Please patronize our advertisers to help
keep theOzone.net free for everyone.

The-Ozone.net Mall

Interesting, Fun companies with interesting, quality products - and the-Ozone gets a piece of the action!

Football
Tressel Updates Chekwa, Personnel
By Brandon Castel

COLUMBUS — On Monday, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel was unsure of the status of starting cornerback Chimdi Chekwa for Thursday’s season-opener against Marshall.

A day later, Tressel declared that Chekwa will be ready to start the game against the Thundering Herd despite a lingering hamstring injury that kept him on the sideline at the end of fall camp.

“Chekwa practiced yesterday more than I thought he would,” Tressel said on his radio call-in show.

“Thought he would go half the time and he practiced the entire time.”

Chimdi Chekwa hauls in an interception against USC
Photo by Jim Davidson

A returning starter, and one of the key faces on defense for the No. 2-ranked Buckeyes, Chekwa returned for his senior season in Columbus after briefly pondering a jump to the NFL after last season. The Florida native has been a mainstay on the OSU defense since 2006, when he played the nickel corner role as a freshman.

Although the Buckeyes are prepared to start Chekwa, they will continue to take a cautious approach when it comes to the injury.

“That’s the part that’s tough, because when it comes to hamstring you just don’t know,” said Taver Johnson, who coaches the cornerbacks at Ohio State.

“It’s hard to (say) yes or no because a guy’s feeling good and everything’s fine and then all of a sudden it strains or pulls and that’s when you have to make sure you rest him and go from there.”

Chekwa has dealt with hamstring injuries before and missed most of spring practice with a lingering hip injury. According to Johnson, he had a good summer conditioning but the sheer volume of running takes its toll.

For that reason, the Buckeyes also plan to use backup Travis Howard at Chekwa’s position Thursday.

“Howard will play in the game,” Tressel said of the redshirt sophomore out of Miami.

“He and Chimdi will probably share that position.”

On the other side, the Buckeyes will have a healthy Devon Torrence—who also dealt with hamstring soreness during fall camp—although Tressel said redshirt freshmen Corey Brown and Dominic Clarke will also see a little bit of time on Torrence’ side.

C.J. Barnett
Photo by Jim Davidson

Safety Battle Heating Up

Tressel said Tuesday that the battle between C.J. Barnett and Orhian Johnson for the starting safety spot along side Jermale Hines is ongoing, but it looked like Barnett will get the start Thursday against Marshall.

“Orhian Johnson practiced the whole way, but C.J. Barnett will probably be the first guy in the game,” he said.

“Johnson is getting healthy enough that he can help us, but Barnett got tons of reps during the course Johnson was out.”

All-in-all, the Buckeyes could play as many as nine different players in the secondary Thursday, including Tyler Moeller at the Star, or nickel, spot. That number could even jump to 10 if defensive coordinator Jim Heacock opts to play Moeller’s backup.

“Christian Bryant is backup at Star,” Tressel said of the true freshman out of Glenville.

“He plays with a lot of fervor like Mike Doss and Malcolm Jenkins.”

Speaking of former OSU defensive backs, Antonio Smith will serve as the honorary captain for the opener. Smith was a walk-on out of Beechcroft High School in Columbus, who started for the Buckeyes at cornerback in 2006.

Offensive Line Updates

Andrew Miller
Photo by Jim Davidson

With Marcus Hall taking a redshirt this season, the Buckeyes have to be a little worried about depth on the offensive line, especially at the tackle position. But Tressel said that not only is Andrew Miller healthy enough to be the backup to Mike Adams at left tackle, but he can also play left guard and even tight end in emergency situations.

Miller had been battling Adams for the starting left tackle spot before an elbow injury limited his ability during fall camp. He wasn’t the only one who drew praise from the head coach Tuesday.

“A guy who I think has had a as good a preseason as anyone in that group is Connor Smith,” Tressel said of the fifth-year senior out of Cincinnati Colerain.

Andrew Norwell
Photo by Jim Davidson

Smith is the backup to Justin Boren at left guard, but he will also be featured on a number of special teams for the Buckeyes this fall. He may even get to play on the offensive line Thursday if the Buckeyes go with their whole second group up front.

“Another guy who might get his feet wet here on Thursday night is Andrew Norwell whenever coach Bollman decides to go with the entire second group,” Tressel said of the true freshman out of Cincinnati Anderson.

As of now, the second group would go Andrew Miller-Connor Smith-Corey Linsley-Jack Mewhort-Andrew Norwell across the front.

Last Kicks

Ben Buchanon
Photo by Jim Davidson

Tressel said that senior Devin Barclay has won the kicking competition with freshman Drew Basil, but Basil will be the one who tries the really long field goals from 55 yards and out. Basil, a native of Chillicothe who enrolled in the spring, will also start the season as Ohio State’s kick off specialist.

Ben Buchanan had already won the starting punter job, but backup Derek Erwin will be the holder for Basil when he gets his chance to kick field goals.  Backup quarterback Joe Bauserman will hold for Barclay and wideout Dane Sanzebacher will be the team’s emergency holder.

Donate by Check :

Ozone Communications
1380 King Avenue
Columbus, Ohio

Help us bring you more Buckeye coverage. Donate to the-Ozone.

Click here to email this the-Ozone feature to a friend...or even a foe.

(c) 2010 The O-Zone, O-Zone Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, rebroadcast,rewritten, or redistributed.