DaytonDailyNews.com

site web

COLUMBUS — Hardly anyone noticed — except maybe their exuberant parents — but Ohio State's second-stringers on the offensive line made a vital contribution to the win over Texas.

Coach Jim Tressel vowed to go deep into his bench early in the game to make certain the Buckeyes were fresh at crunch time. And the back-up O-line joined the fray as a unit midway through the first quarter.

Taking over at the 50-yard line after a turnover, OSU stormed to the game's first TD five plays later.

"That's a credit to them and the way (the coaches) game-planned," quarterback Troy Smith said. "The whole offensive line — whether it's five deep, seven deep or 10 or 13 deep — everybody can get in there at the drop of a dime."

The tackles were Tim Schafer and Jon Skinner, the guards Kyle Mitchum and Xenia native Ben Person and the center Tyler Whaley.

"As soon as those guys got in the huddle, they had a mindset and they were focused," Smith said. "They knew what they had to do," Smith said.

Defenders rotating

OSU also has been making mass substitutions on de-fense, especially at linebacker.

While Marcus Freeman, James Laurinaitis and John Kerr get starting nods, Curtis Terry, Ross Homan and Larry Grant also are seeing action.

"I think it's going to continue that way all year," Freeman said. "We have six good linebackers who can go in there, and you won't lose a step."

Freeman believes the breaks keep him from becoming fatigued, and he finds the competition invigorating.

"It's in your head that, hey, I'd better go out here and perform because that guy rotating behind me can easily take my place," he said.

DBs coming through

Ohio State hasn't given up a deep completion in two games, which is a sign of latex-glove coverage by the secondary and pressure from the front four.

"It's a pretty good coverage unit," Tressel said of his DBs. "I think they limit their missed assignments, and they've got a front that creates a little disruption and doesn't allow people to do things in rhythm.

"That's got to continue — both of those things. We have to keep growing as a good coverage unit, and we have to keep finding ways to disrupt the guy with the ball in his hands because that's the key."

Russell moves up

Anderson Russell, a redshirt freshman from Atlanta, moved into the starting free-safety spot against Texas and could end up staying there for the long haul.

"Anderson has been playing well and demonstrating that he deserved that," Tressel said.

Russell replaced Nick Patterson, a third-year junior from St. Louis.

Daniels returns

OSU quarterbacks coach Joe Daniels rejoined the team Thursday after missing three practices this week because of the death of his mother.

Daniels, who is battling kidney cancer, is expected to be on the sidelines against Cincinnati Saturday. Services for Carmella Daniels, who was 83, are Sunday and Monday.

"He's doing fine physically," Tressel said, "but sometimes when you lose your mom, you don't think about your physical woes. I'm sure it's going to be a very difficult weekend."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or at dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.