Snap Judgments: Ohio State's Student Appreciation Day scrimmage shows Buckeyes' spring progress

come on here goes nothing here goes nothing buckle up tight, well hello, welcome to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, I hope you can hear us out there, these are

snap

judgments

, they're live and supposedly it's us, we hope it's Bill Landis and me. I'm Austin Ward, Ohio State is in

spring

practice number eight, it was Student Appreciation Day on Saturday morning and here, uh, the practice format was basically the same. I don't think they really changed anything, they didn't. Brutus was not hit. They didn't throw field goals at the

student

s, they did exactly the same thing they did last Saturday, which I think is noteworthy and they're not going to give up one of these days of work, no, I mean, it was a, it was a fight like they got knocked to the ground because they were largely put in situational situations, it was like we said last week, it was probably more of a fight that you'll see in the shoe on April 15th for the

spring

. year, that's what makes the day so good.

I wish everyone could come here, but you know, not everyone is a

student

, yeah, and I think maybe Ohio State would have done better to structure it a little bit because once they stretch themselves a little bit. On the offensive line things get very shaky and it makes it difficult to evaluate what's going on and today was one of those days that maybe doesn't mean much in the long run, but at least for today when we look at what the

state

of Ohio was hoping to make it if you take out Donovan Jackson to manage his reps a little bit well, that's a little bit, it's a hit on the left side, the drop is there.

Zen Mahalski is working on a small knee injury that has been detected. Up here, uh, you know, recently, yeah, and then you see Tiger Shabola come out and okay, if he holds his own, the next drive is going to pay some of the consequences that Ohio State had problems on the offensive line, the defensive line feasted because once those guys have to go against JT Tui molo Jack Sawyer Mike Hall Kenyatta Jackson in the next wave Kaden Curry boy, it got ugly at times and I guess you can look at it two ways right, you can be very worried about the offensive line. depth or you could be really excited about the defensive line which the truth is somewhere in between.

We've been through this at Springs before we probably said similar things last year at this point in spring practice when we watched the

scrimmage

s. It was a little more exaggerated today, I think that would probably be a fair assessment. When they started there, they marched from the 25th onwards like this to try to score. My decision had consecutive captures and I resorted to I don't remember. who was standing next to me, what about Stephen? It means I had to get Mike out of there because they can't run plays, which is amazing to see for White Collar, right, he's healthy, he's super fast with that ball and they're both in the

scrimmage

drills and the one-on-one drills again. that guy dominated, so I think you should be really excited about that, but the flip side is, okay, what's going on in the middle of the offensive line? um, I'm not, I'm not too worried. about that, no, I don't know if it's Ryan's day or maybe he just projected that he wasn't going to let anyone find out.

I think it's natural for the defensive line to be a little bit ahead. the offensive line, especially when, to your point, there are a couple of guys that we think would probably be starters or definitely be starters, that weren't there today, so there's a lot of work to do for that group that we knew Joseph was going to do. . has his hands full, but unfortunately it was on display for a lot of people to see today, yeah, and I guess it doesn't have to be all doom and gloom for those guys because obviously you can't, it won't stop either and Well, we've got to get through the spring. and we can't put in good defensive ends, those guys need reps too.

My call needs to play more football after what we saw last year you've barely scratched the surface and if you're going to have win or loss days you don't want to pile it all up and you have to go out and win that last week the offense played very good and they were much healthier on the offensive line than today, so that was part of If they won, they didn't win today, the defense once, a couple of things fell against the Ohio State offense. Health-wise, things got a little out of hand and there would be no way to catch up, however, when they were blocking, I thought.

They did a decent job, an acceptable job, it was more the pressure on the quarterbacks that they had problems with. I just want to say it's not like the next wave can't do anything they can, like there was one, you know, maybe it was the third one. and a third and three. I really don't remember. He was watching it from the defensive end and a hole appeared on the right side that wasn't where he would have expected it to be after last week and Chip Trainum ripped through it for a touchdown. A little bit later, Donovan Jackson still wasn't there and Josh Fryer and you know, Vermont, opened a huge hole on the left side that allowed another first down before a guy got tagged and thought about it like there was something productive.

