Shake Up for the Buckeyes?
There are some limits in how much you can read into the depth chart that OSU releases every Monday.
(Beanie Wells has been listed as the starting tailback the past three weeks, only to miss those games with his toe injury. Oh, by the way, he's the first string back again in the latest set of game notes.)
The number of changes made to this week's depth chart is worth noting, however.
Obviously, the team has settled on a new look for their offensive line in the wake of Steve Rehring's foot injury. Jim Cordle has been moved to left guard and Mike Brewster takes over at center. No surprise there because it's the lineup the Buckeyes used against Troy.
Also, no surprise that Terrelle Pryor takes over officially as the team's starting signal caller. (Note to fans: please, do not boo Todd Boeckman. He has shown nothing but grace and selflessness in his time at Ohio State.)
The bigger changes are coming on defense. Cameron Heyward moves to the interior of the line as he is now a starting defesnsive tackle. Heyward will start in front of second stringer Dexter Larimore, who appears to have leapfrogged Todd Denlinger.
Thaddeus Gibson will take over the end spot that Heyward vacated.
Etienne Sabino cracks the two-deep. He replaces Austin Spitler as the backup middle linebacker, with no official word on why that change is being made.
Finally, there's been a move on special teams. Ray Small is no longer considered a punt returner. Brian Robiskie has taken over there. When asked Small's status after the Troy win, coach Jim Tressel would only say he's, "fighting for playing time."
Some of these moves are the result of injury. Some are the result of healthy competition.
The bottom line is as the Buckeyes prepare to start the Big Ten season, they'll have a new look and perhaps a renewed sense of possibility for the season.
posted by Lori @ 12:30 PM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
I think Small might still be in the dog house for something. And that something we might never know, or he is hurt.
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