Scarlet: 31
Gray: 14
This thing called a spring football game is simply just a faint shadow of what we typically call football. Most spring games are nothing more than passing scrimmages with QB’s wearing caution, did murder me jerseys, with running backs used for eye candy rather than carrying the ball. Braxton Miller threw for 217 yards and two first half touchdowns while running for a third TD in the 2nd half before being sat down before the fourth quarter. Miller displayed something he has struggled with over his first two season. Touch. Miller started off the game with a 49 yard completion to Even Spencer and capped the drive with a masterful scoring strike to Devin Smith, using a beautiful touch on a lofted ball, while scrambling and rolling to his right.
Kenny Guiton looked solid, throwing for 150 yards and a touchdown while playing for both teams. It’s safe to say Braxton Millers starting job is locked down pretty tightly. After last years spring game there were people clamoring for Guiton to start over Miller. Guiton may still be the nations best backup QB and with an injury prone Braxton Miller could be called upon to win a game or two. Cardale Jones saw some action and looked good and terrible. He showed  a strong arm and good running skill but lost two fumbles and threw an interception forcing a ball to Michael Thomas. Thomas had another good spring game catching 7 balls for 79 yards and a TD. He showed good wiggle after the catch and proved to be difficult to take down.
We did not get to see any of the diamond formation today as I’m sure that will be held under wraps until the fall come the Buffalo game. Plus OSU didn’t really run the ball all that much today. There were 44 combined rushes today and that includes QB’s getting sacked. If QB sacks were included it would have been 62 pass plays to 33 running plays. All in all there were 11 sacks…4 by Adolphus Washington and 3 by Noah Spence. The right tackle position is going to be an interesting one for OSU moving forward. Chase Farris struggled today blocking both Spence and Washington and really did look bad at times. Hopefully that speaks to how good the Buckeys starting DE’s are.
Defensively Curtis Grant had 10 tackles a sack and two really big hits on Philly Brown over the middle, probably the two hit’s of the day. But defensively the day belonged to Spence and Washington who put constant pressure on Scarlet QB’s all day.
What I liked about this years game is the fact that it matched up OSU’s #1 offense vs. OSU’s #1 defense. The #1 offense and the #2 defense were on Scarlet while the #2 offense and the #1 defense was on Gray. Miller, unlike last year was matched up with players that he actually will be playing with.
I really didn’t think there was a spring game popcorn fart superstar this year…maybe Chris Fields as he scored 2 TD’s…one for each team. I doubt he will be as impactful next year.
Bring on the fall…
I had no real frame of reference of just how big Cardale Jones is — that dude is huge! He obviously has some things to get under control, but he seems like he’d be a load to bring down and seems like an intriguing change of pace for Urban in goal line situations (which sounds AWFULLY familiar).
I wonder if Urban has registered Spence and Washington as deadly weapons with the B1G.
Seriously, someone is going to die at their hands.