Things were done, but the body of work certainly favored the defense, it definitely did, and it wasn't really just up front like I thought, the secondary had some nice moments, that goes hand in hand, if the quarterback is in a hurry. for his life and pulled back and without seeing everything clearly. I think the defensive backs are going to have a better day than they would otherwise, but even in '707 I was impressed with some of the defensive backs like Davis, I think when Osum had what I think might have been the first interception we've ever seen from someone here, like in competitive theory, we've heard a lot about how defensive backs are being more disruptive and getting their hands on the ball, but Davidson jumped, jumped. right in front I think it was Bryson Rogers like a leaning gate at the seven on seven he went to the ground keeping possession rolling it was an interception for the defense um Cameron Martinez had a couple of deflected passes plus Lathan Ransom had one and then he also had a very good play at the goal line sticking his nose into a running play.

Now back to the offensive line, no one blocked them, so that makes life a little easier, but it was an explosive play by Lathan, uh, to hit. I think it could have been that he was chipped or down in the backfield to stop that play for a negative play, but that was also one of the few tackles for loss, I think we saw running plays as kind of a backup for you. So Ohio State's offensive line was still talking about that play afterward. Josh Fryer said: I don't think anyone saw Lathan coming, you know they hadn't and like last week I don't think they did a ton of the Blitz stuff. and Jim Knowles alluding to that like the base defense worked it like they weren't planning on trying to make stops and then, well, here you go, yeah, they were doing some plays on the defensive line too, there was a play on the left side. of the line where I think it was my decision and Jack Sawyer did a little trick and the right side of the line said, I don't know, I don't know anyone, so um, it was the competition in terms of Like the coaches, I think that trying to outdo each other was stepped up a little bit today as well, yeah, you can make out the second practice in eight practices and you want to start doing that when you reference, uh, defensive backfield, Jihad Carter, left practice earlier today. in seven against seven we do not know the seriousness of the problem.

They were looking at the knee. Ohio State is optimistic that it wouldn't be a long-term thing. You would think Ryan Day talked about it afterwards and that's why we. We have a little bit of information, it's very early, both he and Mahalski will have to be evaluated in the future, we'll see what that means for the next two weeks, the last two weeks of spring training, but he took Jihad Carter out of that mix. he was helped straight to the training room fell seven on seven, you could tell he was very uncomfortable about it, but you know it's another reminder of why Cameron Martinez is so valuable to this team and has already had a great spring. running with the starters and then it became more interesting to see, well, what would happen with Ohio State beyond that, if you think you're building around those two at the nickel spot, then where do you go?

There's been a conversation with Bill about maybe there. There will be cornerbacks that will help and lo and behold, that's what happened today. Ryan Turner jumped in there, got some reps in there as the second team nickel, yeah, I think when we talk about cornerbacks playing the nickel spot, I've always been up to this point saw it more as a real pass-oriented defense guy. , like a true nickel package, three cornerbacks out of the backfield takes that kind of cleaner safety corner out of a guy who may be more of a run defender, but it's different now. ball game, we'll see what happens with Jihad Carter, but they were like he and Cameron Martinez were just two safeties who actually played that position.

Jire Brown was in that mix earlier this spring. I'm sure he'll get a long look there too I don't know if you try a guy like Stiles there, I'm not sure they have, I thought when we talked to the safeties the other day and Perry Iliano said, oh, we have a streamlined role. for Sunny. I was like, I don't really know what that means, but when they got here they did a drill, they started with the first one, can you get a first try? and uh, Sunny Stiles is on the field in place of the nickel as a third. kind of linebacker stuff we saw him do last year, yeah, so I think if you're like I said before, I still think Sunny is in a position where he can push himself to be a full-time starter, but at least I think things like that you'll see him do and now that they have to mix and match a little bit with stronger Jihad potentially out for a while, I think that's where something could intensify as well, yeah, and I think a lot, I mean.

What you feel about John Carter is that age is physical and you hope that he is healthy and can recover quickly and that it is not something serious and that is, first and foremost, before anything else, that you hope that these guys can recover with what no one wants to deal. injuries or rehab and all that, but you know, the next part for him and his development is that he came here, you know, to try to take the next step and find a higher level of competition and, for everyone, you know, jokes . What we do about safety-driven defense, there's a lot of responsibility on those guys' plates, especially at nickel, where you're expected to do a lot of things and learn a lot of different things, you know, so Cameron Martinez had an edge he's been in the system for a year Jihad Carter, you know who can say for sure how difficult it is in just seven practices, eight practices to get up to speed and learn everything to compete on equal terms and now let's just say? for the next couple of weeks to not have that, I think that's probably a conservative assumption.

