The Eleven Warriors Web Report comes to you weekly from the Spectrum Sports studios in downtown Columbus, featuring our own Beau Bishop, Dan Hope and James Grega.
With Bishop on vacation this week, Spectrum Sports' Marisa Contipelli filled in to host this week's edition of the show, on which the panel discussed the latest developments with Ohio State spring football and some of the position battles that are taking place in Columbus this spring.
The most prominent topic of conversation all spring, of course, has been the quarterback battle, as Dwayne Haskins, Joe Burrow and Tate Martell continue to compete for the opportunity to succeed J.T. Barrett as Ohio State's new starting signal-caller.
"All these guys are talented," Hope said. "All these guys have different skill sets. The question is, which one of these guys can show that they can really take command of this offense and be the guy everybody rallies around?"
Grega said he ultimately expects the battle to be decided by which quarterback is the best leader.
"Do you make the players around you better?" Grega said. "There's a lot of veterans on this Ohio State offense, in terms of the skill positions at receiver and running back, how do you make them better? How do you elevate their game? I think that's what Urban Meyer's looking for in his quarterback, and I think that's what's going to ultimately determine who starts in September."
After discussing the quarterback competition, the panel turned their attention to Ohio State's defense, where the biggest question this spring is the competition at linebacker, with Jerome Baker and Chris Worley on their way to the NFL and the Buckeyes' other starter from last season, Tuf Borland, is sidelined by an Achilles injury.
"That was an area that was a weakness last year," Hope said of the linebackers. "Who can step up and really provide solid play at that position? That's a biggest question this spring."
Other questions come in the secondary, where the Buckeyes are forging forward without former cornerbacks coach Kerry Coombs. Grega said he believes the Buckeyes will be just fine at cornerback, though, with Kendall Sheffield, Jeffrey Okudah and Damon Arnette all back in the fold this season.
"Can Taver Johnson develop talent like Kerry Coombs did? I think he can, it's just going to be a matter of time," Grega said. "But I think overall, you really have to like the depth that this team has in their defensive backfield."
Speaking of coaching changes, the panel also discussed how the roles of some of Ohio State's returning coaches could change this year, with the addition of Alex Grinch as a co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach – allowing defensive coordinator Greg Schiano to spend more time overseeing the entire defense – and the promotion of Ryan Day to offensive coordinator alongside fellow offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson.
There have been some questions about how all those coaches will work together, with Schiano and Wilson being former head coaches and Day and Grinch likely being future head coaches, but Hope believes Meyer has created a culture that will enable them all to flourish in collaborating with one another.
"It's just an embarrassment of riches on this coaching staff," Hope said. "I think there's so much talent in that room, they can all figure out how to work together."
For more analysis on what Ohio State's offense, defense and coaching staff are working on this spring, tune into the Eleven Warriors Report on Spectrum Sports Mid-Ohio, which airs at 7 p.m. Tuesday and re-airs throughout the week.
