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Football
Spring Ball Postmortem - Part II of a Multi-Part Series- Offensive Skill
By John Porentas

Running Backs

It was a good spring for the skill positions in the Ohio State offense despite the fact that number one tailback Antonio Pittman did not take part in much in the way of drills this spring.

Like the situation with the offensive line, Pittman's absence from spring drills allowed Maurice Wells, Eric Haw, and Chris Wells to get reps, reps that will serve the Buckeyes well next fall, particularly in the case of Chris Wells. Wells is expected to contribute next fall, but says without the work he got this spring, that would have been very difficult.

"If I had come in late (in the fall) I would have been totally lost. I probably would have ended up redshirting my freshman year. I think it helped me a whole lot," said Wells.

Wells' ability to run with the football is obvious the moment you see him take a handoff. It's what to do when he doesn't have the ball that he, like any young back, had to learn.

"Having the football in my hands is the easy part. It's not having the football, who to block, where to go, that's the hard part," said Wells.

Wells got reps this spring that will give him a leg up in 2006 and will likely get him onto the playing field.

Like Wells, Eric Haw is another player who was working on the aspect of his game that involves what he does when he isn't carrying the ball. According to his position coach, Dick Tressel, Haw made progress in those areas this spring.

"Eric is an outstanding ball carrier," said Tressel.

"There's all those other aspects of the game that you're competing with other good guys, and Eric growth this spring has been outstanding, but it has to be every play, every down. He got better. It was a good spring for Eric," said Tressel.

"His forte in his mind and in his heart is carrying the leather. That's where running backs all start, and then they have to grow from there to be a great pass blocker and a get-one-more-yard guy as well as a get-a-touchdown guy. There's all those kind of things that make a coaching staff and a team really confident that he can help you win the game," Tressel said.

Haw and Chris Wells definitely progressed this spring, but according to Tressel, it was Maurice Wells who flashed the most and got most of the reps with the first unit.

"I was waiting to see Mo Wells just turn it loose, and he did," said Tressel.

"Just be a player, know what to do and feel good about doing it. He's been a real confident player. When you're explosive like that, confidence allows you to be able to go out and do it. 'Just go play Mo,'" said Tressel.

Maurice Wells is not the biggest back in the world, but according to Tressel, his physical stature has not hampered him.

"I don't question his durability one second. He's not 6-3, 230, but if we go back and clip all the passing protection together, Mo Wells would be, if not 100 per cent, 98. He can play," said Tressel.

Tressel said that Wells' experience last season and this spring have made him a much better back.

"It's a confidence thing that 'I'm a Big Ten tailback,' that I'll go fast toward the goal line, and that if something is in my way I've got the ability and the agility to redirect and get it out of the way and get it going," said Tressel.

"I think having a year under my belt and the reps this spring has really helped me," said Wells.

The Receivers

Santonio Holmes is gone, but Ted Ginn has emerged.

Ginn has been spectacular in the return game his first two seasons as a Buckeye and has had his moments as a receiver, but also has had some moments that have been less-than memorable for his position coach, Darrell Hazell. Hazell said this spring that the light has gone on for Ginn as a receiver, and that's good news for the Buckeyes.

"He's like a totally different player," said Hazell. "He's always been fast, but now he runs good routes, reads defenses, does all the little things that make a good receiver. Those things, combined with his speed, could turn him into a great receiver next fall if he continues to work at it and improve," said Hazell.

"Teddy is playing extremely well. He really is. It's the best I've seen him play," added fellow wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez.

Gonzalez will probably be one of OSU's featured receivers next fall, but had kind of a tough spring when he suffered a concussion while catching a touchdown pass in the Jersey Scrimmage. Despite that setback, Gonzalez continued to impress Hazell this spring.

"He's been exceptional," said Hazell.

"Obviously he's a very smart football player, but he's got a knack of getting open. He has a feel for coverages and he's a good finisher. He's got the knack for finishing when people are around him and going up and making the big plays. He's been pretty consistent the last two years."

Roy Hall will also return in 2006 and according to Jim Tressel, Hall made good use of spring practice. Hall has waited his turn behind a succession of excellent receivers at his position, but has turned it on this spring.

"Since Roy has been here Michael Jenkins was the X end for two years for two years, then Santonio Holmes was the X end," said Tressel.

"Roy has one more opportunity. I think the last five practices (of spring) Roy has expressed himself with a lot more confidence. I thought his last five were real positive for us."

Spring was good for the veterans, but it was also very good for the newcomers. Both Brian Robiske and Brian Hartline showed that they can play and caught the eye of the coaches this spring.

"Brian Robiske has been outstanding," said Hazell.

"I think he's going to play a lot of football for us. If he continues to keep getting better and understand what we're trying to do, he's going to be a good football player for us."

Brian Harline also caught some eyes this spring as well. Harline led all receivers in the spring game with seven catches and at first glance appears to be a Chad Cacchio-type receiver. He just gets open.

Fullbacks

Essentially two players held down the fullback spot this spring, Stan White Jr. and Dionte Johnson. Ironically, both have fathers who also played linebacker for the Buckeyes. Stan White Sr. was a standout linebacker for the Buckeyes in the late 60s and early 70s and had a long NFL career with the Baltimore Colts. Johnson's father, Pepper Johnson, was also a linebacker at OSU and played his NFL football for the New York Giants. He is currently an assistant coach with the New England Patriots.

Both Johnson and White did their thing this spring, which essentially entails running into people. It's a role they both relish.

"I get a pleasure out of knocking guys down for sure," said White.

The Buckeyes are expected to rely more on their running game next season than they have in the past three, and that will mean that OSU will have fullbacks on the field more often. According to Johnson, that was reflected during spring drills.

"We're starting to get a lot more plays with wing and where we're taking some plays on the line of scrimmage. We're mixing it up a little bit," Johnson said.

Johnson is a punishing blocker, as is White. White spent his first two seasons at Ohio State as a tight end where he exhibited good pass catching skills as well.

Coming Next

Part IV - Quarterbacks (Thursday)
Part V- Special Teams (Friday)
Final Part - The-Ozone Spring Note and Quotebook (Monday)

Spring Ball Postmortem - Part II of a Multi-Part Series- The Offensive Line

Spring Ball Postmortem - Part I of a Multi-Part Series- The Defense

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