2016 Ohio State Spring Football Preview: Youth Will Be Served, Early And Often – RB Preview

“Almost everything that is great has been done by youth…” ~ Benjamin Disraeli

Ohio State will begin spring football practice on March 8th. Heading into the 2016 college football season, Ohio State will have 44 players on its roster designated as either a redshirt freshman (21 of the 25 players signed in February 2015), or a true freshman. For a roster that can have only 85 scholarship players, Ohio State will have around 52% of its roster with no playing time experience. As former Ohio State Head Coach John Cooper used to say, “If a dog is going to bite you, it will bite you as a pup.”.

For the next several weeks, I will be writing position group previews, leading up to the Ohio State Spring Football Game in Ohio Stadium on April 16th, 2016. These position groups will be ranked, from least to most concern, as I perceive them. It is entirely possible that my concerns, as well as the coaching staff’s concerns, will be reevaluated after the spring game.

(Honorable Mention – Placekicker) ~ In 2015, Ohio State had issues with both Jack Willoughby and Sean Nuernberger at placekicker. Late in the season, Nuernberger was awarded the placekicker position, and was successful in the 2016 Battlefrog Fiesta Bowl, hitting on all three of his field goals attempts. Considering how young Ohio State will be in 2016 across the board, Nuernberger may be counted upon more from a points option than Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer would prefer.

9th ~ Running Back

Players Lost – Ezekiel Elliott, Warren Ball. Ball has a fifth year of eligibility, but has decided to use it at Akron this coming season. Best of luck to Ball in all of his future endeavors, on and off the football field. Ezekiel Elliott? Yeah, you may have heard about him these past three years. Elliott was the focal part of the Ohio State offense, as Urban Meyer’s philosophy is to lean heavily upon the power running game. No matter if Ohio State has a dominant running back, or decides to use a committee approach, having a dependable running game is essential for Ohio State’s success on the field.

Returning Players/Incoming Players – Bri’onte Dunn (Redshirt Senior), Curtis Samuel (Junior), Mike Weber (Redshirt Freshman), Antonio Williams (Freshman).

A few things to keep in mind as it relates to this position group…

· Curtis Samuel has fluctuated between playing running back and the H-Back position in his first two seasons in Columbus. A very versatile player, Samuel has also been used on special teams for kickoff returns. Samuel underwent surgery in January, which means Samuel’s involvement in spring football is likely to be minimal. Could Samuel emerge as the leading candidate at running back? Certainly, but Samuel will likely need to make his move in fall camp, not spring football.

· Bri’onte Dunn is one of two redshirt seniors on the roster; the other is projected starting center Pat Elflein. Dunn was a highly-touted recruit in 2012, yet has not been able to consistently stake a claim for playing time as a running back; the vast majority of Dunn’s playing time has been as a well-respected special teams coverage member. Dunn has had occasional fumbling issues when given the chance to carry the ball. Can Dunn finally break through in his last opportunity to play as a running back for Ohio State this spring?

· Mike Weber redshirted in 2015, thanks to a surgery that took place during fall camp. Weber was earning rave reviews at the time of his surgery, and seemed likely to play at some point in 2015. Could Weber emerge this spring as the top candidate to replace Ezekiel Elliott in the Ohio State offense?

· Antonio Williams arrived on campus and began classes in January 2016. Originally committed to Wisconsin, Williams flipped his commitment to Ohio State in November 2015. Through the years, Ohio State has had several running backs enroll early, with names such as Maurice Clarett, Antonio Pittman, and Beanie Wells notably taking advantage of spring football to stake their respective claims for playing time. Will Antonio Williams be able to add his name to this illustrious list by the end of spring practice?

These questions, among others, will be on my mind once Ohio State spring practice begins March 8th.

Grading 2014 Ohio State Football, At The Bye

While I agree with Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer that having a bye week at this point in the season is not necessarily wanted or welcomed by the coaches, players, or fans, it does provide an opportunity to assess how Ohio State is doing after the first third of the season. (Technically, Ohio State was at the 1/3 point after the Cincinnati game, but this bye weekend gives me a chance to evaluate the team, without an opponent to preview against.) Let us begin with the various position groups:

Quarterbacks: A solid ‘B’, but could rise to an ‘A’ by the conclusion of the season. Redshirt freshman quarterback J.T. Barrett was unenviably thrown into the starting position when projected starter Braxton Miller’s shoulder injury was season-ending. Barrett struggled immensely against Virginia Tech in week two, but has had three straight sterling performances versus Kent State, Cincinnati, and Maryland. Will Barrett be able to continue his strong play as Ohio State continues B1G competition for the remainder of the season? Cardale Jones has played sparingly as a backup so far this season.

