Drew Thurman (7:11 pm)

Above is the scene from Purdue's Spring Game today, courtesy of Hammer and Rails. No offense to the Purdue fans out there, but this picture makes me feel good to be a Buckeye. We have 70,000 plus fans that show up for our Spring Game regardless of rain, snow, sleet, or hail. In fact, I don't doubt the Buckeyes had a similar audience of just reporters today for the Jersey Scrimmage (the defense took it 56-55 bv the way).

Dave Thurman (6:57 pm)

Like every other Buckeye fan I have been pouring over spring practice reports, excitedly reading about the progress young players are making, and enjoying the battles being waged for open spots. There seems to be lots of good news filtering out of these practice sessions, and I see some encouraging signs. However, one thing worries me a great deal, and that is the linebacker position.

This probably surprises you, because the linebacker position has been well stocked in recent years, and we all know that Ohio State, not State Penn is the real "linebacker U." But I am a little concerned by the potential of seeing Austin Spitler and Ross Homan on the field together. Don't get me wrong, I think both of them are good, hard-nosed Big Ten linebackers, who can fill the hole and stuff the run. But they aren't the fastest players in recent memory, and I think having both on the field together could spell disaster against speedy teams. 

Now in the opener, when Navy comes to town, it should be no problem. Against the Midshipmen you need tough, disciplined linebackers committed to stopping the run. But the following week, the Trojans of USC make their way to Columbus, and we all know they bring speed, speed, and more speed. It is my opinion that faster linebackers such as Etienne Sabino (pictured) and Brian Rolle, along with guys who can play a hybrid position (safety/linebacker) like Jermale Hines and Tyler Moeller, are the keys to playing with top level teams that spread the ball around. There is always a place for a physical, old-fashioned linebacker when you play the traditional Big Ten teams, but the truth is Ohio State won't beat the big boys unless they can cover from sideline to sideline. That is why I don't see Spitler and Homan on the field together when the Bucks face a spread or a team with an arsenal of speedy skill-position players.

Times are changing in college football, even in the normally conservative Big 10, and like it or not, Woody-ball won't work anymore. That's not to say that Coach Hayes wouldn't have evolved with the times, it just means that what worked in 1970 isn't necessarily successful in 2009. Discipline and physical play are still essential, but speed has changed the game. That's why linebackers like Vernon Gholston and Thaddeus Gibson who can bulk up a little are being converted and are turning into beasts coming off the edge. And that's why so many teams are taking physical safeties and turning them into linebackers.

They say that speed kills, but in reality lack of speed will quickly bring the demise of a football team. So here's hoping the Bucks are ready to put on their track shoes this year, even at linebacker!  

If playing for Duke was not enough, Greg Paulus is now talking to Rich Rodriguez and the Wolverines. The two evil empires meet!

Drew Thurman (10:23 pm)

Tressel and the staff have made the offensive line a major priority in the last two recruiting classes, and have stock piled a lot of future talent. With that said, there is no such thing as enough good offensive linemen (on top of that Cordle is also leaving). All that to say, the 2010 class will probably not be filled with offensive linemen, but the staff is going to grab up a few guys. There has been a lot of buzz about some of the big players out there, so let's take a look at how the class will shape up at offensive line:

Committed:

Andrew Norwell - Norwell is one of the best offensive linemen in the state of Ohio in the 2010 class, and was a nice addition to the class. At 6'7'' 275 pounds, he possess the size to become a big time blocker at the next level. He is very quick coming off the ball, and wastes no time driving into defensive linemen. Of course, this serves him best as a run blocker. Like many young offensive linemen, Norwell will have to work on his speed and footwork in pass protection. If he sorts that out, it could be the difference in him being another Conner Smith or becoming a true force.

