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Piqua's Saine listed questionable
Friday, September 21, 2007
COLUMBUS — Ohio State freshman running back Brandon Saine is questionable for the Northwestern game because of an undisclosed injury, coach Jim Tressel said Thursday.
Saine raced for a 37-yard touchdown on the final play against Washington last week but was ailing afterward. Asked if the injury is serious, Tressel said: "He's questionable — that's serious to me."
Extras
Tressel said it was something "we thought would come along and just hasn't as good as we'd like."
The Piqua product sat out the track season during his senior year because of a strained hamstring.
Freshman Dane Sanzenbacher, the Buckeyes' third receiver, will miss the game because of an undisclosed injury, while senior fullback Dionte Johnson is questionable.
Sophomore kicker Aaron Pettrey, who missed the first two games because of a groin injury, has been cleared to play.
Herron may get call
The Buckeyes have been redshirting freshman running back Daniel "Boom" Herron, but he might play if starter Chris Wells or backup Maurice Wells is injured against Northwestern.
"That's why we tell kids redshirting is day-to-day," Tressel said. "If the team needs you, you're playing."
That policy was put to the test in 2004 when quarterback Todd Boeckman was almost called into emergency duty in the Alamo Bowl after sitting out all year. Troy Smith had been suspended, and starter Justin Zwick suffered a hamstring injury early in the game.
When Zwick was on the sidelines, receiver Ted Ginn Jr. took some shotgun snaps at quarterback.
"(Boeckman) was pretty close to playing — and he was nervous," Tressel said. "He couldn't his find helmet."
Tressel adapts
Tressel has always sculpted his offense around his personnel, rather than forcing his players to fit into his system. The Buckeyes have morphed into a power running team after utilizing the spread attack for two years.
"General MacArthur said, 'If they know where you are, they'll blow you up,' " Tressel said. "Plus, we like to do a little of everything for the sake of our defense — so they see it all spring long, see it all fall and they line up against every concept you can think of. I'm a firm believer in 'you do what your players do best.' "
Pats, Jets cross paths
The New York Jets and New England Patriots sent scouts to OSU this week, and they ended up sharing a meeting room at the practice facility.
Because of the spying scandal involving those two teams, Tressel cracked: "We put out an all-points-bulletin to make sure there was no issue there."
