Ohio State Spring Practice Insider: Quarterbacks Searching For Consistency

COLUMBUS — The Buckeyes were in Ohio Stadium Friday morning for the penultimate practice of spring. The conditions weren’t exactly ideal, as the 37-degree temperate and gray skies did a good job of simulating a late November afternoon.

Some media and Ohio high school coaches were on hand for the practice, which featured mostly instructional periods, with a little bit of 7-on-7 in the red zone and some 11-on-11 at “thud” tempo (no tackling).

No video or photos were permitted on the day, but here’s a rundown of observations from the two-hour session.

For the second weekend in a row, redshirt sophomore Austin Siereveld started out with the ones at right tackle. He also mixed in at left tackle later on in the practice.
The first-team offensive line has repeatedly opened with fifth-year senior transfer Ethan Onianwa at left tackle, junior Luke Montgomery at left guard, redshirt junior Carson Hinzman at center, redshirt junior Tegra Tshabola at right guard, and Siereveld at right tackle.
The second-team offensive line for much of the day (and last week or so) was redshirt freshman Ian Moore at left tackle, true freshman Jake Cook at left guard, redshirt sophomore Joshua Padilla at center, redshirt freshman Gabe VanSickle at right guard, and redshirt sophomore Minnesota transfer Phillip Daniels at right tackle. A true freshman like Cook running with the twos in spring is usually a pretty good sign of future results.
Today, there were two entire offenses and defenses going at the same time early on. One offense was near their own goal line and the other was near the 50-yard line. The only goal was to get the snap off with an acceptable cadence. Any time a player commits a penalty or puts the ball on the ground, they must take a lap. On one of these plays, a pair of young offensive linemen both committed a false start at the same time, so they had to run a lap. As they hit the track, a lineman from the other offense joined them.
Junior safety Malik Hartford continues to be with the ones with junior Caleb Downs. The Ohio State safeties are continuing to play both strong safety and free safety.
Redshirt sophomore receiver Bryson Rodgers, fifth-year senior Lorenzo Styles, Jr., and freshman cornerback Devin Sanchez were among the gunners for the Buckeyes on the day.
The Buckeyes have three punters competing for the job. Last year’s starter Joe McGuire is back, but he’ll be pushed in fall camp. Redshirt freshman Nick McLarty had a couple of big booms today but lacked the consistency that the team is wanting. Fifth-year senior Anthony Venneri may have had the best overall day.
Place-kicker Jayden Fielding was very good on the day. It is not easy to simulate the pressure of a real game, but head coach Ryan Day tried at the end of practice. Practice closed with Fielding kicking a series of field goals, beginning with some mid-range kicks, with the team lined up all around him like a gallery at a golf tournament. They moved him back five yards after each kick. Once he got to a 43-yarder, the pressure was applied because a missed kick would mean 10 up downs for the entire team. He drilled the kick and the team celebrated. They moved him back five more yards, but this time a missed kick would mean 20 up downs. He drilled that one and once again the team celebrated with him as practice had finally concluded. He was perfect on the day.
The Buckeyes spent a good portion of practice in red zone. They began in 7-on-7, and on the first play redshirt quarterback Lincoln Kienholz found redshirt junior tight end Bennett Christian for a touchdown in the corner with junior linebacker Arvell Reese chasing in coverage. The tight ends had a good day overall as the linebackers were tested in coverage repeatedly.
One play after the TD pass to Christian, freshman wide receiver Quincy Porter — who was in a yellow “limited-contact” jersey — caught a slant pass from Kienholz in the red zone for a touchdown. On Kienholz’s third snap, his intended pass for junior receiver Brennen Schramm was broken up by sophomore cornerback Aaron Scott.
Freshman safety Faheem Delane had a nice PBU on a pass from redshirt freshman quarterback Julian Sayin that was intended for redshirt freshman receiver Mylan Graham. Sayin’s next pass went for a touchdown to freshman tight end Nate Roberts. Roberts showed some good athleticism on the day.
The quarterback battle is still wide open. None of the three contenders — including freshman Tavien St. Clair — were as consistent as they need to be. A good pass would often be followed up with a pass behind a receiver, for instance.
On St. Clair’s first go-round in the red zone he had to wait for somebody to break open. He waited, waited, waited, until he finally threw it towards redshirt sophomore tight end Jelani Thurman on the right side of the end zone, but the pass was batted down by Caleb Downs. It was a long time to cover a receiver, but Downs was up to the challenge.
Kienholz’s second go-round featured a pass into the flats to sophomore receiver Jeremiah Smith who turned and reached the ball into the end zone against redshirt freshman safety Leroy Roker. Two plays later, Kienholz found Schramm for a touchdown.
The play of the day came during the red zone sessions when Kienholz threw it to Graham who caught it for a touchdown with Aaron Scott in coverage. The pass was contested but Graham went up and brought it down. If this was a hockey game, Graham would have been one of the three stars of the day.
Kienholz was having a pretty good day, but shortly after his touchdown pass to Graham, he threw a quick route to Jeremiah Smith that was jumped by junior cornerback Jermaine Mathews. Mathews would have taken it back for a pick six if the play hadn’t been dead as soon as he caught the ball. Mathews was very good on the day, but did get grabby a couple of times. Flags weren’t being thrown, but he was getting feedback from the referees.
I’m starting to wonder if one of the reasons Jermaine Mathews is repeatedly targeted is because the quarterbacks don’t feel comfortable throwing the ball at senior cornerback Davison Igbinosun. It’s only a theory at this point, but Mathews has been busy this spring — and he’s making QBs pay time and a half on the weekends.
Leroy Roker had a nice PBU on a pass to redshirt sophomore receiver Brandon Inniss in the corner of the end zone. Inniss wasn’t just lining up in the slot during the day. He was also lined up outside while Jeremiah Smith or Carnell Tate worked the slot.
Lorenzo Styles, Jr. had good coverage on an incompletion in the end zone intended for Jeremiah Smith.
It is very easy to get excited about true freshman running back Bo Jackson. Even though there is no tackling, he is still able to stand out with his burst and patience.