Spring football is underway
Right: Ohio State head coach James Patrick Tressel addressed the media on Wednesday, the day before the Buckeyes began spring practice. (Adam Widman/OSU Athletic Communications Photo)
The 2009 tackle football team from The Ohio State University will be missing 31 different players from a year ago who either graduated or decided it was time to leave the campus to play for pay on Sundays.
With as much talent as the Buckeyes lost, 28 seniors and three juniors all told, one would think that the words, “rebuilding” or “reloading,” would be prominent in head coach Jim Tressel’s vernacular.
I’ve never really walked into a season and said, ‘Well, this is a rebuilding year. We’re not going to do as well,’ or ‘This is a reloading year, we’re going to be better,’ or ‘We’re experienced. Everything’s going to be wonderful. Because none of those are true. There’s such a fine line in how well you do.”
Offensively, the Buckeyes lost wide receivers Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, running back Beanie Wells, and linemen Alex Boone, Steve Rehring and Ben Person.
Three starters do return on the O-line with fifth-year senior OT Jim Cordle, junior OG Bryant Browning, and sophomore C Michael Brewster. Also figuring into the mix in the starting line-up will be Michigan transfer, junior OG Justin Boren, and sophomore OT Mike Adams.
The receiving corps will feature sophomore DeVier Posey, junior Dane Sanzenbacher, junior Taurian Washington, senior Ray Small, and sophomore Lamaar Thomas.
Tressel on his receivers:
I do think it’s a big spring for guys like DeVier Posey, Taurian Washington and Lamaar Thomas. Your veteran guys, like Dane Sanzenbacher and Ray Small, it’s going to be important for them but probably they won’t make the quantum leaps that I sure hope that Lamaar and DeVier and Taurian and folks like that make.”
At running back, sophomore Boom Herron figures to be the one taking over the reins from the departed Wells, with junior Brandon Saine getting some opportunities, as well. I would like to see the Buckeyes to throw to the backs more, possibly with Saine lined up in the slot with Herron in the backfield.
Coach Tressel later talked about the situation at running back, and what he foresees in the upcoming season. (Note: It sounds like Ohio State may just pass the ball more in 2009.):
You don’t replace Beanie Wells. There aren’t any guys in the country like him. When you lose a Beanie Wells, you have to get a little bit more creative in some other areas. You’re not going to have a turn-around-and-hand-it-off guy 25 times a game like you had with Beanie. But I like our other guys, (Dan) “Boom” (Herron) and Brandon Saine. They can play.”
The one position on the offensive side of the ball where there are no doubts is at quarterback with sophomore Terrelle Pryor, who will take just about every snap in 2009. Sophomore Joe Bauserman will get a few snaps in lopsided games to get some experience in the event of an injury to Pryor, but this is Terrelle’s team.
During the question and answer session, Tressel was asked about the evolution of Pryor from being more than just an athlete to a quarterback:
I hope he becomes a lot more comfortable in what he’s seeing and where he needs to deliver the ball and enhances his own confidence in getting the ball to the playmakers. His priorities (last year) were he was only going to throw it if he was sure. I’d rather err on that side rather than, ‘Aw, I’ll just throw it.’ But to get real good you have to get to the point where you let it go.”
The most experienced group on the defensive side of the ball is the D-line, with all four starters returning which include fifth-year senior DT Doug Worthington and junior DT Dexter Larimore, plus junior DE’s Cameron Heyward and Thaddeus Gibson. Also returning is senior DE Robert Rose, fifth-year senior DT Todd Denlinger, who is also working out as a tight end during the spring, and junior DE Lawrence Wilson, who will have no contact this spring while coming back from a torn ACL he suffered last season.
The biggest holes that need to be filled on defense and where the competition may be the stiffest during the spring and preseason camps is at linebacker. Just one starter returns, junior WILL linebacker Ross Homan. Taking over for James Laurinaitis and penciled in at MIKE linebacker is fifth-year senior Austin Spitler, while junior SAM linebacker Tyler Moeller appears to be the heir apparent of Marcus Freeman’s old position. Also figuring into the mix in the linebacking corps is junior Brian Rolle, along with sophomores Etienne Sabino and Andrew Sweat.
In the secondary, three starters return with fifth-year FS Anderson Russell, senior SS Kurt Coleman, and junior CB Chimdi Chekwa. Fifth-year senior CB Andre Amos appears to take over for the departed Malcolm Jenkins at the other cornerback position.
In the special teams department, fifth-year senior PK Aaron Pettrey returns to kick field goals and extra points, but the Buckeyes will have a new punter, with either fifth-year senior P Jon Thoma or redshirt freshman PK/P Ben Buchanan.
Spring practice concludes with the annual Scarlet & Gray game, which will take place at Ohio Stadium on April 25, right after the Ohio State vs. Notre Dame men’s lacrosse game, which begins at 11:00 a.m. ET.
On paper, it seems that Ohio State has the talent to compete for a national championship this season, but that will depend on how the younger players develop and how the coaching staff adjusts to the personnel on hand.
My assessment right now is that the Buckeyes will go 10-2 on the year and get another BCS bowl invite.
