Ohio State's Spring Cleaning (And Questions): Part Two

A few days ago, I posted the beginnings of what I consider to be Ohio State's main concerns as they begin spring football on April 1st. I have ranked the concerns from low priority to high priority. This article will focus upon what I consider to be Ohio State's top concerns from now until the opening game against Marshall on September 2nd.

5 ~ How Will Ohio State Address Its Running Back Situation?

As it relates to the running game, Jim Tressel is fond of saying that a team needs "a pair and a spare". Ohio State has accomplished that feat with their recruiting, but will they be able to keep everyone happy?

Senior Brandon Saine returns, and is the projected starter at tailback. Saine combines with redshirt junior Daniel "Boom" Herron as the tailbacks who will get the majority of the workload. Neither Saine or Herron are the type of back to carry the ball twenty times a game, but both have been effective for Ohio State.

Now we are getting into the concern area. Sophomore Jordan Hall, who had limited work but played well when given the opportunity, also returns. Hall reminds me of former Buckeye Pepe Pearson, who also wore # 29. Supposedly, Hall may be willing to redshirt this coming season, and that may be a good decision.

Redshirt freshman Jaamal Berry, who battled injuries all last season, will get an opportunity to win some carries. I have suggested Berry be given opportunities to contribute as a kickoff returner, at the very least. Rumors persist that Berry may transfer over lack of playing time.

Redshirt sophomore Jermil Martin moved to tailback from fullback last season. Martin played well against Minnesota, then hardly played after that.

Incoming freshman Carlos Hyde has enrolled and will participate in spring football. Hyde spent last season at Fork Union Military Academy, and is the stereotypical big back Ohio State fans are used to, such as Jonathan Wells or Chris Wells.

Last but not least on this list, Ohio State has also signed Roderick Smith out of Indiana. Smith will arrive in the fall, and was arguably the top-rated player in Ohio State's 2010 recruiting class.

Concern Level: I am going to give this a 6. How will Jim Tressel keep everyone happy? Here's the answer - he will not. The best thing Jim Tressel can do is find various roles for these players, redshirt some (Jordan Hall? Roderick Smith?), and try to incorporate as many into the game plan as possible. Saine and Herron will get the bulk of the carries, but this is going to be an area to keep an eye on throughout the spring and well into the season.

# 4 ~ Who Will Emerge As Ohio State's Backup Quarterback?

In the painful aftermath of Ohio State's loss to Purdue, Joe Bauserman was a very popular choice to take over at quarterback. In the wake of Terrelle Pryor's Rose Bowl performance, now the question is - who would play if Terrelle Pryor was hurt?

Joe Bauserman and Kenny Guiton will be given every opportunity to win the backup quarterback position, with Pryor being limited due to his offseason knee surgery. I would expect both Bauserman and Guiton to play extensively in the spring game on April 24th.

Concern Level: I will give this a 6. By all indications, Terrelle Pryor will be fine by the beginning of the season in September. My concern level comes from watching what Oklahoma experienced last season when Sam Bradford went down, and how a talented team's season can suddenly unravel.

# 3 ~ Who Will Emerge As Ohio State's Defensive Line Depth?

Ohio State loses starting DE Thaddeus Gibson and DT Doug Worthington, as well as reserves DT Todd Denlinger, DE Robert Rose, and DE Lawrence Wilson. Senior Cameron Heyward returns at one defensive end spot, while redshirt senior Dexter Larimore will return at a defensive tackle spot.

Junior DE Nathan Williams is projected as a starter at one defensive end position, while sophomore DT John Simon is projected as a starter on the interior. Both Williams and Simon have had extensive playing experience.

Returnees include DT Garrett Goebel, DE Jonathan Newsome, DE Keith Wells, DE Melvin Fellows, DE Solomon Thomas, and DT Adam Bellamy. Incoming freshmen include DE JT Moore, DE Jamel Turner, DE Darryl Baldwin, and DT Johnathan Hankins.

Concern Level: I will give this a 6. As you can read up above, Ohio State have several defensive linemen on their roster, but the bulk of this talent is relatively unproven and untested. Ohio State prides itself on having a dominating defensive front. This spring will help to answer what kind of depth Ohio State has within its defensive line pool.

#2 ~ Who Will Win The Offensive Left Tackle Position?

