OHIO STATE SPRING FOOTBALL
Ginn not dropping hints
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Doug Lesmerises
Plain Dealer Reporter
Columbus- In the immediate aftermath of Ohio State's win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl three months ago, Buckeye sophomore receiver Ted Ginn Jr. talked about his future in Columbus with a singular reference, not a plural one. Probably just a slip, but it may have been a subliminal indication the former Glenville star is planning on heading for the NFL after his junior season.
If so, he wasn't tipping his hand after the fourth practice of the spring on Tuesday. Last August, Santonio Holmes declared he was embarking on his "money season," played well and left early for the NFL.
Is this your money year, Ted?
"I wouldn't say that," he said. "I would say that I've still got two years left and I'm going to play as hard as I can for me and for the seniors."
Let's say this then. With Holmes gone, Ginn is looking a lot more like a player ready to absorb the Heisman hype that started a season ago, a lot more like a complete package on and off the field.
"There's a major difference right now in his receiver play," OSU receivers coach Darrell Hazell said. "I think he understands things a whole lot better.
He's asking more questions. I think he was a little bit sitting in the wings last year. Now he's stepped up and is making a lot of plays.
"And he's a lot more vocal than you think he is. I think he was afraid - maybe not afraid - but he did not step into that role last year because Tone was there. But he's definitely embraced it this year."
One thing that won't change is Ginn's position in the offense. He'll remain out wide to the far side of the field in what the Buckeyes refer to as the "Z" receiver spot, while St. Ignatius grad Anthony Gonzalez should take over Holmes' role in the "X" spot, with routes that are a little more possession oriented.
Hazell said that's to keep Ginn comfortable and to best take advantage of his skills, especially when defenses in a zone put only one defender to that far side, figuring it's a long, tough throw for Troy Smith to make. But when Smith makes that pass quickly, Ginn can turn a 3-yard out into an 80-yard gain by beating one man.
On the current depth chart, Roy Hall, who will be a fifth-year senior, is behind Gonzalez at the "X" spot, with redshirt freshman Brian Hartline third. Backing up Ginn is Chagrin Falls grad Brian Robiskie, who will be a sophomore, and sophomore Albert Dukes.
Hall at this point would be on the field in three-receiver sets, but Robiskie, No. 4 on the overall depth chart, is still fighting for a bigger role, singled out by Hazell as the most impressive of the group of young receivers.
"He looks like a veteran guy," Hazell said. "He's still learning and making some young mistakes, but physically, he looks like a veteran guy."
Those are the kind of mistakes Ginn has left behind.
He's definitely more comfortable," Hall said. "He looks more like a receiver."
After a season that included 51 catches for 803 yards and four touchdowns, and a Fiesta Bowl of 240 total yards rushing and receiving and two touchdowns, even Ginn, loathe to extol his own virtues, acknowledges something big might be coming.
"I'm not going to set my whole season on the Heisman. I'm not going to set my whole season on leaving," he said. "I feel more relaxed. I feel more calm."
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Back to Teddy G., I thought he was pretty darn good at the end of last year. If he's much better than that, the TBDBITL better warm up for the post-TD celebrations.