Football
Experts Report
By John Porentas

OSU wide receivers coach Darrell Hazell and defensive backs coach Mel Tucker were the designated experts for the Purdue game.

Darrell Hazell

After the big game that Ted Ginn Jr. had last weekend against Michigan State there has been some thought that Ginn might be a little "full of himself" this week. Hazell said he has seen absolutely no evidence of that.

"He's been very, very good," Hazell said. "It's one of the things that we've talked about is how to handle success, and he's assured me that he's going to stay humble, keep working, and do the things he needs to do to be successful."

Hazell said that as good as Ginn was last week, there may be even more yet to come from the OSU freshman.

"I think early in this season he was trying to figure it all out, and you knew that once he got it all figured out, he was going to play a lot faster. The last three weeks he's really playing a lot faster, which is what we need for him to do. He could still be faster (as he acclimates to college football)," Hazell said.

Hazell said he expects Ginn to get more attention from defenses from here on out, but that, he said, could work out in OSU's favor.

"It gives us great balance. If you've got two guys (Ginn and Santonio Holmes) who can hurt you on the perimeter on the outside, his (Ginn's) presence is great," said Hazell.

Hazell added that Ginn is still a work in progress, but that progress is being made. Early in the season teams were able to jam Ginn at the line of scrimmage, but Hazell says Ginn is learning how to beat that technique.

"He is getting better," Hazell said.

"He's worked on escape techniques and releases. That's probably his biggest deficiency still right now, not to give anything away. But if you press him, you better get up in his face, because if you're off him he will have a chance to escape you and get by you," he said.

"If you're playing press-man on him with no help over the top, and you miss the jam, you're done.

One of the questions that has hung over the OSU offense this season is, quite literally, "What is it?" OSU's offense seems to lack a personality. When asked if OSU is heading toward a single identity on offense, he more or less said that an identity is really not of concern.

"I think that what we've done is try to find the best thing week in and week out that we're going to do best to win that week. It's an identity for the week," Hazell said.

Purdue's defense is expected to attack the Buckeye offense by bringing pressure on the quarterback and loading up the box. Hazell said he thinks OSU has what it takes to cope with the strategy.

"Troy (OSU quarterback Troy Smith) can hurt you pulling it down," said Hazell.

"We've got Santonio over there, and we need to run the ball this weekend. It's very important that we come out and establish the run as well as get the ball outside to those guys who are so special."

Hazell is very familiar with the Purdue strategy, and for good reason. Hazell spent with current Purdue defensive coordinator Brock Spack on the Eastern Illinois coaching staff in 1988 and knows the philosophy of his defense.

"They're very aggressive. They like to heat you up in all situations. They're going to blitz us, and they're going to expect us to either wither or we've got to hurt the blitz."

That strategy can be successful, but also leaves a defense susceptible to the big play. Can you say Ted Ginn and Santonio Holmes?

"It's a double-edged sword," said Hazell of the Purdue defensive strategy.

"If they can get to us, then they've got us. If we can get to them throwing the ball down the field, we get to them."

Hazell said there a couple of young Buckeyes at wide receivers that are beginning to make a move.

"Devon' Lyons is going to be a great player," said Hazell.

"He's starting to learn the system well. We've just got to get him more touches and more opportunities."

"Tony Gonzalez is starting to come on. He's starting to understand what we need from him and he understands his role as the third receiver right now. He's got tremendous speed. He can help us, he can really help us once he settles down a little bit," Hazell said.

"He has to improve his knowledge of the offense and how to get through crowded zones and negotiate in traffic," Hazell said.

Hazell coaches not only the OSU wide receivers, but the much improved OSU return game as well. Hazell says the reason for the improvement in the return game is simple...quite literally.

"We try to simplify," said Hazell.

"That's probably the biggest thing, and have the guys believe in the scheme. We haven't been very complex but we believe that there are creases and we've got to got to go get the creases. I think all the returners, Mo Hall, Santonio, Teddy, have done a nice job of if there's a crease, go get it aggressively," Hazell said.

Simple.

Mel Tucker

The Buckeyes have been banged up in the secondary this season, particularly at safety. Tucker, OSU's defensive backs coach, said things may be looking up a little on the injury front, and he has a new player with him on defense as well.

"Nate (Salley) is better than he was last week," said Tucker. "He's making some progress so he's a guy who will be available for us," Tucker said.

"I took one of the guys from offense and have been working him in there and practicing a little bit," said Tucker. "Devon Lyons has worked a little bit at defensive back. He played that in high school. We'll see what happens there," Tucker said.

"He's the kind of guy who has very good ball skills. He's a big kid and he can run and he's very instinctive. He's a guy who can make plays."

Tucker added that he expects Tyler Everett, who was dinged up some against Michigan State, to be able to play against Purdue.

Purdue opened the season like world beaters, but has now lost three straight. Tucker said there is one main reason for the Boilermaker tailspin.

"In the last four ball games they've turned the ball over a little bit," said Tucker.

"In the first four or five games they didn't do that. I think that's the big difference. Everything else seems about the same."

There is some question as to whether Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton will be able to play this weekend. Tucker said the Buckeye will prepare for Orton, then adjust if in fact he does not play. He does not, however, feel that those adjustments would have to be significant, no matter who plays quarterback.

"They're going to run their offense," Tucker said. "No matter who's in there, we expect their offense to be basically the same."

"They do what they do. They're going to try and establish the run and have some play-action passes, and when they spread you out, they're going to get rid of the ball quickly," Tucker said.

According to Tucker, the Buckeye defense is preparing for this game with less hitting and more study.

"I think every week you try to find ways to get better," began Tucker.

"The less hitting you can do in practice, then it becomes more of a mental game. We tend to watch more film, cut the practices back and watch more film, and I think the older players get and the more mature they get, they realize that it is mental game and they have to spend more time studying film and pay more attention at practice."

Tucker is not worried that the reduced hitting perhaps leads to poor tackling.

"Tackling is important, but it comes to a point where you have to approach it from a mental standpoint as well.

"A lot of it (tackling) is body position and footwork.

"You don't necessarily have to hit a guy and take him to the ground to work on that.

"If you can get your body into a position to make a tackle then all it is is the finish.

"At this time of year, if we don't know how to tackle, then shame on us."

Tucker coaches the defensive backs and was the lead recruiter on Ted Ginn Jr. Ginn was touted as a standout defensive back, but is now playing offense. Tucker says he doesn't necessarily feel cheated about not having Ginn over on defense.

"I'm happy that he's making plays," said Tucker.

"He's a team guy and I'm a team guy. I just help load the bus. I don't drive it, so wherever the guys end up playing when they get here, whatever is best for the team, I'm all for it."

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