OSU Buckeyes

With spring in the books for more than a month, the long march through the offseason and back to football is only beginning. But BuckeyeNation is going to keep doing its part to speed up the journey -- or at least make it more interesting. This week, that means a bunch of countdown lists, continuing today with a look at the most valuable Buckeyes coming out of spring practice and how it compares to the last breakdown of the 2012 season.

Ohio State 10: Post-spring power rankings, 1-5

No. 1: QB Braxton Miller

• Last ranking: No. 1
• Spring movement: There was nowhere the junior could go but down in the rankings, but his work in camp only solidified his standing as the most valuable player in the program. Miller's skills are only improving as a passer, and the work he can do with his legs is already well documented. If the Buckeyes are going to win a national championship, it will be their multitalented quarterback doing the heavy lifting.
• Key stat: Miller took a significant step forward in his passing accuracy last fall, bumping his completion percentage by more than four full points up to 58.3. He doesn't even need to duplicate that same level of improvement to cross a critical milestone in his development, because simply hitting the 60-percent mark would make the spread offense much more devastating.

No. 2: LB Ryan Shazier

• Last ranking: No. 2
• Spring movement: The junior was limited throughout camp as he recovered from surgery to repair a sports hernia, but his absence offered a clear reminder of how critical he is for a defense in transition after the loss of six starters in the front seven. The depth at linebacker is certainly not to the level the Buckeyes are used to traditionally, and the margin for error is still slim. But putting a healthy Shazier back on the field with his sideline-t0-sideline athleticism and nose for the football can help mask any growing pains that might be going on around him, and he's in line for more monster numbers this fall.
• Key stat: The raw totals were impressive on their own, but the rate at which Shazier made plays in the backfield speaks volumes about his ability to read and react to what he sees at outside linebacker. During his breakout sophomore campaign, one in about every seven tackles for Shazier resulted in a loss for opponents -- which can produce a lot of lost ground when a guy is piling up a total of 115 hits during the season.

No. 3: CB Bradley Roby

• Last ranking: No. 4
• Last No. 3: RB Carlos Hyde
• Spring movement: Roby also missed some action during camp as he took some time to let an ailing shoulder recover, but there's been little doubt about how much the redshirt junior's return to the program for another season will lift the defense. Aside from the physical tools that have him already projected as the top cornerback in the 2014 draft, Roby is tapping into some vocal leadership that he previously hasn't displayed and helping to bring along a group of talented young defensive backs who will ultimately need to replace him when he's gone. That provides both short- and long-term benefits.
• Key stat: Opposing quarterbacks aren't likely going to have much desire to test Roby in the passing game, which might make it important for him to fight off complacency and find other ways to make an impact. For starters, Roby is a willing tackler and finished with 63 a year ago, and helping against the run or blitzing off the edge could be ways to keep making a mark.

No. 4: RB Carlos Hyde

• Last ranking: N0. 3
• Last No. 4: CB Bradley Roby
• Spring movement: The bruising, high-scoring tailback was unquestionably the starter going into spring, and he didn't need to do much work to keep that position heading into the summer. And while there has never been more praise for Hyde and his potential to give Urban Meyer a 1,000-yard rusher, there's a chance now that the Buckeyes had a look at their backup options and came away feeling good about them that a few carries might slip away from him and wind up with Rod Smith, Bri'onte Dunn or perhaps Warren Ball in certain situations. What Hyde can offer certainly hasn't changed, but the Buckeyes might now be able to add a bit more variety to their ground attack.
• Key stat: When his 242 pounds are moving downhill with the kind of speed that isn't natural for somebody Hyde's size, the urge to just run over people might be tough to turn down. But the Buckeyes need more elusiveness from him when he does break through to the secondary, which could turn attempts such as his longest run of 29 yards a year ago into something much more explosive.

No. 5: LT Jack Mewhort

• Last ranking: None
• Last No. 5: WR Philly Brown
• Spring movement: The torch was ready to be passed with two-time captain John Simon moving on to the NFL, and Mewhort has locked his grip on it and become the type of guy Meyer leans on to get his message across and ensure the troops are all on the same page. Aside from his intangibles, Mewhort is back for another season as a starter after a productive junior campaign in which he emerged as one of the top blockers in the Big Ten. With three other veterans returning along with him, the group up front will set the tone for the Buckeyes all year long.
• Key stat: Miller's athleticism can bail out a missed assignment or two from his blockers, and it can occasionally get him in trouble as he tries to extend plays a bit longer than he should. So while the blame can be spread around, either way the Buckeyes will be trying to cut down on the 30 sacks they gave up a year ago as the offense tries to hit a higher gear.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- There was a time when cutting Carlos Hyde some slack on the practice field would have been unthinkable, and it wasn’t all that long ago.