Running Backs: B+. Ezekiel Elliott has seized the starting position, and looks to be in the Carlos Hyde mold of being able to wear an opposing defense down. Senior Rod Smith figures to be a complimentary player for the remainder of his Ohio State career. Coach Meyer has praised Bri’onte Dunn as being worthy of more playing time. True freshman Curtis Samuel is presently battling an ankle injury. The coaching staff seems to have concluded that Dontre Wilson is best used as a perimeter player running the ball; the same for Jalin Marshall. Warren Ball has battled injuries this season, and gets little playing time.

Wide Receivers: B-. This position group is kind of a mixed bag. The talent is there, but has not established itself on a consistent basis. Michael Thomas, Corey Smith, Evan Spencer, Devin Smith, Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson – all play, yet none have seized the starting positions with a commanding performance. Senior TE Jeff Heuerman has battled injuries, but may have turned the corner. Nick Vannett has also played capably this season.

Offensive Line: B+. Considering where this group started, how the players were being mixed in and out of the lineup, with inconsistent results…This offensive line may be the most pleasant surprise on the team. Losing four starters, and moving the only returning starter with Taylor Decker to left tackle, meant the offensive line was completely unsettled and incohesive. The offensive line is only going to get better by the season’s end. Senior Darryl Baldwin has been singled out by Coach Meyer for his continuing development at right tackle. Jacoby Boren has taken a firm grasp of the starting center position.

Defensive Line: B-. Joey Bosa is staring down a first team All-American selection after this season. The suspension of Noah Spence has hurt Ohio State’s pass rush. Michael Bennett, Adolphus Washington, and the combo of Steve Miller/Rashad Frazier have played well, but have not been nearly as dominant as expected by the fan base. An opportunity to dominate the opposition looms when the Buckeyes travel to Penn State on October 25th.

Linebackers: B. True freshman Raekwon McMillan may have clinched the starting middle linebacker position by the season’s end. Darron Lee was the player of the game in the season opener versus Navy. Joshua Perry has been relatively quiet on the playmaking front. Will this group be able to step up with physical rushing opponents such as Michigan State and Minnesota on the horizon?

Secondary: C. A true work in progress. While improving, this is the weak area of the team. How much of it is scheme, and how much of it is personnel? Eli Apple may have turned a corner, no pun intended, with his performance at Maryland last weekend. This position group may improve with better performances at Penn State and Indiana.

Special Teams Units: B+. True freshman Sean Nuernberger has been better after two missed field goals against Virginia Tech in the second game of the season. Will Nuernberger be able to come through if needed to make a game winner? Cameron Johnston is quietly reliable at the punting position. Coach Meyer stresses the importance of special teams as being a gateway to playing time, and the coverage units have been solid.

Conclusion: If 2014 Ohio State football were a stock, this would be a solid buy acquisition. Ohio State should be 7-1 heading up to East Lansing, MI, for what should be a B1G East Division elimination game. “Should be” does not mean “will be”, especially after Virginia Tech came into Ohio Stadium and defeated the Buckeyes in week two of the season. If Ohio State can defeat a very good Michigan State team in front of a national television audience, it is not far-fetched for Ohio State to possibly emerge as a playoff participant.

3 Things I’m Looking For With Ohio State/Kent State, From The Mind Of Minnich

A surefire way to make a one game losing streak into a two game losing streak is to keep looking back at the game your team lost. While disappointed with Ohio State’s loss to Virginia Tech last weekend, the Buckeyes need to regroup and refocus with the Kent State Golden Flashes coming into Ohio Stadium on September 13th.

Kent State will be the easiest opponent remaining on Ohio State’s 2014 schedule. With a bye week approaching the weekend of September 20th, here are three critical areas I will be looking for from the Buckeyes as they head into their first bye weekend ~

1. Establish The Running Game: So far this season, Ohio State has not been able to consistently run its favorite running play, the inside dive play. A big part of that is because Carlos Hyde is now playing for the San Francisco 49ers and not the Ohio State Buckeyes. Almost equally important is Ohio State has four new starters along its offensive line. No matter which Ohio State running back is playing, I will be hoping the Ohio State coaching staff will be dedicated to developing a consistently productive inside running game. With a strong inside running threat, the entire offense will become that much more difficult to defend. The way Ohio State can develop and establish a strong running game is by…

2. Play The Starters For At Least Three Quarters: Developing chemistry and cohesiveness with the offensive line, the linebackers, the secondary, etc., can only happen through repetition. By keeping the starters in through at least three quarters, Ohio State will be able to work through a lot of the kinks that have been visible through the first two games of the 2014 season. Once the third quarter concludes, I would hope Ohio State would liberally play as many backups as possible, especially with backup quarterback Cardale Jones only one snap away from taking over the starting quarterback position.