I believe this song will be the theme song for Mike Adams this spring. Adams was one of the hyped members of his recruiting class, and has not developed into the dominant offensive tackle most projected when he signed with Ohio State.

Andy Miller will return to battle Mike Adams for the starting spot. Miller started last season when Adams was suspended, and then was sidelined with the flu. Miller lost eighteen pounds from the flu, so Jim Cordle played left tackle the bulk of the season for Ohio State. Cordle did his best, but it would be charitable to say that Cordle was a natural for the position.

Ohio State is secure throughout the rest of its line. J.B. Shugarts and Marcus Hall may also be given an opportunity to win the job if Adams or Miller are unable to seize control of the position.

Concern Level: I will give this a 7. Ohio State needs someone, anyone, to rise up and become a solid left tackle. Considering this is the position responsible for protecting Terrelle Pryor's blind side, I can only hope Mike Adams finally rises to the occasion and becomes the player most expected him to be when he signed with Ohio State.

#1 ~ Who Will Win The Safety Positions?

In my estimation, here is the biggest concern for Ohio State heading into spring football and possibly the 2010 season. Losing a three year starter in Kurt Coleman is challenging. Former starter, contributor, and favorite Ohio State fan whipping boy Anderson Russell has also run out of eligibility, and Ohio State needs to replace a lot of experience at the last line of defense.

Jermale Hines returns at one projected starter position. Hines replaced Russell after the Navy game, and is a hybrid linebacker and safety. Hines has extensive playing experience.

Orhian Johnson is the projected front-runner for the other safety position, but Johnson will have competition for the starting spot. Aaron Gant, Nate Oliver, Jamie Wood, Zach Domicone, and C.J. Barnett will all try to win the starting position and precious playing time. All of these players, with the exception of Jamie Wood, have playing experience gained through special teams contributions.

Concern Level: I will give this a 7. As I wrote up above, Coleman was a solid, dependable three year starter. While not a big hitting safety in the mold of former Ohio State greats Jack Tatum or Mike Doss, Coleman provided tremendous leadership and was a steadying presence on Ohio State's defense. I will be anxious to see how this critical position shakes out over the course of the spring practices.

As I wrote previously, it is possible that these questions may not be answered definitively by the conclusion of Ohio State's spring practices on April 24th. Many of these questions rank low in comparison to other football programs around the country. Regardless, I am hopeful that many of these questions will be answered, and look forward to seeing how the answers will help to predict Ohio State's 2010 season.

CollegeFootballNews.com: Spring Analysis Blog - Terrelle Pryor's Time

Spring Analysis Blog - Terrelle Pryor's Time: "Opinions, analysis, and information about during the spring session. ... What's the most important thing to watch for this spring?"

Ohio State's Spring Cleaning (And Questions): Part 1

Ohio State begins spring football practice on April 1st - no joke. The 2009 season was capped off with a Rose Bowl win over Oregon, but Ohio State has several areas to address before the 2010 season begins on September 2nd against Marshall. As Jim Tressel has said in the past, a team cannot win the national championship in the spring, but they certainly can lose it if the team does not develop.

In the style of David Letterman, I have posted what I consider the critical areas for Ohio State to address this spring, from least importance to high importance. While I do not expect all of these questions to be answered by the Ohio State spring game on April 24th, I do believe most of these areas will be addressed as Ohio State will break until the beginning of fall camp.

* Honorable Mention ~ Who Will Handle Ohio State's kickoff returns and punt returns?

While I consider this an important area for Ohio State, as they lose Ray Small (out of eligibility, possible NFL career) and Lamaar Thomas (transfer to New Mexico), I believe this is one of the topics that could linger until fall camp. Ohio State had to adjust to Ray Small's suspension from the Rose Bowl. In the Rose Bowl, Ohio State made due with DeVier Posey and Dane Sanzenbacher as punt returners, and Daniel "Boom" Herron, Anderson Russell, and Brandon Saine as kick returners.

This is one of the areas where I believe multiple players will be given opportunities to win these jobs both in the spring and in the fall. While I believe Tressel will take a sure-handed receiver such as Dane Sanzenbacher as a punt returner, I also believe redshirt freshmen Chris Fields and James Jackson will be given opportunities to demonstrate their punt return capabilities this spring.

