OSU Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A grueling practice had just ended, the pads were off and Ohio State’s defensive backs were ready to have a little fun.

So, naturally, the Buckeyes made a beeline to the weight room, at least one player not even bothering to remove the athletic tape from his hands before stepping up for his turn on what amounts to the team’s version of an arcade.

Against a wall in the spacious facility where Ohio State’s strength and conditioning program does its serious business, the players gathered around an oversized black board covered in dozens of small, square lights that combine to form a sort of Whack-a-Mole for the physically gifted. And while the Buckeyes watch each other swat at the blinking lights during a frantic minute as they compete to see who can hit the most and post the highest score on the new Dynavision machine, it doesn’t seem to register that they’re actually doing a little extra work to sharpen their eyesight and quicken their reactions.

And that’s exactly the point.

“It’s kind of like a video game, so they’re into it,” strength coach Mickey Marotti said. “The object is obviously to decrease reaction time from the time they see a light sensor to the time they hit it. The theory is when you see a ball or just [improve] the awareness of what’s going on around them, they can speed that up a little bit.

“It’s good because it’s competitive, and they’re fighting back in that room to see who can get the high score. They’re charging in here all the time trying to get to it. It’s good -- that’s what we want.”

The new toy has done more than attract a crowd to the weight room after both practices and workouts, though that’s certainly one benefit for the Buckeyes. It has apparently already yielded the kind of results cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs was looking for when he suggested that Marotti look into Dynavision as he tried to find yet another way to develop his players in the secondary.

In particular, Coombs had a theory that the most pressing concern for junior Doran Grant had nothing to do with his physical ability. He had the speed and athleticism to be a shutdown cover guy, and few players on the roster could post a faster time in the 40-yard dash. As he looked at film of both practices and games from last season, Coombs hypothesized that there was simply a breakdown between what Grant saw and what he did on the field.

Not only did Dynavision provide a potential way to fix that issue, it also helped confirm it the first time Grant walked up to the board and posted one of the lowest scores among the skill-position players.

“Coach Coombs came to me and we had a talk at the end of the season about my hand-eye coordination and my reaction,” Grant said. “He got with coach [Marotti] and talked to him. They did what they had to do, brought some guys in here to try some things out, we ended up getting this [Dynavision]. We all like it. We all think it’s competition, and it’s fun.

“The first time I tried it, I liked it.”

The first run wasn’t exactly a success, though, with Grant posting a score that he remembered being a 62. Coombs says the score checked in about 14 points lower than that.

But regardless of the original number, everybody at Ohio State knows what Grant can do on the machine now. His top total of 108 is the standard now for the Buckeyes, a dramatic improvement that mirrors some of the strides he took during spring practice as he solidified a starting spot in a talented, veteran secondary.

“I could freeze the film and show [Grant], in drill work even, where this guy, this guy, this guy sees it and acts,” Coombs said. “You see it and [slowly] act. We’ve got to fix that, and that’s what we’re doing.

“What I’ve told our kids is that we train so hard, train your body physically, train your soul, frankly, with ethical conduct and character. We train your heart with toughness and all those kinds of things. Why not train your eyes and train your mind and close some of those synapses that are going on in your brain? How can that hurt us? ... They’re eating it up, and there’s no downside to kids doing that kind of stuff on their own.”

There will be no shortage of eyes on Grant in the fall watching to see if this offseason work leads to more production. But until the Buckeyes can measure their progress on the field where the lights are on the scoreboard and well out of their reach, they’ll keep slapping the ones in front of them.

“After you do it a few times and get the hang of it, you start reacting quicker,” Grant said. “I mean, that’s the purpose of it, that’s what it does -- and it works.

“It’s helping me on the field. I can see it.”

That, of course, is exactly the point.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With spring practice in the books and Ohio State heading into its offseason conditioning program, BuckeyeNation is looking at the players who boosted their stock with the program the most during those 15 workouts. The offense went first last week, and it's now followed up by a handful of defenders who will be in line for heavy workloads this fall.