With the running back perhaps not in the finest shape and somewhat easily fatigued, Ohio State could use every rep available to it to try to get him ready for a heavy workload.

Maybe not the most mature guy on the roster, the Buckeyes also might have needed to keep him involved in the offense as much as possible just to keep his confidence at a reasonable level.

Even after a successful season as a junior, which included his first significant opportunity to be the featured tailback, there was also the threat of Hyde slipping back into a comfort zone and resting on his laurels.

Running backs coach Stan Drayton has been around long enough to know all those things about Hyde, and somewhere in the back of Drayton's mind they might have nagged at him a bit, as the Buckeyes decided to keep the starter largely on the sideline during live work this spring as they evaluated options behind him. But Drayton never wavered, Hyde never complained, and there might not be a clearer example of how far the senior’s reputation has come than how little management was necessary in a camp that was productive even when he didn’t have the football in his hands.

“You know, he does have a complacent bone in him,” Drayton said. “I cannot underestimate that, but I haven’t seen it in a long time. I’m hoping that it’s gone forever.

“I’ll tell you, he’s getting to the point where his psyche is not easily killed. At some point you have to sit down with a senior and have real man-to-man, face-to-face conversations about where you are and where you need to be. ... Maturity proves itself on how you go about improving those weaknesses, even when I’m not watching.”

The Buckeyes needed to devote more time to watching the backups than Hyde this spring, and in turn the veteran was forced to turn his attention to his younger teammates throughout workouts, effectively serving as a coach.

That Hyde could handle the responsibility of watching reps without taking many or that he would offer pointers to guys who could conceivably chip away at his carries reflects the increased faith the Buckeyes have in him. But that Hyde was also more than willing to take on that role reinforces some of the changes he has made heading into his last season with the program, validating himself as more than just an integral part of the rushing attack in the process.

“It’s just me getting older,” Hyde said during camp. “Last year kind of matured me, too, and I’m just getting older and learning the game better.

“I feel like mentally I’m still hungry. I feel like there’s still more to improve on, and I feel like people probably still have doubts about me and I want to prove those people wrong.”

There wasn’t much he needed to show on the field during spring practice after rushing for 970 yards and 16 touchdowns last fall, and the Buckeyes had no concerns about limiting him during some full-contact situations in workouts or holding him out entirely from the spring game.

That doesn’t mean Hyde is a finished product, and he’s the first to admit he can become a more elusive runner to break a few longer runs and that his pass protection can be improved as well. It also doesn’t mean Drayton stopped paying attention to Hyde's handling of his new responsibilities -- but there were at least some aspects of his game that no longer required as much monitoring.

“He wants to play, he wants to practice and I love him for that,” Drayton said. “He can be a pain in the butt out there, but I told him in our individual meeting, 'I didn’t know you had that in you.' I thought he hated practice. I thought he was one of those guys that kind of fatigued early.

“But now he’s got some endurance, he’s got some confidence about him and I was really excited to see how bad he really wanted to practice, play, the whole deal. ... I don’t want him to feel like he’s there, because he’s not there. But he’s definitely heading in the right direction.”

At this point in his career, Hyde didn’t even need a football to prove it.

2012 record: 12-0

2012 conference record: 8-0 (first, Leaders Division)

Returning starters: Offense: 9; defense: 4; kicker/punter: 1

Top returners: QB Braxton Miller, RB Carlos Hyde, WR Philly Brown, LT Jack Mewhort, C Corey Linsley, CB Bradley Roby, SAF Christian Bryant, SAF C.J. Barnett, LB Ryan Shazier

Key losses: RT Reid Fragel, WR Jake Stoneburner, DE John Simon, DE Nathan Williams, DT Johnathan Hankins, DT Garrett Goebel, FB/LB Zach Boren, LB Etienne Sabino, CB Travis Howard

2012 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Miller* (1,271 yards, 13 TDs)

Passing: Miller* (2,039 yards, 15 TDs, 6 INTs)

Receiving: Brown* (60 catches, 669 yards, 3 TDs)

Tackles: Shazier* (115)

Sacks: Simon (9)

Interceptions: Howard (4)

Spring answers:

1. End game: The Buckeyes have to replace all four starters up front, and while the defensive line isn't quite as deep and is far from a finished product, the future looks pretty bright on the edge. Sophomores Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington were among the top prizes in Urban Meyer's first recruiting class with the Buckeyes, and that talent is already starting to shine through as they slide into first-team roles heading into the fall. Spence is a dynamic force with his ability to use speed to get to the quarterback, and Washington isn't exactly sluggish despite all the strength in his 293-pound frame. The two combined for seven sacks in the spring game, and the Buckeyes are expecting similar performances when it actually counts.