As for kickoffs, redshirt freshman Jaamal Berry could possibly take over either Saine's or Herron's kickoff duties. Incoming freshmen James Louis and Corey Brown are other candidates who will arrive for the fall camp with definite possibilities as kickoff returners.

Concern Level: None. As you can see up above, there are multiple players on Ohio State's roster who can contribute as kickoff or punt returners.

10 ~ Who Will Handle Ohio State's Punting This Season?

No joke - any time you have a coach who openly speaks of the punt as the most important play in football, this has to make the list. Jon Thoma was a walk-on who had an average year (just under 38 yards per punt) punting for Ohio State. Waiting in the wings for Ohio State is redshirt sophomore Ben Buchanan, who was one of the first commitments to Ohio State's 2008 recruiting class. Another possibility could be incoming freshman Drew Basil, who will participate in spring football for Ohio State.

Concern Level: None. While Jim Tressel truly values having a good punter, Tressel is not afraid to insert walk-ons at this position. I predict Buchanan will seize this job by the end of spring football, leaving Drew Basil to battle Devin Barclay for the place kicker position (see below).

9 ~ Who Will Handle Ohio State's Place Kicking This Season?

Another area where Ohio State is not afraid to use walk-ons, such as Devin Barclay. The reason why I rank this area higher in importance is because Ohio State's offense commonly relies on its field goal kicker for points, an ugly truth that reared its head during the 2009 season.

Devin Barclay is the favorite to win this job, but I would not count out Drew Basil in this competition. Jim Tressel is not afraid to use a true freshman as his field goal kicker either, as fans can recall with mixed emotions from the 2001 season.

Concern Level: I will give this a 2 in terms of concern. I believe Barclay will win the job, but it is so important for Tressel to have a reliable field goal kicker.

8 ~ Who Will Emerge As Ohio State's Third Starting Linebacker?

Austin Spitler has exhausted his eligibility and hopes for an NFL shot. Who will join returnees Brian Rolle and Ross Homan?

Confounding this dilemma is the amount of quality linebacker depth Ohio State has at the linebacker position. Tyler Moeller may return from a head injury that sidelined him the entire 2009 season. Even if Moeller is not cleared to play again, Ohio State has players such as Andrew Sweat, Etienne Sabino, and Storm Klein returning with game experience. Redshirted freshmen Dorian Bell and Jordan Whiting will also look to throw their hats into the ring. And we have not even contemplated true freshmen David Durham and Scott McVey, who will arrive in the fall.

Concern Level: I will give this a 2 in terms of concern also. Any other college throughout the nation would kill for Ohio State's problems at this position. I believe Ohio State will mix and match players throughout the spring, even moving Rolle out of the MLB spot to see what kind of talent they can plug in at the LB positions.

When the spring is done, I will predict the starters going into fall camp will be Brian Rolle, Ross Homan, and Andrew Sweat. Etienne Sabino, Storm Klein, Dorian Bell, and Jordan Whiting will all contribute as backups, but the bulk of their contributions will come on special teams. And I predict Ohio State will redshirt both David Durham and Scott McVey.

7 - Who Will Emerge As Ohio State's Third Wide Receiver?

Last season, Duron Carter was able to contribute as a true freshman, playing as the third wide receiver alongside starters Dane Sanzenbacher and DeVier Posey. Carter's academic suspension from the Rose Bowl opened up the door for Taurian Washington as the third wideout.

This battle will likely be waged between Carter and Washington for this spot, but redshirt senior Grant Schwartz, as well as redshirt freshmen Chris Fields and James Jackson will also be battling for playing time.

Concern Level: I would rank this as a 3. In the Rose Bowl, Ohio State focused on controlling the clock by running the ball, and I believe Ohio State will always focus on a low-risk offense as long as Coach Tressel is running the show.

There will be times when Ohio State will need, or wants, to come out in a three wide receiver set, and it will be important for the coaching staff to have trust in the third wide receiver as a viable option. More than likely, Duron Carter will be that player, but until the conclusion of spring football, this is a worthwhile area of curiosity.

6 - How Will Ohio State Address The Tight End Position?

The underutilized Jake Ballard has exhausted his eligibility, hoping for a shot in the NFL. Redshirt sophomore Jake Stoneburner returns, and will be the likely favorite to win the position. As a high school wide receiver, Stoneburner was not asked to block in the manner that Ohio State tight ends traditionally are used (think an extra offensive lineman).

