Around The Block: BlockONation's Buckeye Bits, Volume 1 — May 11, 2012

Today I'm introducing a new series here on BlockONation, called Around The Block: BlockONation's Buckeye Bits.

It's a chance for me to share any pertinent Buckeye news and/or links with the fans and my followers without having to spend several hours researching, writing, editing, and posting a full article, as time spent at work and with my family have made that seem a daunting and nearly impossible task recently.

So, without further ado, let's kick this baby off!

— Defensive backs coach Kerry Coombs, has been busy this week on the recruiting trail as evidenced by this recent Twitter update.

— Ohio State wants one more RB in their 2013 recruiting class, and that spot appears to belong to either Derrick Green, or Dontre Wilson. Most believe the Buckeyes would prefer Green, but it could come down to who verbals first. Green just received an offer from Alabama and plans to visit there over the summer. Regardless of who Ohio State wants more, the bottom line is they believe they must land one of them.

— In a recent ranking of the best backup QBs in the Big Ten, Buckeye QB Kenny Guiton was ranked No. 5 out of 12 in the B1G by BTN's Tom Dienhart.

— Sporting News released their list of the top coaches in college football. Urban Meyer is listed at No. 3, behind Alabama's Nick Saban, and Boise State's Chris Petersen.

— Former Buckeye and current Oakland Raiders QB Terrelle Pryor opened up about selling awards at Ohio State to "help his Mom pay her rent and other bills" in a recent Sports Illustrated article. He even referred to that act as, "doing God's work." Maybe he should have sold the 350Z to help her out and driven a used car instead.

— Former Buckeye and Minnesota Viking Cris Carter admitted that he offered bounties against certain defensive players that he felt targeted him during his NFL career. Carter said he did it as a form of protection for himself from players who were targeting him. Carter specifically noted putting a bounty out on former-Bronco, Bill Romanowski.

— Lastly, pretty much everyone knows by now that there was a sexual deviant contacting Ohio State players, coaches, and recruits using Facebook and/or Twitter by messaging them with "inspirational quotes", and while he may have had innocent intentions, his past and status as a registered sex offender makes us all cringe just a bit — understandably so.

Former Ohio State verbal commit Alex Anzalone retracted his commitment to the Buckeyes after a picture of him with Eric Charles Waugh, aka @BDubsTriviaGuru on Twitter, went viral.

Joey Bosa, who was also in the same photograph with Anzalone and Waugh, reaffirmed his commitment to the Buckeyes, despite rumors that he might follow in Anzalone's footsteps.

Waugh has since been arrested for violation of his parole, his Twitter account has been suspended, and Anzalone's father, Sal — after initially lashing out at Ohio State for not, in essence, babysitting Alex duing his unofficial Spring game visit, has backed off of his negative comments and said Alex is still considering OSU.

Thankfully, the situation was monitored and resolved quickly, and without incident.

Nobody needs Internet creepers submitting hundreds of inspirational or motivational messages to them on Twitter or Facebook, or anywhere else for that matter.

Instead, I'd recommend listening to Reach by Eve To Adam, if you're seeking out motivation. It's about reaching your goals and dreams, and it's one of my favorites — check it out!



See you next time, around the Block — HD

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Ohio State Football 2012: Depth Chartin' Part I — Quarterback and Running Back

Ohio State finally began Spring Football this week.

Practices under new head coach Urban Meyer have been labeled intense, but that's not exactly shocking given the annual expectation level at Ohio State.

With many early-arrivals from the highly-touted 2012 recruiting class already on campus, several position, and depth chart battles have emerged.

Just after NSD, Meyer stated that he did not recruit guys to redshirt at Ohio State — a refreshing and welcomed change from previous seasons where seemingly seniority sometimes mattered more when it came to playing time than on-the-field talent.

Jim Tressel was a great coach but most would agree that he was often too loyal to his upperclassmen.

It does not matter how long any player has been in the program. No one should earn their playing time based on seniority (cough, Joe Bauserman, cough). The best 22 players should start regardless of what class designation they belong to, period — and Meyer gets that.

By the time the Scarlet and Gray game is played on April 21st, the depth chart should be pretty firmly set. There is, however, still some time to jostle things around a bit and for guys to move up in the ranks, so with that in mind, here's a very early look at how the depth chart is shaping up at several key positions.

Quarterback

Obviously, there's no quarterback controversy in Columbus — Meyer was practically frothing at the mouth during his introduction press conference over the prospect of coaching Braxton Miller, but Buckeye fans shouldn't soon forget that Meyer played two quarterbacks while at Florida back in 2006 (Chris Leak and some guy named Tebow) and that turned out pretty well for them (41-14).

Miller is the starter, but a solid backup QB is just as important, especially when you have a dual-threat QB who's going to take some hits — which means backup Kenny Guiton and freshman Cardale Jones will both need to be game-ready.

So far, Meyer has liked what he's seen from both Miller and Guiton, saying "Both those kids, the answer is yes, they can throw." Now, there's all the other stuff that goes on, but they can physically throw the ball, both of them. I feel good about those guys."

