Ohio State Football: Buckeyes return to practice field after Spring Break
With Spring Break now finished and practices back in session, the Ohio State football team still has much work to do before the Spring Game on April 13.
Spring Break is over at Ohio State, as the students return to classes and the football players return to the Woody Hayes Athletic Center to resume practices in anticipation of the Spring Game on April 13.
Over the next three weeks leading up to the Spring Game, the Buckeyes will continue to develop and gain a better understanding of the revamped offense and defense, both of which have new coaches.
On the offensive side of the ball, the Buckeyes continue a quarterback battle that has become a two-man race between talented transfer Justin Fields and steady gunslinger Matthew Baldwin. New passing game coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich has two impressive options at the quarterback position, and will benefit from the help of former-QB coach Ryan Day.
However, Ryan Day will have plenty on his own plate, as the rookie*(coached three games last season) head coach will have his hands full with coaching the entire team. This while continuing to build on the 2020 and 2021 recruiting classes, which are already among the best in college football.
On the defensive side of the football, Ohio State has many new coaches and a mainly veteran defense. While the Buckeyes have four new position coaches or coordinators, but most of the starters will be back for the 2019 season.
Al Washington may be the most important of the new coaches, as he will lead a linebacker core that struggled at times last year. There is no need to remind Buckeye fans of the 60, 70 and 80 yard (even a 90-yarder against TCU) runs which were a result of the running backs getting past the defensive line, where the linebackers should have been to prevent even more damage.
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Washington, along with new co-defensive coordinators Greg Mattison and Jeff Hafley, will use spring practice to improve a defense that was seldom impressive in an entire game, although they did have their moments. Mattison will preside over the defense as a whole, while Hafley will lead the secondary.
One other unit that will also benefit from spring practice will be the wide receiver unit. Although they are losing roughly 40% of their production from last season, they will benefit from a full season of up-and-coming coach and former-Buckeye WR Brian Hartline.
After the Zach Smith fiasco last season, a group that performed impressively in 2018 may be even better in 2019.
Over the next three weeks, Fields and Baldwin will battle for the starting job, the defense will work to improve under the new leadership, and the WR unit will look to benefit from a full spring and summer with one coach leading them.
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As Ohio State prepares for the Spring Game on April 13, the team will grow and develop into a team that could contend for the College Football Playoff in 2019.