OSU Buckeyes

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

No. 5: Jeff Heuerman

• Who: The junior tight end was already a relatively known quantity for the Buckeyes after providing some rugged blocking and some occasional assistance as a receiving threat last season. But Heuerman had to cede some of the responsibility to Jake Stoneburner in terms of the passing attack. But Stoneburner's departure, Heuerman's continued development and added comfort in the spread system has the 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end in position to be a major factor for the Buckeyes.
• Spring progress: Given his particular role a year ago and his huge frame, Heuerman might not have had much to prove as a blocker this spring. But coach Urban Meyer and offensive coordinator Tom Herman love to create mismatches with their tight ends and use them in a variety of ways to keep a defense off balance. Showing more familiarity with the playbook went a long way for Heuerman and could help keep him on the field for almost any scenario -- from short-yardage to third-and-long.
• Jockeying for position: Heuerman already owned a starting job at tight end, a spot he shared last year with Nick Vannett. The sophomore was impressive in his own right during camp, and he'll likely stay bracketed with Heuerman as the official first-teamers and keep giving Meyer a couple reasons to feel good about the amount of flexibility he'll have on offense.
• He said it: "I’m just excited about being more of an every-down tight end, rather than last year where third-and-long, third-and-7, Jake’s in there running routes. That’s the big thing they’ve been working on this spring, being the every-down tight end. [Position coach Tim] Hinton and coach Meyer, coach Herman, they’ve been doing great getting me ready for that, and I’m excited for that."
• Closing number: Heuerman generated most of his excitement before the spring game, but he still wrapped up camp by tacking on a catch for 6 yards in the exhibition win for his Scarlet team. He finished last season with 8 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Jeff Heuerman has jokes.

Such as, where do the tight ends rank among the numerous weapons in Ohio State’s dangerous spread offense, led by the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year?

“First,” a smiling Heuerman said. “Ahead of Braxton [Miller].”

Heuerman has pranks.

His position coach spent a panicked afternoon worrying about a potential arrest after a story was concocted with a pair of staff members about a late-night incident for Heuerman, who then strung Tim Hinton along straightfaced for an extra 10 minutes before pointing out it was April Fool’s Day.

Heuerman also has size, strength and the ability to handle a wide variety of assignments on the field.

And it’s that blend of a fun-loving attitude and mismatch-producing athleticism that has had some Buckeyes comparing the junior to the tight end who made that combination famous in the NFL.

So, is Heuerman really the second coming of Rob Gronkowski?

“Oh, geez,” Heuerman said. “That’s not hard to live up to or anything.”

That standard might be a bit tough to match, and Heuerman has his roommate and former Ohio State tight end-turned-right tackle Reid Fragel to thank for publicly comparing the two and dialing up the hype heading into spring practice. But the Buckeyes do have greater expectations on offense heading into their second season in the spread, and the versatility Heuerman provides is among the biggest reasons why.

At 6-foot-6, 250 pounds, Heuerman was seemingly born to block in the running game and has proven he can handle that job in the Big Ten. But he also has strong hands and perhaps underrated speed as a target in the passing game. The coaches have kept an eye in his receiving skills in the spring, and that could lead to a larger role in the fall coming off a season that included just eight catches for 94 yards and a touchdown.

That doesn’t necessarily mean his numbers will be jumping to Gronkowski levels, particularly since the Buckeyes have another valuable option at the same position and with similar skills in Nick Vannett, not to mention Miller and one of the most effective rushing attacks in the country. But Heuerman does appear to fit the blueprint Gronkowski has helped provide and Ohio State wants to use with its tight ends -- using a multi-talented athlete who never has to leave the field regardless of the situation.

As long as they stay out of trouble, real or imagined.

“He’s a little bit of a jokester,” Hinton said. “But he almost died [that day]. Coach [Urban] Meyer almost had to kick him off the team because I was ready to kill him.

“Needless to say, he didn’t play at all in the scrimmage.”

Hinton got even a bit by returning fire with his own joke about playing time, but the reality is Heuerman and Vannett will be on the field plenty thanks to the options they provide for the rushing and passing games.

Heuerman has already been used plenty for the former, but after taking a bit of a backseat to Jake Stoneburner last season as a receiving threat, it’s the latter that should allow him to make a more noticeable impact this fall. And while his one-liners, ability to pull off a prank and his position might have started the conversation, it’s the production that will truly determine whether he’s following in those famous footsteps.

