Storm Man, Sacker of the Juice ManNo, it's not the collective anger of those rushing to Blogspot to spew irrational, ill-construed hate speech towards the Vest-in-Chief (respect the office, y'all). Simply put: Storm Klein cometh. The true freshman (redshirt be damned) slides in as the backup middle linebacker on the newest depth chart, replacing Tony Jackson as the Buckeyes get ready for Mass Zookery.
Klein, the first of a number of noted changes in this week's depth chart, joins our very own phoenix from the ashes, Rob Rose, who ascends to backup Doug Worthington. Garrett Goebel slides below Rose to 3rd in the pecking order. Johnny Simon checks in behind Todd Denlinger and Dexter Larrimore for a second straight week. However, after providing the first legit push from the interior line in nearly a half decade, it's probably safe to say we continue to see the talented true freshman's role in the defense begin to increase exponentially in the week's to come.
The other notable move on the d-line comes with the emergence of sophomore Solomon Thomas, who checks in behind bringer of pain Nathan Williams. Thomas had been slotted behind Lawrence Wilson at the other defensive end spot prior. Cam Heyward and Thad Gibson are back again in their familiar starting roles, if nothing else to provide deadline strapped writers with easy "making Juice" metaphors.
Despite slipping under the depth chart radar last weekend, Devon Torrence returns to reprise his role as the #2 corner this weekend. After his attention grabbing breakout performance against USC, Torrence was a surprise last second recipient of his first career start. Chimdi Chekwa, Andre Amos, and Travis Howard will also see action as dictated by the formations the Illini bring to the table. Kurt Coleman and the people's champion, Jermale Hines, are your starting strong and free safeties respectively.
Ray Small is back in The Vest's good graces, as #82 is now listed officially backing up TP safety blanket Dane Sanzenbacher. Taurian Washington and Lamaar Thomas are no longer formally cracking the listed rotation, though it wouldn't exactly come as a surprise to see either or both continue to see meaningful game action going forward.
The offensive line this weeks sees perhaps the most significant shakeup. Most notably, in lieu of Jim Cordle's nursing of last week's unfortunate injury, J.B. Shugarts will return to start at right tackle. Despite Shugarts seemingly serving as a perpetual false start machine last weekend, given another week of practice (and unquestionably some extra stairsteps) we should see once highly heralded recruit begin to really grow into his new role.
Arguably the real movement on the line come in the listed backups. Tressel's not-so-secret intent to redshirt Jack Mewhort, Corey Linsley, and Marcus Hall have become painstakingly obvious as the latter two are no longer even mentioned on the two deep, and Mewhort's been relegated to emergency third string behind veteran Andrew Moses. Moses and Bryant Browning turn into venerable jacks of all trades, with Moses listed as both the backup center and right guard, while Browning replaces Hall as Shugart's primary backup. Andrew Miller also looks to double dip with the triumphant return of Mike Adams. It's not out of the question in the least we see Adams at left tackle this week and Miller potentially spelling Justin Boren at left guard.
