Another new CB combination One of the great position battles heading into this fall is the starting corner opposite of Chimda Chekwa and it looks like the coaches are giving everyone the opportunity to show their skills. For the third straight open practice, Taver Johnson switched it up, giving the nod to redshirt freshman Travis Howard yesterday, after going with Devon Torrence and Andre Amos earlier in the week.
According to practice observers, Donnie Evege ran with Amos on the second unit, while Torrence teamed with freshman C.J. Barnett. To show you how serious the coaches are in giving everyone a chance, incoming WR James Jackson was seen displaying his inner Chris Gamble.
The defense of choice this spring has been the nickel, so at least 3 of these guys have to step up by this fall. There is established depth at the safety position, but I would rather see a CB across from a WR in any nickel and let Coleman and Russel roam free. Don't be surprised to see Howard follow in Chikwa's footsteps, emerging onto the scene after redshirting.
Boom packs it on Antonio Pittman ran for 1330 yards and Beanie Wells went for 1600 when they took over as starters. This fall will be Boom's chance to continue the trend and he has added 10 pounds since the Fiesta Bowl, putting him at 205. I don't think he will be asked to carry it as much as the other two, but his health will be key to this offense and there's no reason he can't be 210+ by fall camp.
It's also good to hear about a healthy Brandon Saine. I think he got a bad rap last year battling through his hamstring injury, but as he showed in his freshman year, he can do a variety of things. A 3-headed rushing attack of Herron, Pryor and Saine will wear any opposing team down by the 4th and allow Tressel to do what he loves, control the clock.
A Ray Small sighting? The mysterious case of Ray Small could be coming to a happy ending. Word out of camp is he's focused and catching everything in sight. Devier Posey is still primed to be the top target, but we've heard from a couple of people that Small is off to a great start. Small was in the doghouse last spring, losing his #4 jersey and went on to catch only 18 passes for a 149 yards.
He has never seemed the same after that vicious hit he took against Minnesota his freshman year. The hit must have screwed up his internal clock, because his perpetual lateness is what got him on Tressel's bad side. Ray knows this is his last year and any WR that has put up decent numbers at OSU recently has gone on to be drafted.
NCAA merges probes against USC It was announced yesterday that the investigations of OJ Mayo and Reggie Bush have been combined. This signals a look into the entire institution and the lack of control they displayed. I'm not going to call them cheaters yet, but it's getting closer.
Beanie's stock rising again Mel Kiper released his latest mock draft and penciled Beanie in at #14 to the Saints. This would be a great fit for Beanie, complimenting Reggie Bush and playing with one of the best QB's in the league. I still don't think he gets past Denver at 12, but at least they are talking favorably of Beanie again.
Comments
We do have quite a few options at RB which makes this season exciting. Oh, the NCAA is finally going to get around to looking into USC? Any odds on nothing happening to them? They will probably say that 5 members of the football team will need to be suspended but Pete C. can choose who they are. Equipment Manager, stats guy, waterboy, cheerleader, and the 6 string punter.
One last thing on Beanie, not sure if he would go to Denver since they added Buckhulter and JJ Arrington in the off season. They have some serious defense issues that they need to address, particularly the front 7.
I have a feeling that things will be different this time.... the NCAA has taken the extra step of combining the investigations--- The Reggie Bush thing has gone on for how many years??? The NCAA (I think) is getting its ducks in a row.... hopefully they get the Bobby Bowden treatment and have to forfeit games!! That would be awesome. I'll bet Rick Neuheisel is feeding the NCAA some info from UCLA land....
With the offensive line hopefully becoming more aggressive and physical how great would it be to see the Vest go back to the Woody days and run a pure triple option? With our young running back talent and TP as the workhorse he is, we could ride them and just pound teams, ala classic Nebraska style.
There's a reason b saine was the one who played and boom red shirted 2 years ago and I just hope he can get back to that form while boom develops, as the tandem could be unstoppable. Add in Berry, Hyde, and I think Jordan Hall will surprise people when he gets on the field, and we have our own stable of running backs. Oh yeah that Pryor guy can move too!
The only thing we need to do now is have JT mold the offense for the style of players we have and not go smash mouth. I know we've heard change is coming but seeing is believing.
I totally agree but I think the main reason Boom redshirted and Saine didn't was size and now Boom has taken care of that issue. When you factor that in along with the durability issues of Saine, I am firmly in the Not Sold camp when it comes to him. He's a track guy wearing shoulder pads until he proves otherwise. I hope he does exactly that because I don't dislike him but at this point I'd just as soon see the younger guys get a shot so if nothing else get a chance to develop.
I hope Saine gets his reps, as long as we give Boom the ball any time we're inside the 25 yard line. Boy has a nose for the end zone.
