Football
Friday Walk-through: The Trojans are here
By Brandon CastelWhen star high school players like Terrelle Pryor and Boom Herron committed to play at Ohio State, this was the day they marked on their calendar immediately after hanging up the phone with Head Coach Jim Tressel.
No, not this day exactly.
Tomorrow. Saturday.
The day. The big one. Ohio State vs. USC.
The whole world, or at the very least the entire country, will be watching as the Buckeyes play for pride Saturday night against the Trojans. As both teams prepare for their final walk-through’s at Ohio Stadium in preparation for the big game, we give one last in-depth look at Ohio State’s personnel for week-two of the 2009 season.
Quarterback
What to expect: The fate of the game seems is in the hands of sophomore Terrelle Pryor. It might sound like a bold conclusion, but as Pryor goes Saturday, so go the Buckeyes. Don’t expect to see backup Joe Bauserman taking any first-half snaps this weekend. In fact, don’t expect to see him at all unless A: Pryor gets hurt, or B: the game is a blowout or C: Tressel draws up another jump ball for Pryor in the red zone.
Injury report: All quarterbacks are healthy and accounted for, but if that changes at any point Saturday night, OSU could be in big trouble.
Running Back
What to expect: Last week we predicted you might see freshmen Jaamal Berry and Jordan Hall get carries in the opener. They didn’t, mainly because of Navy’s ability to run the clock and limit possessions, but it makes you wonder whether they didn’t play because Ohio State didn’t need them or because they weren’t ready. We probably won’t find out one way or another this week as the Buckeyes are likely to stick with Boom Herron and Brandon Saine against the Trojans, but it wouldn’t out of the question for Tressel to use one of the youngsters if he felt they could give his offense an edge at some point in the game.
Injury report: The Buckeyes will have their top four backs healthy against USC, but they could be without redshirt freshman Jermil Martin, who spent time in practice this week working with the trainers on the side. Nothing changes except in short-yardage and goal line situations, where the Buckeyes would have liked to have the 230-pound back available for a redo of their fourth-and-one try against Navy.
Wide Receiver & Tight End
What to expect: The Buckeyes will need to be more vertical in the passing game Saturday, and that means getting the ball into the hands of DeVier Posey, Ray Small and Taurian Washington. That was something the Bucks couldn’t do against Navy because Small and Posey weren’t on the field and Washington dropped the one big one Pryor threw his way. Junior Dane Sanzenbacher and Duron Carter will both be valuable in moving the chains against USC, and don’t be surprised to see the Buckeyes target Carter in the red zone. Pryor threw four passes to the tight ends in week one and that should continue this week as the Buckeyes must use the middle of the field against a fast Trojan defense.
Look for Small to be on the field and in the mix offensively, but don’t get caught up in what you saw Saturday. If the staff felt good enough about Washington’s progress in practice to put him out there with the first three against Navy, expect them to do it again this week. One drop does not a career break, so wait to see what this kid can do. Either way, Carter will see plenty of opportunity this week and throughout the remainder of the season.
Injury report: Both Small and Posey are expected to be back and ready to go for this week’s game. Small missed the opener with an unknown illness and Posey left the game with an ankle injury after making two catches in the first half.
“Yeah, (Ray’s) back in the flow,” Tressel said Thursday. “DeVier practiced all day yesterday.”
Offensive Line
What to expect: A better performance than last week, or at least that’s what coach Tressel is hoping for out of his offensive line this week. Michigan transfer Justin Boren was the only lineman to grade out winning performance last week, so expect another solid game out of him, but the Buckeyes will need more from the other four up front. If ever there was going to be a time for sophomore Michael Brewster to make the jump, this would be it as he comes off a less-than-stellar performance against the Midshipmen. Expect to see Jim Cordle back at right tackle after an unimpressive first start there and look for Andrew Miller to take at least two-thirds of the snaps at left tackle with J.B. Shugarts getting the other third.
“I think Andrew (Miller) did some good things,” he said. “J.B. Shugarts came in and played about a dozen plays and showed some good things. J.B. can work at both sides right now and I think competition is always ongoing.”
Don’t spend time looking for Mike Adams at left tackle, you’ll only hurt your eyes as the sophomore is once again unavailable for this weekend’s action.
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 Saturday night’s showdown.
