Buckeyes display passing game for students
Ohio State COLUMBUS — had its student appreciation practice Saturday at the Woody Hayes Athletic Center, and it was a chance to judge the progress the Buckeyes have made in retooling their offense.
An emphasis this spring has been on improving the deep passing game, which was mostly nonexistent last season. When Buckeyes quarterbacks had time to throw Saturday — and they often didn’t because of consistent defensive-line pressure — there were hopeful signs, particularly with the backup quarterbacks.
Joe Burrow and Dwayne Haskins got first-team reps in addition to J.T. Barrett. Burrow threw long touchdown passes to tight end A.J. Alexander and wide receiver Johnnie Dixon. Haskins connected for a score with tight end Luke Farrell.
Freshman Tate Martell didn’t take snaps until a redzone drill at the end of practice. He threw a nice dart to Farrell over the middle for a score.
Demetrius Knox, the frontrunner in the battle to play right guard, did not practice for unknown reasons. Interviews were not permitted afterward.
Matthew Burrell took firstteam snaps in Knox’s place. Malcolm Pridgeon was the second-team right guard.
Cornerback Kendall Sheffield, a junior-college transfer who’ll battle for a starting spot, also did not practice.
Safety Erick Smith, competing for a starting job after a career beset by injuries, had a couple of nice pass break-ups. Linebacker Dante Booker, who missed the final 12 games of the season with a knee injury, intercepted Burrow in the end zone.
OSU coach Urban Meyer looks forward to the student appreciation practice each spring. This was the sixth version.
“We’re very conscientious of our most important group of people, and that’s our students,” Meyer said.
He wanted to move the event to Friday night this year for a change of pace because “we’re just concerned that it gets old, “Meyer said. But it is “Sibs and Kids” weekend, which meant there were events already scheduled around campus.
The practice was open to students with a valid Ohio State ID and their siblings with proper wristbands. Along with getting the usual up-close look at scrimmaging, the students were treated to free food and drink and a D J provided music. There were also photo opportunities and several post-practice competitions during which the students mingled with players and coaches.
New this year were guided tours of typically off-limits parts of the facility, something students surveyed indicated they’d like to see.
“It’s behind-the-scenes access just for them,” said Quinn Tempel, assistant operations manager in charge of coordinating the event. “The idea is to continue to make it special for the students.”