Tuesday Practice Notes

Can Braxton win the QB job?

Some short notes from yesterday's practice. The Buckeyes were in full pads, and the season is very close, so we're getting a clearer picture of how the depth chart may pan out. Let's get on to the notes.

- Howard and Roby continue to be the first team corner backs, and this seems like a lock for good, barring injury. Dominic Clarke isn't to be forgotten as he also got some first team reps, which gives the position some depth in case of the aforementioned injuries.

- Punt returning seems to be Devin Smith's job this year, with many different options or looks that can be put in place. As well as Smith, there were Posey, Philly Brown, and Evan Spencer all receiving punts.

- Long Play of the Day (Cheesy, no?) goes to Joe Bauserman who had a 45 yard bomb to Philly Brown. Bauserman and Braxton seem to keep battling it out, and yesterday Braxton was the most accurate while Taylor Graham seemed to under/overthrow his receivers too many times. Miller is a very good scrambler but some of the offensive line play gets sloppy when he gets out of the pocket. Unlike Pryor, Miller is a throw-first mentality QB while Terrelle would take off if he rolled out of the pocket (That wasn't designed).

- Special Teams seems to be good as Basil hits just about everything inside the 50 yard line, while Ben Buchanan had some really nice, deep punts. We learned last year that special teams are just as important as everything else, so it's good to have a solid unit that we can trust.


- Finally, the "injured/sitting out" list: Jaamal Berry was wearing yellow (although he took it off later in practice, he still didn't participate in drills) along with Sabino and Chad Hagan.

Recap: Jersey Scrimmage

Will Bauserman start?

Yesterday, the jersey scrimmage took place which really gives a nice showing of where people are on the depth chart, and how people have progressed in camp. With that, let's get onto the notes.


- Drew Basil received plenty of opportunities to practice field goals today, and he delivered on all but his last attempt, which was no good. Overall happy with the kicking game as it is.


- The QB race has moved from 4 to 2, and it's Bauserman in the lead. Braxton and Bauserman both shared the same amount of snaps with the first and second team, so I wouldn't be surprised at all to see a 2-way starting in the Akron game.


- Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde continued to be the #1 and #2 back respectively, while Rod Smith also received time with the 1st team later in the scrimmage. Jaamal Berry continues to be limited by a hamstring injury and did not see the field. Seems as if the Akron game will tell a lot of who goes where.


- The starting receivers continue to be Philly Brown and Verlon Reed, with Chris Fields receiving significant playing time as the third WR in the slot today. I'm in favor of that, as we have heard nothing but great things of Chris Fields. I'd also like to see some Doran Grant action at a slot position.


- The coaches seem to like having a speed back such as Hall or Berry in the slot when it comes the 4 wide receiver set. I'd like to see this in action. 

Recap: Fall Camp Practice

The O-Line needs to have a great year

Another day of Ohio State football practice is in the books, as we get closer and closer to opening day. I literally cannot wait much longer, the excitement of college football is awesome. So as we do get closer, let's take a look at how the Buckeye team is shaping up to look like.

- It appears Bradley Roby is starting to pull away from the rest of the cornerbacks for that spot opposite to Travis Howard.

- Freshman linebacker Ryan Shazier and freshman defensive lineman Steve Miller were playing with the 2nd team, and Miller played with the first team at times during pass defense drills.


- Jordan Hall played with the first team at RB, while Corey Brown and Verlon Reed continue to be the starting wide outs, with Chris Fields coming in with the starting unit in the slot at times.


- Evan Spencer and Devin Smith, both freshmen receivers, spent time running with the 2nd team today.


- The injury list continues to grow, but most of the injuries are not serious. Solomon Thomas (leg), Nathan Williams (shoulder), Tyler Moeller (leg), Jeremy Cash (back), and Devier Posey all wore yellow limited contact jersey’s today and spent time on the sidelines doing rehab work, although Posey spent a majority of his time with Coach Drayton instructing the young players. Most of the players listed above is Luke Fickell being cautious not to lose anyone early. Moeller and Williams have very mild injuries, but Fickell wants them to be 100% before going back into hitting drills.

Recap: Day 2 of Fall Camp

Poised to start?

Let's jump right in:


- Jaamal Berry and Jordan Hall were featured as wideouts in many different formations, which is obviously to help the speed front and spread-type offense. Both of course are still mainly running backs, with the exception of Hall who might be a hybrid this year.


- Rod Smith and Carlos Hyde are looking pretty good running the football, making this stable not only great, but harder to determine who will get the majority of the snaps while Boom Herron is suspended.


- The QB play was "meh" again yesterday as Braxton had a couple of really nice throws, but also threw an interception and had trouble completing shorter passes, much like Pryor did. With it being only his second practice, it might have been nerves, so we won't look too much into it.


- Taylor Graham and Joe Bauserman both played decently, with Bauserman probably getting the nod in this situation. Bauserman was throwing bombs all day, and only overthrew Posey on one of them. I'm not on the Bauserman bandwagon, though. 

Recap: Day 1 of Fall Camp

Berry is ready to start

Buckeye football has finally hit the camps, which can only mean that College Football is just a couple weeks away from getting it's start. While our Scarlet and Gray get prepared, the media (including us), have all the latest news about what you need to know as they progress through camps. With that, let's jump right in to what we know.

From left to right: Andrew Norwell, Jack Mewhort, Mike Brewster, Marcus Hall, and J.B. Shugarts are your starters on the offensive line. Mike Adams also worked in some reps, but with him facing the 5-game suspension, we need Norwell to get his reps in more. Chris Carter was a very nice surprise after he reported in overweight, but yet still raised some eyebrows in camp as he was moving very quickly at the left tackle position. He could add some much needed depth to the offensive line.

As for the defensive line, Nathan Williams, Jonathan Hankins, Garrett Goebel, and of course John Simon. Solomon Thomas had to sit out because he was suspended for the first 5 games as well, and was wearing a yellow jersey. John Simon is a man, and he could be a serious threat along with Hankins and Williams. This defensive line should have no problems whatsoever.

Fall Camp Notes

The past two days, the underclassmen and upperclassmen started to arrive at fall camp for the 2011 season. There are videos, photos, and more all around the blog-o-sphere, of them arriving, but they all had the same message for reporters. Their plan is to "Shock the World", which seems to be the motto for this upcoming season. 


With a quarterback controversy that will soon be answered, things are gearing in towards the start of college football. The team has a new look, and now has a new preseason camp location. The Buckeyes moved their off-field home for the next four weeks to the Hyatt Place hotel in Grandview Yard off Goodale Boulevard, southwest of campus. Previously, They had been based at the University Plaza north of the Woody Hayes Athletic Center for years, but a team spokesman said this year officials “looked at the options and (the move) was a good business decision.”

The team will be based there through Aug. 26. Grandview Yard is a mixed-use development that has several businesses and restaurants, including the Buckeye Hall of Fame Grill.

Of the 105 players that returned to camp, Dorian Bell was not among them, as he was suspended for the 2011 season for a third issue with academics.Also not on board were: linebacker Jonanthan Newsome, who announced on Twitter a couple of weeks ago that he intends to transfer to Ball State; freshman linebacker Connor Corwell, who over the summer re-injured the two bones he broke in his lower left leg late last season, necessitating new surgery; and receiver James Louis, a redshirt freshman receiver who apparently has some off-field problems.

With that, the fall camp begins, so keep it here for all the latest action around the Ohio State camp.