2. Air it out: Miller has proven what he can do with his legs, and Ohio State didn't really need to see him show them off in the spring. The emphasis was on continuing to develop the junior quarterback as a passer, which meant a heavy dose of play calls forcing him to put the ball in the air and a quick whistle if he tried to scramble. The results for Meyer were encouraging. His efficient, 16-for-25, 217-yard performance in the spring game showed a much more accurate delivery and better decision-making that hints at bigger things from the fifth-place finisher in last year's Heisman Trophy race.

3. Backfield stable: One thing that might keep Hyde from giving Meyer a 1,000-yard running back this season is all the teammates fighting to snag a few of his carries. The rising senior is the clear cut No. 1 to partner with Miller in the backfield, and Hyde didn't have to earn that job in the spring after piling up touchdowns last fall and finally tapping into his enormous potential as a rusher. But while he was watching some reps, Rod Smith, Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball all showed their upside this spring, which has the Buckeyes even toying with a diamond formation that gets three tailbacks on the field at the same time.

Fall questions

1. Filling out the front seven: Shazier is certainly a fine place for any defense to start, but the Buckeyes would obviously prefer if there were at least one other returning starter joining him in the front seven. There are high hopes again for junior Curtis Grant at middle linebacker, but he's been tabbed as a first-team guy before coming out of spring only to fizzle in the fall. Ohio State will need Grant and sophomore Joshua Perry to help lead the charge as it tries to add depth and talent at linebacker to stabilize a defense that will feature a lot of new faces.

2. Fresh blood: There wasn't a great option to fill Meyer's vaunted H-back position last fall, so the Buckeyes effectively had to put the hybrid spot, made famous by Percy Harvin at Florida, on the shelf. Jordan Hall's return from injury makes him a candidate to diversify the offense, but a handful of recruits the Buckeyes landed in Meyer's second class would could really take the spread to another level. Speed-burners such as Dontre Wilson or Jalin Marshall will be watched closely in August as they could become factors for the Buckeyes as early as September.

3. Something special: If the Buckeyes score as easily and often as it appears they might, maybe it won't matter who handles the kicking game. But Meyer has always taken pride in his special teams, and at this point there is still some uncertainty as Drew Basil is pressed into action as both a kicker and a punter. In the big picture, the changes on defense are far more critical -- but close games usually pop up along the way for teams trying to win a championship, and Basil might need to pass some tests for the Buckeyes.

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 will go first this week, followed by a handful of defenders who will be in line for heavy workloads this fall as well.

No. 2: Rod Smith

• Who: All the pieces are there for a dynamic running back, but Rod Smith has yet to ever put them all together and unleash all the potential that Ohio State has seen on the practice field. But heading into his junior season, Smith is finally showing signs of figuring out that puzzle and unlocking even more possibilities for the Buckeyes on offense. Carlos Hyde is still the top choice in the backfield, and that isn't likely to change as long as the senior is healthy. But if Smith rushes with the sense of urgency he showed before his spring ended prematurely, if he continues to absorb the responsibilities lined out for him in the playbook and, most important, if Smith is able to protect the football, there will be plenty for him to do in the fall.
• Spring progress: The Buckeyes gave Hyde a number of reps off in the spring to get a better look at the candidates for carries behind him, putting Smith in position to show what he could do if he were needed on the first-team offense. He responded with some explosive gains, flashing the speed that makes him a home run threat while still being an option between the tackles at 6-foot-3, 238 pounds. There have never been doubts about his physical skills, though, and it's an improved ability to embrace competition and lock in focus on the practice field and in meeting rooms that should enable Smith to reach a higher level.
• Jockeying for position: Smith wasn't going to unseat Hyde in the spring, but Smith's extra reps helped him separate from backups Warren Ball and Bri'onte Dunn and establish himself as the No. 2 guy in the rotation, even though he missed the last week of camp dealing with a concussion.
• He said it: "We went into this spring with a certain emphasis in mind. We were going to work on certain things, and Carlos had really proved with those things that he was very capable in game situations. He's battle-tested, so it was time to develop some younger guys. ... Carlos Hyde and Rod Smith have separated themselves." -- running backs coach Stan Drayton
• Closing number: A concussion suffered during a scrimmage the week before the spring game kept Smith out of the final week of practice and the closing exhibition game in Cincinnati, but that didn't cause him to give up any ground after getting 32 carries and gaining 215 yards with two touchdowns last fall.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- With spring practice in the books and Ohio State 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. 4: Warren Ball and Bri'onte Dunn

