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Players to watch at Spring Game?

  • Who are you looking forward to watching the most during the spring game?

    Obviously I am a football freak and probably need counselling because I will DVR the game and watch it back 3-4 times and do my evaluations. But here is the list of 5-6 or 7 or 8 guys I really cannot wait to see on 4/21.

    Decker/Fragel - being a former OL I love watching the line play as whole. I am a huge fan of zone blocking schemes. I am also very curious to see the "changing of the physiques" these guys attained through the offseason program. IMO, Decker and Fragel are the keys to our OL season. Fragel needs to show he is primetime ready and Decker needs to show the much needed depth this OL needs. Can't wait!

    Brax - I could list 100 things to look for from him. Kid is a flat out stud. Biggest thing for me to watch for is his pocket presence. I hope he doesn't automatically "take off" and run for his life. Since he will have the "no contact" jersey on during the game I would like to see him read all of his progressions instead of just settling for the first open man (provided the WR's can get open). I would also like to see him throw a flatter ball. His ball seemed to carry on him at times last season. I am excited to see him in this new offense too!

    Slim Hank - I want to see the 2013 top 10 draft pick everyone keeps raving about so far this spring. He can really be special this season. I just don't want him to kill anyone on our OL in the process. His ability to draw double teams now that he will actually be playing where he belongs in the middle of that defense (and NOT on the edge....second worst decision of last year - behind Joe B. even being allowed to take a snap....but that is ancient history) will allow for our newbies on the edge to wreak terror in passing situations.

    C. Grant - Arguablly the top recruit from a year ago. The staff thinks he's ready. So I am even more anxious to see what he can do up close and personal. Just watching him in some of the practice film I am very impressive. This is another kid who could be a beast for us.

    Brionte - Big and fast. I cannot wait to see what he brings to the stable of RB's...I think he gets significant carries this season. He will be a great compliment to Rod, J Hall and Hyde

    WR's - I just want them to continue to show improvement and hopefully someone emerges from the pack as a "go to guy." I really want to see if Tyron can catch the ball consistently in front of 100K+ people as he has been doing during practice.

    Feel free to chime in as you may! Go Bucks!

    BuckeyeSteves

  • Looking forward to seeing Braxton first and foremost..but also will be very interested to see the difference having a legit O-Line coach will make for the offense.

    Also, really pumped to see Shazier and C. Grant at LB. Those guys are going to be absolute beasts!

    This post was edited by norsk on 4/12/2012 at 12:23 PM

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    norsk

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    #FreeDevidee

    elite44

  • I'm wanting to see what Cardale Jones looks like. Bucknuts never talks about him (and when they do, its never in glowing terms). I'm excited about seeing the offense in general but I'm curious as to what the newbies will look like. With Cardale, he's had the equivalent of 5 high school football seasons (4 years in high school, 1 year at Fork U). If he redshirts, he'll have a full year of collegiate training under his belt. Then he'll have four years to be Braxton's backup/two year starter. That's 10 years of football. I really liked what I saw out of him at last year's Big 33 Classic. I guess I'm just intrigued about seeing how he does. I'm not saying he'll be great. I am just going to be watching him with guarded enthusiasm. I have a feeling he might be this year's Bam Childress award winner...

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    "Avoid the clap." -Jimmy Dugan

    buckeye_mikey69

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    Griffinfeb

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    reservemickey

  • I think I will be watching it from a broad view. I am anxious to see the new offensive system as a whole that is being put in. I am anxious to see how much more quickly the Silver Bullets are performing as well as hopefully an improved zeal for hard, sure tackling. Of course during this observation I will have an eye pealed on R Smith, Dunn, D Smith, Spencer, Grant and Guiton.

    dbuckeye44

  • So the thing I am looking out for is Braxton Miller's QB mechanics and QB consistency. Can he throw to the right areas of the receivers, can he safely make the deep throws, can he make the short throws, can he make progressions to the next uncovered receiver, and most of all can he pitch when he supposed to pitch on an option instead of never like he did during his freshman season.

    Too often last year, he over threw receivers which were deep and was wild on his throws in the short/swing passes. Also his throwing of a moderate to good spiral in order to ease the catching on the receivers. He also had a tough time progressing from receiver to receiver to find an open man on a regular basis. If he has the throwing mechanics down and the progression/poise game down then he should be able to be a severe threat. If other teams are "fearful" of his throwing capabilities then I have no concerns about his running ability or the running ability of this whole "new" offense.

