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What Will and Will Not be Learned From the Spring Game

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buckeye phi's picture
April 15, 2016 at 12:20pm
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There has been a lot of talk about the number of players who will not be available for Ohio State's Spring Game this Saturday.  Several players are recovering from injuries – and will either not play at  all - or will be limited to the extent they'll be able to participate.  Still others will be restricted in the number of “live” (contact) reps they'll see as players who are already experienced enough to qualify as members of Urban Meyer's 2,000 Rep Club.  

The starting quarterback, center, right guard, tight end, defensive ends, defensive tackles, one corner-back and all three linebackers - are basically, already locked down for all intents and purposes.  And largely based on who will not be available Saturday, there are position battles that will probably not be much more resolved coming out of spring practice than they were going in.  

But there are also several key situations that could get sorted out much more clearly Saturday afternoon.  Here are some positions that could get narrowed down a bit coming out of the spring sessions.  

On offense:  Running back, z-wide receiver, left guard and backup quarterback  

On defense:   One safety spot and a couple of back-up D-line positions.  Possibly, one corner, too.  

It may be a little more interesting to watch the game with these considerations in mind.  Some performances are going to have more (or less) impact than others – perhaps, no matter how spectacular - due to the surrounding circumstances.  

For a recent example of this, just look back to last Spring.  No matter how great he looked at linebacker in last year's game, Nick Conner wasn't going to beat out Joshua Perry, Raekwon McMillan or Darron Lee.  Gareon Conley's performance at corner wasn't quite as dazzling by comparison in that game – yet Conley ended up starting in the Fall.  

Largely due to the absence of some key players, on offense – x-receiver, H-back and one tackle spot will almost certainly remain at least somewhat unresolved.  And on defense - at least one safety position, a backup spot or two on the d-line and possibly one corner spot are likely to remain somewhat unsettled as well.

Here's a position by position look – from a “what will and will not be learned” point of view.  In no particular order:

Running back has to be one of the most intriguing position battles this Spring.  With the departure of an all-everything back like Ezekiel Elliott, the starting spot is wide open.  Both of the leading candidates are completely healthy.   And on more than one occasion, Urban Meyer has said fifth-year senior, Bri'onte Dunn, and red-shirt freshman, Mike Weber, are neck-and-neck in practice so far this Spring.  

Running back is obviously a featured position in Meyer's offense.  So this competition is one to watch closely.  They can't stay neck-and-neck forever.  Or can they?  Could it really be running-back-by-committee in 2016?  More may be known soon.

It's doubtful much will be determined this Spring at H-back.  The two leading candidates, Dontre Wilson and Curtis Samuel, are each dealing with foot injuries.  Samuel is sitting out this Spring (following post-season surgery) – while Wilson's activities are, once again, being restricted due to a nagging injury.  

Two wide receivers who were expected to play significant roles last season, suffered eerily similar broken legs a couple of months apart from each other.  While both Noah Brown and Corey Smith are expected back at some time in 2016, it is not known exactly when that will be.  

Obviously, neither will be able to play in the Spring Game – but it's widely assumed Noah Brown, who was injured at the end of last year's Fall Camp, will be ready early in the season – possibly for the opener.  So, at least, one wide receiver position is not likely to be entirely settled any time soon.  

Considering where Brown was lining up when he was injured, as well as his physical attributes, that's probably going to be the "x-wide receiver" position.  Incidentally, it appears that if the season was to start tomorrow, true freshman/early enrollee, Austin Mack could conceivably start at “x”.  

Unlike the x receiver, more clarity could be established at “z-wide receiver” this Spring.  Corey Smith broke his leg in October of 2015.  With that kind of injury, there's a chance he won't be available until October this year.  Clearly, the z wide receiver (or flanker) position will have to be settled before then.  

The leading contenders for that spot should all play in the Spring Game.  Although, there may still be an issue with KJ Hill's wrist.  It should be fun to watch some of the fastest Buckeyes - like James Clark and Terry McLaurin competing for that spot.  Johnny Dixon is still being restricted due to chronic knee problems – but he has been practicing – so he may be in the mix, too.  

Speaking of fast Buckeyes, Parris Campbell could contend at x, z or H.  The same could be said of red-shirt freshman, Torrance Gibson.

By the way, Urban Meyer has expressed a desire to have a two-deep rotation at wide receiver and H-back.

There's been some talk about targeting the tight ends more in the passing game this year.  However, fans might be justified in thinking - they'll believe it when they see it - on that subject.  They've heard it before.  But since there will only be two scholarship tight ends on the roster for the Spring Game, the two deep is extremely unlikely to be affected.  It'll still be Marcus Baugh and AJ Alexander.

It appears the starting offensive line is about as set as it can be right now at four positions.  Jamarco Jones at left tackle, Pat Elflein at center, Billy Price at right guard and Isaiah Prince at right tackle.  The players vying for the open left guard position are Evan Lisle, Demetrius Knox, Matthew Burrell and Michael Jordan.  They are apparently all healthy and ready to fight for the job.  This should be one of the most fascinating position battles to watch.

But even if a clear choice emerges at left guard, one of the tackle positions could ultimately go to junior college transfer, Malcolm Pridgeon.  Pridgeon won't be on campus until June - but as a couple of coaches have suggested, they're not bringing in a JUCO transfer to sit on the bench.  