• Who: The Buckeyes had no need to stage a competition for the top job in the backfield with Carlos Hyde returning, and the athleticism Rod Smith brings to the table helped him stake an early claim to the backup job. But there were plenty of eyes on the young running backs trying to avoid getting crowded out in a stable of rushers that appears quite well stocked, and both Bri'onte Dunn and Warren Ball made cases to stay in the conversation heading into training camp. Dunn has already shown what he can offer after contributing on a limited basis as a freshman last fall, but Ball was more of a wildcard thanks to the foot injury that forced him to redshirt. While they certainly aren't carbon copies of each other, Ball and Dunn have similar body types and generated some positive buzz for their futures with hard-nosed running and an ability to break off some productive runs when space opened ahead of them. That only adds to the flexibility for the Buckeyes on offense.
• Spring progress: Dunn wasn't pressed into duty much last season, but he did use his 25 carries to prove he's got potential with the football in his hands, picking up 133 yards and scoring a pair of touchdowns. He was also briefly an option on special teams, but the Buckeyes were looking for more focus and energy from Dunn during the spring as it gauged how much it could use him in the fall. The results, for the most part, were encouraging. The same was true for Ball, though he had much more to prove after suffering the physical setback during training camp last August. With Hyde held out of a handful of drills throughout camp in order to give the Buckeyes a chance to look at the other candidates for work behind him, Ball made the most of his opportunities and didn't give any more ground after missing his chance to shine early last season.
• Jockeying for position: Hyde is the clear front runner, and Smith will take a lead into August as the second option in the backfield. But the Buckeyes appear to be much more comfortable with their depth at running back than they did a year ago, with Dunn and Ball locked in a tight battle to squeeze into the third spot -- which could get the winner on the field with coach Urban Meyer toying with some full-house packages.
• He said it: "Warren Ball has shown the capability to be an explosive football player at times. I love the way he attacks defenders, I love the capability of hitting a home run from time to time. Bri'onte just brings that low pad level, move the ball 4 yards every time kind of demeanor. I think it's a fit for both of them, but I don't want them to be situational backs, though. I want them to present themselves as guys that can be in there in any given situation, and I think that might be what separates them in the future." -- running backs coach Stan Drayton
• Closing number: The passing game was the top priority for the Scarlet squad in the spring game, leaving Dunn with few opportunities to generate momentum heading into the summer as a rusher. The sophomore finished with just two carries for 8 yards, but he did add 61 yards on five receptions out of the backfield and was a valuable weapon as a check-down target. Ball had more work for the Gray, and he averaged more than four yards per carry while getting the ball 11 times, also chipping in 17 yards on two receptions.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Braxton Miller collected his Big Ten offensive player of the year trophy in Indianapolis on the day of the league championship game last December. Since he took part in a halftime ceremony, Miller stuck around to watch Wisconsin whip Nebraska, 70-31, to clinch a Rose Bowl berth.

Of course, the Ohio State quarterback couldn't help but think about how his team had beaten both Big Ten title game participants.

"I got kind of upset watching it, because it was a different type of game than what I was expecting," Miller told ESPN.com. "I thought it would have been a different type of story if we were there."

Linebacker Ryan Shazier, like a lot of other Buckeyes, had similar feelings as he watched the BCS championship game between Notre Dame and Alabama about a month later.

"To be honest, I was feeling sick," Shazier said. "Because I felt like we had a great team and we should have been in the game. I feel like if everybody who had to watch that game can keep that in their head this year, it's going to push us to another level."

Ohio State completed just the sixth undefeated season in school history in 2012, and there are reminders all around the team's football complex about the achievement. There's a huge "Undefeated" sign in the main entrance, a banner for the 2012 season hanging in the indoor practice facility next to ones celebrating national championships, and signs proclaiming Lane Avenue near campus as "12-0" row. Players and coaches from last year's team received rings fit for a champion last week.

Of course, the Buckeyes couldn't play for a Big Ten championship or go to a bowl because of NCAA probation. And they say that's a big reason why they're not dwelling on their accomplishments but rather looking forward this offseason.

"Yeah, we went 12-0, but it didn't really mean much," receiver Corey "Philly" Brown said. "It's not like we won anything. I feel like none of our team got a taste of what it feels like to be playing for a national championship. That makes us more hungry to get there."

Along with the reminders of last year, head coach Urban Meyer had another banner put up in the football complex this spring with the slogan "The Chase." That was his not-so subtle message to the players to keep striving toward new goals. But Meyer said he hasn't noticed any sense of complacency with this group.

