As I mentioned previously, the spring game is not a preview of the upcoming season. However, you can learn some things from it. Here are a few things that I learned about the offensive line.
Mike Adams will be the left tackle this year.
If the spring depth chart missing any indication of competition between Adams and Miller wasn’t enough, or all the talk about Adams being leaner and stronger during practice didn’t convince, the spring game erased any doubt in my mind about who the starter will be at LT.
That is not to say that I think Adams will be dominant or finally live up to the Orlando Pace comparisons. I just think that he has clearly separated himself as the best left tackle on the roster.
I observed Adams getting beat off the ball without even getting a hand on his man on at least one occasion. I also watched as the scarlet team ran the ball almost exclusively to his side on a scoring drive.
The flashes of greatness combined with Andrew Miller failing to impress makes Mike Adams the clear starter at LT going into the summer. I am not the only one to think this.
If Adams can stay focused and continue to improve over the course of the summer and fall, Ohio State will have the answer to one of the very few questions facing the team heading into the season.
On that note, I would like to make a general observation about spring practice.
Has an Ohio State team ever had so few question marks heading into a season? On top of that, has an Ohio State team ever had its question marks so conclusively answered during spring practice?
LT is one of the few positions that might still be up in the air going into the summer (more on the others as we get to them) and I would hardly call it up in the air at this point.
I am extremely happy with the players who stepped up this spring, including Mike Adams. All of the questions that I had at the beginning of the spring were answered, and relatively quickly.
This is good, because outside of the question marks, the rest of the team are proven starters returning from a Rose Bowl championship squad. On that note…
J.B. Shugarts is primed to have a dominating season.
As I was watching the offensive line in the spring scrimmage, I couldn’t help but notice Shugarts. Time after time he stopped the pass rusher across from him cold in his tracks, including but not limited to bull rusher extraordinaire John Simon.
I was very impressed with Shugarts’ performance and look for big things from him this year.
I still think Marcus Hall will move to guard.
Even though he is #2 on the depth chart at RT and I think he will stay there this season, I don’t think his natural position is on the edge.
First, he appeared to struggle mightily with pure speed rushers off the edge, including on the very first play of the spring game.
Second, he is too good to keep off the field. J.B. Shugarts will still be around at RT next season, but Ohio State will be looking to replace Bryant Browning at guard.
It only makes sense for Hall to follow in the footsteps of his fellow Glenville alumni and replace Browning at guard in 2011. For now though, he is the best back up RT in the conference, and that’s not bad either.
Boren, Brewster, and Browning are solid in the middle.
They took care of business last year, they are going to take care of business this year.
With Shugarts coming into his own at RT and Adams apparently making strides at LT, this offensive line is going to be one of the cornerstones of Ohio State’s championship run next season.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
