Football
The-Ozone Draft-Day Note and Quotebook
By John Porentas

Draft Strategy: The annual draft for the spring game was conducted yesterday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. In past years, all the seniors were assigned to teams, but this year the OSU coaching staff elected to assign all the seniors and all players with junior eligibility as well. That meant that 38 players were assigned, and those assignments to a large degree dictated how the draft went. The-Ozone posted a draft order and rosters yesterday. The draft order includes a list of players who were assigned to teams by the coaching staff.

Kirk Barton

Scarlet captain Kirk Barton admits to being an NFL draft/fantasy sports junky and put a lot of thought into the spring game draft. Barton explained his team's strategy coming into the draft, going so far as to put together a draft board prior to the draft. Barton said the gray squad played right into the hands of the scarlet strategy when they took Lawrence Wilson with the first overall pick.

"We were excited because our number one guy on the board was Alex Boone, and he slipped to the number two pick, so it was an exciting move for us," said Barton of the strategy he and coaches Jim Heacock and Darrell Hazell had coming into the draft.

"It's all about scarcity," said Barton.

"If you have a guy like Alex (Boone) who is going to play the whole game, his value goes up.

"Some guys in the past haven't played the whole game so their value goes down.

"Tackles and defensive ends are the key to this game. We started off with Vernon Gholston (by assignment), so that was a gift. If we could have gotten Lawrence or Rob Rose we knew we would have a good set of ends, and with Alex and the rest of our O-line, we knew we were in pretty good shape.

When asked why the gray took Wilson. gray defensive end Alex Barrow explained.

"Because they had Vern. We felt like with me and Lawrence both on the edge, that's pretty good," said Barrow.

Medical Report: Prior to the draft yesterday a member of the OSU team medical staff delivered a medical report that might affect the draft. His report was as follows:

Anderson Russell

Out - Kyle Mitchum, John Skinner, Brent Ullery, Chris Wells, Andre Amos, Kyle Libby, Anderson Russell, Dimitrios Makridis

Doubtful - Kirk Barton, Scott Sika, Jamario O'Neal, Curtis Terry, Aaron Gant

Questionable - Jake Ballard, Thad Gibson

Very questionable - Brian Hartline

No definition of the various categories was given. Out is pretty clear, but doubtful, questionable and very questionable leave some room for debate. We'd guess that the doubtfuls won't see action either.

Talkin' Trash: There was a fair amount of good-natured trash talking after the draft. Some of the talk centered around the quarterbacks. The scarlet drafted Robby Schoenhoft despite already having been assigned Todd Boeckman. Tressel then mandated that Schoenhoft would have to play the second half with the gray team, and then further mandated that gray quarterback Antonio Henton would play the fourth quarter with the scarlet team. When asked about the quarterback shuffle, Barton got off a shot on the gray team.

"We wanted to take Schoenhoft because if we had Antonio Henton for the fourth quarter all he's going to need to do is take knees, so it won't be a big deal," Barton quipped.

"He's going to be running from (defensive ends) Vernon Gholston and Rob Rose," Barton said.

A. J.Trapasso

Somehow (OK, it was us) the gray team heard about the comment, and punter A. J. Trapasso had a response for Barton.

"All first half Boeckman is going to be on his knees with Lawrence Wilson coming through the middle. He's going to be picking himself up . Tell him (Barton) it's a good thing Barton's not playing so he doesn't look silly in front of Lawrence," said Trapasso. For the record, Trapasso's teammate Brandon Smith looked horrified as the remark was made. Obviously, Trapasso doesn't have to line up in front of any of those guys. Barton got in one final retort.

"We'll see. I'm done talking, but I feel confident that with Vern Gholston and Rob Rose that Antonio Henton is going to be running for his life. Lawrence is a a good player, but, give me a break," Barton grinned.

Coaches for a Day: OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel announced at the draft that the OSU basketball team has been invited to participate in the spring game as coaches. Please note that we left off the term "honorary", because they will actually have a real role. Guards Mike Conley and Jamar Butler will actually be calling the plays from the sideline on Saturday.

"They're special kids," said Tressel explaining what moved him to invite the basketball team to participate in the spring game.

"Two or three days after the last game I was talking with Thad and I said 'Hey, I know you guys are tired and have had enough hoopla but do you think the kids would have some fun coaching our game?' because I think our fans would love to recognize them.

"He said 'Let me check,' and ten minutes later he texted me back and said his guys would love to do it. He said Conley and Oden already wanted film."

At first the entire team was scheduled to participate, but center Greg Oden had to beg off due to a prior commitment.

"Oden's in the tank because he has to go to his aunt's wedding that day," said Tressel.

Coach Mike Conley

"I had Conley and Oden line up against each other because they're always together. I wanted to let them compete against each other and they were all fired up for that, and then Greg felt as if he should be at that wedding, which he should," said Tressel.

Tressel outlined the duties of the basketball team.

"They'll have a list of plays and defenses, and they'll call the plays. They're going to call the plays, give the half time talks, talk to the guys when they come off the field," said Tressel.

In Oden's absence, Jamar Butler will be calling plays on Saturday.

Tressel said he could make use of an athlete like Conley on his football team.

"Quarterback, receiver, probably corner," said Tressel listing the positions he feels Conley could fill on a football team.

"He's so calm. He reminds me of Teddy (Ginn). Teddy has that extraordinary calmness factor. We do a lot of testing of our guys in a lot of way, and Teddy's calmness is off the charts. I bet Conley's is too."

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