No. 3: Doran Grant

• Who: The flashes of ability off the bench last season made it clear that Grant, a junior, would at a minimum be sliding into a starting position when spring practice opened. But Ohio State still needed to see something more from Grant to feel truly comfortable with him on the field consistently opposite Bradley Roby at the other cornerback. Truthfully, what the coaching staff really wanted to find out was if Grant was capable of being the top cornerback on the field if, for some reason, Roby wasn't available. And while Roby's nagging shoulder injury was a factor in a lighter workload during camp, the Buckeyes also pulled him out of some situations even when he could compete, just to see how Grant would respond to the pressure of playing at the boundary position in the secondary. After passing the test out there, Grant was able to tighten his grip at the field spot heading into the summer.
• Spring progress: Few players on the Ohio State roster can stop a watch quicker in the 40-yard dash than Grant, and with comparable size to Roby, there aren't many physical concerns about his ability to match up in coverage, either. But extensive study of practice and game tapes by cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs suggested the issue holding Grant back from becoming a regular in the rotation last season was his slow read-and-react times in coverage. The Buckeyes have designed a number of drills that all their defensive backs can do to improve that, but nobody has taken to them quite like Grant -- and the results are showing up on the field.
• Jockeying for position: There will be no shortage of challengers for Grant's spot when the Buckeyes report back to practice in August as one of the most talented signing classes of defensive backs in the country arrives. But the competition was already pretty intense for the Buckeyes in the spring, with Armani Reeves, Tyvis Powell and early enrollees Eli Apple and Cam Burrows all in a group pushing for a role in a deep secondary. Grant has a head start thanks to his game experience and some previous success in limited chances, but maintaining that edge will require more than just showing up.
• He said it: "Our ideal situation is all of those guys play, all of them contribute. I think that’s healthy, and that way if a guy gets dinged or a guy gets tired, you don’t feel like you can’t do this, the sky is falling. My expectation is that there’s good, healthy competition among all of those guys and those young guys coming in are going to push them for playing time." -- Coombs, on adding more depth at cornerback
• Closing number: Grant wasn't able to get his hands on the football as spring practice wrapped up with an exhibition in Cincinnati, but he did chip in four tackles while continuing to handle Roby's role. Roby was held out to rest an injured shoulder.

With national signing day in the books, the next big date on the Ohio State calendar as it continues working toward an encore for an undefeated season in 2013 is spring practice. Before those workouts begin, BuckeyeNation will take a look at each position to see where the roster is at -- and where it's going.

CORNERBACKS

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Kirk Irwin/Getty ImagesBradley Roby will return as one of the top corners in the nation.
• Who's back: Bradley Roby took his time weighing his options, so Ohio State had no choice but to wait and see if it was replacing both members of a talented twosome or just half of it. Eventually it got the good news it had been hoping for and largely expecting, with Roby ultimately deciding to stick around and build on a banner season as a redshirt sophomore. With or without him heading into 2013, the Buckeyes had been loading up on the recruiting trail and signed what appears to be the best crop of defensive backs in the country, and with Travis Howard moving on to the next level, they could see some action opposite Roby pretty quickly. But there is one other returner who could block the path to the starting lineup after Doran Grant impressed when called upon last fall and could be even better heading into his junior campaign.
• New faces: The Buckeyes will no shortage of talented cover guys to sort through in the freshman class, and two of them are already on campus to give the coaching staff an advance look at what they can do. Eli Apple was the crown jewel in RecruitingNation's third-rated classl, and he could make himself a factor for playing time right away thanks to the extra reps and head start he'll be afforded in spring practice. The same is true for Cam Burrows, the ninth-ranked cornerback in the nation coming out of high school and another option who could potentially fill a short-term and long-term void for the Buckeyes.
• Projected spring depth chart: Roby is locked in at one cornerback spot, and Grant should have the edge when the Buckeyes report to work next week thanks to his experience and knowledge of the defense. But Apple and Burrows have the physical tools to push for first-team reps, and rising sophomore Armani Reeves also caught the eye of the coaching staff last fall with his contributions on special teams.
• Numbers game: No secondary in the Big Ten was more opportunistic than Ohio State's, which tied for the conference lead with 14 interceptions and made quarterbacks think twice about testing its defensive backs all year long. But half of those picks belonged to players who won't be back this spring, led by Howard and his conference-leading four interceptions and two more from safety Orhian Johnson. If Roby is able to turn a handful of his head-turning 17 passes broken up into interceptions, though, the Buckeyes could offset those losses somewhat easily.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Always tempted by the chance to play for a championship, Bradley Roby apparently didn't have enough incentive to walk away from the opportunity to do it with Ohio State next fall.

According to the Columbus Dispatch on Saturday night, the dynamic athlete is returning to the Buckeyes for one more season after flirting with a potential jump to the NFL after breaking out as a redshirt sophomore and becoming one of the most productive cornerbacks in the country.

After breaking up 19 passes to lead the Big Ten despite missing a game due to a nagging shoulder surgery, Roby was integral in the second-half defensive surge that helped Ohio State finish off its unbeaten season and boosted his own stock as a potential professional in the process. Eligible to leave the program early after redshirting during his first year on campus, Roby admitted having conversations with the coaching staff about his options well before the season was over.

But after spending more than a month deliberating after helping the Buckeyes finish off a perfect season with a win over rival Michigan, Roby ultimately made the choice that was largely expected since he talked openly about his desire to compete for a national title now that the program's postseason sanctions are in the rearview mirror. And he'll also have another full year to impress the scouts who have already taken notice of him by now.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Heading into the new year and offseason workouts, BuckeyeNation will look at some holes left by the departing Ohio State veterans and potential candidates to fill them, starting today in the secondary.

