Football
Competition Abounds for Two-Deep Positions this Spring
By John PorentasOhio State heads into spring ball 2009 without the services of 28 departed seniors and three juniors who opted out early for the NFL. That means there are a lot of slots in the two-deep up for grabs.
It isn't likely that much will be completely resolved this spring in the spots up for grabs, but below is a list of some of the candidates at the positions of where there is likely to be the most competition.
Cornerback: Last year's starters, Malcolm Jenkins and Donald Washington, are now awaiting the NFL draft, and that means that the Buckeyes are looking for two new starters at the corners. Chimdi Chekwa returns with significant experience at corner, but that's about where it ends. That doesn't however mean there isn't much talent to chose from.
"The one that is clearly out in front and will lead that corner group is Chimdi," said OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel.
"After that you're going to see a lot of different combinations this spring.
Tressel listed 5th Senior Andre Amos (6-1, 183), Junior. Devon Torrence (6-1, 193), Redshirt freshman Travis Howard (6-1, 180), Redshirt Sophomore Donnie Evege (5-11, 189) and Freshman C. J. Barnett (6-0, 185) as players who are in spring camp who will get a look at corner.
"They're all going to get a lot of reps with a lot of different units."
The odds on favorites to be on the field opposite Chekwa are Amos and Torrence. They are the most experienced of the group and both are fast enough and athletic enough to play. Amos was seen as a challenger for playing time two seasons ago before a serious knee injury set him back. It is his last go round, so he has plenty of incentive. Torrence has flashed as both a DB and wide receiver. It's likely that whichever one of those two does not earn the starting position will find a place in the nickel package as a third cover corner.
Offensive Line: The Buckeyes must replace Ben Person, Alex Boone and Steve Rehring. That's a lot of starts and minutes, but there are a lot of candidates. It's one of those positions where the coaching staff will do plenty of experimenting this spring.
"I think there's going to be a lot of different mixtures and matches in there," said Tressel.
"I think you'll see Jimmy Cordle (6-4, 297 5th year senior) playing center, guard and tackle. I think Jim Bollman felt that when Doug Datish had one of his best years it was with his quickness at a tackle position. He feels that Jimmy because of his intelligence and footwork can be helpful at all those positions.
"Bryant Browning (6-4, 312, redshirt junior) I think you'll see at both tackle and guard.
"I think you'll see Mike Adams (6-8, 322, sophomore) and Andrew Miller (6-6, 279, redshirt junior) predominantly at tackle.
"Justin Boren (6-3, 316, junior) predominantly at guard, Mike Brewster (6-5, 296 sophomore) )at center and guard, Evan Blankenship (6-3, 290, redshirt sophomore) is a guy who we think is starting to emerge a little. Josh Kerr (6-4, 286, redshirt junior) is guy who is older and was a little bit banged up a year ago and couldn't progress quite like we'd hoped he would.
"Jack Mewhort (6-7, 290, freshman) is in early who is a guy who can play center and play tackle and I'm assuming can play guard as well," Tressel said.
One of the more interesting additions is Justin Boren. Boren was a starter for Michigan before transferring to OSU after the Michigan coaching change and sitting out last season. Tressel likes what he sees in Boren.
"I'm sure Justin would tell you if you asked him that he feels very confident that he's as good as there is run blocking, and he feels as if he needs to become a better pass blocker," Tressel said.
"That was kind of how we evaluated him when he was an opponent and he's worked hard in this off year to get better at what he needs to get better at and keep getting stronger. He's a very strong kid, he bench pressed something like 500-some-odd pounds, he's a strong kid. I think he'll add a dimension."
One player who will not practice this spring is highly heralded sophomore tackle JB Shugarts (6-8, 298). Shugarts saw action last year as a true freshman, but is recovering from off-season surgery and will not be available for workouts this spring.
Running Back: Number 28 is gone. Tressel isn't even thinking about replacing him.
"You don't replace Beanie Wells," he said.
"There aren't any guys in the country like him. You don't replace him, you have guys play that position."
That will mean that the tailback position will be different, but the names will not be totally foreign to you.
"I'm real high on Boom Herron (5-10, 193 redshirt sophomore), I'm real excited about having a healthy Brandon Saine (6-1, 217, junior), we're going to be anxiously awaiting a couple of freshmen for the August time, and we've got some good tough guys like Marcus Williams (5-10, 202, 5th year senior) and Joe Gantz (6-0, 199, 5th year senior) that know the system and can do some of the things," said Tressel.
Still, the loss of Wells creates a void that has to somehow be filled.
"When you lose a Beanie Wells you have to get a little more creative in some other areas," said Tressel.
"You're not going to have a 'turn around and hand it off 25 times' guy like you had with Beanie, but I like our guys. Boom and Brandon Saine can play."