    The receivers need to get open more no question about it so I am not blind to that, but there's no question that a better Braxton makes for a better tOSU offense.

    ruckerp

  • I will be intrested to see how the offense performs when Braxton is not in there! Will Guiton be the man?..I am not sure of who is in line......now that Joe Blunderman is gone. I think this 2nd QB is a big key to the Buckeyes overall performance.......look at last year.....we had no plan, and basically no performance as we were left , a few times wiht Bauserman and his 60 yard rockets into a bleacher hotdog stand.

    Bigjimmie

  • How many fans expected?

    Seeing is believing

    bollmanisaturd

  • bollmanisaturd said...

    How many fans expected?

    The school is planning on 90,000+. If the weather is nice, I would expect a sellout.

    Jackson2340

  • I will be looking at the running backs to see what the pecking order for carries is going to be. I hope Rod Smith has a great game and shows improvement in ball protection and finding the hole. The receivers as a whole group will be interesting to watch. I have a feeling Michael Thomas or Tyrone Williams are going to make a strong push for playing time in the spring game and fall camp. Connor Crowell, Curtis Grant and Luke Roberts will catch my attention to see what we have at LB before the incoming freshman come in. I want to see if Doran Grant can lock up the third corner spot before the freshman come in the fall. Ron Tanner is someone I look for to lock up one of the back up safety spots and to contribute significantly on special teams.

    B_scott105 ●

  • Wow where do I begin?

    I will be looking at the diversity of the offensive attack. I want to see how the play calling uses the entirety of the field including side to side and depth.

    I will be looking at the QB mechanics and decision making. First of course with Miller, and then with the other QBs.

    I will look at Guiton and see if he has improves. If he's morphed (especially against the 2nd string secondary) then I will begin to assume that the coaching element at the QB position may have morphed also--begin being the optimum word.

    I will look collectively at the the first stringers on OL. Probably they will be split given the draft. I will then closely watch matchups with the expected top 7 OL players to see how they perform against a pretty stellar two deep DL/DE.

    I also want to see how they use the slimmed down version of Johnny Simon. I really thing he could be the Leo we want and need. I want to see if they drop him in coverage, let him go all out for a sack or QB pressure or how they want to use him. Formation will be important for Simon for me. I want to know if the coaches are trying to keep him on the nonTE side of the OL formation for pass rushing purposes.

    I will also look at the backup interior DLs. Hale, Bellamy, Hayes if he can make it, Farris. I am real interested in what the 2013 version of the DL is going to look like when we have a shot at the NC.

    I will also take a close look at Steve Miller. He was a massively rated DE and I want to see if he is part of the future answer to the WSDE and pass rushing threat we need to be truly successful. We have a ton of unproven HS talent coming in Pittman, Washington and Spence, but I want to see if we have the college talent here NOW in Miller. If he is for real and gets beat out by others WATCH OUT IRENE!!!!

    I will also look at Grant, Luke Roberts and Cowell (sp). We have two of the three LB spots with experience. Sabino and Shazier are acceptable LBs with Shazier maybe being spectacular. We need a MLB or two. We could have injury. Grant is the key. But are there others than can fill in acceptably?

    I will watch the safties. I miss having a big hitting, ultra capable saftey. We've had them in the past!! Big TIME. From the assassin to Doss! Who steps up and maybe the newbies will!

    Cover corners with Dominic Clarke gone? Roby and Howard are capable. Roby maybe the shut down corner on the opposing team best WR. Who is the third? Is it Grant?

    Who excels at running back? Jordan Hall may well be more of a utility, multi dimensional back---I love him and think he is going to be much more special in the Urban offense than ever before. But who else? Hyde or Smith or Dunn?

    Then the big question: WHO ARE THE PLAYMAKERS! I think Corey Brown could morph, Maybe Tyrone Williams morphs, maybe Stoney morphs. I think we have more than anyone is letting on here. Even the new guy who came from Cardale Jones school looked great in the film I saw! Devin Smith looked good last year!

    So much observation so little number of plays!

    BooBahBuckeye ●

  • I just can't wait to see Urban Meyer prowling the sidelines at the SHOE!

    mason01

  • I will focusing on Braxton' accuracy and deision making. Last year he was understandably rough in both areas. I think it will be tough for him in the Spring game with the split squad format, as his protection will likely break down quickly. I almost wish it was the ones against ones and twos against twos.

    Secondly, I also would like to see who emerges at WR. Ty has the size and speed that could be deadly if he can consistently hold on to the ball. Devon seems to have some great potential. Hall in space has some real possibilities.

    Finally, I am curious about which safeties step up. CJ is good, if he stays healthy. Bryant is usaully around the ball, but can sometimes get beat deep and OJ can sometimes take poor angles and may use poor tackling technique. Someone other the CJ needs to step up quick.

    lanpar

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