Buckeyes Back on the Practice Field – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 27, 2001
%^$Coach Jim Tressel and some players commented on the first day of practice after a scrimmage at Ohio Stadium last Saturday.%^$
%^$Coach Tressel
%^$On practice after a scrimmage
%^$”We were more up-tempo this afternoon than we were this morning. This morning we dragged out a little bit. We put in a lot of things to think about-a lot of unbalanced, a lot of adjustments-on purpose, because we knew that mentally they would be a little slow. I was pleased to see that we came out a lot sharper this afternoon.”%^$
%^$On the state of the depth chart
%^$”Over the course of years, I’ve looked over at our personal sheets from spring practice to preseason to game 15 and it has been amazing what a difference it has been. I don’t expect it to be any different here.”%^$
%^$On if anyone stood out in the scrimmage
%^$”I couldn’t say that. The scrimmage feels like it was a long time ago. We’ve had two practices and planned six more. No one jumped out up my mind. As I look back, Chris Gamble showed as a rookie he can play. Michael Jenkins showed some things. Up front, we’re getting a little bit more solid on both sides. We inched along as a whole group. Everyone showed some things that proved they’re moving forward and everyone also proved they’re not there yet.”%^$
%^$On quarterbacks the play of Steve Bellisari and Scott McMullen in the scrimmage
%^$”I thought Steve showed some things that were very encouraging. He threw the ball deep better than he has. We’ve been working hard at that. He also proved to me that he is not perfect yet. It was a little frustrating to both Scott and Steve, in that they were not allowed to run. That takes a lot away from both competitive-type guys, which they both are. What it did in my mind is it gave them more experience under the gun.%^$
%^$LeCharles Bentley (Sr., Cleveland, Ohio/St. Ignatius)
%^$On the offense
%^$”It’s pretty wide open. We have a lot of options. It’s going to be hard for anyone to label us as one-dimensional. We’re going to do a little bit of everything.”%^$
%^$On the difference from a year ago
%^$”There’s a lot of learning, but it’s still football. You can change a lot of things. You still run the ball. You still pass the ball. So it’s just learning different names and different techniques.%^$
%^$”We’re going to get it done this year. We have to do it as a team. The backs are going to hit the holes, the fullbacks are going to make their blocks and the line is going to open the%^$holes up.”%^$
%^$Jamar Martin (Sr., Canton, Ohio/McKinley)
%^$On the physical aspect of camp
%^$”It’s been really physical. Even before we were fully padded we were getting pretty physical up front,” Martin said. “We lightened up a little bit today. But overall we’ve been getting after it pretty good.”%^$
%^$On this past Saturday’s scrimmage
%^$”We kept it fairly simple. We tried to get the younger guys more involved and made it easier for them to know what’s going on. We didn’t open it up as much as we have been at practice. We’ll start to put new things into the offense and it will get more complicated. Everyone’s going to have to pick up the pace.”%^$
%^$Steve Bellisari (Sr., Boca Raton, Fla./Boca Raton)
%^$On watching other teams play this past weekend
%^$”The more you watch, the more you learn from other people. You want to be out there playing. You know it’s that time of year. There’s nothing else like game day on Saturday. You just have to wait it out.”%^$
%^$Alex Stepanovich (So., Berea, Ohio/Berea)
%^$On the lack of depth on the offensive line
%^$”It makes it a little more difficult because you know you have to stay healthy. There are going to be times when you might get one play off and have to go right back in there. You just have to keep bringing whatever you have. Right now we need to be a little more consistent. Being consistent is a big part of the offense.”%^$
%^$On the difference in camp from a year ago
%^$”The upperclassman seem more demanding of us and we’re also more demanding of ourselves. The philosophy is the same. We need to get better. We need consistency and perfection in everything we’re doing.”%^$
%^$Bobby Britton (So., Jacksonville, Fla./Raines)
%^$On the competition at cornerback
%^$”The competition is really heated right now. Everyone’s been working in with the first, second and third teams and trying to find a chemistry. We’re all confident and anyone can play. We know the coaches are going to play the best players and we go hard every play. No one is standing out right now and that’s a good thing because it makes us push one another.”%^$
%^$On the difference in camp from a year ago
%^$”It’s really physical this year. Everyone is trying to prove a point. Everyone wants to play. Even when we don’t have pads on, everyone is full out. With new coaches, everyone has a chance to play.”%^$
%^$On Cie Grant moving from linebacker to cornerback
%^$”I’m not surprised with his performance at all. He started his career in the secondary. He’s a very good athlete. He runs a 4.3 (40-yard dash) and has really good quick feet.”%^$
%^$JaJa Riley (Fr., San Diego, Calif./Mission Bay)
%^$On the competition at running back
%^$”It’s really competitive. I’m learning a lot from the older guys. I’m getting better everyday. I’m learning my assignments and performing a lot better. It’s a friendly competition out there. I ask a lot of questions and the guys help me out when I need it.”%^$
%^$On the difference between high school and college football
%^$”High school was much easier. The playbook is much bigger and you have to really study it. You have to know your assignments and I’m getting better with each repetition.”%^$
