Football
Spring Wrapup - The Offense
By John PorentasSpring practice 2009 has come and gone. Now it's time to figure out what we've learned. The approach will be first a position by position by position look at the personnel battles at key positions, and finally an overview of what the OSU offense and defense might look like next fall.
With 31 players gone from last year's roster, this spring was not one of fine tuning and honing the skills of veteran players, but one of experimentation and evaluation of new faces. That process got a good start this spring, but is not finished. The OSU coaching staff will probably focus on evaluation all the way up through the jersey scrimmage next fall, and it's likely there will be some changes in the two-deep and offensive and defensive game plans between the end spring football and the first game of the season. With that in mind, here's where we think the Buckeyes left off this spring.
Quarterback: The focus this spring at this position was whether or not Terrelle Pryor is improving as a passer and has developed into a passing threat. The answer is yes and no.
Pryor definitely improved his passing as spring progressed, but in our opinion has not yet arrived as a passer. He seems to be more consistent during passing drills than in scrimmage situations when he sometimes reverts back to short arming the football.
Pryor has most of his problems in the short and intermediate passing games. He sometimes shortarms the football in those situations and that delivery results in passes that are low and arrive with the nose of the ball down making it a little tough to catch for receivers. His deep ball however is much more consistent. Arm strength is not a problem so long as his mechanics are good. His mechanics are best on deep balls when he really has to wing it and let it go.
Developing the ability to throw the ball short and intermediate is a matter of repetitions for Pryor, and not just on the football field. It includes the film room as well. Nick Siciliano works with Pryor on his passing on a daily basis. Here is what Siciliano had to say about Pryor's passing.
"I think when you mentally know where you need to go with the football the mechanics come easier. You're not thinking as much and you're not panicking. Once you become more knowledgeable about what's going on the other stuff will come together. It's hard to do both at one time. Knowledge first, and then move on."
Pryor is reportedly a film room junky and is in the "Knowledge first" stage this spring, but at times under duress (in scrimmages) got a little panicky and reverted back to his old ways. He has all summer to review film and work on that aspect of his game in seven on seven drills. The fact that he did improve over the course of the spring and has summer workouts and and fall camp to continue that process are reasons for optimism. Siciliano was confident that Pryor is in the midst of a process and that his progressing, and that his passing will be good this fall.
"It's not anything to be greatly concerned about," he said.
Offensive Line: The offensive line has taken its share of criticism in recent seasons, much of it focused on line coach Jim Bollman. There were some wild rumors running around over the winter that Tressel had been "told" to make some moves on the coaching staff in view of what some described as poor line play and less-than exciting offense. You can believe what you want on those issues. What we know for sure is that there were no changes on the staff. We also know that Tressel is a team player and would be likely to listen to requests (orders) that come from above him. Draw your own conclusions.
Michigan transfer Justin Boren has stepped up to not only claim a spot at guard but set a tone for the offensive line. Boren brings a physical, hard-nosed style of play that is welcome, particularly in the run game. Boren still has work to do as a pass blocker, but is a devastating run blocker. His greatest value however may be the tone he is setting for the offensive line in the way of toughness and physical play.
The left tackle spot is open with the departure of Alex Boone. Highly touted freshman Mike Adams was the heir-apparent at that spot, but Adams struggled this spring, particularly in the early part of spring drills. Converted tight end Andrew Miller meanwhile played at a high level and continued to improve as the spring wore on. Conjecture was rampant that Adams was soft and a bust. We aren't ready to say that yet.
Adams is coming back from shoulder surgery last season. Players often have problems coming back from shoulder injuries, particularly offensive and defensive linemen. There are two reasons for that. One is that they need to develop confidence in the shoulder even if it has been pronounced physically well by the medical staff. The other is that they are away from the game for an extended period of time with that sort of injury. When that happens it is sometimes very difficult to come back and perform at a high level immediately. Players lose their "edge", that sharpness that is the difference between average and excellent.
Adams appeared to be recovering some of that as the camp progressed. He really struggled early in spring camp, but definitely got better later in the camp. He was beaten pretty regularly in pass blocking drills by second or even third team defensive linemen when spring camp began but toward the end of camp was beginning to hold up well at times against the likes of Cam Heyward and Thad Gibson. He still was inconsistent at the end of camp, but at times was very good.
Miller had a very good camp from day one. He is a converted tight end so is really a pup as an offensive lineman and still learning. He's got a huge upside. He's not the biggest guy on the offensive line but has great feet and quickness and is very tenacious and tough.
I don't think the position is settled yet in the minds of the coaches, but I do think that Miller is still ahead. If Adams keeps improving and gets more consistent, there could be a heck of a competition next fall.
The rest of the offensive line will be filled in from a group that includes Jim Cordle, Bryant Browning, Mike Brewster, Connor Smith and J.B. Shugarts. Who will fit where is still an open question. Boren will hold down one guard spot, but where the rest will end up will be like a game of musical chairs. After starting at right tackle last season Browning spent considerable time at guard this spring and that position seemed to suit him better than tackle where he was required to play in space more. He was the first offensive linemen selected by his teammates in the spring game draft. Brewster can play center or guard and Cordle was looked at at tackle, center and guard. Shugarts missed spring practice while recovering from shoulder surgery, but is definitely a candidate for the right tackle spot, while Smith is most likely a guard prospect.