When he's gotten the chance to play, Guiton has shown he can guide the offense, and given Meyer's comments, he could occasionally find himself on the field, if for no other reason than to mix things up and keep opposing defenses guessing, or to give Braxton a quick breather and/or some in-game coaching — something he sorely lacked in 2011.

Depth Chart

Braxton Miller

Kenny Guiton

Cardale Jones

Running Back

While the hierarchy at quarterback has been established, determining the backfield pecking order could be described as a blurry quandary — not so much because of a lack of talent or depth, but rather, a lack of "working together" experience between the new staff and the players, and because the incumbent, Boom Herron, is gone.

Jordan Hall and Carlos Hyde are experienced-ish, while Rod Smith isn't — when he did play (ever-so-sparingly) in 2011, he fumbled away the ball, and his spot on the offense altogether temporarily when he was moved to defense — nor is 5-star true freshman, Bri'onte Dunn.

With the loss of Herron to graduation, no clear-cut starter returns or has emerged as of yet, so all four backs have been getting reps early on. Meyer said they have momentum and "as long as that continues the talent there is fine."

Hall is the most experienced, but unlike Hyde, he is unlikely to be a workhorse back that could carry the ball 20 times per game. Instead, dumping the ball off to him on a halfback screen or out of the slot would suit Hall's talents much better.

Hyde has drawn comparisons to Beanie Wells and even Eddie George. He's not as fast as Beanie, or as dynamic as Eddie, but he does have decent speed and power, and most importantly, he protects the football. In 2011, Hyde averaged 5.4 yards per rush and fumbled just twice in 106 carries.

While Smith and Dunn were both heavily recruited and highly rated coming out of H.S., they must both prove themselves on the field the rest of the spring and this fall.

The arrival of Warren Ball, a 4-star RB in the 2012 class, will also affect the final depth chart this fall. Between Ball and Dunn, one of them might have to redshirt this season, rather than waste a year of eligibility.

Depth Chart (subject to change)

Carlos Hyde

Jordan Hall

Bri'onte Dunn

Rod Smith

Warren Ball

Coming soon

Part II — Wide Receiver

Part III — D-Line / Linebacker

Part IV — Safety / Cornerback

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Video Highlights From Ohio State's 2011 Spring Game / Scrimmage

These Hi-Def highlights were produced by lednerk exclusively for BlockONation.com.




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Ohio State's Quarterback Enigma: Lack of Depth Behind Terrelle Pryor a Big Concern?

By Doug Tarnovich - BlockONation.com Contribtor


In the first game of the 2009 season, the Oklahoma Sooners lost Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Sam Bradford to what would end up becoming a season ending shoulder injury. That left things up to his backup Landry Jones, and though an 8-5 record isn't what folks hope for in Norman, they should be pleased with a second stringer who threw for more than 3,100 yards and 26 touchdowns.

Texas lost Colt McCoy in the national championship game against Alabama. The Crimson Tide was already favored, but without the Longhorns' best player, Texas should have been blown out of the water.

Not so.

Garrett Gilbert, a freshman, managed to bring Texas within a field goal half way through the fourth quarter before Alabama pulled away for good. Typically, two touchdowns to four interceptions is pretty bad. But considering the circumstances, Gilbert did all his coach, teammates, and fans could've asked for.

Both quarterbacks were highly recruited to be the heir apparent. Both led their high school teams to state titles. Both are highly decorated. They each boast crazy statistics.

Here's a couple of questions for you, Buckeye fans:

Who is Ohio State's Landry Jones?

Who is the Buckeye version of Garrett Gilbert?

Could Kenny Guiton or Taylor Graham keep the Buckeye offense competitiveve if Terrelle Pryor were to go down? Maybe. Nobody thought much of Troy Smith when he came to Columbus. But the facts are the facts.

Guiton was a three-star recruit who the Buckeyes snagged only after they whiffed at elite prospect Tajh Boyd who opted for Clemson. In other words, Guiton was an afterthought.

Graham hasn't played a full season since he was a sophomore at Wheaton North High School in Wheaton, IL. He broke his ankle during the fifth game of his junior year then tore his PCL the following year, missing the strong majority of the schedule. Maybe that's why he was only given a two-star rating.

Neither prospect was highly sought after. Neither got offers from other perennial powerhouse college programs. Neither led their respective teams to state championships. Neither received any prestigious awards. On paper, the prospects aren't too encouraging.

What about Joe Bauserman? Any analysis there?

Yeah. Bad. That's all you need to know. And by the way, "Bad" was all the Buckeyes had last year for a backup.

Why does the Ohio State University—highly ranked every year with multiple BCS bowl appearances, great recruiting, and a gateway to the NFL—have such a dilemma when it comes to football's most important position? Quarterbacks should be breaking down the door, but havn't been the last couple of years.

Perhaps the explanation can be found in the fact that Terrelle Pryor, as a sophomore, was the unquestioned starter for the 2009 season. Certainly, a more immediate chance to start made a convincing argument too tempting for Boyd to turn down. Perhaps Pryor was just a year too young to make room for a future star at the position unless, of course, Pryor laid an egg against an inferior opponent.

Oh, wait. That actually happened.