“Gronkowski, he’s a great, great player,” Heuerman said. “I don’t really know all his things off the field, but I hear he likes to have fun.”

Heuerman already has that part nailed.

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.

TIGHT ENDS

• Who's back: The Buckeyes had enough confidence in two young guys to make one slight adjustment in moving Jake Stoneburner from tight end to wide receiver. That move paid off so well, the coaching staff made an even bigger change thanks to the development and contributions of sophomore Jeff Heuerman and freshman Nick Vannett, handing them additional responsibilities formerly held by fullback Zach Boren when the senior was shifted over to linebacker in the middle of the year. The young tight ends proved to be stout blockers and were reliable targets in the passing game in complementary roles, and with two years of eligibility left for Heuerman and three for Vannett, that position is in great shape moving forward with the spread offense.
• New face: After a year on the sideline, former three-star recruit Blake Thomas doesn't qualify as new to the program, but he's looking at perhaps his first real shot to try to crack the rotation this spring. The Buckeyes landed a signature from ESPN 150 tight end Marcus Baugh on signing day, but he won't be on the field with the team until fall.

(Read full post)

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.

WIDE RECEIVER

• Who: The transformation into the ultimate mismatch didn't quite materialize after Jake Stoneburner moved from tight end to wide receiver, and he wasn't able to equal his dynamic red-zone production from his junior season during his senior campaign with Ohio State. But while Stoneburner went through some rough patches and perhaps didn't give the Buckeyes everything they might have hoped for after moving him around the formation, he was still dangerous at times as a target with 16 catches and four touchdowns and leaves a 6-foot-5 hole to fill on the perimeter. And even when his own statistics weren't all that impressive, Stoneburner still found ways to make an impact by throwing around his 245-pound frame and improving as a run-blocker to help the Buckeyes explode on the ground.
• By the numbers: Not exactly known for his speed, Stoneburner still tied for the longest reception of the season after darting down the middle of the field for a 72-yard touchdown that effectively sealed a road victory at Penn State in October. That huge strike offered a reminder of the big-play ability Stoneburner brought to the position, which prompted the move in the first place. It was maybe also somewhat bittersweet for the Buckeyes, who might have liked to see it more often -- that dash against the Nittany Lions represented 27 percent of his yardage for the season.
• Job description: The Buckeyes need somebody capable of stressing coverage in the middle of the field, keeping defenses honest against both the threat of the run and allowing Devin Smith and Corey "Philly" Brown room to operate on the outside. Ohio State had few problems putting up points and obviously finished with a perfect record, but the offense could potentially become even more prolific if it can tap into some space across the middle of the field with a big, fearless target who can offer a reliable set of hands for quarterback Braxton Miller and the ability after that to do something extra with the football in his grasp.
• Top candidates: Given his responsibilities previously when exclusively at tight end or the diverse package of duties he had as a senior, it might take a combination of guys to fill Stoneburner's void. At tight end, the Buckeyes already know what they have in Nick Vannett and Jeff Heuerman and have plenty to feel good about there. Chris Fields flashed in a limited role as Stoneburner's official backup at the "H" wide receiver, but Michael Thomas could be an option to watch after breaking into the rotation more regularly at the end of his freshman season. The rising sophomore has a good relationship with Miller and the kind of size at 6-foot-2 that combines with impressive athleticism to make for a difficult defensive assignment, which gives him a shot at becoming the No. 3 option statistically.
• One to watch: Evan Spencer won't exactly be emerging from nowhere after finishing fourth on the team with 12 catches during the perfect season, particularly after finishing strong down the stretch with the majority of his production coming in the final five games. That late burst offered a glimpse at the kind of weapon Spencer could be in the passing game, and while he obviously doesn't have the same body type as Stoneburner, he should still be able at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds to chip in some blocks for the run game and win his share of matchups after another offseason to build his game.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Quick hitters from Ohio State coach Urban Meyer's weekly appearance on the Big Ten teleconference on Tuesday.

Two for one: Braxton Miller checked out again just fine with the trainers on Monday.

On Tuesday morning the Ohio State quarterback worked out like usual, and he is still slated to resume practicing in the afternoon.

But there is still some concern about lingering soreness in Miller's neck according to Meyer, so it doesn't appear he'll be the only guy taking snaps for the Buckeyes as they start preparing for a visit to Penn State on Saturday.

