Football
Friday Walk-through
By Brandon Castel

No, it was not a mirage. No, you weren’t watching the classic channel by accident. Yes, that was real live football on your television set.

After an eight month hiatus, college football officially returned Thursday night with nine games, including one in the Big Ten. Like sharks to blood, Ohio State fans flocked to anything that resembled Buckeye football (even loosely) as they prepare for the season-opener against Navy Saturday (noon ET, ESPN).

As the Bucks take their final walk-through at Ohio Stadium in preparation for the Midshipmen, we give one last in-depth look at OSU’s personnel for week one of the 2009 season.

Quarterback

Terrelle Pryor
Photo by Dan Harker

What to expect: If you’re listening to the OSU coaching staff, you might be expecting to see a mix of Vince Young and John Elway out there Saturday when Terrelle Pryor takes the field for his second season at Ohio State. What you should really expect, however, is a much-improved Pryor compared to what we saw last season. Because of Pryor’s bizarre athleticism, people underestimate how difficult it is to play quarterback in major college football as a true freshman. This is a kid who literally had no time to prepare for what was about to be thrust at him last year, and by all accounts did a pretty good job with it.

“A year ago this time, he was getting, I don't know, 15, 20 percent of the snaps and just doing a very limited amount of things and just trying to figure out what the formations meant,” Tressel said. “I think his basis of what he knows and what he's experienced and so forth is dramatically different.”

Expect to see crisper, more accurate passes in the short passing game. Expect to see Pryor use the middle of the field more as his understanding of the defense grows, but don’t expect to see him setting records or throwing 50-yard touchdown passes at will. That’s still not his game.

If practice is any indication, it could be the game for backup Joe Bauserman, and the Buckeyes plan to find out by using him for an entire series early in the first half. There’s been talk of Pryor sliding over to receiver when this happens, but don’t be surprised if you see No. 2 standing on the sideline next to Tressel for a series.

Injury report: Sounds like all the quarterbacks should be healthy and accounted for heading into the game thanks to guys like Rocco Pentello and Jermil Martin taking a lot of the lumps in practice running Navy’s triple-option offense.

Running Back

Boom Herron
Photo by Dan Harker

What to expect: Less production, more consistency. That’s what the Buckeyes should get in the post-Beanie Wells era. With his combination of power and speed, Wells was a once-in-a-decade type back who is now fourth on OSU’s all-time rushing list despite starting for just two seasons. Even with Boom Herron and Brandon Saine combined, the Buckeyes can’t simply replace what he brought to the team. What they can do, however, is provide more consistency. If they can stay healthy, Herron and Saine would appear to be ideal fits to play alongside Pryor, as each brings something different to the table.

Look for Herron to start the game and have a big day against Navy’s undersized defense. He and Saine will split carries pretty evenly if camp was any indication, but there’s no question the coaching staff is anxious to see if Saine can get back to the form he showed as a freshman now that he’s healthy. Don’t be surprised to see freshmen Jaamal Berry and Jordan Hall working with the first group in short bursts Saturday. Both have impressed the coaches during fall camp and both will likely get a chance to carry the ball in the opener. Keep your eyes glued on Hall (No. 29) when he has the ball because he disappears in and out of traffic.

Without Beanie, the Buckeyes probably won’t use nearly as much fullback as they have in the past, but when they do, look for a rotation that includes freshmen Zach Boren and Adam Homan as well as walk-on James Georgiades. Boren impressed the coaches enough this fall that he could start the game if they go I-formation on the first play, but each player brings something different to the position.

Injury report: The Buckeyes will have their top four backs healthy against Navy, but they will likely be without redshirt freshman Jermil Martin after all those hits he took in practice this week. Nothing changes except in short-yardage and goal line situations, where the Buckeyes will miss having the 230-pound back available.

Wide Receiver & Tight End

Taurian Washington
Photo by Jim Davidson

What to expect: After back-to-back seasons of Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline, OSU fans will have to get used to new numbers catching the ball from Pryor in 2009. The “sneaky” Dane Sanzenbacher, as receivers coach Darell Hazell calls him, will be a familiar site in the slot, but sophomore DeVier Posey and junior Taurian Washington will replace the Brian’s on the outside. Look for Posey and Sanzenbacher on the field if they open in the I-formation, but know it won’t be long before Washington joins them in a three-wide set.

“With Taurian being the third guy, he’s really had a phenomenal three weeks of camp and I’m really pleased with him,” Hazell said. “And he needed to do that for us and for himself.”