No, I'm not a doctor and I won't pretend to be, but you're going to have to be careful like you're Ohio State and not put pressure on him in such a way that if he doesn't get some of those reps, you know what that means? How much does someone like Jire Brown or Ryan Turner take advantage of to give Ohio State something else to think about, and then when? Jihad Carter is fully healthy again, as far as how many of those reps, you know, how much more ketchup he needs to play, yeah, it's unfortunate for a guy at his position and I think we got here early in the spring as the man Jihad Carter . it was a start in Syracuse why is he with the tubes that's one of those reasons why he just has to pick up the defense Cameron Martinez is a veteran he has that institutional knowledge that helps you get on the field sooner I have every intention or I hope I apologize for seeing those two side by side during August and I hope that can still happen to Jihad.

It's not a big setback for him. I'm also curious, how we've seen it in a different iteration. of this defense, Lathan Ransom plays a nickel role. I know he wants to play the bandit or the adjuster. He wants to have the opportunity to play at all three levels of the defense, but at least it's good to have a guy like that on the field. roster with that kind of versatility starting to throw to Nicole, okay, we haven't talked about quarterbacks for a record period of time, yeah, and part of that goes back to why we started with the offensive line, It was difficult to evaluate them.

Because they were constantly under pressure today, seven on seven, in the first half of practice, I think Kyle McCord came out and had a stronger first half, more success early than he did a week ago, as he got

progress

ively stronger and more productive than last week. I think his best part today was at the beginning of the first few practice periods and maybe for Devin Brown it wasn't, there was some inconsistency there with ball placement and accuracy again, that's just us reading too much into a sample size. small, but that's how it works in courtcommas. I think if he had the advantage he still has the advantage.

That's right, I don't know what else to say about it. Yes, I would agree with that assessment. I don't know if I would do it. Let's say it became wider. No, I didn't see anything here today that was right, like he was really taking this and running with it. I just think being the physically developed guy with the most experience, he

shows

up. the field and again like you know DevinHe probably hasn't done him many favors in an environment where you can't really unleash his athleticism, although he did have a really good play that was ruled a sack.

I don't know, I don't know if it was that they were protecting the quarterbacks. Then a guy came up to him, but he still went out and went out to his left, even, he threw a good ball across his body and saw the way he could control his body and be a playmaker on the edges, like that. That's going to be, I think that's still what can help you win this competition. If it comes down to it, I'm not saying he's going to do it, but that's maybe the advantage he might have there a little bit, um, but I.

I'm continually impressed with Kyle just like the way he carries himself and the way guys gravitate toward him um I I Ryan Day Sale said he wants to see a guy take the lead at the end of spring practice. I don't know if that will happen, I'm still skeptical about it, but if that were the case you'd have to think right now that Kyle McCord has a bit of Lego, yeah, I guess I guess why. We're talking about the offensive line, maybe when we leave, I'll think more about the seven-on-seven drills in the Red Zone passing drill because you know, last week, compared to this week, the defense shut them out. completely.

I think the rep it was like 11-1 there that wasn't the case today Ohio State's offense was much more productive there they scored at least three times maybe four uh I think it was four yeah yeah and one of them I think it was kind of up in the air whether they were going to call a penalty or not, but it doesn't matter, so I thought the best shot of that session was Kyle McCord, kind of a layered shot to Joe Royer in the back of the zone. of annotation, yes. You know, I've been talking about tight ends and how that group will evolve.

It was nice to see Joe Royer make a play and validate some of that

progress

that we've talked about with him, maybe making a couple. Him up, let G Scott score there too, so they both made some plays, the tight ends were involved there in the Red Zone. I guess this is the year they will do it. It's going to happen, um, but it did. I thought it was an awesome throw by Kyle because you have to beat him, you know, on that full throw over the linebacker in a spot where Joe Royer can come up and make a play and he did.