If Pridgeon wins a tackle spot during fall camp, that could re-open the competition at left guard – since one of the projected starters at tackle, Jamarco Jones, is also capable of playing guard at a high level.  The coaches are going to start their best five “Slobs” - plain and simple.  The o-line will almost certainly remain in a state of flux, at least at one position, heading in to Fall Camp.  

One of the most established positions on this year's team is quarterback – thankfully.  As a college quarterback, JT Barrett is about as solid as it gets.  That's not news.  But as every faithful Buckeye learned at the end of the 2014 season, the team is always only one play away from relying on his understudy.  

So far, it appears red-shirt freshman, Joe Burrow, has established himself as Barrett's primary back-up.  But Burrow may need a strong performance in the Spring Game to hold off a potential challenge from (rs) sophomore, Stephen Collier. 

Further establishing himself now, could also help Burrow hold off a potential challenge from the highly touted, true freshman, Duane Haskins, when he arrives this summer.  Every player involved is healthy – so, as far as depth is concerned, something could definitely be learned at quarterback from the Spring Game.

The Buckeyes are replacing three defensive backs who will each be playing on Sundays this Fall.  Unfortunately, one of the most promising candidates at safety, Erick Smith, suffered a torn ACL last season.  Obviously, he isn't available this Spring – but he could be back in the mix this Fall.  If Smith is at 100% in time, he'll play.

Another contender at safety, Cam Burrows, is just coming off an injury.  He might play – but he could still be a bit limited.  Malik Hooker has, apparently, looked very good in practice – but even if he locks down a spot, that would still leave one safety position up in the air coming out of spring practice.  

There are some newcomers to the position, as well.  Most notably, Damon Webb has moved over from corner.  But it may be be a little too soon to see how that's really working out.  There's so much more to learn at safety – and he made the move fairly recently.

Gareon Conley clearly has one corner-back position locked down.  The leading candidate for the other spot, Marshon Lattimore, has been quite limited throughout spring drills.  Given his history with chronic hamstring problems that's only wise, of course.  But it still leaves at least a little bit of a question at corner.  

There is an outside chance Denzel Ward might just step up and win the spot outright, though.  Ward was a standout on special teams as a true freshman in '15 – and he is widely considered to be one of the fastest players on the roster.  Corner will be a very interesting position to watch, but it's unlikely the open spot will be settled until sometime during Fall Camp

While Ohio State will be replacing two starting linebackers from the nation's second-ranked scoring defense – there doesn't seem to be much of an issue about who the new starters will be.  As most followers of the program expected, Dante Booker will take over at weak-side linebacker – and Chris Worley will be the new starting strong-side linebacker, or “walk-out linebacker”.   

With last year's team leader in tackles, Raekwon McMillan, returning at middle linebacker, the biggest unanswered question at linebacker will be in regard to depth.  

Three fine looking LB recruits came in with the '15 class.  In fact, Jerome Baker is one of a handful of sophomores on the team who actually played a little as true freshmen last season.  While he has been listed behind Worley at the, hybrid, walk-out position, the coaches have said they must find ways to get Baker on the field.  He's too talented to sit.   They may experiment with moving Baker around a little on Saturday.

Unfortunately, one LB from the class of '15, Nick Conner, is out with an ACL and another, Justin Hilliard, is being restricted as he continues to recover from a torn biceps.  One of the linebackers from the class of '16, Tuf Borland, is an early enrollee - so fans will get an early look at him.  But not too much is likely to be discovered at linebacker in Saturday's game that isn't already known.  

It's probably safe to assume the defensive line that played most of the Fiesta Bowl together will remain intact for the opener.  That's Tyquan Lewis at weak-side defensive end, Michael Hill at “1 technique tackle”, Tracy Sprinkle at “3 technique tackle” and Sam Hubbard at strong-side defensive end.  

Lewis had shoulder surgery after the season ended, but he recently said he's about to resume weight training - without restrictions.  He'll be full go by fall camp.  Jalyn Holmes has been running with the first team in his place – and looking pretty good in the process, by all accounts.  Holmes should play a significant role in a particularly strong looking defensive end rotation in '16.  

True freshman/early enrollee Jonathan Cooper is another DE to look for Saturday.  Of course, 5-star DE recruit, Nick Bosa, will not be joining the team until this summer.  

The biggest issues regarding the D-line this Spring should be about establishing some depth at tackle.  It's rather unclear who the most likely backups will be at either position.  Evidently, Donovan Munger has been experiencing some health issues.  If he fully recovers, that will provide much needed depth at one spot (he can play either 3 or 1 if needed).  Incidentally, Meyer has referred favorably to red-shirt freshman DT, Davon Hamilton, a few times this Spring.

Apparently, the coaches are also thinking a couple of players, Dre'monte Jones and Jashon Cornell, could eventually play either end or '3' tackle, if necessary.  Both are red-shirt freshmen – so clearly, further development will be key. But they'll be players to watch.

Urban Meyer said he knows he won't have as much of an idea how this team will ultimately look as he'd normally expect by this time of year.  Given the number of open positions, injuries, etc. - that makes sense.  A two-deep roster would be littered with suppositions, at this point.  But a few things could get sorted out.

While there are sure to be outstanding plays all over the field - many players will undoubtedly still be dealing with a fair amount of uncertainty coming out of the Spring Game.  And that's not all bad.  Guys who are competing for a position are very likely to participate in every extra, off-season, player-run workout they can -

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