Rebuild or Reload?

You know it's spring when the sky starts to clear, the daffodils bloom, we've had our 3 snows after the forsythia bloom, etc. ... no! You know it's spring when the Buckeye football team takes the field for spring drills. It's here!

Today, the Bucks get their 1st of 15 spring practice drills in at the Woody Hayes and this spring will resolve the question ... Rebuild or Reload? Is this going to be one of those years that begins with the caveat, "well, we've lost 31 from last year's squad so it's going to be a rebuilding year" or will it begin with the excitement of, "it's going to be another great year of Buckeye football ... at Ohio State, we don't rebuild, we reload!"

And I can't predict right now.

The real tale will be in the development of Terrelle Pryor (OK, not a stretch). Pryor finished the year as the Big Ten's passing efficiency leader completing 60.6% of his passes, however he completed an average 12 passes per game in the last 4 games. Hardly a hardy tale of passing prowess. But with Beanie Wells gone from the backfield, a lot of options (and a lot of stress) remain for the offense. The question will be how this offense will develop. Will the offense begin to look like that driven by eventual Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith or will it opt to use the Wildcat heavily or will it be just a wide-open spread offense. I'd tend to think, given Tressel's tendencies, that the offense will begin to be that of the Troy Smith era with hefty use of the option and with a lot more proficient and prodigious use of the pass. I'd like to think, again given Tressel's tendencies, that the offense will begin to be more balanced - 50-50 run/pass - and I'd like to see the development of Brandon Saine who just about disappeared from the offensive playbook last season.

A few changes have been announced. To no one's real surprise, Jake Stoneburner has been moved to TE. Those who saw him play for Dublin knew that his size would make him a great TE option in the college ranks. Apparently letting him continue to believe that he could/would be a wide-out got him into the Buckeye fold ... now he's moved to the position most schools projected him to play. Gamesmanship. But in a few surprise moves, DT Todd Denlinger and OL Andy Miller have been moved to TE to block in short yardage situations. On the injury front, Lawrence Wilson is back but not yet cleared for full-contact and Aram Olsen is still out for undisclosed medical reasons. Andre Amos is back full-go and looks to contend for the open corner position.

So, spring is here but 31 former Buckeyes have departed. Many will find out their fate later this month. The 28 seniors and 3 juniors all made their mark on this university and this program. But it will be up to the emergence of leaders and players starting today that will answer the question: Rebuild or Reload?

I can't wait!

Oh, and mark your calendars for Saturday, April 25. The spring game will begin at approximately 1:00 following the OSU Men's Lacrosse game featuring the Buckeyes vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish beginning at 11:00 a.m. OSU is again trying to set a record for a crowd at a men's lax game. Weather permitting, I have no doubt.

GO BUCKS from JennyBucks!