Secondary played well
• Pettrey showed off his big leg, hitting kicks of 54 and 57 yards

Negatives:

• Still major question marks on the offensive line, particularly at left tackle
• The touchdown allowed to Pentello/ Navy offense is not a good sign
• Still no vertical passing game
• Another injury, this time to Cam Heyward
• Offense has a ways to go as a whole
• Three dropped interceptions by the secondary

The-Ozone, Ohio State Football, Wrestling, Softball, Basketball, Hockey, Baseball and More

Lots of good info in both, just quoted the parts I found interesting, or hadn't seen in other accounts.

 

[NateG]

I am excited to see all that the guys have learned live at practice tomorrow. Granted most see it as boring, I love watching practice. Good chance to see the players individually and make personal observations of expectations for guys. Plus I'm excited to be in the stadium again and see the new updates. Work is going to take soooo long tomorrow.

 

[NFBuck]

I'm trying to convince myself to not be worried over the fact that scout teamers scored on half their drives running the Navy offense, whilst our offense essentially couldn't do shit. I'm trying really hard...

Totally understandable and I feel the same way. Like I said in the Navy game thread, I hate playing teams with gimmicky offenses. That added to the fact that JT and crew may keep the offense buttoned up a bit prior to USC leads me to think it may be an ugly game. I still think that talent disparity leads to a win...just not a pretty one. I'm thinking along the lines of 27-17 or 30-21. That will have the chicken littles out in full force. The key will be to watch the line play. If the OL and DL play well, I'll feel a lot better. Close games because of a buttoned up play book and a busted play or two because of said gimmick offense is one thing, if the OL isn't protecting Pryor and the DL isn't getting pressure/containment...that's a different story. We'll see. I'm going into the season with cautious optimism. I love the talent, but the inexperience worries me and leads me to think a couple losses are possible.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

I'm thinking along the lines of 27-17 or 30-21. That will have the chicken littles out in full force.

If Navy scores 17-21 points on us at The Shoe, there will be more than Chicken Littles out in full force. Navy struggled to score 21 points at home against Notre Dame last season, with a more experienced offense.