Depth is primary emphasis at cornerback
Kerry Coombs is a believer in strength in numbers.
Last year, the Ohio State defensive backs coach committed to regularly playing three cornerbacks — Gareon Conley, Marshon Lattimore and Denzel Ward — with a fourth, Damon Arnette, also seeing extensive time.
That’s why, despite the early exit of Lattimore and Conley to the NFL draft this year (with each being projected as firstround picks), Coombs isn’t pushing the panic button this spring.
He has Ward and Arnette, and a bevy of stellar newcomers from the Buckeyes’ No. 2-ranked 2017 recruiting class. Coombs is pushing them onto the field in spring drills with plans of drawing deep from that well this fall.
“What I know is this, and I learned it a long time ago: Fresh, fast legs win in press man-to-man coverage,” Coombs said after practice Thursday. “And we are going to have fresh, fast legs. Whatever we have to do to make that happen, we’re going to make that happen.”
He is leaning on Ward to be the leader. Though it’s true that Ohio State lost both starting cornerbacks from last year’s team, Coombs is quick to point out that Ward saw roughly as many plays as Lattimore and Conley, rotating in throughout each game.
“It’s definitely a blessing that the coaches have got that belief in me that
Demario McCall has been practicing exclusively at running back as a backup to returning starter Mike Weber in Ohio State’s spring drills this month, but McCall believes a slide to hybrid back is coming in the fall.
With highly productive hybrid back Curtis Samuel headed to the NFL, most observers expected the speedy McCall to be in that slot from the start this month.
“Probably in fall camp they’ll move me out to the slot, get me more reps in the slot,” McCall said after practice Thursday morning.
Since reporting at I could go out there and play with them, play with the best,” Ward said of the experience.
Now that he is the lone returning “starter,” as Coombs refers to him, “I am ready to take that leadership role in the cornerback room and help lead this team,” Ward said. “It is a responsibility. I’ve got to carry on what those guys left behind. Gareon and 175 pounds as a freshman last year, when he played primarily in mop-up situations, McCall is up to 195 and looks more the part of a running back. He and early enrollee freshman J.K. Dobbins are battling for the No. 2 spot behind Weber, coach Urban Meyer said this week, while receiver Parris Campbell and others have been getting work at hybrid.
But McCall said the possibility of being used as a hybrid in the fall won’t be like learning a new language.
“The tailback stuff that we do, it goes along with the H-back stuff,” McCall said. “I’m learning them both, but I’m not actually in the slot yet.” Marshon, they were two great leaders.”
The cornerbacks room is flush with new talent, including earlyenrollee freshmen Jeffrey Okudah, Shaun Wade and Marcus Williamson. Also in the mix is juniorcollege transfer Kendall Sheffield, who started his college career as a fivestar signee with Alabama in 2015 before stepping away for a season at Blinn
He’s confident he can handle it.
“To be honest, it’s just be ready when your number’s called, it’s part of competitive excellence,” McCall said. “So whenever they tell me, ‘Go out there in the slot,’ I’m going to go out there in the slot and do what I do.”
Speaking of numbers, he’s been wearing No. 30 since he arrived last year, and he’s had that jersey this spring. But he said he will switch to No. 2 for the upcoming season.
That’s the number Dobbins has at the moment. Considering that two offensive players can’t wear the same number, what will Dobbins have in the fall? McCall shrugged, smiled and said, “I’m not sure.” junior college in Texas.
“He’s a really, really talented player,” Coombs said of Sheffield. “Just by the nature of having experienced it at a couple of other places, I think that gives (him) an edge when you walk into the meeting rooms and things like that.”
So Sheffield might be a little ahead in joining a rotation sure to include Ward and Arnette. But Coombs said he would not be averse to rolling six or seven corners through the mill, which would include the nickel back position.
“Shaun, Jeff and Marcus are really good players,” Coombs said. “They should be going to the prom, and they have put themselves through (the winter conditioning program) and my anguish for the first three months of this year, and they have come out the other side as very effective players.
“Are they good enough yet? No. But we’ve got a long time between now and Aug. 31. They have all the skill sets that they need to be phenomenal players, and they will be.”
Other shoes to fill
Malik Hooker also is headed for the NFL after a standout performance last season, leaving one of the safety spots up for grabs. Jordan Fuller, who saw some action last year, would appear to be the heir apparent, but with Erick Smith and others also in the mix, Fuller is taking nothing for granted and has a simple approach to spring drills.
“Really, just put it all together, run fast, tackle hard, cover guys, make plays,” Fuller said. He added, “I’m just trying to compete my butt off, do the best I can do.”