Our Honor Defend

If you have time to spare… and can make it past the lovely image of Jim Tressel looking like a retiree in Boca… the Spring Game draft has been concluded and the rosters have been announced.

Things to consider:

• Gray team chose first because it won the coin toss.
• Teams were drafted by position.  So, once the quarterbacks were selected for each side, the draft went by position with both the Scarlet and Gray drafting in alternate orders until each player was taken.
• Paul Haynes will coach the Scarlet team.  Luke Fickell will coach the Gray team.

My Thoughts

• Bauserman and Pryor will QB the Scarlet and Gray teams respectively.  Justin Siems, the walk-on, will switch sides.
• Pryor and Bauserman will be “live” — that is: able to have their bells rung if necessary — for a quarter.  It’s a risk Tressel is willing to take.  Siems, however, will not be protected.  He’ll be able to be clocked all game.
• Bryant Browning was the first OL taken.  Is that a good thing?
• Andy Miller and Mike Adams will be on the same team (Scarlet).  I was hoping they’d end up on separate teams.
• Brian Rolle was the first linebacker selected.  I guess this underscores how often his name has come up — all of it positive — in progress evaluations this young Spring.  He seems to have benefitted the most from Homan’s injury and subsequent missed time.
• Andrew Sweat was the second linebacker taken by the Gray squad.  In fact, he was selected before Etienne Sabino.  This is a bit surprising to me, since I’ve read more positive reviews of Sabino than I have of Sweat.  In fact, I haven’t seen Sweat’s name come up at all.  Call this a pleasant surprise; I hope it means he’s come on of late.
• Chimdi Chekwa was the first cornerback drafted.  This is nothing shocking.  Devon Torrence was the second cornerback taken (first for the Gray side).  This is a little more interesting, though Amos wasn’t eligible to be drafted (senior assignment).  It does corroborate what I’ve read about developments in practice: Devon Torrence may be outperforming Andre Amos.  He’s apparently every bit as athletic and much more physical.  If you had asked me for a prediction a week ago, I would’ve thought Travis Howard would be the second corner taken.
• Donnie Evege was taken by the Scarlet side.  May God have mercy on the Gray side, for Donnie will not.
• I’m not sure what to read about the safety draft.  The two surefire starters are both seniors and, thus, were assigned to teams.  Still: Orhian Johnson was the second safety taken.  Zach Domicone was the third.
• Jake Stoneburner was the first tight end taken.  I’d love to read more into this, but I can’t.  Ballard’s a senior and was assigned.  DiLillo is questionable (recent injury) and was the last TE drafted.  Stoneburner was basically the obvious choice.
• Posey and Washington were the first wideouts taken.  Grant Schwartz was the second receiver taken by the Gray squad.  I’ve been a little intrigued by his potential since last year.  Lamaar Thomas was the second for the Scarlet side.  I’m not sure which receiver corp is better: the Scarlet (Posey, Thomas, Jackson) or the Gray side (Washington, Small (assigned), Schwartz).