Linebacker: Two stalwarts, Marcus Freeman and James Laurinaitis are gone leaving a large void at linebacker. Fortunately, the talent pool to replace them is also large.
Ross Homan (6-0, 229, redshirt junior) returns at one outside linebacker position leaving the inside spot and one outside spot up for grabs. The odds on favorite for the inside spot is 5th-year senior Austin Spitler (6-3, 234) who has logged playing time but just wasn't quite good enough to beat out James Laurinaitis. Then again, not many people were, so Spitler will now get a chance to earn a spot. It won't be without a struggle though. Sophomore Etienne Sabino (6-3, 232) showed on special teams that he is a hitter and will definitely challenge Spitler for the starting spot. Sophomore Andrew Sweat (6-2, 220) could also be a factor there as well as junior Brian Rolle (5-11, 221).
The other outside spot is wide open. Rolle, Tyler Moeller (6-0, 216, redshirt junior) ) and even Sabino will get a look.
"If we played today Homan and Spitler would probably be on the field," said Tressel.
Wide Receiver: With the loss of Brian Robiskie and Brian Hartline there will be a definite youth movement at wide receiver.
"I think it's a big spring for guys like DeVier Posey (6-3, 205, sophomore), Taurian Washington (6-2, 179, junior), Lamar Thomas (5-11, 186, sophomore)," said Tressel.
"Your veteran guys like Dane Sanzenbacher (5-11, 175, junior) and Ray Small (5-11, 180, senior), it's going to be important for them, but probably they won't make the quantum leaps that I sure hope DeVier and Lamar and Taurian and folks like that make.
"I think it's going to be critical as to how healthy those guys are because the only way you're going to get better is with reps."
Posey and Thomas have the kind of speed to make them big play receivers, but unseating Small and Sanzenbacher might be a challenge. Small has all the tools to be a star. If he has his head screwed on right he could be a pleasant surprise next fall. Still, OSU will certainly be going three, four and even five wide at times next fall, and that means some of those young receivers are going to get on the field. Both Posey and Thomas have tremendous upside, and according to wide receiver coach Darrell Hazell, if Washington can learn to play in traffic, he too can be a big play guy.
Tight End: Rory Nicol has moved on leaving Jake Ballard (6-6, 256, senior) the only returner at tight end. The OSU coaching staff has made some moves to shore up that position, some of them surprising. They have moved redshirt freshman wide receiver Jake Stoneburner (6-5, 230) to tight end as a receiving threat from that position.
"We feel as if you can pressure with the inside receivers, perhaps better than we've been doing," said Tressel.
"We have high expectations for Jake Ballard and have to find ways to make him as impactful as he can be.
"We knew when we recruited Jake (Stoneburner) that he was either going to be a big receiver or an inside receiver and we were going to have to teach him enough of the blocking to make him adequate there.
"I don't know that he'll ever be a crushing blocker at tight end, although his hip strength is incredible.
"His power clean is better than a good bit of the team, so he does have a lot of natural ability there.
"We think he can be another playmaker, plus I think he was tired of just eating apples and trying to be a wideout at 215 pounds. He's going to be a big guy.'
While they are waiting for Stoneburner to get bigger the OSU coaching staff has decided to look at defensive lineman Todd Denlinger (6-2, 292, 5th year senior)as a short yardage tight end as well as offensive lineman Andrew Moses (6-3, 280, 5th year senior).
"I think guys like Jake Stoneburner and Nic DiLillo are going to come along but maybe not as fast as Todd Denlinger," said Tressel.
"It becomes very critical, when you need that yard, it might only happen twice a game, but you better be prepared to get that yard."
Specialists: Punter A. J. Trapasso and kicker Ryan Pretorious have graduated. Tressel feels like his place kicking, however, remains in good hands.
"Aaron Pettrey I think can be an extraordinary kicker," said Tressel.
"He had a good off season, trimmed down, lost eight or nine pounds, really looks good. It will be an interesting battle with Devon Barclay and Ben Buchanan to see who might be the next one who can battle with Aaron."
The punting situation is a different story. There isn't a whole lot of returning experience at the punter position.
"From a punting standpoint, Jonathan Thoma has the most experience, but Ben Buchanan is going to have a chance to compete," said Tressel.
Thoma, a fifth-year senior, has seen very limited game action in his Buckeye career. Buchanan is redshirt freshman who comes to OSU with a big rep as both a punter and place kicker.
OSU struggled at times in the return game last year, and reps are to be had with the departures of Brian Harline and Brian Robiskie.
"Ray (Small) would be the lead guy in the punt return world," said Tressel.
"You've also got DeVier Posey and Devon Torrence and Dane Sanzenbacher and some guys who have always been interested in being back there but we had some people ahead of them.
"Back on kick return, probably Lamar (Thomas), Brandon Saine, James Jackson is in new now and he's a kick return guy. Boom Herron can always be back there as well."
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