ARLINGTON, Texas – Highlights from the Buckeyes’ national championship game win over Oregon were playing on the video screen and Notorious B.I.G.’s "Hypnotize" was blaring through the speakers as Ohio State’s practice at AT&T Stadium opened to the media for a 15-minute window on Tuesday morning.
With the entire roster in Dallas for the final game of the year, it was a rare in-season opportunity to see everyone from the starters to the scout team on the practice field as the Buckeyes prepare for the Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes did not practice in pads on Tuesday, as they are still slated to hold another full practice on Wednesday before a walkthrough on Thursday, but it was the final opportunity for the media to see the Buckeyes on the field before Friday’s game.
A few observations from our viewing window inside Jerry World:
Tate running the offense
During the inside run period early in practice, true freshman quarterback Tate Martell – now wearing a black non-contact jersey like the rest of the Buckeyes’ signal-callers, a change from early in the year – was put in charge of running the offense, surrounded by first- and second-string players on the other spots on the quarterback depth chart, while veteran quarterbacks J.T. Barrett, Dwayne Haskins and Joe Burrow threw individually.
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer spent more time with his quarterbacks than any other position during the open portion of practice, appearing to keep a close eye on the backups’ throwing while chatting with Barrett.
Barrett, while still sporting the brace that he usually wears on his left knee, was not wearing the brace on his right knee that he wore in the Big Ten Championship Game after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery.
Walk-on quarterback Kory Curtis played the role of Sam Darnold for the scout team, wearing a cardinal and gold No. 14 jersey.
Catching the ball like a safety
As Ohio State’s safeties went through a pass-catching drill during the open portion of practice, Buckeyes defensive coordinator and safeties coach Greg Schiano took the opportunity to coach his players on how they are supposed to catch the ball.
When true freshman Brendon White caught a throw in his chest area instead of high-pointing the ball, Schiano called a timeout to remind White and his teammates that as safeties, they are expected to catch the ball over their heads instead of in their bodies.
It should be understandable, though, that White would make that mistake – after all, he has spent his first year as a Buckeye moving back and forth between safety and wide receiver, but he currently appears to be settled back on the defensive side of the ball.
Fight On
During the first period of their practice, Ohio State’s coaches called for crowd noise to be pumped into AT&T Stadium, and you can probably guess what the sound of choice was: USC’s marching band music.
As the Buckeyes prepared to play in what could potentially be a loud environment in Arlington on Friday, Ohio State simulated that noise by practicing to the sounds of "Fight On" and "Tribute to Troy."
Ohio State’s next punt returner: McCall or Saunders?
As Ohio State’s punt team practiced on Tuesday morning, the Buckeyes sent three punt returns deep: K.J. Hill, Demario McCall and C.J. Saunders. While Hill has fielded nearly every punt return for Ohio State this season, the deployment of McCall and Saunders on the punt return unit in practice could potentially be a sign of things to come for the future – although Hill has two remaining seasons of eligibility – as McCall and Saunders could potentially push for return opportunities next season after an underwhelming season of punt returns this year.