"I've watched for that," he said. "I've had our strength coach [Mickey Marotti] watch for that. I don't feel it. If I did, I'd jump in the middle of it."

Meyer's biggest concern this spring has been identifying new leaders. Outside of left tackle Jack Mewhort, he wasn't sure which players would fill the shoes of seniors like John Simon and Zach Boren from last year. He has brought in weekly guest speakers to talk to the team this spring about leadership, and he's hoping guys like Miller, Shazier, Brown and defensive backs C.J. Barnett, Christian Bryant and Bradley Roby take on those roles. Of course, Meyer had similar worries about last year's team at this time, and it ended up having what he calls one of the best group of leaders he's ever coached. So that figures to work itself out.

The young front seven on defense also presents question marks, as Shazier is the only returning starter among the defensive line and linebacker units. But sophomores Adolphus Washington and Noah Spence showed with their combined seven sacks in the spring game that Ohio State is blessed with talented options up front, even if there might be a learning curve at work.

"We're going to have to live with some mistakes," defensive coordinator Luke Fickell said. "But our job as coaches is to say, 'Hey, what can they handle?'"

Will these Buckeyes be able to handle the increased expectations and pressure in 2013? Last year, they began the year ranked No. 18 in the Associated Press poll and weren't eligible to receive votes in the coaches' rankings. Even as they continued to win, they mostly operated outside of the limelight because of their absence from the national title hunt. This year, the spotlight will be on them from Day 1, as they should open the season in the top 5.

"We're definitely going to be a huge target," running back Carlos Hyde said. "We're back to where Ohio State usually is, which is the No. 1 team on the schedule that teams want to beat. It lets us know that we just can't come out and roll our helmets out and expect to beat a team."

The target is larger, but so too is the goal. The shackles of probation are off, and if Ohio State can pull off a repeat undefeated season, odds are its players won't be watching the national championship game from afar next January. Roby, the team's All-American cornerback, is confident that will happen. He says that "last year was the commercial, and this year is the movie."

"We've got the talent, and I'm not going to say the schedule is easier, but we don't play Nebraska and we don't play Michigan State," he said. "It's set up in our favor. All we have to do is go out there and keep grinding."

CINCINNATI -- The work in the backfield was a little bit easier since their targets couldn’t actually be taken to the ground, lowering the degree of difficulty for defensive linemen hunting for a sack.

Adolphus Washington and Noah Spence still had to do the hard part and get there first, but that didn’t appear to be too taxing for the talented sophomores, either.

Over and over, the heirs to the starting bookend spots on the line took turns abusing blockers and forcing officials to blow early whistles to save quarterbacks from potential punishment. It made it difficult for anybody to track exactly how many sacks they should be credited for in Ohio State’s spring finale on Saturday at Paul Brown Stadium.

“38 or something?” Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer joked. “I’m very pleased with Noah Spence and Adolphus Washington.”

That might have been something of an understatement, with Washington piling up four sacks and Spence tacking on three more, consistently wreaking havoc and showing the kind of potential that has excited the Buckeyes throughout camp.

Heading into the offseason, the emergence of the tandem up front has eased some concerns for a defense that is replacing six starters in the front seven -- including the entire group of linemen.

There might still be some issues with depth that will need to be answered when practice resumes in August, but there isn’t any question at this point who will be sliding in to replace departed seniors John Simon and Nathan Williams on the edge.

“I just went out there and played football,” Washington said. “I did what my coaches told me to do, and it just happened that I got four sacks.”

Moving forward: The Buckeyes aren’t caught up yet. But “The Chase” is on, and the margin is shrinking.

Meyer has stressed the need for Ohio State to find a way to make up for the 15 bowl practices missed because of the NCAA sanctions that barred the Buckeyes from the postseason last year, which led to the development of the “Chase” area in the practice facility where players can work out on their own doing football-specific drills. At this point, the Buckeyes have apparently scratched off seven of the dates they missed.

(Read full post)

Our fictitious Big Ten road trip has been put on hold as we take actual trips around the league to check out spring practice. We're both back home now, which means we can hit the road again, figuratively at least.

For those just joining us, we're each picking a Big Ten game to attend each week of the 2013 season. We aren't bound by a travel budget, pesky editors or anything steering us to a particular destination. If the game appeals to us, we can be there. What a world. We're trying to mix up our itinerary, and while we can stand to be in the same press box together, there are some weeks where we'll grin and bear it. Remember, this isn't our actual itinerary for the season.