3. Fix The Special Teams Units: For the first two games of the 2014 season, Ohio State’s special teams have been consistently inconsistent. Senior PK Kyle Clinton has twice failed to keep the ball inbounds on kickoffs. Freshman PK Sean Nuernberger missed two field goals versus Virginia Tech. Sophomore P Cameron Johnston had a 24 yard punt versus Virginia Tech. And the kickoff coverage team made costly coverage and tackling errors.

While Coach Meyer would always prefer to score touchdowns versus field goals, focusing upon Nuernberger’s psyche would not be a bad thing – I can recall how Ohio State legendary PK Mike Nugent struggled as a true freshman in 2001, and it took Nugent some time to work his way out of his issues. Fortunately for Ohio State fans, Nugent was a clutch performer for Ohio State’s 2002 national championship team.

While I would prefer for Ohio State to pin its opponents deep in their own territory, I would gladly sacrifice this option if it meant opponents were not starting on their own 35 yard line. I would hope the coaching staff has worked with Clinton on his kickoffs, as this has impacted Ohio State twice this season already.

As for the kickoff units, I recall how Coach Tressel used his 2002 linebacker recruits (Bobby Carpenter, A.J. Hawk, Mike D’Andrea) on kickoff coverage. Could Coach Meyer do the same with freshmen such as Raekwon McMillan, Dante Booker, or Sam Hubbard?

It is important for Ohio State coaches, players, and fans to get over the loss to Virginia Tech, and focus upon the remainder of the season. The game versus Kent State is the first opportunity to refocus and concentrate upon the message in the image below. Go Bucks!

BMiller_rising_fall

2014 OSU Spring Football – Questions Answered, Questions Remain

Before Ohio State’s 2014 spring practices began in March, I posted questions ranked from least concerning areas to most concerning areas as I perceived them. Are the categories in the same sequence? Let’s find out.

10. Special Teams Units: Ranked tenth coming into the spring practice, and I believe this important area still ranks low in terms of concerns heading into the summer. During the spring game, Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer did not practice kickoffs, and punt returns all resulted in fair catches. Furthermore, with the influx of freshmen talent who will arrive in June, it would be reasonable to expect a number of freshmen to compete for playing time in this often over-looked area.

9. H-Back/Pivot/Hybrid/Slot: An area that was ranked eighth heading into spring practice, it seems to be in fairly capable and competent hands. Coach Meyer withheld rising sophomore Dontre Wilson from the spring game, and Wilson should have ample opportunities to play H-Back when the season begins next August 30th. Rising redshirt freshman Jalin Marshall and true freshman Curtis Samuel should also have chances to contribute in this area; Samuel had several moments during spring practice that impressed Coach Meyer.

8. Tight End: Ranked ninth, I elevated this area for two relatively minor reasons. First, rising senior Jeff Heuerman missed a considerable portion of spring practice a foot injury that required surgery, and will keep Heuerman in a cast and walking boot until summer workouts. Secondly, rising redshirt freshman Marcus Baugh had some impressive moments this spring, but is still trying to regain the confidence of the coaching staff. Rising junior Nick Vannett will play considerably this fall. Overall, a solid group, but Heuerman’s absence and injury led me to rank this as an area of more concern after the spring than before the spring practices.

7. Running Back: This position area is in the same location as it was when spring practices began. My concerns rank in the same general area – will the coaching staff be able to keep all of these players happy and involved? Rising sophomore Ezekiel Elliott seems to be the prohibitive favorite going into summer workouts, but rising redshirt sophomore Bri’onte Dunn, true freshman Curtis Samuel, and rising redshirt sophomore Warren Ball all played well throughout the spring. Throw in rising senior Rod Smith, who had a strong spring, in the words of Coach Meyer, and perhaps you can see why I question how the coaching staff will be able to keep all of these players involved and happy.