Re: Brandon Saine - As I said @ OHD, w/ Boom's emergence last fall and Berry/Hyde's arrival this fall (assunimg they're as good as advertised), this is his very last chance to "demand" a significant role in the offense. I don't claim to know whether he can or not, I'm just saying that this is a make-or-break spring for him.
Re: Bush/Mayo/etc. - what's missing here is any REAL, unitary authority over the big boys of collegiate sports. I sort of tend to think that any regime that empowered the Myles Brands (or Jim Delanys, if it came to that) of the world would be be a be-careful-what-you-wish-for situation. At the same time, any regulatory body worthy of the name cannot tolerate a Reggie Bush-style flaunting of the rules, wherein pro-sports money (even in the prospective sense) is used to forestall amateur inquiries . What's to be done? I don't know. Giving players better stipends (i.e. letting them share in the $ they generate) would be a start.
Duane Long made a comparison to Herschel Walker. Saine is a big, fast dude without a lot else going for him. He doesn't have shakes or bakes, but getting him on the option (with a blocker out in front or the defense keying on the QB) and he could be dangerous.
One day, the offense will learn how to get players in space.
Just to be clear: on the NCAA question, I'm perfectly cognizant that what I advocate might relegate things like both sexes' volleyball, and gymnastics, and wrestling, and even - gasp! - womens' basketball to club (or worse) status. All I have to say to that is: Oh well, too effing bad. You're piggybacking on the public school's tit because nobody gives a shit - at all - about what you're up to. Do you realize that the average WNBA salary is pretty much identical to the average American's income? This should tell you that they're ("they" meaning female basketball players) not doing anything special, and therefore don't need any special inroads to the vehicle of success that a college scholarship provides.
If that scholarship $ goes to a recent, brilliant Korean immigrant that otherwise couldn't study at the James - but doesn't pass like Sam Prahalis and annoys you on the bus to University Village - I'm all for that.
I really like the fact that all these green DB's are getting their chance to prove what they got. Tressel, since putting in TP, has shown a willingness to put the best player on the field, regardless of being a frosh, soph. or senior. That can only help the team IMHO.
Bucknuts has a "free" article about notes from thursday's practice, which just links you to the premium message boards, which aren't free. Way to go Bucknuts.
I forgot they signed those two backs this off season and Shanahan has taken his love of RB's with him, but I still think Beanie will be an element of surprise come draft day, whether a team trades up or someone snags him early.
keep it coming Dickrod!
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/...
Pretty sure the only triple option well be seeing is in the opener against Navy. I hope our offense doesn't get too "gimicky." Remember Pryor chose OSU over other schools because (among other things) we would develop him into a NFL type qb. I'm not implying I want to see a pro set every down, but I'd rather LiC focus on using his wideouts in the passing game than worrying about the reads that come with option offenses.
Hey, the Ghost of Connor Smith is... doing something. It's like he hasn't even been on the team since committing.
Agreed
Any thoughts on how much Stoneburner will actually be used at TE? I get excited by all of this preseason talk, but then the fall comes and it's back to the same-old, same-old.
I voted for Herron as the most important offensive player other than Pryor, but really I think the most important players will be the left and right tackles
Im glad someone talked about Saine a bit. I think if he's healthy he can be the short yardage back. He ran strong as a true fr. Saine can be a "factor back" he will line up at wideout and get vertical down field to make some big plays. I don't see how we won't redshirt one or two fr. this year with Saine, Boom, and Berry being the three guys to carry the load. That will set us up great for the future with no 5 star back in ohio this year.
"There is established depth at the safety position, but I would rather see a CB across from a WR in any nickel and let Coleman and Russel roam free."
No, no, no....nickel back is where we get Jermale Hines on the field. Opposing defenses fear #7!
Uh...I mean opposing offenses. Well, they probably all fear him. Chuck Norris fears him.
Agreed....Jermale flashed glimpses of his actual potential, I can't wait for his "breakout" game as a starter! (hopefully game #1)! With the depth at just about every position coupled with J.T.'s competitions for starting positions, we may be the benificiaries of a deep, young & talented team!I sure hope all positions are up for grabs, week in & week out. That will only assist in making sure that everyone on the roster has stepped up their game, permanently! I hope J.T. has finally set some high standards with some coaches (I wont name), but we all know who they are! Lead by example! O - H...
duane long is an ass wipe full of hyberbole. W e could only hope that Saine was comparable to Walker. Long has a history of making stupid comments as though he is the great authority. Walker had a long and productive NFL career. His latest hyberbole is the Hicks is the greatest linebacker ever. Remember this is the same guy who stated that Prescott Burgess was the best lb to come out of Ohio in 25 years and a must get. Burgess as we know was so-so at UM and the almighty Duane was. once. again. wrong.