CORNERBACK

• Who: Inconsistent heading into his last season with the Buckeyes, Travis Howard turned in his most productive campaign from start to finish and formed one of the best partnerships in the country at cornerback opposite Bradley Roby. Howard wasn't perfect by any stretch and dealt with injuries throughout the season, but his experience and knack for big plays will be tough to replace.
• By the numbers: While Roby received the majority of the attention and accolades for his eye-popping number of passes defended, it was Howard who actually led the Buckeyes and the Big Ten in interceptions on the way to a perfect record.The senior also blocked a punt that led to a touchdown and recovered a fumble, giving Ohio State the kind of takeaway help it had emphasized heading into the year.
• Job description: Assuming Roby elects to return, the Buckeyes are going to need to find a complementary piece to put on the other side of the field -- one who will likely face more throws his way than the average cornerback with teams likely to take their chances avoiding Roby, a potential first-round NFL pick down the road. Ohio State was at its best defensively late in the season when it dialed up its pressure packages and played more man coverage in the back end, trusting Roby and Howard to regularly come out on top in their matchups. The next starter will have to be capable of doing the same thing.
• Top candidate: The Buckeyes have already had a chance to get a look at what Doran Grant can do in live action, and the early returns were positive for the rising junior. Inserted for an entire game with Roby injured against UAB in September, Grant stuffed the stats sheet in virtually every column with seven tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception that helped the Buckeyes overcome a sluggish performance on offense and finish up its nonconference slate unbeaten. Grant should have the first crack at getting back in the starting lineup on a full-time basis.
• One to watch: Ohio State is putting together perhaps the best collection of secondary talent in the entire nation as it works on the 2013 recruiting class, but there are already some guys on campus that could make a push for more playing time after spending time on special teams as true freshmen. Armani Reeves impressed with his athleticism and work ethic during his first season with the program, and he could benefit from a big offseason.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The players had apparently heard enough about Ohio State's early-season issues.

Rather than play that same broken record for the Buckeyes, Urban Meyer decided to bust out the greatest hits instead.

Mixed in with the ineffective drives that were difficult for the Ohio State coach to watch when he reviewed the film on Sunday were a handful that revealed the true potential of the offense when it's rolling. And instead of reliving both the good and the bad from the 29-15 win over UAB on Saturday, when the players arrived to the practice complex to start preparing for a trip to Michigan State, the former was all they saw.

"I just put together a reel of four drives, and it was about as well done as we’ve played all year," Meyer said during his Monday news conference. "I did that more for me, I think. I have to eat lunch, and I wasn’t about to eat lunch after what I saw.

"So just put together three or four good drives for me, and one thing about this team, when it’s time to go win a game, to date they’ve gone out and won a game. We are what we are right now, and it’s a workmanlike team that has to get better."

The Buckeyes have shown flashes of being much more than that offensively, though, which Meyer reminded them of as their attention turned to the toughest test they will have faced this season against Michigan State's stingy defense.

For starters, he highlighted the sharp passes and decision-making of quarterback Braxton Miller. He pointed out the progress right tackle Reid Fragel has made with a couple pancake blocks. And while that doesn't mean the Buckeyes won't have to watch a few mistakes on film throughout the week, Sunday was all about the positives.

"I think he told me one time he was a psych major," center Corey Linsley said. "That could play a factor in what he does. It was the best thing for us right now.

"Everybody left that game feeling like, ‘How did that just happen? How did we not just absolutely dominate every aspect of the game?’ After seeing that, it was like, ‘Well, we could have, and this is how you do it.' So, I felt that was the best thing for us."

Now all the Buckeyes have to do is give Meyer more drives to choose from when he puts together his clips next time.

Bumps and bruises: A little wiggle room was left just in case, but Meyer didn't stop all that shy of assuring that Carlos Hyde would return to the backfield against the Spartans.

The Buckeyes could be ready to welcome Michael Bennett back to the defensive line and get two starters in the secondary in the lineup again as well.

Meyer called Hyde "very probable," and Bennett, safety C.J. Barnett and cornerback Bradley Roby were all designated as probable to suit up as the Buckeyes open Big Ten play on Saturday at Michigan State.

All four guys would provide a lift for Meyer, though he might have a bit more of a need for those three defensive starters given some occasional tackling issues over the last couple weeks on that side of the ball.

"I think every indication is [Bennett] is going to play," Meyer said. "I’ll give you an update [this week on Roby and Barnett]. They ran around yesterday. I saw them both earlier, they were both bright-eyed and ready to go, getting treatment.

"I’d say probable at this point, and we need them obviously."

Champions club: Doran Grant's first start produced one of the highest grades on the team when the coaching staff evaluated the film. But the sophomore cornerback couldn't quite match safety Christian Bryant, who continued his two-week surge by earning defensive player of the week honors just ahead of Grant's impressive debut.

Bryant just missed an appearance in the Champions Club named by the coaches after every game last week thanks to a tackle that slipped away from him, but he more than made up for it by grading out at 93 percent against UAB to take the top honors on his side of the ball.

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