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Football
The-Ozone Note and Quotebook
By John Porentas

Balancing Act

After being upset at Purdue last season the Buckeyes relied on a stout running game to run the table in the remainder of the regular season. In the Rose Bowl, however, the Buckeyes were much more balanced, throwing the ball about as many times as they ran it. Word out of fall camp is that the offensive balance will continue this season.

JB Shugarts
Photo by Dan Harker

"I know if we’re going to throw it 35 times, I hope we’re running it at least 35 or 40 times just to come out with that balanced attack and try to eat that clock, score some points and keep the defense off the field," said offensive lineman JB Shugarts.

That's the word, but we've heard that before. The argument this time around is that the Buckeyes have such an array of weapons that if they just use them all, offensive balance will be achieved. The underlying assumption, of course, is that the OSU coaching staff trusts Terrelle Pryor to execute the passing game.

"I would hope they would trust him," said wide receiver DeVier Posey

"He’s made the right steps. Freshman year we were outright Big Ten champs and lost a close game to Texas. Last year we won the outright Big Ten title and won the Rose Bowl game. I don’t know about you guys' standards, but that sounds pretty good to me. Going into his third year he definitely has high expectations for himself."

There is little doubt that the Buckeyes have the array of talent on offense that will allow for a balanced offense if the OSU offensive brain trust will call the plays to allow that talent to be utilized.

"We have guys that can catch. Brandon Saine is amazing, he's an amazing player," said Terrelle Pryor.

"We have Boom, Jordan, Hyde, Berry, and we have the new guy who is supposed to be here today and is supposed to be very good too.

"We have great backs, including me. I run the ball too. It's like I'm a running back as well. Boren can catch the ball. He's going to be a future NFL fullback one day. He's tough. It's amazing some of the talent we have."

The Buckeyes will not only have a balanced offense, but will have balance within that offense if they do what they're talking about this fall. In the running game, the carries will be spread among a bevy of runners. If you can believe what is being said this fall, the passing game should be just as balanced.

"Brandon Saine can have maybe 30 or 40 catches this year. That's our goal, to get Brandon Saine a lot of catches and get Jake Stoneburner 40 catches and also DeVier and them guys," said Pryor.

"Brandon probably catches the ball as good as any receiver on this team." added Jake Stoneburner.

"With him being able to do that and with his speed, and with Zach being able to catch the ball, and me being able to catch the ball its just not going to be the receivers out there making plays," Stoneburner said.

You may not be a believer until you see it, but the Buckeyes seem to have bought into the idea that the offense will indeed be balanced, and they like the idea.

“If we're throwing 25-30 times a game, I'm hoping I get a few of those," said Stoneburner.

"It all comes with the confidence of Terrelle and how he's progressing. And he's progressed very well. So I think with him throwing that much, you'll see a lot more guys being involved this year on offense.”

Setting the Bar High

Expectations are high heading into the season. OSU's preseason number two ranking has the Buckeye faithful excited. As for the Buckeyes, they don't seem to be shrinking away from those expectation. In fact, they seem to be embracing them, particularly the players in what is OSU's junior and redshirt sophomore class.

Jake Stoneburner
:Photo by Jim Davidson

"The day we all decided to come here, we knew we wanted to win it all and be the best," said Jake Stoneburner, a member of that class .

"Last year not all of us got to play, but we made it to the Rose Bowl. We were satisfied, but we want the national championship. Coming into this year, we knew our junior year was the year it could happen. That’s why we came here and we’re ready for it."

"I think it’s gonna happen this year," Stoneburner said.

Step by Step

Great teams are usually dominated by older players, members of the senior and junior classes. There's a reason for that. Players may arrive with talent, but the really great players get better and better as their careers advance. When you start with talent, then improve it both physically and mentally, championships follow.

Mike Brewster
Photo by Jim Davidson

"I look back at freshman year and you can just see how much our bodies have developed and how much our minds have grown," said junior offensive lineman Mike Brewster.

"We have such a different outlook on stuff than we did two years ago."

Wide receiver DeVier Posey, also a junior, found himself looking back at his career and agreeing that improvement definitely comes with time. He sees it in not only in himself, but his classmates as well, and he likes what he sees.

"Coming in with somebody like that and seeing the transition from boys to men, its just moving," said Posey.

"The steps I've seen us take on and off the field, I laugh sometimes.

"I remember move-in day (his freshman season) like it was yesterday, but we’re here now going into year three and it makes me laugh how fast things have gone.

"I feel like we’ve grown together. We’ve made it possible and he (his classmates) wont be able to write his story without me and I won't be able to write my story without him being in it."

Brewster agreed, and also agreed that the time together has definitely made he and his teammates better players along the offensive line. Time together, said Brewster, is just as crucial as raw talent. He sees that in his teammates and in his own game as well.

"I think there’s definitely a lot more chemistry and it definitely helps that I know the offense a lot better now.

"It really does take a long time to learn it.

"Its taken me two years to learn the ins and outs of it, but I feel very confident in it now, even telling the tackles who they need to go to. I don’t just know my job, I pretty much know where everyone needs to go."

Mentors Galore

It's the job of the coaching staff to coach, but sometime the best instruction comes from your peers. That's true on the Buckeye football team, where there is no shortage of players who are willing to help their teammates get better. For DeVier Posey, Dane Sanzenbacher is the guy to look to for help when he needs it.

Dane Sanzenbacher
Photo by Jim Davidson

"Dane is big to me," said Posey.