"We’re going to have two ready," Meyer said. "Kenny Guiton and Braxton are a little bit different players, but they’re both good athletes so we’ll still have the elements to run the option and do the things that Braxton does so well. Kenny is a great manager, distributor -- he does a very good job, like a coach on the field, getting you in the right plays very easily.

"We’re going to have both ready, and it’s not that much different."

Guiton isn't nearly as dynamic on the run, and while his arm strength has improved and he made timely throws in the comeback against Purdue, it's obvious the Buckeyes are at their most dangerous when Miller is on the field.

Meyer didn't provide many specifics about the practice plan other than offering a reminder Miller would be in a non-contact jersey on Tuesday and won't be taking any hits from his teammates. But they will likely be watching closely over the next two days to make sure he's ready to absorb a few from the Nittany Lions in a critical divisional showdown.

"He’s real sore in the neck, but he’s good to go for practice," Meyer said. "Obviously there’s no contact anyway on him, but we’ll see here.

"I got to see him this morning, he worked out, and once again passed all his tests and everything yesterday. He’s good to go for practice, he’ll be no-contact, but our biggest concern is just how sore he is."

(Read full post)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Quick hitters from Ohio State's media luncheon on Monday as it prepares for a visit from Purdue on Saturday.

Shake it up: For the time being, Zach Boren shouldn't make any plans to return to offense after shifting from fullback to linebacker and then leading the team in tackles against the Hoosiers.

Expecting somebody else to have that same kind of instant impact at a new position might be asking a lot in the middle of the season, but that doesn't mean the Ohio State won't consider more personnel shakeups in response to its lack of depth on defense.

Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer confirmed there "are conversations" as the coaching staff evaluates all its options, though the only player identified specifically when he was asked about tweaks to the lineup during his Monday press conference was freshman defensive end Noah Spence -- but he won't be playing offense any time soon.

"Options are very limited right now, so that’s one thing," Meyer said. "The guy that played very well is Noah Spence, so the thing you have to ask yourself, 'OK, Noah Spence and Nathan Williams play the same position, so let’s have a conversation about that' -- and we are. How do you get them both on the field at the same time is the conversation.

(Read full post)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The fire inside is burning hot enough as it is.

Reflecting all the way back to his days as a youth wrestler, Luke Fickell has always tried to put more pressure to perform on himself than anybody could place on him on the outside.

So the Ohio State defensive coordinator isn't about the change his approach after his unit allowed 49 points in a narrow win over Indiana on Saturday, though he joked that he might seek out some of the public opinions of his work if he thought it might dial up the internal temperature even further.

"If you can put more pressure on me than I put on myself -- I don’t how you could," Fickell said during his Monday press conference. "We could give up 14 points and for some reason I’m not going to sleep at night thinking, ‘Wow, what could we have done better.’

"The outside pressures, I don’t know, I don’t feel it. If they’re harder or stronger than what I put on myself, maybe I should go read about it."

The Buckeyes provided plenty to write about defensively after a second sloppy outing in as many games, following up the 38 points they gave up against Nebraska with a trip to Indiana that included 481 yards allowed and a much tighter score than expected.

The program is still undefeated and the offense has certainly contributed greatly on the way to those seven wins and a spot in the top 10. But the defense currently ranks No. 10 in the conference in total defense, and the recent troubles haven't gone unnoticed by coach Urban Meyer -- who vowed to take a more active approach in getting that corrected and gave a speech to the entire unit and the coaching staff during a meeting on Sunday.

Fickell had no complaints about that appearance to start the week from Meyer, and he indicated it was a positive to have him more involved. But just like with the exterior conversations about the Buckeyes, he also didn't really need to be told that improvements were mandatory if they're going to stay perfect or contend for titles down the road.

"If we would have walked out of there after giving up 31, to be honest with you, I’d have had the same pit in my stomach," Fickell said. "We’re never satisfied with what we’ve got, but we can’t lose sight of the No. 1 most important thing is to win and get better.

"Is there a pit? Yes. Does it make it hard to sleep? Yes. But what do you do? You can whine, you can fold up your tent, start to complain or you can go back to work and find a way to get better."

 

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- When Urban Meyer met his new team, he talked about goals without restraint.

It's the kind of confident approach a coach can take when he already owns two national championships. At Ohio State, Meyer told his players, anything was possible.