Other Names Circulating: 

James Hurst - Hurst gets a lot of play on the boards, and rightfully so, he is one of the best players to come out of the state of Indiana in recent years. I think he projects himself at the next level better at guard than tackle, but regardless he has serious ability. He has found himself ranked in the ESPN 150, and has offers from Notre Dame, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee (Including many others). I know many people around the Hurst situation, and I can say that it will be hard to pull him away from an SEC school. His father played for Alabama and his brother plays for Mississippi State, if that is any indicator. ESPN has this to say about his ability:

"Hurst is a solid offensive lineman that shows very good consistency when run blocking. He has good size and overall strength. Powerful at the point of attack and gets good movement off the line of scrimmage. Comes out with low pads initially and is quick into the block. Needs to be consistent with initial hand punch; could be more violent with first punch. Tends to get a little high after initial movement and feet come together losing some of the initial leverage. Recovers well due to churning leg drive and works hard to finish the blocks."

Seantrel Henderson - The 6'8'' 310 pound Henderson (pictured) may be the most impressive offensive lineman the Buckeyes have pursued in recent years, and is ranked the number one offensive linemen by almost all the services in 2010. He hails from St. Paul, Minnesota, and is holding offers from a bevy of schools including Notre Dame, Michigan, Florida, UCLA, Boston College, and North Carolina. Ohio State has offered as well, but things haven't quite heated up yet. Regardless, no one knows the future and the Buckeyes could become a big player. Some analysis from ESPN:

"Henderson has the size and athletic ability to eventually play left offensive tackle and be a great college lineman. There is very good growth potential through increased upper and lower body bulk. Good arm length will allow him to stay clean. Demonstrates the initial quickness necessary to angle block, pull and trap. Possesses the ability to change direction in space and adjust to second level players."

Matt James - I save James for last because the St. Xavier is probably the number one target for Buckeye fans. James has all the ability to be an offensive tackle in college, and at 6'8'' 280 has the frame as well. Tackle is a position that the staff seems to have more difficulty grabbing talent at, so James is obviously a high priority. Though the other names on this list are also big time players, I have a hard time believing the staff will pursue anyone hard than James. Once again, ESPN's thoughts:

"James is an athletic offensive lineman that has good foot agility. He is a tall and lean offensive tackle that is a towering player on the field. Leads with his hands in both the run and pass game. Gives a good solid punch and jolts the defender with the initial blow. Comes out of his stance a little high in the run game but takes good steps and rarely gets beat at the line of scrimmage."

Overall:

There are a few other names that could be mentioned, but at this time these are the guys to watch. The Buckeyes have very limited scholarships in 2010, and the staff is going to be very picky in selecting offensive linemen. I personally believe the Buckeyes will snag James late, and maybe a second tier linemen (probably from in-state). Henderson and Hurst are not showing lots of love to the Buckeyes at this point.

Drew Thurman (2:56 pm)

All reports out of spring practice are that Thaddeus Gibson is looking stellar, and could have an incredible year. As Tim May of the Dispatch describes, this is not by accident. Instead, Gibson is working as hard as anyone on the team to become a superstar defensive end. In fact, according to May, Gibson has been coming to Heacock with questions everyday on how he can become better. Sounds like Gibson is putting all the pieces together. Mr Bucknuts is not so quick to crown Gibson just yet though. He reminds everyone that spring is just that, spring. There have been lots of superstar spring performances in the past that have not transferred to the season.

Sure some fans may be overly optimistic, but it sure is exciting to hear that Gibson is looking sharp. I think all quarterbacks in the Big Ten should be nervous starting now!

Drew Thurman (3:06 pm)

It was not that long ago that rumors were circulating that Ray Small was going to leave for the NFL or transfer. After losing his number 4 jersey, remaining in Tressel's dog house, and sitting out a few games late in the season for a bevy of incidents, Small and his father seemed to be ready for new horizons elsewhere. When push came to shove though, Small didn't leave and decided to "buy in" for his senior season.

Many Buckeye fans (myself included) were ready to part ways with Small and his father too. Those sentiments may have been a little premature though. With the departure or Brian Hartline and Brain Robiskie, the Buckeyes now find themselves with a talented yet raw set of youngsters at wideout. Leadership is something that is going to be essential for this unit to take it to the next level, and Small just may be what the doctor ordered.