If Shugarts comes back to claim the right tackle spot the starting lineup because very vague. Miller or Adams will likely be at left tackle and Boren probably at left guard. That would leaver right guard and center to be claimed by Cordle, Brewster, Browning and Smith. Cordle is likely to have an inside track to be on the field if for no other reason than his experience. That would leave Brewster, Browning and Smith battling for the remaining guard spot. If Shugarts does not earn the right tackle spot, Cordle, Browning or even Brewster could move out wide to tackle leaving the other two to battle for the guard position.
Despite the unsettled nature of the two-deep, the offensive line appears to be headed in the right direction. The play is more physical and in the spring game both the pass blocking and run blocking was surprisingly good despite the split squads.
Running backs: Beanie Wells is gone and Boom Herron entered camp as the heir-apparent. He is getting as strong challenge however from Brandon Saine. After playing his freshman year Saine had an injury-plagued season last year that was very much a disappointment. Saine ran very well in both the jersey scrimmage and spring game. He is making cuts that he did not make his freshman year and seems more elusive, but still runs with power. At 220 pounds he has the ability to move piles and break tackles and did both of those things this spring, and that has to have running backs coach Dick Tressel smiling.
"I want to see him be a physical player," Tressel said as spring drills progressed this year.
"He needs to be physical because that's what he missed last year when he was banged up a little bit. Once he gets comfortable being physical again then he'll just go play."
Saine appeared to have accomplished all of the above this spring. Tressel (Dick Tressel) claimed that he is the fastest player on the team. He will definitely help at running back this fall.
Herron had a good spring as well and has bulked up some. He is up to 205 after playing last season at 195.
As spring ends it's pretty clear that both Saine and Herron will play next year and that both can run with the football. What will probably determine who plays the most is who steps up in the passing game both as a receiver and a blocker.
Wide Receivers: The two Brians are gone, but the cupboard is far from bare. The Buckeyes will be very athletic at wide receiver this fall and will be able to put a number of players on the field with big play potential.
Ray Small, DeVier Posey, Taurian Washington, Dane Sanzenbacher and Lamaar Thomas all will play next year.
The player who probably made the biggest jump this spring was Washington. He was very visible in both the jersey scrimmage and spring game. He has a knack for getting open and is a deep threat. His quarterbacks seem to look for him and when they find him it is likely he is open.
As good as Washington's spring was, he probably won't be in the starting lineup when fall camp convenes. According to wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell, as of the midway point of spring camp Ray Small would be the wide side receiver, DeVier Posey the weak side and Dane Sanzenbacher in the slot. We don't think anything happened during spring camp to change that. Sanzenbacher missed some of spring practice with an injury (including the spring game) but is likely to be the slot starter. He is not just a heady player, but now has gotten bigger.
"We had a meeting, it was the beginning of the winter, and we set a target weight, to put on a few pounds," said Sanzenbacher who played at 170 his freshman season and 175 last year.
"If you're going to dig out the linebackers and block them you can't be out there running around at 170. I'm 188 right now.
"My first year, year and a half for me it was about getting comfortable with the system, doing all the little things, understanding what to do first. Now I can focus more on the physical part of it and the technique part of it."
Washington will back up all three positions and see action next fall. Also in the mix is fleet Lamaar Thomas. Thomas was used mostly as a running back in high school and is just learning the receiver position. His potential is very high.
"He looks so much more comfortable playing the position right now," said Hazell.
"Last year when he came out of high school he was a running back/receiver. He just didn't look comfortable and didn't play fast. He's a very fast guy that didn't play fast.
"Now he's starting to play fast. Right now he's just a wideout. He's working primarily out of the slot but he can play out wide as well."
Tight ends: The Buckeye coaching staff seems to be going with the idea of some specialists at tight end. They have converted wide receiver Jake Stoneburner to tight end. Stoneburner will give the OSU offense the kind of receiving threat over the middle it has not had in a long while. Returner Jake Ballard is down about 10 pounds, presumably to help him be a more effective receiver as well. Could this be the year that the Buckeyes really do throw to the tight ends? Maybe, but they will be blockers first and foremost. Ballard is established as a blocker, but the coaching staff has made some moves toward specialists in that area as well.
Offensive lineman Andrew Moses and defensive tackle Todd Denlinger both took snaps at tight end this spring. Neither are there to catch passes. OSU tight ends coach John Peterson says the Buckeye coaching staff has not forgotten how converted offensive lineman Andre Tyree dominated the Michigan game at a tight end spot to help the Buckeye win in Ann Arbor. They want the ability to do that kind of thing again, so Denlinger and Moses are getting a look at tight end.
"He (Tyree) dominated that game," said Peterson.
"You talk about impacting that game, holy smokes. He impacted that game drastically. They couldn't handle a 320 pound tight end who could move his feet."
Peterson thinks that Denlinger has the potential for the same kind of impact.
"Yeah, I do, that's why he's there," Peterson said.
Tomorrow - The defense
Wednesday - Offense and defense overview, what will the Buckeyes do?
Thursday- Special teams
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