I thought it was an awesome shot though. probably the one I'll think about, you know, this week more than any other. I think this would probably be unfairly putting too much weight on what we've seen, but I feel like there are more pitches available for Kyle than there are. together right now, I think they could both push him into the field. Kyle does a little bit better and I think Kyle is really developed in his ability to throw those touch passes and be accurate and be able to score back and get him off the field. ball a little bit that wasn't a pitch he would have made last year, yeah, and I thought he also made a similar one in the spring game last year, which I thought was kind of a step in the right direction for him, but also I think that's just like physical development, he's what he is a year after this, ahead of Devon Brown, so it's not surprising that it's like that, it's just a reminder that that year matters and I think that's where Those things tend to show. okay and I know you noticed for the second week in a row where number 18 was, yeah man, uh, Marvin Harrison was on the spot the whole time on Saturday and Ryan Day said at the beginning of spring ball that they wanted to move it a little and obviously Julian Fleming and Emeka Booker outside Xavier Johnson is not doing things either, he was here like on the practice field just not doing competitive things 11 on 11 seven on seven um and they needed a receiving slot and today that was Marvin Harrison and that It is unfair.

I really feel bad for the slots and the Nickels having to try to cover Marvin, they unleashed him on a couple things like, they put in a move, they'll run a slot wheel like It's good luck for you, yeah, have fun trying to defend that, but I think it's good for him what Ryan said, it's good for the offense to find ways to move them and it's good for Marvin to have those things on tape. or having that experience because um, I guess that's going to be a question about him when he goes out to the NFL next year, it's like, well, can you run all the routes?

Of course the answer is yes, but if you had I would like to see it. I think I'll show them to you a little bit this year too. It would be fun if we were sitting here a year from now. Well, I don't know, can he be the number one overall pick? He played the slot, but yeah, that's very important, yeah, I think he was out there like 88 times, almost 90 times last year, so I'd like to see him move around a little bit, it's the same thing with Garrett Wilson. Gary Wilson. like he started in the slot, he went outside, this is like the opposite of that, it's not like Marvin is going to play in the slot all the time, of course not, but you also have to look for mismatches and also help him avoid some teams double. so I think it's beneficial for Marvin, but it was really fun to see anything else in your notebook here on Saturday.

Travian Henderson was doing an individual workout that I didn't do at all this spring or at least maybe a little later in the spring. I guess we're at the halfway point, we're at the halfway point now, but he was running full speed and making cuts, he wasn't doing any of the contact stuff, but he was running routes and he looked like himself. So, people have been talking about how eager he was to get out here, you could tell by the urgency with which he was doing all these individual exercises, but mostly it was good to see him here.

He left the field with a big smile. I talked to him and no, not only did he say that he was close to feeling himself, he said that he is at 100 and that he feels himself and that the coaching staff is like slowing down, yes, you don't need to do anything. with the team and he wants it desperately, especially since on a day like today you see that you chip train him and Hayden had to take all the important reps for the Ohio State mine Williams is not doing anything, the return of Travion Evan Pryor is still training down here in the end zone, it's like on the sideline, so you know he wants to do that for himself, he wants to do that for his teammates in that running back room and he wants to help Ohio State come back and he wants do I'm prepared to waste a little time, but I think the cautious approach is right with Travion Henderson.

There's nothing to show for it that he's already played a lot of football in two years, some of it healthy and some of it unhealthy, so get it. outside of this, like letting him get his feet wet a little bit, he doesn't have to be totally hit with that, but he certainly wants to, yeah, you didn't say what Ryan Day said to Mayan Williams. injury either, nothing long term, I don't know if we mentioned that or not, but he wasn't there, he wasn't even doing individuals, um, but no, I don't think that's a big cause for concern because he wouldn't.

Anyway, I won't do much this spring, but he wasn't there on Saturday, yeah, not unusual for this time in the spring, especially after two scrimmages where Ohio State has been hitting a lot, they're trying to attack like they're live tackles, they're walking. that balance, you know, sometimes they would stop in the middle of a period that started live and change to thud, so they're trying to manage that they don't want to leave with a bunch of injuries at the end of spring, that's obvious, clear. They don't want to get hurt no, no, you can grab a microphone.

I mean, yeah, what did you think today? Yeah, who stood out, who is he, what do we do best, good player, what is he going to do this year, what is he going to do, tackle. 100. You're here first so here we go, you never know what will happen in a live version of Snappy J's, but we hope you enjoyed it. We'll have a lot more coverage on

ohio

state

.rivals.com if I want to read bill andize observations one of us is going to do the defense one is going to do the offense we thought we had a plan for it and then we probably scraped it somewhere in the middle uh we'll find out , you can join us there for free right now with the code DTE 30.

Hopefully everything works here with the audio and visual material we did the best we could. We'll be back next week to tell us where we went wrong and we'll fix all that as we move forward, but we appreciate you joining us to make some quick

judgments

on the podcast. This is Bill, I'm Austin, see you Monday.