"He told us when he first got here, 'It will happen. We can score 100 points,'" Buckeyes offensive lineman Jack Mewhort said. "He loves it. He's crazy. He would score 100 every game if he could."

Ohio State didn't score 100 on Saturday night. It settled for 63 despite enduring a first quarter Meyer accurately described as a "train wreck" -- zero first downs, 13 plays, 17 total yards.

The Buckeyes' first act was a dud against No. 21 Nebraska. And then they treated a record crowd of 106,102 at Ohio State to a show they won't soon forget. Sparked by do-it-all quarterback Braxton Miller and a surging offensive line, Ohio State scored its first offensive touchdown with 10:49 left in the first half and didn't stop for five more possessions.

Six consecutive touchdowns turned into a 63-38 win, keeping Ohio State perfect under Meyer and leaving no doubt as to who is the Big Ten's top team in 2012. Even with the outcome long sealed, Meyer kept his starters in the game in the end for a final touchdown with 48 seconds left.

"It's cool," Mewhort said. "He's always hungry for more."

The Big Ten will do all it can to market its championship game Dec. 1 in Indianapolis. But it'll be like Bert Parks singing "There she is, Miss America" about the first- and second-runners-up in the pageant. Ohio State is by far the prettiest girl in a league filled with teams that shouldn't see the light of day.

The title game might be the Big Ten's big showcase, but it won't feature the league's main event, which will be watching from home because of NCAA sanctions. Although the division races should provide plenty of entertainment, if you're interested purely in quality and the story lines that go along with it, watch Ohio State chase a perfect season and, who knows, maybe an AP national championship. Watch Miller push for the Heisman Trophy. Watch the Buckeyes offense take aim on Meyer's stated goal of triple digits in points.

"We're just getting better and better," said Buckeyes cornerback Bradley Roby, who got the scoring started with 41-yard interception return, the first of his two picks on the night. "We're young, we're talented, and I can't see us losing a game this year. We're taking it one game at a time, but seriously, we're really trying to take it to everybody we play.

"I feel like this is going to be a good year, and next year will be even crazier."

Ah, next year. Ohio State will have no bowl ban, another full offseason under Meyer and more Meyer recruits in key roles. Are the Buckeyes on the national championship radar? Time will tell, but look where they are six games into Meyer's tenure.

Ohio State eviscerated a Nebraska team led by a head coach (Bo Pelini) respected for designing and developing defenses. The Buckeyes racked up 56 points, 481 yards and 19 first downs in the final three quarters Saturday night. They completed just seven passes to only four receivers, led by a sophomore tight end (Jeff Heuerman) who made one catch in 2011. They generated 326 rush yards and five touchdowns from two players -- Miller and running back Carlos Hyde, filling in for injured starter Jordan Hall -- plus a 33-yard scoring run from Rod Smith.

Keep in mind, this isn't a Buckeyes team stocked with proven weapons. Ohio State finished 107th nationally in total yards in 2011.

But does anyone want to face Ohio State's offense after what it did to Nebraska?

After some early speed bumps, Ohio State's offense is progressing ahead of schedule.

"You're playing a tight end [Reid Fragel] at right tackle," Meyer said, "playing a bunch of guys who haven't played a lot of football, and, being as honest as I can, they weren't very good. They didn't look the way we wanted them to look in January. ... They're the ones that have really developed. I mean, like really developed. Even early in the season, I didn't feel it.

"I'm starting to feel us change the line of scrimmage."

Although the spread offense is often described as a finesse system, Meyer always has talked about being a power team first. The past two weeks, Ohio State has turned the corner.

The big numbers didn't come against Michigan State, but the line's performance set the table for Saturday night's show.

"The O-line," Miller said, "they stepped it up real big."

Miller did his part, too. The sophomore broke his own team single-game quarterback rushing record with 186 yards despite finishing the first quarter with minus-9. He sparked the unit with a 72-yard dash on Ohio State's first play of the second quarter and continued to fill up his Heisman highlight reel.

With four 100-yard rushing performances in the first six games, Miller ranks second in the Big Ten in rush yards (763) and third in rushing average (127.2 ypg).

"We have a quarterback, obviously, that's kind of ridiculous running the ball," Meyer said.

Hyde wasn't too shabby, either, using his frame to bulldoze the Huskers, particularly near the goal line. He recorded Ohio State's first four-touchdown rushing performance since Eddie George had four against Iowa in 1995.