Defensive Line
What to expect: An intense battle between the OSU defensive line and USC’s offensive front. After facing an unusual and often frustrating look from Navy last week, the Buckeye d-linemen must be chomping at the bit for a chance to test their mettle against an offensive line the caliber of USC’s. All fall we heard about the depth and experience Ohio State has up front, and this is their chance to prove it. Look for Thad Gibson and Nathan Williams to put pressure on Matt Barkley the way they did against Colt McCoy in the Fiesta Bowl and expect to see more of Lawrence Wilson this week now that guys aren’t diving for his legs.
“Were hoping Lawrence Wilson comes on (this week) and adds a little bit of something,” Defensive Coordinator Jim Heacock said. “He’s had a couple good days of practice. Rob Rose has been around here a while and it’s time for him to step up. I think we need the depth and I think we have to have those guys healthy and ready to go on Saturday.”
Expect Heacock to use a steady rotation of players on the line this week, one that should go as deep as John Simon and Garrett Goebel at defensive tackle and could include either Solomon Thomas or Keith Wells at end. Out of the four, Simon would figure to have the best chance to play in this game.
“John is making a move. He played a couple plays last week as a true freshman and he is a guy that’s making a move,” Heacock said.
“I think he’s ready to go, I think he’s ready to play and he’s a competitor and he’s an ideal guy to coach. He’s the first one in there every day and the last one to leave.”
Injury report: After facing Navy’s cut blocking for 50+ plays last Saturday, nose tackle Dexter Larimore was held out for much of practice this week. He returned late in the week after the soreness had regressed and according to coach Tressel, he will be good to go for the Buckeyes Saturday. Freshman Melvin Fellows remains out following off-season knee surgery.
Linebacker
What to expect: Expect to see OSU use as much three-linebacker sets as they have shown in recent years. They love the versatility the star position gives them in the nickel, but they will need as many tacklers on the field as they can have against Joe McKnight and the Trojan rushing attack. Expect Brian Rolle and Ross Homan to start again, along with Austin Spitler, who must perform at a higher level if he wants to keep his job away from sophomore Etienne Sabino. Don’t look for much Sabino this week, however, unless the staff is extremely displeased with what they see out of Spitler.
Injury report: After going down with a calf injury during fall camp, Spitler expected to be 100 percent in time for Navy, but he didn’t look it. Watch to see if he is running any better this week.
Secondary
What to expect: Expect to see junior Jermale Hines slide back to the safety position after starting the opener at the star position. Senior captain Kurt Coleman will likely move over to play the free safety position with Hines playing the strong safety spot and senior Anderson Russell coming off the bench. While the move does come the week after Russell was burned for two touchdowns against Navy, one of them being an 85-yarder, coach Heacock said the move was as much about Hines as it was anything else.
“We sit around and talk about, who are your 11 best players, we’ve got to get our best 11 guys on the field, and I think he’s a guy that always comes up in the top 11,” Heacock said of Hines. “When a guy comes up in the top 11 you gotta find a way to get him on the field as much as you can.”
Look for senior Andre Amos to start his second-straight game at cornerback across from Chimdi Chekwa, but expect him to split time fairly evenly with Devon Torrence. Don’t look for any three-corner sets on defense, as the Buckeyes simply haven’t had time to work on them while trying to get either Amos or Torrence ready to start on the outside.
Despite his “benching,” expect to see Russell get plenty of playing time when the Buckeyes do use the nickel defense. He may end up back at safety with Hines at the star, vice-versa or both.
Injury report: The Buckeyes get safety Orhian Johnson and corner Travis Howard back this week after both missed the opener with leg/foot injuries. Both players are in the two-deep, with Johnson serving as the backup strong safety and Howard as the No. 4 corner. Senior safety Aaron Gant will not play for the second straight week.
Special Teams
What to expect: Expect to see Aaron Pettrey make an impact on this game after hitting a 52-yarder in the opener that would have been good from 60 yards. Don’t expect to see him clang another extra point off the upright like he did last week. Look for senior Jon Thoma to handle the punting duties again after turning in a solid job last week and Tressel said Thursday that both Small and Sanzenbacher could have opportunities to return punts Saturday.
“I would bet both of them will have a chance,” Tressel said. “Don’t hold me to that.”
Injury report: No injuries to report.
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