6. Placekicker: Another adjustment, post-spring practice. This battle will continue throughout the summer, but true freshman Sean Nuernberger may have a slight lead over rising senior Kyle Clinton. Nuernberger was able to successfully kick both field goal attempts from 52 yards, while Clinton was unable to do so. It is early in the process, but considering Nuernberger is a scholarship player, it would seem plausible that Nuernberger may have the edge on this spot going into summer workouts.

Part two will focus upon the five areas of highest concern, as Ohio State leaves spring practice behind and prepares for summer workouts and fall camp.

The 2014 Ohio State Spring Game: Youth Will Be Served

“Youth will be served, every dog has his day, and mine has been a fine one.”

~ George Borrow

Attending the Ohio State spring game has always been one of my favorite spring time events. The very first spring game I attended was in 1996, eagerly anticipating how the newly-signed quarterback Mark Garcia would do in his Ohio State debut, as he battled Stanley Jackson for the starting quarterback position. Little did anyone know a third quarterback by the name of Joe Germaine would outperform both quarterbacks in the spring game, giving fans in attendance an early glimpse at one of the best quarterbacks in Ohio State football history.

Another fond memory was the 2003 spring game. Not only was Ohio State basking in the glory of the 2002 national championship, but fans were treated to an aerial duel between Justin Zwick and Troy Smith. It was the unofficial beginning of the quarterback battle for the 2004 starting job.

My wife and three children will be joining me for this spring game. I have taken my wife before, and my sons came with me three years ago, but this will mark my daughter’s first visit to Ohio Stadium. I am also planning on meeting up with Shannon Sommers as well at Ohio Stadium…

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has already stated that true freshmen Curtis Samuel and Johnnie Dixon figure prominently in Ohio State’s upcoming season; the spring game will give fans that first look at both as Buckeyes. Freshman linebacker Raekwon McMillan and freshman placekicker Sean Nuernberger will also be counted upon this fall; I am anxious to see how both perform for what should be a pretty decent crowd.

The player I am most anxious to see? Linebacker Darron Lee, who has been starting all spring. Lee has been consistently cited by Coach Meyer for his aggressiveness and intensity all spring. Considering the level of disappointment that Coach Meyer and the fans had of the 2013 linebackers, watching Lee’s performance will be foremost for me at the spring game.

A close second? Cornerback Eli Apple. Apple redshirted in 2013, but has recently had his black stripe removed, symbolizing that he is now a player that will be relied upon in game situations. Like the linebackers, the 2013 secondary left much to be desired. Apple and Gareon Conley have been playing well this spring, and will be challenging for playing time this season.

Yes, youth will be served during the spring game. Youth may also be served this coming season.

2014 OSU Spring Football – Questions To Answer (Part 2)

Part one of this series dealt with questions and challenges that I perceive as important, but lower priority, for Ohio State to address this spring. On any college football team, there will always be issues with players unhappy about playing time. Any coach will want to see more production from any position group. Below are the top five pressing issues, as I see them, for Ohio State Head Coach Urban Meyer to focus upon between March 4th and the date of the April 12th Ohio State Spring Game.

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5. Placekicker – While Coach Meyer is always wanting touchdowns from his offense, it is sometimes required to have a placekicker on the roster who can come through with a clutch field goal at the end of the game. Reliable Drew Basil has exhausted his eligibility, opening the door for true freshman Sean Nuernberger to claim the position. Nuernberger enrolled early at Ohio State, allowing him the opportunity to seize the job this spring. Competition for the placekicker position may come from Kyle Clinton, a walk-on who saw game action during the 2012 season. This position could rise in importance by the conclusion of spring games, based upon Nuernberger’s performance this spring.

4. Backup Quarterback – Senior quarterback Braxton Miller made the decision to come back to Ohio State for his fourth and final year of eligibility, pleasing Ohio State coaches and fans alike. With Miller’s recent arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder, Ohio State will use the spring practices to determine who the primary backup quarterback is to Miller – Cardale Jones, J.T. Barrett, or newly-signed Stephen Collier.

Based upon Ohio State Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach Tom Herman’s comments, Jones will begin spring practice as the primary backup…

Jones played sparingly in 2013, appearing in three games. Most of Jones’ game appearances were as a result of both Miller and departing backup Kenny Guiton having Ohio State in front by a considerable margin; Jones usually would hand the ball off, or run himself. Throwing only three passes, it would be fair to say that Jones will certainly be given more opportunities as a passer this spring.