Other returnees at the position include sophomore Reid Fragel and redshirt sophomore Nic DiLillo. Of the three players, Stoneburner had two receptions last season, and Fragel and DiLillo had none. Jake Ballard only had fourteen receptions at tight end for Ohio State in 2009.

Concern Level: I would rank this as a 3. Any Ohio State fan who believes Jim Tressel is going to start throwing to the tight end more simply has not been paying attention during Tressel's tenure as Ohio State's head coach. Of bigger concern to me is the fact that Stoneburner has not established himself as a blocker, so I will be curious to see which of these three players does that this spring to set themselves up as the starting tight end in 2010. I have a feeling Reid Fragel will emerge as the starter by the end of spring football due to his blocking prowess, but I could be mistaken.

Part Two of this article will emphasize the top five areas of concern or question that I have for Ohio State as they begin spring football and head into the 2010 season. I hope to submit this article sometime before spring football kicks off for Ohio State on April 1st.

Are Thaddeus Gibson & Kurt Coleman In The Browns' Draft Plans?

Based on this article from The Plain Dealer on 03/18/2010, it sounds as if the Browns may have an interest in both Thaddeus Gibson as well as Kurt Coleman of Ohio State.

Personally, if Gibson is available at the top of round 2, I would pick him if I were the Browns. As I have written before, Thaddeus Gibson projects well to a 3-4 team such as the Browns. More importantly, Gibson is from the Cleveland area and would immediately identify with the fan base.

If Kurt Coleman is there in round 3, I would pick him as well. Considering the Browns have three 3rd round selections, Coleman could provide defensive back depth and would be a contributor on special teams.

As for the supposed private workout of Tim Tebow...I believe Tim Tebow would be a good pick as a project quarterback, and I am guessing Tebow will be selected in the 2nd or 3rd round. I believe a team such as New England or Indianapolis could pick Tim Tebow, and allow him to sit and learn the pro game.

The reality is the Browns need a young quarterback to groom and develop behind Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace, but is Tim Tebow the right fit for the Browns? Can the Browns wait a few years for Tebow? Mike Holmgren's comments on Tim Tebow have certainly piqued the curiosity of Browns fans everywhere.

Andy Staples of SI.com: Quarterback Match Game

Considering Tim Tebow is working out today for NFL scouts, considering how the Browns jettisoned both Derek Anderson and Brady Quinn and just signed Jake Delhomme...read through the article below and you will get an understanding on how much of a crapshoot projecting an NFL quarterback is.

PS - for the record, I have always argued that JaMarcus Russell of LSU would be a colossal bust. I did know which quote was attributed to John Elway too.

Before Tim Tebow's pro day, let's play QB draft match game - Andy Staples - SI.com

Ramzy Of Bucknuts.com ~ An Embarassment Of Rich's

Every Tuesday, Ramzy writes an article for bucknuts.com.  I found his latest article on Michigan and its challenges to be so well-written that I wanted to share it with the blog.  I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did.   An Embarassment Of Rich's

Former Buckeyes Try To Improve NFL Stock With Ohio State's Pro Day

Year after year, Ohio State's Pro Day traditionally is well-represented by every NFL team with a plethora of head coaches, general managers, and scouts. This year, Ohio State's smaller group of seniors (and its only declared junior Thaddeus Gibson) were able to attract 29 different NFL teams, but no head coaches.

Thaddeus Gibson is projected to be the first Buckeye drafted. It remains to be seen if Gibson will move up into the first round, but I would be surprised if Gibson remained available midway through the second round.

While critics like to compare Gibson to former Buckeye Vernon Gholston, who has struggled in the NFL, I do not consider those comparisons valid. While Gholston has struggled in the pros, I believe Gholston's best position would be as down defensive lineman, which is how he was used to his best at Ohio State. Asking Gholston to drop back into coverage at almost 270 lbs. seems foolish. Consequently, Thaddeus Gibson's best position in the NFL would be as 3-4 linebacker who could drop back in coverage, while also providing pass-rushing capabilities on the outside.

Thaddeus Gibson had solid workouts at the NFL Combine as well as at his Ohio State Pro Day. Are the Pittsburgh Steelers in Gibson's NFL future? We will not know until draft day, but I am guessing the Steelers have an interest in Gibson as they conducted Gibson's linebacker drills for the workout.