"Somebody like that, its beyond words.

"I don’t know if you guys understand how much of a leader he is. He’s not a really vocal guy but he’s just one of those guys who’s going to grind every day. He puts in the work and I've just learned so much from him.

"For a player like me to have someone like Dane to line up right inside of me and be able to ask him stuff, he’s like having another coach Hazell on the field. He’s a special kid. The things he knows and understands about football is a step above me. He’s definitely the leader in the receiver room."

In the quarterback room, Terrelle Pryor is now a senior citizen despite being just a junior. Pryor says he enjoys the role of mentoring the younger players in the room.

"I love all the guys I'm in the room with. I love being around those guys," said Pryor.

"Taylor Graham, Justin Seims, if I see something on film I try to share the point with them. I try to share what I know and help them as much as I can because you want to give the guys the best chance to play, not be selfish and not try to help somebody because you're being selfish. That's just not right. I love being around Kenny (Guiton), I love being around Taylor (Graham)," Pryor said.

Over on the offensive line, there is a whole family tree of players mentoring one another even if they are competing for playing time.

"Mike’s (Adams) one of my best friends and Andy Miller is one of those guys who really guided me as a freshman, just helping me learn everything," said JB Shugarts.

"I try to talk to Mike just to help with assignments and after practice me and Mike we put in the extra hours in the weight room and go watch extra film."

Coiffed

It seems like every year there's a hair story in camp, whether it be shaved heads, mohawks, or dreadlocks. This year there's a variety of stories. To start, freshman offensive lineman Andrew Norwell is sporting a big time shoulder-length head of hair that is probably now the longest on the team. After seeing Norwell's do, wide receiver Jake Stoneburner was sorry he cut his once-long hair prior to camp.

"I regret cutting mine.

Terrelle Pryor
Photo by Jim Davidson

"I should have never cut it. Mine was longer than his, so I don’t know why I cut it. Ill grow it back out for next year probably," said Stoneburner.

Terrelle Pryor wore his hair cut high and tight his first two season in a Buckeye uniform, but this is sporting a new look, a rather retro-looking box cut that he has just started growing.

"Do you like it?" retorted Pryor when asked about his new look.

"I'm going to grow it a little higher," he said with a bit of a grin.

Fortunate Find

Kenny Guiton
Photo by Jim Davidson

The OSU Coaching staff was in the market for a quarterback in the recruiting wars a couple of years back. Things didn't go exactly according to plan when Taj Boyd elected not to come to Columbus leaving the OSU coaching staff scrambling. According to quarterback coach Joe Daniels, the Buckeyes totally lucked out when they signed current redshirt freshman Kenny Guiton.

"Kenny is a kid that we really didn't know that much about him and it was one of those situations we were happy to find him and then land him," said Daniels.

"We didn't realize how good he was, or how good he could be. He's just been wonderful.

"He's a smart kid, got a great personality, he's been a real blessing, a real surprise and a blessing.

"He's tough to rattle. He played a lot of football in the spread offense. That's what he played, so he's been throwing the football for a lot of years, a lot more than Terrelle. I'm glad he's on our side."

Rivalry Lessons

If you are from Ohio or Michigan, you get the Ohio State vs. Michigan rivalry. If you are from out of state, however, there is a bit of a learning curve. Players from out of state often see schools from their home state as the big rival.

Andrew Sweat
Photo by Dan Harker

“I'm just a newcomer, so I hate Michigan as of now because I'm on the team, but Miami is my hometown, and I've got people calling me everyday talking trash. So I think that would be the game that I'm really looking forward to this season," said Floridian James Louis.

Pennsylvanian Andrew Sweat had a different, predictable answer.

“Probably Penn State, since I'm from Pennsylvania," said Sweat.

“Everyone in Pennsylvania is Penn State fans, and I came here.”

“I just let them talk, and don't respond at all. I don't respond. I just laugh at it when I see it because I know what we're gonna do.”

Jermale Hines says the lesson on what the real rivalry is will be a simple and quick one for those out of state players.

"Michigan is by far going to be the most rowdy game they'll ever play in," he said.

Team's Second-Best

Second-best is not something that many athletes aspire to, but on the Buckeye squad, second best can be pretty good. Take for instance the question of who the best and second-best pure athletes on the team are. The best is not much of a surprise, but second best probably is.

“Terrelle. I would definitely say Terrelle," said Jermale Hines when asked who the best athlete on the roster is.

"The guy is a freak of nature. And not only is he a freak of nature, but he's coming along as a quarterback. He's starting to look you off and things like that. His arm has gotten way stronger. But I'm really not surprised because he's the hardest working guy on the team. Hands down.”

Ohrian Johnson
Photo by Jim Davidson

His nominee for the second-best athlete is safety Orhian Johnson, and according to Hines, it's a close call.

“Whoo...that's pretty close. Both of those guys are really athletic. That is REALLY close," said Hines.

“I've been around this guy since he's (Johnson) been here, and he's been performing since day one. Probably the most athletic kid on the team. Running, speed, jumping. All of that. He's ready. He just has to put little things together, but he's getting there.”

Johnson was flattered at the praise by Hines, and didn't exactly try to dispute it.

“Ahhh...man. It's close, man. I mean, Terrelle's got me a little bit on the height and a little bit on the weight. But I take that as a compliment being compared to that. As long as I'm getting mentioned in the top two, then I'm cool with it,” said Johnson.

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