By all reports Small has been looking very sharp in spring practices. There has been a lot less drama from him this year, and he has been working hard while catching everything that is thrown his way. Dave Biddle of Bucknuts reecently had this to say of Small's performance in spring ball:

"The same is true for Ray Small. He is a player that continues to stand out to me. He’s having a very good spring as a receiver, catching almost everything that comes his way. He didn’t have that good of a day as a return man – which was a bit of a surprise. But as a WR, Small looks very good."  

So maybe, just maybe, Small is finally going to live up to all the hype in his final season with the Buckeyes. For a guy who Ted Ginn Sr. said was a better talent than his son coming out of high school, Small has been a source of a lot of frustration. If he keeps his nose clean this summer off the field, Small could finally erase all the bad memories with a stellar senior season. He has always had the talent, but has just never put all the pieces together, at least until now. So I don't want to curse anything, but it just might be the time to jump on the Ray Small bandwagon.

Drew Thurman (12:48 pm)

Thanks to Bigguys2 over on the Bucknuts boards, I found these pictures of Buckeye newcomer Dominic Clarke. He is a forgotten man in this class at times, but he definitely passes the "looks test" in these pictures. He supposedly runs a 4.4 forty, and appears to already have the size needed to play for the Buckeyes. I can't wait for Clarke and the rest of the 2009 Buckeyes to arrive this summer; folks we have some serious athletes coming in with this class! 

Drew Thurman (9:47 am)

A few days ago I had a post that talked about how the identity of the offense this season rested on the shoulders of Terrelle Pryor. Not long after that I was hit up with an email directing me towards this video. I think it is easy to forget some of the incredible plays put together last season, so I hope this brings back some good memories for everyone. Even more encouraging though, I think the best is still to come. Here's hoping that 2009 is the year of Terrelle Pryor.

This is our second attempt at the Block O Table, which will hopefully become a tradition amongst all Buckeye blogs. To see other responses from bloggers and fans, check out Our Honor Defend. They are the host to the Block O Table, and will be wrapping things up eventually.

1) I’m not sure if you heard, but the Spring Game and the NFL Draft are the same day: April 25th.  This is rather unfortunate considering how many Buckeyes are in the NFL Draft and how many of them are likely to be taken the first day.  Assume you can: A) Go to the Spring Game and watch the Brew Crew (hopefully) show the future of Ohio State football is bright OR B) Stay at home, not watch the Spring Game, and follow the NFL Draft.  If forced to such a binary position, what would you do? Why?

The Spring Game has always been of high importance to me and my family, and will with out a doubt will trump the NFL Draft. I will be rooting for all the former Buckeyes as they seek to fill the draft board, but the current Buckeyes will take precedence on April 25th. It would be the same principle of 5-6 Buckeyes were playing in an NFL game during a Buckeye game. I support the former Buckeyes and always stay up to date with how they are performing, but the current team is where my heart and passion is. They will always have my support first and foremost.

2) We all wish our Buckeye alumni well at the next level of football, but let’s be negative nancy for the moment.  Which of our possible first day picks in the draft (Jenkins, Beanie, Laurinaitis, Robiskie, and I guess Freeman) do you fear will struggle the most at the next level?   

I know the easy answer here would probably be Beanie because of his injury problems, but I am going to go with James Laurinaitis. I love "Baby Animal," but I think he is going to have to find himself in the perfect situation to be effective at the next level. He isn't quick enough to play the outside, and has troubles shedding blocks at times on the inside. If he drafted by a team with weak defensive tackles, I think Laurinaitis could struggle. He has a great heart and a motor that is always moving, but the NFL takes things to a whole new level.

3) Conversely, which of the remaining Buckeyes in the NFL Draft do you think will have the greatest success in the NFL?

I will say Brian Hartline on this one. I know he is a bit of a head case, but he performed very well at the combine. He has great hands and has pretty much gone up and gotten everything thrown his way the last few years. Guys that can do that (and play in the slot) are always in high demand. Names that come to mind of the top of my head are Brandon Stokley and Kevin Walters. If Hartline can model their work ethic and tough mentality in the slot, he could find himself with serious playing time in the NFL.

