Attention divided?
Ohio State is preparing for the College Football Playoff, if not necessarily getting ready for Clemson yet.
Several of the Buckeyes who talked to reporters Tuesday night admitted not yet taking a good, long look at the second-ranked Tigers, who won the ACC behind a high-scoring offense and an aggressive defense.
But there is plenty to do every day at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center anyway.
“The last thing you want to do is give guys things to work on that we’re not going to do,” coach Urban Meyer said. “So it’s going to be hard, hard fundamentals, which we have a lot of work to do in certain areas. Then preliminary game plan, then game plan.”
Center Pat Elflein acknowledged the Buckeyes’ Tuesday practice was reminiscent of one during the summer before they start focusing on an opponent.
“We went hard today,” Elflein said. “The length wasn’t as long as a training camp practice, but we were working hard today. This is why you work out every day in the offseason. This is why you come to Ohio State. Since you were a little kid, your dream was to be a big-time college player or NFL player and win a national championship.”
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Ohio State vs. Clemson, 7 p.m., Dec. 31, ABC, 1410
Elflein was in his first year as a starter two years ago when the Buckeyes made the first CFP. That offensive line underwent an impressive transformation from a shaky young unit at the start of the season to a punishing, powerful force by the time Ohio State faced Alabama and Oregon in January.
Recreating such a metamorphosis is of course the goal now, but Elflein said the Buckeyes are not in a hurry to do so.
“We’re not there yet, but we don’t need to be there yet,” he said. “We’ve got 24 more days until we’ve got to be at that level. It wasn’t just the offensive line that was playing well. You’d want to model your whole team by that.
“Our saying is, ‘Nine units strong,’ and we were nine units strong in 2014. That’s our goal again this year. We’ve got 24 days to get nine units strong.”
As for the defense, it has a small preparation advantage in that the unit it will face bears some resemblance to the one seen every day in practice.
Defensive end Sam Hubbard cited some of Clemson’s blocking schemes as well as mobile quarterback Deshaun Watson.
“It’s basically the same scheme, just different guys in it,” Hubbard said. Some Buckeyes have more to think worry about those things. It’s football. You’re going to get hit, and that’s why you put on your armor and go out to battle.”
Running back Duke Johnson made it clear he also expects Griffin to start and hopes the QB can jump-start the Browns (0-12) when they face the Bengals (4-7-1).
“We’ll take a spark from anybody that’s going to give it right now,” Johnson said.
Dating to his days in Washington, Griffin has missed 27 of the past 28 games.
“There is probably some rust there,” Jackson said. “He has not played a lot of football. Practice is only a simulation of what the game could be. That is why I am taking every consideration before truly making this decision about who is going to step out there. about than final exams and winning another game.
Young as the Ohio State lineup is, it still includes many who are eligible to jump to the NFL next spring.
That means they will have a decision to make in January.
“I’m not really worried about that right now,” said Curtis Samuel, the junior running back/receiver and hero of the Michigan game. “I’m just worried about this game coming up.
“At the end of the season, I’ll worry about that later on. But that’s not really my main focus right now.”
All-Big Ten safety Malik Hooker, a third-year sophomore and first-year starter who enjoyed a breakout season that included three interceptions returned for touchdowns, confirmed reports he
“Robert is a pro. He understands. Trust me, he wants to be out there. I think you guys know that. I am just not ready to nail that down yet for our football team.”
The Browns named left tackle Joe Thomas their 2016 Walter Payton Man of the Year. The award named after the late Chicago Bears running back is presented to one player from each of the 32 teams to honor community service and playing excellence.
While talking about the award, Jackson promised the franchise won’t trade Thomas in the offseason when his name will inevitably surface in trade rumors as April’s draft approaches.
“That is not happening. OK, or I am going with him,” Jackson said. “OK? I guarantee you that. I am going with him.”
Thomas later quipped, “That’s nice of him. Where we going, the Bahamas? I’m
Thomas honored:
plans to be back in Columbus next season — with a caveat.
“As of right now, I’m coming back,” Hooker said. “Right now, I’m not really thinking about nothing like that. As of right now, I’m definitely coming back next year. After the season I’ll sit down and talk to my parents and see what the result is from there. But as of right now, I’m definitely coming back for next season.”
Trio honored:
Whether or not they play another season, Samuel and Hooker will go down as All-Americans. Both were tabbed for that honor by The Sporting News, which also put Elflein on its first-team squad. in.”
He said this season has been the most mentally draining of his career because the Browns are winless. They are 47-169 since drafting him third overall in 2007. He has been part of one winning season, when they went 10-6 during his rookie year. He hasn’t been in the playoffs.
Yet Thomas has repeatedly said over the years he wants to remain with the Browns and be part of a turnaround.
“I want to play as long as the Browns want me, as long as I’m healthy enough to play and as long as I still love it,” Thomas said. “I know as of right now all those things are still there and I still love this game even more than I did when I was a rookie. Hopefully the Browns still want me. I think that’s going to be kind of the checklist whenever the time comes, but right now, I don’t see anything changing.”