Unlike years past, the Buckeyes would like to get a host of different receivers involved in the passing game Saturday and the next three on the field would include freshman Duron Carter, senior Ray Small and sophomore Lamaar Thomas. Small and Thomas provide big-play potential with their speed, but it’s Cris Carter’s son who has impressed Hazell with his playmaking abilities this fall.

“He’s working hard at it and he still has a lot of things to learn and get better at,” Hazell said of his top freshman. “But he’s got playmaking abilities and you can’t overlook that.”

Don’t be surprised to see them get the tight ends involved in the passing game against Navy (seriously this time), as both Jake Ballard and Jake Stoneburner were consistently hauling in catches during practice. Both are big targets and could be used to attack the middle of the field if Navy plans to play a cover-three zone to prevent Pryor from hitting anything deep.

Injury report: Thomas and Stoneburner each missed chunks of practice time during fall camp, but both appear to be at or near 100 percent heading into Saturday’s game. Thomas will serve as the team’s primary kick returner and should see limited reps at wideout as the No. 6 receiver in a six-man rotation. Stoneburner should be used as the No. 2 tight end in passing situations, but look for freshman Reid Fragel to assume that role on short-yardage plays.

Offensive Line

Mike Brewster
Photo by Jim Davidson

What to expect: That’s the billion-dollar question in Columbus. What can fans expect out of the offensive line in 2009 after an abysmal year up front in 2008? The Buckeyes have gone with a whole new look on the o-line this season with only sophomore Michael Brewster back in the same position as he ended last season. Senior Jimmy Cordle has moved out to right tackle while Bryant Browning slides inside to right guard. Michigan transfer Justin Boren moves into the lineup at left guard and converted tight end Andrew Miller will start the game at left tackle after beating out sophomores J.B. Shugarts and Mike Adams.

“Andy’s come a long way,” Ballard said. “He was a 250-pound tight end when he first came in and he’s put on about 45 pounds and he’s really done a great job in this camp. He’s really stepped up and he’s shown the coaches that he can be a left tackle and he can block the point and he can pass block Terrelle’s blindside.”

Expect to see some nasty run-blocking inside with Boren, Brewster and Browning but watch carefully to see if Miller and Cordle can handle the rigors of playing on the outside. Look for the Buckeyes to play their entire second line at some point in the first half, and don’t be surprised if it includes true freshmen Corey Linsley, Jack Mewhort and Marcus Hall. One player who won't be out there Saturday is Adams, who faces at least a one-game suspension.

Injury report: After losing Boren to a left knee injury in week two of camp, the Buckeyes got him back last week and look to be as healthy as any team in the country up front heading into the season.

Defensive Line

Lawrence Wilson

What to expect: The deepest defensive line of the Tressel era. That might sound crazy considering how good Ohio State’s line was in 2002, but it simply did not have the top-to-bottom depth to match this year’s group. The second-team line of Lawrence Wilson, Todd Denlinger, Rob Rose and Nathan Williams could start for most Big Ten teams and that says nothing of a third group that includes Solomon Thomas, Garrett Goebel, John Simon and Keith Wells.

The strength of the group, however, will be the starting front four. Junior Dexter Larimore emerges as the team’s nose tackle alongside senior captain Doug Worthington, and the Buckeyes are expecting big things out of ends Cameron Heyward and Thad Gibson in 2009. Look for Gibson to move around at the LEO position and even pick his hand up to play like a blitzing outside linebacker. When that happens, the Buckeyes may slide Larimore over the center and go with more of a 3-4 look on defense.

Injury report: There was serious concern when Heyward went down holding his right leg during the jersey scrimmage, especially when he showed up to the open practice in a protective boot, but coach Tressel said he has not missed a rep in practice because of the sprained ankle and he is good to go for Saturday. The same goes for Wilson, who is coming off a knee injury in 2008 and a broken leg before that in 2007. Expect him to play, but not 40 snaps worth. Freshman Melvin Fellows will not play as he recovers from off-season knee surgery. Expect the staff to get Heyward out of the game quickly if they are up big to avoid any further injuries from those chop blocks.

Linebacker

Austin Spitler
Photo by Dan Harker

What to expect: A lack of big names. If you’re used to seeing household names like A.J. Hawk and James Laurinaitis playing linebacker for OSU, then this isn’t your year. After losing Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman in the off-season, this group is made up of relative unknowns, including captain Austin Spitler, who waited four years behind Laurinaitis for his chance to start.

