The Buckeyes have coverage issues to take care of as they prepare for Ohio University on Saturday.
UPDATED: 10:22 p.m.
The sight of Miami's Lamar Miller returning a first-half kickoff for a touchdown -- the Hurricanes also had a punt return for a score as well -- is prompting plenty of attention on special teams by OSU head coach Jim Tressel this week.COLUMBUS, Ohio -- It's hard to imagine Jim Tressel stressing special teams play any more than he already does.
"Impossible," OSU receiver Dane Sanzenbacher said Tuesday. "It's preached to us all the time that special teams wins championships, and we try to pride ourselves on that. We did not have a great game in that area and I think a lot of guys take that personally."
Though Ohio State practices already typically begin with special teams drills, some players said Tuesday included extra work on the coverage units that allowed a punt return and a kick return for a touchdown in Saturday's 36-24 win over Miami. The No. 2 Buckeyes survived in that game against what was the No. 12 team in the nation, so they'd probably survive another two returns for scores by 30-point underdog Ohio University on Saturday at Ohio Stadium.
But that's no way to go through a season.
"As players we know we should be known for special teams," said OSU starting linebacker Ross Homan, who was on the field as part of the punt coverage.
To restore their reputation, Tressel explained Tuesday several ways the Buckeyes could address the coverage issues before hosting the Bobcats.
• Stick to the basics: It can be as simple as staying in your lanes, especially on the kick return.
On the touchdown, veteran Nate Oliver was double-teamed and driven out of the play, while Taylor Rice was taken out with what maybe could have been called a block in the back, though blocking calls are often missed on special teams. When Rice fell, he also took out redshirt freshman Dorian Bell, who forced a fumble on a Marshall return in the opener, right at the start of the play.
But as Miami returner Lamar Miller cut left, he found a hole because the Buckeyes' outside players, young cornerbacks Corey Brown and Dominic Clarke, weren't there, Clarke hopping outside to avoid a block.
"The first half of the kickoff, you can avoid and get back in your lane. When you get to the second half of the kickoff, you can't avoid," Tressel said, noting that all three long kickoff returns Saturday, the Miami touchdown and two 40-plus returns by the Buckeyes, had cover guys "avoiding tackles as opposed to taking on blocks and holding gap integrity."
"So what can you do?" Tressel asked. "You can do it right, just like any other play, but it's really magnified in the special teams."
• Adjust the personnel: Tressel was asked specifically about putting linebacker Etienne Sabino, a special teams veteran, back in the lineup instead of sticking with the plan to redshirt him.
Tressel said that hadn't been considered, but the coaches did talk Tuesday about putting return men and backup running backs Jordan Hall and Jaamal Berry on the coverage teams. As the No. 3 and No. 4 running backs who saw no offensive action Saturday, both are looking for more.
"The answer to getting more is do well with the few you get," Tressel said. "And those guys are doing a good job with the few opportunities they're getting. So now they should get more responsibility."
Tressel also could put in other first-team defenders, though starting linebackers Homan and Brian Rolle were already on the punt team that allowed the touchdown. But Tressel doesn't want to overwork Buckeyes playing almost all the snaps on either side of the ball.
• Kick it deeper: Tressel admitted that the Buckeyes miss graduated kicker Aaron Pettrey, who actually got hurt halfway through last season, when the kick coverage first started to suffer. Senior Devin Barclay and freshman Drew Basil, who handles the kickoffs, don't kick the ball as high or as deep as Pettrey did. Basil's kickoff that was returned landed at the 12 yard line.
"We've got to get there," Tressel said. "We've got a young guy who's got a ton of talent and there's going to be a day where he may look [great]."
Barclay was brought in to handle some short kickoffs later in the game, ones that gave up decent field position but were designed to eliminate the possibility of a runback. It worked for the moment.
"We've got to work even harder this week on that area of weakness," Barclay said.
Barnett out: Tressel said starting safety C.J. Barnett is expected to be out for the season after requiring knee surgery on Tuesday. Barnett played well in his second career start against the Hurricanes, but will be able to take a medical red-shirt and retain three years of eligibility. Sophomore Orhian Johnson, who missed much of preseason training camp with a calf injury as Barnett stepped in and won the starting job, is 100 percent healthy and will move into the starting lineup.