4) For concerns of either this individual’s legacy at Ohio State or the team’s chances at returning to the BCS in 2009, who needs to shine the brightest and prove himself at the Spring Game?

Obviously, Taurian Washington showed last year that a superstar performance in the Spring Game does not translate to playing time during the actual season. With that said, I think Andre Amos needs a big performance the most. Not only will this be big for him individually, but also for the Buckeyes. If this team plans on making a run they need to first lock up the corner position opposite of Chekwa, and I think Amos is the man for the job. If he performs well in the Spring Game, it could go a long way for improving his confidence after such an injury-filled career.

5) In that same breath, what relatively unknown commodity has the breakthrough performance at the Spring Game that Taurian Washington had at last year’s game (though nothing came of it for the 2008 season).  What Buckeye do you think will steal the show?

Though it will be on the defensive side of the ball, which isn't as flashy, I say watch out for Orhian Johnson. All reports are that he has been looking sharp at safety in practices thus far, and could have his breakthrough game on April 25th. There always seems to be a lot of long balls thrown at the Spring Game, and with his 6-4 frame I could see him having a couple of interceptions. The young man looks like a wideout, and I see him using that athleticism to steal the show.

Dave Thurman (5:12 pm)

I confess that I am not a natural optimist.  I have a good friend (who was a very successful basketball coach) and his motto has always been, "There's no such thing as a disappointed pessimist."  I tend to live by that philosophy myself, a fact I'm not proud of.

However, I am trying to be optimistic about the 2009 edition of the Buckeye football team.   There is a lot of fresh talent and it's always fun to watch young guys develop.  If a few defensive players rise to the challenge, it could be an excellent season, with the chance to be a truly special team in 2010.  If Pryor continues to move forward the sky is the limit for him and his teammates. 

But there is one thing that keeps me from being completely positive and confident about the future.  More precisely it is one person...and his name is Jim Bollman. 

Now, I'm sure he is a really nice guy and it seems the players like him, but the truth is, our line has been "offensive" in recent years, and I'm being kind.  We know that Bollman isn't a great motivational guy, as evidenced last season by Tressel having to spend time with the o-line trying to light a fire under their tails.  I would also suggest that Bollman isn't a great teacher or tactician, based simply on results.  So count me as one who isn't impressed.

And, now, we get reports that he is tinkering with the line, having guys play multiple positions this spring.  That might sound like a good thing, realizing that injuries are a reality.  However, my take is that when guys aren't playing one position well, you shouldn't move them around like a yo-yo and try to teach them 3 positions.  Until they can get an "A" at one spot, why confuse them with more information? 

Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of moving Cordle to tackle and Browning to guard.  Anyone with an elementary knowledge of football could see that Browning was out of position last year.  I'm not opposed to some changing of positions, but I'm not a fan of moving guys around all spring in hopes that they can master every spot on the line.  Hearing that Brewster is repping some at guard, for instance, bothers me.  Center is a bear of a position and he has the potential to be a great one, but not if he's spending time moving all around playing guard and tackle, too.

One of the interesting quotes from JT's pre-spring press conference was, "If it ain't broke, break it," based off of a book by Robert Kreigal.  I love that premise.  Don't wait until something isn't working to make a change.  Be ahead of the curve, and make a change before it's needed.  I like that kind of visionary thinking.  My problem with the statement is that the past couple of years the o-line has been broken, and it still hasn't been fixed, in my opinion.  Until it is, Tressel can talk all day about throwing to the tight-end or using the pistol formation, but it won't matter.  What is damaged must be repaired, and when it is, then the coaches can be imaginative and innovative.   

As for me, I would have kindly sent Bollman packing last year, which I think was overdue.  However, Tressel is nothing if not loyal and maybe his patience will be rewarded.  Maybe Bollman will surprise us all this year and have a strong o-line, but I'm not holding my breathe.  Either way, I can't lose, because there's no such thing as a disappointed pessimist!