Football
Luncheon Day Notebook
By Brandon CastelJim Tressel has worked his way out of tighter situations than the one he faced Tuesday at his weekly luncheon press conference, but Ohio State’s Head Coach did do some tight-rope walking around the subject of Kurt Coleman’s one-game suspension.
“Our directive was to make sure that it's yesterday's news and not comment further,” said Tressel when asked about the Big Ten’s decision to sit OSU’s senior captain for this week’s game against Indiana.
The verdict stems from an incident that took place late in the fourth quarter of Ohio State’s 30-0 win over Illinois on a play where Coleman leveled a hit on backup quarterback Eddie McGee that the league deemed “ helmet-to-helmet contact while targeting a defenseless opponent.”
Asked why his senior captain was even on the field that late in the fourth quarter of a 30-point game, Tressel said he didn’t know exactly except that it’s common practice to keep a veteran or two on the field with the younger players to help avoid mass chaos.
“Lots of times you'll leave a veteran or two in so that the young guys can get lined up,” Tressel said.
“It might be a center on offense. It might be a safety or a linebacker on defense. But we didn't have that many safeties when you talk about (Aaron) Gant and (Zach) Domicone are out, but I don't know specifically.”
With Coleman out of the lineup, the Buckeyes will use Anderson Russell and Jermale Hines as their starting safeties, both of whom have been in the starting lineup at different times this season.
“We've been playing three safeties a lot. Whether we're in base or nickel, Anderson, Kurt, and Jermale have been playing,” Tressel said.
When the Buckeyes go to a nickel look on defense, something they will likely do less frequently with Coleman unavailable, it appears redshirt freshman Orhian Johnson could be the next guy on the field. He would presumably take Hines sport at safety, allowing him to slide down to his usual spot at the star position in the nickel.
“In base, you have Jermale and Anderson. Your next safety, and I guess I'm speaking a little bit out of ignorance, because I haven't sat and had that discussion with Jim Heacock and Luke (Fickell), would be Orhian Johnson as the guy that's had the most reps.”
(Ho)Man Down?
Along with Coleman, the Buckeyes could potentially be without a second starter on defense Saturday against the Hoosiers as they gun for a third straight shutout.
Junior Ross Homan, Ohio State’s only returning starter at linebacker, left the game against Illinois this past week with concussion-like symptoms. The Buckeyes are hoping to have him available Saturday, but he should be considered questionable at this point.
“Ross got dinged a little bit there early in the game and played about 16 plays after the fact, which was a little frightening, but he seemed to be feeling fine,” Tressel said.
“(He) probably won't work today, but will work tomorrow. We're very, very conservative on those.”
If Homan cannot play, or if he’s limited in any capacity, the Buckeyes would then turn to sophomore Andrew Sweat, who did a good job of filling in Saturday after Homan left the game.
“Andrew Sweat stepped in and obviously had prepared and is a talented kid. It was a good experience for him because you need to develop that depth because injuries do happen,” Tressel said.
As a whole, the Buckeyes continue to be quite healthy, although they will be without tackle Jim Cordle, safety Aaron Gant and possibly tailback Jaamal Berry against Indiana.
“Jimmy Cordle will still be out. Tyler Moeller, obviously, is out. Aaron Gant is a guy that we were hoping would be back by now and he's not back. Jamaal Berry will be close and he's looking like he's got a chance. Zach Domicone will get back, which will be a plus for us because he was on a number of our special teams and so forth before he got injured,” Tressel said.
More the Merrier at Tailback
With Berry out, the role of No. 3 back has fallen squarely on the shoulders of fellow freshman Jordan Hall. After rushing for 44 yards on seven carries against Toledo, Hall picked up 22 yards against Illinois in his first Big Ten experience.
Along with Hall, the Buckeyes are hoping redshirt freshman Jermil Martin can help to give them a little boost in the backfield, especially with it looking like senior walk-on Marcus Williams will be out for an extended period of time with a knee injury.
“Jordan Hall has stepped in and said, hey, I'm going to be able to add to this group. Jermil Martin is a little healthier now and showed last week against our defense that he could bang it in there and if you could bang it in against our defense, you could maybe help,” Tressel said.
Martin is coming off a week in which he was named scout team offensive player of the week, but Tressel also talked about having high hopes for Berry, although it’s unsure whether or not he would burn his redshirt this season.
“I think Jamaal Berry is going to be very good, we just need to get him healthy,” Tressel said.
“By committee doesn't bother you because we've all been in circumstances where you didn't have enough tailbacks and you had a lot of injuries or whatever the case, but the more the merrier.”
Quick Hitters
-According to Tressel, center Michael Brewster had his best week as a Buckeye calling blocking schemes Saturday against Illinois.
-While suspended, Coleman will work with the third team defense and not the scout team, but he is unlikely to make the trip to Bloomington with his teammates this weekend.
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