“Obviously, I haven’t played all that much here, especially as a starter. I kind of like flying under the radar. Hopefully by the end of this year people will learn about my past and see that he was behind James all four years.”

Junior Ross Homan returns as a starter opposite Spitler on the outside, but the star of the group could be Brian Rolle, who takes over for Laurinaitis as the starter in the middle despite standing 5-foot-10 on a good day.

“I think of myself as the new prototypical linebacker. I'm a guy that can move and I'm agile and that's bad for most offensive linemen,” Rolle said. “I get guys telling me to slow down a little bit. There's nothing I do that I would do differently if I were the outside linebacker or was 6-3.”

Behind the first three, look for sophomores Etienne Sabino and Andrew Sweat to get plenty of action Saturday and possibly even a handful of freshmen like Dorian Bell, Storm Klein and Jonathan Newsome.

Injury report: Losing budding star Tyler Moeller to a non-football related head injury before the start of camp was a tough blow for the Buckeyes, but they have enough talent at linebacker to move on without him for 2009. Spitler went down with a calf strain early in camp, but said Tuesday that he expects to be 100 percent for kickoff this week.

Secondary

Kurt Coleman
Photo by Jim Davidson

What to expect: After losing cornerbacks Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington, it’s a little hard to know exactly what to expect from the secondary until we see them in action. They won’t get a lot of that, at least not through the air, Saturday against Navy, but this group must stay disciplined if they want to avoid getting beat for a big one over their heads. Three-year starters Kurt Coleman and Anderson Russell are back at safety, but look for junior Jermale Hines to see plenty of action in this game, both at the Star position and even back deep as a safety.

“He’ll definitely be on the field even with them not throwing because of what Jermale Hines means to this defense and our team,” cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson said.

As far as his own position goes, junior Chimdi Chekwa slides into the starting lineup on a permanent basis this season after seeing partial starting duty each of the last two years. The biggest question mark will be at the other corner spot, where senior Andre Amos and junior Devon Torrence have been locked up in a tight battle since the start of spring practice.

“Both of those guys are going to play for us, there’s no doubt. How much depends on the series, and I think that’s a great situation for us where we can have three guys for two positions,” Johnson said.

Look for Amos and Torrence to rotate series throughout the game much like Chekwa and Washington late last season. Don’t expect to see any three-corner looks, at least not this week as the Buckeyes focus on countering Navy’s talented rushing attack.

“I’d be comfortable because both of those guys have done a good job this camp. Devon has definitely had a great camp and he’s really come on not having played the position very long,” Johnson said.

Injury report: The Buckeyes will likely be without redshirt freshman Travis Howard at corner this week along with safety Orhian Johnson, both of whom are out with ankle/lower leg injuries. Johnson saw some reps with the first team in the spring when Coleman was out, but was unlikely to see time in the secondary Saturday regardless of health. After competing for a starting spot in the spring, Howard was slated to be OSU’s fourth corner in 2009 and could resume that role as early as week two against USC. Tressel said Thursday that senior safety Aaron Gant could also miss the game.

Special Teams

Aaron Pettrey
Photo by Jim Davidson

What to expect: The Buckeyes begin a new era of special teams – at least in the kicking game – after losing place kicker Ryan Pretorius and punter A.J. Trapasso, a four-year starter. Senior Aaron Pettrey takes over the full-time kicking duties in 2009 after going 7-of-8 on field goal tries a year ago. He has a big leg and could be an upgrade over Pretorius. On Thursday, Tressel said senior Jon Thoma, a former walk-on, had the edge over freshman Ben Buchanan for the punting job heading into week one. OSU has featured an excellent punting game under Tressel, so keep an eye on Thoma Saturday. If he falters, Buchanan will be called upon quickly.

"It is going to be interesting to see how Jon Thoma does," Tressel said. "He has really been in a good battle with Ben Buchanan at punting. Jon's got the edge right now and for him to do well would be a great story of patience."

On the flip side, senior Ray Small returns in his usual role as the deep guy on punt returns. Expect to see Posey and Sanzenbacher get some reps back there as well, but Small is clearly the guy they want back there after leading the Big Ten in punt return average a year ago.

“Ray is clear and above our best punt returner,” Hazell said.

On kick returns, the Buckeyes will feature Flash Thomas – who came on halfway through last season to have a good year returning kicks – along with either Boom Herron or Brandon Saine.

Injury report: No injuries to report.

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