Kurt Coleman is projected to be the second Buckeye selected in the NFL draft. Coleman played safety for Ohio State, but was a cornerback in high school and may project to that position in the NFL.

Coleman is one of those players I believe can have a solid NFL career along the lines of former Buckeye and current Titan Donnie Nickey. While Coleman may be undersized at safety, Coleman is a solid tackler and could contribute on special teams as well as on pass defense. I would be happy if the Browns selected Coleman in the third or fourth round. I also believe Coleman can play cornerback in the NFL.

Doug Worthington is a defensive end who may be ideally suited for the 3-4. Supposedly, Worthington has workouts scheduled with the New England Patriots and New York Jets in this next week. It would not surprise me if Worthington emerged as a late round selection sometime on day three of the NFL draft.

Pleasant surprises were the performances of Austin Spitler and Jim Cordle. Spitler was relegated to primarily special teams duty and as a backup linebacker until this past season, while Cordle moved from his natural center position to guard, then tackle this past season. Of the two, I would project Cordle to be a late round selection, due to his versatility - Cordle will likely play guard at the next level, but could also serve as a backup center and even emergency right tackle if need be in the NFL. I project Spitler to be a free agent.

I was disappointed to hear that TE Jake Ballard suffered a hamstring injury and was unable to complete the workout. I believe Ballard could be a value in the later rounds, as he was tremendously underused in Ohio State's offense as a receiving tight end. I would project Ballard to be a free agent.

Aaron Pettrey is coming off a knee injury that could determine his NFL draft status. Pettrey may not be selected in the NFL draft, but he will be in an NFL training camp for sure.

The enigmatic Ray Small and Robert Rose also participated in Ohio State's Pro Day. If Small had been able to play in the Rose Bowl, after all of the self-inflicted challenges he faced during his Ohio State career, I may have believed Small would have a chance at being picked in the draft. While I believe Ray Small will be in an NFL training camp this summer, I do not believe an NFL team will invest a draft choice in a player with repeated transgressions, at least until the later rounds. Small could be a keeper as a kickoff and punt returner in the NFL, if he can keep his head on straight.

Overall, the stock of Thaddeus Gibson and Kurt Coleman seem to have a positive trajectory. The stock of Doug Worthington seems to remain steady. And the stock of Jake Ballard seems to have taken a pessimistic turn. As for the other draft eligible Buckeyes (Aaron Pettrey, Austin Spitler, Jim Cordle, Ray Small, Robert Rose), it remains to be seen if their NFL stock will boom come April.

Is Notre Dame Rethinking Its Stance On The Big Ten?

With The Big Ten looking to expand to as many as 16 teams, Notre Dame may be reaching the conclusion that football independence may leave them on the outside looking in, especially as it pertains to The BCS and conference bowl tie-ins.

Before this story broke, I was under the belief that The Big Ten was leaning towards Missouri for its twelfth member. Missouri would enable the conference to stage a conference championship game, such as The SEC, The ACC, and The Big XII.

With Notre Dame possibly back in the mix for the first time since 1999, when Notre Dame rejected an invitation from The Big Ten, I believe the likely candidates would be Missouri, Notre Dame, and Rutgers, creating a fourteen team conference. By doing so, The Big Ten would expand its television coverage via The Big Ten Network through the coveted New York City viewing audience all the way west to St. Louis and Kansas City, two decent-sized metropolitan viewing areas.

If The Big Ten truly wants to create shockwaves with an expansion move, how about adding Pittsburgh and Nebraska into the mix too? While Nebraska is not a population hotbed, its storied tradition and loyal fanbase would enable The Big Ten Network to expand all the way west to the threshold of the Rocky Mountain area. Comments by former head coach and current Nebraska athletic director Tom Osborne lead me to believe he may be interested in hearing The Big Ten's sales pitch. Pittsburgh would allow Penn State to revive its in-state rivalry, and would give The Big Ten another large city into the Big Ten viewing fold.

Obviously, there is much more to come as it relates to the Big Ten's eventual expansion (and I do consider Big Ten expansion an inevitability). Below is a link from Stewart Mandel of SI discussing Notre Dame and a possible move to a conference.

Big Ten expansion could impact Notre Dame's independent status - NCAA Football - SI.com