Barrett was the primary quarterback recruit targeted by Coach Herman for the 2013 recruiting class. Barrett redshirted in 2013, using the time to recover from a serious knee injury that wiped out most of Barrett’s senior high school season. Barrett’s leadership qualities have been raved about by the Ohio State coaching staff; will these qualities allow him to leapfrog Jones for the backup spot by the end of spring practice?

Lastly, Stephen Collier. The wild card of this group, Collier enrolled early and will participate in spring drills. Described by Coach Meyer as a “development guy”, Collier will battle for the backup position, but it would be highly surprising if Collier could overtake both Jones and Barrett for the primary backup quarterback spot.

Yes, Braxton Miller will/should be under center, when the season begins on the road at Navy on August 30th. As Ohio State fans have witnessed over the past two seasons, having a dependable backup quarterback behind Miller has often made all of the difference between winning and losing. This battle could also have repercussions for the 2015 season, after Miller has left Ohio State.

3. Linebacker – On National Letter Of Intent Day for 2014, Coach Meyer stated, “That’s far too many mistakes have been made in either lack of development or whatever and it’s just not where we need to be” in reference to the Ohio State linebackers. When that statement was made, this is how I interpreted it, along with many others…

Compounding the challenges for this position group are the losses of Ryan Shazier (to the NFL) and Mike Mitchell (transfer). With Curtis Grant and Josh Perry returning, Trey Johnson would seem likely to have an opportunity to claim Shazier’s starting spot. Based upon Grant’s concussion history, as well as Perry’s injuries, it is not improbable that Ohio State will have a completely overhauled linebacker corps for the season opener against Navy on August 30th. The biggest name for fans to be focused upon this spring? Incoming freshman Raekwon McMillan, who enrolled early. Others in the mix may be walk-on Joe Burger, Camren Williams, and redshirt freshman Darron Lee.

2. Defensive Back – After being torched through the air by Michigan State in The B1G Championship Game, then by Clemson in The 2014 Orange Bowl, changes were necessary for the Buckeyes across the board, both in coaching and in personnel. Coaching changes bring new Co-Defensive Coordinator/Safeties Coach Chris Ash, to replace Everett Withers, who left for the head coaching position at James Madison. Kerry Coombs remains on staff, but Ohio State fans believe Coach Ash will be in charge of rebuilding the Ohio State secondary. From National Letter Of Intent Day 2014, Coach Meyer stated on Ash, “And then Chris Ash is charged with he’s got a serious responsibility. That’s to improve our pass defense. He’ll be in charge of the entire back end of our defense. He’s going to coach safety. He’s going to continue to coach corners. However we’re going to have one voice back there, it’s his responsibility to improve our pass defense… And obviously it’s more than just a secondary. It’s linebackers and everything. But you’re going to see some significant changes in the way we approach our business back there.”.

Personnel changes are needed not only due to poor performance, but also for players who have exhausted their eligibility, such as Bradley Roby (NFL Draft early departure), C.J. Barnett, Christian Bryant, and Corey “Pittsburgh” Brown. Doran Grant is the only returning starter, and after the 2013 season by the defensive backfield, Grant may not have a lock on a starting position. Armani Reeves, Eli Apple, Cam Burrows, Vonn Bell, Tyvis Powell, Gareon Conley, Christopher Worley, Jayme Thompson, and Ron Tanner will all be battling for starting positions and the prestige of their new position coach this spring.

1. Offensive Line – This was a close call, between the revamped secondary or the offensive line, for the most important area of concern for Ohio State to work upon this spring. While the secondary loses three starters, the offensive line loses four starters, plus flips starting right tackle Taylor Decker to the left side. Ohio State did very well with its recruiting class for offensive linemen, securing five players; two freshmen, Marcelys Jones and Kyle Trout, have already enrolled and will participate in spring practice.

If Decker can switch over from right tackle to left tackle with minimal issues, that will be very reassuring for the Ohio State coaching staff and fans. Jacoby Boren seems likely to have the inside track to the center position, as Boren filled in admirably for departing senior Corey Linsley. Likewise, Pat Elflein would seem to have a shot at the right guard position, after filling in for departing senior Marcus Hall. “Darryl Baldwin is penciled in at right tackle”, based on Coach Meyer’s comments from National Letter Of Intent Day 2014. Keeping my eyes and ears open for news about the performance of the offensive line will be paramount this spring, as this unit will largely determine the strength or the challenges of Ohio State’s offense for the 2014 season.

As always, looking forward to all of your commentary and critiques. Most of all, I am just happy to have football to focus upon, even if it is just from March 4th through April 12th.