When Meyer arrived, Hyde envisioned big things for the offense.

"When he was at Florida, those guys would put up crazy numbers," Hyde said. "I know if we could get going like how they were getting going down there, we can do the same."

After the game, Meyer was cautious to get carried away, noting, "We're not there. We have a long way to go." But the talk of an undefeated season will escalate, as Ohio State continues its path through a weak league. The Heisman talk around Miller will escalate. The talk of next year and what the Buckeyes can do also will escalate.

The spotlight will shift to Indianapolis on Dec. 1. Until then, it'll be on the Scarlet and Gray.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The critical number wasn't how many times Braxton Miller got hit.

The Ohio State quarterback was bound to be sore after again being called on so often to rush the ball, and some abuse comes with the territory after 23 attempts.

But there were a few more shots the sophomore could have avoided in the road win on Saturday over Michigan State, and that's the tally Urban Meyer had in mind as the Buckeyes try to keep the centerpiece of their offense healthy ahead of another top-25 test this week against Nebraska.

"Eight times," Meyer said during his Monday press conference. "We went through that, eight times he shouldn’t have got hit. He’s scrambling around, throw the ball away, find the receiver or give the ball.

"We’re going to go try to win a game, and Braxton is our quarterback and our best player, best guy with the ball in his hands. [Health] is always going to be a concern any time you have a quarterback involved. But he’s a gifted guy and he’s got to help us win."

(Read full post)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The first weekly award of the season arrived for Braxton Miller.

His coach still isn't ready to discuss the Ohio State quarterback as a candidate for a yearly honor.

Miller's hot streak to open the season earned some recognition from the Big Ten on Monday. His five-touchdown performance in a win over California earned him offensive player of the week honors. It was a dynamic outing that only added to the possibility he could wind up in the conversation for more serious hardware this season. But Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer isn't ready to have that discussion just yet, though when the time is right, he suggested he'd acknowledge it.

"I don’t think he’s played well [enough]," Meyer said. "Let’s put it this way, at some point if he does, I’ve been asked and I’ve been lucky enough to have guys go to New York, it’s been kind of fun to be part of that and have Heisman candidates. Three or four have been mentioned and all that, and I think at the appropriate time, I won’t say he’s not.

"I don’t believe he is now -- he’s not playing well enough yet."

There could still be room for improvement, but few quarterbacks have enjoyed a better stretch to open the season than Miller.

The sophomore is 10th in the nation in rushing, 12th in total offense and improved to No. 2 in the country in points responsible for after throwing for four scores and adding another rushing touchdown in the 35-28 victory Saturday. But Miller might just be getting started as he and Meyer's spread offense keep growing together.

"We’re getting close," Meyer said. "I am pleased with his progress. He’s a much different player than he was a year ago, and that’s just coming from [running backs coach] Stan Drayton, who was on the staff a year ago since I didn’t know. I mean, Braxton Miller showed up in training camp and wasn’t in the conversation about playing, and ability-wise he should have been. That tells you he wasn’t a great practice player. Tthat’s why I think he’s improved the most because freak athletes have got away with it for so long from little league to high school because they’re just so much better than people.

"That’s probably where I’m most pleased. I think he’s on schedule."

Bumps and bruises: John Simon did his best to hide the pain in his shoulder last week, and Meyer almost wound up without the defensive end on game day.

The Buckeyes don't want any surprises against UAB on Saturday, so Meyer is looking for straight answers as his team hits the practice field again this week.

"He says he feels a lot better," Meyer said. "I asked him to be honest, and he said he feels a lot better than a week ago. I said, ‘You didn’t tell me that a week ago, John.’ He goes, 'My shoulder is a long way from my heart.'

"I get it, Braveheart, just tell us so we can get you treated and get you right."

There are two Buckeyes still getting treatment that appear unlikely to play against UAB on Saturday: defensive end Michael Bennett (groin) and running back Carlos Hyde (knee).

Team honors: Devin Smith showed up yet again in the Champions Club. This time, the Ohio State sophomore didn't even limit himself to just one award.

Smith was tabbed as the offensive player of the game after his two touchdown catches and 145 yards receiving, but he also picked up recognition from the coaching staff as the standout on special teams, according to the weekly grades and honors handed out by the Buckeyes.