There's one week left in the Big Ten season, and here's the slate for Week 14 (Nov. 29-30):

Nov. 29
Iowa at Nebraska

Nov. 30
Minnesota at Michigan State
Northwestern at Illinois
Ohio State at Michigan
Penn State at Wisconsin
Purdue at Indiana

Bye: None

Adam Rittenberg's pick: Ohio State at Michigan

The Game is the default pick for Rivalry Saturday in the Big Ten, but I also think it could be the most exciting and competitive contest on the slate. Perhaps it's wishful thinking on my part, as the Ohio State-Michigan game hasn't been a huge hit since we launched the blog in 2008. Michigan was down from 2008-10, and Ohio State backslid considerably in 2011. While last year's meeting pitted a good team (Michigan) against a great one (Ohio State), the Buckeyes' postseason ban took something away from the contest. I'm still waiting to cover an Ohio State-Michigan clash featuring two great teams in the running for a Big Ten championship. This year's game very well could meet those demands.

Michigan gets the game at home, where it has yet to lose under coach Brady Hoke. The Buckeyes had some close calls away from Columbus in 2012 -- Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin -- and will need an efficient performance on both sides of the ball to win. Junior quarterback Braxton Miller enters the season among the top contenders for the Heisman Trophy. His performance in Ann Arbor could make or break his campaign. The quarterback matchup between Miller and Michigan's Devin Gardner pits two exceptional athletes with varying styles who both can generate a lot of production.

I'm particularly interested to see what happens at the line of scrimmage. Ohio State boasts in my view the Big Ten's top offensive line, while Michigan is looking for difference-makers on its defensive front and hopes to spark a better pass rush. The Wolverines have arguably the nation's best offensive lineman in left tackle Taylor Lewan, who likely will go against dynamic young defensive end Noah Spence. Brace yourselves. Gardner and his receiving corps take aim at a Buckeyes secondary led by cornerback Bradley Roby, who talks big and usually backs it up. Michigan star linebacker Jake Ryan is rehabbing from ACL surgery, but hopes to return for the stretch run. Ryan could help Michigan neutralize Miller, Carlos Hyde and the Buckeye attack. The linebacker matchup between Ryan and Ohio State's Ryan Shazier would be tremendous.

Ohio State might be eying a spot in the national title game, and both teams should be in the mix for division titles and a spot in Indianapolis. The Game always has added meaning for both programs and both fan bases, but it has been too long since both teams had other goals on the table. This year's clash should be a great one, and I don't want to miss it. Who knows, maybe there will be a rematch the following week in Indy.

Brian Bennett's pick: Ohio State at Michigan

I seriously considered taking Northwestern at Illinois, since the Illini are the only team I haven't seen on this 14-week fantasy excursion. And the Land of Lincoln rivalry could be fun. But the odds are that Tim Beckman's team will be eliminated from bowl contention long before the final weekend.

Who knows? Maybe some of the other finales will have major implications, such as Wisconsin trying to win the Leaders Division, Nebraska attempting to clinch the Legends or Indiana possibly securing bowl eligibility.

Still, c'mon. This is The Game we're talking about. It's an easy choice -- even if I have to sit next to Rittenberg.

Previous Trippin’

Week 1: Adam at Northwestern-Cal, Brian at Purdue-Cincinnati
Week 2: Brian and Adam at Notre Dame-Michigan
Week 3: Brian at UCLA-Nebraska, Adam at Wisconsin-Arizona State
Week 4: Adam at Michigan State-Notre Dame, Brian at Purdue-Wisconsin
Week 5: Adam at Wisconsin-Ohio State, Brian at Wisconsin-Ohio State
Week 6: Adam at Ohio State-Northwestern, Brian at Penn State-Indiana
Week 7: Adam at Penn State-Michigan, Brian at Northwestern-Wisconsin
Week 8: Brian at Iowa-Ohio State, Adam at Indiana-Michigan
Week 9: Adam at Nebraska-Minnesota, Brian at Penn State-Ohio State
Week 10: Brian at Michigan-Michigan State, Adam at Wisconsin-Iowa
Week 11: Adam at Nebraska-Michigan, Brian at Penn State-Minnesota
Week 12: Brian at Michigan State-Nebraska, Adam at Michigan-Northwestern
Week 13: Brian at Minnesota-Wisconsin, Adam at Nebraska-Penn State

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Last year, Ohio State led the Big Ten in scoring at 37.2 points per game. Great, right?

Not in the minds of the Buckeyes, who thought they could have fielded a much better all-around attack.

"I feel like last year we didn't play a complete game as an offense," running back Carlos Hyde said. "Some games it was all running, while others it was just passing."

Head coach Urban Meyer rarely seemed happy with the offensive production last year, outside of the running skills of Hyde and quarterback Braxton Miller. He often expressed his dissatisfaction over a lack of speedy playmakers and an inconsistent passing game.