Some called for Pryor to move to wide receiver. Maybe he would have succeeded as such had he a competent No. 2 throwing the ball. Head coach Jim Tressel apparently didn't think he did. As bad as Terrelle played against Purdue, the other options were far less appealing.

But this offseason has yielded some good news. Guiton had a solid performance in the spring game, leading the Gray team to a 17-14 victory. He completed 11 out of 21 passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns. There are also reports that Graham had a good showing at Ohio State's jersey scrimmage.

Whoever it is, one of these guys needs to step it up. It'll be another year before star recruit Braxton Miller puts on the scarlet and gray. In the meantime, there needs to be at least one valid option in case something happens with Pryor, be it injury or meltdown.


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Ohio State QB Kenny Guiton Goes "Around The Block" With Block-O-Nation

One of the biggest questions facing Oho State as the 2010 season approaches is what happens to the team, and the season, should Terrelle Pryor get hurt?

Who, if anyone, could step in and take over for him, and would they be able to lead the team in his stead until his return, or would all hopes of another conference championship and possible BCS title run be lost?

Well, if you didn't watch the 2010 Scarlet and Gray game, and/or didn't see any highlights from the game, you may just have missed the answer to that very question.

Enter Kenny Guiton.

The redshirt freshmen from Houston was the last player to join the 2009 recruiting class, after Buckeye targets Tajh Boyd and Kevin Newsome instead signed to play at Clemson and Penn State respectively.

In front of more than 65,000 fans in The Horseshoe, Guiton lead the Gray team to a 17-10 win over the Scarlet team in the final seconds. He completed 11-of-21 passes for 167 yards and two scores, both to Taurian Washington.

In the Clemson Orange and White game this Spring, Boyd went 8-for-25, passing for 132 yards. He struggled to read the defense at times, repeatedly throwing into double and triple coverage.

In the Penn State Blue and White game, Newsome was 5-for-12 for 50 yards and was sacked three times. It was assumed that Newsome would take over for the departed Daryll Clark, but after his Spring game performance, the door is still open for Matt McGloin, Paul Jones and Robert Bolden.

Although it is still early in the careers of Guiton, Boyd, and Newsome, it seems to me Boyd and Newsome going elsewhere may have been a blessing in disguise for the Buckeyes.

I recently caught up with the Buckeye Spring game standout for this, the latest edition of my interview series, "Around the Block".

Q: Kenny, you played very well this Spring in the Scarlet and Gray game and Buckeye fans took notice that you appear very capable of stepping in if Terrelle should miss any time. So, ease our minds—How's the ankle/lower leg doing?

A: Thanks a lot, that is good to know. The leg is doing great. I'm not feeling any pain at all. We have great trainers which helped me out a lot and I am feeling great.

Q: What is your favorite kind of music, and who is your favorite artist(s) or band(s)?

A: Rap is my favorite genre and my favorite rapper is Lil Wayne.

Q: What is your favorite NFL team? Who is your favorite NFL player of all-time?

A: My favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys and favorite player is Vince Young.

Q: Being from Texas, what college team were you a fan of before coming to Ohio State?

A: I was always a UT fan (University of Texas). I grew up watching Vince Young and he was always my favorite player so I loved UT.

Q: Before Ohio State offered you your scholarship last year, were they even on your radar, and did you know you were on theirs?

A: No not at all, I didn't know much about Ohio State at all. I didn't have them on my radar and had no idea that I would end up on their radar.

Q: Did your family move up here with you or did they stay in Texas? Do they come to the games?

A: My family stayed in Texas. They come up whenever they get a chance to watch various games. They were in attendance for the spring game which brought me great joy.

Q: What is your Win/Loss record as a starting QB from your H.S. days?

A: This is a hard one, I believe in high school on the varsity level my record was 18-10.

Q: What are you majoring in?

A: I am undecided right now. Looking to go into some type of business such as finance or accounting.

Q: What are you personal goals for this coming season?

A: My personal goals are to keep competing for the second string spot and if something happens where I have to play, I want to be able to lead this team to big accomplishments.

Q: Are there any current or former NFL QB's that you have been compared to by other people, or that you feel like you compare with?

A: I have been compared to Dennis Dixon a lot. His build and the way he plays.

Q: Which game or games are you most looking forward to this season?

A: I am looking forward to Miami, traveling to Wisconsin and Iowa, and I always look forward to playing that team up north.

Q: Do you ever visit any of the numerous Ohio State message boards or blogs on the Internet to see what fans are saying or do you try to avoid them? If you do, which one(s)?

A: No I don't look at those things at all.

Q: Lastly, is there anything you'd like to say about the upcoming season in your own words directly to OSU fans and the readers of Block-O-Nation?

A: I would like to say I will keep working hard to be the best quarterback that I can be and I hope everything works out because I feel I can be the ultimate QB on and off the field.

I want to thank Kenny Guiton again for taking time out of his schedule to spend a few minutes allowing the fans of Buckeye Nation and the readers of Block-O-Nation to get to know a little more about him, on and off the field.

I'm sure I speak for us all when I say we look forward to seeing his collegiate career unfold in the coming years and wish him all the best!


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