Other honorees:

• Defense: Tackle Johnathan Hankins (player of the game), cornerback Bradley Roby and linebacker Ryan Shazier
• Offense: Running back Jordan Hall, fullback Zach Boren, tight end Jeff Heuerman and Smith
• Special teams: Smith

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The true answer won't come for more than a month.

The data Urban Meyer relies on year after year to gauge how successful a training camp was isn't available until four games are in the books, so the grades are still incomplete from the Ohio State coach for now.

But he wanted physical practices, and Meyer seemed pleased with the intensity the Buckeyes delivered. He also wanted a team that survived that style of play with its health intact, and after knocking on wood, Meyer appears to have got what he wanted there as well.

"Unbelievable," Meyer said after a workout on Monday evening. "I mean, the way we practiced and I don’t think we’ve lost a guy, have we?"

The only potential losses from the lineup for the opener on Sept. 1 already existed before camp, with Jordan Hall's foot injury and the surgically repaired knee of defensive end Nathan Williams currently looming as the only possible absences of significance.

The Buckeyes have dealt with a few minor health issues through camp, with contributors such as tight end Jeff Heuerman missing time with a tight hamstring and starting linebacker Ryan Shazier briefly on the shelf with an undisclosed ailment as well.

But aside from season-ending surgery for true freshman offensive lineman Joey O'Conner, a knee scope for reserve safety Zach Domicone and a hamstring injury for freshman wide receiver Frank Epitropoulos, the Buckeyes appear to have a full deck heading into the season.

And four weeks after it begins, Meyer will know if he should have pushed the Buckeyes even harder or dialed it back.

"The only thing I worry about is the health in the heat, you know, I’m scared to death of the heat," Meyer said. "We’ve been fortunate. We try to push them as hard as we possibly can, and how you evaluate that is just over the last 10 years how we do in the first four games. We’ve gone, I think we’re 39-1 or something like that in our first four games and we have really hard camps.

"Sometimes you play teams you’re better than, and sometimes you don’t. That’s how I try to evaluate every year if we’re going too hard, but we’re fine."

PASSING GRADE: Walking off the field, Meyer admitted he wasn't really aware of what the offense had just done.

But once he popped in the film of Saturday's closed scrimmage, there was clear evidence of the improvement he's been emphasizing in the Ohio State passing game. And while statistics have not been released publicly, Meyer tallied one up for Braxton Miller that surely validated his progress leading the attack at quarterback.

"He threw for 350 yards in the scrimmage, so he had a good day," Meyer said. "Really good day. I didn’t realize it until after the scrimmage.

"The area where we’re much improved is throwing and catching, much improved. We couldn’t have gone much the other way, but they are much improved. The receivers have stepped up."

They were clearly making the most of a lot of balls thrown their way from Miller in a session that Meyer indicated was largely the first-team offense against the second-team defense.

Corey "Philly" Brown was likely the biggest beneficiary after being designated as Ohio State's "No. 1 receiver right now" by Meyer, with Devin Smith apparently not far behind. But Jake Stoneburner, Michael Thomas and Nick Vannett also drew praise for their recent work by Meyer, who hasn't been shy in the past about criticizing his targets.

"I feel right now the offense will be fairly competent," Meyer said. "I can’t say great because I don’t see that yet. But I see competency, I see the ball being snapped correctly, I see an offensive line protecting and doing the right things and the skill [players] are starting to improve.

"It didn’t look that way for the first two weeks in the spring."

UP FOR GRABS: The Buckeyes didn't leave the scrimmage with a resolution at right tackle.

Their workout on Monday certainly didn't provide an answer either.

The other four spots on the offensive line are seemingly locked in for the opener against Miami (Ohio), but converted tight end Reid Fragel and freshman Taylor Decker are still jockeying for the fifth one -- and it appears neither did anything to win it during the latest practice session.

"We can’t name a starter right now," Meyer said. "... Right tackle has got to be a little better. They’re trying, but one at times looks like a freshman because he is and one looks like a guy that just moved from tight end.

"It’s fresh in my mind because they got slapped around a little bit today."

KLEIN TRIAL PUSHED BACK: Former Ohio State linebacker Storm Klein's trial date, originally scheduled for Monday, has been pushed back to Sept. 24, according to Franklin County Municipal Court documents.

The senior was dismissed from the team in July after being charged with domestic violence and assault for an alleged incident with the mother of his child.