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Football
Spring Practice Note and Quotebook
By John Porentas

After allowing reporters to stay for an entire practice on Sunday a second OSU's practice session was unexpectedly opened to reporters yesterday, though this time around cameras were not allowed. The Buckeyes practiced outside on a cold, windy, damp day that left reporters shivering, but the competition on the field could only be described as hot and heavy.

OSU Head Coach Jim Tressel prefaced spring practice with a comment that he wanted to see a more physical football team. The two practices we've seen reflected that goal. There was plenty of hitting, spirited hitting at that, and plenty of ones vs. ones competition, particularly by the offensive and defensive lines.

"I think it's been more physical than we've been since I've been here," said defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Jim Heacock who arrived in Columbus in 1996.

"There are a lot of reps against each other and physical play.

"I think everybody feels like we want to get a little tougher, a little more physical. I think we've got to get tougher. That's what football is about," Heacock said.

It was clear that Heacock likes the new approach.

"I love it. I love it," he repeated.

Practice Notes:

Rose Injured: Defensive End Robert Rose left the field on a cart after suffering an injury to his left knee. Rose was not really engaged with another player when the injury occurred but appeared to be in a good deal of pain as he lay face down on the turf. He was down several minutes and was eventually helped to the cart by the OSU training staff. There was no update on his injury following practice.

Swapping Corners : Tressel promised that the spring would bring a lot of mixing and matching of personnel, particularly at positions where the Buckeyes are looking for new starters. One of those spots is corner where the top candidates are junior Chimdi Chekwa, junior Devon Torrence and 5th year senior Andre Amos. Chekwa has the most experience and is seen as likely to win one starting spot. On Sunday, Amos was working with the first group opposite Chekwa, but yesterday Torrence had that spot. It's likely that the two will be alternating throughout the spring so the coaching staff can see them both in a variety of situations.

Bell Rung: Sophomore linebacker Andrew Sweat got his bell rung pretty good during seven on seven drills and had to leave the field. Sweat tried to go back onto the field, but the OSU training staff would not allow him to return to action.

At the End: Sophomore linebacker Etienne Sabino practiced some as a rush defensive end spot in drills on Tuesday.

Standing Aside: Junior linebacker Ross Homan and senior safety Kurt Coleman did not participate in contact. Both worked out with the OSU strength staff on the sideline.

Bringing the Wood: After not participating in contact drills on Sunday, freshman defensive back Jamie Wood was back in action on Tuesday.

Dropped!: Freshman defensive back Travis Howard had a gift interception thrown his way during 11 of 11 drills but dropped the football that hit him right in the hands. Howard worked with the second defense during 11 on 11 drills.

Red Zone Woes: Tressel said that scoring touchdown rather than field goals when the offense got into the red zone was a point of emphasis this spring. Part of practice on Tuesday involved an 11 on 11 drill in which the offense was given the ball on the 25-yard line going in. The defense did a good job of for the most part keeping the offense out of the endzone, forcing several field goal attempts.

Need "Technique": Senior defensive lineman Todd Denlinger has been asked to play tight end in short yardage situations. Denlinger is really just learning how to block and drew the unenviable task of blocking Thad Gibson one on one on the edge. That did not go so well for Denlinger who got a gentle jibe from his regular coach, Jim Heacock, via Gibson.

"Coach Heacock said he needs to work on his hold," said a chuckling Gibson.

We'll watch for Denlinger's improvement on that "technique".

Winning Battles: The competition between the offensive and defensive lines has been very spirited this spring which has created some very spirited battles along the line of scrimmage in both one on one and team drills.

"You've got to love it as a defensive lineman and the offensive linemen love it," said senior defensive tackle Doug Worthington.

"We feed off of it. There's that competition. If you beat somebody, in the locker room you're going to smile at them. If they beat you they're going look at you. It's competition and we get each other going."

On Tuesday offensive linemen Andrew Miller and Justin Boren both won their share of those battles. Worthington says he has definitely been impressed with the play of Boren.

"Boren is a monster, he's a man among boys," said Worthington.

"He's really a very, very physical offensive lineman, one of the most physical offensive linemen I've ever gone against.

"Boren is a good friend and I love going against him because he's a big bowling ball and strong as an ox.

"Boren is something to deal with.

"Definitely."

One offensive lineman who seemed to be having his problems with pass protection was freshman Mike Adams who was beaten rather quickly on several occasions by a variety of defensive linemen.

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