"I'd get frustrated," Meyer told ESPN.com. "But the bottom line is, name an offense that doesn't have guys who make people miss and are dynamic with the ball in their hands, and that's not a great offense. We don't have enough."

The names on offense haven't really changed much this spring. But the hope is that with another year of understanding the system, some improved throwing and catching and maybe some reinforcements from the recruiting class, the Buckeyes will come closer to fulfilling Meyer's vision of a truly great offense.

It all starts, of course, with Miller, whose efforts to become a more accurate passer this offseason have been well documented. Ohio State also needs continued development from its receivers, which is not a very deep group right now. Meyer singled out Corey "Philly" Brown, who led the team with 60 catches for 669 yards, as someone who's becoming one of those dynamic playmakers he's seeking.

"I've tried to work on my open-field running and body control so I could cut faster," Brown said. "It's really paying off for me right now."

Brown is the clear No. 1 receiver, but he needs more help. The team has only six scholarship receivers this spring, and offensive coordinator Tom Herman said he'd only feel comfortable playing four of them for a whole game. Devin Smith made some highlight-reel catches on deep balls early last year but was less effective down the stretch, as he had only 13 receptions in the final eight games.

"People, for lack of a better term, figured him out," Herman said. "He wasn't a very versatile guy. He did a couple of things really well, but the other things that he tried to do, he was very below average. He's starting to improve some of his weaknesses to be a more complete receiver, and he has a lot of physical tools and a great attitude."

Herman said Chris Fields has had a really good spring, and Evan Spencer is a reliable target. Sophomore Michael Thomas, the star of last year's spring game, has shown flashes of his talent but needs to progress in a lot of areas. Herman called the receiver depth "a bit scary right now." But the Buckeyes recruited several receivers in this year's class, including Jalin Marshall, Dontre Wilson, James Clark and Corey Smith. They're hoping at least one or two contributes right away.

"You hate to count on [recruits] because they're usually overrated," Meyer said. "But that's why we went out and recruited them."

"We're not asking them to come in and be Jerry Rice," Herman said. "We just hope they can provide some depth and maybe add some skills that we don't currently have in that room right now."

One area certainly not lacking in depth is at running back, where Hyde returns after rushing for 970 yards and 16 touchdowns last year. Rod Smith is having a good spring, Warren Ball appears to be coming on and if sixth-year senior Jordan Hall can ever stay healthy, he'll provide lots of versatility. There was a buzz last week in practice when the Buckeyes lined up with Hyde, Smith and Ball in the same backfield with Miller in a formation Meyer cribbed from the San Francisco 49ers.

"That can give a bunch of trouble to defenses," Hyde said. "They just see three big backs in the backfield and a quarterback who can also run the ball. They don't know who's getting the ball or who's going where."

Ohio State's offensive players do know where they're going, which is different than last spring. Now in the second year of the system, Herman says he can teach his guys not just what to do but why they're doing it.

"It's not just the memorization of, 'OK, I have to line up on the left here,'" he said. "I could train a monkey to do that. What separates really good offenses from average to below-average offenses is all 11 guys understanding the big picture, the entire concept and scheme we're trying to accomplish. It's been nice to kind of dive into that with all of our players this spring."

Knowing how to change a route against a certain defensive look, for instance, should help the Buckeyes play faster this year. The coaches have challenged the players to be a Top 5 offense in the nation this year. That's a lofty goal, but remember that this team is starting from an already high level despite its flaws.

"I definitely think we can be one of the top offenses in the country if everybody takes care of business and is mistake free," Brown said.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Several factors usually get mentioned first as reasons for Ohio State's 12-0 season in 2012. Braxton Miller's heroics. Carlos Hyde's emergence. The play of the defense down the stretch, led by John Simon and Ryan Shazier.

But one factor probably doesn't get mentioned enough: the performance of the team's offensive line. A major question mark going into last season, the line shaped up as one of the best in the Big Ten last year under the tutelage of Ed Warriner. And with most of the group back and some better depth, the unit provides a strong reason to believe in the Buckeyes again in 2013.

Warriner turned in one of the better coaching jobs in the league last year, rounding into shape a crew that was previously undistinguished and underwhelming. He turned Reid Fragel, a former tight end, into a standout right tackle who should get drafted later this month. Corey Linsley went from playing guard to one of the conference's top centers, while Jack Mewhort developed into a top-flight left tackle. One of the indelible images of the Buckeyes' season was the line pushing around Michigan State's terrific defense to grind out the victory in East Lansing.

About the only thing Warriner had to worry about last season was health, as there was no experience and precious little depth behind the starters. He doesn't have the same worries this spring.

