Football
The-Ozone Note and Quotebook
By John PorentasPersonnel Updates: Fall camp got under way on Tuesday but there were a couple of Buckeyes who were not full-go participants. Freshman offensive lineman Mike Adams will be limited in his participation as he recovers from an off-season shoulder injury and freshman wide receiver Jake Stoneburner will also be limited.
"Jake has a little leg thing, but it's nothing that will keep him down very long,:" said OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel.
Tressel also reported that incoming freshman defensive tackle Shawntel Rowell is not currently participating with the football team but hopes to join the Buckeyes next December. Tressel gave no reason for Rowell's absence. Additionally, sophomore defensive back James Scott was not invited to fall camp for undisclosed reasons, but will resume his participation with the football team when the roster expands from 105 to 120 later his fall.
Ross Homan In a depth chart related note, Tressel said that at the moment Ross Homan is the starter at the Will linebacker. Curtis Terry, who some thought would compete for that job, will concentrate on the fullback position according to Tressel.
"He showed us that he could be a fullback," said Tressel.
"That's something that we need. He's got a little something about him that he could add a little leadership to that group."
Additionally, Devon Torrence will spend this fall working at defensive back after playing to wide receiver last year.
"He's going to go the first couple weeks strictly at the corner, just so he can get a better handle on it," said Tressel.
"We think that he's going to be a good corner."
The move of Torrence to corner may have something to do with the loss of defensive back Eugene Clifford who transferred to Tennessee State this summer. The emergence of Grant Schwartz at receiver and the presence of players at wide receiver like Junior Ray Small, Sophomore Dane Sanzenbacher, Sophomore Taurian Washington and Freshman Devier Posey made it easy to move Torrence to defense.
Finally, Kurt Coleman knew what he was talking about when he told us that Grant Schwartz was making an impact at wide receiver. In early drills this fall Schwartz is on the field when the Buckeyes are in a five-wide set along with Brian Hartline, Brian Robiske, Small and Sanzenbacher.
Vendetta: As a rule, vendetta's are not usually pretty things, but OSU safety Kurt Coleman has figured out a way to maintain a vendetta in a way that really doesn't directly affect anybody else.
Kurt Coleman "I always have a personal vendetta against my self, that I'm not good enough," explained Coleman.
"I'm my biggest critic no matter what anyone says," Coleman said.
Coleman is intent on being more productive this season as a second-year starter at safety.
"It's knowing what the team is doing but its also knowing what you're supposed to be doing at all times. That's what I've gotten myself better at. It's just a matter of going out and making the plays," said Coleman.
Loving the Hate: An ESPN poll recently identified Ohio State as the most hated team in college football. OSU senior offensive tackle Alex Boone says "hate on".
"It's always fun to be hated, especially by everybody," said Boone.
"We kind of take that with a little bit of pride. We just have to play our game and have some fun," Boone said.
Marcus Freeman "That's just a sign of success," summed up senior linebacker Marcus Freeman.
"A lot of people envy that."
Boone is embracing the hate of the Buckeyes from around the country, but is a little taken back by some of the things he hears from Buckeye fans.
"A lot of people don't say nice things," said Boone.
"They bring up the bad memories and stuff.
"Some people are nice but a lot of them ask about LSU or Florida. They always bring up the bad things, I don't know why."
The Wrath of Eric: On the day the team reported Buckeye players were quick to comment on just how tough summer drills were for the Buckeyes under strength and conditioning coach Eric Lichter. Much is being made of how tough new Michigan strength coach Mike Barwis has been on the Wolverines, but the Buckeyes think he has nothing on Lichter.
Alex Boone "That's just how he is. You guys don't know him," said Alex Boone of Lichter.
"He's all nice to you guys, but not to us. At the same time he's building the team up because they're getting mad at the coaches and we're all coming together."
According to Boone, Lichter managed to earn the ire of a number of members of the OSU roster this summer, but sees the value of the tactic.
"There was a lot of physical altercations between players and coaches and guys were kind of getting upset with each other," said Boone.
"That comes with football, a lot of emotion and testosterone. That's what this team needs."
"It definitely tested us not only physically but mentally," agreed Coleman.
"We had a lot of veteran guys that came from the NFL and they came and talked to us and they said this is what it takes to get back and win this time."
"He (Lichter) was definitely tougher," Coleman continued.
"He wasn't real lenient with his workouts. He wouldn't give us any breaks, he wouldn't cut us any slack. It was definitely 'We're here for one reason and that's to win.' I made a lot of growth strength and speed wise. It was a great off season."
After enduring the summer with Lichter the Buckeyes were very reluctant to say that the Wolverines were working any harder than they were.
"We trained very hard this summer. Michigan was saying that they trained harder. I don't believe that for one bit. I think we trained the hardest and the longest this summer and I think we did a great job and that can help us get to the championship," said Boone.
The Buckeyes didn't bad mouth Barwis, but did express some amusement at the notion that that he is doing more for the Wolverines than Lichter is doing for the Buckeyes.
"I saw this Youtube video on him (Barwis) one time and it was kind of funny," said Coleman. "It was just the way he was yelling that stuff."
Special Upgrades: In his tenure as OSU's Head Coach Jim Tressel's teams have stood out on special teams with the exceptionof last season when they were rather ordinary at best, particularly in the return game. Tressel served notice to his team on the first day of fall camp that he wants that to change when he devoted the entire day to special teams.
"We were last in the world in kickoff return. I just finished a meeting and Coach Hazell was discussing that with our young champions, so we're emphasizing it," said Tressel.
A. J. Trapasso Tressel isn't happy with the production of his return game last season, but thinks the talent is there to reverse that trend.
"Guys that really caught my eye this spring in the kickoff return were Brandon Saine and Boom Herron. Those two guys I thought really did a great job of bringing it up. I think Ray Small is as good a punt returner as there is anywhere," said Tressel.
"Collectively as a special teams unit I would like to see us get back to the top of Big Ten," said punter A. J. Trapasso.
"For me net punt, I'd like to see our field goal kicking get a little bit better, kickoffs, we want to be a little more consistent getting touchbacks," Trapasso said.
Tressel is also looking to his incoming freshmen for help on special teams.
"There's no question about it that special teams are a place that a guy can make an early impression. We hope that that happens," said Tressel.
Not Fun: Football practice is not always a fun thing in which to participate, but according to Marcus Freeman there is one particular thing the OSU defense has to cope with that is especially not fun.
Beanie Wells "Going against Beanie is not the funnest thing to do a lot of times," said Freeman.
"He's a big guy and he's a powerful guy. To get a look like that from a back that we feel is the best in the nation is good for this team."
Freeman says (surprise!) Beanie's stiffarm is something that makes an instant impression on any defender, even at practice.
"He's used it on me quite a few times. I haven't seen anything like it," said Freeman.
"I think Beanie in the top five or ten in strength on this whole team including linemen.
"To have that with the speed, it's something he's perfected.
"When he puts it out there it's hard to go through it and make a tackle," Freeman said.
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