"It's a nice feeling to know you probably have a backup tackle and a backup guard," he told ESPN.com.

Four starters are back, so the real battle this spring is to replace Fragel at that right-tackle spot. Right now, sophomores Chase Farris and Taylor Decker are splitting a lot of first-team reps there, with Darryl Baldwin also in the mix.

"Those two guys have a lot of ability," Warriner said. "The more comfortable they get and the more confidence they get, one of them could take off -- or maybe both will and we'll play by committee. But they have high-level talent and all the traits of really good linemen."

Head coach Urban Meyer said Tuesday that redshirt freshman Pat Elflein has been one of the surprises of the spring, and he could add depth at guard or tackle. Warriner also said Jacoby Boren is making strides at center. While the team suffered a setback when reserve Antonio Underwood tore his anterior cruciate ligament late last week, the Buckeyes should still be able to rotate more guys on the offensive line this fall.

"If the next man in can play a certain amount but the level doesn't drop off enough to hurt our team, we might do that just to keep the unit fresh and hopefully be smart throughout the season," Warriner said.

But Ohio State will want its veterans on the field as much as possible. Mewhort, whom ESPN.com voted as a first-team All-Big Ten performer, has been hailed as one of the team's best leaders and anointed by Meyer as a possible replacement for Simon in that regard.

"He's what you want in terms of an attitude, of work ethic, of being a competitor," Warriner said. "When you're a first-year starter at a new position with a new coaching staff, sometimes you just worry about your own business, and that was him to some degree last year. But now, he's taking kind of a bigger role with his leadership on offense and even the team as a whole."

Warriner said guards Andrew Norwell, a first All-Big Ten team honoree by the media last season, and Marcus Hall have made maybe the biggest improvements of anyone on the line this offseason. Along with Linsley, whom Warriner said has "elite-level strength," the Buckeyes have the potential to field four all-conference type linemen.

"We think we possibly could, if they play up to their ability level," he said. "The good thing about the group is, they don't really care about that. If we won the Big Ten and none of them made all-conference, they wouldn't care a bit. That's the kind of unselfish players they are."

Warriner said he has challenged the group to help lead a top-five national offensive attack this season. Ohio State led the Big Ten in scoring last year (37.2 points per game) and finished second in rushing yards per game (242.3). The offensive line led the way, though players like Miller and Hall sure helped.

"We know the quality of our skill guys can erase some things and create some big plays," Warriner said. "If you block it for six, you might get 16. At some places, if you block it for six, that's what they'll get -- six yards."

Everything works in concert. But don't forget the Buckeyes' offensive line when talking about reasons for the team's success.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The stakes are high, even if somebody doesn't have pads on during the scrimmage.

In case the physical, hard-hitting action didn't clarify how seriously Ohio State takes its live work even during spring practice, the group that had to line up for sprints after coming up on the losing end left little doubt.

Anybody involved with the defensive effort closed the practice on Tuesday afternoon running from one sideline to the other as punishment after Kenny Guiton ended a two-minute drill with a touchdown pass to Nick Vannett -- including the coaching staff and hobbling coordinator Luke Fickell.

"Academic people, coaches, everybody," Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer said. "It was good to see some competition.

"I’m not sure we have any answers yet, other than Kenny did a nice job leading that second group on a nice touchdown drive. Good day."

There was plenty for Meyer to like even before that final play, a deft pass from Guiton to the right-corner of the end zone where Vannett fought through a hold to haul in the score.

Guiton continued to provide reliability as the backup option at quarterback. Both lines had encouraging performances and largely played to a draw. A handful of receivers made eye-catching grabs, and the defense had success at times with a more blitz-happy approach than it showed a year ago.

And among those performances, these four also stood out as the Buckeyes start heading into the final workouts before the spring game on April 13.

(Read full post)

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Urban Meyer cut down the distance. He apparently dialed up the intensity in the process.

That's typically the formula when the Ohio State coach designates a practice to work on short-yardage situations, but this time it also seemed to come with an attitude bonus.

After taking some criticism for their lack of intensity in the first workout after spring break a week ago, the Buckeyes were clearly energized by the physical challenge thrown at them on Tuesday afternoon at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center. And while there were still some things that Meyer isn't all that thrilled about after the sixth full practice, competitiveness wasn't one of them.

"Any time you do short-yardage and goal-line [situations], there’s going to be a lot of collisions," Meyer said. "They start chirping a little bit, and it was a good practice."

Both sides of the ball had reason to make a little noise in a spirited session that stood out not just for the amount of hitting, but also for a larger number of reps for the backups as the Buckeyes start evaluating their depth.

Here's a closer look at four of the developments from the latest practice open to the media.

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